dsteele

Mr. Westley: You're boring us to death with your usual claptrap. If any of you are curious, a simple search on Google of Merlyn LeRoy will show you that he is not taking his nom de plume from Arthurian legend, but rather from the old Rocky and Bullwinkle show. I find that ironically appropriate. I'm done with you sir. Unc.

I like and firmly believe in having two check-signers required for unit funds. I have heard horror stories from units who have had significant funds stolen from them by a one-person treasurery. I don't think they're all bad people. I worked with one unit where funds were eventually determined to be stolen. The pack popcorn chair was handling all the funds. Her family came upon hard times and she would "borrow" some cash from the popcorn money with every intention of paying it back. One thing led to another, and pretty soon you're talking about real money. One system I have seen required two signatures (out of a possible 4 people) in order to maintain a checks and balances. None of these individuals was the Scoutmaster. He (me) didn't want to handle the liability of money.) However, I had $50.00 petty cash from the troop treasury. When I ran low or out, I accounted for the petty cash with receipts and money and another $50.00 was doled out. It was a system that worked well for us. Unc.

Actually, the declaration of religious principal is included in the youth application. It is on the second page behind the cover. It is the same statement as is found on the adult application. In fact, when the parent signs the application, they are approving the boy's application. The print about the parent signature reads, "I have read the parent information and approve the application." On a Venturing application, the youth sign for themselves, but the same information is provided. Unc.

Welcome, Don! I hope you find what you're looking for here. There are lots of knowledeable Scouters here. We're looking forward to another companion around the cyber campfire. Unc.

My advice is to check out the program. It's web based and sponsored by Trail's End popcorn. So don't be surprised when it steers your pack/troop/crew to Trail's End as the single fund-raiser (which it can be!) If you log on to www.trails-end.com, you'll see a link to the Ideal Year of Scouting or IYOS . . . do some exploring. If you have questions about the site, contact your council service center and speak with the professional who advises the council popcorn sale (if your council sells Trail's End.) He or she can guide you to someone who knows the program even if they don't know it themselves. It's a fact . . . units that use it make more money and can afford more "stuff" than units that don't. It can even manage Scout accounts for you. Unc.

No offense was truly taken. I'd be careful of the term fossil, though -- it casts a wider net than usually intended. Especially when one is feeling particularly old I wish you luck in your search. I would suggest looking for Ham radio operators who may well have begun by building crystal radios from scratch. Unc.

I'm pretty sure I don't like being referred to as a "fossil," but then again, I don't usually haunt this forum. The term old timer caught my eye, but only because of the 31 years of BSA tenure I have . . and I'm only 39 years old. I don't know when crystal radios first came into print in Cub Scout or Boy Scout handbooks . . . But I do know you can purchase a crystal radio kit from your Scout catalog or Scout shop. Just ask for item number ww17288. I found it on www.scoutstuff.org Unc.

I'll go you one tougher than the religious knot. How's a poor DE to tell which way the "Darth Vader" (professional circle) knot is supposed to got. I think I've got a 50% chance of being right when I tell my DE that his is on upside down Unc.

A hearty welcome as well from a man who used to live on the Hoffman Estates/Elgin border. You should check out Northwest Suburban's Cub Scout Camp in Woodstock for one of your pack's outings. Their number is (847) 824-6880 . . . Unc.

This is excellent stuff, guys. There probably won't be a lot of replies because most of us lack the knowledge of this kind of BSA history. I hope I speak for many who are interested in reading it. Please keep the posts coming. You're teaching us things at least I didn't know. Thank you! Unc

Lynda: Why do you get upset when councils try to start up units in housing projects? I agree with you very strongly that these boys need Scouting. I'm not sure why the council didn't want to include the boys in your regular district day camp. Perhaps it wasn't financially feasible to arrange for transportation. I also agree that it can be very difficult to find the leadership in these Scoutreach situations, but it's not imposssible. The biggest difficulties are that some lack organizational skills, some have criminal backgrounds, etc. I think the larger problem is that there is a lot of turnover in subsidized housing. Many of those with the kind of skills we all hope for in Scout leaders are using their resources to get out of the development. I'm one of those people who believes that some Scouting is better than none at all. I love the ideal, but I think we owe it to every boy with a beating heart to serve him to the best of our ability. Unc.

Goald star to EagleinKY. Got it right on the first try. Unc.

Perhaps you're dividing by the wrong number. When the statistic includes all boys who join Scouting, I read that to mean that it includes those who may join the Cub Scouts, but who never move on to a troop. Therefore you can not divide by Boy Scout membership at year end to arrive at a percentage. I think the percentage of Boy Scouts who achieve the rank of Eagle is a different figure than the percentage of all boys who join Scouting achieving the rank. Unc.

You should. Unc.

Nldscouter brought up the point I was going to make. Unfortuantely, I think his excellent point was over-ridden by some static going on. The Scoutmaster is supposed to sign the merit badge card before work begins. This is a time for the Scoutmaster (not troop policy) to determine with the Scout who the best counselor (from a list of approved counselors) for that Scout on that badge should be. It is also an opportunity for the Scoutmaster to discuss the merit badge and the preparation, etc. needed on the part of the Scout. This assumes, however, that the Scoutmaster has the guts and backing of others to say, "Billy, I think it is important that you take XYZ merit badge from someone other than your father/mother/uncle's sister's aunt's donkey, etc." Unc.

Hold your horses, there, Laurie! Where are you going so fast? Who says you need to leave Cub Scouting just because your sons have bridged over. I can think of several places in Cub Scouting where your desires and skills can come in very handy that will also keep you close with packs and pack leaders (and the occaisional contact with boys.) Volunteer to be the Cub Scout Roundtble Commissioner or on the Cub Roundtable Staff. Perhaps you could lead the den leader break out session each month . . . there IS supposed to be one of those. If your council or district conducts a day camp, offer to be the volunteer director or program director for it. If nothing else, I think it's a pretty safe bet to say that your district could use a unit commissioner who's expertise and love is in Cub Scout program . . . Have a chat with your DE. Offer to take him/her out for coffee, lunch, breakfast, or evening breakfast (non-uniform of course) to see where you can help. If you're uncomfortable doing that with the DE, approach the District Chairman or Commissioner. If, when stuck with a pin, you bleed blue and gold with diamonds and animal shapes -- you're probably a Cub Scout person. Cub Scout people (who represent 2/3rds of BSA membership) are of high value. Unc.

Actually, Anarchist, It's my turn. Merlyn said: "but I wouldn't expect someone who uses the name 'anarchist' to care much about actual US laws." My response: I wouldn't expect someone who uses the name "Merlyn" to care much about actual laws. Especially when he acts more like Morgan LeFay. Unc.

Merlyn: You're quicker than I am to call a man a liar. I won't call you a liar. However, you were needling and BadenP simply responded. I'm going to quote you to yourself. I must admit the quote is accurate because I "cut" it and will "paste" it with mouse clicks . . . so you can't say I miqoted you. You said, "You can ignore reality and pretend otherwise, but I'd advise dealing with it." That's what you said. Before you can say I quoted you out of context, let me cut and paste the entire post you wrote. You said, in it's entirety in that one post: "Hey BadenP, you're the one acting all bitter and angry; I just pointed out that Cub membership has been declining, not growing over the last few years. You can ignore reality and pretend otherwise, but I'd advise dealing with it." You'll probably just ignore this post of mine as you ignore any others with valid points . . . I expect no more from you. It really makes me wonder why I ever try to give you the benfit of the doubt. Reading your stuff almost makes me believe in purgatory (not a protestant thing.) However, although judgement isn't mine, I believe you fall into the category of "not bad enough to fire, not good enough to promote." Unc.

Thanks, Moraine. I'm a little sensitive. I remember a camp director yelling at me because I refused to take off my shoes when entering the "nature" building at the camp. I did offer to vacume the carpet when I finished walking on it, but would not take off my shoes to enter a nature building. Taking off one's shoes to enter a nature building on a Scout camp just doesn't make sense to me. I was afraid those that be would insist on the same kind of thing for your building. unc.

Morrainemom: I did not mean offense to the lady who gave the donation. Actually, I feel for your fallen Scout Executive and am deeply appreciative of the gift to the Boy Scouts of America. I simply found humor and wrongly attempted to make light of someone razing ground and putting up a structure in honor of low impact camping. I should have followed my instincts and simply saluted. A great thing happened for the boys in your council and you are all to be congratulated. I'm sorry. Unc.

Great news about the cabin. Sorry to hear that the Scout Executive is now departed. Does anyone else see the irony in donating $250,000 to build a building because you admire the Scouts for "Leave no trace?" Unc.

When the old, scrawny bear went to the river and caught himself a fish, Uncle Eagle swooped down, took the fish from the bear's paws and left the bear with a paw-full of chive. Eamonn, guess who's coming to Easter Dinner? We'll work out the details by phone tomorrow evening. Uncle Eagle -- eater of Guinea pigs. Unc.

I think resqman has given us a valid reason for not attending training. Resq -- I understand what you're saying. I happen to be of the opinion that going to training will help you discover the resources to take your ratio of 2-3 hours of planning for 1 hour meeting time down to a ratio of 45 minutes planning (max) to 1 hour of meeting time. I say this to be helpful -- from what I've seen, untrained leaders work very hard to have a good program for the kids they serve. However, much of their hard work has already been done and they just don't know it. Unc.

Ding! Both a use guys -- back to your corners! We're tired of your back and forth getting nowhere fast theft of the bandwidth! Ed -- Merlyn is an atheist activist on a mission. Accept it. You can not change it. While I agree with the BSA, it isn't going to change Merlyn's mind a bit. That doesn't mean I'm his buddy and I will say something when I see name-calling. However, the man has a right to his opinions and to write what he's willing to defend. He seems willing to defend his views, although I often don't agree with the defense. Merlyn -- Ed is a man of faith and you're not going to change that any more than he's going to change your opinion of the BSA. You remind me of a fellow volunteer from our district who used to push the buttons of the council chair of the committee he was part of. The council chair would get mad at him and yell and scream. I asked him why he put up with it one day. The man looked at me and smiled. "It takes a whole lot more energy for her to yell at me than it does for me to take it." Guys -- please knock of the "Rock 'em, Sock 'em Robot" routine and make your points in an adult manner. Unc.

Welcome aboard from the truly Noble Wood Badge partol . . . The Eagles! Unc.