Eagle92

What i found intersting is that those FB quizes not only log into your info, but also your friends. While I am not a big fan of the ACLU, they do have an interesting "quiz" that shows you what kind of information can be tracked and recorded via these apps. As you take the 'quiz" information starts appearing from your FB pages and your friends pages. Also let's not forget about the family that had their FB Christmas picture used for a chain grocery store's advertising campaign in the Czech Republic, if memopry serves. I actually stopped posting pics of the wife and kids to protect them. On the other hand, it is a very good networkign tool. I've got in touch with a bunch of old scouting and school friends who i haven't seen in 12+ years. On a personal note, FB also proves a thesis of mine that I cam up with in undergrad school. NOW THAT IS SCARY! (emphasis for humor, not shouting)

A few things about the American flag. tehre are ways to get a donation. 1) Ask you local American Legion, VFW, or VVA for one. Also check out Woodmen of the World. 2) Check with your local congresscritter. I've had one Eagle get a flag flown over the Capitol form his Represetnative, another from his Senator. Also had 1 brand new unit receive a flag flown over the Capitol from their congrescritter, given to them when I presented their charter to them.

On a council level the SE wants the OA to raise more camperships for summer camp, and has extended those camperships to CSDC and resident camp. Another council program that has been around for a while, but is being expanded and promoted heavily is the "Popcorn/High Adventure Program" Scouts can sell popcorn and keep 50% of the sale IF they register for the program. The council keeps the money until they are ready to use it. You have until 18yo to use it for jambo, Philmont, Sea Base, N Tier, or the local HA base the council runs. It is suppose to be expanded to include venturers and you have until your 21st b-day (the exec board still needs to vote on it, but considering some of the members of the board, I think it will pass). Also They may extend it to include BECHTEL FAMILY ADVENTURE CENTER in WV when it opens. On the unit level, we are thinking about opening up individual accounts for the cubs. That way they can pay for dues and activities through that.

Ok what I am recommending is NOT how it is supposed to be done. Again ,NOT how it is supposed to be done. However "Desparate times calls for desparate measures." 1) Contact the IH of the lions club IF they are still around. The way it sounds they amy no longer meet or have merged. 2) If you cannot find your charter organization's IH or COR, or they don't want to get involved, then do the following. A) Recruit folks to be a comittee, Den Leaders (DLs), etc. You need to multiply yourself. The more folks you have, the easier it is. B) Talk to the location you are meeting at and see if they are interested in being the CO C) if that don't work, talk to your DE about potential COs. He may have 1 or 2 lined up, andallthey need is leaders. d) Repeat C as needed. Good luck and hope this helps.(This message has been edited by eagle92)

In refernce to specific training, my SE coming back from the top hands meeting mentioned that it was going online for CS leaders. Also someone back form NOAC who attended the training forum stated that specific trainign will also go online. Again This is stuff I've been told, so take itwith a grain of salt.

You got some great advice. Since I'm considered a "uniform policeman" here are some ideas to get them uniformed. 1) Thrift stores, garage sales, Ebay, etc are your friend. Once uniform always uniform, so you can have scouts in vintage uniforms. heck my son wears a vintage hat and slide (you know your old when uniform items you wore are "vintage") 2)See if other packs have "uniform closet" of expereinced uniforms that you may be able to buy. they may be willing to part with a few uniforms. 3) at soem point, hwne you have folks outgrowing their uniforms, create a pack uniform closet. good luck!

Don't envy you or the situation. You need to thik long and hard about it AND think of the consequences. I say consequences because even if you think you are doign right, there will be conmsequences. Kinda like Newton's Third Law: for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

return it and get your $ back, they still have the 100% guarantee.

"I think part of the reason there are scouts with it located above the right pocket is that the Badge Magic has an 'Official Placement of Insignia' sheet that shows the World Conservation award above the right pocket. " YOU ARE JOKING RIGHT?!?!?! I don't use the stuff, preferring needle and thread instead.

Actually it looks as if an adult leader tallies up a total and orders them. I think the ribbons are restricted, hence the adults need to order them. As for the patch proper, it's not restricted.

ALOT When I worked for supply, I had to wear the uniform everyday. I had to commute an hour to the shop, and one day my car broke down. I had so many people stop and offer me their cell phone to make a call, that I eventually pretended to be talkign on a phone until the wife did stop by. Another incident was we had a scout that got sick at Summer camp. He was Ok, just needed meds. Since I planned on being back at dinner time, I went ahead and put on my full uniform on, and drove into town. It started raining. After picking up the meds and driving back, an idiot pulls out in front of me almost hitting me. Fortunately I swerved to avoid hitting him, but I hydroplaned and went into a ditch. Car was ok, but b/c of the mud i couldn't get out. A tow truck eventually came by pulled me out, and asked why I was in uniform. When I told him my story, he laughed said no charge as he hadn't done his good turn for the day yet, and that he needed to set the example for the scouts in his troop, and he drove off. All he asked was that I help someone with car problems in the future. I did the following week, but THAT is a different story for another time.

Some things i did back in the day as ASPL. 1) Have a rough schedule i.e. 7-7:10 time is opening and patrol inspection 7:10-7:50 instruction 7:50-8:10 gametime 8:10 to 8:20 patrol corners, 8:20-8:30 Announcements, SM minute, closing, and the SM's " Good Nite Scouts" I state a rough schedule as sometimes the instruction would take longer fo a number of reasons, misbehavior lots of info to cover, etc. The only inviolable times would be when game time ended. No matter when game time started it ended on time, whether you got th ealloted 20 minutes, or no minutes. 2) Have a specific meeting with the PLC to plan the year. It was a day long affair for us b/cv we had to workd with a bunch of school calanders. Also soem fun was involved as we had food and oen tiem a pool. 3) SPL assign specific activities on the campouts to those with the skills. More later.

As someone who as a youth drooled over some of the stuff in the catalog, the catalog does make you wonder who the program is designed for. HOWEVER if you have an active, quality program, you soon learn that the stuff in the catalog is mostly for show. yep they have some cool stuff, like the new necker and some of the t-shirts, but for the most part is the stuff really needed. Also in ref to the skillet, I had a chef see that and start drooling. says the price is righth, th product will last, and they can make some cool pancakes for fundraising.

Actually I'm wrong the WCA has always been a temp insignia since I was a youth. Just double checked my BSHB, the 1988 printing as mine was lost, and it states on page 53 that the WCA is a temp insignia.

Capt. Brits did away with plumes in the 1960s, so I bet E wouldn't know about them. However their is a history of them out there on the net. Also BP House did sell the all green plumes in the 1990s, I bought two when I was there. Plumes are still worn in a few associations. When the opportunity came I bought a Centenary Plume from the UK last year. It's two colors, Carolina Blue and State Red. I think you can still get them from the Scout Association's website http://www.scoutshops.com/acatalog/World_Centenary.html

it depends upon the pack and the troop. I know of one pack that as soon as the cub gets AOL, they cross over. So I've seen those with a late b-day, i.e Oct., who are 4th grade Webelos who get AOL by 10.5 yo and move up in April of their 4th grade year. We got one 5th grader who will be crossing over next month as he will be 10.5 and earned the AOL. Then I know of another pack that's been around for about 80 years that does the traditinal crossover ceremony in MAY and that's it, no other time. IMHO, the key thing is to prep the incoming Scout a year in advance about summer camp so that he can save his money to go. In addition to summer camp prep, the scout and his parents also need to become familiar with the troop I know I stayed about 6 months with my first troop, I didn't have the opportunity to look around as a Web, and eventually ended up in my cousin's troop. Good luck

Your wish is my command http://www.scouting.org/sitecore/content/prospeak/archives/july%202009/articles/100thpatches.aspx for info on the program, and order form http://ww2.scouting.org/100years/100years/PatchOrderForm.aspx and requirements http://ww2.scouting.org/100years/100years/sitefiles/1000/YourSource/PlanningTools/A_Year_of_Celebration/BSA_Year_Patch_Earning.pdf Hope this helps

Exibar, The key is to work through your SPL, not your PLs. You should ask him the questions, and he should be able to give you answers. If not, then he needs to encouraged to find out. Again Train the SPL who will then train the PLs

AL Den, If memory serves, BSA changed the location of the World Conservation Award to the temp insignia location in 1989, when they did away with the requirements to earn the World Crest. Prior to that time, You had to earn the WC, and I guess that the spot over the left pocket was the "internatonal award" spot. But yes the WCA is temp insignia and worn on the right pocket.(This message has been edited by eagle92)

OGE, If they did this they may lower the upper limit of Scouting to 14 or 15. I read somewhere that someone proposed lowerign the max age into Scouting so that Venturing numbers would grow, kinda like what they did in the 1950s or 60s with Explorers if memory serves. Once you hit X age, you are automatically aged out and need to join a crew. I'm justing reporting what I read, I believe it was on some Innovation ideas website.

OGE, If they did this they may lower the upper limit of Scouting to 14 or 15. I read somewhere that someone proposed lowerign the max age into Scouting so that Venturing numbers would grow, kinda like what they did in the 1950s or 60s with Explorers if memory serves. Once you hit X age, you are automatically aged out and need to join a crew. I'm justing reporting what I read, I believe it was on some Innovation ideas website.

BP, I would have to disagree as the CO does have a major say in how units do things as they own the unit. One example I know of is a CO wanted a member of their church as SM, and they turned down a non-member for that role who the parents and scouts wanted. Bad move on the COs part, yep, BUT it is their program. Also from my brief experience with the UK's Scout Association, that is how it is done: troops can be all male ( I saw a few of those) all female (saw 1 of those), or coed (saw the most of).

I took the online version of Dis Com training b/c for whatever reason PDL-1 didn't qualify . I did pass it. However it did take me a very long time to finish it, kept getting interrupted by the kids. I believe they now have a timelimit of 45 minutes for that course, but don't quote me on it. I did in in abut 2 hours, again with interruptions. As for the CS side, according to national BALOO and Webelos Outdoor training are NOT required to be fully trained, just top take you pack/den camping. Even then only 1 leader in the pack needs BALOO, and it could be the brand new TCDL

From what I am hearing, all leaders must complete basic training, i.e. earned the trained strip, or the charter gets placed on hold. At leaste that is what I am getting from DesASM's post. Another thing I've heard, stressing the HEARD so take it with a grain of salt, is that if you don't meet the basic trained requirements, then the leader will be pulled from the charter. All I know is that i am emphasising trainging NOW to my pack, and will be bringing up the topic at RT this week.

Hey I found another use for the "smokes pocket:" i can put my rain cover in it!