epalmer84

I agree with ScoutDadof5 just ask. It is possible he got the knot mixed up with something else. There are a group of us working to expand the Wikipedia material, so it would be nice to get any information if he really does have a Silver Buffalo. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Buffalo_Award http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recipients_of_the_Silver_Buffalo_Award Ed

To go back to the original question here... "the flag patch on the left sleeve of a uniform should have the union to the viewer's left while a patch on the right sleeve should be displayed with the union to the viewer's right so that, in both cases, the flag is facing forward and is streaming to the back as the person moves forward." This came from: http://flagandbanner.com/fab/flag.asp?cpage=etiquette1#3 To expand this a bit, it actually says: The National Flag Foundation suggests "...we RECOMMEND that the flag patch on. . ." emphasis added Let's look at the current version of the U.S. Flag Code as shown by the Government Printing Office: http://www.access.gpo.gov/uscode/title4/chapter1_.html Under Sec. 8. Respect for flag., we will find: "(j) No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations." That's it. There is no specification for the manner in which the flag patch is worn. If you want the reference for the U.S. Army, AR 670-1 is available at: http://www.usapa.army.mil/pdffiles/r670_1.pdf Page 241 shows: "(2) The full-color U.S. flag cloth replica is worn so that the star field faces forward, or to the flags own right. When worn in this manner, the flag is facing to the observers right, and gives the effect of the flag flying in the breeze as the wearer moves forward. The appropriate replica for the right shoulder sleeve is identified as the reverse side flag." So, the military does it one way and the BSA does it another; both are correct. What is the fuss? Ed P.

We hold the Iditarod in conjunction with, but separate from Klondike Derby. Iditarod is for Venturers and senior Scouts. They build and sleep in survival shelters on Friday night and participate in an advanced program on Saturday. Ed

Now I know what ScoutPride is; I had never heard of this group. As for the knot: "It helps identify scouts and scouters who are safe to approach and are supportive of those who are currently threatened with exclusion from Scouting, thereby contributing to a healthier environment for the youth in the program." This seems to make the presumption that the knot will be recognized. Ed

The Inclusive Scouting Award was from the Coalition for Inclusive Scouting, a now defunct group that was associated with Scouting for All. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coalition_for_Inclusive_Scouting Ed

Beavah has the right of it ScoutNet is the official record. When a Scout makes Life, we get a printout of his record and bump it against our TroopMaster records and resolve any discrepancies then. It is good to keep the cards. It is nice to look back after thirty years and see those signatures on the cards. Ed

Yes when you try to calculate the total through the history of the badge, you get a lot of bumps that skew the numbers. You get a better number if you do it by year. In 2006, there were 51,728 Eagle Scouts awarded. There were 922,836 Boy Scout age members. The makes it 5.6% for 2006. But, this is still wrong. We are counting the total Boy Scout pool, but only those who have earned Life are actually eligible for Eagle. And we are not counting male Venturers who have earned Life in that pool, because we don't have a number. http://www.scouting.org/media/review/2006.html Ed

I believe this might be referring to the article in the October issue of Scouting: http://www.scoutingmagazine.org/issues/0710/a-trail.html Ed

We had a long discussion on this here some time back. A total of 1,835,410 Scouts have earned Eagle Scout as of the end of 2005; out of 83,486,083 Scouts since 1911, this is about 2 percent of the BSA membership. In 2005, 49,895 Eagle Scout awards were presented, about 5 percent of the 2005 membership. One problem is in how you count the total number of Scouts. Does the total include those ineligible for Eagle like Cub Scouts, female Venturers and Venturers over 21? We just don't have all of the numbers from National to figure this out. You also have to understand that Eagle Scout was part of the merit badge program until 1927, and adults could earn Eagle until 1952. Ed

> #4 NESA Outstanding Scoutmaster - white knot on khaki backgroun Sorry that is the Scoutmaster Award of Merit. The same knot is also used for the Varsity Scout Coach Award of Merit and the Venturing Advisor Award of Merit. And, no, I don't know why there is not one for the Cubmaster or Skipper. Ed

The Camp Chef Ultimate Dutch Oven comes with a lid lifter that fits in the oven. My parents gave me a Lewis and Clark Lodge Dutch oven and a Lodge lifter some time back after a visit to the Lodge factory outlet; the lifter is too long to fit in the oven. One of our assistant Scoutmsters made a number of lifters out of flat stock some time backthey fit in the oven and have a back tang so you can lift the lid firmly. Ed

Camp Chef is another manufacturer of Dutch ovens: http://campchef.com/catalog/cat/7/0/0/Dutch+Ovens.html With the burn bans in effect over the last few years, I invested in their Ultimate Dutch Oven. You can use it on charcoal or on a propane cooker; I use the cooker from my turkey fryer. The "bundt cake pan" design allows it to work as a convection oven, and inde you can place a bundt cake pan in it and cook some great bread or a breakfast ring with biscuits eggs and sausage. Ed

Sounds like a cool game. I have all of the current knots on a poster in Word or PDF format if you would like. Good luck with the Explorer Silver Award knot: it has been used for at least four different awards. Ed

Another technique is to used a pie pan in the dutch oven supported by a trivet or three small rocks. You could bake cornbread in a pie pan and then fix a batch of chili in the oven.

It is interesting that Army uniforms were mentioned. The last time the U.S. Army changed their dress uniform (eliminated khakis and changed tan shirts to gray-green), the BSA came out with a new uniform (1980 was an expensive year). Now that the Army is changing their dress uniform again (eliminating greens and whites and keeping only blues) we now hear that the BSA may be changing. Ed

No, there are no emblems for patrol level QM and scribe. I will have to disagree with local1400; using PORs withing a patrol is a good thing. We don't use QM or scribe in patrols, but we do use a "grubmaster" selected by the patrol leader for each campout who is in charge of the food. Ed

Let me know the format. Ed

Take a look at this one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:First_Class.svg It is SVG so you can delete the scroll. Let me know if you need help. More logos in PNG and SVG format at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Boy_Scouts_of_America_logos We have a new editor who is *very* sharp at graphics who is cleaning up my SVGs so check back for more. Images in the other categories have not been cleaned up at all. Ed

Color coded? We could move up technologically and have them barcoded. Ed

Some lucky few of us get double posts every time. And no, they don't count as two separate messages. No one has been able to figure this out. Ed

"The veteran award is an adult recognition. However, tenure earned as a youth may be included in the total number of years registered." http://www.meritbadge.com/files/veteran.pdf Ed

Just a few ramblings: *Do away with the medals for adults; we never wear them *Either make the square knots smaller or develop a pin-on backing so they can be used for formal wear *Develop one uniform for everyone (yes, including Sea Scouts) *Simplify the rest of the bling Ed

The BSA site ad a headline about a TV series on Scouting. This was a month or so ago and I can't find it refreenced now. Ed

John has the right of it. Troop Program Resources, Troop Program Features and Woods Wisdom are not locally reproduceable bin items. There is a BSA policy that council and district websites do not post non-bin literature. Ed

If it is a matter of attendance, there is not much you can do but to try to contact him and see where the problem lies. If you do remove him for attendance, you owe him a phone call or a note. If it is a performance issue, allangr1024 has the right idea. Counsel and review. Set goals. Try to find out what the problems are. If he feels he has too many schedule conflicts or other issues, then he should be the one to step down. Ed