Fat Old Guy

"Great question, and when we can answer that, we can answer why hot dog makers and bun makers don't get together on how many of each to put in their packages..." It seems that they have. The last hot dogs that I bought came eight to the package, just like the buns.

Bob, do you know of actual units that are in these situations?

"Somestimes Outdoor Thinker can be so silly, measure first? Thats like asking for directions or reading the insructions, its unseemly,unnatural,unmanly," By this statement we can construe that you think that Jesus was unmanly. Indeed, I think that Rooster and others may take exception to that.

"Let me make a stab at the questions. One Troop A is in deep danger and will be hard to turn around. There is something wrong when a unit loses 50% in a year. Meeting once a month is not enough and I am assuming that by the absence of comment they are not have an outing a month either. There is a lack of program to attract new Scouts." Where's you get that they were only meeting once a month? It says that they camp once a month. As for the 50% loss, what caused it? Did the Boys drop? Did the local aero-space plant lay-off 2,000 workers who then moved? Do we know that Troop B isn't an advancement mill. Bob White says that advancement is the residue (interesting choice of words) of a good program which is true. However, advancement is also the residue of a bad program. Does troop B swap Patrol Leaders every six months just so Scouts can advance? Are the elections elections or they thinly disguised appointements? Are the troop meeetings merit badge mills to promote advancement?

Hopper said, "I saw on Cops today that the police department they were following had on green shoulder loops similar to what Venturers wear." You should know that they Army uses (or used to use. who can keep track) green loops for combat leaders. Bob White opined without answering the question, "It is the emblem of the program affiliation and can be worn on the right sleeve of any Venturing uniform" Doesn't the "Venturing, BSA" strip serve that function on the green shirt?

"I do not have a copy in front of me, but I believe that the Cub Scout Academics and Sports guide states that the program is specificaly for Cub Scouts and that it can be earned by Tigers, Wolves, Bears and Webelos, but not by adults." That's because before the program changed, adults could earn the pins (if memory serves) by helping their son earn the pin.

OT said, " I dont have to explain why/how I am a Boy Scout" But you aren't, no more than my son is a Cub Scout. As Bob said, it will take time before any of the Venturing awards get public recognition, if they ever do. Venturing isn't part of the public's lexicon yet and I'm not even sure if it is part of the lexicon of most Scouts or Scouters. Many still seem confused by the idea of a Venture Crew vice a Venture Patrol, especially since the Venture Patrol was once called a Venture Crew. Dale said, "Why national decided to put Sea Scouting in Venturing is beyond me.." It had to go somewhere and had been part of Exploring for many, many years.

"Go to Plan C: Follow the Colors set up by the Service Star Backings." That would have made sense about 20 years ago. As I recall, the tassles on the sock garters followed the service star backings. However, bigger minds than ours made the decisions and we showing disloyalty by voicing our opinions. "-That there [sic] decision was made without the input of front line volunteers." With the "firm guidance" of the professionals. Still waiting for an explanation of the purpose of the "Venturing patch" on the right sleeve.(This message has been edited by Fat Old Guy)

LOL! Boy is this an obvious attempt to create a skewed problem if there ever was one but there isn't enough information to even think about solutions.

Are they sure it is him and not one of his hundreds of impersantors? If it is him, what now? Will he come to America, be tried and get to spend his life in Club Fed? Will he be handed over to the Iraqis who might be like the citizens of DC and put him back in power? Or will the Iraqis stone him with pieces of his statues?

" And this time I'm not trying to be smart with you either, I just would like to know what you think they are wasting money on." There's an entire office building in Virgina, near Dulles Airport that is empty and going to waste. Oddly, if a building is built for the Federal Gov., it doesn't have to meet code. Well, this building doesn't meet code and the agency that had it built wouldn't move in and is leasing space elsewhere. How do I know about this? A friend in the GAO done tol' me about it.

I think that they are trying to help you by pointing out that you project isn't up to snuff. Blood drives are wonderful things, very important to the community BUT . . . . (I digress) Many years ago a wise man told me, "if you ask someone's opinion, just keep your mouth shut, listen and say 'Thank you'." He meant, don't try to defend yourself (unless he thinks that you want to do a "dog drive" instead of a blood drive) or argue. Just listen and think about what they said. Most of us ask for opinions and advice in the hopes that the person that we ask will agree with us. Sometimes that's the case but often it isn't. Listen, think about what was said. (back to the BUT) . . . does it show leadership? I don't recall anyone saying that your project isn't good for the community. It looks like everyone is saying that it doesn't show much in the way of leadership and, FWIW, I agree. Your example of the Scout in Mississippi who ran a blood drive is an excellent attempt at misdirection. The fact that the Scout died is irrelevant to this discussion. Many years ago, a local Scout ran a blood drive for his Eagle project. How it got past the committee, I don't know as I was still with Cub Scouts at the time. I do know that it was a lot of work. He found donors, found a site for the blood drive, arranged everything. The whole event was a success except that the Eagle Board decided that he didn't show enough leadership and they shot him down. He had to start from scratch with a new project.

"Women simply have an orgami gene whereas most males don't. Meaning we're forced to find out how incompentant we really are as it's Mother Nature way of keeping us humble before our women folk." Maybe that's the modern western way of thinking but all of the great Oragami artist have been men.

"If Venturing had white loops then maybe we would not need the big white redundant Venturing patch on the right sleeve..." I've wondered about the purpose of that patch. Isn't there an official admonition to keep the uniform uncluttered? Oh well, I suppose that since it is in the Insignia Guide, the patch must make perfect sense and if we question it, we are disloyal.

Made me look. You really got me on that one. You must have a special "Bob White" version of the application.

" If you know what is down the trail, over the hill, down the river why go." Why go on a roller coaster? After all, you know what the end is like. The answer is the thrill of the ride.

"So we are to blindly follow a program the BSA says works but has no actual proof that it does work?" Yes, of couse you are.

"wonders if Camp FOG will have the Bob White Nature/Conservation Education Pavillion" Since Bob White is such a by-the-book fellow, I was planning on having the "Bob White Library of Scout Literature and Reading Room".

First, I have to ask why anyone would drink Gunniess? Horrible, nasty stuff. Ugh! Now go to the Hallmark store and buy those cutsie bags for packages and some colored tissue paper. Stuff a present into the bag, crumple tissue paper and cover the present, tie a tag to the handle and you're done. On Christmas morning, fold the bags neatly and save them for next year. One of the great things about saving wrapings is that it provides another source of memories. As ridiculous or incredible as it may seem, my family is still using wrapping paper from 30 years ago. On Christmas morning you hear, "Hey! I remember this, my new bicycle seat was wrapped in this back in 81." BTW, I learned to wrap packages as a Cub Scout. Maybe that should have been covered in the UK as well :-)

Win the Power Ball and give $2 Million to BSA to have Camp FOG built.

Most Reverend Gabriel Montalvo 3339 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W Washington, DC 20008

" Someone may distract or confuse Cubs/Scouts at some gatherings." I've noticed that only the adults get confused. The kids know who their leaders are. The adults are the ones who think that anyone in a uniform knows everything about every evolution.

"I guess the female ventures don't count, thats ok if you forgot girls can be members of the BSA, lots of other people do." Okay, you want some advice for girls? 1) Learn how to check the air in your tires 2) Learn how to check the oil in your car 3) Learn how to change a tire 4) Believe only 10% of what any guy tells you, especially when he's talking about his feelings.

There are many girls that I should have asked out and many that I should have not taken out. Shoulda bought AOL.

Okay, here's another question. Does the IH listed on the paperwork have to be the actual Prez, Pooh-bah, Commander of the organization or can someone else be designated for purposes of paperwork.