fgoodwin

By law, Congress can authorize no more than two commemorative coins per year. Since 2010 is the Centennial of Scouting, and since Congress charters the BSA, I think it appropriate that one of the two coins for 2010 be a BSA commemorative.

Bass Pro Shop: trade video game for 15% discount on purchase of select gear (May 21-26) http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CFPage?storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&appID=34&template=news_display.cfm&newsID=277 http://tinyurl.com/5rthec Bass Pro Shop wants to get kids outdoors. They are giving a 15% discount on outdoor gear if you bring in a video game to trade in for the discount. Here's more from a Bass Pro press release from a couple of weeks back: One incentive to get more kids to turn off computers and go outdoors is the Video Game Trade-In. For each video game kids and adults bring in Wednesday through Monday, May 21st through 26th, they will receive a 15% discount off the regular price of Bass Pro Shops branded items in fishing, water sports, tents, sleeping bags and footwear. Discounts are not cumulative (i.e., you can't bring in three games and get 45% off)

Representatives who voted against the Boy Scout commemorative coin HR 5872, authorizing the US Mint to issue a coin commemorating BSA's 100th anniversary in 2010, was passed by a vote of 403-8. The eight representatives who opposed the Resolution are: Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Barney Frank (D-MA), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Jim McDermott (D-WA), Pete Stark (D-CA), and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA)

I agree with OGE: let the boys decide. But as a Scouter, there are some factors they might want to consider: (1) Availability: subject to availability, high adventure bases are open every year, for many weeks each year. Jamborees come only once every four years (five years for the Centennial Jamboree), are held for approx. two weeks at a time (and in the case of the 2010 Jambo, is a once-in-a-lifetime event) and slots are a very limited commodity. (2) Cost: Jamboree is a huge investment, because the total Council fee usually adds travel and sightseeing to the National Jambo fee. With high adventure bases, its usually up to the troop to arrange its own transportation, unless traveling as part of a council contingent -- but even then, the total cost of a high adventure trip is usually far less than the total cost of a multi-week trip to Jamboree. (3) Selection & location: could be considered part of the cost and availability equations, but with multiple high adventure bases around the country, you can probably find one to your liking that is closer (and thus cheaper in terms of travel) than the three National High Adventure bases. Jamboree, of course, is offered in just one location (but one that is admittedly near historical sites around the DC-area). Of course, this works both ways so that units near DC may find it much cheaper to go to Jamboree than to a national high adventure base halfway across the country. My recommendation would be to go to Jamboree in 2010 and to a high adventure base either in '09 or '11, assuming the families can stand such a financial hit (whatever happened to the concept of a Scout earning his own way?). But ultimately, the boys should decide.

My son passed his Ordeal this weekend and is now a member of the Brotherhood of Cheerful Service! I plan to give him an OA coin in recognition of this occasion.

I like the fact that you did away with frames. Too often, a well-meaning Scouter would look up an item and post the link here, but the link was to the frame, not the to document or page itself. I see that the search results now take you directly to the page or document, with no frame URL to confuse the issue. I've never cared for frames for that very reason. Thanx for your work and for offering to take feedback from us.

Cub Scout Newsletter, Poster, and Calendar Templates http://tinyurl.com/63vxze Communication is the key to involving Cub Scouts and their families in the activities of the pack. A monthly newsletter and an annual pack calendar can be two of the most important tools in publicizing the pack's excitement and fun year-round. At pack meetings, you can put up a poster-style version of the newsletter to keep everyone informed. *The worksheets are protected without a password to allow changes only in certain cells and prevent mistakes. If you need to change something, go to "Tools, Protection, Unprotect Sheet." When you're done, go to "Tools, Protection, Protect" [excerpted]

Go for it. Just be aware that there is a LOT of ground to cover, so don't even try to see everything. At Jambo 2005, there was a visitor info booth at the main entrance from the parking lot -- do yourself a favor, stop there, and ask the volunteers what they recommend for a Webelos Scout who will be there for only a couple of days. Some events are on certain days, so you may get lucky on the days you are there. But be aware that the more popular shows and almost all activities are limited to paid Boy Scout attendees. Visitors are sometimes allowed in to certain shows on a "stand-by" basis, but when I visited in 2001, I never made it into a show and after wasting a couple of hours only to be disappointed, I decide my time would be better spent checking out exhibits I could actually see (some exhibits are open to everyone and you don't have to show an attendee badge), like the Relationships Tent (for example). At the '05 Jambo, there was Cub Scout exhibit set up near the Relationships Tent which (if they do it again) would be of interest to a Webelos. If you're from outside the DC-No. Virginia area, plan to take some time to take in some of the sights like the Smithsonian and the Newseum -- you never know when you'll make it back. Good luck.

For years, the Oscar de la Renta uniform was labeled for "parlor Scouts" and not functional enough for wear when camping. Scouters longed mightily for a uniform that could actually be worn outdoors, yet still recognizable as a Scout uniform. It seems to me that's exactly what National has done -- now we hear moans that the new uniform isn't formal enough! I guess Lincoln was right: you can't please all of the people all of the time . . .

sctdad: is your council scheduled to send you to National Camp School yet? You don't mention it in your post, but it sounds like you're going to be either the camp director or maybe program director? If so, you must be NCS certified. I've never been to NCS, so I can't tell you what kinds of program ideas or resources they have, but especially for program director, I assume that's a big part of the course. Perhaps others who've been to NCS can chime in with better suggestions. Good luck

See: http://tinyurl.com/3rezc6 Also, look for a copy of "Reverence: A Resource for Interfaith, Christian, Jewish, and Muslim Worship at Scouting Events" (No. 34248) in your Scout Shop. If you have time, google "Scouts Own" for a ton of online resources. Finally, don't let the naysayers get you down -- I think its a great idea, as long as attendance is voluntary.

Somebody posted the new uniform flier (bin 70-134) here: You have to be a member of the Yahoo Group to see it; if anybody has a place they can post it publicly, PM me and I'll send you a copy.

Somebody posted the new uniform flier (bin 70-134) here: You have to be a member of the Yahoo Group to see it; if anybody has a place they can post it publicly, PM me and I'll send you a copy.

SM52: the "Lodge" consists of its OA members (both youth and adult); if the Lodge is inactive, it is because of the members. If the Lodge is to become active, it is up to the boys to make it so.

Quick-thinking Scout saves accident victim from death http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080513/NEWS/805130322 http://tinyurl.com/5t6wck By MELANIE VanDERVEER Pocono Record Writer May 13, 2008 Panic, disbelief and total shock were just a few of the emotions felt by 17-year-old Boy Scout Kevin Mink on Oct. 14, 2007. Mink and his family were on their way to church when they encountered an unbelievable site on the road. What appeared to be an early Halloween prank was in fact a life-or-death situation. "Kevin noticed a shoe in the road and then we saw a woman and little girl running up the road screaming," Mink's mother, Terri, said. "Then we saw the car with legs on the hood sticking out of the windshield. We couldn't see the rest of his body." [excerpted]

Father's last wish for son fulfilled http://tinyurl.com/4r6tx6 Duluth teen becomes Eagle Scout after cancer strikes family By GRACIE BONDS STAPLES The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 05/14/08 Caleb Elder stood with three of his best friends, basking in the moment they'd been certain would come since middle school. They always understood that they'd take this oath, just as they would graduate high school and go on to college. When you move up from Cub Scouts to Boy Scout Troop 2000, you start talking about becoming an Eagle Scout. The path was clear enough: 21 merit badges, a community service project and then he'd be able to put the Eagle clasp on his father's tie, reaching a goal essential to them both. Then Caleb's father was stricken with cancer, and nothing was clear or understood or certain anymore. [excerpted]

sysprog, welcome to the Forums. If this event was organized and promoted during a den or pack meeting, then all the disclaimers in the world don't change the fact that this is a den (and therefore a Cub Scout) event. Two points: (1) Webelos dens may camp as dens -- they don't need to go camping with a troop. And the WDL doesn't need BALOO to take the den camping; in the past, they didn't even need OLS-WL, but that may have changed with the latest Cub Scout Outdoor Program Guidelines, so you should check with your DE or UC about that. (2) But having said all that, they are still Cub Scouts and as such, they are not authorized to shoot BB-guns (let alone .22s) anywhere outside of a council-sponsored activity. And they may not canoe on moving water.

I can't respond to the idea that you don't have to go through the new course in order to teach it, but logic alone dictates that when a course is revised and first rolled-out, by definition there is nobody who has been through it who can teach it the first time! I didn't go through the "old" WB. I was slated to attend the old Cub Trainer WB in NCAC back in 2001-02 when it was canceled because WB21C was being rolled-out. I transferred to a new council in '03 and immediately signed up for WB21C -- it was the second time it had been offered in my new council. So I can't compare the old WB to the new -- but WB21C was still new enough that I heard all the disparaging remarks from "old" WBers, about how we weren't getting the "real" WB experience, because we weren't leaning the 11 leadership skills, how the new course watered down outdoor skills, etc. I hafta say, as someone who was excited to take the new course and with no knowledge of the old, I found such remarks unhelpful, and as a Cub Trainer at the time, I thought such remarks coming from the staff were totally out of line, considering they had (I assume) agreed to teach the new course in accordance with the new syllabus. Now that my council is five years into the new course, you still hear such comments from the "old" WBers every once in a while, but they aren't staffing WB21C because we now have a pool of folks who've been through only WB21C so our courses are now staffed only with graduates of WB21C. But I do get tired of hearing how much better the old WB was . . .

Back in the day before numbered stars, I believe it was acceptable to wear an unnumbered star for every year of service. I can imagine numbered stars were developed to replace the chest full of stars that resulted w/o the numbers.

I know you guys get tired of hearing me say this, but this is another classic example where the OP should be referred back to whoever started this rumor. Technically, Joni4TA did not ask this group to confirm or deny the rumor -- she just kinda tossed it out there, and we all see the result. [edited to add:] I note that FScouter did suggest the OP get it in writing.(This message has been edited by fgoodwin)

OK, I think I got it. I like to think of BSA regs & policies like a recipe -- the recipe tells you how to cook your meal, but even though there is some flexibility in the ingredients, it doesn't (and cannot) list everything you shouldn't add. For example, the recipe does not prohibit you from pouring dirt or sand in your meal, but use of some common sense suggests that you don't do that. Still, there will be those who say, "The recipe doesn't prohibit me from pouring dirt or sand in my meal, so it must be OK!" Well, it might OK for that person, but I won't be joining them for that meal! Thanx

Beavah, I understand what you're saying, and I don't completely disagree. I'm obviously not making my point very well, which also leads to extending threads beyond their useful life. I know the G2SS has a few "thou-shalt-nots" in it. But there's a reason the list of "thou-shat-nots" isn't exhaustive and doesn't claim to be. Like I said, you can never list every situation that is not approved, and even if you tried, the first time someone comes up with a new idea that isn't on the list (but otherwise s/b disapproved), they'll say "hey BSA doesn't disallow it, so it must be OK!" Like I said before, that's the wrong way to read the policy, but there will always be those who look at things that way.

GW: you make a good point, but my general point still stands: if someone makes a claim, its up to them to prove it. Its not up to a third party (like this forum) to prove (or disprove) it.

I didn't know this, but I just found out this week is "Police Week" and May 15 is "Peace Officers Memorial Day" to honor those who have fallen in the line of duty: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/05/20080509-5.html I know this is short notice, but if you have time, it would be great if your pack or den that meets at a public school could make a card thanking the officer that patrols the halls there for his or her service to your fellow students. Mark your calendars for next year so we don't forget the police officers who keep us safe: every May 15 is their memorial day, and the week containing May 15 is Police Week.

Sounds like a great ceremony -- I'll bet your boys and their families will have a great time. Have you asked the other DLs or the Pack Committee if they have any other suggestions?