fgoodwin

One more thing to keep in mind re: shirt color: Webelos Scouts may wear a blue web belt with Webelos buckle with their blue uniform or with the tan & olive uniform. Or they may wear the olive belt with the tan & olive uniform. If the family decides to go with the tan shirt and olive pants, they should remember that the Academic & Sports beltloops will only fit the blue web belt; they won't fit on the olive Boy Scout belt. Some take issue with Webelos wearing the blue web belt with olive slacks, but the Cub Scout Leader Book specifically authorizes this combination under the section on Uniforms & Insignia.

The decision to go from blue to tan, or stay with blue, is up to the boy's family -- it cannot be dictated by the pack or by the den. I've heard of some packs that require first year Webelos to stay in blue and don't allow tan until the second year, but I find no support for such a limitation in the Insignia Guide. I don't have a Webelos HB in front of me, but I believe it states that the choice of shirt color is up to the boy's family. Remember that the Webelos diamond may be worn on the tan shirt, but the Webelos oval may not be worn on the blue shirt -- the families should keep that in mind as they make their decisions.

Use of a den emblem is optional for Webelos dens -- some packs limit their use to second year Webelos dens, but I find no support for that limitation in the Insignia Guide. My experience is that the boys like den emblems, and only rarely are they not able to settle on an emblem that's agreeable to all. As a former WDL, the only limit I put on their choice was that they select from among the "standard" patrol patches available at our Scout Shop.

Not trying to hijack the thread, but I wanted to respond to Bob's comment about others not posting their bios, despite repeated requests to do so. I posted my bio when I first joined this forums several years ago. It didn't "stick" -- after a while, it disappeared and I had to repost it. This happened several times; after 3-4 tries, I gave up and left it blank. Recently, I posted my bio again -- it appears to be holding; but if it disappears again, I'm giving up permanently. Maybe Bob's been lucky and this hasn't happened to him, but I know I'm not the only one who's had this happen. So it isn't always just a case of adults being secretive or stubborn (not that Bob was implying that).

USS Boy Scout May 5th, 2008 Deborah Hendrick Maybe the Boy Scouts of American should lobby the U.S. Navy for a new USS Boy Scout, in time for the BSA centennial. This fast (26.2 mph) craft was ordered delivered to the Navy on 5 May 1917, and became USS Boy Scout (SP-53). She was subsequently sent overseas for aviation service. Underway, circa 1916-1917. [excerpted]

scoutingmama, I understand your predicament -- really. But your troop is under zero obligation to accept non-Scouting work for advancement unless proud papa can provide proof to the contrary. Just because troop XYZ does something wrong doesn't make it binding on your troop. Make proud papa go back and return with some real evidence, and if he can't maybe he should join troop XYZ. I'm sorry I can't be of more help, but the fact is, these kinds of requests could take on infinite forms -- it simply isn't your job (or ours) to prove proud papa's case -- its solely up to him. If he claimed it, he has to prove it, simple as that. Good luck.

briantshore, its not up to you to prove the complainants' case -- if they claim you're doing it wrong, its up to them to produce evidence of that. Until then, you're doing it right as far as I'm concerned, and until they can produce something to the contrary, with all due respect, I wouldn't waste another second worrying about it.

I don't mean to pick on Scoutingmama, but I've seen this type of question so many times, I have to ask myself why? Person A tells person B something, then person B asks person C to prove that person A was either right or wrong. In this case, this forum is person C. The burden of proof is always on the person making the claim. I get this kind of request even at work (where I'm person C) -- but I usually stop it dead in its tracks by asking B to go back to A and ask him or her where they got their info, or to provide more info. I find this request so odd, and yet people make these requests all the time -- what am I missing here? If A claimed to have a UFO, why would B ask C to prove or disprove it? Again, I don't mean to pick on the OP, because like I said, I hear this all-too-often, even in non-Scouting contexts.

Welcome to the Forums, pohsuwed. I have mixed feelings about the knot, but since I didn't earn a single MB, let alone all of them, my opinion hardly counts (and as others have said, don't palms already serve that function?). Anyway, I like the idea of a registry of Scouts who've accomplished the feat.

My own WB course experience was a very close second, but I think my best training experience as a participant was "Training Cub Scout Leaders" at PTC, summer of '04. The combination of wonderful instructors and motivated classmates was outstanding. And of course, its hard to beat the experience of Philmont, even for those of us at PTC who didn't spend our nights in the mountains on the trail.

JR's wallet was returned: Scout who returned wallet with $800 gets own wallet returned The Associated Press Article Last Updated: 05/02/2008 06:53:56 AM MDT DORR, Mich. - An 11-year-old Boy Scout who found and returned a wallet containing more than $800 has received some good karma for his good deed. Thanks to publicity about his action, J.R. Bouterse (rhymes with "doubters") has gotten his own lost wallet back. J.R. found the wallet of Jessica Cutler last month in a church parking lot, not long after losing his own at an Easter egg hunt. Meanwhile, Nancy Bosse and her 6-year-old granddaughter found the boy's wallet at the park where the egg hunt took place. There was roughly $30 in it, but no ID. But they were able to get it back to J.R. after learning of his own act of honesty. [excerpted]

Manyhats, welcome to the Forums. Cub Scouters may wear an OA Flap if they are paid-up members of the Order. To become a member, adults (who weren't members of OA as a youth) must be nominated, as John explained. Its not something you can join by simply filling out a form. If an adult was in OA as a youth, they just need to pay their current dues to be considered a member of the local Lodge and thus wear the Lodge flap. OA members are not supposed to wear flaps from an old Lodge where they are no longer resident, but I don't know anyone who goes around looking for such things. My understanding is, that once you're a member of OA, you're a member for life, paid dues or not. But "lapsed" members may not wear a Lodge flap. Probably TMI, but just wanted to put that on the record . . .

Boy Scouts of America Silver Dollar Centennial Commemorative Coin http://tinyurl.com/5wvoc8 By CoinNews.net on Apr 28th, 2008 A new House bill recently introduced to celebrate the centennial of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) with the minting of a commemorate silver dollar has exceptionally strong bipartisan support. Rep Pete Sessions [R-TX] introduced the new bill on April 22, 2008. The bill looks to be soundly popular with an already 296 cosponsors lined up to provide their early signature for the "100 Years of Scouting" commemorative coin. In addition to the commemorative coin initiative, Sessions is also building support for a U.S. postage stamp to celebrate 100 Years of Scouting. Currently, Sessions has garnered the support of over 320 Senators and Members of Congress for a letter to the U.S. Postmaster General, requesting a commemorative stamp for the 100th anniversary of Boy Scouts of America. In 1960, the United States Postal Office celebrated the Boy Scouts of Americas 50th Anniversary with the introduction of the 4 cent commemorative stamp depicting a Scout holding up the Scout sign. [excerpted]

Sylvar writes:I think you are at the same point I was when I was told that the new boys could not use the things they had done at the camporee because they weren't already working with a MBC.....I don't get it either.Then I guess at this point, if I were you, I'd ask the SM for a minute of his time (don't try to corner him during a troop meeting, for example -- because everybody wants his time then). When you have his undivided attention, I'd ask him: what was the point in sending the Scouts to a camporee, the purpose of said camporee being to work on MB requirements, if you are going to turn right around and deny any and all partials? It seems kinda senseless to me -- what exactly is accomplished by that other than the boys thinking (rightfully so, IMNSHO) that the adults in the troop have no clue?

Mark your calendars for the next Hallmark Holiday: National Get Outdoors Day, June 14. BSA is a national sponsor of this event. For more info, see: Get Outdoors USA! http://www.getoutdoorsusa.org/ National Get Outdoors Day -- June 14 http://www.nationaloutdoors.net/national-get-outdoors-day-june-14 National Get Outdoors Day Update http://www.funoutdoors.com/node/view/2046 National Get Outdoors Day is a new event to help kids connect with nature http://www.americantrails.org/resources/kids/getoutdoorsday.html

sylvar, in response to my question about who authorized the Scouts to work on MBs at the camporee answers:goodwin, to your point - No one. The camporee was greared towards a particular setof MBs and any boy who had participated in an earlier event knew that certain topics would be covered and used for MB completion.OK, I'm still confused (but then, why should today be any different??) Most Scouts don't show up at a camporee by themselves, right? Didn't your troop attend this camporee as a troop, with one or more patrols? If so, and if the SM knew the purpose of the camporee was to work on MBs, then where's his beef? Sorry, I still don't get it . . .

I had mixed-feelings about this when I first saw it on a blog (the article is over two weeks old, but it was news to me). I think I come down on the side of the park ranger (or whoever it was) who said the increased connectivity may incent more people to get outside and visit our state parks. I understand those who say getting away from it all should mean disconnecting, and in general, that's what I do, especially on weekend campouts. But like many others, if I'm gone a week or more, my company and my boss expect me to be available, at least for emergencies. So having connectivity makes it easier for me to take my vacations, but help out if absolutely necessary (and admittedly, those cases have been rare in my own situation).

GB: I haven't read the book, but I did see the movie. Chris wanted to get away from civilization, but it was civilization that made it possible for him to get away. How far would he have gotten had he not bought that bag of rice, but had to fend for his own food? The clothes on his back were made by the very civilization he was trying to escape. How long would he have survived without that bus in the middle of nowhere? His escape would not have been possible without civilization. You don't see any irony in that?

State parks blaze trails for wireless Internet service April 10, 2008 By Gary Stoller, USA TODAY Outdoor enthusiasts may dislike the idea of a laptop in every tent, but the number of state parks with wireless Internet service is growing rapidly. State officials say park users want Wi-Fi, so parks are installing it in campgrounds, lodges and visitors centers. Some states, including Tennessee and Kansas, plan to equip every park with it. According to a USA TODAY survey, 28 states have at least one park with wireless Internet service. Officials who were surveyed say that of 3,208 state parks, 194, or 6%, have either free or pay-per-use Wi-Fi. Often it is at a single location, such as a campground or a lodge lobby. A 50-state USA TODAY survey found that 28 states have installed Wi-Fi in at least one of their parks. ST #parks Wi-Fi Parks with Wi-Fi ====================================================================== AL 22 11 Blue Springs, Buck's Pocket, Cheaha, DeSoto, Frank Jackson, Gulf, Lake Guntersville, Lakepoint, Monte Sano, Oak Mountain, Joe Wheeler AK 22 0 AR 52 6 Bull Shoals, Crowleys Ridge, DeGray Lake, Lake Dardanelle, Mount Magazine, Queen Wilhelmina AZ 30 0 CA 278 50 See: CO 42 2 Chatfield, Cherry Creek CT 106 0 DE 15 0 FL 161 0 GA 45 13 Amicalola Falls, General Coffee, George L. Smith, George T. Bagby, Gordonia-Alatamaha, Indian Springs, John Tanner, Little Ocmulgee, Sapelo Island, Red Top Mountain, Skidaway Island, Smithgall Woods, Unicoi HI 54 0 IA 48 0 ID 20 2 Bruneau Dunes, Ponderosa IL 44 5 Giant City, Pere Marquette, Starved Rock, Wayne Fitzgerrell, White Pines IN 24 7 Brown County, Clifty Falls, Fort Harrison, McCormick's Creek, Pokagon, Spring Mill, Turkey Run KS 24 2 Elk City, Tuttle Creek KY 53 17 Barren River Lake, Blue Licks Battlefield, Buckhorn Lake, Carter Caves, Cumberland Falls, Dale Hollow Lake, General Butler, Greenbo Lake, Jenny Wiley, Kenlake, Kentucky Dam Village, Lake Barkley, Lake Cumberland, Natural Bridge, Pennyrile Forest, Pine Mountain, Rough River Dam LA 20 4 Bayou Segnette, Fairview-Riverside, Fontainebleau, Poverty Point Reservoir MA 338 0 MD 49 0 ME 32 0 MI 98 5 Holland, Grand Haven, Ludington, Mears, Traverse City MN 66 0 MO 84 2 Bennett Spring, Roaring River MS 25 0 MT 50 0 NC 32 1 Haw River ND 15 2 Fort Abraham Lincoln, Lewis & Clark NE 8 1 Eugene T. Mahoney NH 72 0 NJ 42 0 NM 34 0 NV 12 0 NY 178 0 OH 74 17 Alum Creek, Burr Oak, Deer Creek, Dillon, East Harbor, Geneva, Grand Lake St. Marys, Hueston Woods, Jackson Lake, Maumee Bay, Mohican, Mosquito Lake, Punderson, Pymatuning, Rocky Fork, Salt Fork, Shawnee OK 50 1 Sequoyah OR 236 3 Harris Beach, South Beach, Valley of the Rogue PA 117 0 RI 10 0 SC 39 4 Devils Fork, Hickory Knob, Myrtle Beach, Table Rock SD 12 0* TN 54 6 Fall Creek Falls, Henry Horton, Montgomery Bell, Natchez Trace, Paris Landing, Pickwick Landing TX 84 16 Balmorhea, Bastrop, Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley, Big Bend Ranch, Blanco, Cedar Hill, Davis Mountains, Galveston Island, Goose Island, Government Canyon, Hueco Tanks, Inks Lake, McKinney Falls, Ray Roberts Lake, Seminole Canyon, Tyler, Washington-on-the-Brazos UT 42 1 Willard Bay VT 52 2 Burton Island, Seyon Lodge VA 34 3 Hungry Mother, Claytor Lake, Douthat WA 120 1 Fort Worden WV 35 10 Blackwater Falls, Cacapon, Canaan Valley, Chief Logan, Hawks Nest, North Bend, Pipestem, Stonewall, Twin Falls, Tygart Lake WI 41 0 WY 13 0 * Wi-Fi is available in Oahe Downstream state recreation area [excerpted]

I second OGE's point. It was one thing for Chris to disavow civilization, but who exactly provided him a gun, boots, clothes, etc.? If Chris had truly disavowed civilization and all its trappings, meaning he didn't use any manufactured clothes, boots, backpacks, ropes, knives, guns, the bus, etc., I wonder just how long he would've survived? Probably not long. His entire journey was made possible by the very clock-punchers that he disdained.

As others have said, a MBC does not have to accept partials completed at a camporee, summer camp, under another MBC, or elsewhere. But having said that, I have to ask: who authorized your boys to work on MBs at the camporee? If your SM authorized them to do this, then I'd say he (or she) waived any right to object that he (or she) hadn't previously signed a blue card and assigned an MBC. That really sounds kinda ticky-dot to me . . .

Willingandable, welcome to the forums. If your pack doesn't have one, you need to get a copy of teh Cub Scout Leader Book -- it outlines the responsibilities of teh membership & registration chair. As a former Pack CC, I worked closely with my membership chair to ensure the membership forms were correct, and timely entered into Pack Master (your pack may use a different program). Only a few people had write access to PM: me, the CM, the membership chair and the advancement chair. All the DLs had read access, to check accuracy. The CM and I usually planned the membership drives, but with input from the membership chair and other committee members and DLs. The membership chair also played a large role during recharter, to ensure the council records were accurate and complete.

Its probably not the answer you want to hear, but someone must've made the statement that lead to the question, so you should ask them to support their claim. I've never understood why it is that when person A tells person B something, person B then asks person C (i.e., this Forum) to prove it -- go back and make person A (the original claimant) prove their claim! Alternatively, you could contact your local council pro responsible for risk-assessment matters and ask him or her. Anything we tell you is just an opinion -- your council may see things differently than my council. So they (and of the course, the original claimant) are in the best position to give you info relevant to your situation.

Vickie, please don't take offense. I don't know Rick personally, but I've read enough about and by him that I dare say he meant that remark facetiously, or perhaps even as a slight dig at those who might've been suggesting that it was Margaret's problem, not ours. In any event, tone doesn't come across very well on the Internet.

That's good to know -- I've never met David, but I've read his postings here and elsewhere and really appreciate his efforts to research the origins of Scouting.