frank10

When I was in his shoes I opted to wait until I could do it for real or not at all. (shattered my left hip at the Klondike Derby back in 1980.) 4 years as a tenderfoot scout and 28 as a Scouter since and I still don't know if I made the right choice but I wanted my advancement 100% by the book. (I needed 5 miles w/ pack for hiking Skill award.)

Wow, great ideas, I never thought about using rank patches to order the photos. Scoutmaster spread is also a good clue. May even have to check our local camp's patch collection to see if that helps. One clue that will not work in this case is the sneakers. You see, this troop is from Naugatuck CT, the town where Charles Good year invented rubber. The main drag in town is Rubber Ave. And no one in town ever wore anything except Keds. As a matter of fact, most of their parents and later them selves worked in the factor that made them. If you couldn't afford to buy them, you got them from the basement where they kept the seconds, and if you couldn't afford seconds, you signed up to wear test a pair for a month and then turned them in for another pair for the next month. As a matter of fact, you could even get a job walking around down town wearing one red and one blue sneaker. The reason for the mismatch was that Uniroyal would pay you to snitch on them if they were caught sitting in a diner or such. As for the Scoutmaster spread, we were also the home of the Peter Paul Candy company (Almond Joy, Mounds and York Peppermint Patties ) Thanks all for your help.

Can any one help put a date to these photos? http://www.onmyhonor.com/troophist/ I know there's not much to go on, but maybe a history buff here can spot something on the uniforms that will give a clue.

It is not a squirt gun it is a cordless hose.

They are back and they feel nice! They are great with a pair of cowboy boots. Wish I could afford to wear them daily but I do evil things to socks and even the best won't last long on my feet.

Our public schools are still going. They are making up all the days they were sitting home waiting for the National Guard to finish removing the snow off the roofs of the schools. I'll be going to my first day camp July 11. Looking forward to it. Where else can I act like a fool and be seen as a hero all at the same time?

"Over the past two years 80% of the Lion Cubs transitioned to Tiger Cubs. " Just what I want to hear, they lose 20% a year and in 5 years they have no one moving up to the troop.

I also send my shirts out. Trick is finding a cleaner that will respect the patches and not fold them over and crease them too.

Give me the new SM's name and address so I can give him the best gift a SM could ever get, A copy of your post. Let him read it! Do it now before he is set in his ways so much that he can't let go. Also assure him that if he lets go it will only get better for the boys and for himself. He will have more fun that he ever imagined he could if he lets the boys lead. If he is doing the SPL/PL job he is not doing his own job of training the leaders.

I think Merle Got it right when he sang - "Mama tried to raise me better, but her pleading, I denied. That leaves only me to blame 'cos Mama tried." (That's Merle Haggard in case your too young to know, look it up, embrace your redneck side and hear real music for a change! Ahh kids today with there sorry excuse for music)

"I still feel like I am "new to scouting." Does anyone else feel that way?" 27 years for me and YES!

We got shut down by lightning. Bummer.

I hope I'm not too late to chime in... I like baked potatoes cooked in tin foil and loaded as you like.... Chili, cheese, bacon, broccoli, mushrooms, Hot peppers onions, butter, sour cream and what ever else you can find. Add in Corn on the cob if it is in season and fresh picked.

Either the camps you go to suck or you are not using them to your advantage.Camp read will provide anything I ask them for. If I want to cook in site, I will get a crate of food at the back door of the dinning hall, if I want to climb Mt Stevens and sleep out, they will help me do it. Zip line? cope? greased watermellon? Yes, Yes, Yes. 5 nights on the trail, sure, just ask. 4 Merit badges? well, they wont say no, but what a waste of a good camp. I warn my guys not to sign up for too much as we have so much to do that we can't do at home. But If you just take what is in the camp booklet, well, no wonder you don't like camp. BTW: my boys like to eat in the dinning hall, they get 30 nights of cooking on our other camp outs each year.

Pick one person. Tell them "I know you don't want to be ADL And I know you are busy but I need you and the boys need you. You are the person I feel could do the best at this." That person will either 1) sign on and fill the position or 2) never look you in the eye again. At that point he owns the failure or success of his sons den. If #2, move on to your next choice...

Best tip I can offer for AF isn't for the feet... When getting dressed, put on your socks before you put on your underwear. Keeps the AF on the feet and away from other body parts.

I find that it is bad for the troop and bad for the marriage.

double post.(This message has been edited by wingnut)

Back to the Permission Slip for youth... When I was a kid, we had a teenager run away from home and join a camp out. He agued with his father and then failed to show up at home after school. Father didn't know where he was and didn't know we were out on a camping trip. Now that I am a scouter, I get the parents to sign the in at the parking lot before each trip.Ath that time they get a copy of where to find us and we get a contact number from them.

Looks great but too rich for my blood.

I'm not crying, I have something in my eye.

The only differences between a cub and a cub master is the size of the uniform and the CM gets to drive the car. If your not having fun your not doing it right. Let the kids drag you down to their level, you will be a better man for it.

I like the Stanley Job Box. http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202300294/h_d2/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&keyword=309525&jspStoreDir=hdus&Nu=P_PARENT_ID&navFlow=3&catalogId=10053&langId=-1&ddkey=Search I use a pair of them for work. I slam them around, stand on them use them as saw horses or as a table for my chop saw. Great boxes but not cheap. ($60)

AnnLaurelB: If you have issues with 1st-5th graders EATING Pla-Doh, you have bigger problems than activities. ;0) Nope, no issue with it, I read the can, it says non toxic right on the side. No issue at all. As long as there is enough for every one the can eat all they want. (grin)

I'll whine and I'll complain to anyone who will listen but in the end I'll pay for it. Look at he numbers, If I need 5 gallons to get to camp and back, at $3 it was $15 at 5 if's $25, the $15 isn't going to make or break me. And week end at camp will always be cheaper than a week end at home for me.