Stosh

I'm so paranoid of losing my cool I've successfully been able to avoid it. There have been a ton of scouts that have tested my endurance and some have been pretty good at it. What I have found helpful is just before the breaking point, assign an ASM who hasn't been involved in the situation to take over and deal with it. I have good ASM's that understand this and we tag-team the situation when any of us get to that point. This takes a ton of trust in one's ASM's but it has worked for me over the years. Sometimes paranoia is a good thing. At least my scouts get to live another day. Stosh

What has always amazed me is how a boy who can't take care of himself is ever put in a position of trying to take care of others. This is why the POR system falls apart. A patch on the sleeve does not make a leader. If the boy can't function in a position of responsibility he has no business wearing the patch. Why would anyone expect a boy to fulfill a responsibility when they simply can't do it. This is seems to be a receipe for failure in my book. For those who are going to jump on my case about challenging boys, remember the most basic form of leadership requires the boy to first of all be able to care for himself. Once he's mastered that, then taking care of someone else (Buddy System T-9). As the boy matures he takes on more and more challenges until he can lead a patrol of boys, T-8). Once he gets good at patrol work he's eligible for SPL. Too often troops are interested more in getting 6 months of POR in rather than actually doing the job. Then when he gets to his Eagle project where he's expected to demonstrate leadership he's in over his head. Here's where the parents and SM step in a do it for him because from day one he wasn't responsbile for not even himself. Scoutingagain has the correct solution, but I wouldn't stop there. If someone else is better qualified to do the job, they get it, the earned it. ASPL wouldn't be SPL for the day, he'd be SPL until the "former" SPL figured out what leadership is all about. It would seem that leadership in POR patches isn't the same thing as real leadership. Stosh

There are two basic kinds of adding to a requirement in my book. 1) that punishes a boy and holds him back and 2) challenges and encourages him to try something new. If a boy joins a patrol that is brand new, things are exciting and if asked to describe his non-existent patrol flag, expecting him to do something extra just to meet a requirement is unfair to the boy. "You have to do extra to fulfill the requirement?" What if his buddy in the next troop joins a legacy patrol, describe the existing patrol flag and goes on his merry way. On the other hand the boys that design their new flag on a piece of paper of something they hope to make in the next couple of months has in fact described their new flag. To me that is sufficient. The challenge is to come up with the flag sometime in the next couple of months so they have something for their new patrol. If they don't, then maybe they'll get one together the following month, etc. Too often adult expectations have a way of adding just enough straw to make it frustrating to the boy that he eventually quits, or worse yet, didn't do his Eagle project in full uniform so his SM isn't going to sign off. These serious kinds of expectations are not in the best interest of the boys and should be stopped. I knew a boy that organized a church clean up project with landscaping (new addition was put on a church) He had non-scouts working on the project (this was not allowed in my former troop, only scouts in uniform could help on the project. Some of those non-scouts were the youth from the congregation, volunteers from the congregation, and his friends from school. He coordinated the plans designed by adults as to what they wanted for landscaping and his buddies from the troop showed up to help, some in uniform, some not. Adults worked under his supervision and gave specific plans as to what they expected be done. Does that mean the boy didn't do his Eagle project because he didn't do the planning? Or did he show leadership by taking the architects plans and translated it into reality with the use of scout and non-scout resources? Too often narrow definitions serve the scouting leadership to hold back young Eagle candidates, or whatever some SM happens to think is appropriate at the time. This boy that did the church project was 14 and did a fantastic job. Did he get any help from the SM? Nope, I signed his proposal with out reading it, without editing it, without suggesting anything. Just took his proposal as is, signed it and he turned it in, handwritten, I noticed that much when I signed it. Obviously the Review Board thought it was sufficient enough to approve it. I helped rake one day and I shoveled some rock another, but that's all the help he got from the SM. I then signed off on the completed project (that was typed up with a few pictures). As long as the EBOR approves it, why should I pre-approve it? I went last weekend for an Eagle Court of honor for three boys all from the same small troop. Each boy had a chance to address the gathering and all three went into great lengths to thank the SM, ASM's, parents, people for whom the project was done. Most of these thank you's were couched in thanks for the pushing, prodding and guidance they provided for making sure the project got done. It was as if it wasn't for all the adults the projects wouldn't have been completed. That speaks volumes to their system. I hope the only thing the boys ever thank me for is for believing in them and their skills as leaders. If I don't hear that, then I haven't done my job. Stosh

Isn't there something in the Girl Scout manual that talks about the nonos in speedos? Stosh

Here's one that will be fingernails on the chalkboard for some and gut-wrenching for others. Last year at a Civil War reenactment we did 1st MN's fight at Pickett's Charge. After the battle only a handful of men from the original 1,000 man regiment limped back to safety. The "Last Full Measure" is the phrase often used to described these men's sacrifice. Multiple times as we moved forward the flag bearer went down with the colors. Each time the crowed cheered as it was picked up and carried forward once more. Finally when all else failed, the colors were protected by the remaining few as it retreated back to the safety of the federal lines. As adjutant of the regiment I heard many comment it was the most impressive demonstration they have ever seen using the American flag. One woman came to me in tears and asked if any of the men were really hurt, and thanked me for a most impressive display of the importance of the sacrifice the men had showed with the flag. No one ever commented about the flag being on the ground multiple times. It was also surprising that in the excitement of the event, no confederate soldier made an attempt to capture the flag from the Federal forces, which they could have easily broken scenerio and done so. As representing one of the soldiers that survived, it was an emotional experience for me as well. So, the next time the flag touches the ground accidentally, I will always remember seeing the flag lying there in the midst of the confusion flat on the ground and someone stepping up, grabbing it and silently moving it forward once more. Stosh

We do the patrol method in camps. We bring our own food and prep in site. By doing this our local council knocked 25% off the cost of camp. This year we have selected an out-of-council that specializes in patrol method and offers the option of buying camp food or bringing your own for a substantial discount. Just ask, it might be less expensive to go the patrol method. My boys voted unanimously this spring to go to a patrol method specialized camp (our council camp is not) and to plan their own menus and cook in-site. And it wasn't just to save a few bucks. A few years back the boys decided to "summer camp" in BWCA. The cost of the trip with food and gas (500 miles away) was less than going to summer camp in council. We did not use an outfitter, we did patrol method there as well with the boys planning out the whole trip. Stosh(This message has been edited by jblake47)

Remember, you do not live here, you are a guest. If Nature knows you are there, you are probably making too much disturbance. If Nature knows you were there, you probably left a mess. If Nature offers you hospitality, respect it. Stosh

I really like the city, state strips over the council strips. When you go to events you get a chance to know where the scouts are from. Numbers mean nothing to the boys. It's only a way for the council to keep track of troops. Boys want to know where the others are from. Smaller council strips and supplement with city and state. Stosh

I'm beginning to regret having brought up the subject.... Stosh

I have 4 Yucca packs that I use regularly. I have one for my normal weekend packing and a second for the kitchen, a third gets tossed in my vehicle with "just in case" things that I would only need if really necessary, i.e. blanket, extra shoes, heavy duty rain gear, etc. Then I have my BSA rucksack and a old stove pack that I use for my first aid emergency stuff Add to that my 2 qt canteen for backup and a 1 qt canteen for regular use and my messkit with metal drinking cup, and I'm all set. I haven't really found much use for my large pack unless it's a backpacking trip. I can still carry double Yucca, one on front, one on back, and still carry my canoe on a portage. The Yucca is the best pack every created by BSA. Stosh

In order to fulfill the requirement one does not have to make a flag. This is adding to the requirement. If the boy stands up ties a piece of cloth on a stick he picked up coming into the meeting and says, "Our patrol flag is a rag on a stick", he has fulfilled the requirement. If the boys want a decent flag they can make one, but it's not part of the requirement for Tenderfoot. It is totally inappropriate for one boy be required to make a flag because the patrol is a NSP and the next candidate doesn't have to because he blended into a legacy patrol. This isn't babying anyone, it's teaching the boys that the requirements for advancement are made up on the fly by adults can't accept what's written in the book. Also, the requirements for Scout are not the same as the AOL award. Any boy can get through Scout with a simple session or two. TENDERFOOT requirement covers the requirement for AOL. If a boy has AOL he has already completed the requirements for Tenderfoot. All my AOL boys that crossed over under my leadership, fulfilled the TF requirement in the first month, it was all review for them. First session, do the physical fitness test, go on a campout during the month and wrap up the physical fitness 30 days later and you're done. Except for the campout the TF requirements were pretty boring for the boys. Stosh (This message has been edited by jblake47)

For those who think their job as a BSA leader doesn't pay off and you're on the verge of burning out, here's a letter I received and would like to pass along to the rest of the forum and other members of my crew. Gentlemen, I recieved a letter from Pvt. JA yesterday. It's short and I will transcribe it here. "I received the letter from you and the Poor Boys Mess. I really appreciated it. Actually I would like to thank you for my experiences in the Venture Crew. A lot of things that I was taught thru reenacting have really helped me out here; like discipline and leadership abilties. .......He goes on.... "Life here is okay. It's not hard @ all, you are told what to do, all day long. "Believe it or not, Venture Crew is a lot more disciplined than my platoon. People don't know how to stand still or march properly; even after being shown how to. "I graduted basic April 23, but I'm OSUT trainin so I went right into AIT w/o any time off. I'm a combat engineer, so I deal mostly with explosives. Last week we blew up C4, TNT, H6 i Ammonium Nitrate. It's Awesome! "I graduate everything June 5, then I come home. I plan on continuing in the crew as an advisor; so hopefully I'll see you in June! Until then, enfoy your spring and God bless! "Your obedieant servant, "PV2 JA >>> Pv2 JA is Brevet Lt. JA in the crew 6 years ago, this is the same man that stood toe-to-toe with me and told me flat out he didn't want to be a leader in the crew. I told him I wasn't going to except that and promoted him under protest to corporal in the crew. Stosh Capt. Co B. 2nd WI Infantry Volunteers, Reenactors Advisor Crew 2 (Military Reenactors) BSA

http://thiaminvitamin.com/ Stosh

I use a small plastic bin that fits exactly inside of the old BSA Yucca pack. It holds all the equipment necessary for a camp kitchen. All the items that aren't water sensitive fits into the small spaces around the bin, ziplock holds papers in the flap pocket for roster, menu, etc. When I backpack/portage/etc., I strap my pack on the back and kitchen on the front. When it rains the Yucca pack gets soaked, but the contents stay dry. It hangs on a tree limb to keep out of the dirt. I never worry about water unless it's in a canoe that rolls and pressure compromises the plastic bin. It does not seal as tightly as say Tupperwear, but for the most part it hasn't been a problem. If each patrol member had one of these extra "camp packs" it would go along way for keeping hands free and still have extra storage in damp environments. Stosh

Oops, forgot to add. I have never tried doing both oil and wax in the same Dutch oven. I processed out my oil and converted to wax on my long-term Dutch and then have never done the oil thing with it, always wax or oil, never any alternating on a single item. At home on the stove it's all oil, on the items I don't use very often, it's all wax. My apologies to SMT224 for missing his request for information on the forum. Stosh

I was asked off-forum how the beeswax worked. I have a 1# bar of beeswax. After cleaning the oven, heat it up a bit and take the bar and rub it around and it will melt a bit in the oven. Take a paper towel and wipe it around inside and out while it is still warm just like you would do with oil. Let it cool and store. When it comes time to cook, nothing special is needed to do. Cook as you would normally do. It smells of honey but I have found no taste difference in the food. I would do beeswax all the time, but oil is a bit more handy for every day use, because of the heating/cooling steps that go with the wax treatment. For long range storage it is 1000% better than trying to deal with the rancid oil smells/flavors which compared to wax is a major difference. Stosh

I don't think anyone is saying the NSP doesn't need a patrol flag, but there is a difference between making a patrol flag and describing it. For advancement, no one is required to make a patrol flag, just describe it. Having said that, it's important that the NSP has an actual flag. None of my boys have made their flags, they have all requested either buying one or having one made by someone after they have picked out the pattern. The patrols have chosen to use a standard size to fit the troop's 6' walking stick and after selecting the emblem on it has it made with an iron-on transfer. Thus all my boys get "credit" for the requirement but none of them have ever actually made a flag. They are all uniform, look nice and the boys like them and protect them with a passion. Most of this flies in the face of contemporary wisdom of BSA, but this is what the boys have chosen to do and there's nothing in the rules that forbids or discourages it. While we use the patrol-method, it is nice to look down the line of boys at the flag ceremony and see neat, uniform flags for each of the patrols. It builds a little ownership in the troop even when we use the patrol-method and after all the compliments the boys have received for their combined efforts, the boy-led part will insure that practice continue for the troop. When the boys establish camp, it's nice to know that the uniform size of the patrol flag sets them apart from the caucaphony of different flags marking the patrol sites. With my aging eyes, I can't always tell which patrol it may be, but from the size and style, I know it's one of mine. Stosh

damnyankees? Stosh

For those who find their Dutch ovens going rancid over long periods of storage, use beeswax instead of oil. Wax will never go rancid and works just as well as oil. Just warm up the oven, wax it a bit, smear it around and store. If the cover seals over because someone put the cover back on before it cooled, just heat it up again and take the cover off. I have been using beeswax on my long term storage cast iron for years and it works like a charm. Everyday stuff gets oil because it's handy, long term gets wax because it lasts forever. Stosh

On the evening of the firing on Ft. Sumter, a small group of union loyalists moved into the fort at Key West, FL and held it throughout the war, supplied on the seaward side. Not that anyone really wanted to take the fort, it was pretty much ignored throughout the war. If ever the Federal forces wanted to take back the tourist area in downtown Key West, these men were ready... In Europe a Yankee/Yank is someone from the US In the northern states a Yankee is someone from the NorthEast In the southern states there is no such thing as a Yankee, if they're from a northern state they're a damnyankee. Like the European term being kinda derogatory, I'm thinking damnyankee fits in there somewhere too. LOL On a more serious note, I would think that handing a retired flag to the Sons of Confederate Veterans would be more appropriate than dressing up in CSA uniforms and burning it on a staff. It's veterans still deserve the respect of quiet retirement and the SCV can do it the best. It doesn't need to be part of the ceremony, take the flag down, fold it respectfully in any manner (the US flag doesn't need to be folded triangularly either according to the US Flag Code) and after the ceremony see to it that it gets to the SCV if a representative can't attend. Stosh

OGE, you were 100% correct in what you did and the reasoning behind it. My first impression of the e-mail would be that the committee chair had been the one who had misplaced the flag in the first place. Let it go, you did just fine. Stosh

Naw, five days into a BWCA trip, the ice is gone so one can't make ice cream, but pull out the canvas cooler w/dry ice and everyone has ice cream, now that's the way to travel! Stosh

Coming from Wisconsin makes me a damnyankee to my southern brethren. No question about it. One gal I knew said having grown up in South Carolina that she was in high school before learned that damnyankee was really two words. An elderly gentleman that I knew a few years ago moved back to Wisconsin having lived most of his life in Alabama (he moved north only to be closer to his children). I did nursing home visits with him and he remarked one day that in the Alabama nursing home everyone was identified by some nickname of some sort. Joe the carpenter, Alice the church lady, Peter the shop owner. He was from day one one he was Dave the damnyankee because he was born in Milwaukee and moved away when he was 4 years old....!! I'm sure that my life expectancy would drop quite a bit if I moved to the south and they found out that my great-great-grandfather fought with Co. C, 8th Wisconsin, the regiment famous for it's mascot Old Abe, the War Eagle. I'm sure I'd be shot on the spot. Having hung around CW reenactors for many years, 99% of them are great guys and gals, but watch out for that 1%. North 1 South 0 Half-time Stosh

The people at National have finally gone off the deep end. For the Centennial National Jamboree the scout shops are now selling Boy Scout underwear, green boxers with a red waistband! Anything to make a buck! At least they aren't all that expensive. Must be made in China! I'm sure the boys are going to get a blast out of doing fashion shows on this. I wonder if they have bellowed pockets for the iPods in them? Stosh

Yep, it's still the patrol-method, boy-led if we retire at 10:00 pm and get up at 6:00 am. This is the schedule the boys have adopted because it allows for the boys to get up, get breakfast and not miss all the fun that usually starts around 8:00 am at most camporees. As I said, when I got up at 5:30 this past Saturday morning, one patrol (older boys) was already getting breakfast on and the other patrol (NSP) was still in the sack. Sunday morning the NSP had cold cereal and the older boys had eggs and bacon. Both patrols were ready to leave at the same time. Just because they agree on a time table doesn't mean each patrol has to do everything the same way. They know their limits and their strengths and adapt their patrol style to the schedule. The SM and adults may retire at 10:00 pm, but that doesn't preclude the boys quietly playing cards in their tents until they get sleepy. Some of the NSP boys went to bed well before 10:00 pm, they were totally exhausted from all the activities they got in during the day. No one told the patrols when bed time was, it was just scheduled for courtesy reasons that 10:00 pm is quiet/bed/in-the-tents time or however you wish to define it. We have no bugler nor people standing around with buckets of water to roust the boys up in the morning. SPL asks for a wakeup call, what he does with it is usually wakes up the PL's who have in turn asked for a wakeup call as well. Stosh