kraut-60

The bobwhite went for a hike While the buffalo rode on his bike The beaver was chewing while the coffee was brewing And a leak sprang up from its dike

The Fox,Eagle and Owl Were about to throw in the towel Our tickets are all wrong You'd think we sang a bad song To our Troop Guide who's Simon Cowell

An Antelope sniffed the air Sensing scent of a wandering Bear As the Ursus drew near The "Lope showed its rear While it darted away to its lair

Critters from Gilwell abound Their loyalty that of a hound they sing as they go some high, some low and some dont make a sound

I was a Webelos den leader in 3-2003 when the den I led crossed over. At the crossover/B&G, I obtained the AOL pin for the boys out of my own pocket (the pack picked up the cost for ONLY the cloth AOL). I felt the use of the pin was beneficial as it allowed the scouts to have their AOL visible and in the correct place for at least one last time...whether in tan or blue uniform shirts. And by using the AOL pin, I could have the scouts mom or dad present their son with Cub Scoutings highest award...a great memory for them. As a Scoutmaster now, when one of my Scouts earns his First Class rank, I will purchase the large 1st Class pin on my own...the troop gets the Scout his cloth rank emblem. I look forward to presenting those pins.

Fire the pr guy? What measurable level of reality has this gathering of fools departed from and how much did they have to drink/smoke/snort to achieve it. Sea Kittens? Wonder what wisconsin on a friday night would be like if we went to a sea-kitten fry?..the red-necked kitty haters would love it simply due to its name, and sooner or later some small child will take loud vocal exception to the sham as kids know fish is fish not some foo-foo/make sickeningly nice guilt free PC "name".

Patrol Activity plan for SM review and possible approval/disaproval needs to layout where the patrol wants to go...whos going...when they're leaving and when they'll be back...what to bring/wear...why they feel they can function independantly of an adult leaders presence. I have told my patrols that having all patrol members earn First Class rank will help me decide if they are capable of this increased level of trust...the partrol on its own. The parents are/will be the toughest to convince of this practice. Possibly the best way to achieve this is to be a trained and active SM who leads by example and develops youth leaders to be responsible. When parents can see that their son(s) can effectively function with-out mom and dads close supervision to out-right hovering...they may be encouraged to trust their Scout to assume greater amounts of responsibility...while the unconvinced or outright hoverers simply wont let their son go along. Boys who are denied participation by parents when the boy really wanted to go, could be seen as a reflection of an attractive and involving level of group oriented activity that kids dont want to miss out on.

" Where are the Antelopes?" Why, they're playing with the Deer while the Buffalo roam... OH! I used to be an Antelope And a Good 'ol Antelope too! But now I've finished 'Loping an' I dont know what to do... I'm growin' old and feeble an' I can 'Lope no more... So I'm going to work my ticket If I can! BACK TO GILWELL, HAPPY LAND! I'm gonna work my ticket, if I can! Kraut-60, C-19-06 Antelope...There are Antelopes and those who would like to be Antelopes...

There is a book written by Mitch Reis that is about the uniforms of the BSA from the movements beginning until 2006. I have a copy and it would cover the Den Mothers uniform of the 1950's...in fact I would go so far as to say that Mitch may be able to help you in locating one as he does trade in Scouting memoribilia. I believe his web address is: www.mitchreis.com

Greetings everyone! Our Boy Scout troop had its Dec 22nd meeting at our middle school pool. Other than hanging out and having fun, we had Web2 guests and wanted to demonstrate some Boy Scout water survival skills. We had 2 Scouts that needed to do the clothes inflation skill for First Class requirements. I brought along 2 pairs of the now "old" olive green Switchbacks and a scout long sleeved shirt for the scouts to use...the boys did well and aptly demonstrated how to get out of and inflate the pants as well as inflating the shirt. The Web2 Scouts also practiced the pants inflation several times and really enjoyed doing it. I noticed that the pants seemed somewhat lighter in shade than when we started, and when the knots in the legs were untied...the lower parts of the zip-offs looked tie-dyed. The pool attendant checked the chlorination equipment and found it to be set correctly, but the Switchbacks had faded to a shade of yellowish tan. I washed and dried them after getting home, and the fading seems a bit more even...however my daughter commented that the color is one that no body with a pulse would wear. Any way, if you ever wondered what would happen to Switchbacks if they got bleached, they fade to a color not unlike puke. Yes, I know the tag in them clearly states "Do Not use chlorine bleach". I might try to dye them back with some Rit...what shade of green though?

SSScout: I have 4 scouts serving as Den Chiefs. The Scouts covered the cost of the Den Chief training (this ensures a sincere desire to serve as a DC), the troop purchased the Den Chief POR insignia and presented it at a Court of Honor. The pack the Den Chiefs are serving in obtained and presented the DC cords at a Pack meeting...this involved the Den Chiefs with their Dens as well as the Pack and showed the Cubs in the Dens that their Den Chiefs are a part of their Packs leadership. So far, this has benefited the Den Chiefs, the Cubs and the dens they belong to, the Packs and the Troop...the cords only take on meaning when they represent a positive example to the Cubs of what they can become IF they remain in Scouting

Our troop decided to order new one piece 3 digit numbers with our recently attained 25 year veteran status reflected on the patch with the veteran bar...new patches came in this last week, they looked sharp...only one problem. The clerk at the Scout Shop put a "7" where she should have put a "2" while filling out the order form. They are placing another order for us free of charge...any units out there numbered "131" that are 75 year veterans? National would love to hear from you if you need new one piece custom unit number patches.

JAYMEDINC: I agree with what you said in the start of this thread..."a real can of worms" especially with regard to these small children wandering around the church. Our Boy Scout troops Chartered Organization is very adamant about our scouts being anywhere in the building they are not supposed to be, much less younger siblings who can really get into places that may endanger them...God forbid one of them would manage to wander into the boiler room...I dont want to imagine what a possible outcome would be. I may take flak for this, but I would ask these folks to keep the younger siblings at home. Each year after new Scouts cross over, I have at least one parent who wants their Scouts younger sibling to tag along...as a parent I can see wher they are coming from...as the SM, I firmly remind them that Boy Scout meetings, activities and outings are for the Boy Scouts. Taking into account you are stepping up to the Cubmaster position, you may ask to meet with the parents of the Pack and explain why the distraction of babysitting small children will take away from what they are there for...delivering the Cub Scout program to their Cub Scouts. The matter of liability has been mentioned here also...I would keep the little ones out of the meetings, as they distract too much from the program.

Why are we...we? Have you got a mouse in your pocket? My wife is a Californian, my son was born there...Hwy 74(the Ortega highway) between San Juan Capistrano and Lake Elsinore...possibly the finest motorcycle riding road in the world...In-n-out Burger...all the taco shops that end in 'bertos...the Peoples Republik of San Francisco/Berkely. I think the above are all the reasons "I" need to keep the "Left Coast"

#1 Yes...as the originator of this thread, I would like to see Eagle Scouts be able to wear the cloth insignia on the left shirt pocket from age 18-21...I feel the knot is adequate for Eagles older than 21. #2 No...I am Star Scout from 1974 (still proud to have made 1st class under the old requirements).

SSS Scout; I do believe you are correct...My old troop from '69-'74 used "campers" and "explorers"...both canvas duck tents. And both were very heavy and that old school blue-green color. The "explorer" model used a "T" upright to support the tent...using it meant you and your tentmate had better get it staked and guyed out right (it also ensured some one could drop your tent in relatively quick time...usually with you and your buddy in it..)

Basementdweller; I had a similar predicament when I was a Webelos Den leader. I had one scout who every meeting had something more signed off in his book. At first I was very glad I had such a motivated scout who was so capable. I asked this same scout to explain some of what was involved in earning a specific badge to the other scouts in the den when we worked on an activity pin during a den meeting that this scout had already earned...well, he didnt remember what he had done for that pin (I dont recall what pin as it was 6 years ago). I figured that being a normal kid, he had sort of forgotten what was involved and I didnt dwell on it. A month or so later, the den was working on a pin this scout had just earned the month before...again, I asked him to help the den members out with the boys point of view and he stated he didnt know what he had done. His mother(hover variety), would normally corner me either before or after each meeting and point out the latest thing she had signed him off for...I pointed out to her that in Webelos, the den leader normally took care of the akela duties. She immediately signed up as an assistant Webelos den leader(never went to training and never helped out at den or pack meetings). This scout crossed over to Boy Scouts and struggled with the rank advancements. He did earn his Tenderfoot rank by careful work with me (new ASM) and the SM. However, the saturday morning the troop was departing for summer camp, this scout showed up and left...and not for summer camp. He dropped out of scouts. I know his uncle and from him I learned that this boy couldnt handle the idea of having to do the work on his own. This scouts mother, like the mother(likely another hover type) you encountered with the "paper bear" did each of their sons a great dis-service in teaching them nothing of great value...only that "mommy" will fix it and do the work for you. Hover mothers are a true menace to scouting.

On friday Nov.22 1963, I arrived home from morning Kindergarten at the then Caswell elementary school in Fort Atkinson WI. I was 5 years old. I remember all the teachers at school seemed upset and that the afternoon kindergarteners were being sent home, classes were cancelled. At home in the afternoon I was outside playing in the yard. At 4pm each weekday afternoon, I watched "Circus 3" on channel 3 from Madison...not that friday though. All 3 networks were showing what I then considered news and to my 5 yr old reasoning, I wasnt interested, I wanted to see Howie Olson and his sidekick Cowboy Eddie and some cartoons...My parents explained what had occured and I felt bad that the President had been shot. The memory that has stuck with me the longest came several days later,when John-John stepped forward and saluted his dads coffin. The 60's seemed rather innocent before that and never quite the same after JFK was gunned down...I can recall some things earlier in my life as a little boy, but the events of 11-22-63 for some reason remain very clear to this day.

I bought a pair of Vasques to hike in at Philmont in April'06, and I'm heading back to Philmont next July and I will be wearing the same pair from '06. After reading the 20 year plus testimonies from other Vasque wearers, I'm glad I own a pair and WONT need to buy another pair for at least 27 more years (at which time I'll be 77, but hopefully still able to ruck up and hit the trail). I have never suffered a blister wearing (and hiking) in my Vasques.

Maybe just me, but I detect the scent of troll, or Pappy, or BrianBuf?

If...we? Well, seeing how this is a "we" deal...I'll put my 2 cents worth in. First, I'm a gear-head from back in the late 60's-early 70's and I grew up driving Detroit iron and most of it was muscle-car. That being said, I can offer no business solutions as I am not a business man and did not sleep last night or anytime recently in a Holiday Inn Express (I do however drive past one several times a week). If the big 3 (BTW, what makes them big? Is it the huge amount of money siphoned off by the biggest parasitic labor organization...the UAW?)...any way, the B3 need to pare down the models built by each that ultimately cater to nothing more than vanity...examples; Fords Ranger and Chevrolets Colorado truck models...Dodge Caravan and GM's Chevy/Buick/Pontiac mini-van lines (mini-vans should go away as a US made product). If I was the guy calling the shots, I'd have the restructured B3 make only the following models; Ford gets to continue building Crown Victoria 4dr sedans for fleet use (taxis and police cars) Chrysler-Jeep develops and builds one all-purpose 4x4 that can be modified to fit the needs of the consumer (think the Hummer truck with drop-in bodies built to suit the application). GM,Ford and Chrysler develop and build ONE truck line to include a light truck (Ranger/Colorado/Dakota sized)...Standard pick-up (F-150/C-1500/Ram 1500)...Heavy-duty pick-up/cab-chassis F-250/350, C2500/3500, Ram 2500/3500). Ford retains the right to build and market the Mustang...the most popular American built car and the best looking...and before any chev-heads suffer an MI, get real,...the proposed Camaro will be DOA with the bail-out...and it looked weird...not like a Camaro should (1969). All three develop and build a single line of GREEN 4dr sedans that are 5 star safe and get 40mpg plus...a station wagon with seating for 6 will be acceptable as an optional model...all wheel drive with traction control will be mandatory. I am firmly in the dont bail 'em out side...once the smoke clears the phoenix of a restructed and resurgent US auto industry will emerge...AND they will have to learn to play nice together and build what America needs...not what they think we need.

Well, if Sarah writes a book...good for her! I bet Oprah does not include it in her book club...which generally means it may be worth reading and not a 200 plus-pages, feel-good-fluff tome.

Trev, you nailed it. Be careful of the "H" word...it results in godwinslawitis.

scotteng: Bravo and huzzah! Your ideas would be a breath of fresh air with a large side order of common sense.

I can see your platform being valid and applicable to the present day realities we live in. Unlike other posters, I feel #9 should be the first one attended to and that we MUST have mandatory military service to ensure all our citizens have a stake in keeping our nation safe and ready to respond...our present armed forces are stretched way too thin to handle whats on their plate now. We need more US citizens in uniform...the entire threat(s) we face are NOT only Islamic terrorists...North Korea, Peoples Republic of China, The Russian federation...and lets not forget our good pal in Venezuela,"Fat-Face" Hugo(Citgo)Chavez. Peace is a wonderful and rare thing, rarer yet when a nation is so wrapped up in itself that it forgets the world really is a nasty place teeming with the have-nots that seek to have what we take for granted....increase the size of our standing armed forces three-fold and then build up the reserves and guard units. Be prepared,not sorry.