Miki101

Raymond, The gentleman is in Arizona. His grandson, whom I know, is in Dallas.

I know a First Class Scout from the 1920's that would be availble, but sadly, he was not an Eagle. He just turned 100 last week. Let me know. David C. Scott

Actually UCEagle, (and I love a good history discussion)...If one studies the so-called Boyce "myth," one would see that it is actually quite plausible and it is improper to dismiss it outright without knowing the facts. There are two historical accounts from witnesses that confirm that if it happened, it happened in December...not in August as later reports have come to describe. In fact, there was only one date according to the London Weather records that indicate fog in the Savoy area during that time....December 23. What is untrue is that Boyce did not meet with Baden-Powell because BP was out of London at the time according to his diary entries. However, Boyce's ship left for New York the next day and arrived in New York on December 30 for quarantine and he disembarked on December 31. At that point he left for DC to incorporate BSA. I go into this story as well as the mostly unknown founding history of the BSA in my forthcoming book, "The Scouting Party: Pioneering and Preservation, Progressiveism and Preparedness in the Making of the Boy Scouts of America," which will be out by June. I was fortunate that the book earned the hearty endorsement of eminent US Historian and NY Times bestselling author of "The Wilderness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America," Douglas Brinkley, who calls it "a gift to America." In the end, I hope it will lead to a better understanding of the Movement's origins. David C. Scott

Also, interesting, 2 of B-P's children and their respective spouses also shared the same birthday...not Febreuary 22nd, however. Ya don't see that too often. David C. Scott

It's about 90% new and has fresh interviews that include Ross Perot, ExxonMobil chairman Rex Tillerson, and former FBI director William S. Sessions and others.

Glad to report that Scouting values in the mainstream may be making a comeback as seen through yesterday's success of the book "On My Honor I Will: The Journey to Integrity-Driven Leadership" by Randy G. Pennington on Amazon. It started the day around #25,000 and topped out at #207, including being the #1 book in the Business Ethics category. Pennington connects good business ethics as truly being based upon the Scout Oath and Girl Scout Promise, so surely that's a good thing for the BSA and its national message going into the 2010 celebrations. (Disclosure: Yes I'm the publisher, and yes I'm proud of it!)

Look for my book, "The Scouting Party," mid-year in nationwide distribution in hardcover. I am considering an eBook version around February if the details get done.

This new book just came out a few weeks ago called "On My Honor I Will." The premise is that integrity in the workplace can be obtained if one lives the Scout Oath. www.onmyhonoriwill.com

You should find a copy of "History of the Boy Scouts of America" by William D. Murray, 1937. It has the most and best info regarding this time period of service to the country.

Calico, you seem kind of angry for some strange reason. Furthermore, you should be ashamed of yourself for writing the vulgar "STFU" in a post. Grow some class, Mate. Very rude.

Has any other sitting president ever received the prize other than Theodore Roosevelt in 1905? Interestingly, TR refused to accept the prize money because his felt it belonged to the American people since it was earned at the bargaining table where he helped end the Russo-Japanese War in 1905. He struggled with that momentous decision because he wanted to give the money to his kids, however, he gave it away to a number of national service organizations. Hint, hint, Mr. President.

The Christmas "Noel" has umlautes making it "No-el". No umlauts is in the name "Noel" as in the playwright. BP refers to the latter.

His late daughter, the Hon, Betty Clay, informed me some years ago that BP himself rhymed it was Noel (or soul if you like). However, her husband, Gervas, always pronounced it as rhyming with towel. The ditty is: Man, Matron, Maiden, Please rhyme it with Baden. And as for Powell Please rhyme it with Noel.

Dear Skeptic, Actually, Feb 8, 1910 is the "birthday" or the original date of incorporation of the BSA in Washington DC. There was no organization at the time, therefore, there were no charters yet. The first charters went out on or around June 1, 1910, which is when Managing Secretary John L. Alexander and his staff of one went to work in answering the inquiry letters. In that vein, the troop that you mention having a charter of September 1910 is extremely early. I will say this as well, the records of the first official troop are not as sketchy as one may think, however,there is a bit of interpolation that has to take place. I submit that if one was to determine the first official BSA Scouting unit, that would be on the Charter #1. I have been in the BSA National Archives and searched that folder of documents and it simply does not exist anymore. It's actually the 1910 letterbook. However, there is a certificate of the first chartered council, and I have a record of the first certified Scoutmaster, and that would be of the downtown YMCA of Cleveland, OH. Therefore, surely since he is the first Scoutmaster, then it can be extended that he is in charge of the first OFFICIAL troop. I lay out the timeline of when things happen in my upcoming book (expected by May 2010)and it goes into who and why things happened since it is a story of the personalities as well as the story behind the BSA's founding through the first decade. Although the BSA's Official Centenary book is well done, I tell the rest of the story and well as the discussions in the background as culled from dozens of archives and libraries worldwide, including the BSA's own National Archive. In my first book, "We Are Americans, We Are Scouts," I talk about the influence that Theodore Roosevelt had on Scouting and use his words and stories as examples of the importance of the ideals of Scouting, like the Oath, Law, motto, slogan, and Outdoor Code. I hope that "The Scouting Party" will be as useful in settling some creational and transitional issue discussion points. David C. Scott

To the disdain of Pawhuska, OK, they are predated by Myra Greeno Bass, who formed a "patrol" of boys using Scouting for Boys that she brought back from England in Spring 1908. This was informal. Pawhuska bases their claim to a document that they supposedly to have regarding an official charter that they receive from BP's Scout Association in England in 1909. This was supposedly formal. I say supposedly because some years ago when researching my other book, The Scouting Party, I requested a copy of that document but it apparently could not be found at the time. Perhaps they have found it now. If not, they have a nice story that they can keep flogging into the BSA's anniversary year.

It seems to me that, by definition, one would not be a Boy Scout if one has not taken the Scout Oath. However, like Dan Jabe rightly suggests, it's wide open for discussion.

I just got back from the National Meeting in Orlando, and the executives are very interested in hearing from the membership on any and all issues. The marketing presentation was excellent and they have a web vehicle to sort through all comments and suggestions that a BSA member wants to propose. Refer to the following link. http://ideas.scouting.org/ We were all assured in the General Meeting that ALL ideas are read and discussed for viability and inclusion in the program every Monday. So, I'm just passing the word on and pleased that we do have a legitimate voice in the National office. David C. Scott

Martin Yan and Wolfgang Puck will both be at Jambo 2010 teaching Cooking MB for a day or two. How cool is that?

I'll be there. emb021, what booth?

The National Scout Shops have a new book in stock from Red Honor Press called "In Our Own Way" by Robert Lee Edmonds that has a chapter on Scouting prayers. I believe that it includes prayers and benedictions from all of the high adventure bases. Its main draw is that the author asked the national offices of all the 35+ religious faiths recognized by the BSA to submit 3 prayers in three Scouting-themed categories, including Being Prepared and Serving Others, which is unique. So it has representative prayers from the Maher Baba to the Catholic to the Methodist to the Zoroastrian. http://www.scoutstuff.org/BSASupply/ItemDetail.aspx?cat=01RTL&ctgy=PRODUCTS&c2=BOOKS_LIT&c3=BK_MISC&c4=&lv=3&item=34612 David C. Scott

There is no complete list of Honor Medal Recipients that is outside of the BSA Offices. However, I have copies of many of the records of the earliest recipients from its inception till about 1940 that I gathered for my book research. The actual list would stretch at least into the thousands if you included all who received the minimum level of the award. I am not an expert on this award. Hoqwever, a person you might want to contact is Dr. Robert Lee Edmonds, who has been researching this topic for his upcoming book: "High Honors, A Century of Heroism and Meritorious Action in the Boy Scouts of America." He is an Honor Medal recipient himself. You can try him at rledmonds@redhonor.com David C. Scott

I too receieved my copy of the Centennial History and was rather suprised that they did go into some of the issues that have previously been deemed as "controvercial." One that comes to mind is the "fog story" with a contemporary explaination...industrial smog. Now, I find that a rather interesting take on it. As for there not being fog in the area, emb21, the ORIGINAL version that Boyce gave in 1910 was that the "event" happened in December and, strangely enough, there was, in fact, 1 day in December 1909 that was naturally foggy in his area per the official London weather reports, (I have copies of them). The timing is such that it would have have been the day before he left for the States. Therefore, the fog story CANNOT be summarily dismissed as pure fiction...as tempting as it may seem to do so. AHowever, as Boyce retold it time after time, the month of the incident changed and became July and/or August depending on the audience. (Scoutldr, I go into more of this in my forthcoming "tome"...called "The Scouting Party.") I was also pleased to read the author's recognition of Theodore Roosevelt's contribution to the program. As I write in my just released book, "We Are Americans, We Are Scouts," his endorsement greatly improved the ability of the BSA to survive in the early years. A book review by Scouting News gives more information on this book. http://www.scoutingnews.org/2008/12/02/we-are-americans-we-are-scouts/ In summary, if you can afford the price tag, the Centennial History is a very useful and well written book that really summarizes the first 100 years of the BSA in a highly readable fashion. It is quite clear that the author had a crack research team behind him as well as a slew of designers. The BSA should be very proud of this offering because it clearly sets the bar for which all future unfettered histories of the BSA will be compared. David C. Scott

That's an affirmative. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=42967

Kahuna, You might also think about former National HQ pro and author of "Eagle Scouts in Action," H.M. "Smoky" Eggers. He's in his 80's and extremely active and still working for BSA initiatives in his "spare time." Just let me know. David C. Scott

Buffalo Skipper, I find it very interesting timing that you wrote your Theodore Roosevelt insired Scoutmaster Minute, specifically because my book called "We Are Americans, We Are Scouts" is being released on October 10 from Red Honor Press (www.redhonor.com). It is a unique book that takes the words and anecdotes of the great Theodore Roosevelt and puts them into the framework of the Boy Scout Oath, Law, motto, slogan and Outdoor Code, all en route to becoming a better American citizen-leader. In fact, the book's foreword was authored by TR's great-grandson, Tweed Roosevelt. When working on it, I found that TR's impact on Scouting has never ceased and his endorsement of the BSA's program back in 1910 enabled James E. West to more efficiently promote it to those influential movers and shakers who could mould it into a national icon. When you read "We Are Americans, We Are Scouts," you should be able to augment any type of Scoutmaster Minute with some pertinent quotation or story by Theodore Roosevelt, a man who wrote over 15 million words in his prolific lifetime of literary production. I am especially proud of the Duty to Country setion where I re-tell the story of how he gave a dramatic speech in Milwaukee after having been shot moments before by a would-be assassin. I place it into context of how his example can make us a better people. Other stories talk about each point of the Scout Law, and the other parts of the Scout Oath, et al. It has been endorsed by the likes of Ross Perot, former Chief Scout Executive James. L. Tarr, Congressman Pete Sessions, and representatives of the national offices of the Sons of the American Revolution, the VFW, and the American Legion. Additionally, Red Honor Press has just become an Official Vendor of the Boy Scouts of America and "We Are Americans, We Are Scouts" may be available at a Scout Shop near you shortly. Until then, you can download a sample portion at www.redhonor.com and get a copy of the book at Amazon.com. The Amazon listing is in the process of being updated as well as creation of the Barnes & Noble listing. By the way, your choice of TR as a model for your Rought Rider Scoutmaster Minute is excellent on a number of different levels, especially pertinent this month since it marks his 150th birthday being celebrated at several national parks. Of them, the Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the Sagamore Hill National Historic Site will carry a supply of these books in their stock as well. Your boys will benefit greatly from your insight. Good Scouting to You, David C. Scott