nolesrule

When I went through summer camp, Metalwork, Leatherwork and Basketry merit badges were all offered a la carte. You could buy the raw materials at the trading post to do the handicraft requirements and sit with the available counselors for the rest, or you could just use the tools and do things on your own. It was up to you if you wanted to earn the merit badge or not, but no one stopped you from just making a leather belt, a basket or metal dish on your own time. Sadly, I have no idea what happened to my basket, my leather belt, my leather knife sheath or the embossed copper foil coin. Probably wherever my handbook disappeared to. But I still have the metal dish. My woven seat of the stool for basketry is starting to deteriorate after 20 years, mainly due to the cheap cardboard/paper material used. I still have the rope I made and splices I did for Pioneering merit badge.

Hmmm. Since some people are doing more than three, I'll add my Eagle badge/medal/knot as #4 behind my Jamboree patch, my first OA flap and camp patch from my summer on staff. While Eagle was certainly a highlight of my scouting career, I find it ranks a bit lower on my list than those other group experiences I had.

25 + 3 + 2 = 30. That won't get you a second palm. You'll need 31.

What an interesting question... I'm not sure I could put them in a particular order of priority, so I'll just list them in the order they came into my head. #1 - 1989 National Scout Jamboree emblem patch - yeah, I was 12, but it was a heck of an experience http://www.patchlodge.com/x/permaview?i=12f7195788c70ba966fb0837094669827e7c7ef0 #2 - 1992 Sand Hill Scout Reservation Summer Camp patch - this was the one and only year I worked at my council summer camp. I made a lot of friends from other troops and also became more involved in OA as a result. http://www.patchlodge.com/x/permaview?i=373b888576e814362bed9158efbd47b98642fea1 #3 - Timuquan Lodge 340 OA flap (Blue Book S14) - This was my OA flap following my ordeal. I still wear it on one of my uniforms. http://www.patchlodge.com/x/permaview?i=2bfa5e36e9bc4f52fae9233072002fd7971d9a96

I don't think terminology is the issue. I think it's more an issue of reputation or perception. We've all heard about commissioners "being spies for the district or council", whether said in jest or seriousness. Perhaps there are some who act in that manner, but the good ones, while they do need to file reports, are there to help as commissioned by the local district or council.

Have you tried the RTF file? I haven't tested with the Eagle app, but it should work just like a DOC in Word.

The BA sounds intriguing. I'm no old goat (yet), but my Thermarest just doesn't cut it anymore. And it's not because I'm whiny, but a car accident a decade ago messed me up just enough to be picky about how I sleep and what I sleep on.

Even though this isn't my argument, I was insulted in the same manner in another thread for my so-called lack of reading comprehension skills, so I'll just say it. Pot. Kettle. What's with the attitude the last few days?

If we're dense, or thick or illiterate, please enlighten us as to what you actually meant when you wrote in the other thread: "The committee member, for one, does not need to wear a uniform to perform their behind the scenes functions, and while they can technically wear one because there is a "PATCH" for the position, the uniform in this case is nothing more than a self ego booster for attending an adult meeting once a month, not even working with the kids. Why on earth does that person need to wear a uniform except to call attention to themselves. " Please enlighten us as to why it absolutely must be an ego boost and to call attention to themselves, as opposed to some other possibly non-self serving reason.

With all the complaints about the uniforms and how no one wants to wear them anymore, I'd hardly call it an ego boost. Let's not make assumptions. They might be doing more than just one committee meeting a month. It would be appropriate to wear the uniform to boards of review, courts of honor, district awards banquets, council dinners, woodbadge reunion dinners, Order of the Arrow functions, etc. Or maybe they do it because the boys (or even adults) do see it and want to encourage proper uniforming. Again, let's not make assumptions and generalizations. You may be right about some, but not with a blanket statement like that. ASS-U-ME and all that jazz. (This message has been edited by nolesrule)

As ScoutNut said, the District Commissioner is the person you need to be talking to if you want to become a UC. ADCs are good too, since one of their roles is to recruit more UCs, but the DC is responsible for the commissioner staff on the district level, which includes, UCs.(This message has been edited by nolesrule)

When I was a senior in high school, I did very poorly on a test. My teacher decided it was appropriate to inform all of my classmates just how badly I did. Was it teasing? Was it embarrassing? Was it negative reinforcement? It was all of those things. I didn't like it one bit, and I do not respond well to negative reinforcement. I went straight to my assistant principal and told him I wasn't setting foot in that classroom again if I had to endure a teacher like that. Well, the teacher kept her job of course, but the assistant principal did make arrangements so that I never had to set foot in that classroom again. I ended up doing self-study and hiring a private tutor so that I would still pass the class (and the AP-like exam at the end of the year). So yeah, calling someone out in public for not paying their dues is inappropriate. Especially when times are tough. I also serve as treasurer for a business networking group. When people are late with their dues, which are paid quarterly, I'll make a public announcement that some in the group still owe money, but I'll deal with the specific people privately. No one should ever be humiliated over a financial situation. Now, if they have the money but just aren't paying, that's a different situation from not having the money at all. Still, that's know reason to call an individual out in public like that.

Where I come from, the family provides the location and any refreshments. The troop provides the ceremony. The youth or family can request specific participants if they desire. Under normal circumstances, the troop's obligation is to present the advancement to the youth, and to recognize the advancement at a court of honor.

Nah, they'd have to contract with Banana Republic for the uniforms. I think Columbia would be a better fit.

What were they voting on at a roundtable?

There are some great resources online for appropriate questions to ask during a BOR. I've made handouts of it for units I visit that seem to have the wrong idea about what they are about.

We're not all old. I'm in my lower 30s, and most of our staff is in their 40s, with the exception of 1 or 2 who older gentlemen who really know their game. The incompetent ones and hangers-on were weeded out a long time ago. But you need a good DC to handle that properly.

With the exception of summer camps, OA weekends and maybe a camporee, our camps usually just serve as another camp ground during the year, so I guess in our council the campmaster duties are a bit lighter. We have access to all the equipment to check out to units as needed, but use of the dining hall is rare. The trading posrt is not open on regular weekends.

From my training, it seems that the position is a combination liaison between visitors and the camp ranger, and also as a commissioner-type. I figure that my experience as a UC should help to remember the "BE NICE" part. Trying to remember where all the shut-offs are after one quick walk-through of the camp, even with a marked map, is gonna be the hard part.

I wouldn't mind reading some responses. I'm putting in my first weekend as a campmaster this coming weekend at our smaller camp. I'm looking forward to it.

Hal, that's an excellent retort. I wish i had thought of that.

"An adult told him that its considered retesting." It's only retesting if there is a pass/fail based on performance. When I was a scout, the opening always included bringing in the flags, the Pledge, Oath and Law. The units a I visit as a UC do this as well. One of the troops also repeats them at the closing. Including the Oath and Law in the opening is the best way for the scouts to actually remember them. Repetition is key.

I hope we're differentiating between people who join OA only for the patches vs. OA members who like to collect and trade the patches. You can be a solid, active OA member and still be involved in patch collecting and trading. Some of the best and long-time advisers in our lodge are serious traders. On the other hand, if I had to pay $10 per flap, I wouldn't be involved in trading. Our lodge flaps typically cost about $3-4, even those of limited runs for specific events. In recent times, I can only think of 2 flaps that cost more than that, and that was only if you did not participate in specific things (which were not one-time events). As for the differing flaps or other patches for Ordeal, Brotherhood and Vigil, I never understood the need. The sashes show the honor level. The flap you wear is supposed to show your membership in a lodge. If you need to make a fashion statement with your lodge flap, well, wear a retired flap. Our lodge (Timuquan 340) did away with the multi-border designs for OBV just before my ordeal. Sadly, of the 6 flaps I still need for my collection, 1 is a Brotherhood flap and 2 are Vigil flaps from the 1980s, the other 3 are work force flaps from Section Conference preparations in 1973 and 1982.

If they did that to lodge flaps, they'd have to do that to CSPs too.

To add to that, replicas are made available for sale, but they are not for uniform wear.