oldisnewagain1

...I suggest that this is why prairie made that statement. You should refer to the book "We Are Americans, We Are Scouts," which lays TR's case out pretty well, if I do say so myself... Might we also find references to TR in "The Scouting Party Pioneering and Preservation, Progressivism and Preparedness in the Making of the Boy Scouts of America"? (also by the same fine gentleman)

How about the Wudahekawi Council? Which is short for 'Who the heck are we'? (insert F-Troop reference)

...make me remember fondly the old red/white city and state strips

Perhaps the first step would be to check with local PD because a knife of this type may not be legal in your area.

An interesting observation; Our troop has troop neckerchief but typically the boys only wear them at special ceremonies. A year ago began wearing a neckerchief at every meeting and every function with the troop. I also wore a different slide I had made each time. By the end of the year, I was seeing more boys wear a neckerchief at troop meetings. Some with slides they made or ones their fathers and grandfathers had made when they were Scouts. Bill http://channelingwhittlinjim.blogspot.com/

So many things come to mind... How about putting out a couple of poster boards and markers to write on the board. Have the SPL make an announcement to the boys to put down on the poster board any kind of activity they would like to do. Many times, what will happen is for every idea put down will spur other ideas from other boys. Don't limit it to only the boys because sometimes an adult might put down an idea that spurs other ideas. Collect the boards at the end of the meeting and bring them to the next PLC meeting for the PLC to review. Now here is where, as an adult leader, you come in. There are activities that will need to be vetoed (i.e. paintball, skydiving,...etc) because they are not allowed by BSA. You will need to challenge the boys on other activities...(What will the trip involve? How is the troop going to get there? How are you going to raise the money for this trip.) Sometimes a trip that seems outlandish becomes a goal of the boys just to prove they could do it! There are outside influences that might change the plans (i.e. bad idea to plan a camp out on Mother's Day) BUT, I would bet you could have a very full calendar by the end of the PLC meeting

Wish I was going but I do have a scout going with the Council troop. Besides the patches to trade, he has some hand carved neckerchief slides made of cherry (and a couple of red oak) so keep your eye out for him. You can see a preview of the slides here; http://channelingwhittlinjim.blogspot.com/2010/03/phillipine-water-buffalo-and-herd.html

With more and more councils requiring mandatory training for all the direct contact leaders, how does one go about becoming a trainer for some of the courses that can not be taken online. (i.e. Outdoor leader skills)

With the way councils are merging, I not sure you could get an accurcate number right now. For example, if I go into myscouting.scouting.org and try to find my council, it is not listed. (It does list my old council and we were merged with another council over a year ago.)

Just a thought (a bit off topic), you might want to be checking local ads or craig's list to see if some one is offering a trailer like your for sale. It just might be your trailer.

I am also from Western Mass Council and can comment on Chesterfield, Great program (because it is the same as Horace A. Moses Scout Reservation) Great Staff (because it is the same staff as Horace A. Moses Scout Reservation) You see the summer camp staff spends two weeks at Chesterfield in the beginning of the Summer and three weeks at Moses after that for the Boy Scout program. Moses has a better waterfront and Chesterfield has a better COPE area. Our troop just prefers Chesterfield. Ether way you can't go wrong in Western MA.

This could be a tricky problem requiring some delegate diplomacy. I am afraid if these two indiviguals (CC&CM) draw lines in the sand you are going to end up with one Bear Den, another new Pack with one Bear Den, and several parents who pull their kids from Scouts because of the way the leaders are acting.

Maybe it's me but I think the focus should be on what the troops are like. Perhaps you should visit some of the troops and see which troop your Webelo feels the most "at home" in with Leaders you are confortable with. I sure there is not a scoutmaster out there who would not welcome a potential scout for a visit.

Now please do not think I am targeting anyone in these threads and I only offer this for discussion sake, but as I read this thread, Scouting Urban Legends Redux, and BSA Urban Myths- Busted I often wonder; Are we refuting myths or spreading them? and Can we say with impunity that what has been posted as a myth is correct without something to corroborate the statement?

Here is a great place to check out for patterns that are great for the cubs; http://www.e-scoutcraft.com/index.html cheers http://channelingwhittlinjim.blogspot.com/

Depends. Most of the time I wear a baseball hat from our Scout Camp. Other times I wear a felt "Indiana Jones" hat. Official hat...My red Beret

Its funny ... when I learned code it was dit's and dah's

> I've become a fan of chip carving. http://woodengoat.etsy.com Nice slides!

Wow am I torn on this. On one hand your slide appeals to the 'steampunk' in me. On the other hand its just not the same as crafting a slide with a knife. But then again I could have some bias on this http://channelingwhittlinjim.blogspot.com/

I've used Code Quick, as suggested by OldGrayOwl, and probably would not have gotten my ticket without it. If I remember correctly, the author even gave some alternative phonics to possible objectionable ones in the manual. (I don't remember what the one was for 'dog did it'.) I would also recommend Nu-Morse, http://www.nu-ware.com, as a great program for teaching code on a PC. It also has pictures and phonics built into the program (but 'Dad did it' this time)and helps with recognition and speed. What I also liked about the program was it could "flash" the code for someone who is hearing impaired

Perhaps you should talk with your District Exec. and they might have someone in mind for Scoutmaster of a new troop.

Granted this is an old thread but I happened to find it while searching out some Whittlin Jim topics. I carve Whittling Jim patterns and I am trying to do as many as I can. Recently I got the idea, after seeing "Julie & Julia", to also blog my progress. http://channelingwhittlinjim.blogspot.com

I wonder what kind of response one would get if they were to email the Congressmen listed in this news release, from USPS, expressing our displeasure... http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2009/pr09_095.htm

A couple of other thoughts on poor attendance at the Camporee; What was the weather forecast for the weekend? Perhaps the thoughts of a cold rain (or snow) filled weekend was a deciding factor for some troops. Could sickness have played a factor? For example, my daughter elementary class has 21 students in it. Yesterday there were only 8 students in class with the rest home sick.

Some random thoughts to add to the other good advice you have seen here, 2nd hand shops often times will have some scout uniforms at very reasonable prices. Start a "uniform box" at your troop in which scouts who have out grown there uniform bring it in for others boys (which has worked really well at our troop) Sometimes other organizations would be willing to help (Rotary, Masons, Knights of Columbus just to name a few)"sponsor" a uniform. At other times these organizations will help you put on events like pancake breakfasts or spaghetti dinners. But also other troops in your area might have extra equipment they can spare. I know in my area one "new" troop got a ton of equipment from a troop that folded a few years before in another town.