OneHour

Now, how many cub scouts, boy scouts, and fathers (and mothers) do we have in the States that would cherish seeing this movie? I would say that chances are fairly good that this movie would do well for a small budget movie! I can name 150 families already!

Scouter Terry ... you are alright and the best on our book! Thanks for follow up with the suggestion. 1Hour

"Oh boy! Geek humor." I still get a chuckle or two from the boys every time that I say that line! Do just about anything to make them laugh!

Our older boys are definitely non-singers. Our younger boys, still reeling from Webelos years, sing, but only to the gross songs that are banned at any District or Council campfire event (ie. God Bless My Underwear, He Jumped 10,000 ft, etc.). I wish that they would get into the fun of singing at campfire! All that they want to do is to play capture the flag in the dark and that's it! The funniest thing happened at one of our campout not too long ago was that they boys decided to turn in early (8:00pm) since it was cold (28 degrees). We were backpacking so campfire was out of the question. The adults decided to stand our a lantern and started to talk, but we broke out into the old show tunes (Gilligan's Island, Beverly Hillbillies, Mickey Mouse Club, Howdy Doody Show, etc.). One by one, the boys stuck their heads out and came out to sing with us around a virtual campfire! That was neat to see!(This message has been edited by OneHour)

HIja',jIyaj! How about some Klingon's translation of Shakespeare's Hamlet or Much ADo About Nothing? http://www.kli.org/stuff/press.html tlhIngan maH! Tamegonit Arrowman ... so what's so hard about translating "L0Lz0rZ@!1! I pWn3d j00 1337 8u77!" into "Laugh out loud, z0rZ@ili. I owned you, leet b_tt!" ... sorry, my Leet is a bit rusty! But I don't think that I wouldn't classify myself as an "illiterate idiot!" You are a scout and as a scout ... you shouldn't judge people without knowing who they are. As for me, I'm proud to be a geek (speaking leet), 'cause you can't spell geek (and leet) without a double e's (EE) (MSEE that is). LOL RAOTF! (laughing out loud, rolling all over the floor!) ps: In the words of the great Vulcan "Live long and prosper!"(This message has been edited by OneHour)

Scouter Terry ... thanks for the new section. One other request ... if it is possible, can you move some of the good Topics on equipment in the Camping & High Adventure Forum to this new Section? Just curious ... 'cause it'll be great to have all of the reviews and suggestion in the same place. Topics like: "Backpack Stove, What to Buy" "Looking for Tarp" "Looking for Backpack" "Sleeping Bags" "Pad Under Sleeping Bag?" "Inexpensive Lantern" "Backpacking Tents" "Rain Gear" "Pocketknives" "Ground Cloth Materials" "Kelty 50th Anniv frame - pros/cons" "Got LED Flashlight Yet?" Just to name a few. 1Hour

I bought Primus Alpine Power Cook HPS from REI for $60. Used it in 28 degrees weather in Texas Hill Country in January. Worked wonderfully. Here are the specifications for it: Fold-out pot supports expand to a wide 7-1/2"--wide enough for a large fry pan or wok Includes a Footrest canister-support for a stable base Piezo igniter 14,500 BTU burner Compact design folds-up to fit into a small baseball-size stuff sack, Valve adjusts from rapid boil to a fuel-conserving simmer REI Link to the Primus Alpine Power Cook HPS The Footrest for the canister (which can be bought separately for about $9) was worth it even if you bought the MSR Pocket Rocket. It provides a lot of stability to the fuel canister. I wouldn't buy the Primus Yellowstone Classic Trail Stove ($25.95). The stove is too short and the pot tends to tip over. The stove's for some reasons fuel line was blocked during our cold weather campout. The MSR Pocket Rocket is great as well. One of the scoutmasters has it and it works great in cold weather as well. One other scoutmaster has the Coleman propane stove that you have Trail Pounder. He and I tested out boiling 1 quart of water. The Primus boiled the quart of water in 3 min 42 sec while the Coleman boiled it in 4 min 16 sec. 1Hour (This message has been edited by OneHour)

SM needs to work with the SPL before the PLC on the agenda (and the topics of discussion). What will also help that we found out is that the SM needs to be removed from the "circle." When an adult is in the PLC circle, the boys will have the natural tendency to focus on the adult. That's what happened to us before. Now we have the adult(s) (yes this is something else that we need to reduce ... the number of adults in attendance) sit in the back of the boys and raise our hands to be recognized as everyone else. Work and rehearse with the SPL the points to cover as well as give him (if he is new or has not done it before) an example of the planning that the meeting should gear toward before the PLC. At the PLC, the adult can act as a facilitator in terms of reeling them back into the decision at hand if they start to head off into a tangent and not making the decision for them. Sit on your hands if needed but don't interfere. Suggest something only if they are at a deadlock, ran out of ideas, or if it has some safety issues with it and keep it as a suggestion. Some of our adults were surprised that they didn't take the adults advices. I promptly reminded the adults that this is their choice. Finally, the feedback session with SPL is very important. This is when you get the SPL reflects on how the meeting went and have him work out what he should do the next time. I guess that it will take a long time to get it right. We are still working on our PLC and still struggling to get the boys to be independent in terms of taking ownership of the meeting. We have recently have to reset because we just have a new SPL. There is a good Topic that Bob White posed last year that gave a PLC scenario and ask what we (SM) would do. Search for it. 1Hour(This message has been edited by OneHour)

I sent an offline message to management of the Forums about 4 months ago suggesting the same, creating a separate forum where we all can use to post our independent product evaluation, suggestion,recommendation, etc. To date, no reply. There are times that I need to find review on a tent, cooking gear, packing gear ... and can't find one (that a scout or scouter posted). I'd say ... it's a great idea. I'm all for it! 1Hour

Thanks ... some have given me an idea or two and other gave me a laugh or two, but it is now an issue that I and the other parents will have to figure out what to do. I can't take away the great things that this man has done for the Pack and his love for scouting. He is a man with strong conviction and ideals (wrong sometimes, but strong nevertheless). Thanks for the inputs.

Hey FOG ... it's snowing down there! The FOS gentleman who did the presentation at our B&G 2 months ago did it with his heart! He explained what the situation is and what the moneys go to. The best part is that he got down on his knees and begged/pleaded! That night I was in the process of writing a check for $100, but after seeing a grown man begged ... I bought myself a Council hat!

uncleguinea, I think that he is the reason why some of our parents left the pack (taking their sons with them)! CC is not a good position for him. He tends to tell people what they do wrong in a "yelling" loud voice. Even in his emails he punctuates his impression with bold print and extremely large font (in red). He loves to lecture adults and kids. So ... no ... he is not a good CC. I would love to get the "new guy" on, but he is tentative. He is an Eagle scout and a Tiger father. He laughs with the kids and jokes with them. We don't want to scare him away! acco40 ... I'll pass. Thanks. 1Hour

Laurie ... you're not nuts. You're just a packrat who likes nuts ... in this case ribbons! I only kept one item ... District Popcorn top Pack sell award. The only reason is that there isn't a place for us to display it and the other leaders didn't want it!

Well ... it's not just the Camporee. The other leaders and I noticed the lacsidaisical attitude throughout (meetings, campouts, etc.). Campfire ... no interests in doing anything other than sitting around for about 5-10 minutes and then off to play capture the flag. Call me old-fashion, but I would like to go back to the time where a patrol is a "band of brothers" (forgive me for borrowing the title). I am very envious of other troops that have patrols act and behave like the tradition! 1Hour Mike ... I'll be in and out of Pack booth and the Troop booth. See you there.

Our Pack has not practiced the correct org chart of a BSA Pack. We have a COR, but she is a figure head and she figures that she won't have to do much and expects such! Our CO exec practices laisez-faire policy no matter how you want to involve her. She has not shown up to any of our invitation to B&G or graduation. She signs the recharter and that's it. The Cubmaster is someone whom I recruited and had no choice (the line for CM replacement was not at all that long). He is a excellent chap and great scouter. He got all of the training and then some. He has the patience of a gnat when it comes to the boys. I noticed that he uses the "colorful metaphors" (as Spoc puts it) unconscientiously, but he uses it at a regular pace and in front of the boys. The pack's attendance has fallen 40% in number of boys, but that's another story for another time or is it another problem to solve at another time? The guy is a dear friend of mine (scouting that is) and he means well (I think). There comes a time in everyone's life that one would regret doing something and I am beginning to regret that I got him to step up. As for a CC, that person, again, does not want to do anything. Don't get me wrong, we have great leaders (den leaders that is). "Go to the Unit Comm." Haven't seen him/her in the six years that I am with the Pack (okay ... one time). District Executive? Great guy, but I'm saving him for the more pressing stuffs. He has his hands full with 100 troops, packs, venture crews, etc. Bob, this is not the only issue that I addressed with him. I also took him aside and talked to him about yelling at a kid. Of course, that did not go over well. I guess that we can wait until he is through with this year and give up the seat (and we are grooming a great fellow who would be great as a CM). The only problem is that, his attitude and action may drive more boys and parents away. 1Hour(This message has been edited by OneHour)

"Have to admit too not understanding all that you posted. I got lost somewhere around the high Adventure Trip?" Sorry, hastily typed. 20 boys are mostly Tenderfeet, 2nd Class, and 1st Class. Most of our older boys Stars, Lifes, and Eagles went on a High Adventure trip on the same weekend. "The off the cuff answer would of course be that these Lads have taken an oath to do their best. Maybe a spluttering of examples of people doing their best when they didn't really want to could be in the Scoutmasters minute." It's definitely a good opportunity to reflect. "Patrol Spirit needs to start when the Patrol is formed. Patrol Flags and Patrol yells need to be used not just every now and then by as much as possible." It tapered off after the various patrols have to combine in various forms at various campout to have enough boys for a patrol or two. Our area suffers large sport activeness, band-ness, orchestra-ness, etc. So patrols lost their identities! We are in the process of re-org the patrols so that we can have a "core" group of boys for every patrol. "Were the patrols at the Camporee "Real Patrols"? Or made up patrols just for the camporee? It is kind of hard to have patrol spirit when it's not a real patrol." These three patrols are real patrols. "Did the Scouts who attended the Camporee really want to be there? Again it is hard to be really enthusiastic about an event that you didn't want to be at in the first place." Yes, they want to camp, but do not want to compete. "How enthusiastic were the Adults? The Scouts do follow our lead. You might want to try doing more patrol activities at your weekly troop meetings, relays and that sort of thing add silly challenges such as the Patrol that cheers the loudest." We have some of the craziest adults! Patrol activities (relays, etc) during troop meetings is something that we lack. The boys simply are not interested! So they opt to do something else, ie. merit badges, games, etc. Yes, we can incorporate the skills in the game, but they set the meetings and they choose what activities they want to do. "Many years back we challenged the patrols to choose a hymn and make it into their Patrol Song. The list of how to recognize a patrol is endless. Even down to when you recognize a Scout you also recognize his patrol." interesting ideas At tonight's PLC, one of the PL said, "I wish that we had won something." My eyes lit up and I replied, "So what are you all going to do about it!" May be this is the spark that I'm looking for! Thanks, 1Hour

Any suggestion on asking our Cubmaster to stop using foul language in front of the boys? I tried and he got angry and turned the table to me ... stating that I am trying to get back as a Cubmaster (which I have no intention at all!)... nothing really bad just your basic d_mn, sh_t, and combination thereof. My son was taken back after he heard it.

Can y'all advise on how we can get our boys into the "patrol spirit?" After the Camporee this past weekend, I am convinced that our boys don't really care about the patrol spirit thing! Seeing other troops' patrols, I'm somewhat envious! Let's put it this way, the two older patrols (2nd class - 1st class ... the upper ranking boys went on a high adventure trip!) only wanted to enter into 2 events and that's it! At the events, they were lethargic ... not even trying to do anything. Any competitivenes went out the window. They never had any interest before as well. Thanks for the feedback. 1Hour

"You must be doing something wrong. I get 2 hours." Hmmm. I must really am be blessed! I get 1 hour a week per boy in the troop and in the pack or roughly translating to 130 hours a week or at least that is what it feels like! 1Hour ps: the name says it all! (This message has been edited by OneHour)

"Our trailer is chanied to a light pole" I wished that we had chained our new trailer to the light pole. We just got it about 2 months ago and have yet to register it nor insured it (volunteeritist). The boys worked so hard on earning the money for it to have someone promptly towed it away three weeks ago! Ugggggghhhhh ... so went $1,900. So my advice is to chain it, lock it, paint it, insure it, register it, or whatever you need to do to it right after you get it!

Trails End Popcorn site has a fairly good planning guide. http://www.trails-end.com/TEIYOS/login.asp?PublicCountryCode=1

ShellinWA, what a coincidence ... we just had a scouting for food drive and I decided to place a box at work to collect. I got a very awkward response from a fellow whom the whole office knows his sexual preference. He told me out loud, "I'm not supporting the boy scout." I simply replied, "then won't you support those who are in need?" He responded, "I already did that and I do not believe in boyscout!" I simply responded, "On the behalf of those who need help, I thank you. You are a gentleman with a good heart."

I will be in it a little longer than you. I have three boys. My oldest is 12 and a First Class scout (starting from Tiger). My second is a Bear. My youngest is a 4-year old who is eager "to go cub scout." Thus far, six years in counting without counting my own two years as a young scout about 30 years ago. For a while there, our Pack thought that they had me as a CM for the next 10 years! Been a CM, Tiger DL, DL, WDL, ASM, and now CC.(This message has been edited by OneHour)

"20 to 25 adults on a campout are at least 15 too many." Not really, if 60 boys are attending the campout and if we don't count vans then there are only 3 seat belts per car for the boys which equates to 20 adults are required to go on the campout to transport these young men to and from camp. For our troop, we usually have 6-10 adults to transport 30-40 kids and equipment. CubScoutMom2004, you can inquire the CO or the Institutional Head of the CO to clarify the Church's stance on membership and leadership. If the CO has no stance, by-laws, policy, or the likes, then it's up to the Committee to search and present the best person to fill the job (who best meets all requirements set out BSA and the CO). Eventhough the COR has the final saying for the CO, if you go by the books (the BSA book and the CO book), the COR will not have the firm ground to stand on for his/her objection. http://www.scouting.org/commissioner/resources/18-981.pdf Politics have no place in scouting. It's sad but I have experienced them first hand and back hand!(This message has been edited by OneHour)

"If a church is the charter organization, is it required that the Cubmaster or Troupmaster be a member of that particular church?" No, our charter org is a Methodist Church. Only two of the adult leadership team are members of the church and they are neither the Scoutmaster nor the Committee Chair. One of them is the COR and another is an Assistant Scoutmaster. "Can a COR require this?" Technically, the COR is required to be a member of the Charter organization selected and approved by the Institutional Head of the Charter Organization. Since the Charter Org "owns" the troop or pack, then part of the troop or pack policy or procedure might involve the requirement of all leaders be members of the church and the COR represents the CO, he/she can mandate this. The CO has the responsibility of approving all leadership. There is no BSA requirement that I have run across that requires an adult leader be a member of the CO. For our Pack (an elementary), the principal allows the Pack to choose the COR. The COR is one our parents who are very active in volunteering at the school and who knows the principal very well. The principal has no problem with this person ability to look out for the school and the Pack's best interest. As for our Troop, our COR is a member of the Church. "Can it also be a requirement that all the leaders be a member at that church?" Again, I have not run across this requirement. If the troop or pack recruit from the charter org (ie. the church) then there is a higher likelihood that all leaders are members of the church. For our troop, we recruit from the schools and packs; as a result, we have a very diverse group of scouts and leaders with different religious background. We usually have a non-denomination prayer at functions.(This message has been edited by OneHour)