OneHour

I don't know much about the plastic. We have BestTrack tracks for a while now. It is much better than wooden tracks where they can warp. BestTrack 2-lane is about $491. BetaCrafts has aluminum track plating that you can get it 4" x 93" at $15.75 and build it from there. So $120, you can have 2-lane 31' track. Of course, you will need to have to have wooden base to add to it. By the time it is all said and done, the complete alum track is about the same. http://www.betacrafts.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=61&osCsid=44d491e9192d4a40f7cfc88f880f3cc5 If you can afford it, buy the aluminum track. Now, as for rerun cars ... we take photos of cars each year. We hold them to their honesty. Now, having said that, if a parent/scout pair found the perfect formula in terms of shape, wheels, and lubes, there is no reason why they should change the winning formula. They can cut have the same shape. The easiest way to do this to ask the boy ... how did he build the car! That's where bought cars and reuse cars come out. Branding them... good idea, but you have to make sure that it doesn't get painted over.

Hal ... we do send the Web 2 off as the last thing. Somewhere on this forum I posted our farewell song to the webelos 2 (goes to the tune Happy Trails). Webelos cross-over is a separate event and ceremony (usually 2 weeks after) with the arrowmen performing the ceremony. Yes ... theme is the best idea. Last year, our B&G fell right before the Chinese New Year weekend. We had Chinese New Year as the theme! Every den decorated their tables with the new year celebration theme. Previous year, we had Hawaiin where everyone wore Hawaiin shirts (and hula skirts). Bottom line ... party ... recognition ... party ... fun ... party some more ... clean up ... and our pack always had fun!

Pinewood questions? ... dertalk.com . You will find all tips and tricks there.

... and I thought ours was long at 1:30 hours! (with 1/2 hour to setup and clean up each). We eat. We give out top 5 speedsters in the Pinewood Derby race (the rest of the ranks trophies were given out at the race). We eat some more. We give out Pack volunteers awards. We eat some more. We give out special cub awards (Texas Badge, Religious Emblem, etc.) We eat some more. We recognize our Web 2 for one last time, sending them off with a standing ovation! We eat desert. We watch a 8-10 minutes slide show recapping the year to date. Then we clean up! It's a party ... and we make it as such!

Godspeed, Officer Walt ... prayers and best wishes a quick and full recovery! 1Hour and our Houston Scouts and Scouters

My exact reply to the scouts. I went ahead and approved the service hours. The two happen to serve as QM and PL. They just want to teach several of the activity badges for one of the scout's younger brother's den. Good ... I am in the same thought pattern. Thanks!

Would assisting (leading) a Webelos den in accomplishing several activity pins be counted as Service Hours?

I need your help. I have been struggling on this decision. I listed out all of the reasons why I should take on the Scoutmaster position. I listed out all of the reasons why I should not. I am struggling! 1Hour Yes: - Love scouting and what it stands for - Love the scouts who have been with me since Tigers who are constantly asking me when I will come back to the Troop - Love the outdoors - Love to teach and see the brash/uncontrollable 7 years old grows into an outstanding 16 years old eagle scout - Love the comraderie with other ASMs - Love the parents who have been with me for the past 5-10 years who have been trying to get me back into the swing of thing - Coming in with a new CC whom I have known for 8 years - New crop of Webelos that includes a great set of potential ASMs - Love to have a good excuse not to do the Honey Do's - Have my boss' full support as well as my sons' - Would be able to straighten the troop to the way it ought to be - Preparing the troop for my 3rd son and - Love the time spent with my sons No: - Got a job that may not allow me that much time to spend with the troop as before - Don't really care for long distance driving that a couple of the ASMs want to do (campouts that take 3-4 hours to get there) - Don't care for a handful of older boys who are disrespectful - Don't care for the same set of boys who really don't want me as the SM because they know that they will not have the freedom to do as they please - Don't care for several of the parents who are there just to get their boys to eagle and out - Got too used to sleeping in my comfortable bed to get back on that cold, hard ground! - Don't care for the liabilities that one or two of the ASMs are willing to take on - How to tell one or two of the current ASMs that I don't need their services any more - Not fair to the boss who will now have to put up with my absences weekends on out. She has been a good sport for the last 10 years. - The thought of the current CC and SM really don't care to have me back and - Don't care for the pair of father/son who have given me the reasons not to care for scouting any more .... ugggghhhhh such is the dichotomy!

A little update ... just had the meeting with the committee. I was told that there were only 4-5 people in the subcommittee who would show up, but to a very pleasant surprise, there were 16 folks, standing room only! It was an enjoyable hour of conversation. Not only the 16 folks, but what touches me is the number of folks who called throughout today and to encourage and provide me with their support. Well, the ball is on my court. I have two weeks to decide. 1Hour

Thanks, E. It's nice to read your posting with Christmas music in the background. It puts it into the perfect perspective! I have always been the "Charlie" of the Troop. I'd bite my tongue and hold my judgement. Perhaps, it's my belief in the Oath and Laws that kept me away from the troop. I found out that the Committee took the SM search process from the SM and CC. That's the reason for my name to be inserted. I thought and thought. I talked to my better half and I talked to her. I do believe that I am ready. By-gone be by-gone. I am to get back to the basics. Believe it or not, I have a "Charlie" in my life as well; however, he was one of my former managers. 1Hour

Dean, The SM and CC are not the reasons why I left the troop. I am not sitting on the sideline complaining. I agree. I can make the difference. I can put into practice what I have been preaching to many aspiring SMs and ASMs during my helping with the District's SM Specifics and OLST training. Yes, I can truly implement the ideals of Patrol Methods and Boy Lead that I have learned at District, at Council, and here. I can get back to the boys who grew up with me since Tigers and many of them are about to get their Eagles! I can go back to having fun with my sons in scouting and stop this basketball/soccer coaching nonsense. ... I know ... I know ... so what am I waiting for? I need to do a final soul-searching. The bane of my scouting existence are still in the troop (the ASM and his son), but on the bright side, as Obama has to build his staff ... so will I. Now, I am off to hold another pinewood derby workshop for those powertool challenged folks! This will be my 7th annual workshop! Two more and I am done with pinewood derby ... neah ... probably will continue long after! 1Hour (This message has been edited by Onehour)

Stosh, That is my all time favorite as well, but isn't the end of the Charge of the Lightbrigade is a total wipe out of the brigade? Thanks!(This message has been edited by OneHour)

E. ... Thanks for the offer and very tempting, but the missus has this thing against extreme cold temperature. All, I guess that I had to be very careful with the old adage ... "Be careful what you wish for!" Well, last night, after a year of absent from the troop, I received a call from a committee member. He asked me to come in to talk to the committee. They are ready to ask me to step in as the Troop SM. I'm not sure how to react. I will come in of course; however, I have been informed from one of my best friends in the troop that they offered to the positions to others in the troop and there was no taker. I'm not sure if I should be flattered or insulted. Right now, the later is the likely candidate. My friend also mentioned the fact that the committee had been trying to get the SM and the CC to consider me several months back. They kept responded that they did try to talk to me. You guessed it ... the answer ... no ... they didn't talk to me. Believe it or not, this will be the third time that I was told of this. My legs have already been pulled twice. First time, I was told that the SM was going to call me to talk to me about the position. I had to go through some soul-searching and finally came to a conclusion that I had to let bygone be bygone. That was 4 months ago. Again, two months ago, another person told me that the SM will be talking to me. It came and went. The more I told you folks the more I am having doubts. Sometimes, I guess that one needs to take the hint that one is not wanted by the SM and CC? Here is the kicker. Both are stepping down! To SM or not to SM, that is the question. Whether 'tis nobler in the mind, To suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous scouting, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing, end them. To SM, to stay away; No more; and by SM to say we end 1Hour

I am thankful for: 1)being able to spend 19 wonderful years with the most wonderful woman on this planet (yesterday was our 19th)! 2)having 3 awesome boys (an eagle, an eagle candidate, and a bear) 3)still having my parents and my ins-law around! 4)having all of my siblings and my wife's siblings still around 5)having all my friends (including here on the board) still call me friend 6)having a job that I enjoy 7)having been associated with scouting and perhaps this was said the best by an 80 years old auctioneer who performed his 8th auction for our Pack: ... I am glad to be seen and not viewed! Happy Thanksgiving!

Here's one that no eagle candidate seems think of: A community box where the community can deposit their old flags that they need to retire! A nice "log house" type of a storage box (decoratively made) with a lid that is locked with a combo lock, on top would be an explanation for the need to retire the flag, and a deposit slot (several boxes would be better). This box would be placed at the local school, community center, supermarket, or etc. Of course, permission needs to be sought. The eagle candidate would arrange for the local cub scout packs, boy scout troops, or girl scout troops to check the box every month or quarterly and retire any flag that was deposited (rotating the assignment would be good). The eagle candidate would arrange for non-expiring "free" advertisement on local paper, community newsletter, postings at various places, etc. Just a thought. Outside of this, for other eagle project ideas, have your son and/or his eagle candidate friends to check with your local police department, fire department, social work department, community service group, church group, habitat for human, schools (especially charter schools or low income area schools), community parks, state parks, etc. for needs and/or projects. Good luck! 1Hour

Hacked by Aggies ! ... go figure! There is a sign of technology in College Station after all! Hook 'em 1Hour

This month will be 1 year since I was last at the troop meeting. Last night, while I was driving my son and another scout to perform our fundraising duties for the troop, we reminisced the time when we three and other scouts sat at the campfire and tell Aggies jokes and just to shoot the breeze until the wee hour of the night! We laughed, we joked, we carried on ... they were too old to sing or perform skits, but they were up to the challenge of telling collegiate jokes! My apologies to Barry, but I need to use his famous line. I miss this scouting stuff!

Do we think that 5% of America who hold 60% of the nation's wealth (figuratively speaking) will stay put if their money is being taxed heavily? There are always creative ways for these folks to dance around the item. Do you think that the Corporation who enjoys tax break because they keep their production plant in the US will stay on our soil for long now that the tax break may evaporate? The world is great when nirvana is reached, but unfortunately in the equal world, there are some who are more equal than others and the rest of us will fall in line. My family income is no where close to make a dent ... so I'm not fretting or worrying about the "what ifs." Now, our family's debts, on the other hand, need attention. I'm fairly sure that the rest of America is same boat. That's why we suffer the effect of bad loans and credit problems that are occuring. Scouter-Terry: if there is no passion in a polical discussion, then there is no politic! 1Hour

Welcome back Fscouter. As the line goes, "live life as if it is your last day." Indeed, life is too short, much too short. You are given another chance to finish things that you are set out to do ... and things that you have always wanted to do and "never had the time nor the chance" to do them. You are given another chance to make the best of your remaining days with the ones and things you love. So, get better quickly, because your family and scouting are waiting for your 120% return! Cheers ... and years of happiness and health! YIS, 1Hour

here ... here ... either way, if we don't like it, we can do it again in four years and that's the beauty of it! That's too bad that there are so many of us Americans who do not take full advantage of this freedom of choice! In my birthplace, people wish that they can do what we do, but they can't! I have traveled the world and it always comes down to ... there is not a better place than the United States of America, land of free, home of the brave! ... now, I'm ready to share all of my debts with everyone in the US.

Below is the one reason why I voted for McCain and pray/hope that he wins and stays alive for at least 4 years, because Palin is in the same boat as Obama. http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/barackobama/ig/Barack-Obama-Pictures/46-Year-Old-Political-Virgin.htm There is really no good choice this time. Hey ... how about OGE for pres or Scouter-Terry? Cheers, 1Hour

scotteng hits most of the "points." A several things that I might want to add are have the tents zipped up. What they don't see ... they don't judge. If you have more than one den, have the dens setup in groupings of tents according to dens, clearly identify the Webelos patrol. Display the den flag. What would make it even nicer as scott indicated, all tents should be lined up in perfectly straight line(s) in their respective area. Don't forget to have a washing area away from the cooking area with the three buckets of washing water, soap, rinse, and disinfecting. Have a place for "brown water" disposal far from campsite,ie. for wash water and scraps, etc. Have a place for an ax yard (most for a scout troop). If you have floor covering tarp under the tents, make sure that they are not exposed. Fire bucket for each tent (or between two tents). At the very least a fire bucket at the campfire site. It is also great to have flag poles to display the American flag and the Pack flag (and State if you have the luxury). Any guy-wire for tents, pop-ups, flagpoles should be marked as to prevent tripping. Scotteng pointed it out ... the campsite needs to be spic and spanly cleaned before you leave the campsite for the Webelos Woods activities (including all trash removed ... put in dumpster, fire bucket filled, all dishes/pots/pans cleaned and put away, all washing stations emptied and cleaned, all wash rags put away). As for camp gadgets, lash a flagpole would be a great one, tripod to hold up a water cooler, tripod or drying rack for hanging/drying towels or pots/pans, etc. Typically, troops use staves from trees. Our troop uses closet dowels cut to lengths. Webelos Woods is usually an event where Webelos den camps with a sponsoring boyscout troop. If this is the case, then they should know exactly what to do. If you are going in alone, try to get as many of these points as you can. It's always great to see a Webelos den wins the camp inspection, showing the boyscouts off! Don't stress out ... Have fun! Your objective at Webelos Woods is to observe your sponsoring troop or other troops to give the Webelos a glimpse into the boyscout world! 1Hour

OGE, congratulations! When I grow up, I want to be just like you. Oh well, it ain't gonna happen. I refuse to grow up! Cheers, 1Hour

I sit corrected ... and my apologies!

Scoutnut, You are correct and this has been debated before and I have asked our District and Council trainers. Webelos den are still recognized by as a den; however, they can use their den emblem to allow them the opportunity to act like a scouting patrol. The answer can be found in the "Cub Scout Leader Book" (BSA No. 33221) and/or the BSA "Insignia Guide" (BSA No. 33066.) "Webelos dens may have a name and wear the appropriate "patrol emblem" instead of a den numeral, but they are still a den." Cheers, 1Hour