ozemu

someone ought to do something otherwise there might be a lot of banded birds out there. the longest journey starts with the first step (phone call). good hunting Anne.

An excellant topic. So good that this discussion was had a little while ago. Try http://www.scouter.com/forums/viewThread.asp?threadID=34015 for some good comments.(This message has been edited by ozemu)

I was given a model bridge with each Scout contributing a section. Did not cost much other than time and organisation. Has a plaque asking that the bridge link the Scouts with my future. It is unique and has pride of place in my office.

Tamegonit I was reading hops posts for some time before I realised that he was a youth member. If anything I read his posts with more attention now. Any reasonable and honest view is welcome - as you are.

Oh! Red Feather it seems that I have caused you a problem. I had thought that this info would be readily available. Guys, RF and I are arranging an exchange between our Troops and my blokes saw the Int Act Badge and thought it was pretty cool. Some want to earn it and we asked RF for the requirements. Their main reason was that the badge has a BSA logo and we think it is very stylish. My Scouts want to wear it on their uniform. Can anyone help us pls?

I watched a PL with cerebal paulsy speak during a Scouts Own service a year or two ago. Again not a comment from the Scouts. It seemed as if everyone was willing him on to get through the moment. No idea about what he spoke of but two things remain. His courage; the father (SM) who moved quicky and quietly to a nearby position as the PLs shakes and speech got worse. Ready to catch him I suppose. But otherwise he did not help. No-one mentioned anything after either. I think that (at least within Scouting) we generally view people who cope with disabilities with admiration and feel that our words would be insufficient in light of such determination and courage. Regardless of age Ive seen similar silence around many Scouts and leaders with a range of disabilities. Maybe I see the world through rose coloured glasses but it seems to be the silence of wow - that was impressive. I wonder if I could be that strong.

Hi Ken, your strenths are lacking in a lot of the SMs I know...and they need those skills more than they realise. So lets look at these weaknesses of yours. People skills are over rated. Unless you are a grump you should be right - provided you start with an attitude of care. You dont need to be the centre of attention (you should not in fact), you dont need to foresee the clashes of personality (just deal with them as they come without looking for a script), you dont need that charismatic snap decisiveness seen on tv - we introverts do very well by being ready, having alternatives ready, having planned for worst case, being calm and relatively unemotional about things, being able to make the best decision even if it is unpopular, You dont need lots of words - just make your words worthwhile - the boys will fill in any awkward silence, (besides what you do is more important than what you say) If talking to groups terrifies you then just talk to your SPL and PLs - probably better if more of us did just that, But if the job still terrifies you then find another SM candidate and stay on as ASM. Whichever way you go just stay in Scouts because if your posts are any indication you are analytical, deliberate, carefull, planned, ready for the unexpected and being so you will avoid likely accidents, will solve most problems and important details will not be overlooked. ...and personally I think the camping skills are essential. If adults dont have them then they should get them as soon as possible.

Major Pain

maybe you could set fire to the dads arm to check how emphatic he is on boys being boys. He wouldnt see it as dangerous or bullying it seems.

heres another for the Holy Grail and Doctor Strangelove also: The Gods Must Be Crazy The Dish Hercules returns The Castle The Full Monty Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels anything by Steve Irwin (only one movie)

investing daughter, son and wife one boy who changed over night and I hope that I was part of the reason being greeted in another country by friends of another colour receiving my Queens Scout Award in my dads National Park (he was the overseer) my Troop doing its first serious overnight hike, in a drought and total fire ban but with a fantastic view at camp

Hi Ann and welcome, Ive burned things pretty badly too. Once the food was not only unfit for consumption; it made an excellant fire starter. Ive done the boiling water thing as preference but in desparation have used steel egg flipper and steel wool with no damage to the oven as long as it is oiled and reheated.

On second reading I think my previous post could be taken badly. I was referring to myself in the first paragraph. Hope you understood that to be the case Matua.

Our old colours are kept in a church in a significant town in the recruiting area normally. After 50-100 years or so they are then stored in an archive. Ive seen one set that had such a journey. My last units colours are in one of the local churches today. The current set are illuminated at the unit HQ entrance in a glass case locked etc. Just tonight I checked that the staves were facing the right way - old habits die hard. The colours are only handled by Ensigns wearing gloves and leave the case with an escort carrying fixed bayonets. In comprison our national flag and the unit flag (not colours) that flies every day is rolled up and put on a shelf every night with just the duty NCO carrying a whistle. Pretty much like we do at Scouts. If anyone tried to grab our colours (as happened in the Vietnam days) they would face the escort which would form square around the colours. The bayonets are not just for show. The rest of the unit would then pitch in. It would be an ugly scene. The police are always in abundance when we troop the colours for these reasons among others. I would not like my Scouts involved in such an event. I suppose we draw a clear line between colours and flags. We also have different approaches to firearms. To me those things are core in this discussion however I realise that I may be off on a tangent in this forum. Hope I havent bored you with the comparison.

Darn this trans-pacific fog! So many things are not understood on the other side. It is too easy to assume. I must admit that a lot of the US postings make no sense at all. By child sponsorship I mean paying an amount each month to feed and educate a child in a third world country via an agency such as I mentioned. Had not thought of sponsoring a child in my own country. Has some merit though. Was not thinking of Scout exchange at all. Do you have a link as we have a program but am interested in seeing what you do in comparison?

Beats me. Such a rare event as the colours last for a long long time. I carried my Battalions senior ensign a fair bit including a drum head service that was led by the unit padre but I suspect that when colours first come into service that a pretty high church leader gets involved. Not being christian I may have used the wrong word. Consecrated = blessed to me. I think they get into the whole holy water thing. Scouts Australia even had a section on carrying dedicated flags I think the term was. No use of weaponry or toy guns. The section was in our old policy document and I cannot recall a current reference.

I have been considering the pros and cons of my Troop participating in a child sponsorship program like Save the Children, World Vision, Compassion etc. Does any one have experience in Scouts doing this? I will print off the discussion for my PLs to read so pls write to them rather than me. Looking for benefits and agencies so that they can make a good decision on whether to participate and what form this might be. Thanks for taking the time.

Mmmmm. I give the rifles around your colours/flags/pennants etc a big no. That is, in my ex army book, a military tradition and in our forces is only relevant to consecrated ensigns etc. The national flag does not get this type of escort. I see the rifles as very military and although I am happy to have served, wish I was now, and happy for my Scouts to enlist or even assist the military in time of war this is not appropriate for Scouting. Use rifles and hunt if you wish but escorting colours that have not been consecrated / blessed is imitating something which BP said we are not. And I agree with the old bloke. Colour guards have nothing to do with marksmanship training or hunting etc - it is a ceremonial function only born from defending your units colours in battle. My opinion only and I realise and accept that you see lots of these things differently.

kwc57 I share your pain. Im just a tad shorter but find that disk problems have me doubled up for the first few minutes each morning (winters!!) so the 6.2 issue is halved. I can now do almost everything lying down.

Fair question and I offer these alternatives. Mind you the choice is dependant on your program aims, environment and funds. Domes are generally simple, quick and remove you from the insects etc effectively. We use in summer big heavy canvass A frame tents with three wooden poles about 5 yards long. It takes some skill and two strong square lashings (?) to get them up and working well. They are then good looking, airy (includes airing the ground when all sides are rolled up and gear stacked to the side), strong when rigged with storm guys and an object of much pride. They also sleep 4-6 Scouts which means one or two fit a Patrol complete. Noise at night is only an issue with the new Scouts. The others are over it after one or two camps. No one is lonely for long in our Patrols. The first few times the Scouts erected them it took at least 45 minutes. Last camp it took 7 minutes to get up and 2 1/2 to pull down. In winter (mild by your standards) we hike and use Durarig tarps that are 8 x 10 I think. Sleeps two or three if needed. Requires 2 trees (or sticks) several strings and 4 pegs (6 is better). It is very open to the elemenmts but with some engineering and testing can be reasonably warm and not having a floor sometimes mine has shrubs and rocks inside (min impact). They are also much lighter and more compact than most domes of the same capacity (especially when we use local poles and pegs - another skill that can be LNT). I would prefer a lighter tarp still but they are too expensive for us at present. Both require insect repellant or mesh and a checking of the gear inside for snakes if we are away for a while. Both need some expertise to get them working well. Both are strong and last well. The first is very expensive and the tarp is cheap. We use them because they are different, they require the exercise (and learning) of skills, they are close to nature and the Scouts love them. They turn their noses up at domes generally unless we expect late camp arrival or very cold weather when the simplicity of domes is important. Our program is designed to create community, initiative, resilience and ecological understanding and this dictates our choice in tents more than other things.

Welcome to the forum. This is not my strong point Hugh. However if the box is a fixture I suspect that pigeon holes (vertical or horizontal) would use space most effectively. A lid that allowed the stoves / griddles to be pulled out and rested on the lid (folding down with chain like a draw bridge) might allow people to change grip when removing them. Not important if the box is going to camp. I would favour vertical slots for each item. Wont be dropped onto the lid that way. If the box is campward bound maybe try ideas at: http://www.drifta.com.au/product.htm Good luck

In Vanuatu last year when the Troop wore normal clothes we were mostly ignored. When in uniform we were the centre of much excited attention. Made us feel really good and safe. Got pulled up once by a policeman for making a wrong turn in a heavy fog and going wrong way in a one way street for a few yards. Was then chased by some irate driver who put lights on high beam and chased me through traffic. I tried a quick lane change and acceleration to get away from the car only to have it come alongside and the officer in the car on his way to work waves me over. Was late after a Scout meeting and I only got a short lecture when I stepped out of the car wearing full uniform. I never even explained why I was driving so erratically. As an army officer I had on my office wall my commission, degree and Queens Scout certificate. Only ever got comments on the QS cert. All favourable too.

Hot and wet = get wet and ignore the rain. Cold and wet MB work with lots of books etc (they might read them if they cannot move around) - worked for us last camp. Sounds a bit tedious but my Scouts got right into it! Provide a long bit of wire, an egg (raw), match, candle. Get the Scouts to boil water in the shell getting no closer then 18 inches to the candle. Make boats out of available sticks etc and race them in the run off.

Eammon I just read the other post - first slow day in a while. Realise I should have posted in the other thread but habitually I only look at this discussion. You confused me. And now Ive got some back reading to do!

Passion is not a bad thing Laura. You were honest and obviously so. The Scouts will respect that especially if you apoligise for hurtful things that you may have said. They will know that you care. The adults may be a problem. If their children get over it (they have it seems) then so will most adults. The others can take a hike. Or a camp. Or a Merit Badge. How can they criticise accurately otherwise? Traditions (norms) should be born from Troop reactions to stress. Seems like you are creating new traditions - new rules with your Troop. As you should. If it was easy it wouldnt be so important. Well done. You did better than I would have I suspect.