VigilEagle04

"If I'm at a Scout related event in coat and tie, I usually wear my Eagle Dad tie tac, as that is the one that gives me the most pride. I have about 10 different lapel pins I'm entitled to. Sometimes that selection is just random." I understand that sentiment.

Our lodge used to be a one flap lodge, though in the beginning, there were different pieces. The very first flap had an ordeal piece, a brotherhood piece, and a vigil piece at the top. This was back when the lodge was founded in 1959, and it didn't last all that long. They went to a red bordered lodge flap in 1962 (our flap design has stayed the same ever since), and that was it. For a long time, you received one patch each time you received an honor. So if you were vigil, you would have three. You could purchase traders, which were very different, but it required service hours to be able to do so. In 1983, the lodge made the change. Ever since we have had one flap for ordeal (white border) one for brotherhood (blue) and one for vigil (red). We also added a fourth one in 2000 for elangomats, it has a green border (and is by far my favorite). Anyway, we've never had too many issues with our system. One thing I don't like is (and this used to be a habit of mine) when you see a Scout or Scouter with a white border flap, asking them when we are going to see them come out and get their brotherhood. Anyway, I wear one of my green border flaps all the time. No one knows what honor I have, other than that I've been an elangomat. To me, that's one of the greatest services you can perform, and I'm proud to say I've been one. I don't display the Founders Award, or anything like that on my uniform, just the elangomat flap. Woapalanne: I've worn mine as a lapel pin as well. I usually go with my Eagle tie-tac and an OA lapel pin, either vigil or Founders. I love it as a conversation starter. Great for meeting fellow Scouts/Scouters.

When it comes to service stars and knot devices, I have them in my uniform box. I keep an old tool box around that has various uniform pieces. It's great for CoHs, when a Scout shows up without a necker, or someone breaks a slide or something. I always have extras. Anyway, in my box are three sets of all the knot devices that go on my uniform, as well as a nice hodge podge of service stars and backings. I only ever wear stuff like that for CoHs and banquets and such, but I've learned over the years that having extras on hand is a good thing, and my Scouts appreciate it too when something goes wrong on their uniform.

emb21: "We are speaking of small knot devices, small pins which are worn on the knot to indicate earning more then one award represented by the knot in different programs. At present, the knots devices are: Cub Scout, Webelos Scout, Boy Scout, Venturing, Sea Scouts, Varsity Scout, Commissioner, and District." I've always known about the devices, as I have them for my youth religious award (earned it thrice, at different levels) and have been wearing them since my second one (though only on special occasions these days). Anyway, after all that, I get to my question, what is this district device? That is the one device you listed that I have never seen. I ask because as a District Committee member and an ASM, I'm curious.

"But the leaders did make it up to us as best they could: instead of issuing the BSA's WC, we got the Scouts Canada version. same design, just different background material (velvet)." I have a couple of those lying about. Good times up there in Canada, eh.

Yeah, I saw that episode when it first aired a while ago. Too bad he didn't have any worth anything, but it was nice of Rick to donate some money anyway. Always great to see the influence Scouting has had on some people.

Eagle92, I hadn't even thought about it, but you're dead on with the WC being optional. The member of the Venturing Committee I mentioned earlier, I just looked at the picture I looked at before and noticed he is not wearing a WC. Something I had never thought about.

Cleam, In my troop, we wore it throughout our tenure as Boy Scouts, and I continue to wear the knot. While the AoL may not be as prestigious as the Eagle, or the Silver to many, it is the be all/end all of Cub Scouting. I am personally proud to show that I went through Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, and achieved the highest rank possible in both, but that's me.

@camilam "Finally, for the fellow that is wearing 21 knots, I believe that is a breech in uniform etiquette. If memory serves, I think that the most that can be worn at any one time is 9. So I would call him out on that. He can choose which 9 to wear, but I believe that it is only 9, although there are whispers that this may be expanded or changing." There is no specific number given for how many knots to wear. Some point to older publications guiding Scouters to minimize things on their uniform for the reasoning to wear fewer knots, but there is no number. I know one of the members of the National Venturing Committee, he's a local dentist here. Last count on his uniform were 19 knots, and he's a very "by the book" type of guy.

Deacon, when I was a Scout, there were really only 4 knots that grabbed my attention, AoL, Eagle, District Award of Merit, and Silver Beaver. As I've gotten older, the Award of Merit and Silver Beaver stand out less to me, partially because I've seen some meaningless ones given out. Kind of funny how that all works out.

So yeah, call-outs are optional. We do our elections in the spring, and actually have our deadline set for April 1 usually. We try to achieve 100% unit visitations by then, lodge goal and all that. It gives us enough lee-way for the camporees in May. That's where we do the first call-outs, and we do one each week at camp as well. The Scouters have to know, as they are responsible for signalling to the team who is to go up. We have our own ceremony, as do most. It's always fun at camp because we actually bring the ceremonialists in by canoe. It's a great effect seeing the torches skirting across the lake during the campfire. Anyway, tap-outs may have ended in 1989, but we did them up until at least 2001. I know I was tapped out in 1999. Now, we didn't tap hard, it was very light (unless you were like me and knew the person doing the tapping very well, in which case, it was hard). Then the name was called out after that. We have a habit of little things like that, but we've always been selective about it. If the principal knew a candidate, they'd have some fun. Be it tap-outs, Ordeals, or Brotherhood ceremonies.

I went in 2003, and it was a good time. Lots of information on American Indian history/lore/craft. Seminars on ceremonies and dance were held as well though. As with anything, it being the first time for an event, there were kinks and it was a prototype. All in all, it was an excellent time though. If nothing else I completed a breastplate, two chokers, and some other stuff there while there during my down time.

This seems like as good a thread as any to ask this question. Years ago (ok, so not so long ago, but it's been a while) when I was a lodge officer in the OA, one of the lodge members would give us all a nametag. It was brass (or some type of metal, it has a gold coloured finish though) and had an enamel OA logo on it. Anyway, I have lost mine in the process of moving and everything, and I want to get a replacement. Sadly though, the gentleman who gave us these nametags has passed on. Does anyone have any idea where these might have come from?

acco40, Interesting that you talk about starting on the inside for some with a new row. I've actually never seen that done. It's always been centered or the outside.

"Vig, I hear ya. Yep I wear 6 knots, and to behonest I am an anal retentive uniform nazi who actually takes off my knots and resews them so that my Eagle, AOL, and religious knots are always the first three. Everything else will come after those three for me." I know a few people like that. People are often surprised at mine though, in that those three are always the bottom row. I tell them they mean the most, and they are the most important. The thing is though, I view them as representative of the foundation upon which the remainder of my Scouting career rests. It's kind of a symbolic and sentimental thing for me, but it's just my way of doing things. Since there is no order of precedence for the knots in the BSA, to each their own.