cajuncody

I haven't seen this one yet but you can bet that my trip to council tomorrow will find me with one. Kristi still in training

I see problems in this on so many different levels. But to stick to the point ... Why can't they complete the Tiger Requirements. They may not get any electives but I was TDL last year and remember the book very well. You could handle the den items more than one at a time in a meeting and just really push the go see its, combine some. Do the hike and the historical site at the time at the same place if possible. The Fire department could be on the way to the TV station, just add plenty of time and a gathering at the next school level game would cover the other. I know that you will hear about "rushing" things not being good for the program but it is no good for the program to have Tigers not getting awards. I would rather rush and combine (as long as it stays fun for the boys) and get them their badges then to lose them due to lack of interest because the feel left out of the awards process. If nothing else, can you atleast get them a belt loop or two? I will await the reprecussions of my opinion now in the corner under my soap box. Kristi

I too checked into "like kind" donations (clothing and other items instead of money) I did find one place willing to receive and distribute them to the tsunami areas but it was overseas and the shipping charge would have been more than my poor little pack could afford. My suggestion on this is to send "like kind" donations to the still hurricane raveged Florida cities. We do still have people here in our country that are in need. Kristi

JQuestion: We have a small pack witha bout 20 scouts, 10 siblings, and 8 adults that race cars. What method would be best for us on a 2 lane track? Kristi

At the risk of coming out on the wrong side of a discussion yet again. I have to ask: What about all the people in Florida that still don't have running water, electricity, or homes? I am not against helping when needed but shouldn't we do something about the problems at home too? Kristi

Hi and welcome pkcubmn! It is good to have some new people in the forum. I agree with you about knife education. I also feel that in general people can blow situations out of control, as from the comment that a sheaf knife was making everyone uncomfortable. I would have been different if the wearer had been cleaning his nails with it. Anyway, pull up a log around the fire and join us for a spell. Kristi TN (By the way, typing in all caps is considered yelling and is in bad form in most forums)

I can use anything and everything. Just let me know if you need any other info. Kristi Uniform Closet c/o Kristi Cantor 418 Arthur Douglas Way Kodak Tn 37764

Anarchist: I received the package today. Not sure how long it was at the post office and the parcel alert was stuck to the bottom of my PO BOX and I couldn't see it as I am short and it is on the top row. Thanks a bunch. I can use it all. My Cm still hasnt gotten me the "advancement to rank" bead holders and I have two that have already earned wolf with out them. Now I can get them up to par. Such a nice thing to receive after Christmas. Will deliver all the goodies at our meeting this Tuesday. thanks again. Kristi

My gifts were perfect! Everyone knows I am spending more time outside now with the scouts so the key for me was warmth. I received (among other things) a new coat (warmest one I have ever had), new gloves, and new boots. I am a very cold natured person so these were just perfect. I also got a bottle of the perfume that I love but am too cheap to buy for myself. On the flip side, my son (wolf cub) received a tent, 2 sleeping bags, binoculars, camp chair, and a lantern. I hope you all had a great Christmas too. Kristi

I prefer: Jingle Bells, shotgun shells Granny's got a gun shot me in my underwear and boy did I run! Just call me crazy! Kristi

It is confusing. I am the ACM of one pack getting ready to become it's CM, I am now CM of another pack (until we get it up and running and recruit some adults). My shirt sleeve says "Den Leader". I was hoping for a simple solution to the problem. Does Velcro work well? Just for a laugh, my "assistant" is now registered as a den leader in my original pack but is the ACM of the new pack (B and G club). We could both do velcro and just swap patches around Kristi

I have a question for you all. I am now listed as the ACM for our pack but my DE has me as CM of a newly formed pack at the Boys and Girls Club. I really don't want to buy another shirt. Which patch should I put on my sleeve? I will be CM of my son's pack after Feburary. Should I just go with the CM patch? Kristi

Merlyn writes : "If those are my ONLY to choices, I'd have to kill it, because currently the federal and state governments are violating the rights of atheists by having government agencies run Boy Scout units that unlawfully practice religious discrimination, which is unconstitutional. Religious civil rights are too important to violate so casually" I disagree. This country was founded on the belief that we needed religous freedom. That means you are free to believe or not believe. What really irks me is that people like you "say" we are trying to force our religion on you when in fact you are trying to force your non religion on the rest of us. We can't have any religious objects on display in public places but isn't that basically allowing you to display your "non god". You see it as there is no God so we shouldn't see any signs of Him in our court houses but that just means that we have to look at "objects " of your religion. It seems to me that you are violating my civil rights. Scouts is not out there trying to convert people, we are simply an organazation with membership requirements. If you don't want to join a religious organazation then go find a chess club. Kristi

I, too, miss Bob. Since I am new he was often the voice of reason I needed to hear. My pack is very far off program and he always had some good advice for me on bringing them back to the program. Come Back Bob! Kristi

We were given whistles at our district day camp this past summer. We were also given instructions as to when to use them. We were only to use the whistle in a true emergency. If you heard a whistle you knew there was a major problem and that the "folks in charge" were on their way along with our day camp nurse. I think that was the best possible use of them. We didn't even use them for the boys playing soccer for their loops. Kristi

I agree that I was given an invitation to stick it out. I feel that this boy was put there to give me the lift I needed. It does feel good to be a part (no matter how small) of the process that can turn out boys like him. Kristi

I really don't know if that is a good name for this post or not. But sometimes inspiration is hard to come by and you work with what you have. Speaking of inspiration: We were having a bake sale on Saturday in the cold and rain. There were only 2 scouts who showed up along with my assistant and myself. So, there we were, cold and wet, peddeling our wares at a local flea market. To be honest with you, we weren't doing that well. We only earned $62.00 that day but to my poor pack that is a lot of money, but I digress. So, there we stood when along came a group of 3 teenage boys. One of the boys picked up our last pack of brownies and as he paid us he mentioned to his buddy "Yeah, I almost made Eagle, aged out to quick" to which one of his buddies replied "Really, I am only 2 away from Eagle myself". Then he turned to me and handed me some money and said "Merry Christmas". I thanked him and handed the money to my assistant Rose who gasped so I looked at what he had given us. It was $100.00 so I called after him "Thank you again, I think you just bought our awards for the rest of the year!" He just turned around and smiled. I was shocked. With all the things a teenaged boy could buy with $100 he chose to give it to a small group of cold and wet cub scouts. If he is close to Eagle that puts him 16 or 17, He could have spent that on gas for his car, a date with his girl, food, games, or anything else. I haven't really had much contact with older scouts and only know 2 adult Eagles but I have to say that I was impressed with this nameless youth. I really wish I could be there for his next meeting just so I could let his leaders know what he did. A hundred dollars may not be alot to most of you but where I come from "kids" don't just go around passing money around like that. It also made an impression on the two scouts that I had there. They are still talking about that "rich big kid" and how they were going to be "an Eagle like him" when they grow up too. I must say (in the words of a rock band) "It's amazing, when in the blink of an eye you finally see the light". Someone did right with that teen and I hope for the future of scouting that there are more like him where he came from. By the way, did any of you have sons visiting East Tennessee this past weekend? Kristi

Well, about the membership cards, no one in the district got them. Our outgoing DE took them with him. My son was registered and didn't get one. I am really frustrated that the entire year just ended up not counting for me. It also makes me wonder just how many children weren't registered also. I know the lady at council told me another adult had to be dropped for lack of an application along with me so that means someone else is in for a surprise. The new DE is working with me on my current needs and is offering to help in anyway possible. I won't quit, reminds me of a poem: Sombody said that it couldn't be done but he with a chuckle replied that maybe it couldn't but he would be one who wouldn't say so till he'd tried. Kristi

Hi all. I guess some of you may have noticed that I haven't been around lately. I have, I just hadn't decided what I was going to do. It seems that I was not registered last year. I filled out the application and wrote a check for the registration but it was too much of an inconvenience for my CM to turn it in. My DE told me about this and I nearly lost my desire to continue to fight my way up hill in this pack. So I took a couple of weeks to make a decision. I will continue. I talked with my CM (who still claims that I am registered even though council says I am not) and he is going to step down in Feb. My den is still on the upswing and we are doing our best to recruit some older boys. We had our awards last night at our court of honor and the CM was unprepared, missing a couple of awards and putting off some others. Fortunatley the only awards put off were a couple of extra earned by my son. (It is easier to explain it to him) My question is this. Since I wasn't registered last year what, if anything, would I have lost or gained? Kristi

My two cents . . . I disagree with the statement "Either he's being prepared to skin a buck, or he's learning to be macho, like his dad. " Just having a sheath knife doesn't mean you are trying to be macho or going to skin a deer. I am 5'1" and up until this year I always had a sheath knife ( maybe not on but near). The reason was I had horses and you never knew when you were going to need a knife. I used it to cut a girth off a downed horse before on a trail ride. I used it to cut bailing twine from legs when hay wasn't properly placed. I used it to cut the bottom of my shirt off to use as an emergency bandage to get an injured horse in from pasture to the first aid kit. So many uses, so little time, but I wasn't being macho. Kristi

Hi all, been a few days since I have been here as I have been busy trying to keep the ship afloat with a thimble. It is not working. Here is the jist of it: If my pack (now down to 16 boys) can't come up with some money quickly we can't: 1. recharter 2. hold a court of honor 3. pass our awards 4. do anything We are so broke that we can't even pay attention. It doesn't get any worse than this. The scratch off cards were a flop (yeah I know I told them so too). All the local shops are already booked for selling items (ie: bake sale) and our next meeting is Dec 7th. My den is devasted that they won't get what they have earned. 2 worked really hard to get their wolf and 4 new ones worked just as hard to get their bobcat. My parents are willing. Please give me some ideas for a quick profit. I can't let these boys down. Kristi

My opinion is that the best look would be a surplus military coat. However that is not BSA. Since there is no specified jacket I would assume (there is that word again) that you can wear any jacket. Military (most atleast) jackets are made to work well with that color green and can be bought for little of nothing. my 2 cents. Kristi

The ACLU is alot like PETA, what started out as a good thing is now really about who they can tear down instead of who they can build up. When our Forefathers came to America it was to get away from religious repression and now here we are again right back where we started with a few people trying to dictate what we can and can't do. Kristi

Wow. I have never heard of the Cub Scouts being put in the same catagory as the KKK. And I am from the south too! It amazes me. Kristi

The link I gave was for the manufacturer. I would think that they could maybe do some without any coating or paint at all for you to use for cooking. They also sell water containers and bulk food containers so I am sure they know how to treat them the proper way. Kristi(This message has been edited by cajuncody)