The purpose of the Boy Scout Handbook

When asked the question, what is the purpose of The Boy Scout Handbook most people will say that it is needed for requirement sign offs and tracking. It is designed to make sure you stay on track for your advancement. Yes that is one of the purposes but have you every wonder what all the other pages are for. Well the Handbook is basically what I like to the call the "Scouting Bible" basically it covers pretty much all of the basics that you need to know to be a good Boy Scout. Yeah it is not going to go into a lot of detail but their are plenty of other books out their published by the Boy Scouts and various outdoor enhtusiasts that will take you to the expert level if you really want to. I am always encouraging the Scouts in my Troop to bring the Boy Scout handbook on every outing, meeting, or activity that we go on, because you never know exactly when you are going to need it. Personally My Handbook even though I have only had it for five years is fairly beat up, I did not get a coil bound handbook so their is tape holding the book binding together, their are pages that have been almost completely torn out, and finally it has a little bit of water damage. I did not purposefully go out and destroy my handbook, to make it look beat up. I just used it a lot in all sorts of differnet environments. Personally I can not wait to see what the 12th edition of the boy scout handbook is going to be like. It is suppose to be released sometime this year and I can not wait until it is availble to be purchased. I am not saying that the old handbook is not useful but what I am saying is that the new edition is going to contain more needed information due to requirement changes that took place. In order for me to be able to effectively facilitate lessons on the new requirements that I have not gone through, I need resource materials.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616

Quote of the Week

Never doubt that a small grasp of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.

Welcome to the BSA

I have come to the conclusion that the hardest thing to get across when introducing members to a boy scout troop whether or not they have been a part of cub scouts or not is what exactly are we suppose to get out of scouting. To me this is not so simple because with all the experiences I have had in the movement it is hard for me to decide which I should and should not tell but after years of fact gathering and personal reflection I came across this resource from another scouter and really this is exactly what we are suppose to do and why we do the things we do. It doesn't give technical instructions in methods but gives us a general idea of what to expect from the program.

Welcome To The Boy Scouts Of America

SCOUTING promises you the great outdoors. As a Scout, you can learn how to camp and hike without leaving a trace and how to take care of the land. You'll study wildlife up close and learn about nature all around you. There are plenty of skills for you to master, and you can teach others what you have learned. Everyone helping everyone else-that's part of Scouting, too.

SCOUTING promises you friendship. Members of the troop you join might be boys you already know, and you will meet many other Scouts along the way. Some could become lifelong friends.

SCOUTING promises you opportunities to work toward the Eagle Scout rank. You will set positive goals for yourself and then follow clear routes to achieve them.

SCOUTING promises you tools to help you make the most of your family, your community, and your nation. The good deeds you perform every day will improve the lives of those around you. You will be prepared to help others in time of need.

SCOUTING promises you experiences and duties that will help you mature into a strong, wise adult. The Scout Oath and the Scout Law can guide you while you are a Scout and throughout your life.

Adventure, learning, challenge, responsibility - the promise of Scouting is all this and more.

So there it is all in a nutshell. My favorite line is the last one especially this part " the promise of Scouting is all this and more". This shows that it is impossible to tell you exactly what scouting is going to accomplish but we as the leaders of the movement have the responsibility to make sure that you get the most out of the program as possible.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark West
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616

Quote of the Week

"Putting on the uniform does not make a fellow a scout but putting on the uniform is a sign that the world that one has taken the scout obligations and folks expect scout like acts from one wearing it"

After Meeting Review

February 12, 2008 Meeting Review

During tonights meeting I worked with the newer scouts on advancment and getting them use to how a Boy Scout Troop should function. I started out by telling them how the organization works. Since one of the new scouts cam from cub scouts I made many connections to the cub scout program so he would understand. For the other new scout that was not involved with scouts before I told him from the very basic level. Tonight the requirements we got to after the Troop introduction was that of the rules of safe hiking and the buddy system in scouting. Even though this does not seem like a lot of information, I was able to spend 45 minutes on this task.

The older scouts tonight worked on the communications Merit Badge with the MB counselor. With this counselor they just reviewed the information with her, so I need the counselor to fill out and sign merit badge cards for each scout that participated in this activity tonight. I will make sure this is taken care of within the next two weeks.

Also even though the SPL did not have to do much tonight, I think that he is starting to get a clearer picture of what he needs to do. Hopefully next week I will be able to sit down with the SPL and work on developing some leadership skills, since the scoutmaster will be back and we will be able to work on other stuff without having me or the SPL their.

Well as you can see we had a fairly good meeting that was in line with how scouting is suppose to be run and had a fairly productive night.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616

Within My Power

This is good reminder to me of why I want to stay involved in scouting even as a adult. To me it isn't important that I have glory and fame but what is truly important to me is whether or not I am able to make a difference in somebody's life that could end up changing the world. So when somebody proudly asks why you as a adult or kid are in the Scouts, remember that you have the power to model the next generation and to allow them to succeed and see the positive will surely benefit our society that has become obsessed with who can out do who in whatever we do.

Within My Power

By Forest E. Witcraft

I am not a Very Important Man, as importance is commonly rated. I do not have great wealth, control a big business, or occupy a position of great honor or authority.

Yet I may someday mould destiny. For it is within my power to become the most important man in the world in the life of a boy. And every boy is a potential atom bomb in human history.

A humble citizen like myself might have been the Scoutmaster of a Troop in which an undersized unhappy Austrian lad by the name of Adolph might have found a joyous boyhood, full of the ideals of brotherhood, goodwill, and kindness. And the world would have been different.

A humble citizen like myself might have been the organizer of a Scout Troop in which a Russian boy called Joe might have learned the lessons of democratic cooperation.

These men would never have known that they had averted world tragedy, yet actually they would have been among the most important men who ever lived.

All about me are boys. They are the makers of history, the builders of tomorrow. If I can have some part in guiding them up the trails of Scouting, on to the high road of noble character and constructive citizenship, I may prove to be the most important man in their lives, the most important man in my community.

A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove. But the world may be different, because I was important in the life of a boy.

Hopefully this will help to remind you of what scouting and being a volunteer is really about. Yeah their are going to be tough times. I going through tough times in my Troop but I must learn to stand strong and fight this battle.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616

Happy Birthday BSA

Today February 8, 2008 is the 98 birth of the Boy Scouts of America. so happy Birthday, BSA. I think that today it is important to remember that without the good turn of the unkown Scout to William Boyce, then scouting may have never made it to the United States, yeah it probably would have eventually but who knows how long it would have taken. Remember when you are thinking about the Scout Slogan "Do a Good Turn Daily" don't just let it be words in your daily life, do it. You have the power to make a difference in someone else life and who knows you could have just helped next Albert Einstein or political leader or just a average joe that could end up making a difference in the world because you helped them get through one more minute of one more day. A good turn doesn't have to be a all day affair but it does require a little time. This little time can be as small as one minute. Yeah I know that a minute in the big scheme of things seems pretty small but the truth is that a minute can mean the difference between success and failure and life and death. A minute can destroy the world, if that person is not brought into a positive light. We are their to bring a positive light into the world and let it shine brightly throughout our lifetime.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616

Cold Weather Safety

One of the first things that I will teach scouts when training them about dealing with cold or winter weather camping environments is that of the "COLDER" acronym but most people will say that the acronym that deals with cold weather camping is that of "COLD". According to the Boy Scout Fieldbook it is actually the word "COLDER, which for most of us is the guide that we want to use when teaching and figuring out how to survive the cold weather experience. This acronym directly affects how you should dress and maintain your clothing in a colder weather environment. So here is what each part of the acronym means:

• C- Clean: Clothing free of grime and dirt insulates better and helps keep your body warmer for a longer period of time. Keeping your body clean also will help you regulate your body more efficiently.
• O- Overheating: Do not allow your body to overheat but you also do not want your body to be to cold. Build into your clothing system multiple layers that can be taken off and added as needed depending on the environmental conditions you are having to face.
• L-Layers: Do not just use few bulky layers in your clothing system instead use loose light layers so you can have a greater range of adjustment.
• D-Dry: The outside layer should be water proof or at least water resistant in order to as much cold away from the body as possible.
• E-Examine Regularly: Inspect your clothing thoroughly and on a regular basis. It may be better to get a buddy to help you inspect your clothing as necessary. Examining regularly allows you to make sure your body has a stable internal and external environment to deal with.
• R-Repair quickly: Fix your gear that you have problems with as soon as possible, even if it means only being able to make a temporary repair in the field. Duct tape is a Scout's best friend and can help seal holes, put togther zippers or straps, and provide extra warmth.
  

Remember the principles of Leave No Trace. Leave No Trace principles need to be examined and thought about when dealing with a cold weather environment. During the winter these principles have a few special considerations to think about. Here are the Leave No Trace principles for use as a reminder:

• Plan Ahead and Prepare
• Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
• Dispose of Waste Properly
• Leave What you Find
• Minimize Campfire impacts
• Respect Wildlife
• Be considerate of other Visitors.

These are the two major topics that I focus on for cold weather training with Scouts. Also I usually will spend another night for a training session on what types and styles of clothing and personal gear are most appropriate. Encourage your scouts to ask questions and do not make the question asking environment become intimidating, allow all scouts to get every single question answered they have. If you do not have a answer, then be honest about not having a answer and tell them that you will consult with others and get their question answered. It may not occur at that meeting but it is important to follow through and make sure the question is answer.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark West
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616

February 4, 2008 Meeting Review

During tonights meeting we did not do very due to to fact that I as the junior assistant scoutmaster did not communicate enough information to the adult leader in charge that I had the meeting under control, so he automatically took charge of the meeting and stopped the meeting early, due to the fact that their was supposedly nothing to do and the fact that Pat did not show up to the meeting. I think that it was my fault that I did not more clearly take charge but I guess the reason I held back was because of the chain of command system in a boy scout Troop. The other problem is that the adult incharge I believed assumed that since Pat was not their, their was no meeting planned. This is because of the fact that in this Troop we are adult runned, boy sit down and have fun Troop. I have been workoing towards getting youth leaders to take a more active role in decision making but it is going to be hard because I have to break the traditions the Troop has stood for, for several years.

Well that is how the meeting went, It was not a complete failure and the information that the camp out on this upcoming weekend was canceled, which is definitely vitally important.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616

New Eagle Scout Rank Application

The new printing of the Eagle Scout Rank Application, No. 58-728, has a notable change. Now, under requirement #5, the name of the candidate’s Eagle project is required, as well as the grand total of hours devoted to it (from page 10 of the Eagle Scout Leadership Project Workbook). The new application will be required in 2008. If an older version is used, it may not be accepted.The information about Eagle projects will be entered along with other information from Eagle Scout rank applications, and will be stored in a database. Councils will be able to run reports at the district or council level. This new database of Eagle projects will also be available at area, region, and national levels. See Eagle Scout Page for a link to the new application via: Boy Scout Trail

Youtube Recruiting is Possible

I think that this would be a great idea to help recruit Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts using the internet. All it would take would be ten minutes of your time onf February 8, 2008. So volunteer your time and get with the program. Help us to help you bridge the generation gap and on doors to recruiting that have never been opened before.

Blog From Scoutmaster for Merlose Troop

Boy Scout Anniversary Experiment

I would like to conduct an experiment, and I am going to need your help to do it. As most of you know, February 8th is the 98th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. I would like your help to celebrate it in a unique way.

Currently, there are a few thousand videos on Youtube that feature Scouts or are about Scouting. Most of these videos never receive more then a couple hundred views, if they even get that many. Only a few have ever hit the 10.000 views mark. I do not think a Scouting video has ever made it to the daily top five pages.

There are millions of Boy Scouts in the USA, and tens of thousands of adult leaders and professionals. Add the Scouts and leaders from around the world and we have a staggering membership. Even if we get a small percentage of the Scouts and leaders with internet access to participate in this I think we could make this work.

So here is my idea. Let's make a "Youtube Scouting Video Day" on February 8th. Let's try to get as many Scouts, adult leaders, friends, and family members to watch Boy Scout videos as we are able. Let's see if we can get a video or two to appear on the Youtube front pages and really help to promote Scouting to the internet masses, or at least the Youtube viewers.

To make this the most effective I think we need to concentrate our efforts on just a few videos, but I encourage you to watch as many as your time table allows. Here are the videos I would suggest we watch:

In The Scout Zone Video (2:24)
at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKFnGDRaMQU
The BSA Commercial featuring Jim Lovell (0:30)
at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNq6WsYIAFI
A Cub Scout Commercial featuring Steve Young (0:30)
at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqnkjBArjUo
and finally, the "What Parents Say About Scouting" (5:52)
at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1axj3lNc0Q

This would amount to approximately ten minutes of your time if you watched all four videos, ten minutes to help promote Boy Scouting and Cub Scouting on a popular internet site. Would you be willing to spend ten minutes trying to bring Scouting videos to the light of day for one day?

So, I ask that you spread the word about "Youtube Scouting Video Day". Copy this message and send it to other Scouts and leaders. Let's see if we can't get these videos highlighted to the internet masses and promote Scouting on February 8th.

This is all you have to do in order to participate is go to the above videos at the links provide and you will have the opportunity to help promote.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W.
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616

The Pledge of Alligence by Red Skeleton

The following words were spoken by the late Red Skelton on his television program as he related the story of his teacher, Mr. Laswell, who felt his students had come to think of the Pledge of Allegiance as merely something to recite in class each day. Now, more than ever, listen to the meaning of these words. "I've been listening to you boys and girls recite the Pledge of Allegiance allsemester and it seems as though it is becoming monotonous to you. If I may, may I recite it and try to explain to you the meaning of each word?"

I	me, an individual, a committee of one.
Pledge	dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self pity.
Allegiance	my love and my devotion.
To the flag	our standard, Old Glory, a symbol of freedom. Wherever she waves, there's respect because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts freedom is everybody's job!
United	that means that we have all come together.
States	individual communities that have united into 48 great states. Forty-eight individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose; all divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common purpose, and that's love for country.
And to the republic	a state in which sovereign power is invested in representatives chosen by the people to govern. And government is the people and it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people.
For which it stands, one nation	one nation, meaning "so blessed by God"
Indivisible	incapable of being divided.
With liberty	which is freedom -- the right of power to live one's own life without threats, fear or some sort of retaliation.
And Justice	the principle or quality of dealing fairly with others.
For all	which means, boys and girls, it's as much your country as it is mine.

Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country and two words have been added to the pledge of Allegiance.. UNDER GOD Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that is a prayer and that would be eliminated from schools too?

God Bless America

So here is what the pledge of Alligance means to red skeleton and I definitely agree that unless you take the time to break part this ideas into sizable chunks, then you are not able to develop a appropaite understanding of the subject. For the next couple of entries I am going to be focusing on developing some of the ideal statements of the movement, into easy to understandable chunks that everyone can interpret.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616

The Super-Lazy Scout Syndrome

I have come to the conclusion that the largest and most deadly item to the Boy Scouts of America is not attacks from the outside but the attacks that come from within. What I am referring to when I say attacks is the laziness of the Scouts to the point that they barely want to do anything related to the program. It our these people who are lazy and have a carefree attitude that are bringing down the program. The program is not designed to take abuse from its own members but is designed to take abuse from others. This abuse from its own members, has so many of our resources tied up, instead of allowing the unit leadership to be able to focus on expanding and growing the members and the program of his unit. Yeah sometimes we can have lazy scouts especially in Cub Scouts but really it does not do us any good. Here are some of the best solutions that I have been able to come up with that rectify the problem:

• Engage the Scout, especially older Scouts by providing them with a more strenuous program than your beginning scouts.
• Ask opinions of the Boys, don't just assume a smile on the face or a positive attitude mean they are having fun, children learn to be very clever at hiding their true feelings
• Don't always be the superior, learn to work as a equal. Learning to work as a equal will show that you have respect for the people under you and the gap between them and your authority will shrink.
• Do not patternize your program, this makes for a very boring program that does not allow for the growth of the scout or a unit. Yes you can have unit traditions but be open to all ideas
• Remember scouting is three-fourths outing that that is what your unit will demand from you. Know that if you do not have outings beyond your meeting you will loose members

Hopefully you get the idea that if you follow the eight methods of scouting you will be able to engage most of the lazy scouts but occasionally you will have scouts that persist and that is when you need to learn how to examine why this Scout is behaving the why he is. Is it because their are family issues, school issues, peer issues, scout issues, being harrassed, abused physically or emotionally, does he not like the program, is he being forced by his parents to complete the program, or is it just a stage that he is going through. I hope that it does not lead to the scout being kicked out or dropped out but sometimes it does and you as the leader need to know how to respond to this situation. React but don't overreact or you will have huge negative consequences.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616

Scout Law Explain in Laymans Terms

Here is my favorite in interpretation of the Scout law by another scouter. So enjoy and hopefully you can learn something from reviewing this information

What the Scout Law Means to Me
John Wayne

A great American, John Wayne, passed away many years ago. One of his last public appearances was at a dinner. He was riddled with cancer and knew he was close to death. The purpose of the dinner was to benefit a land purchase for a Scout Reservation called John Wayne Outpost Camp. At this dinner, Wayne recited the Scout Law. Then he did something unusual. He said the twelve points of the Scout Law are "nice words". "Trouble is" he continued, "we learn them so young we sometimes don't get all the understanding that goes with them. I take care of that in my family. As each boy reaches Scout age, I make sure he learns the Scout Law. Then I break it down for him, with a few things I have picked up in more than half a century since I learned it." Then Wayne proceeded to explain the importance of the Scout Law, breaking it down for the guests at the dinner; much like he would have for his grandson.

TRUSTWORTHY: The badge of honesty. Having it lets you look at any man in the eye. Lacking it, he won't look back. Keep this one at the top of your list.
LOYAL: The very word is life itself; for without loyalty we have no love of person or country
HELPFUL: Part sharing, part caring. By helping each other, we help ourselves; not to mention mankind. Be always full of help -- the dying man's last words.
FRIENDLY:Brotherhood is part of that word. You can take it in a lot of directions - and do - but make sure and start with brotherhood.
COURTEOUS: Allow each person his human dignity; which means a lot more than saying, "Yes, ma'am" and "Thank you, sir." It reflects an attitude that later in life you wish you had honored more... earlier in life. Save yourself that problem. Do it now.
KIND: This one word would stop wars and erase hatreds. But it's like your bicycle, it's just no good unless you get out and use it.
OBEDIENT: Starts at home. Practice it in your family. Enlarge it in your friends. Share it with humanity.
CHEERFUL: Anyone can put on a happy face when the going is good. The secret is to wear it as a mask for your problems. It might surprise you how many others do the same thing.
THRIFTY: Means a lot more than putting pennies away; and it is the opposite of cheap. Common sense covers it just about as well as anything.
BRAVE: You don't have to fight to be brave. Millions of good, fine, decent folks show more bravery than heavyweight champs just by getting out of bed every morning, going out to do a good day's work, and living the best life they know how against the law of odds. Keep the word handy every day of your life.
CLEAN: Soap and water helps a lot on the outside. But it is the inside that counts, and don't ever forget it.
REVERENT: Believe in anything that you want to believe in, but keep God at the top of it. With Him, life can be a beautiful experience. Without Him, you are just biding time.

John Wayne then thanked those at the dinner for putting his name on the outpost camp and said, "I would rather see it here than on all the theater marquees the world over."

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616

Uniforms

Whenever I talk about uniforms in the Scouting program to adults or youth, I usually try and include this quote because it sums up what the primary purpose of the uniform is in the scouting program. Yes it does not match the Eight Methods of Scouting exactly but when you are referring to a outside source then it sums up the purpose of the uniform for the general non-scout population. So here it is:

• Putting on the uniform does not make a fellow a scout but putting on the uniform is a sign that the world that one has taken the scout obligations and folks expect scout like acts from one wearing it

This quote means that putting on the uniform is a physical sign to the rest of the world that this person has agreed to act Scout like. When I talk about scout like behavior from a outside the program perspective, that outside person demands and expects that this person is going to have strong morals and ethics even in this world were it is commonplace for your average teenager to loose this and not realize it is important until much later in life. The obligation that this Scout has taken is not some top secret code that very few people understand, this obligation is clearly laid out in the Scout Oath, Law, Motto, and Slogan. There are no secrets about how this system is suppose to work if you are willing to carefully examine and understand the words to these statements of ideals.

One of the most important things to do while wearing a Boy Scout uniform is to to be proud to wear that uniform. Be proud of who you are and what you stand for even if you are standing alone. Having the courage to be able to truly do this takes guts but once you do this you will feel much better with yourself. This is only true for members of the Troop who actually want to be there. If you do not want to be there then most likely you will be the one putting down the organization. Let me give you one piece of advice if you dislike being a Scout "Leave us alone, get out, and I hope you can find a organization that you like to be involved in, so good luck in whatever activity you choose, sorry this could not work out but obiviously it wasn't meant for you". I now realize that even though this would be a wonderful program for everyone to participate in, in my eyes, I have to realize that this is not possible because everyone has different tastes.

Wearing your Boy Scout uniform is just like a sports team putting on a jersey for games and practice. Yeah Boy Scout uniforms are just a little more formal than a sports uniform but it is the general idea. You would not show up to a game as a player without your uniform if you wanted to play in the game, then why do you think it is appropriate to show up to a Troop meeting without a uniform. Yes occasionally you are not going to have your uniform availble for you to take to your meeting but showing up consistently is a disrespect to yourself and others who are supposed to be proud of the organization you are involved in.

Enough ranting but here is my last thought. Wearing the uniform means that you are showing the world that you want to make a difference and become someone of high moral and ethical standards.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark West
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616

Ten Commandments of Leadership

These commandments of leadership are rules that all leaders should learn how to incorporat into their belief system. If every leader of the world was capable of doing this things to every subordinate every time, then we would have created a wonderful and utopian leadership style. Most of us are going to at one point in hour lives fall on the bad side of these paradoxical statements.

1. People are illogical, unreasonable and self-centered - Love them anyway.
2. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives - Do good anyway.
3. If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies - Succeed anyway.
4. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow - Do good anyway.
5. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable - Be honest and frank anyway.
6. The biggest people, with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest people with the smallest minds - Think big anyway.
7. People favor underdogs but only follow top dogs - Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
8. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight - Build anyway.
9. People really need help, but may attack you if you do help them - Help them anyway.
10. Give the world the best you have and you may get kicked in the teeth. Give the world your best anyway.

Why is it so easy for people to be so negative and mean to others is because of the fact that we have become a society that focuses on individualism and scouting is trying to teach the opposite of individualism. We are trying to create a world of moral and ethical leaders ready to face the challenges of today's world, knowing that what they stand for is the right thing to stand for.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark West
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616

January 28, 2008 After Meeting Review

During tonights meeting I felt like we did a okay job. There were a few major issues that need to be sorted out but otherwise I think that we are running a great program up here. So here are the issues that occurred at tonights meeting

• Senior Patrol Leader took a semi active role in leading the scouts and was not the primary voice in the meeting. My worst fears were confirmed about the campfire program was realized. It is a total disaster but we did get the two skits that we need for the Freezere campfire program.
  
• Scouts not respecting the youth leaders who were trying to talk about items that were upcoming.

Here is what we accomplished

• Finalized the food list and assigned a scout to the grubmaster position
• Gear checks but still concerned with one particular scout, who seems not to care but will be the first to complain about problems
• Decided on skits for District Freezere
• Got a list of activities for the next six months put together with at least a general idea of what we want to do.

All in all we had a great meeting and got a fair amount of work done. I was hoping to get more work done on the Communications Merit Badge but their is not much to do when I can not explain specific elements for the program. Going to have to develop some sort of guiding mechanism for putting together the program.

Yours In Scouting Service
Mark W
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616

You Might be taking Scouting too Seriously

Yeah lots of people play are with this same exact line but it is just so funny that I have to post something like this every once in a while to lighten the load.

So here it is:
You might taking scouting to serious if.....

• most of your wardrobe is olive drab or khaki.
• you keep a lantern hanging outside your bathroom door.
• you cannot walk by a piece of trash without picking it up.
• you carry a dufflebag size first-aid kit in your car.
• you always cook enough food for twelve.
• you have the urge to help little old ladies ... whether they want it or not.
• you know 100 uses for a bandana.
• someone asks for a volunteer and you find your hand is already in the air.
• you correct someone who says "Gee, I used to be an Eagle Scout/Girl Scout", and then get him/her to volunteer in your Troop.
• you always have a boy/girl registration and adult leader application in your bag. And you have to keep replacing them.
• you are proud of the mentors your sons/daughters have found.
• you say "signs up" in a business meeting to quiet everyone down.
• you find yourself discussing the relative merits of internal vs. external frame packs on a date.
• you have a special woven belt loop cup holder.
• you spontaneously break into strange songs in public.
• your radio is always tuned to the weather station.
• you horde tent stakes.
• you know all the words to Little Bunny Foo-Foo, but can't remember your anniversary.
• you have something on your shoe...and you're sure it's only mud.
• you have to go to the restroom and you start looking for a buddy.
• you tie your shoe and check the handbook to se if it can go toward earning a badge.
• you miss "cargo pockets."
• you really love your self-inflating sleep pad.
• you deeply understand the potential of a group working together
• you know you have brothers all over the world.
• You have your own desk & filing cabinet just for scout related paperwork.
• If your calendar is full of meetings that you never forget, but can't remember to send a birthday card to your brother-in-law on time.
• If you have the local BSA office on speed dial.
• People don't recognize you when you're not in uniform.
• if your gourmet meal consists of cornbread, "Spam," and bug-juice...
• if you've ever heard the phrase, "Trust me, it's only an hour a week!!"...
• if your "family vacation" includes 30 kids your wife/husband doesn't know...
• You are in a large group of people and someone tries to talk And you hold up the Scout sign to get them to quiet down.
• Instead of building a fence around the yard with nails and wood, You lash it with poles and rope.
• Instead of teaching your 1 yr. old son his ABC’s You teach him the Scout Law and the Scout Oath
• A stranger asks for directions to a public restroom and you hand him a trowel and give him detailed instructions in the fine art of digging a kitty hole.
• Derby Day has nothing to do with Kentucky or horses. It's all about a 5 oz block of wood and a ramp.
• And the number one way you can tell if you are a Scouter is: You take your own bag of Trails End, Butter Microwave Popcorn to the movies and ask the guy behind the counter to put it in the microwave for 2m, 33s exactly.

yeah It may be overkill to some people but for others it is the absolute honorable truth. Hurray for those who think that many of these are true in your life, scouting is not just a weekly meeting it is about living a certain way.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616

New Advancement Requirements

ATTENTION ALL SCOUTERS. NATIONAL HAS ISSUED NEW AND UPDATED RANK ADVANCEMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR TENDERFOOT, SECOND CLASS, AND FIRST CLASS RANKS.

All requirements that are new or updated are effective immediately for all scouts unless that Scout started working on those rank requirements before January 1, 2008.

At the web address below you will be able to access all the updates.

http://www.scouting.org/nav/enter.jsp?s=promoi&c=http://www.scouting.org/boyscouts/resources/32215/index.html


Hopefully the link works up their if not just copy the entire web address or go to scouting.org

These Rank advancement changes are not major things to sweat over, it is just like National reviewing a certain set of Merit Badges each year expect for the fact that it deals with Rank Advancement. These changes are for the betterment and growth of the program.

Don't frown, Yes First Class had the biggest changes but what can you do about it. Yeah you can complain but is that truthfully the best thing to do. These requirements are their to reflect new ideas that are necessary for Boys to learn in order to keep pace with this information superhighway world.

Yours in Scouting
Mark W
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616

District Freezere

Up in the Great Alaska Council which serves the southern half of the state of Alaska, the Tustumena District is getting ready to go on its District Freezere on Febuary 8, 9, and 10. This district serves the Entire Kenai Peinsula up here. Even though my unit is not incharge of running activities I still have a huge list of items to take care of before the campout. Here is what i have to do in order to be ready.

• File a Tour Permit with Council for the activity
• Assemble a list of Scouts and Parents who are going
• Have a Gear check night and make sure scouts have the gear that is appropriate for this outing and make recomendations for additional items. If necessary ensure scouts gather those needed items through their own resources or the Troop resources.
• Troop Equipment checks
• Ice Fishing Gear
• What do the scouts already have
• What is needed and who needs what
• Wish List possibilites
• Food
• Finalize rough draft of Food list
• Assign grubmaster
• Ensure Grubmaster knows numbers and how to get food ready for the weekend.
• Find out if anybody needs cooking requirements for rank advancement

This is no where a complete list of what I have to do but it is start. Hopefully when I show this to the Senior Patrol Leader, he will realize that being in a leadership position is more than just showing up at weekly meetings and monthly outings, it is about putting in time to ensure their is a successful program.

It seems like a lot but it will all come together relatively quickly, If I focus on these items.

Yours in Scouting
Mark W
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616