Uniform Stories and Their Purpose

Some Stories about Wearing the Uniform

Story #1:
We were searching for a youth hostel in Lyon, France. We were dressed in class A uniforms. We were confused and must have looked it. A woman approached us and said her son was a Scout and asked if we needed help. I told her the address we were looking for. She tried explaining it to me, but the directions were complicated. She finally smiled and said "Follow me". She literally took me by the hand, and rode with us on the subway, transferred once to another train, and put us on the correct bus, telling the bus driver where we were to get off, and drawing me a walking map of how to get to the hostel from the bus stop. She really went out of her way to help us. We all thanked her as she disappeared into a crowd. I call her the "Unknown Mom" who helped a Scoutmaster and his Scouts (lost in a "mental fog") find their way. Without the uniforms, she probably would have never approached us.

Story #2:
While on a two week trip in Mexico, we were riding on a train when a large group of Mexican Scouts boarded. They were in full uniform, we were not in uniform at the time. They brushed past us. We were saving our uniform for the jet ride home (We'd already worn them a few days earlier). We went into the next car and put on our Scout shirts. One Mexican Scout saw us and soon we had 40 Mexican Scouts swarming all around us wanting to trade patches and talk with us. Instant friends within seconds.

Story #3:
We were attending a Bruce Springstein concert "Born in the USA", in a park in Paris, France. We were in full class A uniforms hoping Bruce might spot us in the crowd (we were only 30' from right center stage) and also because we were born in the USA and wanted everyone to know it. Some chemically altered concert attendee decided it would be cute to rip the American flag off the shirt of one of our Scouts. When he realized he was surrounded by American Scouts and Scouters, he sheepishly grinned, apologized, and quietly retreated into the crowd.

Story #4:
In Rome, Italy we had stopped one evening for pizza on our way to the Trevi fountain. I thought it would be fun to see the Trevi Fountain lit up at night (we had seen it in daylight the previous day). We were in class A uniforms. This was just days after an American TWA jetliner had been hijacked from the airport in Athens, Greece in 1985. Fringe groups were coming out of the woodwork with anti-American demonstrations. As we ate our pizza some American college students saw our Scout shirts and came over to converse with us. We talked of the recent crisis and about some anti-American sentiment that was surfacing. The students said they were leaving Rome after dinner because they were afraid. I asked them why. They said one of the reasons was the anti-American rally taking place that night at the plaza surrounding Trevi Fountain. My Scouts turned and looked at me questioningly. I decided it would be a better idea to skip Trevi Fountain that night and stay at the hotel writing post cards and watching American re-runs on TV (dubbed in Italian).

Wearing the uniform overseas can be a positive or negative experience, depending on the circumstances. I have always had overwhelmingly positive experiences, with just a few potentially bad ones.

We always wear class A's on airline flights.

-- Thanks to Cliff Golden, Scoutmaster Troop 33; DeKalb, Illinois

Uniforms are not always the most comfortable or cool thing to wear but let me remind you of something. Would you as athlete show up to a game without your uniform if you wanted to play, of course not. So why do you choose to show up to the meeting without one

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616

17 Easy Ways to Destroy a Organization

Ways to Kill Almost Any Organization

1. Don't attend meetings, but if you do, arrive late.
2. Be sure to leave before the meeting is closed.
3. Never have anything to say at the meeting - wait until you get outside.
4. When at the meeting, vote to do everything, then go home and do nothing.
5. The next day, find fault with the officers and other members.
6. Take no part in the organization's affairs.
7. Be sure to sit in the back, so you can talk freely to another member.
8. Get all the organization will give you, but don't give the organization anything.
9. Never ask anyone to join the organization.
10. At every opportunity, threaten to resign and try to get others to also.
11. Talk cooperation, but don't cooperate.
12. If asked to help, say you don't have time.
13. Never read anything pertaining to the organization.
14. Never accept an office - it is easier to criticize than do things.
15. If appointed to a committee, never give any time or service to it.
16. If there are finances to pay, just ignore it.
17. Don't do anymore than you have to, and, when others willingly and unselfishly use their ability to help the good cause along, then complain that the organization is run by a clique.

Why does it always seem easier to destroy the organization than make it work. The reason this is, is because of the fact that all you have to do to destroy a organization is to disassociate and fight every decision made which is easier than working on a goal that is going to require so much work from yourself.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616

Picture of the Week

Supper Cheerful Scout- "The Scouting Syndrome"

(Cartoon from- Knots or Not Cartoons via the USSP Website)

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616

Quote of the Week

“The object of the patrol method is not so much having the Scoutmaster trouble as to give responsibility to the boy.”
-Sir Robert Baden Powell

Meeting Review

Troop 1616 After Meeting Review
April 8, 2008

This one is late because i got home late tuesday night and wednesday I just couldn't get myself to putting together information on tuesday's meeting. The major news for this meeting is that the SPL for Troop 1616 has taken a extended leave of absence until the date of April 31, 2008. I as the JASM decided that I would allow this extended leave of absence if the SPL decided to continue his term all the way up to summer camp which is the very late june to early july. It takes place on the week of July 4. Half the reason why I decided to do this was because I felt like the SPL needed to learn more about leadership in order for him to have a basic understanding of what leadership is about. The first major area that he accomplished is running and executing activities, which he performs at the expected level for the standard SPL, the area that the SPL needs to work in is meeting and activity planning. In order to complete this training I felt it was necessary due to the absence to extend the term. Normally I would not have extended a term that I and the person agreed to but I feel that this is the best decision I can make for the Troop.

Now lets actually move on to how the meeting went. It could have had a more formal discussion on appropriate camping gear for the upcoming campout but I feel that the less formal you can make a presentation to the scouts the better off you are going to be because if it is too formal it sounds like school but if it is too informal then it is not purposeful and is ignored by the members of your unit. My big thing was making sure that the new scouts got ideas for what to pack, I will be able to see how they did at the next meeting next week when the unit is having pack inspections. We accomplished the meal plans for the outing which was also important. Two things that I will need to cover next week our probably bear safety for the new scouts and the other will be leave no trace principles with the whole entire unit.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616

Troop Wood Cutting on Sunday Afternoon

Troop Day Activity

Today Troop 1616 head out to a woodlot that was going to be bull-dozed for a road that was going to be put in once the snow disappears. We have 3 adults and 3 youth members show up to the event. It was a little disappointing of a turn out from a Troop of about 18 scouts but I am not going to complain about that. Just wanted to mention the facts that the unit is facing. Lower numbers equal poor program. The cutting went great and we were able to gather all the wood needed for Scout-O-Rama in about a hour and a half. This wood is going to used to demonstrate lashings on a tower that we plan on building for Scout-o-Rama. Thanks to all the scouts and adults who were willing to spend their sunday afternoon doing work for the Troop.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark West
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616

Scouting Methods

One pattern that I have noticed is that many Troops become a specialist at only one method of the eight methods of scout. When a unit chooses to go down this path for long periods of time then the unit will become dysfunctional. The reason why this occurs is because of the fact that you are then not truly giving that young scout a opportunity to experience everything scouting has to offer. So here is the reminder that I like to think about when I am asking the question "How can I provide better service or get better service from others while keeping in mind the methods of scouting" Here they are and fully digest what each takes and what it will mean for mine and your's unit.

1. The Ideals: The ideals of the Boy Scouts of America are spelled out in the Scout Oath, Scout Law, Scout motto, and Scout slogan. Boy Scouts and adult leaders incorporating these ideals into their daily lives are said to have Scout Spirit.
2. The Patrol Method: Within the larger community of the troop, the patrol is a Scout's \"family circle.\" Each patrol helps its members develop a sense of pride and identity. The boys themselves elect their patrol leader, divide up the jobs to be done, and share in the satisfaction of accepting and fulfilling group responsibilities.
3. The Outdoors: Boys join Scouting for the challenge, the excitement, and the fun. Much of Scouting is designed to take place outdoors in settings where boys can find real adventure.
4. Advancement: The Boy Scouts of America believes that a boy should receive recognition for his achievements. The requirements for the ranks of Tenderfoot through First Class prepare boys to take full advantage of all that Scouting has to offer. Earning merit badges allows them to explore many fields, helps them round out their skills, and perhaps introduces them to subjects that will become lifelong interests and rewarding careers. In addition, advancement sets a pattern of setting positive goals and reaching them through life. Star, Life, and Eagle requirements focus on service to others and developing leadership skills.
5. Association with Adults: Boys learn a great deal by watching how adults conduct themselves. Scout leaders are positive role models for the members of the troop, and take a personal interest in the development of each boy.
6. Personal Growth: Scout-age boys are experiencing dramatic physical and emotional growth. Scouting offers them opportunities to channel much of that change into productive endeavors and to find the answers they are seeking for many of their questions. Through service projects and Good Turns, Scouts can discover their place in their community. The troop itself provides each Scout with an arena in which to explore, to try out new ideas, and sometimes simply to embark on adventures with no design other than having a good time with good people.
7. Leadership Development: Leadership is a skill that can be learned only by doing it. Every boy in a patrol and troop will find that he is filling leadership positions of increasing responsibility. Through leadership experiences, boys learn planning, organization, and decision making.
8. The Uniform: Since 1910, the Boy Scout uniform has been a recognizable part of the American Scene. Wearing the uniform helps boys develop a sense of belonging to their patrol and troop. It reinforces the fact that all members of the Boy Scouts of America are equal to one another. People seeing a boy in a Scout uniform expect someone of good character who is prepared to the best of his ability to help those around him. Likewise, adult leaders in full uniform set a good example for members of their troops and are also seen as community leaders fulfilling a very important role.

I do not pleasure taking time to remind myself or others of all eight methods but it is a necessary evil that we must contend with if we are going to provide the best opportunities for our unit's other members.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616

Quote of the Week

What is popular is not always right. What is right is not always popular.

Picture of the Week

2005 National Scout Jamboree Cartoon
"Man, is it Hot"

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616

After Meeting Review

Troop 1616 Weekly Meeting Review
April 1, 2008

Yeah this after meeting review is definitely late but I have been really busy this week with scout work and homework and finally got a chance to write the weekly review. The biggest problem with the nights meeting actually happened during the preparation stages of the meeting and that was a violation of the change of command system. The issue started when adult leader A without the approval or consent of the scoutmaster sent a letter to the whole troop regarding a service project that could be done during the meeting. We ended up doing the project but the point is that the confusion and hassle of having to call all the scouts a couple hours before the meeting could have been avoided if the proper communication method was followed. The e-mail did not include all of the information that it needed to have to be considered complete. This adult leader was told of the situation and the adult leader agreed that it should probably have not occurred that way but occurred due to the fact that it was a last minute thing. Leave the last minute emergencies to the adult and youth leaders of the Troop, that is what they are their for yes they plan for what is expected to happen but the leaders need to be prepared to deal with those incidental problems. No major harm was done. The point I am trying to get across is that we as the leaders of the Troop need to follow the methods of scouting. Without these methods we become just like every other youth organization out their.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616

How to Grow Great Leaders

First plant seven rows of P's:

Promptness
Perserverance
Preparation
Participation
Presence
Purity
And performance

Next, plant three rows of squash:


Squash unfairness
Squash criticism
Squash indifference

Then plant seven rows of lettuce:

1. Let us delegate responsibility

2. Let us give assistance whenever necessary
3. Let us recognize the importance of pooling ideas and encourage full and free ideas and encourage full and free discussion before decisions are made.
4. Let us appreciate and respect the attitudes of other people
5. Let us encourage cooperation
6. Let us arrive in advance of scheduled meetings, with all materials needed
7. Let *us* be prepared

No garden is complete without turnips:

Turn up for meetings
Turn up with enthusiasm
Turn up with new ideas
Turn up with a smile

The harvest is one teriffic Scout Volunteer

Quote of the Week

The people I see performing best in a crisis are people who are honest forthright. They don’t hide their personalities or their weaknesses. They are genuine.

After Meeting Review

Troop 1616 After Meeting Review
March 18, 2008

No Meeting Was held due to the occurrance of Spring Break

March 25, 2008

Meeting was held and this meeting was primarily a planning meeting. We worked on determining the April Outing and the details for Scout-O-Rama. Scout-O-Rama is a recruiting and promotions event done in the community were units from all over the district come together to promote their unit to other scouts and the general public. This event is going to occur on April 26, 2008. The theme chosen for the both for this event will be that of lashings. The three lashings the Troop will be focusing on include square, diagional, and round lashings. Also their will be whipping and fusing of rope. If the Troop has time to develop the skill splicing of the rope will also be included. The senior patrol leader was not at the meeting so I do not have to rate any leaders except for myself and I am not going to say too much because it will probably be too biased. The SPL was considered excused from his duties and the reason for his absence will be noted in the log. I think that I could have done a lot better with keeping the group moving and more involved by asking not so many general questions but more specific questions towards specific questions. Do not be as general as I was being it only creates confusion, yes it is important to provide opportunities for the Troop to discuss the topic but when the Troop does not want to engage and you have to get something done then the leader needs to start realizing that he/she may have to take a more direct approach. The April outing is going to be a advancement work and Scout-O-Rama prep campout.

Picture of the Week

"And They Raised them up on Eagles Wings"

Quote of the the Week

Leadership is not about being soft or nice or purely inclusive or consensus building. The whole point is to make sure the right deicisions happen no matter how difficult or lpainful for the long term greatness of the institution and the achievement of its mission independent of consensus or popularity.

Troop 1616 Meeting

Troop 1616 After Meeting Review

There was no meeting this week for Troop 1616 due to the fact that this week is the week of spring break and most of our leadership team is unavailable to attend the meeting. Meetings should resume next week unless otherwise notified.

Yours in Scouting Service
mark W
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616

Quote of the Week

"It is not the critic that counts nor the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly...; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at his best knows the triumph of high achievement; and who at his worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."
Theodore Roosevel

After Meeting Review

Boy Scout Night Meeting Review
Tuesday March 11, 2008

Well tonights meeting was week two of the quinzee building process. This will be the final week for snow/winter camping training sessions. All in all, our scouts hopefully learned a fair amount of information that will be useful for next winter. The meeting expect for opening, announcements, and closing was lead by the SPL. The JASM was able to pull various scouts aside to work on advancement issues. Also the ALyeska Trip was finalized and the tour permit was authorized. The tour permit for the trip will be filed tomorrow at the anchorage scout office.

The SPL's teaching ability and level of expertise in the topic of the night was more than adequate for the intended audience. The SPL's next step in leader training is going to be planning meetings instead of just showing up and running activities. It is going to require resources and time outside the meeting but it will be well worth the effort. During the schools spring break I plan on developing the concept of planning meetings with the SPL

Tonight I had a very good chance to sit down with a ASM and get tons of feedback in various areas of Troop operations. Here is a summary of the feedback I recieved.

1. SPL is doing a great job of leading activities and needs to be congragulated on a job well done. Second the SPL needs to start work on developing the skills necessary to plan meetings instead of just leading them. JASM will work with SPL to develop the necessary skills. Good chance for the JASM to work on developing various methods of teaaching and presenting the material.
2. Patrol Development: Need to finalize patrols within the Troop and determine when to do Patrol development activities. Patrol development activities include developing a Patrol Yell, Flag, and customs.
   
3. Troop Communications: E-mail communications is fine but need to implement once Patrol Leaders are elected a phone tree that has the PL calling his guys on a weekly basis. Also another idea is continue the weekly updates and maybe work on developing a Troop newsletter. This Troop newsletter should show what the Troop has done and what the Troop is going to do.
   

These are only a few of the major suggestions but I did not want to make the post to long and boring, so I only include a partial list.

The start time for the meeting was 19:02 and the end time was 20:55. Equating to a meeting that lasted one hour fifty-three minutes.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616

Atrsonauts and Scouting Involvment

World Wide

EAGLE:
Adamson, Armstrong, Bagian, Bluford, Bowersox, Brady, Carr, Carter, Chaffee, Covey, Creighton, Duke, Eisele, Fullerton, W. Gregory, Griggs, Hoffman, Jones, Lee, Lind, Llewellyn (King's Scout, U.K.), Lovell, McCulley, O'Leary, Onizuka, Oswald, Parazynski, Reightler, Searfoss, See, Tanner, Truly, Walker

LIFE:
Anders, Basset, Brand, Bridges, Casper, Cooper, Evans, Fabian, G. Gardner, Givens, Gregory, Kregel, Low, Mattingly, McArthur, Mitchell, D. Scott, Spring, Springer, Van Hoften,
C. Williams

STAR:
Barry, Cameron, England, W. Fisher, Garriott, R. Gibson, Gordon, Grissom, Haise, Lounge, McNair, Stafford

First Class:
J. Allen, Bean, Clifford, Coats, Engle, Freeman, D. Gardner, E. Gibson, Hammond, Henize, Linnehan, Nelson, Overmyer, Schirra, Schweickart, W. Scott, Shepard, Veach, Worden

Second Class:
Bolden, Buchli, Carpenter, Cernan, Culbertson, Mullane, Parker, Pogue, Shriver, Swigert,
W. Thornton, White, Young

Tenderfoot:
Aldrin, Bursch, Hawley, Lousma, McDivitt, Michel, Schmitt, Smith

EXPLORER:
O'Connor, D. Williams

CUB SCOUT:
A. Allen, C??. Brown, Conrad, Foale (Wolf, Germany), Gernhardt, Henricks, Leestma, Lopez-Alegria, McBride, Meade, Readdy, Rominger, Shepherd, Thomas, Thuot, Wolf

RANK UNKNOWN:
C??. Brown, Bull, Clervoy, Garneau, Harris, James Voss

GIRL SCOUT:
E. Collins, Davis, A. Fisher, Helms, Jernigan, Lawrence, Seddon, Sherlock, Sullivan,
K. Thornton, Janice Voss, Weber

Moon Scouts

Astronauts and the Scouting Experience

Of the 12 American Astronauts who have walked on the Moon, 11 have been Scouts!

Apollo-Saturn 11 Date: 7/20/69 Time: 2 hr. 31 min. 40 sec.
Armstrong (Eagle), Aldrin (Tenderfoot), Collins (Non-Scout)

Apollo-Saturn 12 Date: 11/19/69 Time: 7 hr. 45 min. 18 sec.
Conrad (Cub Scout), Bean (First Class), Gordon (Star)

Apollo-Saturn 13
Lovell (Eagle), Swigert (Second Class), Haise (Star)

Apollo-Saturn 14 Date: 2/5/71 Time: 9 hr. 22 min. 31 sec.

Shepard (First Class), Mitchell (Life), Roosa (Non-Scout)

Apollo-Saturn 15 Date: 7/30/71 Time: 18 hr. 34 min. 46 sec.
Irwin (Non-Scout), Scott (Life), Worden (First Class)

Apollo-Saturn 16 Date: 4/21/72 to 4/23/72 Time: 20 hr. 14 min. 16 sec.
Duke (Second Class), Young (Second Class), Mattingly (Life)

Apollo-Saturn 17 Date: 12/11/72 to 12/13/72 Date: 22 hr. 3 min. 57 sec.
Schmitt (Tenderfoot), Cernan (Second Class), Evans (Life)

Of the 21 Astronauts who have orbited the Moon, 19 have been Scouts. Of the 214 former and present astronauts, 142 have taken part in Scouting