From mfbowman@CapAccess.org Mon Jun 23 23:49:24 1997 Date: Mon, 23 Jun 1997 23:49:22 -0400 (EDT) From: "Michael F. Bowman" To: Patrick LAM cc: Multiple recipients of list SCOUTS-L Subject: Re: AAC Summer Camps (LONG!!) 2/2 In-Reply-To: Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Status: RO X-Status: Mike, I tend to agree with Patrick. You must have had some bad experiences with Cub resident camps stealing the show from an early stage to worry that they detract from boys latter attending Scout resident camps. Instead of generalizing I would go only so far as to say that a Council must be careful to make sure that both of its Cub and Boy Scout resident camps offer the best possible program and in a progression that encourages returns to get more of the adventure and challenges. The National Capital Area Council camps at Goshen Scout Reservation do just that starting with two camps devoted to Webelos and more adventure around the corner at the Boy Scout camps we have. Finally we have a high adventure trail camp that serves as an excellent precursor to Philmont. Not every Council will have this luxury and some tailoring can always be done to give variety in stages. I've been around other Councils that do a good job in this area over the years as well. I guess I'd suggest being careful not to over generalize. Speaking only for myself in the Scouting Spirit, Michael F. Bowman E-mail: mfbowman@capaccess.org Visit: ftp1.scouter.com/usscouts U. S. Scouting Service Project FTP Site Administrator (PC Area) Helping to deliver the promise of Scouting from Alexandria, Virginia From mfbowman@CapAccess.org Mon Jun 23 23:53:07 1997 Date: Mon, 23 Jun 1997 23:53:06 -0400 (EDT) From: "Michael F. Bowman" To: Tony Ciak cc: Multiple recipients of list SCOUTS-L Subject: Re: Plans, forms, & maps In-Reply-To: <3.0.32.19970618112921.006e0344@best.com> Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Status: RO X-Status: Tony, We don't have the Whole Earth Catalog online, but we do have maps, blueprints, and much more at the U.S. Scouting Service Project FTP Site. You can use your web browser to visit us at ftp://ftp1.scouter.com/usscouts/ Shucks we even have some odd things like a map of the Washington DC Metro system for Scoutings heading towards the National Jamboree. Y'all come now. Speaking only for myself in the Scouting Spirit, Michael F. Bowman E-mail: mfbowman@capaccess.org Visit: ftp1.scouter.com/usscouts U. S. Scouting Service Project FTP Site Administrator (PC Area) Helping to deliver the promise of Scouting from Alexandria, Virginia From mfbowman@CapAccess.org Mon Jun 23 23:58:58 1997 Date: Mon, 23 Jun 1997 23:58:57 -0400 (EDT) From: "Michael F. Bowman" To: Robert DeMoss cc: Multiple recipients of list SCOUTS-L Subject: Re: flag burning cermony In-Reply-To: <970619012729_224123464@emout03.mail.aol.com> Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Status: RO X-Status: Bob, Save time on research, there is no rule that requires one to separate the flag into component pieces prior to destruction by burning. A lot of folks do this not so much because it is a rule, but to make sure that spectators understand very clearly that what they are witnessing is a solemn, dignified act, avoiding confusion flag burning in protest or disrespect. It also has the salutory effect of allowing more Scouts to participate in the ceremony making it a group ceremony instead of a solo activity. Speaking only for myself in the Scouting Spirit, Michael F. Bowman E-mail: mfbowman@capaccess.org Visit: ftp1.scouter.com/usscouts U. S. Scouting Service Project FTP Site Administrator (PC Area) Helping to deliver the promise of Scouting from Alexandria, Virginia From mfbowman@CapAccess.org Tue Jun 24 00:31:59 1997 Date: Tue, 24 Jun 1997 00:31:58 -0400 (EDT) From: "Michael F. Bowman" To: Matt J Hawley cc: Multiple recipients of list SCOUTS-L Subject: Re: Meetings In-Reply-To: <19970618.084710.14575.1.X_Terminator@juno.com> Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Status: RO X-Status: Matt, Your question shows that you have learned well that being an Eagle is more than just wearing the patch. Now that you've all reached a very high plateau in your Scouting careers where do you go from there? Where would you like to go? Would you like to do some really exciting stuff tailored to just guys your own age? Perhaps a venture crew with a challenging or exciting activity would be a good start and if that works you may want to start your own Explorer post as a follow-on. Sure you can also contribute to the leadership of the Troop, but the boys coming up the line need to have the chance to learn how to lead and to do what you've already accomplished. While I wouldn't discourage your group from helping to give service to the Troop through teaching skills including leadership, there is another way to promote leadership and achievement that sometimes is overlooked. Take the lead in doing some really exciting fun stuff that all the guys in your group would enjoy. When the younger fellows see what you can do as you get older and advance, it will help to entice them to want to get where you already are. Show them that the trail is not a dead-end and that it instead leads to even more adventure by what you decide to do. If its fun, they'll want to follow in your tracks. How about an older guys "Eagle Knowledge Challenge Quest" covering several days? What is that? Divide into two teams. Each day starting on an evening each team searches the web, libraries or other available resources for some obscure local bit of information, history, sports, etc. related to the place and gives the other team clues about it. The next day each team has to find the place and take a picture of the group at the right place. If you have a little creativity you can make it so that getting there requires bicycling, swimming, boating, climbing, etc. (with appropriate safety considerations) and so that everyone learns a little something. The two groups are not allowed to meet and have to conduct business by phone or e-mail until the last night, which is a fun night at an amusement park, camping spot or whatever followed with a debriefing and awards session at a pizza place or the like. Each team will have some interesting stories and a few photos to share by then and you may be surprised at which places get visited, many times not the one intended. Points are awarded to the teams by an umpire (venture leader). The killer is that points are awarded not on your team's success in getting to an objective, but on how you get the other team to its objective. If the other team gets where it is supposed to go you get a set amount, say 20 points. If the clues are difficult you get five points. If you require the use of up to three Scout skills in the process you get 3pts each. If they don't get to the objective you lose 5 pts and no points for clues (still 3pts for skills for each of three). Scores are not disclosed until the end of the event. Oh, and one other thing the umpire ahead of time picks one day for each team to be its daily double - twice the score, but can't tell which day until the whacky awards night. To win you'll have to figure out just how hard you can make it and still have the other guys succeed, but not so easy that you won't get as many points as they will. Of course if you make it too hard you lose ground and that might be bad on a daily double day. Of course you'll have to recruit some adults to watch the fun and help you make sure that you keep things within reasonable bounds. And they might have to drive you a few places, etc. Part of the fun may be that you won't know what to expect from one day to the next. Speaking only for myself in the Scouting Spirit, Michael F. Bowman E-mail: mfbowman@capaccess.org Visit: ftp1.scouter.com/usscouts U. S. Scouting Service Project FTP Site Administrator (PC Area) Helping to deliver the promise of Scouting from Alexandria, Virginia From mfbowman@CapAccess.org Tue Jun 24 01:11:40 1997 Date: Tue, 24 Jun 1997 01:11:39 -0400 (EDT) From: "Michael F. Bowman" To: Dan Roberts cc: Multiple recipients of list SCOUTS-L Subject: Re: Haunted Woods In-Reply-To: <01BC7C35.FE12FF20@pm53-21.magicnet.net> Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Status: RO X-Status: Dan, Haunted houses and the like can be a lot of fun at halloween and of course there are many activities that are fun for cub aged boys that you can use at this time of year like the gross guts boxes that you pass around. Each Cub is issued with thin plastic gloves and gets to feel various objects by sticking his hand into a hole in a box. You can use various food stuffs for body parts and label the boxes accordingly. Kids seem to love the gross fun stuff like that. You could for example label a box "Scrambled Brains - from drug user" and have chilled ground meat moulding in the shape of a brain inside - yetch. With a little imagination, some mashed potatos, radishes coated in jello (eyes), spaghetti, jello, and the like you could have some fun. Of course its even more fun after all the comments to open the boxes and see what caused all the "Awwww Groooooosss" comments. I'm sure some of our netizens here can supply some of their favorite gross object stories. And then their are all sorts of traditional fun things to do with pumpkins, scarecrows, and the like. No shortage of program possibilities. Now the haunted woods idea is not one I have heard of before, but it already gives me goosebumps, but not of the good kind. Depending on what part of the country you are from and how much experience your boys have had being outdoors at night in the woods, the activity could be fun and exciting or a disaster with long term consequences. Here are a few concerns you may want to think about: If this is the first time out in the woods for the boys, especially at night and one or two really get scared badly, this may be the last time they'll go for it. After all who wants to go camping with Jason from Friday the 13th. Certainly won't do much to make 'em want to use the Kybo at night. What happens if some or all of the older Scouts really get into their roles as "goblins" and the like to the point that the activity becomes hazing? What if one of the young fellows gets scared and separated from the group - runs off lost? What if one of the young fellows decides to take out a ghoul with his Cub knife (you didn't know his dad gave it to him to take on the campout of course)? It is hard to find a good balance for such an activity where it's not lame and not likely to produce unintended consequences. I'd be curious to know what sorts of things could work for such an activity. Speaking only for myself in the Scouting Spirit, Michael F. Bowman E-mail: mfbowman@capaccess.org Visit: ftp1.scouter.com/usscouts U. S. Scouting Service Project FTP Site Administrator (PC Area) Helping to deliver the promise of Scouting from Alexandria, Virginia From mfbowman@CapAccess.org Tue Jun 24 01:24:46 1997 Date: Tue, 24 Jun 1997 01:24:44 -0400 (EDT) From: "Michael F. Bowman" To: "Charles E. Dobbs" cc: Multiple recipients of list SCOUTS-L Subject: Re: collectables In-Reply-To: Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Status: RO X-Status: Chuck, I know of four reputable sources to get an appraisal for old Scout items, all of whom belong to the Scout Memorabilia Appraisers and Dealers Association. They are: Scouting Collectables Doug & Robyn Bearce P.O. Box 4742 Salem, Oregon 97302 503-399-9872 Streamwood Company Chris R. Jensen P.O. Box 1841 Easley, South Carolina 29641 803-859-2915 The Trading Post Peter P. Bielak 5516 Trent Street, Somerset Washington, DC 20815-5512 301-654-5822 The Stevesons Jim & Bea Stevenson 216 Sage Lane Euliss, Texas 76039 817-354-8903 Speaking only for myself in the Scouting Spirit, Michael F. Bowman E-mail: mfbowman@capaccess.org Visit: ftp1.scouter.com/usscouts U. S. Scouting Service Project FTP Site Administrator (PC Area) Helping to deliver the promise of Scouting from Alexandria, Virginia From mfbowman@CapAccess.org Tue Jun 24 01:50:21 1997 Date: Tue, 24 Jun 1997 01:50:19 -0400 (EDT) From: "Michael F. Bowman" To: CC136@aol.com Subject: Re: Roundtables In-Reply-To: <970521135416_69618398@emout14.mail.aol.com> Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Status: RO X-Status: Tom, Please forgive me for being so long in responding. I've not kept up with all my e-mail as well as I should. One of the best Cub Scout Roundtable Trainers that I know is rjacober@juno.com - Bob has been our Council's top CSRT trainer for years. It would probably be worth writing to him for some really good pointers. I haven't worked on CSRT training for a few years and so memory is not what it should be. I've been hoping to get a little time to go look over stuff in one of my many notebooks, but time seems to run on at too rapid a pace. Anyway, to get started, I would recommend that each person involved in planning for the training get a copy of "1996-1997 Cub Scout Roundtable Planning Guide" and "Cub Scout Roundtable Commissioner and Staff Basic Training Manual" Both of these contain enormous resources that will be of much help in planning. If this is your first effort in your Council to do this for awhile, I would first have a brainstorming session to ask the follwing kinds of questions? What are the goals we want for our roundtables? What are some of the problems we are having with our roundtables? What needs fixed, and what isn't broken? How does roundtable fit in to our training and commissioner services? I would use your answers to kind of develop an underlying theme of training for the program you put on with emphasis to meet the needs your people have using a localized variation of the standard schedule of training recommended by BSA. You can use much of what they have to get started, but you can also elect where to put emphasis, put the most time, and what to use for discussion topics in the round-robin type sessions that are recommended. One thing I'd recommend for sure is that you spend a good bit of time picking a really outstanding trainer to take the lead in teaching by doing throughout the day - someone really energetic, highly motivated, charismatic, full of beans, etc. who can show some of the techniques of good training by how he/she does the CSRT training. Ideally this person should use several different techniques during the day and would be someone who has gone to Cub Scout Trainer Wood Badge. This should be a person with a different hat, costume, joke, etc for each session - almost crazy with ideas. Someone who can lead an off-key fun action song, someone who can switch from serious to a one person walkon, to whatever. Most of all someone whose enthusiams is catching. Speaking only for myself in the Scouting Spirit, Michael F. Bowman E-mail: mfbowman@capaccess.org Visit: ftp1.scouter.com/usscouts U. S. Scouting Service Project FTP Site Administrator (PC Area) Helping to deliver the promise of Scouting from Alexandria, Virginia From mfbowman@CapAccess.org Tue Jun 24 23:37:38 1997 Date: Tue, 24 Jun 1997 23:37:37 -0400 (EDT) From: "Michael F. Bowman" To: SCOUTS-L - Youth Groups Discussion List Subject: Help Build A Scouts-L Scrapbook! Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Status: RO X-Status: Brothers and Sisters in Scouting, Guiding, and Youth Serving Orgs, Come, gather around this virtual campfire and sit for a moment gazing into the flickering firelight imagining the scent of woodsmoke and the crackle of flame. Ponder with me a moment in goodwill upon these thoughts: For nearly ninety years it has been a custom in the Scouting movement for all Scouts to gather together around the campfire after a period of activity to take rest, warmth, and comfort in sharing stories, humor, songs, and ideas. Likewise as the fire burned low, it has also been a tradition that honor would be paid to Scouts and Scouters in recognition of service, achievements, and acts of special merit. For many around the council ring this fellowship would create lasting bonds of friendship and memories that lasted a lifetime. In that tradition we have used this electronic medium to gather daily from points all around the globe to share stories, humor, songs, ideas and much more. From our associations here we have in many cases developed bonds of friendship that wouldn't have been possible before. We have found opportunities to help each other across great distances. We have taken comfort from each other in times of difficulty and laughed at humorous anctedotes and argued about how best to live the ideals we seek to impart through Scouting. Who among our band has not broken into a wide grin, shead a tear, laughed out loud, thumped the keyboard with set determination, or taken an idea while reading a posting to Scouts-L? We have been fortunate to share these times together each day only because one of our number has been selfless in his devotion to the ideals we propound. Tonight as I write these words, he is on a trail at Philmont with his Scouts under the star studded heavens giving more of his time and talents to help. That Scouter is our listowner, Jon Eidson, who has for several years been our host and good friend. It is only because of this dedicated Scouter that we have this virtual place to gather as around a campfire in fellowship. It seems only right that we should in the tradition of a Scouting campfire take some time to honor Jon for all that he has done and will continue to do in the service of Scouting when he returns from Philmont on June 29. There are many ways of being honored, but perhaps one of the best is to receive a scrapbook of memories shared and warm thoughts. And here we can do this via the Scouts-L list each contributing to the scrapbook. My proposal is this: Lets declare a "cease-fire" on all ongoing discussions effective on noon Saturday Pacific time lasting until Tuesday morning. On Sunday and Monday, all postings should be "Scrapbook" postings along the following lines: 1. A favorite Scouts-L experience or memory 2. A story about friendships developed as a result of Scouts-L 3. Things that have been learned as a result of Scouts-L 4. How discussions on Scouts-L have benefited local Scouts and Guides 5. What you've enjoyed most about Scouts-L 6. Other memories, experiences, and the like related to Scouts-L with the idea that each member should only submit one posting and that we should refrain from commenting on each other's postings until Tuesday. Thus on his return on Sunday, Jon would find a growing virtual scrapbook of memories and warm thoughts shared from all around our campfire as our way of saying thanks and giving honor. And in the process of giving this gift we may also find much for reflection ourselves and a chance to share in a special way. Thank you my brothers and sisters for listening with open hearts and kind ears. Professor Beaver Speaking only for myself in the Scouting Spirit, Michael F. Bowman E-mail: mfbowman@capaccess.org Visit: ftp1.scouter.com/usscouts U. S. Scouting Service Project FTP Site Administrator (PC Area) Helping to deliver the promise of Scouting from Alexandria, Virginia From mfbowman@CapAccess.org Wed Jun 25 23:33:31 1997 Date: Wed, 25 Jun 1997 23:33:30 -0400 (EDT) From: "Michael F. Bowman" To: Mark Young cc: Multiple recipients of list SCOUTS-L Subject: Re: HELP In-Reply-To: <199706221748.KAA08527@polaris.pacificnet.net> Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Status: RO X-Status: Mark, By fearlessly going out on a limb and seeking out resources across the net, you've shown several of the key ingredients in successful leadership; e.g., recognizing the need for group participation, seeking out resources, innovation, and creativity. This marks you as quality Eagle candidate and I have no doubt that you will succeed in completing your Eagle project and will have something to be proud of in years to come. Speaking of resources on the net, you might want to try out the DejaNews archives from UsenetNews at http://www.dejanews.com and use search terms like railroad restoration and you'll find several news groups where folks from California are involved in historical railroading. Chances are that if you post to some of these groups and ask for help you'll get some volunteers, who do this as a hobby and who'd like to share their interests. You can read the postings and decide which ones are good bets. Don't be afraid to recruit adults, friends from school, or anyone else that might be able to help. There is no requirement that all your helpers be Scouts. Please write to Scouts-L again as things progress and let us know how your project is going and what's happening. Once you have succeeded, don't forget to have plenty of pictures taken and to make sure that news media sources are invited to see the results. It can only help to get a little publicity for what you are doing and Scouting in general. It would be neat to have a feature story about what you've done. Maybe you might want to write to John Jakes the author of California Gold and ask him to tell a little about the history of railroads as they related to the growth of orange groves in the Riverside area 100 years ago. Many would argue that these box cars are symbols of California's second gold rush at the turn of the last century. He'd draw a good crowd to be sure and it could be fun. Speaking only for myself in the Scouting Spirit, Michael F. Bowman E-mail: mfbowman@capaccess.org Visit: ftp1.scouter.com/usscouts U. S. Scouting Service Project FTP Site Administrator (PC Area) Helping to deliver the promise of Scouting from Alexandria, Virginia From mfbowman@CapAccess.org Wed Jun 25 23:37:03 1997 Date: Wed, 25 Jun 1997 23:37:02 -0400 (EDT) From: "Michael F. Bowman" To: "Blaine A. Jackson" cc: Multiple recipients of list SCOUTS-L Subject: Re: Repeat thread In-Reply-To: <19970623.222503.-24818.0.blainej@juno.com> Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Status: RO X-Status: Blaine, Punishment exercises are not condoned anywhere in BSA. In short it amounts to hazing and could be considered reckless endangerment in conditions of high heat where dehydration is already a problem. The staff member that engaged in this conduct should be report to Philmont's management in order for them to take prompt and immediate corrective action to prevent similar abuses from continuing. Speaking only for myself in the Scouting Spirit, Michael F. Bowman E-mail: mfbowman@capaccess.org Visit: ftp1.scouter.com/usscouts U. S. Scouting Service Project FTP Site Administrator (PC Area) Helping to deliver the promise of Scouting from Alexandria, Virginia From mfbowman@CapAccess.org Wed Jun 25 23:40:43 1997 Date: Wed, 25 Jun 1997 23:40:41 -0400 (EDT) From: "Michael F. Bowman" To: "Richard C. Ickler" Subject: Re: A Good Night for Troop 14 In-Reply-To: <33B07F4B.6265@SoCA.com> Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Status: RO X-Status: Gregory and David, By earning the rank of Eagle Scout you have distinguished yourself as capable of great leadership and have demonstrated that you have the discipline and life skills necessary for success in any endeavor that you choose to pursue. No doubt the road to Eagle was not always easy. Yet you were able to remain steadfast in purpose and devotion to your ideals. This marks you as a special person, one that others will look up to in the years to come. Let me share a poem with you written by another Eagle Scout that you can now appreciate: Trail To Eagle by Greg Gough ) Walk upon the trail, that links the, future with the past. Take the Oath, Live the Law. The pathway to Eagle, is steep and narrow. Your journey will require, skill and fortitude. Your reward: Knowledge and Understanding. Enough to base a lifetime on. Your challenge is to; Take the journey, Join the few and Soar with the Eagle. You have completed that journey and are ready to soar with the Eagles. In all that you do, I wish you the very best. Congratulations. Speaking only for myself in the Scouting Spirit, Michael F. Bowman E-mail: mfbowman@capaccess.org Visit: ftp1.scouter.com/usscouts U. S. Scouting Service Project FTP Site Administrator (PC Area) Helping to deliver the promise of Scouting from Alexandria, Virginia From mfbowman@CapAccess.org Thu Jun 26 01:09:11 1997 Date: Thu, 26 Jun 1997 01:09:10 -0400 (EDT) From: "Michael F. Bowman" To: Greg Stewart cc: Multiple recipients of list SCOUTS-L Subject: Re: speaking of homesickness............... In-Reply-To: <970625132627_374838654@emout06.mail.aol.com> Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Status: RO X-Status: Greg, You were in a difficult postion and under the strain, may have missed some opportunities to head this situation off before it became critical. When you went to use the phone, this would have been a good time to invite the boy to come with you and make a call to his parents. If they didn't answer then, the next thing would have been to keep him with you with the promise to return and try later. Once the boy hiked out, I wouldn't have let him stay alone. There's always room to let the fellow vent and talk until things cool down. If he was really stubborn, I would have been inclined to use the van as a chase car to stay with him. After this episode I would have wanted to act immediately to let the parents know that this conduct was unacceptable and that the young man could not be allowed on further outings unless one of them was with him. Unfortunately, after the fact the parents were frustrated and angry and you got to be the target. After all how could it be their or his fault that he left, threatened you, and wouldn't cooperate. They were in a state of denial, unable to recognize that the were two sides to this situation. What really surprises me is that the deputy did not feel like he should do anything to help out and volunteered that the boy would be okay hiking out on his own. In most states there are statutes prohibiting hitch-hiking by minors and other laws governing run-aways that might apply. In most places I've been an officer or deputy would simply go check on the boy and offer him a ride. Sounds to me like a lot of things went wrong and that opportunities were missed that could have been used to defuse things before it got out of hand. But we are only human and sometimes its difficult when a lot of things are going at once to always make what later will be viewed as the "best" or "right" decisions. We are always struggling to take care of the group while making time for individual situations that come up. And naturally our inclination is to look out for the younger fellows assuming that the older ones need less attention or can wait longer. But, sometimes just like it is with adults, an older one can need immediate attention. Just hard to judge sometimes. At this point time has passed, the worst is over, and its not worth dwelling too much on how people felt at the time. You are doing the right thing, you are looking at this situation to pull together a lessons learned knowledge base that will help reduce the chance that something like this will happen again. Speaking only for myself in the Scouting Spirit, Michael F. Bowman E-mail: mfbowman@capaccess.org Visit: ftp1.scouter.com/usscouts U. S. Scouting Service Project FTP Site Administrator (PC Area) Helping to deliver the promise of Scouting from Alexandria, Virginia