A New Chief

We survived another weekend of camping. Actually, the van had 9 on Friday, so we were o.k.

Joe Potter and Devin Porter got tapped out and successfully went through their Ordeal. Both these guys were in my Webelos Den, way back when.

The big news was that Jeremiah Back was elected Lodge Chief. Jeremiah came to the great Lonesome Pine from Arkansas several years ago. He was already an Eagle Scout and never really could hook up with an active Troop. He had every excuse not to be in Scouting, but he chose to be active in our Chapter and the Lodge. His dedication was recognized with the Vigil Honor and now Lodge Chief. Congrats Jeremiah!

I found this old nickel at Campsite #8 Saturday, while we were putting up tents. It probably isn't worth much, but I'm keeping it.

We are a little behind on our flaps. This is the Spring Fellowship issue.

I'm really pleased with our youth and the direction they are taking. I would almost bet that attendance will increase in activities this year.

I ain't betting my nickel though. Sorry!

3 Camp Outs in a Row

New Scout Camp Out.

Conclave.

1st Ordeal.

I've got some of my best campers "not wanting to go" this weekend. They are tired and need a break. I can't blame them. They feel obligated to go, because of the Lodge Chief election, but they just want a weekend off.

I don't know how many will be in the van at 4:00 today, but we will make the trek to McKee.

I've learned something though. No more than 2 in a row.

3 strikes and you are out!

Little Patches

Happiness is a new patch!

It's all about the threads!

We finally got our Scout Sunday patches in from BSA Supply. They were on back order, which for a Scout Sunday emblem, I thought that was a good problem to have.

This is one of the new items from the Winter 07 catalog ( I miss the old catalog that had everything in it ). They offer several new standard emblems for only .99 cents each. The disclaimer in the add does state that: "Patch enlarged to show detail".

This Scout Sunday patch measures 2 1/4 X 1 1/2 or about half of your thumb.

When handing them out Tuesday night, one Scout commented that they were small. I told him we had a small part in the Sunday Service.

Sublimated Digital Overprinting

Attention Patch Hounds! There is something new on the market.

"Now you can get it! You'll be the envy of all your friends with your very cool 2007 World Scout Jamboree jacket emblem. This is our first-ever, sublimation-over-embroidery emblem for Boy Scouts of America. Sublimation is the digital overprinting of embroidery to create a more realistic three-dimensional image."

This was the email we got last night from BSA Supply. I guess the patch companies have finally figured out that they can paint on top of their products now.

So I guess that this piece would be a hot cut, fully embroidered, 6 inch, with the SDO option.

In reality, it is another $10.49.

Newton's Third Law

O.K. boys and girls, it is Physics Class time!

"For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction."

Now that Don Combs has secured the Section Chief position, there is an opening for Kawida Lodge Chief. My phone has been ringing off the hook.

It seems that we have 3 candidates that will throw their hats in the ring for the job this weekend at our 1st Ordeal. 2 are already Lodge Officers, which could create even more openings.

I guess you could say that this is a good example of "Political Science"!

SR-6N Conclave '07

Great weather + a wonderful camp x Pellissippi Lodge = a superb Conclave!

I say that every year after Conclave, but this year was wonderful. A record 832 in attendance. The food was so good and plentiful, that I gained 4 pounds. Tom Hill did a great job on navigation. Doug Ramey figured out a short cut and got the van to our camp site on Sunday, and avoided the long wait. That saved us a 1/2 hour. A few other moments that we will never forget:

Caleb Ramey was our VIA.

We saw an antique Porsche burn to the ground.

Farm Eggs for Sale. Call Don.

Hogg Man and his "Wings".

The biggest and most exciting news from the Conclave was the election for Section Chief. Our very own, Don Combs was elected! He has worked hard and really deserves that spot. I know he is excited. I checked his pulse after the election and it was racing! I am proud of him, as well as everyone in the Tomahaken Chapter and Kawida Lodge.

The only problem Don has to deal with are those "random calls" wanting Farm Eggs!?

55 Years of Service

Kawida Lodge 480 began in 1952. That makes 55 years of cheerful service from a large group of brothers.

We are heading to Camp Buck Toms today for the SR-6N Conclave. We have several folks going for the first time: Doug and Caleb Ramey; Tom and Alex Hill. I hope they have a blast. Jeremiah Back and Will Hogg will be going again for the 3rd time in a row. Both Jeremiah and the Hogg Man have received the Vigil Honor since that 1st Conclave we attended near Tupelo, MS.

I'm looking forward to a great weekend of fellowship and fun.

Happy Birthday Kawida!

Patch Values

One of the greatest joys of being a Scoutmaster is going home, checking the mail, and getting a "Scout package".

Carefully, I anxiously open it and find wrapped in plastic, some new treasure. ( I don't get out much! )

This is the latest custom-stock item from BSA that we ordered to commemorate our Tenderfoot skill weekend at McKee last month.

There are a lot of valuable patches out there. OA flaps, Council strips, and on and on. I really value our special Troop patches.

Worthless on Ebay. Priceless in memories.

Devan Allara, Eagle Scout

The Lonesome Pine District held an Eagle Board of Review last night at the First Presbyterian Church in Pikeville, KY. Troop Committee Chairman, Charles Baird, Troop Committee members Col. Dave Zoellers and Don Combs II, Chartered Organizational Representative, Sam J. Cochran, Assistant Scoutmaster, Mike Shepherd, and District Representative, Glen Felty convened to review Scout Devan Allara.

Devan passed with flying colors. The single word from the Board was "impressive". Impressive in accomplishments, impressive in attitude, and an impressive example of what Scouting can do.

I know he is worn out from a bad case of nerves, but I'm very proud of him, as well as everyone in Troop 12.

That's #5, if you're counting.

2 Bag Trip

1 duffel bag and 1 day pack. That is all we are allowed to take this summer to the WJ.

My first thoughts, were panic and impossible! You should have seen the look on Don Combs face when he found out. He usually takes trunks to Summer Camp.

After our leaders meeting in Atlanta last fall, I learned that this is standard for World Jamborees. You really don't need a lot for 17 days.

This will be a great learning experience in packing light.

One of my all time favorite quotes is from Dolly Parton. "You can't put 12 pounds of taters in a 10 pound sack".

She should know!

New Scout

If you have ever had the chance to talk to Green Bar Bill, you know that the most important person in Scouting is a new Scout. We only have one shot to properly introduce the program and hope that he likes it, for he is the future of Scouting.

This past weekend was the BGC's 4th New Scout Camp Out. We have been to all 4. The first one in 2004, was Troop 12's first ever camp out. We had a sign up night on Thursday, a meeting Tuesday, and we went camping that Friday through Sunday. (The schedule hasn't changed. We've got Conclave this weekend, followed by an Ordeal, next weekend.)

That April in 2004 was an event. We still call it "The Puke-O-Ree". After stopping on the way for supper, someone passed some gas, and well one Scout gagged and puked, which triggered a chain reaction and kids were puking all over the van. We pulled over at the only wide spot before camp and it was in front of the roughest house (snake worshipping, we later found) and some very nice folks came to our aid. Since then, we always blow our horn when we go by as a way of saying thanks.

Nothing like that happened this past weekend. It just rained. The whole time. I think that the two new Scouts that went had a great time. We also had two Scouts there who worked the event and plan to be on Staff at McKee this summer. Those two older Scouts were at "The Puke-O-Ree".

Green Bar Bill was right.

1 Hour for Scouting

This is one of my favorite collection of threads. I think I got it from Ric Hall or better known on Ebay as Good Ol' Bear. Ric deals in all of those cool things that National won't make, but should.

Monday: Troop 802 OA Election

Tuesday: Troop 12 meeting

Wednesday: Troop 839 OA Election

Thursday: Roundtable meeting

Friday - Sunday: Camp Out

Conservatively, that is about 60 hours or 1 hour in Scout time.

I remember telling our old DE, James Howard, I put more time in as a volunteer, than I did as a DE. He said, "No way! Camp outs don't count". Ha!!!!

We make the time, because it is worth it and a small price to pay for the rewards it reaps.

The Ayes Have It

O A Elections are over. We now just have to get everyone through their Ordeal and follow up and try to ensure that they all have a quality experience.

OA Elections are cool. I just love handing a script to a young man and asking him to be part of the process. I get answers like, "Umm, I'm not good at public speaking". Hey, you're your Troop's OA Rep. Now go and represent the OA!

I love it when they call the eligible guys forward! The pride, embarrassment, and awkwardness of it all. Then they vote.

Aye or Nay. Some make it, some don't.

The one thing I do notice when they are standing in front of everyone, is their eyes.

The ones with the look of "Aye" in their eyes, got elected this year.

Law Merit Badge

We had another great Troop meeting last night. We watched the British DVD about the first 100 years of Scouting. It is a great collection of history and greetings from Scouts all over the world.

Next week, we are starting on Law Merit Badge for some of the older guys.

I checked out http://www.bsalegal.org/ the other day and found that the ACLU lost it's case against the Department of Defense for supporting the NJ at Ft. A.P. Hill. I like A.P. Hill and I'm glad it is staying there.

National Jamborees used to be at different places, all over the country. I remember when I was 19 at the '81 NJ and asked Chief Scout Executive, Jim Tarr, where the next one would be? He told me that the next "several" Jamborees would be at A.P. Hill, due to the cost of site development. He was correct. There have been 7 and it looks good for the BSA's 100th anniversary to be there once again in 2010.

Thanks to, I'm sure several folks, who earned the Law Merit Badge!

Big Patches

My buddy Alex Hill sent me this photo of his uniform for WJ. Good looking threads, but there is not enough room left on his sleeve for a position patch, more or less a Trained strip.

Everything is super sized these days. Food, vehicles, and even Boy Scout patches. Is bigger really better? I remember the 2005 NJ youth patch was actually smaller than the adult one. There were a lot of positive comments on that. Instead of a patch wearing a Boy Scout, it was the other way around.

Big experience = big patch.

However, I don't think BP handed out any 6", fully embroidered, glow in the dark, 3 different colored bordered back patches after Brownsea in 1907.

New Sheriff In Town

"There's a new Sheriff in town!"

I think that was a line from the movie Blazing Saddles, which is still funny today. Billy Gillispie is the new head man at Kentucky and I hope he does well.

We have had a few "new Sheriffs" in Scouting lately. A new DE, a new Lodge Advisor, and a new Director of Field Services. These 3, like Billy, have a tough job and are under the microscope to do well.

I like the new coach at UK. His initials are great. It has also been said that, he is a "good old country boy, that is good at scouting and recruiting".

My hat is off to all of the NEW SHERIFFS!

OA Elections

April always brings 2 things: Taxes and OA Elections. We have Troop 802 in Prestonsburg on Monday. Glen Felty has several that are eligible. Wednesday, we head to Martin and Troop 839. Dave Bentley and Tom Hill's group have 7 that are eligible. If most of those get elected and go through their Ordeal, we should show growth as a Chapter again this year.

I like the OA Election procedure. It is quick and simple. There is no campaigning. Only youth members can vote and half of them must be there to have the Election.

The news is all about the Presidential race and how much this next election is about money and who can raise the most. Heck, there are some folks who started, that are already out of gas.

Imagine if you would, that this great country, had to subscribe to the rules of an OA Election. Would the results be the same, better, or worse?

In my opinion, there are some things that shouldn't be for sale, like membership in the OA or the Office of President of the United States of America.

Where Did Spring Go?

This is the latest custom-stock BSA patch that we had done for our ski trip. It truly exemplifies what the weather was then and just about today.

In the hills, they call this "Redbud Winter", because it is cold all of a sudden and the redbuds just happen to be in bloom. It can be Dogwood Winter or Blackberry Winter, when and if it gets cold and that particular tree is in bloom.

I don't get it? It definitely is a mountain thing, but since I've been here longer than I have the flat lands, I'll just have to go with it.

Distinctive cultural norms are like custom-stock patches. They remind of us of who we are and where we come from.

Do they make binders and plastic sheets for cultural norms?

It's Magic

We only had 4 Scouts and 2 adults at our meeting last night. It is Spring Break. It was magic though. The 2 older Scouts taught the 2 new Scouts how to properly put up and take down a tent.

I'm going to reveal a part of my past. I used to be a magician. My first show was for my Troop when I got Eagle. I used to practice and read books all the time. I did birthday parties and taught lessons. I performed during breaks at a night club once.

I've sold all my stuff, but I still appreciate the fine art of a good magician. The craft taught me to stand and speak before a crowd. I learned to practice, practice, practice. I learned to keep a secret, because knowing how it is done, is not near as fun as the mystery.

Let me warn you now. Don't ask me to do a magic trick! I got that a lot in high school. My answer then, as now is:

Poof. You're ugly!

Jambo Fever

I've got it. I've got Jambo Fever. It started way back, but it hit me hard after our meeting Sunday.

I spent much of the day yesterday searching other sites on the net about the 2007 WJ. I found that the whole world really is coming and the web has all the sites. I even did currency conversions to compare our cost to other countries.

When I found this picture, my fever heated up! I am a big fan of fine photography, especially shots from the back and I think this one speaks volumes.

I'm told that the only cure for Jambo Fever is to wait patiently and prepare to have fun. That is a tough remedy at this point!

Troop 211

During the World Jamboree, the Southern Region is #2 and we are the 11th Troop, so for now and forever, we are Troop 211.

We had a very energetic meeting at Crooked Creek yesterday and yes the place is breathtaking! We formed Patrols. 3 animal and 1 non-animal: Panther (or Puma?), Pine Tree, Cobra, and Stag. (I won the bet Tom Hill!)

These are some of the patches that we received. The first is a special world crest with our info. Next is the "silky patch" to give away. The last is our Troop number patch to wear on our uniform. It is also the final piece to the 3 Council JSP's and the back patch.

There were other items too. Cap, 2 different shirts, Louisville Slugger bats, water bottle, etc. A big thanks to our Scoutmaster, Douglas Wagoner, for the quality, quantity, and great value!

I wonder how many Swedish girls will get a "silky patch"?