License Plate Idea

I was surfing the net earlier this week and found this Boy Scout license plate being offered in Idaho. I coped it and ran it through PhotoShop to see what it would like with Kentucky. Is that legal?

I sent Leslie Combs a copy. Leslie is our elected official for the Kentucky House of Representatives, District 94 which covers Pike, Harlan, and Letcher Counties. She is also the mother of our Section Chief, Don.

She is checking with the Transportation Department and seems favorable that it might become a reality.

We will have to change the design. Surely we can do better than Idaho. Anybody with any graphic design skills, Be Prepared!

Triple Crown

I was checking out our Council's website the other day and found buried in the Council Forms section, a notice about Northern Tier. It looks like Camp McKee's "Ranger Ken" Green is heading up a group to head north next summer.

I sent Ken an email asking him if he had broken a piece of camp equipment to get that job? He said, no. He just liked it up there. I was considering going with him, but with Philmont and Sea Base next year, that might be a stretch.

Ken's reply to my indecisiveness, changed my mind.

Triple Crown dude!

Light The Candles

We had a great Court of Honor last evening. Our numbers were down on attendance, due to soccer, but our Scouts really racked up on some quality Merit Badges, thanks to Summer Camp at McKee.

17 Scouts received 73 different Merit Badges. Devin P. got the most with 11. 6 Scouts earned 7 Rank Advancements. Don, Aaron, Viet, and the Hogg Man received the 100 Nights Camping Award.

It really makes me proud to see so many wonderful young men, learning valuable skills, that will stay with them all of their lives.

That is what it is all about!

The KY Collection

They had to show up on Ebay sooner or later. Up for sale are the silver mylar border and white ghost CSP's from all 3 KY Councils from the 2007 World Jamboree.


Only 50 of each type were made. Each Scout that attended got 1 each from his Council. There were 10 or so complete sets that were given away.

It will be interesting to see how much they go for.

9-3-2007 update:

BGC silver: $52.59
BGC ghost: $52.59
LHC silver: $51.00
LHC ghost: $51.00
STC silver: $51.00
STC ghost: $51.00
________________
TOTAL $309.18 ( All 6 to one guy in CA ) ??

Wet & Wild

Our experience at the Aquatics Weekend went as planned. Great program, great food, and great weather.

Will G. got Water Skiing Merit Badge. It is a tough one. Viet spent all day on different sail boats and received Small Boat Sailing. "Smiley" opted for the lower impact deal and earned Nature and a partial in Fishing ( he still has to clean and cook a fish).

I was a bit disappointed that we only had 3 Scouts go, but it worked out, because Doug Ramey and his guys from 822 Elkhorn City had just 1 adult and a few Scouts, so we combined and made the trip happen. Jamie Robinette and 850 from John's Creek were there too, so it was like a mini District Camporee.

Let's Go Camping

We are heading up to Yatesville Lake this weekend for the Tri-State Area Council's Aquatics Weekend. They have been doing this event every year forever.

Ray Franks is the Scout Executive there. He worked in Finance in the Louisville Council, before going to Huntington, WV, so we have some past connections. Tri-State is one of the smallest Councils in the US, but they are big on program and all of their events that I, or others I have talked with, say they are A+.

The Aquatics Weekend costs $25 for youth; $12 for adults. Each Scout can earn 2 different Merit Badges, such as water skiing, motor boating, small boat sailing, fishing, etc. They bring in a boat club from Ohio with the big $50,000 boats and the instruction is wonderful. All of the meals are provided. Good stuff like eggs, pork chops, and biscuits for breakfast. There is a special event patch. Plus, at the end of the event they give you the leader, an envelope with all of the Merit Badges that were earned, plus an Advancement Form filled out for you!

Don't plan on just showing up tonight. There is a 200 Scout limit and they fill up fast. I'm thankful that they are open to out of Council units.

I'm just glad to be going camping. We haven't done that much this summer. Ha Ha.

Communications

Kawida issued a new "Thunderbird" newsletter this week and it is a good one. I always enjoy reading them to see how our youth members have compiled the latest information.

I showed Don a copy on Monday and mentioned to him that there were a lot of pictures of us (Tomahaken). His comment was, "If you want to control a Country, you have to control the communications". I guess if you want your picture in a paper, it is good to know the people who are taking the pictures and printing the paper.

While we were over in England, Tom Hill was here at home supplying our local newspaper with pictures and stories of our events. We had 3 different days with pictures. One day, a full page with color.

Most of the guys that went have commented on how their friends saw the pictures and asked them about the trip. Even friends of mine have questioned me, "I didn't realize that Boy Scouts was that cool?"

The perception of Scouting here in Pikeville is definitely on an all time high and the reason for that is a volunteer, Tom Hill, hooked up with a local newspaper person, and the rest is forever chronicled.

How many times have you heard that Boy Scouts don't get any media coverage, except the bad stuff? My answer is take some of that 1 hour a week time, go to your newspaper's office and make a friend.

It makes a big difference in a Scout's life!

Lashings

We worked on several of the basic lashings last night at our Troop meeting. It was a good review for the older guys and the new Scouts caught on to it pretty quickly.

I was mainly looking for good technique and proper placement of the rope. Nothing fancy with binder twine and tobacco sticks. I was pleased with what they did and I believe they enjoyed it also.

I've always loved lashing sticks together since I was a
Scout. Pioneering Merit Badge is about the only one that I will volunteer to teach. I thought I was good until we went to the World Jamboree.

These 2 pictures are from a gateway at Gilwell. It is truly the best lashing work that I have ever seen! These are milled poles that are bound together with hemp rope. Not a nail or screw in this baby.

I would have loved to have been on the team that built that project. It is a far cry from binder twine and tobacco sticks.

Scouts from Brazil lashing up their gateway.

480 Collectors

Where are all the new members of Kawida that are collectors?

I was talking to Tim Brown a few days ago and we both agree, things on Ebay are going cheap. Some items as low as 25% of what we paid for it.

There is one of our Lodge's first neckerchiefs on Ebay right now and it is only at $13. It usually goes for $100. +. There were several flaps from days gone by that started at $4.99, but no one bid on them.

It is a buyer's market right now.

If you want to catch the fever, go to oaimages.com and enter 480. There you can see every piece of cloth ever made for our Lodge. Make a list and check it twice.

We need new collectors. (It makes us old guys, feel not so bad, if we have company!)

Dangling Things

We had our first Tomahaken Chapter Meeting, since May, yesterday and the attendance was good. There were 12 members on Sunday. 3 were new Ordeal members. We had some key folks missing however. The total should have been closer to 20. Actually, we have 43 from the "Hills" who are in O.A. and all 43 should have been there, but anyway.

We reviewed all of the the key Lodge dates and our Chapter meetings for the rest of the year. The one big thing that we do in the fall is a service project to earn the O.A.'s Leadership in Service Award (LISA). It is one of those pocket dangling things that get on my nerves, but it works. Basically, if you attend an Ordeal and do another service project, you qualify. Of course there is paperwork involved. There are long delays in getting the actual awards, but everyone really seems to like them.

To the best of my knowledge, we are the only Chapter doing this. That is a shame. More Chapters could be organized and energized with this simple dangling thing.

World Economics

If you go to Ebay and type in 2007 World Jamboree, Be Prepared!

I've been to National Jamborees and NOACs and the patch sales, after those events are always hot for a few weeks.

After the WJ and what I'm seeing, (stuff I threw away), being sold for is higher than I have ever seen.

Our .16 cent silky patch sold for $7.55, a Sunrise necker for $155., our Troop Cookbook for $36., the participant patch for $200., and a complete set of 7 neckers is up to $1,258. with 2 days left!

I've got most of that stuff, but wouldn't sell it for anything. In a few months the prices will drop to almost nothing. However, if you are thinking about a free trip to Sweden in 2011, a nominal investment, good timing, and Ebay can make it happen!

Hold On Tight

My good buddy Doug Ramey from Elkhorn City stopped by for a visit yesterday and dropped off a very nice CD with some pictures from McKee this summer.

Doug and Glen "A A" Felty volunteered one day to make a great climbing experience out at the Gorge for a few Scouts. Michael Shepherd was supposed to go on the week long trip, but things got messed up, so COPE and the Ramey-Felty trip, with help from Bill Montgomery made up for it.

Hearing all of the stories and the look on every one's face, it must have been a wonderful and challenging adventure.

Talk about challenging, the SWAMP THING made his annual appearance during the Scoutmaster Belly Flop again this year.

What we Scouter's will do, to entertain our Scouts, still amazes me. We have no shame!

Back In The Groove

It sure was nice to be at a Troop Meeting, back in Pikeville last night. All of the guys were wearing their different uniform shirts from around the world. Pictures, badges, and neckers too.

Will Goff had his "Cynthia shirt" from Indonesia. Andy with Germany. Hogg Man with Malaysia. Even Smiley sported his kimono from Japan.

I let everyone sample my Yellow Water and it went over well. It sure is strong stuff!

The biggest hit of the night was when Viet pulled out his Diablo. It was very big at the World Jamboree. It is kind of like a yo-yo on steroids. You hold the sticks and get the thingy spinning and throw it up in the air and try to catch it. You can do cool tricks if you are good.

Who knows? We might have brought a new fad back to America.

Co-Ed Scouting

If our guys from the US that went to the World Jamboree, had one question on their mind, it was, "Why don't we have girls in our Troops, like other countries do?"

There were a lot of girls in Troops during our trip and they weren't "Tom Boys". Regular teenage girls, wearing the same uniform, and saying the same Scout Oath.

I asked one older Scoutmaster from England how he felt about girls in his Troop? I was expecting a disgruntled answer, but his reply was short, simple, and to the point.

"It was the savior of our program."

He explained that with the mandatory addition of girls since the first of the year, it had increased his membership and opened more opportunities for program.

It made sense and we all saw how well it worked while we were at the Jamboree.

A Great Scouting Family

This is a picture of Jen Shinner and her family. Jen is from England and lives in the Midlands area, commonly known as the "Black Country" due to all of the industry, but I was told more than once, that it is not black any more. Jen and her Troop helped us move in and set up on Day #1, so we all got to be good friends.

Her grandfather is a recipient of the Silver Acorn Award. It is a national award for exceptional volunteer service. Her grandmother was involved as a Beaver (Cub Scout) leader for a long time also. Her Mom and Dad have Scouting backgrounds too.

A wonderful family, that have and are giving so much to our organization!

One of the things that I quickly noticed over there, was that among the leaders, I was a dinosaur. The vast majority of Scouters were young and in their 20's.

The other big difference was that everyone else in the world has co-ed Scouting. More on that later,...

A Few Pics

15 from the Blue Grass Council go to the World Jamboree.

Windsor Castle (nice crib)!

Big Ben is really big.

The ceremonies were awesome!

BP and Olave.

Back to Gilwell, Happy Land!

Happy 100th Birthday Scouting!

Everyone trades at the World Jamboree.

Even Sea Scout Skippers trade.

Want to swap some badges boys?

New Friends.

Rava from Thailand was my best friend at the Jamboree. We could barely communicate, but we would spend several hours together each morning.

Hogg Man getting some goodbye sugars.

Me and Fluffy?

The Real Work Begins

Now that we are home and all of the bags unpacked, it is time to do the real work.

Between Will and I, we have 37 neckerchiefs, 6 uniform shirts, and hundreds of patches from virtually every country in the world.

It will probably take all weekend to organize and put them in binders, but it will be worth it. Hopefully, I'll get them done and show everyone some of the different and unique designs.

Jet Lagged

First day of school for most of our Scouts, here in the hills. A tough way to end the summer.

Not The End; A New Beginning

Last night, we lined up at 7:00 for the Closing Show and it started to rain. It didn't stop until the show started at 9:00. It did not dampen our spirits.

It all started with several different musical and dance presentations from Mexico, Indonesia, and Hong Kong. Then we were asked a question. What will Scouts be doing 100 years from now? The answer, "Doing their best to build a better world!"

We were commissioned to be ambassadors and return home to share our stories and how we lived in peace with friendship, respect, and love. Again, we gave the Scout Sign and repeated our individual Scout Oaths. I have never felt such a powerful feeling, like the sincere commitment of so many different people.

The World Scout flag was lowered and presented to Sweden, with hopes for an even better World Jamboree in 2011. We then linked arms and hands and sang "Auld Lang Syne", followed by a spectacular fireworks display.

We stayed up and talked to different folks until 2:00 am and we met and packed our gear up to the bus stop and headed to Gatwick. Everything went fine on the return flight home. We said our final goodbyes at the Cincy airport and got home at 8:00 pm.

All of us were very tired, but glad to be home safely. I wonder how many times, I'll think about our times in England.

Don with a bad case of "Jambo Head" on the flight home.

Breaking Camp

The breaking news is that we have successfully packed up, torn down everything, had lunch, and we are ready to come home. There is nothing left in our camp site, but the trail we used to walk on in between our tents. Sort of a sad sight.

Several of our neighbors aren't leaving until tomorrow afternoon, but they don't have to travel as far as we do.

We have the closing show tonight at 9:00 and that should last until 11:30. After that, I guess we'll just stay up and party for the last little bit.

We have to be up at our gate to leave at 3:20 in the morning to meet our bus and head to Gatwick for a 10:00 flight. We should be back in Cincy around 2:00-ish.

I'll miss this place and all of the new friends I've made. I'll miss these great Scouts and Scouters from IN and KY. It has been wonderful. Beyond my wildest dreams.

I can't wait to get home and show you all my pictures and tell you all of our stories. Please be patient and understanding. This experience has changed my life and I probably won't shut up for years.

Open the flood gates. The "Scouting in the Hills" boys are coming home.

Where In The World Is TerraVille

Today we went to TerraVille program and we learned more about international development. Things like building, construction, physical challenges, games, and such.

The US had a popular exhibit with baseball pitching and a batters cage. There were many different Scout games from around the world.

One of the really neat items was a drum type class that everyone liked.

Everyone is starting to realize that this dream that we are living in, is about to end. Wednesday we fly home. I know everyone is tired, but no one really wants to leave.

Heck, I don't want to come home either. I just want to stay here in "Jambo Land" forever.

I guess everyone has to wake up and come back to reality.

No Splash Today

The program at this World Jamboree has been o.k. Compared to our National Jamborees, it is weak, but extremely educational. The guys would rather have more hands on activities, but it ain't like home.

We had been told that the Splash program took 2 hours to get there by bus. You had to wait in lines for 45 minutes each. We were told by another US Troop, that on a scale from 1 - 10, Splash was a #1. We talked it over with our guys and they voted to skip it and stay around and do other things. I hated to miss something, but it really sounded rough.

Everyone took advantage of the time and finished doing things that they hadn't had time for or redoing the things that they enjoyed the first time.

It was the right thing to do.

Myself, Douglas Wagoner, John Scott, and Joe Ball have really enjoyed this event. (Stephen Burke was out chasing Belgium girls). We are already talking about Sweden in 2011.

We Can Change The World

There are many issues that our world has to deal with and today we learned about some of them in the Global Development Village. Basically 4 parts: Environment, Health, Human Rights, and Peace.
Being from the US, we take a lot for granted and I learned some new things today, as I think our Scouts did also.

After lunch we had free time, so guess what?

Patch trading time! The trading is getting harder and the good items are just about gone. It is still fun. Believe it or not I ran out of the silky patches today. ( I started with 300).

We were invited next door to the Irish Contigient last evening and they served us salmon and treats with Irish coffee, complimented by Irish dancing. Devan Allara, aka "Smiley" did a good job of the jig!