Working the Tickets

Today, on Leap Year no less, I was notified by two Bobwhites that they are done with their tickets.  On Monday of this week I got my first notice that one was done as well.  Now, I pretty much knew that they were close.  A good Troop Guide keeps tabs on his Peeps, er Patrol.

The Bobwhites are from the W1491-11 Course in the Cascade Pacific Council.  There are six Bobwhites within the Patrol.  They are all great men and I count them as friends.  Yes, some of them do follow this blog and friend me on Facebook and Google+.  I do get to see some of them around the Council and even bumped into one of their wives.

I have reached out to several of them for help within my own Scouting career and asked for advice.  Just because I am a Troop Guide, does not mean I know it all.  If I did, you all should run away.

Today was a good day within the world of Scouting.  Our course has been over for about nine months.  We have nine months to go and half of the Patrol have completed their tickets.  I am proud of them all.

I am a Beaver and a good ol Beaver too.  But I am a proud Troop Guide of Bobwhites!  They are my Peeps!

+++++++++++++++++A note about Wood Badge++++++++++++++++++++

Wood Badge courses are given throughout the United States of America and in Council’s overseas.  If you have gone through Wood Badge, you understand what it can and will do for you, your Scout Unit and your life. If you do not know what Wood Badge is or what it can do for you, please contact your local Wood Badger.  Hopefully they can tell you what it did for them.  Wood Badge can change lives. It can make you closer to your family and help save your Scout Unit.  I have seen it happen.

I will say that before you go to Wood Badge, that you should avail yourself to any and all of the training that Scouting has to offer.  Whether you take it online or in person at a Pow-wow, Program & Training Conference or University of Scouting or other District event, get trained.  You will understand your position and how Scouting is supposed to work before you get to Wood Badge.

Wood Badge isn’t Lean Six Sigma. LSS is highly boring and in my estimation helps people find faults and figures how to get rid of them.  Wood Badge helps you find what you love or what you want to correct and/or enhance and puts you to work.  It’s not boring, it’s Fun!

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Pinewood 2012

Pack 221 held their annual Pinewood Derby this past Monday in the School Gym.  It was awesome.  The Pioneer District Order of the Arrow helped out as they have for the past three years.  One of the OA Advisors used his Wood Badge ticket to bring back the District Race to help raise funds for a new Teepee.  The first year we had Pinewood, we used a very old track that was horribly broken.  It ran very late.  This year, it was about 60 or so minutes of pure racing fun.
As any good Cubmaster will repeat “Do your Best” & Be Prepared.  That being the case I downloaded a lot of clean jokes that I could tell in front of 50 Cubscouts and not get shot by the Parents.  I got a lot of groans instead.  Which I loved.

We also had our check-in right before the whole event.  That was different from the past years, but it was quick and effective.  I suspect we will do that again.  It got people to the race on time and basically ready.  Yes, we had to add weight to many cars, but we had weight and tape.

  Our Committee Chair and Outings Chair handled it all.  It really pays to have a group of people who are there helping.  That’s how Brown Worked for US!  I got there early as well and helped setup and steer people this way and that.  The Cubmaster is really the traffic cop and Chief Information Officer.

During some of the slow times and along with the start/end of the race, I made it a point to talk about our Crossover on March 17th.  I explained what Crossover is and what the Webelos II will be doing.  I explained it’s our Pack Overnighter and we would have a lot of fun along with sleeping in Box cars.

One thing that we did this year, more so actually, was to hand out a lot of certificates. Using the word template I printed off 17 certificates.  With 45 Scouts it should cover a lot of them.  We did award 1,2,3rd overall along with each Den. We also handed out the Pinewood Derby Segement.  My point in doing all of this is that every Scout would get something.

Did everyone have fun. Yes. The boys did.  The Parents did too.  We did have a few boys get upset about how some races came out and that their car was raced backwards.  But, we worked to resolve it as best we could.

Our Pack also has an Open and Siblings section.  They all race together, but are counted seperately.  We do not give them awards, but racing is the best reward overall.  We did have one family that did their cars as a family project.  I am happy to say that they had a lot of fun.  The sister generally beats her brother.  This time he got the Fastest Car for the track ever.  Meaning, that on this track that is used in many many packs for many many years, he had the fastest.  Pretty good if I say so.  His sister ran a large gold fish, his mom ran a large foot (she had surgery on it) and he ran a souped up tin can.

It was a good year.  It was quick and we were out with not a lot of techincal issues that caused delay.  Which is wonderful.

Thanks Pioneer District Order of the Arrow!  (I will state that during the set-up and between jokes I pointed out what the OA is and what they do.  I also explained that they are Boy Scouts within a Troop that are elected to the OA by their friends. I figured that since the OA was there helping us, that I would put in a plug for them.  Many of our Scout Leaders in the Pack are OA and even Vigil.)

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It all starts with Camping

Today, while stopped at Starbucks in the middle of a bike ride, I was reading all the Twitter posts.  I follow ScoutCanada’s Twitterfeed and they reposted a blog from a young man in the Venturing program.  He talked about how his first Summer camp was crucial for him staying in Cub Scouts.  His Pack was boring and the Akela was too. (Note to self…boys like FUN!)

Here is his Blog post.  Read it. It’s great.

This post goes to the heart of Scouting.  Boys want to have fun and will move on if not.  Scouting will also provide a lot of skills to those who participant.  Along with Camping skills, also a lot of social skills.  Yes, the boys will do what Bryan did, but they will come out with life long skills that will help them.

I follow several Canadian Scouters and they all seem to be having a lot of fun.  Someday I will get up past the border and see them.

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Leadership Notes #46 - Change

Reblogged from Blaisdell dot Com:

(This series of “notes” first appeared in the YahooGroup “VenturingList” and are written by Michael Brown. I thought that they were worth sharing with the Commissioner Corps.)

Change is something that all of us must deal with in our lives. As leaders, not only must we deal with change, but sometimes we need to be `change agents', bringing about change in our organizations.

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This is a great blog from a fellow Scouter who really knows his stuff. I am re-sharing it here. It's a very good read. You can apply the ideas to your own work and life even if your not in Scouting.

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Reduce Reuse Recycle….. #LNT

Today the school that my kids go to went a bit greener.  While this is not a Scout thing, I wanted to do a shout out to the School and those who made this happen.  When my wife told me the numbers of plastic sporks that were used each year, I was astounded.  Congrats to them!

It’s a great GREEN day at Stephenson today! The Green Team rolled out the stainless steel forks and spoons for student lunches! Good-bye plastic sporks – over 20,000 a year! Thanks to Jenny Stout, Lunch Lady Lori, our custodian Fermin, Principal Thu and Stephenson PTA members for making this dream a reality!

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Rank Advancement Season

It’s that time again in the world of Cubscouts.  On March 17th the Fire Scouts will crossover into a Boyscout Troop.  It’s out annual Pack Overnighter at Scouter’s Mtn.  It’s our third year doing it.  It’s my second time in having the OA come do Crossover.  My son’s Tiger year we had them at the Gym.  I kinda freaked out since I had NO Clue as to what the OA was or is.  I walked into the gym and it was dark and there were dudes in Indian Clothing.  Granted I was in a Frat in college so I had an idea, but that was laced with Beer and Sorority Girls!

The Arrow of Light Award will be presented at this ceremony.  It’s all about the Fire Scouts.

The Monday before, the Tigers, Bears & Webelos I (Tree Scouts) will all get their Rank Badges.  This is really quite early for them. But hey, they worked hard to get there.  This will also be the chance for all the Fire Scouts to get all the rest of the Awards, Pins, Patches and everything that they have earned.

I really like this part of the year since the Tigers get their first Rank Badge.  They have the Bobcat, but Tiger is the completion of the whole year of working towards a goal.  Likewise for the Wolves, Bears and Webelos.  But, it’s the first for Tigers.

I am working on a ceremony for the Rank Advancement. Below is a sample of what I am working on.  I got some of it from the Boy Scout Trail website.  It’s been my go to place for years.  I edited it with another ceremony for Tigers that is at the bottom.  Just need to get the fake Campfire…;)

(scout names), please come forward with your parents.

You see that I hold here a feather. This is not just any feather, but represents that of an Eagle, the most respected of all creatures. The eagle is most beloved by the Great Spirit because it represents life and how all things are divided into two parts.

The eagle, you see, has only two eggs at a time. Likewise, there is man and woman. People have two hands, two feet, and two eyes. We each have a body and a soul. There is also day and night, light and dark, summer and winter. we see beautiful and distasteful sights. We hear pleasant sounds and dreadful news. We use our hands for good deeds, or bad.

We have before us two paths. Scouting encourages us to follow the way of good – of bravery, service, honor, and brotherhood. We also may choose selfishness, laziness, mean spirit, and deceit. That choice belongs to each of us.

On your journey, you have chosen the Scouting way, and through your work you have earned the _____ rank. Wear the patch you receive proudly. I also present to each of you a feather of your own. When you see it, remember what it represents, that we face choices every day which path we will follow. Stay true, and continue on your trail of the Eagle.

Who are these these Scouts? Who will speak for these Scouts? Who will pronounce them worthy?

(One by one – parents introduce their sons and pronounce them worthy).

Cubmaster asks the pack: How says the pack? (Pack should roar approval.)

Cubmaster administer Cub Scout Promise to the boys, and Parents Promise to adults.

This lends itself to an outdoors ceremony, with a campfire; but it can be equally effective indoors in a darkened room with an artificial council fire, flashlights, etc. Leaders should be wearing Indian regalia.

Parents Promise:

We, the parents of a Cub Scout
Promise to help our boy
To become a better citizen
By helping him to live up to the Scouting ideals
And by helping him with his Cubbing achievements

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Trainer’s EDGE

   On Saturday Feb 18th, I was finally able to get fully trained in “The Trainer’s EDGE“.  I was supposed to have it last year for the 2011 Wood Badge course, but I was with my family in Maui.
With all the training/meetings that I had to get ready to be a Troop Guide for Wood Badge, I was certified for the course.  It is also one way that I got to this training this year since I told my wife I missed it due to our vacation.

The training itself is valid for three years.  Outside of that, it’s valuable training.  I mainly took it because I should have last year.  I also took it because as the District Training Chair, I should have it.  It’s like being fully Trained to be a ScoutMaster.  If your going to be IT, you need the training.  Now, I can say that I am fully trained for my position.

The other reason I took it is because I can always use this type of feedback on how I present myself and trainings that I do.  It’s not just useful within the Scouting world, but also within my Corporate life.

So, what did I learn.  I learned that I need to take the conversation from my head, get it onto paper and practice, practice, practice.  Then give it to a group before the main presentation and then reflect, modify and practice.  What I think is good, isn’t that good in the end.

I gave two presentations during the training.  One was about the Training Area and the second was about patches.  The latter I had time before class to think up and produce.  The first one was given to us during the training.  The five minute talk I gave about this subject was better delivered and given than the one I had time to prepare about.  That was a great lesson.

I am including the PPT as a PDF so people can see it.  I have a lot to do to refine it down.  I am actually taking out the National Outdoor Award info from it.  Reason being, I am not in Boy Scouts , but in Cub Scouts and know that program a lot better.  I am also going to revise what is said on the screen.  Less is more and more is not good.

Overall, Trainer’s EDGE is a valuable course and one that should be taken if you find yourself up in front of people. No matter if they are Scouts or non-Scouts.

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#wdyr @WorstDayRide of the Year

Today was the Portland area’s Worst Day of the Year Bike Ride.  There is a 16 mile and a 45 mile ride.  I opted for the 16.  While I have done one other official Bike Ride in Portland, this was one by myself and with my new bike.  It’s also the first during my getting healthy kick.  I ended up meeting a friend of mine at the end, he did the 45 mile version.  That was fun.  I did see the SPL & SM from a local Troop.  Truth be told, I recognized the SPL, but I could not place him.  I ended up saying hello after I realized.  It was good to catch-up with them.

The event was great.  I got there a tad early.  Right when the Die-Hards left.  Then came my group.  The families and goofy dressed and semi-not-hard-core.  The Event is in their 11th year and was organized great.  There were 3 rest stations along the way.  I did not stop at the first one since I was just getting going.  Though the Hot Chai did help.  The second one in NE Portland was great.  It was a good stop since I needed a break.  That was about 8 miles.

Towards the end, my family kept calling me asking me where I was.  It ended up that they were waiting for me along the route and held up a banner.  That was totally awesome.  Very inspiring.

So, while this post has nothing to do about Scouting, it was about getting out and doing something that I normally would not do.  Plus it was about fitness.

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Notes from the KYBO

Well, I didn’t have a catchy title and that’s the first thing that came to mind.  Don’t worry, I am in the kitchen having coffee and not writing this on an iPad from the KYBO.

The 100 Days of Scouting have started up again.  The orginator has started it up again and I really like reading them.  Another Scouter Josh Nay is following suit as well.  While I am not going to write everyday, since for me that is a lot.  I think it’s important to support and read these blog posts.  It is one of the reasons that I am on Twitter and have developed friendships with other Scouters to this day.  We all wear the purple patch and subscribe the to the same Kool-aid.  I learn a lot from my Internet Roundtable. (Check out the list of Scout Blogs I follow on the bottom left hand side of the website for more)

A fellow Scouter Allan Campbell last night during the Pack’s Blue & Gold received his Beads for completing his ticket.  It was a great time.  Many of the Wood Badge staff and other Wood Badgers were on hand along with several of his patrol mates.   Three things happened there that were notable.
First: I had a great insight into how another Pack does Blue & Gold, Rank advancement (A Webelos Badge and the Arrow of Light badges were handed out) happened.  Every Pack does it differently.
Second: I got to connect with a Bear Patrol Member who is an Assistant Cubmaster who had questions about his ticket.  I gave him ideas about other topics.  He is stuck since one needs to be rewritten.  Also, invited him to our Pack meetings so he can see how we do it.  It’s one of his ticket items to visit other Packs for that very reason.  A very smart ticket item.
Finally: I was made aware of another Troop that is in my immediate area that I was not too aware of.  They have 8-10 Scouts and are dying. I was invited to come to the Troop and bring the Webelos I & II.  The person who invited me is a fellow Wood Badger from the 2012 course and is trying to save it. He and I swapped info and he forwarded me an email from the SM/CC with their info as well.  I passed it along to my Webelos II DL.

Finally, one of the members of the Bobwhite Patrol that I am a Troop Guide for is just about done.  He forwarded me his last ticket item that deals directly with Training within the Troop and the record keeping/training promotion.    It is so good that I am going to swipe it and use it for the District.  It basically bugs me to no end, as does him (I take it) that people do not get trained or avail themselves to it.  In a very recent blog post from Scoutmaster Jerry, he is up the same tree about JTE.  Stay tuned for a post about what I am proposing to do within my District about Training Records.

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Barns, the BSA, and Birdhouses - Caterpillar Axle Manufacturing Plant, Part 1

Reblogged from Sustainability - Industrial Strength:

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This part one of a three-part series on the Caterpillar Axle Manufacturing Plant built by Gray Construction in Winston-Salem NC.

On the future site of the facility, there remained a handful of sheds left over from the land’s past life as a tobacco farm.  The material was too weathered to be of any commercial value and we were not able to use it to obtain credits toward…

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Here is a great article about Scouts and Sustainability.

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