Scouting-E-Zine Vol 4 Issue 07

SCOUTER'S DIGEST
Scouting-E-Zine
A Chronicle of American Scouting
Volume 4, Issue No. 07 - April 2nd, 2002
Copyright (c) 1999-2002 Honor Publishing Company;
Scouter's Digest, all rights reserved.
Circulation: 11,007 - advertising opportunities

The BSA is Approaching
100 Years!

(Or Maybe Only 86 Years?)

While it is true that On February 8, 1910, William D. Boyce, a publisher from Chicago, Illinois, walked into an office in Washington, D.C., and filed papers of incorporation for an organization he hoped would
shape the lives of American boys, it was not granted a Federal Congressional Charter until June 15, 1916. The first event brought on a movement that would soon become part of the largest Youth Organization in the world, the second event strengthened the Boy Scouts of America and showed our youth how important our government thought Scouting was to their development and training. Since then, thousands of boys have grown up with Scouting values and are leading our country's businesses and government today!

Being as most people consider the February 8th date as our "official Birthday", plans are already being made around the country for celebrating the BSA's birthday in 2010. In California, a resolution was initiated by legislators in January of this year to honor the Boy Scouts by recognizing the valuable contributions the organization has made to our country. Councils all across the country are starting to make plans to celebrate 100 years of Scouting. As the time for celebration draws closer, we would like to hear about what's being done in our readers councils. Please send any stories, updates, or plans to the editor:

Dave Tracewell
Editor

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Todays quote:

"We make way for the man
who boldly pushes past us."

--Christian Nestell Bovee

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SCOUTING IN THE NEWS:
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Den Mother?
At 84, She Can Add Great And Grand
By WINNIE HU - The New York Times (NEW YORK)
03/18/2002

PORT JERVIS, N.Y., March 15 -- For 43 years now, Marion E. Rohner has let nothing interfere with preparing her young charges to become Boy Scouts.

Not the creeping arthritis in her legs. Not the uproar over the Boy Scouts of America policy against gay scout leaders. Not the changing times that make scouting of little interest to many families.

In her standard-issue blue jumper, Mrs. Rohner, 84, vigilantly guards an activity that has increasingly come under attack in recent years from critics who say it is outdated and inflexible. She is a Cub Scout den mother, part of a volunteer legion that works tirelessly to instill the values of God, country and family.

But in this world of service and merit badges, Mrs. Rohner has lately been honored in her own right. In January, Guinness World Records named her the longest-serving Cub Scout den mother anywhere and the accolades started pouring in. Vice President Dick Cheney sent his congratulations, as did Gov. George E. Pataki and several other politicians.

Port Jervis officials presented her with a brass key to this working-class city of 8,500 on the Delaware River where New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania come together. Next, a historical marker will be placed in front of her house.

''Society has changed tremendously over the years, and that makes scouting more important than ever,'' said Stanley Siegel, a Cub Scout-turned-deputy mayor who nominated Mrs. Rohner for the record. ''Kids aren't getting the same values that they used to get from their parents and schools.''

For that, there is always Mrs. Rohner. A lifelong resident here, Mrs. Rohner started her first den in 1958 when her son, James, joined the Cub Scouts. He graduated to the older ranks of the Boy Scouts, but she stayed behind to introduce hundreds of young boys to the scouting life, including a nephew, six grandsons and eight great-grandsons.

''I'm not out to set records,'' she said. ''I'm doing what I'm doing because I love it. They inspire me. It's so rewarding to see a boy turn out good.''

As the years passed, Mrs. Rohner kept her faith in the Boy Scouts even as the world changed. More boys and their parents began to choose sports over scouting, and Cub Scout membership dwindled in Port Jervis from three packs in the late 1960's to just one today.

Mrs. Rohner reread the scouting handbooks as they were updated. She began referring to ''den leaders'' -- instead of ''den mothers'' -- as more men were permitted to lead the Cub Scouts, and more women to lead the Boy Scouts.

But through it all, Mrs. Rohner said the organization's strict policies helped scouts cope with ''troubling times'' in which boys were confronted with drug use and broken homes, ''loose morale and less respect for authority.''

She staunchly supports the Boy Scout ban on gay scout leaders. ''It's not necessary to have them,'' she said. She is also an outspoken proponent of weaning boys from a steady diet of television and video games. The 11 scouts in her pack have cleaned up neighborhood playgrounds, built pine-wood derby cars from scratch, and even made valentines for hospital patients. A recent assignment was to write about what America meant to them after Sept. 11.

''Nothing in the world is perfect, but at least the Boy Scouts try,'' she said. ''I feel sorry for the people who criticize them, because they don't know what end is up.'' She never stops trying to win over boys with her disarming blend of grandmotherly hugs and stern looks, a tactic highly praised by parents of her scouts.

''Some of the kids have a tendency to get rambunctious,'' said Marina Conklin, whose 7-year-old is a scout with Mrs. Rohner. ''But she has complete patience. She doesn't yell. She talks them down. Me, I sit back and learn.''

At a recent den meeting, Mrs. Rohner summoned the scouts darting around her cluttered living room. ''O.K., line up,'' she called out. ''The American flag is always on the right.''

The scouts eagerly piled around her, as scouts have been doing for years. They solemnly recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Then Mrs. Rohner led the boys in the Cub Scouts' timeless refrain to do one's best. Not a giggle or a whisper was heard.

''It's the same every week,'' said Jo Anne Smith, who has helped Mrs. Rohner with her scouts for 22 years. 'My son used to call her the original Peter Pan because she'll really never grow old.''

Marion E. Rohner, a defender of the Boy Scouts of America, is recorded in Guinness World Records as the longest-serving Cub Scout den mother.

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INS finds home for Tanzanian Scouts
By Marc Levy - ASSOCIATED PRESS

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Four Tanzanian teen-agers detained for eight months after leaving a Boy Scout Jamboree in Ft. A.P. Hill, Virginia will get their wish and move in with a foster family this week, the Immigration and Naturalization Service said yesterday.

"The INS has worked very hard to try to find a foster family that would be willing to keep all four of the boys together and that has the appropriate language skills," said INS spokeswoman Karen Kraushaar.

The four boys, ages 17 and 16, speak Swahili and a little English. They were being held in an agency detention center in Berks County, Pa., pending the outcome of their visa and asylum proceedings.

Miss Kraushaar declined to identify the host family, saying only that they live in the Midwest and speak Swahili.

The boys said they left the Boy Scout Jamboree near Bowling Green, Va., in July to find out how they could stay in the United States and get an education.
When they saw reports of their disappearance on television while visiting relatives in the Washington area, they turned themselves in.

Andrew Morton, an attorney for the boys, was not immediately available for comment. The boys repeatedly have expressed the desire to begin attending school in the United States, Mr. Morton has said.

They will be able to attend regular schools once they move in with the foster family, Miss Kraushaar said.
Mr. Morton has accused the INS of incompetence in getting the boys into a foster home. He also said the INS was holding the boys in an effort to capture relatives who the INS believes are residing illegally in the United States.

Miss Kraushaar said so-called "baiting" is against agency policy and said that finding the proper family took the entire eight months. The boys' attorneys are contesting the agency's charge that they violated the conditions of their visas when they left the Boy Scout Jamboree. The boys asked for asylum in the United States after government agents began visiting their parents' homes in Tanzania and asking about the boys, Mr. Morton has said. Family members became afraid that the boys would face reprisal for embarrassing the government, he has said.

At the Berks County detention center, the boys have been able to make phone calls, watch television and get classes in English, but the course material began to repeat because the facility is programmed for shorter stays, Mr. Morton has said.

Mr. Morton and other advocates of quicker, friendlier treatment of unaccompanied alien juveniles say the case is one of many that has created a push for change in the way the INS treats juveniles.

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PA DEP Secretary Presents Recycling Awards to Perry County Boy Scouts (PENNSYLVANIA)
Saturday March 16, Press Release
Pennsylvania Dep. Sec. David Hess Visits `Growing Greener' Innovative Technology Project At Newport's Water Treatment Plant.

NEWPORT, Pa.,/ -- On behalf of Pennsylvania Gov. Mark Schweiker, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary David E. Hess today awarded 'Recycling Works' badges to members of Duncannon Boy Scout Troop 64 for their curbside recycling program.

"These scouts have done a tremendous job with this program,'' Secretary Hess said. "Through their efforts, and the dedication of their leaders, they have developed a successful voluntary curbside program in the Duncannon community.''

The scout troop collects recyclables including colored glass, plastic, aluminum and steel cans, and newspapers on the second Saturday of each month. The material, collected at curbside, is taken to Deimler's Recycling in Carroll Township. Newspapers collected are given to a nearby farmer for use as animal bedding.

Secretary Hess awarded the badges while visiting Newport's recycling drop- off site.

SOURCE: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

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Pony Express Council - BSA Honored For Service To Special Needs Youth (MISSOURI)

The Pony Express Council, located in St. Joseph, Missouri, received the 2001 National Organization on Disability's award for service to youth with disabilities during the council's March 22 awards banquet. Each year, the organization, through the Learning for Life Program, recognizes one council in the United States. The council receives a plaque and a $1,000 donation from Aetna of North America.

"Youth with disabilities can benefit greatly from the Learning for Life program," said Mike Moseman, Pony Express Council's assistant Scout executive. Through the Champions program, the Pony Express Council provides special needs youth the opportunity to develop leadership skills, meaningful relationships, and positive attitudes while participating in new experiences. The Champions program is implemented in the classroom and in outdoor settings. Specialized training is provided for all teachers and volunteers participating in the program.

The annual highlight of the Champions program is Field Day at Camp Gieger. Last year, 253 youth joined 44 teachers and 21 Scouters for a fun-filled day of exciting Scout- and theme-related activities. Parents are invited to spend the day with their sons and daughters at the camp. The day concludes with the presentation of awards and special completion certificates for every student by Dan Colgan, superintendent of schools and the council's Learning for Life vice president.

In 2001, the Champions program grew by 18.3 percent in the Pony Express Council, and the council's Learning for Life program grew by 7.5 percent to 4,931 youth or 19.2 percent of the area's total youth population. In addition, the council's 80 Learning for Life units represent 29 percent of the council's total units.

The Pony Express Council has been recognized for its outstanding special needs program before. In 1998, the Governor's Advisory Council on Aging commended the Pony Express Council's special needs program for involving senior citizens with youth.

Congratulations to the Pony Express Council for its outstanding Champions program and service to special needs youth.

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Camporee to get Civil War flavor (IOWA)By by by Kirsten Heerdt - Hawk Eye correspondent

MOUNT PLEASANT — Participants in the annual Boy Scout Heritage Camporee will learn more than just basic camping skills as members of several Civil War re–enactment groups are slated to set up camp on the Old Threshers grounds Friday, May 31 through Sunday, June 2.

The Civil War flavor of this year's camporee is appropriate for Mount Pleasant and Henry Country since they played a key role in training soldiers for the Civil War. Through the art of living history, scouts will learn about the Civil War and the men who fought in it.

Early plans are for re–enactors from Hannibal, Mo., and Quincy, Ill., to bring their cannons and a rifle company from Lincoln, Ill.

On May 31, Boy Scouts and infantrymen will pitch tents throughout the OT campground.

"Things will start to get going Saturday morning at about 8:30 and will continue into the evening, ending at about 9 p.m.," says coordinator Steve Weyer.

FULL STORY

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Scouters develop guidelines for Varsity Scouts

Scouters from the Utah National Parks Council met with national Boy Scout training executive John Alline on March 14 to develop new guidelines for Varsity Scouting.

Scouters Evan Brady, American Fork; Rick Oliver, Lehi; Scott Daniel, Orem; Ed Howell, Alpine; Dennis Gillie, Spanish Fork; Pete Crane, Provo; Richard Russell, Orem; and Dennis Crawford, Provo; spent time discussing and then developing roundtable guidelines for Varsity Scout leaders.

Designed for 14-15 year old young men, the Varsity Scouting program specializes in five fields of emphasis — advancement, high adventure, personal development, service and special program and events.

Roundtables for Varsity Scout leaders are designed to be participatory; leaders do everything at roundtable that they intend the boys to do in their meetings. Elements of the Varsity roundtable include a pre-opening game, opening ceremony and invocation, songs, training feature, games and closing ceremonies and prayer.

Enthusiasm for Varsity Scouting is created by Varsity Scout roundtable commissioners and is then passed on to the young men. The structure for the roundtable is the same as for the Varsity Scout team meeting conducted by the young men on the unit level. The intent is to model in round table what is conducted by boys in the unit. Varsity scout coaches teach the boys in their unit.

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Teen Scout summons help for stroke victim
By: Laurie Pearson, Staff Writer - Elk Valley Times
March 26, 2002 (ALABAMA)

Boy Scouts are trained to "think on their feet," according to Scout Master Lee Preston. And, a local Scout clearly put his training into practice recently when he discovered an incoherent elderly woman alone in her truck.

Sixteen-year-old Jason Bates, a Life Scout, had been cruising through the parking lots around town, occasionally stopping to talk to friends that night when he spotted a familiar white S10 truck in front of Kentucky Fried Chicken on the Huntsville Highway. The vehicle belonged to a friend's grandmother, Margie Williams, so Jason stopped to say hello. "She wouldn't respond," said Jason. The food she had inside her truck was cold.

According to the stamped cash register receipt, printed at 11:30 a.m., Mrs. Williams had been in the truck for early eight hours. Jason called 911 for an ambulance and informed the ambulance personnel when they arrived that he knew Mrs. Williams was a diabetic. She was taken to Huntsville Hospital for treatment. Later, Jason said, he learned that Mrs. Williams had suffered a massive stroke. She is now in physical therapy. "In Scouts, he's learned to intervene and recognize when there is a problem," said his father, Roger Bates, a Fayetteville firefighter. Jason received the Arrow of Light rank in Cub Scouts in March 1997 and then entered the Boy Scouts in May that year. "Jason checks on elderly people in the neighborhood," said his father. The Lincoln County High School sophomore and Senior Patrol Leader may be eligible for a national scouting award, according to Preston, who is in the process of researching awards.

"We're very proud of Jason ... He's a fine young man," Preston added.

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COMMISSIONER ARROWHEAD CERTIFICATE

A redesigned Arrowhead Honor Award Certificate, No. 33750A, featuring an American flag border is available through the Supply Division, 800-323-0732.

The award is given on completion of performance projects and may be earned by every commissioner. The certificate's redesign coincides with minor revisions to the award's requirements.

The requirements, which may be found on page 20 of the 2002 printing of "Commissioner Administration of Unit Service," are specific to the different commissioner positions:

Council commissioner and assistants:
(1) Work with your Scout executive or other staff adviser and evaluate all district commissioners in the council.
(2) Have an active, effective district commissioner in every district of the council.
(3) Develop and put into action a suitable recruiting plan throughout the council.
(4) Achieve a ratio in the council of one unit commissioner for every three units.
(5) Chair or actively take part in six council commissioner meetings.
(6) Give leadership to a council commissioner conference.
(7) In consultation with the Scout executive, select and carry out a major project in the council.

District commissioner and assistants:
(1) Work with your district executive to evaluate all commissioners you supervise.
(2) Achieve a ratio of one unit commissioner for every three units in the district or service area.
(3) Develop and put into action a suitable recruiting plan.
(4) Chair or actively take part in six district commissioner staff meetings.
(5) Attend six district committee meetings (not required for assistants).
(6) Attend a council commissioner conference with a majority of your staff.
(7) Provide personal coaching for the commissioners you supervise.

Unit commissioner:
(1) Fill in and follow up on Commissioner Worksheets (pack, No. 34125A; troop, No. 34126A; crew, No. 33660A; post, No. 33619A) for each assigned unit.
(2) Conduct membership and leadership inventories in each assigned unit.
(3) Attend six district commissioner staff meetings and provide the training topic for one meeting.
(4) Participate in a charter renewal meeting resulting in on-time unit re-registration.
(5) Participate in a charter presentation.
(6) Attend a council commissioner conference.

Roundtable commissioner:
(1) Review all material in the current Venturing Roundtable Guide, No. 34342, current Boy Scout Leader Roundtable Planning Guide, No. 34253A, or current Cub Scout Roundtable Planning Guide, No. 34239C.
(2) Review all material in Troop Program Resources and Troop Program Features (volumes 1-3) or Cub Scout Program Helps.
(3) Recruit a roundtable staff.
(4) Lead staff in preparing a one-year roundtable outline.
(5) Supervise the staff in conducting these roundtables.
(6) With the district commissioner and district executive, develop and use an attendance promotion plan.
(7) Attend a council commissioner conference or roundtable planning conference.

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Eagle Scouts in the News:

We came across this post on Scouts-L from G. John Marmet, ASM Troop 156, Glenview, Illinois (Northeast Illinois Council 129) that was worth reprinting here. Thank You John for sharing this information:

Whether you are military or not, everyone is aware that 4 star generals (and admirals) run the army, navy, etc. What everyone may not be aware is that each of the military forces has a corresponding highest ranking enlisted man (non officer) who advises the head of the particular branch on matters relating to enlisted men and women.

The current holder of that position in the United States Coast Guard is Master Chief Patton, who became the Eighth Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard on May 22, 1998. Master Chief Patton holds a Doctorate in Education from the American University, Washington, DC. He has a Masters degree from Loyola University, Chicago, IL; and Bachelors degrees from Shaw College at Detroit, MI; and Pacific College, Angwin, CA.

And of course, Master Chief of the Coast Guard Patton is an Eagle Scout, and remains active as Boy Scout volunteer.

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Board to examine Boy Scout policy
Plan on sexuality could prompt United Way to reinstate funding (MINNESOTA)
Mon, Mar. 25, 2002 - BY STEVE KUCHERA

On Tuesday, the United Way of Greater Duluth board will examine a new local Boy Scout policy on sexuality.

The examination could ultimately lead the board to reinstate funding to the Voyageurs Area Council of the Boy Scouts.

The council, however, hasn't asked to rejoin the United Way.

"That would have to be brought back to our board for their consideration if the opportunity would be there,'' council executive Loren D. Stach said. "We have met with the United Way and shared with them where we are related to our membership standards.''

The Voyageurs Council has more than 3,200 volunteers and 8,500 youth in all or part of 18 counties in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan.

The United Way board voted in September 2000 to stop giving money to the council after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the organization could bar gay boys and men.

The board's decision was based on a policy that any group receiving money from the United Way must sign an agreement that it will not discriminate. The other 35 agencies that receive money from the Duluth United Way signed the agreement.

"It's been a difficult issue,'' said incoming United Way board chairwoman Sue Henke, who's been on the board for three years. "It was a difficult choice for us to make.''

The choice upset many people. One former Scout left the United Way board after the vote. Some people stopped donating to the United Way.

"It went both ways,'' United Way of Greater Duluth President and CEO Paula Reed said. "We saw people withhold their funds, but we also saw people step forward when the decision was made.''

Reed believes the United Way lost more money because of the issue than it gained, but doesn't know how much.

FULL STORY

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OA Offers Service Opportunities at High-Adventure Bases

The Order of the Arrow offers your local Arrowmen the opportunity to grow mentally, physically, and spiritually as they join Arrowmen from across the country in cheerful service at the Philmont Scout Ranch or Northern Tier High Adventure Base.

The OA Trail Crew and Wilderness Voyage, a strenuous, 14-day experience, is designed for youth ages 16 through 20 who are physically fit and meet specific height and weight guidelines. The first week focuses on service, such as trail construction and campsite maintenance. The second week is spent on a backpacking or a canoeing trek, depending on which high-adventure base the youth attends. The fee is $100, with a $25 nonrefundable deposit required with the application.

Applications for the OA Trail Crew and Wilderness Voyage experiences are being accepted until all slots are filled. An online application is available at www.oa-bsa.org.

For more information, contact Carey Miller, 972-580-2455.
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Boy Scouts change name, place of Event (UTAH)

LEHI -- The Boy Scouts are moving their annual Scout-O-Rama from Utah Valley State College to Thanksgiving Point and are changing its name to the Scouting Expo.

The annual event by the organization's Utah National Parks Council is for youths from Cub to Sea Scouts and their families who live in Utah and Wasatch counties.

The Scouts will be the first to use the new fair park at Thanksgiving Point where the next Utah County Fair will be held, said Jack Dillon, director of support services for the Utah National Parks Council.

The Scouting Expo will be May 4.

High Adventure activities for youths 14 and older will be held outside the fair park and include canoeing on the Jordan River and a mountain bike course.

Portable pools will be used for scuba and snorkeling instruction.

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Boy Scout camp near Aspen Rejected
March 19, 2002 (COLORADO)

ASPEN, Colo. (AP) - The U.S. Forest Service has halted its review of a new Boy Scout camp along the Fryingpan River, saying the Scouts did not demonstrate a need for the camp on public land.

"At this point, that isn't the best use of the land there," said Martha Ketelle, supervisor of the White River forest. The search will continue for a location where a new camp can be built, said Keith Alder, executive for the Western Colorado Council of the Boy Scouts.

The Fryingpan proposal had been criticized by about 500 opponents who wrote letters urging the Forest Service to reject the Scouts' application. They argued the camp would harm the environment and disrupt an area of the forest that has a scattering of private cabins.

"Like many of the Upper Fryingpan people, we thought it would have been a disaster to the environmental aspects of that area. This is good news for those who want to protect the environment," said Paul Darrough, a former Boy Scout and retired attorney who owns a cabin near the Fryingpan River Ranch.

The Boy Scouts had wanted to locate the camp on about 40 acres of White River National Forest land that had operated as a private fishing lodge for nearly a century. The camp would have served as many 200 Scouts. A Forest Service review was necessary before the Boy Scouts could take over a lease and make more than $2 million worth of improvements on the land.

The proposal for the Fryingpan River site also created a rift within the Boy Scouts. Some Scout leaders said the camp, which would have had a dining hall and electrified cabins for leaders, would be too cushy for Boy Scouts who are supposed to be learning how to rough it.

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SCOUTING HISTORY:
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CONNECTICUT Boy Scout Council History
By Ed Henderson

Recently we heard from Ron Haviland the Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 118 in West Brookfield, MA who asked about the history of the old Alfred W. Dater Council. Below then, for Ron & the other reader's of Honor Publishing's Scouting E-Zine we offer our newest chapter of Scout Council Histories:

To see this states Scouting History,

CLICK HERE

Every month, the Scouting E-Zine focuses on a different state of the unionwhere we examine how Scouting has evolved over the past 90 years. Here are the links to the states we have already profiled:

INDIANA
MISSOURI
RHODE ISLAND
SOUTH CAROLINA
TENNESSEE
VERMONT
ALABAMA

Where would you like the Scouting E-Zine to take you next??? Write us at info@honorpub.com and tell us which state's history you want to read about in our next issue!

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SCOUTING STORIES:
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He's not heavy, he's a member of our Boy Scout Troop
Mar 26, 2002 - By CHARLES TRENTELMAN
Wasatch Rambler

I met Trevor Kelley and his friends on the trail to Delicate Arch, right at the start of that long piece of slickrock after the two steep dips in the trail.

About that slickrock. If you"re in your early 50s and getting over a chest cold it takes on the aspect of a sheer cliff going a hundred miles straight up, maybe more. I was panting and wheezing. And here came Trevor, whomping my butt. Partially this was because he is a teenager and has the strength and endurance of youth. Partially it was because he is a Life Scout, accomplished in the ways of the wild. Mostly, though, it was because he had four guys taking turns carrying him. "It"s an Olympic event," one of them told me. Real cute.

Trevor looked like a sack of potatoes hanging on each guy"s back, his rear end swaying in the breeze as his carriers hustled along, up cliff and down wash. They were all laughing and having a good time, joking about making Trevor go on a diet or making him roll back down on his own. It looked, at first glance, like a fraternity prank, but succeeding glances showed it wasn"t.

First it was the weird backwards angle of Trevor"s hands. Then it was the minute size of his legs. Finally, it was when they put him on the ground and he hobbled along on misshapen hands and knees before he was hauled up on another guy"s back and the march renewed.

So I followed, or tried to. They were moving fast. Turns out, Trevor is a member of Troop 1476, out of the Spring Creek 18th Ward in Springville. The troop was down in Moab working on bicycle merit badges, had put in 23 miles the day before, and was taking a day of rest to hike a couple miles up to Delicate Arch. Trevor has a medical condition which kept the muscles in his arms and legs from developing much. He compensates by making friends, apparently: The way other troop members took him along, as if hauling Trevor was the most normal thing in the whole world, showed how tight they all are.

"Trevor"s a total member of the troop," said Scott Harris, one of the four. "He is so witty around the campfire, he keeps everyone laughing." It was hard to conduct an in-depth interview. The wind was howling and Trevor was busy with his friends. Does he mind being hauled along? "Well, it"s good for the others. It builds their muscles up," he said. His father, Paul Kelley, had a slightly more sober view. The guys carrying Trevor up to Delicate Arch, he admitted, was "friendship to the nth degree," but watching them carry his son along narrow trails, sheer drops inches away, was a bit nerve wracking.

And now they wanted to take his picture under the arch, which involved hauling him around the edge of a bowl on more slickrock, down steep ledges and across narrow stone necks. No problem, said Bill Holzendorf, another of the four. So two guys lifted Trevor onto Holzendorf"s back who then stepped down off a steep ledge, wobbled slightly on the pitched wall of the bowl and, somewhat shakily, started walking. Trevor"s dad shook his head and tried not to look. It"s only 100 feet or so to the bottom, after all.

And Trevor, by his own admission, would roll pretty good, but he had a big confident grin as they sped off.

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"Hope is driving force behind defending a Pinewood Derby title" (CALIFORNIA)
The Daily Breeze - John Bogert

"You won?" Don Murphy asked me the other morning in his Torrance condo. Murphy is the scoutmaster who, in 1953 Manhattan Beach, invented a worldwide yearly Scout rite called the Pinewood Derby.

Intended as a cheap and fun alternative to the then popular Soap Box Derby, Pinewood races feature 7-inch- long cars cut, painted and coasted down a wooden incline.

What's interesting is how Murphy, after turning the entire concept over to the Boy Scouts of America when his son outgrew the program, lost track of it completely. It wasn't until Hermosa Beach Scoutmaster Gary McAuley tracked him down a few years ago that the retired aircraft company artist discovered that his little activity had, for nearly half a century, been driving millions of parents nuts with the painting and decorating of tiny racing cars.

Since then Murphy has written a book, "Pinewood! The Story of the Pinewood Derby" and produced a trading card featuring his photograph with the original car specifications on the back.

This while taking on living legend status and receiving more invitations to derbies than he can possibly attend.
A plaque has even been placed on the Scout House, designating it the birthplace of an event that , despite the sales of millions of car kits at $3.95 each , never made him a dime.

Not a pretty sight

Last year my then 7-year-old son and I built a little yellow Pinewood car so ugly we came to think of it as our four-wheeled Frankenstein. Then it won, which surprised everyone, even Murphy, who had given me the secrets. Actually, there are no secrets, just a little advice: line up the wheels so it rolls straight, then put most of the weight in the rear.

Our race, like all Pinewood races, ran in heats in a barely restrained win-at-all-costs atmosphere reminiscent of a dog fight. Then again, what was I expecting with a lethal combination of males and cars, even tiny cars?

What I didn't expect was winning. Even my son, who had to stand at the end of the slanting raceway, was shooting me increasingly puzzled looks as our disgusting father/son creation beat out cars so pretty we had no business being on the same track with them.

And you would think that after such a win, and after consorting with the Richard Petty of Pinewood, that building a second great car would be easy.

A new year

Too bad that the rules forbid recycling last year's car, even if it's repainted and renumbered. You know, a ringer, like when I was drafted to play basketball for a Jewish community center. So we started from scratch last Sunday morning using tools borrowed from neighbor Mark, who recently produced a rather elegant double-A fuel dragster for his son.

Like good Scouts, we abandoned the old car and went instead for a racing-green wedge that came together rather easily if you don't count the 8-year-old , noting my rather intent look , asking, "I thought that this was all about us having fun together?" "This is all about winning!" I shot back. "About keeping the championship belt at all costs, about vanquishing friends and . . ."

I was joking . . . mostly. And he was right. Who cares about winning? That's why I let him spray paint the thing after sanding it smooth, after we aligned the wheels, weighed the thing to 5 ounces on a kitchen scale and test ran it down the driveway against last year's car. Only last year's car lost a wheel halfway down, which would have been of little note had it not proceeded to beat the new and prettier car by three lengths.

"Maybe it's the paint," the kid suggested. "Maybe it's the wheel alignment," I added as we squirted it with graphite and ran it again, this time against the old car and a Hot Wheels dump truck " only to watch it come in third!

"There's no hope," the kid concluded. C'mon " father and son, tools, brilliant March sunshine . . . plenty of hope here.

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SCOUTING ON THE NET:
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Steve Hennings Scouting Links page is a great place to find alot of links and Scouting Resources. His website can be found at:

http://www.users.fast.net/~shenning/bsa.html

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Put HONOR in your website!

The HONOR Bookstore now has a "Link Button"
that can be put on a Troop, Pack, or Youth
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SCOUTMASTER'S MINUTE
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Welcome To The Boy Scouts Of America
(The Promise*)

SCOUTING promises you the great outdoors. As a Scout, you can learn how to camp and hike without leaving a trace and how to take care of the land. You'll study wildlife up close and learn about nature all around you. There are plenty of skills for you to master, and you can teach others what you have learned. Everyone helping everyone else-that's part of Scouting, too.

SCOUTING promises you friendship. Members of the troop you join might be boys you already know, and you will meet many other Scouts along the way. Some could become lifelong friends.

SCOUTING promises you opportunities to work toward the Eagle Scout rank. You will set positive goals for yourself and then follow clear routes to achieve them.

SCOUTING promises you tools to help you make the most of your family, your community, and your nation. The good deeds you perform every day will improve the lives of those around you. You will be prepared to help others in time of need.

SCOUTING promises you experiences and duties that will help you mature into a strong, wise adult. The Scout Oath and the Scout Law can guide you while you are a Scout and throughout your life.

Adventure, learning, challenge, responsibility - the promise of Scouting is all this and more.

[* "The Promise" is on page 1 of the 1998 edition of the Boy Scout Handbook]

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SCOUT'S OWN:
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The Boy Scout's Mother Asked
by F. Darnall Daley, Jr.
Council Commissioner,
Hawk Mountain Council, Reading, PA

"Where has my little baby gone?"
The Cub Scout's Mother asked,
"He went by here awhile ago.
Did you not see him pass?"

He'd gone to be a Tiger Cub
And then a Wolf was he.
He learned to carve the pinewood car,
And sing the songs with glee.

And after that he was a Bear,
And then a Webelos Scout.
He learned the Boy Scout Oath and Law,
And fun in full amount.

Crossed over to be a Boy Scout,
And shown what kindness meant.
His best is what he'd have to be,
Everywhere he went.

"Where has my baby boy gone?"
The Boy Scout's Mother asked,
"He went by here awhile ago.
Did you not see him pass?"

To hike the trails and pitch a tent,
To swim the lakes and streams,
To kindle a fire under the stars,
These were his every day dreams.

Down the long trail to Eagle,
He smilingly went his way.
The many adventures that he had,
Shaped the man we see today.

Learned to be a citizen,
A helping hand to lend.
He learned what cheerful service means,
And how to be a friend.

"Where has my baby boy gone?"
The Boy Scout's Mother asked,
"He went to be a Boy Scout,
And he grew to be a man."

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GONE HOME:
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Legal Stuff:

THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. The information contained in this document represents the current views of Honor Publishing Company on the issues discussed as of the date of this publication. Because Honor Publishing Company must respond to the policies of the Boy Scouts of America, World Scouting Organization, and to the needs of our Scouting audience, all articles and stories appearing herein will strictly adhere to the Boy Scout Oath & Law. Discussions of highly controversial subjects will only bear mention if cited in the national news. Honor Publishing Company cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information presented after the date of publication.

INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED 'AS IS' WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND FREEDOM FROM INFRINGEMENT.

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Scouter's Digest Magazine, Newsletter, and the Scouting-E-Zine are NOT publications of the Boy Scouts of America and are NOT affiliated, in any way, with Scouting Magazine, BOYS' LIFE Magazine, or any other independent Scouting magazine or newsletters. "National News" is a service provided by BraveNet and it's content is not controlled by Honor Publishing Company, Scouter's Digest, or the Scouting-E-Zine.

Editor: Dave Tracewell
Senior Editor: Ed Henderson
Associate Editor: Steve Silbiger

Contents:
Scouting in the News
Scouting on the Net
Scoutmaster's Minute
Scouting History
Scouts Own
National News
Readers Corner
Gone Home
Issue Archives
Legal Stuff

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Just A Minute...

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SCOUT LAW CLOCK

It does 1466 Good Turns each day!