Scouting-E-Zine Vol 4 Issue 09

SCOUTER'S DIGEST
Scouting-E-Zine
A Chronicle of American Scouting
Volume 4, Issue No. 09 - May 7th, 2002
Copyright (c) 1999-2002 Honor Publishing Company;
Scouter's Digest, all rights reserved.
Circulation: 11,150 - advertising opportunities

THE COSTS OF

SCOUTING

Make no mistake about it, Scouting can be expensive. When you consider the costs of a uniform, patches, personal items, camping equipment, dues, travel, costumes (for skits, OA Indian dance regalia, special uniforming, etc.), not to mention monthly camping and outing costs, the money spent for Scouting can add up in a hurry. Of course, if we compare Scouting to other Youth programs, (Little League, Soccer, Gymnastics, etc.) it is still cheaper by comparison. While the $ 7.00 membership fee is slated to go up to $ 10.00 in January, it is still a bargain when you consider the value received. Yes, Scouting can be expensive, but the ultimate value of the Scouting program cannot be measured in dollars alone.

Who Pays for all this Scouting?

Youth Members:

In the "real world", the youth are either assisted or subsidized by their parents or guardians, (Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, and Varsity Scouting and Venturing) who pay their children's share from personal savings and/or participation in money-earning projects. Some parents give an "allowance" to their children, others have their children work for it, while other parents simply choose to give the money to their children as a good investment in their future. This obviously varies by the economic make up of the families, pack, troop, or unit. Both the youth and the adult leaders buy their own uniforms, handbooks, and personal equipment and pay their own camping fees.

Many of these Scouting units plan monthly or quarterly fund raising activities to help offset the costs associated with running their program. Car washes, candy and popcorn sales, Christmas tree lots and wreaths, bake sales, and many other innovative fund raisers help the Scouts and adults alike in providing a Scouting program in their area. (your chartered organization and your local council must approve unit money-earning projects before the launch of the fundraising project. A step many units tend to forget)

Units have also started some very innovative "savings programs" for their youth. Having a separate savings account in the unit for each Scout that they can draw upon, and add to by attending fund raising events. Units have started "Uniform Exchanges" where Scouts can trade in their uniforms that they've outgrown for "experienced" uniforms that fit. Troops have made arrangements with local Army and Navy depots to get surplus equipment, and some have even approached local businesses for donations to their units.

The weekly or monthly dues, which again vary by unit, and some of the funds from the money-earning projects meet the expenses for supplies and activities for the unit as well. These moneys help pay for troop camping equipment, registration fees, Boys' Life magazine, uniform insignia, special activities, and program materials. Unit dues, depending on how active the unit is, can range from $ 5.00 to $ 25.00 per month.

Help for some of these expenses can come from various Community Organizations. Each chartered organization using the Scouting program should provide a meeting place and the adult volunteer leadership for its BSA unit(s). They should also bear any expense for the actual meeting place (rent, heat, lights, janitorial expense, etc.) Some units will also approach their chartered organization to provide new uniforming for new and underprivileged youth. Local Lions, Kwainis, Moose, Eagles, etc. can also be a source for funding specific projects (like a new handbook and scarf for Scouts bridging from Webelos into Scouting.) Have a committee member advise a youth council to approach them, it is much more effective when the youth who are actually associated with the unit ask for the help.

What about your Local Council?

Money to run your local council comes from the annual Friends of Scouting (FOS) campaign (That's the money YOU donate to Scouting), local business contributions, local United Ways, foundation grants, special events, project sales, investment income, trust funds, bequests, and gifts of real and personal property.

The money you give, and the funds collected provide for professional staff supervision like the District Executive or Director you have in your district. They are in charge of the organization of new Scouting units, servicing existing units, to help in the training of volunteer leaders. The funds also provide maintenance of council camps and properties. They finance the operation of the local council service center and any satellite offices where volunteer leaders can obtain literature, insignia, advancement badges, and other items vital to the program. Remember, each service center has expenses just like any other office building. Rent, heat, AC, water, garbage, etc. all has to be paid for, and the only money they get is from you and the money the professional raise from the above sources. In addition, the service center maintains advancement and membership records for your Scouts.

The BSA "National Office"

Funds to support the national office and the organization of the Boy Scouts of America come from registration fees, local council service fees, investment income, Scouting and Boys' Life magazines, sale of uniforms and equipment through their catalog and national Scout Shop stores, contributions from individuals, and foundation grants. These moneys help to deliver the program of the BSA (through four regional service centers and more than 300 local councils) to chartered organizations that use the Scouting program to meet the needs of their youth.

The national office provides local councils with program development and evaluation as well as camp and office planning, extensive financial counseling, planned giving and fundraising information, and professional personnel support.

They also coordinate the program by supplying support material such as handbooks, merit badge pamphlets, brochures, training materials, and professional development training. They also design and Make available uniforms, equipment, and program supplies for Scouting through their Council and local Scout Shops.

In addition to local council Scout Camps, the National Office administers national high-adventure bases and national events (jamborees, National Eagle Scout Association and Order of the Arrow conferences, and National Council meetings)

They also maintain communication with chartered organizations that use the Scouting program (religious institutions, PTA, civic organizations, labor unions, professional organizations, business, and industry) and provide lobbyists in Washington D.C. to protect Scouting interests in our nation.

The Boy Scouts of America is a member of the World Scout Conference and the National Office helps, and maintains communication with, other Scouting associations around the world.

So, this is quite an organization we belong to. It's not just a bunch of kids and adults showing up once a week to have some fun and go places, it's a whole lifestyle, mindset, and commitment to the future of our country. No other organization in the world can match the education a young man can get starting at age 6 and going through the scouting program. No other program combines the outdoor experience, the pride of citizenship in our country, and the religious commitment the program expects. Scouting provides a path that will help our youth become well "rounded" citizens of our country. It provides them with a firm foundation of leadership skills, a love and respect for the outdoors, a set of "rules" to live by (The Scout Oath and Promise), and a commitment to their own religious beliefs.

The cost of Scouting may be high, but the cost of raising children without these ideals, morals, beliefs, and skills is so much more expensive that Scouting then becomes a bargain. We must do everything in our power to make sure this program is available to ALL youth. We must continue to help fund Scouting at all levels and to search out ways to make it more affordable so all youth can participate in this great program.

Dave Tracewell
Editor

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Today's quote:

"I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. . . . Corporations have been enthroned, an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money-power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until the wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed."

Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865),
(quoted in Jack London's "The Iron Heel")

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SCOUTING IN THE NEWS:
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Bruce Willis buys Girl Scout cookies for U.S. Troops (CALIFORNIA)

LOS ANGELES - He may be one of the world's most famous movie tough guys but "Die Hard" star Bruce Willis also has a soft spot in his heart for Girl Scouts and their cookies.

Nine-year-old Girl Scout Tallulah Belle Willis, daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, and cousins Katie and Hayley Rogers wanted to bring a taste of home to Operation Enduring Freedom troops overseas and Girl Scout cookies seemed to be the best way

Inspired by Tallulah, his youngest daughter who is in the second grade and was selling the famous treats for her Sun Valley, Idaho, Brownie-Girl Scout troop, the 47-year-old actor bought 12,000 boxes of Girl Scout cookies for shipment to US troops serving in and near Afghanistan, his publicist, Paul Bloch said on Tuesday.

Tallulah Belle, along with her cousins, Katie and Haley Rogers, came up with the idea to donate the cookies, Bloch said.

Willis paid the full price of $36,000, troop leader Sue Dumke said.

Dumke also said that because the cookies are only made for a few months of the year, the donation required reopening a bakery, as well as permission from the Defense Department.

The cookies were en route to the region on Tuesday and would be divided among Army and Air Force personnel as well as Navy sailors and Marines aboard the USS Wasp, an amphibious assault vessel, and the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy, Defense Department spokesman Lt. Col. Jim Cassella said.

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Boy Scout gives elderly an emergency link
(CONNECTICUT)

BRISTOL -- Elderly residents and people with disabilities will now have access to emergency services via cell phones thanks to a recent Eagle Scout project.
Bristol Central High School senior Tyrone Mellon used his project to collect, test and write instructions for more than 200 donated cell phones, which will now be distributed by Bristol Social Services.

Mellon said he was approached by a number of people offering Eagle Scout project ideas and found the cell phone collection to be "one of the better ideas I'd heard. With this one, I could see how I could demonstrate leadership and do the things I needed to do" to earn the Eagle Scout distinction.

Kit Plourde, director of social services, said the agency would not have been able to initiate a project of the size of the collection, but knew there was a need for the service.

"We expected he would collect around 100 phones so we were thrilled when he collected over 200," Plourde said, estimating that Mellon and other scouts volunteered more than 150 hours to the project. "We don't have 150 staff hours to put into a project like this so we would not have been able to do the project without Ty's help."

Mellon posted information and collection boxes for the drive at area businesses and agencies, including the Bristol police department. Although his Eagle Scout project has ended, he is still collecting phones.

Donated cell phones can be used to dial 911 even without subscribing to a service. Mellon said even phones that don't work are being collected because sometimes the Scouts can use the parts to get another phone working.

Social Services is currently setting up appointments with people interested in obtaining one of the cell phones.

"We expect the initial request will be 100. It's difficult to know exactly, but we could exceed that and we will have the phones to deal with it," Plourde said.

In addition to collecting and organizing the phones, Plourde said Mellon helped initiate a project that she hopes will continue.

"I expect this project will be self-sustaining," Plourde said, adding that many residents probably have old cell phones and are unsure about what to do with them. "People don't want to throw something useful away and many people have them and don't know what to do with them. I think this will be a project that just continues on."

Anyresident over .62 or disabled is eligible for one of the phones collected by Mellon.

Appointments must be made so staff can determine a person's eligibility and show them how to use the phone they are given.

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Camp Yocona (MISSISSIPPI)
Boy Scouts speeding toward campaign goal

Leaders of the Boy Scout movement in Northeast Mississippi reported Monday a strong, successful start of a $1.5 million campaign to refurbish and update Camp Yocona, the rural Pontotoc County heart of Yocona Area Council activities.

"Yocona," the widely used diminutive of the full name, opened in 1947 to serve Northeast Mississippi counties. It was the landmark of Boy Scouting for the expansive Baby Boom generation after World War II, and it continues as a formative away-from-home for grandchildren of its earliest campers.

Campaign Coordinator Ralph Carter reported $965,000 in gifts since the campaign started in March. If gifts can be sustained in four levels of giving, the council should be able to meet and exceed the $1.5 million goal.

Yocona is a traditional camp. It is not a luxurious conference center but an outdoors experience in keeping with Boy Scouting's historically strong emphases on interaction with the natural world, respect for and stewardship of it, and building friendships through the experience that can last a lifetime.

The leadership for the "Building on Tradition" campaign is filled with former Scouts who are the second and third generations of their families to be involved in some way with the Yocona Area Council.

Boy Scouting hasn't veered from its core values - even as its program has added new dimensions reflecting a world focused on technology and many other activities pressing on boys and volunteer adult leaders for time and commitment.

Gifts in-kind, cash, stocks and securities, or other assets by special arrangement can be made to the campaign. Call 662-842-3048 in Tupelo for complete information, or contact a local Boy Scout leader to begin the process of making a gift.

Scouting's best traditions stay with scouts for life, and that is a priceless return on investment.

Yocona Area Council
505 Air Park Rd.
Tupelo, MS 38801
Phone: 662-842-2871
Web Site: http://www.yocona.org

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Boy Scout camp gets bigger, better
(WEST VIRGINIA)

Charleston - Picture a 2,000-acre camp in the mountains of Pocahontas County with a lake for swimming, canoeing and fishing, miles of hiking trails, and outdoor activities ranging from archery to the basics of wildlife zoology.

For thousands of past and present Boy Scouts affiliated with the Charleston-based Buckskin Council of Boy Scouts of America, that scene conjures up fond memories of summer camping experiences at Dilley's Mill, site of the Buckskin Scout Reservation's summer camp.

From June 7 to July 14, Buckskin Council will operate weeklong camps at Dilley's Mill for Boy Scouts. Scouts taking part in the program learn camping skills, work on a wide variety of merit badge projects, and take advantage of the camp's many recreational possibilities.

In recent years, Buckskin Council has completed $150,000 worth of improvements to the water system serving the camp's modern dining hall, and invested another $85,000 in building tent platforms at its 20 group camping sites.

A new activities shelter for first-year scouts will open this summer at the Pocahontas County facility.

The council, which coordinates scouting activities in 18 West Virginia counties, plus three in Kentucky and one in Virginia, also operates 13 Cub Scout day camps at locations scattered throughout its membership area.

As many as 600 low-income campers are expected to take part in this year's summer camping program, but the council plans to continue its policy of never turning away an interested camper due to a lack of registration fees.

To continue offering camping scholarships to all interested campers, the council needs your help. Here is how to reach the council:

Buckskin Council - Boy Scouts of America
2829 Kanawha Blvd. East
Charleston, WV 25311-1727
Phone: 304-340-3663
Web Site: http://www.buckskin.org

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Boy Scout uses love of reading to help McKinley Elementary School students get free books (MINNESOTA)
by Kelly Johnson - Blaine-Spring Lake Park Life

Coon Rapids, MN - It was his love of reading that prompted Brian Nelson to share this passion for books with students at McKinley Elementary School.

Nelson, a member of Boy Scout Troop 418, helped organize a Book Fun Night at the school as part of his Eagle Scout project.

“I wanted to do something with books because I love to read,” said Nelson, a Blaine High School ninth-grader. “I think that if (the students) are handed books early on, they’ll love reading too.”

McKinley Elementary School’s Book Fun Night April 18 included a used book exchange, a book walk, story- tellers and refreshments to give students and their families an opportunity to gather together to celebrate reading.

Nelson worked for three months to plan and promote the event, as well as recruit volunteers and storytellers to help with the evening.

“It took a lot of time,” Nelson said.

Although he spent a lot of time preparing for Book Fun Night, Nelson was not alone in his efforts.

The Book Fun Night took place in conjunction with the school’s existing Reading is Fundamental project, a national program to promote reading by providing free books to students in kindergarten and first-grade.

As part of Reading is Fundamental, the school receives a small grant to purchase and distribute books for to students in these two grades three times a year.

To help supplement the Reading is Fundamental program, the McKinley Parent Teacher Organization provides additional money to purchase books for all the school’s students.

The organization provided the money to purchase books for the Book Fun Night.

“I really like the idea of lots of people working together for a similar goal,” said Phyllis Haensel, McKinley Elementary School reading teacher and Reading is Fundamental coordinator.

That cooperation paid off for Nelson and the McKinley students.

“It went great,” Nelson said about the Book Fun Night.

Many students attended the event and went home with new books to read.

For Nelson, a former McKinley Elementary School student, seeing the books in the hands of the students was one of the most rewarding aspects of his work on the project.

“The school gave me a lot when I went there. I wanted to return the favor,” Nelson said.

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Eagle Scout badge project reflects
American wars and the flags of the era
(IOWA)

Charlie Kleinwort of St. Ansgar will present “The Price of Freedom” skit about American wars and the flags of the era. The original skit was done by Sherwin Kittleson’s Webelo scouts in 1963. The program is part of his Eagle Scout badge projects. Some of the flags he is holding are the almost total red with green tree flag of the Revolutionary War, the Civil War Spirit of “76” flag and the 1812 Naval flag of Admiral Perry’s capture of the British Fleet on the Great Lakes. The flags were sewn locally by mothers of the original troup members.

It was on a winter night, February 14, 1963 when 140 Cub Scouts and their parents packed the Cedar Valley Coop meeting rooms in St. Ansgar for the annual Blue and Gold awards banquet. The troops and their guests were in for a real treat that night, as Sherwin Kittleson who was Webelo Scout den leader and his troop would entertain the crowd with their skit about American wars. The program, entitled “The Price of Freedom” had been written by Sherwin Kittleson and his troop. Each war was represented by a scout bearing the American flag of the time. The show was impressive and the skit became some what of a legend among scouting patrons.

“I was part of the program that night,” Ed Kleinwort began. “I was 12 years old and my part was the the first entry, the Revolutionary war. This is the flag that is known perhaps the least, as it was bright red with a green tree in the center. Betsy Ross had not yet sewn the red, white and blue stars and stripes. I can still remember my lines as we began the program. Sherwin was my leader and was one whale of a boy scout as well as a leader. He taught us a lot about scouting, and more importantly, valuable lessons about life skills and being good citizens.” Ed stated.

Sherwin was a popular St. Ansgar community member, as well as the town barber. But, most of all, he believed in leadership and helping young boys through the scouting program. He passed on the American wars skit and the flags representing each war to his three sons who in turn were scouts and eventually scout leaders and used the skit in their troops. By this time the Vietnam war had been added to the roster. Sherwin’s wife Ila, eventually stored the flags and the old program in her attic. After she died, the sons, remembering Ed’s part in the original program, returned the favor to St. Ansgar and gave the skit and the flags to him. The flags were sewn by Wilma Frank and Leona Dieterich, both mothers of scouts who had part in Shrew’s original program. Wilma still lives on a farm near St. Ansgar. They are in great condition for being over 40 years old. This year, Charlie Kleinwort of St. Ansgar has been working on his Eagle Scout badge. The old American flag skit, called “What Is the Price of Freedom” came up, and his father Ed told Charlie about the 1963 program. “I decided I wanted to try this with some of my own ideas added to it. Since patriotism is so high right now, I thought this might be a very good program to do. It will precede the Military History Days to be held in St. Ansgar the first part of May. I hope it will get people in the spirit.”

Charlie began.

Charlie is a member of Troup 52 of St. Ansgar and Tim Pink is their scout leader. “The ultimate goal of scouting is the Eagle Badge. I have been working towards the badge with quite a few projects and the freedom skit is part of it.

“What I am going to add is that Civil War re-enactors will be dressed in their costumes of the wartime period and will come out on the stage as their part is read. The beginning will be the Revolution War, with Patrick Henry reciting his famous ‘Give me liberty or give me death.’

This is the red flag with the green tree. The next war is the war of 1812 with Admiral Perry’s capture of the British fleet on the Great Lakes. The bearer of the white and navy Spirit of 1812 enters. The capture of Mexico was next in 1846, which was a little known war.” President Lincoln said the country could not remain half slave and half free, and the beginning of the Civil War began with the Spirit of 76 representing the north. This is followed by the battle of Santiago Harbor. Nov. 11, 1918 signaled World War I declared by President Wilson and the spirit of “18” flag represents Americans fighting for democracy worldwide.

Years past and the infamous Pearl Harbor was World War II and President Roosevelt stated ‘the heart of this nation is sound, the Spirit of the nation is strong - the Faith of this nation is eternal.’ The Vietnam war of the 60s and 70s and the Korean war were added when Sherwin’s sons did the program. Charlie has added the 100-day battle in Kuwait in 1991 and presently, the 9- 11 attack on American soil, the present war against terrorism. This is a new war, and we hope the only war of the 21st century. This conflict supports enduring freedom.

“After I read Mr. Kittleson’s original program, I was really enthused about doing it. The fact that we have added characters dressed for the era and music played inbetween each war by Ginny Morrow on the piano will be dramatic additions to the program. Music was a popular way of people expressing their feelings during wartime, either with patriotic or popular songs of the day.” Charlie continued. “Since part of the Eagle badge is earned by getting community members involved in your project, my part of the evening will be behind the scenes lighting, stage management & choreographics. I recruited the actors, readers and musicians for the program. I hope some of the people that might have been present for the original program in 1963 will come for my updated version of the skit.

“The program was presented on Monday, April 22 at 7 p.m. at the St. Ansgar elementary school gym. Lori Meyer has really helped with the advanced promotions and ticket sales. After the “Price of Freedom” program, we are hoping to keep the flags around for the public to view for a while either at the St. Ansgar Heritage Museum and possibly on display for a time in the St. Ansgar American Legion.”

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Teen organizes cleanup for Braden River (FLORIDA)
JAMES A. JONES JR. East Manatee Editor

Manatee - At first glance, it might seem unlikely that a 14-year-old Boy Scout could successfully pull off something as complicated as organizing a community cleanup of 3.2 miles of the Braden River. That includes all of the river between State Road 64 in the north and State Road 70 in the south.

But that's just what Joel Garrison, a ninth-grader at Lakewood Ranch High School, has set out to do. He chose the cleanup project as part of the final push to attain Eagle Scout rank.

It's also a labor of love. After all, the Braden River flows past his back yard, located off Morgan Johnson Road in East Manatee.

So far, Joel has enlisted 10 volunteers from his neighborhood, plus 10 more from the Venture Crew of Adventure Scouting.

"It's a lot of work to put together something like this. The running around and all. It's more than I expected, especially when you're in charge of it all," he said.

His mom, Sandy, has been Joel's chauffeur, taking him to meet members of the press and helping him distribute posters advertising the cleanup. On Tuesday at 7 p.m., he even has a speaking engagement, meeting with members of Friends of the Braden River at Carlton Arms.

Joel says that speaking engagement is making him "a little nervous, but it's for a good cause. It's the first time I've ever done anything like this."

He has also put a note about the cleanup in the church bulletin published by First Presbyterian Church of Bradenton. Through the church, he enlisted the help of a nurse to provide first aid during the cleanup.

There's an old saying: if you want to get anything done, find a busy person to do it. Joel may be young, but he is also busy.

In addition to his scouting and school work, Joel is a drummer, interested in both rock and jazz music. He marched with the Lakewood Ranch High School Band in Saturday's DeSoto Grand Parade. And he works in the shipping barn at the family's wholesale interior foliage business, Suncoast Nursery. "I help get the plants ready to ship on the semis, and bring them out of the green houses," he said. Wednesday and Sunday nights, he's busy with his church youth group.

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SCOUTS Get New Lodge (CONNECTICUT)

CROMWELL -- More than 100 people came out for the dedication of the new Scout's Lodge at Watrous Park on Sunday.

"For years to come, kids from Cromwell can come here to be inspired," state Rep. James O'Rourke III, D-32, said. He said the message to the boys and girls using the lodge will be that "their parents and town care about them."

O'Rourke and other speakers noted the dedication it took to get the $130,000 lodge built. The building has of a kitchenette, two bathrooms, conference, storage and central rooms. Scouts, parents and businessmen in the community came together to raise funds and find land on which to build a new lodge when they learned four years ago that the scouts' old Quonset hut behind the police station was to be torn down. The bulk of the fundraising, including a substantial state grant, was done over the last year.

Scout leader Ross Wallwork said girl scouts used to hold events at the Quonset hut but had been meeting somewhere else for sometime. With the building of the lodge, both groups can again share the same facility. Girl scouts also participated in the dedication ceremonies. Other scouting groups are expected to be able to use the building.

"I'd like to thank the scout leaders who were the driving force behind this," First Selectman Stanley Terry Jr. said. "It says a lot about our community to have people like this."

While people applauded the efforts of the scout leaders, a special tribute was paid to Ray and Peggy Mussen for their efforts to further scouting in the community over the last several decades.

Scout Master Doug Blowers announced the creation of The Mussen Scouting Fund to help pay for a Scout's trip or for camping equipment. Donations to the fund are tax deductible and can be sent to

Rick Garland,
CT Rivers Council,
60 Darlin St.
East Hartford CT 06128.

Blowers said that every year there are scouts whose parents are unable to afford to pay for trips or camping equipment. In the past, the scouts have always found a way to raise money for the boys, but the fund would help ensure that no one would ever be left behind, he said.

Ray Mussen is the oldest living member of Cromwell Boy Scout Troop 26 and was instrumental in getting the lodge built. Many speakers noted the amount of time he spent at the site while it was being built and he presented his wife, who also devoted a lot of her time to the lodge, with a special card. Mussen also gave the scouts their original 1939 Cromwell Boy Scout's charter.

During the ceremony, scout leader Bill Breur announced the scouts were looking for memorabilia from all scouting participants to place in a time capsule.

Eagle Scout Andy Gumkowski told the crowd that scouting had changed his life and taught him many lessons he would carry with him for the rest of his life. He said it taught him to honor commitments and be mature even when friends think what you are doing is "uncool."

State Sen. Biagio "Billy" Ciotto, D-9, on hand for the ceremony, gave some sage advice to the scouts.

"Stick to your guns. Stick to your beliefs. You'll be proven right in the long run," Ciotto said.

The ceremony included a presentation of the flag by boy and girl scouts, bugle calls, a prayer of dedication and the pledge of allegiance. Visitors to the center were treated to a tour of the building and refreshments.

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Phillip Thompson Retires (NORTH CAROLINA)

Mt. Airey - A leader for the Boy Scouts of America and a role model for the community celebrated his retirement Sunday with family and friends.

Phillip Thompson, who has worked for the BSA for the past 42 years, was honored at a retirement party given Sunday afternoon at the home of Tom and Ann Vaughn in Cross Creek.

Thompson is retiring from his position as field director for the Dogwood and Laurel districts of the Old Hickory Council, Boy Scouts of America. His friends, coworkers and family gathered to honor him and his accomplishments -- and tell a few fun stories about him.

At one point during the celebration, Thompson even played a song on his favorite bluegrass instrument, the spoons, for everyone, after “Scooter” Parker told everyone about the group that would get together in the Laurel District and play bluegrass every Saturday night.

An announcement was made by his son-in-law and director of Raven Knob Camp Keith Bobbitt that construction will begin in the future on the Phillip Thompson Leaders Shelter at Raven Knob Boy Scout Camp. It will be located near the dining hall and will be a meeting shelter for leaders. The Dogwood and Laurel districts will provide the labor for the project.

Steve Woronoff, the current leader of the Dogwood District, also made an announcement. A fund has been established in the Dogwood District so that any person wishing to go to Raven Knob will be given that opportunity. The fund is to be called the Phillip D. Thompson Campership Fund.

“I appreciate sincerely your friendship,” Thompson told those in attendance. This is your celebration. We are celebrating the things you have done.

“This is your day,” he continued. “I shall always cherish your friendship.”

Thompson stressed, “Thank you for everything you do for scouting. Don’t give up on scouting. I want you to stay in scouting until they say the last words over you.

“Thank you for being my friend,” he said.

Thompson’s family was in attendance, including his wife, Linda; his two daughters, Debra Rogers and Rebecca Bobbitt; his son, Tommy Thompson; and his three grandchildren.

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Above & Beyond: Leader lives Scout promise to help people at all times (CALIFORNIA)
By Carlos Alcalá -- Sacramento Bee Staff Writer

Sacramento - When Valerie Bass and her husband, Jack, moved to Sacramento nearly 15 years ago, she was retired, but by no means tired. She had too much energy to sit still.

"I was getting fidgety," said Bass, 83. "I started reading the want ads." It wasn't that she expected to find an opening in her longtime profession. She had been an orchestral harpist in Ohio and Minnesota before coming here. Instead, she responded to an advertisement for a Girl Scouts community organizer.

"It looked like something I could handle," she said. The agency was less certain. "We were a little dubious at first," acknowledged Jean DeCamilla, assistant executive director of the Girl Scouts of Tierra Del Oro Council. "We were, a little, wondering about whether she would have the energy to do this," DeCamilla said. "But, by golly, she did."

In fact, she excelled at what she did. "She was just a wonderful employee and an inspiration to everybody," DeCamilla said. But what really makes Bass stand out is what she did when she quit the Girl Scouts council a few years later. She took on the unpaid job of being the leader of a West Sacramento troop that she had tried to stabilize on her job.

"I walked in and I just fell in love with these girls," Bass recalled. The troop, formed at the East Yolo Manor apartment complex, had existed for three years before Bass showed up. It had lots of girls, but no real sense of purpose. "I didn't even know what Girl Scouts was before they came," said Maria Enriquez. Enriquez was about 10 then. She is now 21, working and going to college. Beyond that, she has taken over the helm of Troop 1392 from Bass, who now considers herself the troop consultant.

Before Bass showed up, the troop's leaders hadn't shown the girls the Girl Scout promise, Enriquez said. That revelation drew a stare from Bass. The girls were mostly from immigrant families -- Southeast Asian, Russian and Mexican. "She just wanted to give the girls some positive and fun activities to do after school," DeCamilla said. Otherwise, there was little for them to do.

Bass' watchword was education.

"That's all she wanted us to do, go to college," said Enriquez, whose parents wanted the same thing for their six daughters, although the parents are not themselves college graduates. Several of the troop members have gone on to higher education. "I don't think those girls would be in college without Valerie," said DeCamilla. Bass demurs. She hesitates to take too much credit. "There was no way I could do it by myself," she said.

She also doesn't want to take it away from the girls themselves or their parents.

Bass always wanted badly to communicate with those parents, many of whom didn't speak English. She once attempted Spanish classes, but the language didn't stick.

She wanted parents to know what she was doing. "Otherwise I'm just this strange old lady," she said.

"All they knew was she was there to do arts and crafts," Enriquez said.

Eventually, though, Bass won them over.

"I realized the parents finally trusted me when I picked up (one girl) to go get a uniform and nobody came along," Bass said.

The parents trusted her. The girls revered her.

Most of all, though, they appreciate the opportunities they've been given, Enriquez said. "They want to achieve something," Enriquez said. The pride of Bass and the troop is that, already, they have achieved many things. Enriquez's sister Anita has achieved the Girl Scouts' highest honor, the Gold Award.

And Maria Enriquez has the honor of succeeding Bass, who was almost ready to fold the troop as her energies, finally, began to wane. "I said, 'Mrs. Bass, you can't do that. I'll be the leader,' " Enriquez said.

"I came home and cried," Bass recalled. "She's so great with them."

Troop 1392 marches on.

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Spartanburg women has been Girl Scout leader for more than 40 years
(SOUTH CAROLINA)
By BENNY LEE SMITH

INMAN, S.C. (AP) - Every Thursday afternoon for the past 41 years, Mae Raney has had a commitment. "I don't know what kept me going all these years," said Raney, 82. "I just know every Thursday is Scout day and I get ready the day before by preparing snacks that I am going to serve."

When she and her daughter joined Girl Scouts back in May 1961, Raney had a lot of other commitments. A husband, five children, teaching church Bible classes and working third shift in the admitting office at the former Spartanburg General Hospital, just to name a few. "I joined Girl Scouts because I love children," Raney said recently before conducting a Brownie troop meeting in Inman Mills. Raney took vacation days from work when she started volunteering to make sure girls in her Brownie troop attended camp and got to enjoy outdoor activities.

She also made sure the girls memorized the Girl Scout Promise and laws. "I try my best to give them a good foundation as a Brownie before they go into the next level as junior girls," she said. Girl Scouts all over the country are celebrating the organization's 90th anniversary. Girls become affiliated with the organization as Daisies, starting at age 5. They become Brownies from age 6 to 8. The junior level is for girls ages 8 to 11.

The cadet level caters to ages 11 through 14, and the senior level is for girls 14 to 17. At age 18, the women can become assistant leaders, leaders or adult members.

Raney never had a chance to join the scouts as a girl because of her family duties. Her father died at a young age, so she and her older siblings helped their mother make ends meet. But when she became a mother herself, she volunteered as an assistant leader at age 41. Three generations of Raney women have been involved with the Girl Scouts .

Her daughter Debbie Raney Henderson completed 12 years of scouting. Her other daughter, Donna Raney Brown, completed eight years, and her four granddaughters have been involved in scouting as well. And the men in Raney's family have not been left out. At one time or another, her late husband and sons have provided transportation and anything else Raney needed for the meetings. Her son, Tim, takes her to meetings now.

"She started scouting when I was 6 years old, so I have been around it all my life," Tim Raney said. "Now, not a day goes by when there's not something to do dealing with scouting."

Two years ago, Raney was one of two Spartanburg County women who received 40-year volunteer service pins. Troop 146 leader Dorothy Byrd, based at Mt. Moriah Church, was the other. Raney said she still has energy for at least another year.

"I am still wanting to go, although my children want me to slow down," she said.

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Annual tree planting at Fort Robinson rates success
(NEBRASKA)

CHADRON, Neb. (AP) - Boy Scouts and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission officials are calling the latest annual tree-planting project at Fort Robinson State Park a big success.

Everything, including the weather, seemed to come together for this year's weekend tree planting, Fort Robinson Superintendent Mike Morava said. The project is part of the Game and Parks' ongoing efforts to help Fort Robinson recover from a major fire in 1989 that incinerated 50,000 acres in four days.

Outside grants have helped the Scouts fund the planting for three years. Funding for next year already has been assured.

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Decision nearing in Dallas Boy Scouts membership investigation (TEXAS)

DALLAS (AP) - A two-year federal investigation of the nation's fifth-largest Boy Scout chapter may be winding down, a federal prosecutor said. The Dallas chapter, part of the 11-county Circle Ten Council, was raided by the U.S. Postal Service in April 2000 as part of a mail fraud investigation into padded inner-city membership.

"Only when the investigation has been concluded will charging decisions be made, but we think the time for making those decisions is not far off," Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda Groves said in Saturday's editions of The Dallas Morning News.

Whistle-blowers claimed that the Boy Scouts pressured salaried Circle Ten executives and volunteers to inflate the local council's membership by as much as 30 percent in order to keep contributions flowing from the United Way and other charitable groups.

Before the investigation, the council claimed to have 52,000 Scouts, including 29,000 inner-city minority youths. By the end of 2001, with continued vetting of membership rolls, the council reported a total of 33,527 Scouts.

The number of minority youths in the urban Scouting program fell from 29,000 to 7,300. The percentage of Scouts eliminated from the rolls was high in lower- income urban areas of Dallas that fund-raising solicitations had emphasized and that have drawn scrutiny from federal investigators. Circle Ten officials said the main reason for the smaller number of Scouts was negative national news coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in June 2000 that upheld the organization's right to exclude homosexuals, the council said.

National membership numbers, however, did not show dramatic losses. Council leaders at the time did acknowledge some irregularities. One employee was disciplined and an internal investigation was conducted. Current and former Circle Ten leaders said the business of Scouting has continued.

"It's just a strong organization, and I think that's what's sustained us," said Billy Gamble, the former Circle Ten executive director who retired in November. He has denied responsibility for any membership accounting problems. Ray Montgomery, a 30-year Circle Ten employee, was suspended and later fired after he acknowledged through his attorney that he kept the names of minority youths on Scouting rolls even though they were never Scouts or long after they had grown up.

"There's nothing I can do about it, so I'm going to go on with my life," he said. Gamble's replacement, Gene Stone, said the Boy Scouts have implemented reforms to check membership-counting by salaried staff members who oversee recruiting and programs. "We're back in the process of growing, but it certainly took its toll in the urban neighborhoods during the initial stages of that investigation," he said.

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GrassFire.net is still going strong in 2002!

Whether you agreee with the tactics of petitioning or not, there is an organization that is doing what it can to help preserve Scouting and the ideals and values it currently has. As informed Scouters, we can make our best decisions by knowing all of the avenues we have to promote our cause. The Scouting-E-Zine offers this resource as a way of letting our readers make up their own minds as to the effectiveness of this method.

In September of 2000, Robert Koonts of Grassfire.net set up a website with the help of a few friends and launched their first petition in support of the Boy Scouts by sending out 200 emails to friends. Within 45 days more than 140,000 people had signed the petition! By presenting a single petition with thousands of signatures Grassfire petitioners have been able to have real impact.

"Our petitions are simply a modern day version of the old door-to-door paper petition. And it's truly a grassroots effort" states Koonts.

GrassFire.net has a mesage that will be of interest to many Scouters. To find out more about this organization, and what they stand for, visit:

http://www.grassfire.net/scouts.asp?rid=&cid=2

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SCOUTING HISTORY:
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There is not a new state history this issue, look for a new state history from Ed Henderson in our next issue.

The Scouting E-Zine focuses on a different state in the USA where 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 ON THE NET:
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LOOKING FOR SOME OLD SCOUT BUDDIES?

Check Out ScoutMates.com

Eagle Scout Waylan Taber has created the ultimate source to find old friends from Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Eagle Scouts, Explorer Scouts, Order of the Arrow Members, Venture Scouts, Varsity Scouts and more. Featuring Troops, Packs, Lodges, Ships and Teams from across the world, Scoutmates is a great tool for a scout reunion!

Also available free on scoutmates.com is a chatroom, online games, best scouting links, free web based email, scoutmates store and more. Join today... registering is free!

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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
Groups Website. Click on the logo to see how

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SCOUTMASTER'S MINUTE
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I Used to Work at a Zoo

When I was 16 I discovered that having a job would be of great value to me. It would be of value because I could buy gas for my car, pay for my clothes, etc. The problem with being 16 and wanting a job is finding one. Luckily my dad knew the caretaker at the zoo and he asked him if they needed any help. He said to send me down for an interview. The very next day I went to the zoo and met him in his office. There we talked for a while and finally he told me he had a job that he thought I could do. He told me to follow him and we went through a series of tunnels and alleys (employee entrance) until we emerged by the gorilla cage. I noticed that the cage was empty. He pointed to the cage and begin to explain that the gorilla Mabel was getting very old and had just yesterday gotten sick and had to be taken to the vet. Mabel was one of the feature attractions at the zoo and the kids just loved to see her. Mabel never did much but sit on the branch of that big tree and held onto the rope that was hanging down. He went on to say that he had a gorilla suit I could wear if I would be interested in sitting on the branch for 4 hours at a time. It sounded good to me so I told him I would.

The next day I went to the zoo, put on the gorilla suit and climbed into the cage. I sat on the branch holding the rope and soon there was a crowd of children pressing their faces to the bars. About an hour passed and I began to get into this gorilla stuff. I would grab the rope and swing across the cage. The kids thought it was great so I started swinging higher and higher. In the next cage there was a lion and he was becoming irritated by my antics and began to pace his cage and roar. I kept swinging and started to swing to the lion's side of the cage and would use my feet to push off of his bars. I could really swing out far and he roared even louder. All of a sudden I missed the bars and flew through and dropped into the lion's cage. I landed on my back and was stunned but immediately got up and ran to the front of the cage screaming "help me, help me, I am not who you think I am". Just as I got that out the lion jumped on my back and knocked me to the ground. His head was at my neck and he said, "shut up stupid or you will get us both fired".

The point to the story is that I took the job because it had a value to me. You will hear on TV news reporters say that we have a valueless society. This is incorrect. Even gang members have values, they value things like money & drugs. Everyone has values, it is the principles that determine what your values will be. The Scout Law sets a foundation of solid moral principles, from these come good values. Goodnight Scouts!

-- Thanks to Greg Gough, SM Troop 201, Ozark, MO.

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SCOUT'S OWN:
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Torch for the world

There burns a torch in every heart,
The torch of friendship true,
Its flame unites the world o'er,
The far, the near, the old, the new.
It kindles a fire of strong desire
To learn, to love, to live,
To try the best that one can try,
To give the most that one can give.
Not always was this great flame thus,
It was at first a spark.
It grew, and rose to glorious heights
And pierced the lonely dark.
Its smoke continues to the sky,
Bearing a wish from every place,
That we may ever live in peace,
And cherish every race.
Lift high the torch of friendship, then,
As with true Guides [Scouts] we stand
A body pledged to high ideals,
As guardians of the land.

from the GGC campfire activities book.

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GONE HOME:
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======================O======================

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.

Some articles and stories in this e-zine are direct quotes from the publications as credited and noted. Copyright of these stories and articles remain with the copyright holder(s) respectively. Links may be provided to view further information or expanded story segments. The user (reader) assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy and the use of this document and any associated links. This document may be copied and distributed subject to the following conditions: 1. All text must be copied without modification and all pages of each article or story must be included 2. All copies must contain Honor Publishing Company copyright notice and any other notices provided therein 3. This document may not be distributed for profit.

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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++++++++++++

DO YOU HAVE A GREAT STORY TO TELL?

What's going on in your Troop, Pack, or District? Do you have a humorous story about your Scouts and a pesky skunk? How about the time your Scoutmaster got lost and the Scouts saved the day. Tell us your story. We want to share your Scouting stories with all of our readers and bring a little fun and excitement to this E-Zine.

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Just A Minute...

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SCOUT LAW CLOCK

It does 1466 Good Turns each day!