I could not have said it better.
This is Baxter Black, my kinda guy… Just a guy in love with America just like me.
Enjoy!
Learn more about Mr. Black at his website. www.baxterblack.com
http://www.youtube.com/get_player
And for those of you that love the pork as much as I… here is a must see download.
Have a Great Scouting Day!
It is the morning after another great Thanksgiving. What made this Thanksgiving great for me this year was the simplicity. Now I don’t want to start sounding like a old fuddy duddy…
But, coupled with the fact the leading up to Thanksgiving I was on the “impact” subject and did a lot of soul searching finding better ways to influence the Scouts of my Troop and the fact that this Thanksgiving was near perfect. It was simple.
We went to my sisters house, my parents, my sister, her husband and kids, my family and by brother in laws mom were there.. that was it.
Mom cooked a great turkey, nice big bird cooked to perfection, my sister did her normal fantastic job of preparing the other stuff in a truly Martha Stewart fashion, and my wife did a great job with salads, sides, and dinner roles.
Dad began the meal with a beautiful talk about what thanksgiving is all about. Yeah, Pilgrims yada yada, but he passed on what Thanksgiving has always been about for him and our family and that is simply family.
For our family thanksgiving was always special. Growing up with my Dad in the Army, we moved all over the world and each Thanksgiving found us in far away lands, away from our family in “the States”. So we became close, just the 5 of us finding comfort in family. I think that is why we are closer today and where the values are built that carry in our lives today. It shaped what is really important in us.
After dinner, my parents had a special treat. They converted the old Super 8 films to DVD and we sat and laughed at old hair styles, goofy action, and remembered where we were taking a stroll down memory lane. I had not seen those films since I was 12. Wow, I guess the more we change, the more we stay the same.
It was real special to see my brother as a baby and toddler. He is no longer with us, so it was nice to share Thanksgiving with him, albeit he was on the DVD.
It was a simple Thanksgiving. Just Family. Perfect.
We truly have a lot to be thankful for and yesterday we got to share our thanks with the ones we love.
As we take stock in what we have, where we are, where we have been and where we want to go in the near and far future, remember what got you there. The struggles, the happy times, and the effort that you give to make your lives the best it can be.
I popped online this morning and checked into skype. Shawn was on and his message said “Its almost 2009″.
Not that I did not know that, but it sure was a reminder that time is flying by, we need to get ready for the coming year. Our Troop plans are set and we are in progress., but what about our personal plans. Don’t wait till the last minute, and don’t just fly by the seat of your pants. Have a plan and work that plan. In November 2009, you will be more thankful.
We had a great Thanksgiving. A special time with my family. I hope you all did too.
I would like to wish all of my Friends in Scouting a very blessed Thanksgiving.
As you have read my blog over the last year you know a bit about who I am and I have shared on many occassions just how thankful I am.
Today is a day set aside to give thanks.
Thank you.
For Food
For Raiment
For Life
For Opportunity
For Friendship
For Fellowship
We thank Thee, O Lord.
Amen.
Have a Great Scouting Day!
“It’s time to take our destiny and our definition back into our own hands,” Mazzuca said. “We have such a positive story to tell.”
Have a Great Scouting Day!
Last night the Troop held it’s monthly fun night after the PLC meeting. This month the Scouts elected to play Basketball over at the Church gym as the darkness is falling earlier and its getting cold outside.
So they held their PLC meeting focusing on the January Camp out and discussing the events of December that the Troop will be involved in. I gave my two and half cents were needed and pretty much let them be.
Then off to the gym. It didn’t take long to pick teams and the game began. We had a young Webelos Scout and his parents visiting last night, it was actually good for them to see the Troop at play. They got to see the camaraderie and cheerful spirit of the Troop as well as good sportsmanship.
At the end of the game, I gathered the Scouts at center court for some comments and a Scoutmaster minute to wrap up the night. I had something prepared, but then I looked at the boys sitting there on the floor and it hit me.
I am so blessed.
I am so blessed that I have been chosen to be their Scoutmaster. To be a Scoutmaster at all is a blessing. To have the opportunity to impact these young men and watch them grow in character and skills that will last a life time. I thought about an email I received yesterday in which we had gone back and forth about Scoutmastership. The emailer reminded me of a quote from the book Legacy of Honor (which I have written about earlier). The quote was about the impact that a Scoutmaster has on the young men he serves. In the book the author was interviewing a man named Jim Breedlove. Mr. Breedlove said; “Scoutmaster is the most distinguished title a man can have….When I think of those people who have the opportunity to shape the lives of individuals to produce an outcome that is relevant, the role of Scoutmaster does that better than any one position I can think of.”
Have a Great Scouting Day!
Fuel consumption in the cold.
No matter which type of fuel you use for cooking, in the winter you need to plan for more.
This is an important part of planning your Patrol’s meals, as you need to account for the amount of fuel you will burn, which impacts the amount of fuel you need to carry.
Plan on burning twice as much fuel in the winter months.
Canister fuel, liquid fuel, even burning wood doubles in the winter.
Here are a few tips to conserve fuel and use it more efficiently in the winter.
1. Never have a flame without a pot over it. Prep your food ahead of time, get it in the pot…then light the stove. Burning fuel without producing something is a waste of fuel.
2. Keep your fuel as warm as you can. Store your fuel in an old sock while it’s in your pack.
At night keep your canisters or fuel bottles in your tent. Canister fuel in a sock placed in your sleeping bag can be a life saver in the morning. Fuel gets cold and hard to burn. Keeping it warm insures quick lighting and more efficient burn.
Have a Great Scouting Day!
As we repeat the Scout Oath each week at our meetings and try every day to live the values and promises it contains, sometimes it is worth putting it in perspective and coming to a better understanding of what we promise when we say those words that begin with ON MY HONOR.
To keep myself Physically strong, Mentally awake, and Morally straight.
The last part of the Scout Oath, the part in which we make three promises to ourselves. Those final promises that shape character and set direction in our lives. That last part of the Oath that keeps us Prepared… for anything.
A friend of mine sent me this short story. I do not know who the original author is, but it is worth the read, I modified it at the end to maintain relevance in a Scouting setting.
MORAL OF THIS STORY
When you’re prepared, spiritually, mentally, and physically, you have nothing to fear. Can you sleep when the wind blows through your life?
The hired hand in the story was able to sleep because he had secured the farm against the storm.
We secure ourselves against the storms of life by grounding ourselves in the in the Scout Oath and Law
What a great story that sums up our promise, OUR HONOR.
Have a Great Scouting Day!
I am not one to just promote something for the sake of promotion.. and since I don’t get paid to do this Scouting stuff when I do promote something, it is because I believe in it and think it is worth while and worth passing on.
I received an email from Alvin Townley, the author of “Legacy of Honor”. You will notice that it is on by bookshelf. Great book and worth the read. If you have not read it… please do. Again, I have no dog in the fight, just read the book.
Alvin has a new book coming out in 2009. I can’t wait to get my hands on it. But the email prompted me to check out his website again. I had not been in a long time. As I perused the site I came upon a section called the “Eagle Reserve Initiative”.
Basically he is call all Eagle Scouts to give back. Great idea.
He writes on the web site;
“In my travels across the country, I’ve heard again and again that Eagle Scouts of my generation want to give back to Scouting, but serving as a traditional weekly leader often doesn’t suit our situation in life. I’ve also seen that many troops lack the outdoor skill and leadership to provide their Scouts with the high adventure so crucial to a good experience.
So, we attacked both problems and developed a program where a group of Eagle Scouts can help chaperon a local troop on a camping trip, once a year.
The pilot took place outside Atlanta in Fall 2008 and the Eagle Reserve program is being rolled out nationwide. We just need Eagles to volunteer to get back into their element and go camping with their friends…and take along a group of Scouts.
This is our generation’s chance to give back and create this Movement’s future.”
Learn more about this great program at the Legacy of Honor website.
I think Alvin Townely has truly grasped the concept and true spirit of being an Eagle Scout.
Less about ink on a resume, more about giving back and demonstrating Scout Spirit throughout your life time.
Thanks Alvin, I appreciate what you do.
As most of you are already aware, Mike Rowe, host of the TV series Dirty Jobs posted a great letter on his blog.
My good buddy Steve posted something about it, as did a new friend in Scouting Jeff
You can read their posts here: STEVE and JEFF.
There is not much I can add that has not been said, I would encourage you not only to check out my friends blogs, but also the blog of Mike Rowe.
I think Mikes response was spot on! I only hope the young man got the point and earned…yes EARNED his Eagle award!
Have a Great Scouting Day!
Troop Junior Leader Training. A valuable tool to give the Youth leaders of your troop. A must do every year to insure you have effective leaders that can provide Purpose, Direction, and Motivation.
This show is a discussion of how our Troop (Troop 664) conducts TJLT annually.
Enjoy.
Standard Podcast [27:09m] mp3 format
