2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 100

Safety Merit Badge

First, my thanks to @ScouterAdam and @SM_Phil for declaring yesterday @Scoutsigns Day!  Now if I'd just finished on time for my own "holiday"!

Please take a minute to post comments about what you plan on doing with your newly found success in finishing up the 100 Days of Scouting this year.

EVEN IF YOU DIDN'T FINISH!

We all have a lot to learn from each other, and I want you to feel successful for what you accomplished.

And I want you fired up for next year's 100 Days of Scouting!  08 FEB will be here before you know it.

Today I:

• Completed another 100 Days of Scouting!  WooHOO!
• Began another...100 Days Reverent for religious growth and involvement with the Knights of Columbus and my church.  After all, a Scout is Reverent. Hashtag: #100DaysReverent
• Started one more...100 Days Strong.  I've decided to stop being a big guy.  If you are a "big guy", defined as heavier than the maximum allowable weight on the BSA Annual Health and Medical Record, consider joining me. Hashtag: #100DaysStrong
• Finished packing for our Night Ops Camporee that begins tomorrow.  Seriously, how much fun will it be to have a camporee "under the cover of darkness"?  Events for Saturday run from 8PM to 2AM Sunday morning.

Congratulations to all participants!  Finished, still working on it or set it aside..YOU helped move Scouting forward!  How will you change the world in the next 100 days?  If not you, who?  If not now, when?  Keep me posted and I'll cheer you on!

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 99

Rowing Merit Badge

One day to go.

Hard to believe.  Last year, 100 days seemed to last near an eternity.  Then, waiting 265 more days to begin made me question if I could even do it again.

Perseverance.

Now my 2nd 100 Days of Scouting is rapidly coming to a close--although delayed by one day as apparently I neglected to post on one day! ;-)

Today I:

• Confirmed pack and troop registrations with the council.  Good thing, too.  Money has all been paid, but the Cub Scouts weren't listed for a campsite.
• Posted a detailed plan to the Virtual Roundtable Committee of what I think our Virtual Roundtable should look like.  I should blog about that separately.  Pretty cool stuff, if I say so myself.  Nothing fancy, just utilizing off-the-shelf technology to encourage and expand exposure to Roundtable.
• Helped a Scout dad find a Scouting-friendly doctor doing summer camp physicals for $50.
• Rented the shelter at the park for next week's big Pack Crossover event!
• Cancelled tonight's meetings.  Schools closed today with the flooding from last nights storms (and tornado watch again).  Shame, there was a lot to do, too.

OK, tomorrow is the big day (for me)!  Some of you hit the milestone today.  Can't wait to see how you leverage all you have learned into next year's event!  Yep, next year's...3rd Annual 100 Days of Scouting!

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 98

Robotics Merit Badge

OK, not quite the day I had planned, which means it is a Scouting day!

I'm feeling some pressure about closing the 100 Days of Scouting out on a good note, but I seem to be falling behind in everything.  Then I dwell on the shortcoming, and sure enough, it adds more pressure to the mix.

A friend in Scouting may be coming to the end of his days as a professional, and that is troubling.

A perfectly stormy day for perfectly stormy weather.

Today I:

• Helped out with a Cub Scout registration drive at Burger King in our town.  Thanks BK!
• Approved as a parent, the exercise regimen for Personal Fitness merit badge.
• Prepped a report for our Chartered Organization as they close out their fraternal year.

Gotta admit, it was kind of a frustrating day.  If a little thing could go wrong, it did--sometimes twice!  Patience is a virtue, patience is a virtue...

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 97

Rifle Shooting Merit Badge

Some days you cannot win for losing.

Two steps forward, three back.

Fortunately, tomorrow is a new day...and even the rain won't matter.

Today I:

• Spoke to a new family at church that has a boy old enough to be a Tiger...and they are interested.
• Cut up and delivered flyers for our local Burger King to pass out to folks who might be interested in Scouting.
• Followed-up on a friends 60-year Veteran Application--I would need to live, and be active, about 40 more years to do it.
• Returned a borrowed pinewood derby track.

Repeat after me: tomorrow will be a better day.

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 96

Reptile and Amphibian Study Merit Badge

Who's afraid of a little rain?

Not us!  We survived our Fun with Son Cub Scout weekend!  A lot of wet, but no worse for the wear.

Drying out shall commence...in time for a Scout meeting tonight...and then some much deserved sleep...and a warm shower.

Today I:

• Packed up from a camping trip.
• Made sure we made it to Mass--A Scout is reverent.
• Stopped for our traditional "chocolate milk" on the way home from a council camping event.
• Printed out theme information for our PLC meeting tonight.  June's theme per the Roundtable Guide is Mechanics.
• Observed and coached our troop leadership through their Patrol Leader's Council.  Last one for some of them, as we have elections later in the month.

Great end to a long day...and a long weekend.  Time to get ready for the camporee on Friday...

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 95

Reading Merit Badge

Today we are camping, and I'm enjoying a rainy day with my Wolf.  Archery, BB shooting, camp food, outhouses, and I suspect an indoor campfire ceremony tonight.

Great times, with my youngest son.  This is what Scouting is all about.

I'm wearing my Dad hat today instead of my Leader hat(s).

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 94

Railroading Merit Badge

Countdown continues on the 2nd 100 Day of Scouting.  Hard to believe it will be over before you know it.

I'm already thinking about next year, and I'm open to any ideas for improvements you might have, so leave me a comment with your thoughts.

We head out for a camping trip today, as our council launches the Fun with Son weekend for Cub Scouts.  Yes, of course that means it is raining, and expected to rain all weekend.

But aren't those the weekends you remember the most?

Today I:

• Sent in--finally!--the registration for our camporee.  Today is the deadline, so all is well.  Sounds like 700 people attending so far...which is huge for our small, rural council.
• Updated Cub Scout Resident Camp files and dropped off final payment.
• Updated Boy Scout Summer Camp files and dropped off final payment.
• Advised remaining dad that we just need his check to be finished with summer camp expenses...;-)
• Packed for Fun with Son campout.  My Life is on staff, so we get to go tonight instead of in the morning with the Cub families.
• Went through Wolf's gear with him to make sure he has what he needs.  By now, he is a seasoned pro and needs very little help from me.  Stuffed animal...check. ;-)
• Made one more Scout deposit.

I'm busy camping most of the next 10 weekends, how about you?  What did I do on the weekends in the summer before Scouting?  I can't even remember anymore.

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 93

Radio Merit Badge

OK, a little secret.

I love the second Thursday of the month.  Why?  Lots of Scout meetings, mostly for adults.  Unit Commissioner's Meeting (my first to check it out), District Order of the Arrow meeting and finally our District Roundtable.

On top of my pack and troop meetings last night, I feel completely filled up with Scouting.

Today I:

• Followed up on registration for SummitCorps.
• Updated our list of participants for our Camporee next weekend.
• Attended Unit Commissioner's meeting.
• Attended District Order of the Arrow meeting.
• Attended Roundtable.

Winding down the 100 Days of Scouting with this double-barreled view of all my Scouting world is a great reminder of the things I have pushed to do this 100 days.  How about you?

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 92

Public Speaking Merit Badge

I confess, I took advantage of a quiet day today.

My folks are in town, visiting to see my new grandchild.  Beautiful weather has the garden calling.  Scouting is everywhere, and more to take advantage of there, too!

The countdown has begun to reach the end of the 100 Days of Scouting for this year...and my adrenalin is going!

Today I:

• Decided to attend the Commissioner's meeting for our district.  Whether or not it is in my future, I want to learn more about it.
• Helped a fellow Scouter out who is looking for more staff volunteers for our council's Family Camp this Fall.  I reposted to my Facebook friends and Scouts, as well as our district's Facebook page.  Oh, and my Life wants to do it, too.
• My Life is working at the Fun with Sun Cub campout this weekend, so confirmed the details about getting him up there on Friday night.  My Wolf and I will be attending as a father-and-son team.
• Sent reminder notices out to the pack and troop about the pending registration deadline for summer camp, and any balance of fees due.
• Spoke to the Scouter who is running the Night Ops camporee in a couple of weeks.  I'm on the hook for getting the word out to local media.

Great day to be a Scouter!  I love finding new experiences for me as well as the Scouts.

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 91

Public Health Merit Badge

Back from a long and hectic weekend.  My daughter is officially a college graduate, and starts on her Masters in a couple of weeks.

Came home to a bunch of Scouting email and gardening chores to get done.

Today I:

• Responded to email from a Scout who is pushing hard to get Second Class wrapped up this Wednesday at our meeting.
• Responded to a Scout who forgot to include his dad on the Camporee registration sign-up.
• Accepted invitations from our District Chairman regarding this weeks Order of the Arrow district meeting and the district roundtables.
• Helped my Wolf with some gardening plans.

Doesn't seem like a lot, but it took all day to get to this point.  Do you ever get to the end of your Scouting day without much to show for a lot of effort?

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 90

Pottery Merit Badge

Still traveling due to my daughter's graduation from college.  Only Scouting today was speaking to my sister-in-law about my nephew, who has dropped out of the Boy Scouts after working all the way up from Tigers as a Cub Scout.

Sports got in the way.  They tried 3 troops, but the other Scouts weren't centered on sports like he is.

Sad.  I couldn't find a way to bring life back to the situation.

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 89

Plumbing Merit Badge

Attending my daughter's graduation today, so not much Scouting to report.  I did get to speak with my Life though, who finished up a day of training for his summer camp job.

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 88

Plant Science Merit Badge

Today is a crazy day.

Work is busy, I'm supposed to leave early to head down to my daughter's college graduation tomorrow, and still Scouting duties are there.

What a great life.

Today I:

• Followed-up on my Life's transportation for summer camp staff training this weekend.
• Arranged a deposit to the bank of Scout funds.
• Updated the roster for our spring camporee.

Not much time for anything else today...lots of driving in my immediate future to and from a college graduation weekend.  Lots of family time...and opportunities to share a little Scouting in the free moments!

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 87

Pioneering Merit Badge

Thursday is always the calm after the storm.

Wednesdays meeting night is a flurry of activity, getting from one meeting to the next, preparations, setting up, tearing down...whew!

Thursday is the day for catching your breath...all while Scouting!

Today I:

• Packed up some camping gear that was left out to dry.
• Processed receipts for payments made at the meetings last night.
• Reviewed my Wolf's Light of Christ religious emblem book.  Half done, 4 weeks left.

I really needed a quiet day today, after the crazy of work this week.  Scouting soothes the nerves!  If only we could bottle it...

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 86

Photography Merit Badge

Today is the best day of the week!

Sun is shining, birds are singing, and Scout meetings are in the works.  We are coming into the end of our Cub Scouting year, so I'm working hard on wrapping things up and planning a great crossover ceremony for the last pack meeting.

We like to have them physically cross something, and then I seat them in their new dens.  I also call up any boys who will be old enough to be Tigers the first week in June, and cross them into the new Tiger den.  Their parents know, but the new Scouts don't.

Great fun.

Today I:

• Pulled together the last of our meeting plans for the Wolf den tonight.
• Cleaned the last of the "extra" Scout stuff out of my office...so I can walk again. ;-)
• Realized I forgot to send in the registration for our Camporee this month...sigh.  I have to fix that tomorrow.
• Scheduled time with a Scout who thinks he is ready to be Second Class tonight.

Lots of busy work today and tonight to keep the program rolling.  How about you?  Do you get busier in Spring, or just keep running at the same level through the summer?

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 85

Pets Merit Badge

Do you ever get frustrated because other people in your life don't live by the Scout Oath and Law?

Today was that day at work.  Frustrating to work with people who lack a little accountability...and courtesy.

Maybe we should add it as a new Eagle merit badge?  Personal Fitness, Personal Management, Personal Responsibility...;-)

Today I:

• Discussed impact of being a District Commissioner on my schedule.  Haven't heard anything yet, but I'm trying to be prepared so I can hit the ground running.
• Prepped for my Wolf meeting tomorrow night.
• Met with our Charter Organization.

...and worked another twelve hour day!  Holy mackerel!  When am I supposed to get all this Scouting done? ;-)

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 84

Personal Management Merit Badge

Pretty hectic day today, getting caught back up with life after the convention.

The news was pretty interesting, too.  Wow, finally.

Today I:

• Cleaned more Scouting stuff out of the shed.
• Scheduled time to meet with a Scout about Citizenship in the Nation merit badge.
• Added another Boy Scout to our summer camp contingent.

Our end-of-month processing at work is a killer.  Fifteen hours today, of high-octane performance, but still managed to squeeze a little time in for the important stuff--Scouting!

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 83

Personal Fitness Merit Badge

Last day of the 111th Virginia State Knights of Columbus Convention.

I was surprised by two positive mentions of Scouting while I was there...and this morning's session did not disappoint either!  The State Deputy had a strong encouragement for the Knights to consider Scouting units if they didn't sponsor one already.

I know many don't.  So many a few units will step up to the plate now.

Today I:

• Drove an extra 90 minutes to pick up my Life from his OA Conclave.  I was literally on the off-ramp after a 2 hour drive home and only 4 minutes from the house when he called.
• Cleared out some Scouting stuff from a section of my shed.

Combined with my last day of the convention, I was not in much of a position to work hard on Scouting today.  Still a good experience, and I have a lead for a couple of ideas to help spread Scouting now, too.