2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 82

Painting Merit Badge

Scouting happens in the strangest places and ways.

I'm at the 111th Virginia Knights of Columbus State Convention, and Scouting keeps popping up.  The Knights of Columbus have encouraged Scouting, sponsoring a unit as early as 1913.  They recognized Scouting for sharing the values that the Knights consider important--family, duty, God and country.

We'll wrap up in the morning, and I can't help but wonder how Scouting will get mixed in for the third day in a row.

Today I:

• Voted on a resolution to encourage the establishment of a Scouting service award for fellow Knights.
• Discussed helping another Knights of Columbus council in a town in my Scouting district establish their own units.
• Entered Scout parent phone numbers into my cell phone--a long overdue task.

It is great to see the organizations you belong to support each other.  Even greater to find some opportunity for each of them in the other.  Greatest of all will be to bring the ideas to fruition!

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 81

Orienteering Merit Badge

Today begins the 111th Virginia State Convention for the Knights of Columbus.  I'm pulling duty here for our council.  I tell the Scouts that the Knights are like the Boy Scouts, but for the old guys and no camping.

They are also the charter organization for our pack and troop.

Scouting got a good plug tonight from the State Deputy during the opening reports.  He thinks the councils and all of the Knights who volunteer to help form these young men are performing a valuable service.

Nice when other people get it, too!

Today I:

• Read some great materials on the patrol method.
• Made a deposit for the Scout accounts.
• Got my Life off to the Order of the Arrow Conclave at Camp Brady Saunders in Heart of Virginia Council.

Supporting your Charter Organization can be a good thing.  A lot of them are fairly behind-the-scenes and uninvolved--which only hurts the unit and keeps them from finding out how much fun Scouting is!  Keep your Scouts in front of their eyes.

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 80

Oceanography Merit Badge

Wow, huge storms last night!

After I posted my 100 Days of Scouting yesterday, we shifted into a tornado watch and flash flood warning.  So, I made the call to cancel our meetings at the last minute.

I really hate doing that, but it would feel even worse for the unthinkable to happen just to catch a Scout meeting.

So, my basement flooded--not bad, just enough to soak all of the rugs.  Every piece of furniture had to be moved to roll them all up and get them out into the abundant sunshine to dry.

Definitely had to look hard for some signs of Scouting today.

Today I:

• Put together a plan for how I think our council's virtual roundtable project should go.  I've been dreaming about this for a couple of years now, so it wasn't hard to get the details down.
• Passed along our council's newsletter via email to our pack and troop email lists.  More information is a good thing.
• Had dinner at a local restaurant that is having a "Support Scouting" night.  10% goes to the council from every  purchase from 5-7PM tonight.  Thank you McAlister's!

Even severe weather can't stop Scouting!  What did you do today to move Scouting along?

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 79

Nuclear Science Merit Badge

Well, by now you know what Wednesday is--meeting day!

Today started off with a final check for awards due at the Pack Meeting tonight.  There is usually a late arrival, but not this time.

Storms are coming, but we are going to talk about Faith (April's theme) and the power of "Outing in Scouting" tonight.  Can't wait.

Today I:

• Filled out advancement form.
• Met with our ASE on a couple of projects I'm excited about.  One is a new fundraiser--a bike race.  The other is a virtual roundtable project to overcome the distances, time and gas expense of catching roundtable each month.
• Prepped for the pack meeting--filling out award cards, getting props pulled together, trying not to drive my family crazy since I'm so busy...
• Answered a Scout who thinks he is ready for Second Class tonight.  We'll have a Scoutmaster conference during the meeting and see!

We are only 3 weeks away from the big finish of 100 Days of Scouting.  No matter how you did (every day, missed some, threw in the towel) you have inspired someone.  Let's finish!

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 78

Nature Merit Badge

Today was the greatly anticipated arrival of a future Cub Scout...home.

Yeah, I spent much of the day that I wasn't working having an extended-family dinner and holding my new grandson.

Still there was some Scouting to do.  Even while I mentally added his name to the Tiger Class of 2017.  It will be here sooner than you think!

Today I:

• Helped my Life get the mower to all of his summer work to pay for Scouting.
• Confirmed the logistics for his attendance at the Order of the Arrow Conclave this weekend.
• Followed-up on my appointment in the morning for a couple of Scouting projects that I'm helping the council with like this one.

Those first few moments with a new baby are so fleeting, and they leave my aging brain so fast...but still it was great time spent today.

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 77

Music Merit Badge

Sometimes opportunity knocks and goes away.

That's what I had thought happened recently to a position someone asked me about: District Commissioner.

Well, today it showed signs of life again...we'll see.  I tweeted my fellow Scouters for their advice or opinions about what a DC should do, what makes a good one, what makes a bad one, and for their experiences.

Today I:

• Spend most of the day reading the materials on Scouting.org about being a District Commissioner.  Wow.
• Followed up with our SPL about the camporee fees due this Wednesday.
• Fixed the throttle on the lawn mower.  How is that related to Scouting?  It's how my Life earns his money to fund Scouting all year!
• Took our Committee Chair to lunch.

Do you have a district or council job in Scouting in addition to the work you do in your unit?  How does it work for you?

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 76

Motorboating Merit Badge

Easter is upon us, and a quiet day for everything.

My new Cub Scout (grandson) will be in the hospital for a couple of days, but all looks well.

Happy Easter!

Today I:

• Updated my Scouting calendar.  Wow.
• Contacted a couple of Scouters about minor matters.

Hey, it's Easter!  I hope you didn't do much either!