2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 52

Fly-Fishing Merit Badge

[Isn't that a beautiful merit badge?]

Last night I had a number of last minute requests for blue cards for the Bird Study and Scouting Heritage merit badges our council is making available this weekend.

They get the message, just sometimes it is a little late!

Today I:

• Helped a parent get added to the pack and troop's YahooGroups.
• Have a Bear Patrol meeting planned for Wood Badge.  Looking forward to seeing "Da Bears"!
• Published all the details about our April backpacking trip.
• Ate a box of Girl Scout cookies!
• Checked on the availability of pictures from last night's pack meeting.  We got a couple of dads involved in the relay with the Cubs.  Great fun!
• Added yet another 100 Day-er to the list!

Is there a balance between all the opportunities we have for Scouts and what we can actually manage?  Some families seem to do it all, and others seem to be surprised we do more than meet for an hour a week.  Thoughts?

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 51

Fishing Merit Badge

Typical crazy Wednesday!

Almost everyone in the house has a bad cold, which is just adding to the fun and excitement!  My Wolf is down for the count and will miss the pack meeting tonight.

Latest weather forecast shows sleet and then snow headed our way during the pack meeting.  I can just feel the folks staying home now.

Today I:

• Reviewed some material for the Bear Patrol meeting on Thursday.  Wood Badge!
• Stopped by the Scout office to pick up the awards for the pack meeting tonight.
• Bought the new Robotics merit badge book!
• Turned in my Friends of Scouting registration for the troop.  I split my contributions between the pack and the troop.
• Signed off almost everything a Scout needs for Tenderfoot (should finish next week).
• Signed off a lot of items for a Scout who just figured out that I'm not going to ask him about his requirements...;-)
• Reminded folks endlessly about the Bird Study and Scouting Heritage opportunities the council has coming up.  (Outside the council?  You can participate, too, if the driving isn't so bad.)

Thanks for all that you do for Scouting.  No one ever says "Thanks!" enough.  Do you?

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 50

Fish and Wildlife Management Merit Badge

My foot is pressed to the floor today.  Just no more speed to be found!

It really feels good, and is distracting me from the cold going around our house.

Day 50 and 26 folks giving the 100 Days of Scouting a try.  Remarkable.

Today I:

• Helped to spread the word (fuel the rumor?) that there are more new merit badges coming in the next 2 years: Welding, Search and Rescue, Chess and Game Design.
• Sent email to my Wood Badge Bear Patrol with a brief agenda and calendar for our meeting this week.
• Added a new Scouter to the 100 Days of Scouting project. 
• Registerd my Life Scout for the Scouting Heritage merit badge workshop this Saturday.
• Advertised one last time on Facebook and with our council's YahooGroup about the Scouting Heritage session.
• Tweeted the session details to our local media: @tv3winchester and @nvdaily
• Emailed out deadline information for our Cub Scout and Boy Scout summer camps.
• Spoke to a den leader about the awards they need for the pack meeting tomorrow night.  Go BEARS!

Today is one of those days where even running full blast, I can think of a dozen more things I could or should be doing!  How about you?  Do your actions generate more ideas?

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 49

First Aid Merit Badge

I am SOOOO tired today!

Three full days of Wood Badge (S7-598-11-1), lows in the 20s, and a fresh covering of snow for Sunday morning.

Now we have a patrol meeting planned, a group presentation to pull together, menu and camping details to work out, and our part of a huge service project to pull off.

In short, a typical week of Scouting!

Today I:

• Posted an announcement to the council on the new Robotics Merit Badge coming out on 12 APR.  Shared on  Twitter, too.
• Tweeted the link to the merit badge counselor form to capture any potential Robotics counselors.
• Joined the Facebook page for set up for my new ursine friends at Wood Badge.
• Spoke at length to a parent who is worked up about her Scout's complaints about teasing at meetings.  He should be dealing with it himself.  Not a good habit to form for a young man.  I'm always amazed that parents think it is always the other kids at fault...
• Wrote up some details for the Bear Patrol to help keep us on track during our 12 day break.  Yeah, I volunteered for Scribe.  Need to get that out by tomorrow.

There is a LOT of Scouting happening over the next couple of weeks, ending with my second session of Wood Badge.  Going to require a lot of tight timing to get it all in.  Do you ever really push to see how much Scouting you can do?  Staying busy is good training for these times.

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 48

Fire Safety Merit Badge

Today I am finishing my first weekend at Wood Badge--Day 3!

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 47

Fingerprinting Merit Badge

Today I am still at Wood Badge--Day 2!

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 46

Farm Mechanics Merit Badge

Today I am at Wood Badge--Day 1!

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 45

Family Life Merit Badge

Wood Badge.

OK, the song has been running through my head all day.  I'm pretty excited, and can't wait to get there.

Getting on the road at 6AM?  Did that for 14 years, and guess I can do it again tomorrow.

Completely worth it.

Today I:

• Printed out every document I've received about my Wood Badge course.
• Read all documents.
• Triple-checked that I had the right physical.
• Packed my backpack.

Have you made the journey back to Gilwell?  Why not?

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 44

Environmental Science Merit Badge

Pinch me!

I still can't believe I'm finally getting to go to Wood Badge!  S7-598-11-1...

Posts keep floating by about "remembering one more thing..." so I'm starting to feel incredibly under-prepared.  I'm sticking to the list given.  Clothes, uniform, toiletries, sleeping bag, and that's about it.

Still...

Today I:

• Fielded a call from our troop's SPL about remembering to bring something tonight.
• Answered another Scout who wants to keep making tiny, incremental progress on Citizenship in the Nation after the meeting tonight.
• Found out our SPL wants to be the 4th Star Scout candidate for our Board of Review in 2 weeks.
• Created a post about our council's 60th Venture Weekend event.  Out-of-council crew's are invited, too!  I'm trying to make a point that social media can really help out our effort to bring in folks from outside the council.  We'll see if I'm right...;-)  Posted to blog, Facebook, and Twitter.  Holding my breath now.  If even one out-of-council unit shows, I get an "AHA!" moment!
• Prepped for Wolf den meeting tonight.
• Prepped for troop meeting tonight.

Yep, meeting day again.  So much to do, so little time.  I should consider giving up sleep on Tuesday nights...Today's question:  have you ever given up sleep for Scouting?  (Not sleeping well while camping doesn't count!)

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 43

Entrepreneurship Merit Badge

What a weird day!

Everything I touched was a 10 minute job...which can be exhausting when there are a lot of them.

I have Wood Badge coming up this weekend, and should be doing more to get ready.  On the list for tomorrow.  Actually making it to "the list" is the important first hurdle to clear!

Today I:

• Reminded a new Scout dad about getting the youth protection requirements wrapped up for his 3 new Scouts.
• Made comments on the Valley Rally website.  This project is coming along nicely! #BSAValleyRally
• Send out follow-up letters to families that did not make our annual Friends of Scouting talk this year.  Important support for my District Executive, who works hard to make it all happen for us.
• Cleaned out the van from this weekend's campout.  Never seem to get to that the day I get home...
• Sent in notices to run in our church bulletin each weekend in April.  I do this every year since we meet year round and are ready to start the new Scouting year on 01 JUN.
• Asked the church secretary, who speaks Spanish, if she could translate our Scouting notices and put on the Spanish language page of the bulletin.  There is almost no intersection between the communities, and this might be a way to bridge that gap.

Definitely having a creative rush this week for Scouting!  Spanish outreach?  Me?  Website development ideas, committee policy comments...all of this Scouting is paying off--it is very fulfilling.

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 42

Engineering Merit Badge

Why is the first day back from vacation always so...interesting?

I allowed myself very little online time while I was off.  Tons of email, tweets and 100's of 100 Days of Scouting entries to get caught up on.

And work...don't forget work.

Today I:

• Reviewed the Camping Committee's new policy for utilizing our BSA camp's canoes, gear and trailer.
• Commented on the Valley Rally website content--site being constructed now.
• Reviewed and commented on the Tiger recruitment flyer headed out to all kindergarten aged boys in our district soon.
• Provided Cub Adult camp information to all of our pack's families.
• Spoke to our Charter Organization about an environmental project we'd like to do in April, in keeping with out theme.
• Staked out #BSAValleyRally on Twitter.

Who am I kidding?  I love all the extra Scouting that floats across my screen!  How about you?

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 41

Energy Merit Badge

Up and at it early today.  Have to get 90% of our troop to Mass at 10:30.

But first, McDonalds.  We have a troop tradition of always stopping at McDonalds on the way home from a Scouting event.  Our oldest Boy Scout now, had never eaten at one until he was a Webelos Scout and we stopped home on the way from camp.  Mom is a vegetarian.

He ate 4 large sandwiches that day, and a tradition was born.  No matter how bad the food is over the weekend, you can survive until McDonalds.

Today I:

• Packed up camp.
• Checked the air in my spare on the way home!
• Sat in on the Patrol Leader's Council and was highly encouraged.  Nice plans for the April theme: Environment

Great way to end the weekend!  But I was ready to get some serious sleep.  How did your Scouting weekend turn out?

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 40

Emergency Preparedness Merit Badge

Rained last night, but not too much.

A Scout who was key to our service project today didn't show up...literally the "key" since he had the key to the supply shed where the paint and brushes were stored!  We'll reschedule.

The Scouts learned about lashing and made frames to carry each other on, and then made their own races up to cart "broken legs" out of the woods.

Good times.

Today I:

• Helped my Wolf finish his Hiking belt loop.
• Conducted a flag retirement ceremony at the evening campfire.
• Camped...and sunburned a bit.

The reality often deviates from the plan.  Do you let the Scouts work it out, or do you intervene?

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 39

Electronics Merit Badge

Eighty glorious degrees out!

And camping is in the air.  Troop heads out today on a Pioneering campout.

We are headed to a rustic area of the local National Forest, with just fire rings to keep us company.  Not even a picnic table to set down at.

Perfect.

Today I:

• Packed for the camping trip.
• Fixed a blown-out tire...about 5 miles from the campsite.  The Scouts in my van were great help, too.
• Answered parent questions that reflect the level of our Scout-led efforts:  "Where exactly are you going?", "What time do we pick them up on Sunday?"  It says a lot that they were letting their Scout go even though they didn't have all the facts.  

The weather will be more unpleasant as the weekend goes on, to below freezing on Sunday morning.  I wonder if we are really prepared?  Would you be?

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 38

Electricity Merit Badge

Faith in Begonias!  St. Patrick's Day has arrived.

You would think that being on vacation would let you have a little more flexibility, but I'm finding I'm just as over- well-scheduled as usual.

We have a St. Patrick's Day party tonight with many of our Scouting families, followed by a conference call to discuss...Scouting.

Today I:

• Cleaned out the van to get ready for our troop camping trip this weekend.
• Participated in a conference call to discuss creating a "virtual roundtable".  Very excited about this project.

What extra project do you keep in the back of your mind that you just know would help Scouting?  Virtual Roundtable was something I brought up 2 years ago, and finally all the switches clicked into place to get it going--I hope!

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 37

Drafting Merit Badge

Even on vacation, Scout night rocks!

My wife and I had a great day working on homeschooling decisions and a long, leisurely lunch.

Then home to get ready for a busy night!

Today I:

• Reviewed Bobcat requirements with 2 new Cub Scouts.
• Reviewed Wolf requirements with 3 Wolves.
• Reviewed the Tiger requirements with a new Tiger Scout.
• Prepped a Dad for what he needs to do to get the youth protection requirements out of the way for his almost Bobcats and Scout.  When you have a lot of boys, you get crash courses in Scouting...;-)
• Performed 3 Scoutmaster conferences with want-to-be Star Scouts.
• Issued handful of blue cards.
• Lined up Tiger #3 coming on board 01 JUN, the beginning of the new Scout year.

Yep, rocking the paperwork tonight!  A bajillion details to follow up on, but that's why they pay us the big bucks.

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 36

Dog Care Merit Badge

Vacation is going better.  I've decided to work on my shed and workshop to get them ready for Spring.

First, I have to get some work done for the Knights of Columbus.

Then, I have some Scouting that needs doing.

Maybe tomorrow...

Today I:

• Planned and led our monthly Den Leader's Meeting.  This month's pack meeting and next month's theme (Faith for Cub Scouts) should be a lot of fun!
• Announced the Valley Rally Bicycle Ride!
• Added administration rights to our council and BSA summer camp Facebook pages.

Definitely a good day for Scouting, and I had some extra time to devote to the Valley Rally, too.  I love the extra Scouting projects that find their way to my desk!  What do you do for your district or council?

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 35

Disabilities Awareness Merit Badge

Vacations are not my thing.

I have a hard time stepping away from work, Scouting and the other things I do.  But I'm determined to burn off a little time (we have a "use it or lose it" policy at work).

But I'm not sure what I'm doing after coffee today...

Today I:

• Posted links to Scouters and Scouts on our council's Facebook page about our visit from Bob Mazzuca.
• Gave advice to another Scouter on a problem he's having with his own son and Scouting.

OK, one day of vacation down.  The rest of the week to go.  Do you have trouble letting go of Scouting when you are "off"?

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 34

Dentistry Merit Badge

A fantastic, gorgeous day today, and it will be largely spent on family.  Next two weekends are for troop camping and then Wood Badge.

I'll keep it brief so you can get back to yours, too.

Today I:

• Helped my Life Scout get his paperwork in order for his work permit, even though he won't be paid for his work at summer camp this year.
• Bundled up some loose awards so they don't get lost.
• Posted about a fundraiser our council is having on Facebook--a local restaurant is offering 10% of all their sales for two hours.  Lots of folks to notify in a short amount of time.

Even though the effort is short time-wise today, the impact could be huge!  Never underestimate the benefits of simple actions.

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 33

Cycling Merit Badge

Man, 5:50AM comes early on a Saturday.

I slogged downstairs and woke my Life Scout.  We needed to be at our church for install our new American flag.  The old one was removed by the Cub Scouts a couple of weeks ago, and we needed to get new hardware for the new flag.

At 6:15AM, we arrived as did one other Boy Scout and his dad to help us out.  They drove about 20 miles to join us, so I really appreciated the extra effort.

Appreciated my Life Scout, too.  As the son of a Scouter, he has spent that last 7 years attending everything--he has camped, backpacked, cooked, been eaten by bugs, swam, sunburned, frozen, stayed up too late, gotten up too early and had more FUN than any other Scout I know.  Except for the Scouts of other dedicated, long-term Scouters.

Thank you, son.

Today I:

• Followed-up on the Cub Scout Roundtable volunteer work.  Not sure it is going anywhere, but I'm here if needed. 
• Spoke to another Scouter working to put together a big community-wide cycling competition--they want me to help with the promotions work.  Will announce more when the website goes live.
• Met Bob Mazzuca.  He took the time to shake the hand of every single person who attended the council awards dinner.
• Received our council's Statuette Award for service to the council.

Seriously, this was a jam-packed day for family and Scouting.  One daughter went back to school to finish her final semester at college, another daughter had a baby-shower for her third (and we think my second grandson), my Eagle Scout finished his semester's effort for his Master's program, all sandwiched by Scouting.  Exhaustion is setting in, but there is still 67% more 100 Days to go!

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 32

Crime Prevention Merit Badge

Finally a break in the weather!  Some warm air is promised for tomorrow, and maybe a little sunshine.  The ground is soaked and we could use a little drying out.

My oldest daughter is having a baby shower tomorrow.  Grandchild #6.  We think it might be a boy, which will help me stay active with the pack for another decade at least!  Her oldest son starts with the pack in just 3 years, and he already talks about being a Cub Scout.

Today I:

• Set up a "sunrise flag ceremony" to install a new US flag at our parish.  I've invited all the Scouts from the pack and troop to come attend for 10 minutes at 6:15...we'll see!
• Spoke with my wife about how to help my son afford all of the Scouting opportunities over the next few months: OA Conclave, SummitCorps, summer camp, and he is working (unpaid) at our local summer camp for 4 weeks.  We like him to contribute half his expenses, but this might require some extra help.
• May have been offered a chance to be the Cub Scout Roundtable leader...left-hand, right-hand issue right now.  I'm willing if needed. Roundtable Planning Guide

Tomorrow is a busy day:  flag ceremony to begin the day, council awards dinner to finish it.  Lots of family time and work in the middle.  Definitely browsing that planning guide...

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 31

Cooking Merit Badge

Cooking merit badge is perfect for the day after Ash Wednesday!  The smell of meat is wafting up the stairs now...

Anyway, today marches forward.  Most of my Scouting will happen tonight in the company of other fine Scouters.  And that is a great way to top-off a busy day at work.

Today I:

• Attended our District Order of the Arrow meeting.
• Attended our District Roundtable.  Always interesting, and I don't have to prep anything for it.  It is about the only Scout meeting I have as an "observer".
• Reminded our Arrowmen about the new location for their meeting tonight and for the next 2 months.
• Promised to share information on a fishing program being offered to Scouts by takemefishing.org (@take_me_fishing on Twitter).  I'll share the information with our Cub Scout Resident Camp Director, too.

Slowly fades the light of day, as our campfire fades away...yep, Scouting up to the last minute tonight.  Do you have a favorite Scout meeting where you just get to be a Scout and not a leader?

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 30

Computers Merit Badge

What a great day to work from home!

My daughter is home from college, and it is good to see her.  She graduates in May and has been accepted to the grad school of her choice--all before turning 21!

What does that have to do with Scouting?  Well, not too much!  For the last two years she was home, she helped run the weekly Tiger den meetings in our pack.  She just loves the little Tiger uniforms.

And even as a college student, she buys popcorn from her little brothers!

Today I:

• Posted to the council blog about a new merit badge opportunity:  Scouting Heritage Come meet Baden-Powell!
• Watched four of our Boy Scouts serve as altar boys at the Ash Wednesday Mass.
• Prepared another post for the council on the upcoming High Adventure Promotion Night.  If your council isn't doing this, come check ours out!
• Worked all the way through the Wolf book with my Wolf to catch every last detail that he has finished and hadn't gotten signed off yet.  Although it is painful for me, I let them sweat a little to help them remember to bring their handbooks.  Including my own Wolf.

So, we are month into the 100 Days of Scouting.  Lots of folks still posting, some are in and out.  But everything is good reading.  I love the different approaches to the project.  How about you?  What do you like best about it?  Least?

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 29

Composite Materials Merit Badge

Under the weather today, but still looking for a way to serve Scouting.

And I'm not having to look hard!  Lots of things popping up...if I can keep finding the juice to get them done today.

Today I:

• Helped a Wolf go through his handbook and get everything signed off.
• Reminded the Boy Scouts that we won't meet on Ash Wednesday.
• Answered questions from my Life Scout about family history for the Genealogy merit badge.  One of my favorites.
• Finished updating all of my recurring Scout dates onto my Google calendar.  Also set up an email of my Daily Agenda from the calendar.
• Tonight I still have a call about a new event our council is running.  Can't talk about it yet, but it could be a lot of fun.  They want me to run the Promotions Committee for it.  We'll see.
• Enjoying posts from my fellow 100 Days of Scouting-ers!

Scouting doesn't take a day off, even when we need to for illness or just plain old down time.  How do you handle those things that need to take a backseat for a day or two--reschedule or just power through?

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 28

Communication Merit Badge

Monday is always Monday.

Too much to do, too little time to do it...and the sun is shining bright enough to make me want to skip work...or at least invent a reason to go to lunch.

Today I:

• Caught up my Advancement Report for merit badges Scouts have earned since the last Court of Honor.
• Responded to a Scout who had questions about pending Pioneering campout.
• Emailed out reminder about the "Religious Emblems" drive--deadline is Ash Wednesday.
• Contacted the Forest Service point-of-contact to advise on the completion of any required paperwork.  Also asked about doing a couple of small projects we found in the area--painting blazes, painting an interpretive display and helping out an old campfire ring and benches.
• Unpacked the car from the Eagle project and campout.  Much better weather today for doing this!
• Put away new forms that I picked up recently--youth application, adult application and advancement forms.
• Continued to update my Google Calendar so that it integrates my work schedule with my personal and Scouting lives...and then ports the whole thing to my phone.  Very pleased so far!

Kind of a hodge-podge day for Scouting, but all the little bits crammed in between the bigger logs of Scouting help make the whole wall stronger.

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 27

Collections Merit Badge

Rain, and lots of it.

Glad we finished that Eagle project yesterday!

This was a light day for Scouting...which is just what I needed to recover from yesterday.

Today I:

• Helped a Scout finish off his Personal Management merit badge.
• Took a much needed nap.
• Thanked everyone who helped on the project and made a point to really drive home a public "congratulations" to the Eagle-to-be.  He really did a fine job, and there were a lot of good lessons for future candidates.

Yep, the nap was more important that unpacking from the camping trip and Eagle project in the rain.  That can wait for tomorrow.  What did you do for Scouting this weekend?

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 26

Coin Collecting Merit Badge

Long night without much sleep.  Warm enough night for camping, but I just couldn't fall back asleep at midnight.

But today is a new day, and will be filled with working on an Eagle Scout project.  We will be assisting with the removal and installation of new signs along a half mile trail into a national forest.  Water, signs, concrete and all the tools (post hole diggers, gas auger, picks, shovels and wheel barrows) had to be hauled up the mountain.

So many Scouts showed up that it made for a great day of Scouting...and finished about 90 minutes ahead of schedule.  Even a couple of Cub Scouts were there and helped assemble the signs, hauled empty concrete bags back down the mountain and ate their fair share of pizza and chips.

Today I:

• Mixed concrete.
• Gave four health and safety lectures (as each new shift of folks showed up to volunteer) per the Forest Service's requirements.
• Pushed a wheelbarrow with 240 pounds of cement uphill for a quarter mile.  Holy mackerel...
• Arranged for rides home for some Scouts since we finished early.

An Eagle project is a great way to show the community that Scouting is still active and helping to make the outdoors more enjoyable.  What was the most recent Eagle project you helped on?

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 25

Climbing Merit Badge

Twenty-five percent of the way through the 100 Days of Scouting.  Good momentum, good energy and good reading with all the other participants this year.

Today has been busy doing one thing, aside from work of course--getting ready for the Eagle project tomorrow.

I'm headed out to camp near the location and to have a little quiet time to scope out the project without all the interruptions of other folks.

Today I:

• Packed my Wolf and Life Scouts up for a little father-son time camping tonight.
• Encouraged my Eagle Scout (long married with his own family) who helps me as the ASM for the troop.  He's missed Scouting and will again this weekend getting ready for his finals in his Master's program.  He is missed.
• Offered some advice to @MNScoutmaster on a podcast he is thinking about.
• Entered notes into my calendar to follow-up on our unit's Friends of Scouting program.  Our district needs the support.
• Enjoyed a some 100 Days of Scouting blogs with a little (OK, a lot) of coffee.

Running full-tilt into the weekend.  Big Eagle project to help get finished before the rain starts tomorrow evening. We have a good turnout coming, and should get it done, but the rain adds to the adrenalin.  What are you doing for Scouting this weekend?

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 24

Citizenship in the World

Ever have the sense that Scouting and your life have become indistinguishable?

Last night after the Blue and Gold, and getting buried under a ton of non-dairy whipped topping pies for the top popcorn sales in our pack and troop, and the troop meeting...and cleaning up the finer details of the room, showering and sleeping, back up early and getting calls from Scouts looking for more challenges.

Buzzing through my work day so I can attend a District Committee Meeting tonight about 45 minutes away.  Then home, bed, work, camping trip and Eagle project.  Wednesday should officially end about 6PM on Saturday!

Today I:

• Researched the Boy Scout version of the World Conservation Award--and located a form to help make it feel more official.
• Requested, and forwarded details on the William T. Hornaday Awards to a Scout that still has his sights set on earning it.  Located and wrote the point-of-contact on the council's conservation committee to pursue the details.  Shared the link to the application forms with my Scouting friends online.
• Pulled down the March pack and den versions of Baloo's Bugle.
• Answered questions of parents with Boy Scouts who have not helped out on an Eagle project before.
• Washed the drying non-dairy whipped topping from my uniform shirt and pants.  Wow, 4 large tubs is a lot of pie!
• Reported the pack's Friends of Scouting results to our District Executive.

I'm getting ready to run out the door and give the District Committee meeting a try.  They are looking for new folks, and I'm going to see if I can be useful...without forsaking my other Scouting duties.  Do you volunteer for your district or council?  What do you do for them?

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 23

Citizenship in the Nation

Wednesday again, the busiest day of the week.  Our rescheduled Blue and Gold is tonight.

We do it very casually, quick awards, Friends of Scouting presentation, and then a potluck dinner.  Everyone has a good time, and I get to touch base with all the families and scout out all of the younger brothers for future Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts!

My "to do" list is mostly for tonight!

Today I:

• Helped a new Scout leader at the Scout store figure out the religious emblems program.  I often forget how confusing things are when you don't deal with it all the time.
• Set up for the Blue and Gold tonight--the popcorn top-sellers get to hit me with pie!  Great way to end the night with a lot of energy.
• Filled out the Forest Service's paperwork to allow our "volunteers" to help with an Eagle project this weekend.
• Emailed my various Scouting and church related lists to get a feel for how many potential Tigers we'll have this 01 JUN.  When we first started the pack, I didn't do this and was surprised (shocked!) when 11 Tigers and Wolves showed up!  I follow this up with church bulletin announcements each Sunday in April.  At the May graduation, I invite them to watch, then call them up to form the new Tiger den for June.

Gotta run!  I have an hour to set up and get everything ready for our great Scouting families!

2nd 100 Days of Scouting: Day 22

Citizenship in the Community Merit Badge

The first day of the month is great for Scouting.

I get to look forward to all the fun we are going to have this month.  New themes, new weather (warmer!), new experiences in the outdoors!  Everything is fresh and full of potential.

Yes, I know reality will get in the way, but on the first of the month:  hope.

Today I:

• Published the March theme emails for the pack and the troop.
• Confirmed that Bob Mazzuca will be speaking at our council's volunteer awards dinner in a couple of weeks--yes, that Bob Mazzuca.  Ordered my tickets.
• Passed along some interesting info--new Boy Scout Parent Orientation information from the BSA.
• Fielded a call from a Scout who wants to get the Spanish Interpreter strip.  Will have to research how we do that!
• Published the pack and troop calendars.  We have an Eagle Scout project this Saturday to kick the month off!
• Picked up a few things for our Blue and Gold, rescheduled from last week due to ice.  

Everything is shiny and new at the first of the month.  Do you start fresh with Scouting each month?