I am sure like many of you it would not be unusual to attend 2 different Scouting events in the same weekend. I just drove from the coast of North Carolina to my hometown so I can attend the Volunteer Recognition Reception for the IWC. So far this weekend I've logged about 10 hours of driving and I still have...Read More
One of the things I really enjoy about going to conclave is the chance to spend the weekend at a new camp. It's probably been 10 years since I was last at Camp Boddie of the East Carolina Council. My perspective as a summer camp director has changed now so I pay a lot more attention to the physical plant...Read More
When I want to buy an expensive patch for my collection I will usually tell someone about it (after the fact) but I would absolutely pucker up if someone questioned the wisdom of me spending money on more Boy Scout patches. It's my passion - it's my hobby, it's my money, it's my choice. For some years now I've...Read More
I got a little busy with the first day of Spring Break and didn't get the Friday issue finished and published on time. So here is a very unique "Saturday" issue of the Hot Finds. LOL My project this week has included listing merit badges and I got my 1960s issues up on eBay yesterday. For the first two days of...Read More
With the clock ticking on my weeks before summer camp arrives I have a few interesting opportunities to go look at collections. I have learned the hard way that before jumping in my van to go look at a collection I should be 90% sure I know what I'm looking at. My horror story was driving all the way...Read More
I have 8 weeks until I push off for summer camp & Jamboree. I have been doing a better job of identifying project goals so this narrow window will help me zero in. For example this week I'm determined to get all my merit badges listed. For me that's everything from 1946 to the present. In the next...Read More
On my last day at Philmont, I got to spend a few hours at the National Scout Museum getting a behind-the-scenes tour with Russell Smart. Harold and Chris who work at the museum were also very gracious with their time. All of us will be very proud of the exhibits when they are completely renovated by early June. These...Read More
Well, my cool camp school story of the day is we got to see the behind-the-scenes action at the Tooth of Time Traders (Philmont Trading Post). They have a very robust online presence and we got to tour their warehouse and see it in person. I didn't know the OA has almost all of their stock thereof leftovers and...Read More
My week at the PTC is off to a good start. The accommodations have been great and the fellow Scouters in my section of camp school are interesting and engaged. Friday I got to visit the National Scout Museum and the trading post. I can say the only thing I bought in the tp was ChapStick but I did drool...Read More
I have been reminded as a Scout don't put a lot of faith in a 50/50 forecast several days out. We have had beautiful weather here in New Mexico so far. This morning my wife is dropping me off at the PTC and she is flying home. My MIL has been watching the kids and it was reported my...Read More
I am about to turn 50 in a few short days but before that happens I will strike one off my bucket list by going to Philmont. I have shared before in the newsletter that I didn't grow up in a "hiking troop" and nobody in my Air Force Base troop ever hiked Philmont as a kid. As an...Read More
Yesterday was a rare meet-up for me. Two brothers came to Charlotte to bring me their parent's Scouting collection. Both parents had been active including the dad serving as a council commissioner. The boxes contained books, t-shirts, patches, and more. It's not as easy for me to recycle some of that but since they were bringing these items from...Read More
Early next week I'm hopping on a plane with my wife to fly out to Albuquerque for a short vacation prior to National Camp School at Philmont. On the advice of several of you (thanks!) we are spending a few days in Santa Fe. The weather is going to be crap but it is march in a high elevation...Read More
I got to the office Monday to discover I had indeed won an Oscar. At least in the eyes of my very sweet employee Claudia who went all out decorating the office Sunday night to surprise me. While the Fabelmans didn't bring home the trophy Sunday night this one will sit on my desk and put a smile on...Read More
I am getting home and on the Hot Finds publishing a little late today. I attended the Spring Inductions weekend for the new lodge born out of the merger of Santee and Muscogee. The attendance was very good and we welcomed over 50 new Ordeals into the lodge. I shared on Facebook this cool flap (above) that I got...Read More