2.33 Gallons = 1 US Peck

Being out of town on business doesn’t leave much time for Scouting, but we proved that wrong yesterday, didn’t we? Today I was able to take time at lunch and run down to the local Council service center for the Ore-Ida council. I picked up a few council shoulder patches and the service center lady was nice enough to give me two special patches to add to the collection. These ladies that run the Scout shops are great, especially when they find out you’re from out of town and just stopping by to say hi.

I also spent the time this morning over my morning coffee putting together my post for the 100th day. It’s will be a reflection on my last 100 days and what I’ve learned. Two more days left. I don’t think I’ll have time for Scouting tomorrow as I have a full day of work and then the travel home, but I made room for it the last two days, so we’ll see what tomorrow will bring.

YIS

Phil

I left home today for an out of town business trip and thought I would have nothing Scouting to share today. Well, you know how that normally ends, don’t you?

On a flight from Spokane to Boise an older woman sat next to me on the plane. I smiled as she sat down, but continued to read through my issue of Scouting magazine as we waited to depart. I didn’t say any more to her as we flew on our way to our destination as she was busy reading a book and I was busy trying to not trow up (very bumpy flight). About 2/3 of the way through our short flight I happened to look over at her and noticed she had multiple Eagle Scout pins and mentor pins displayed proudly on her jacket. Well, that meant I had to ask her about them. I reached over and tapped her on the shoulder and asked if she had a son that was an Eagle Scout or someone else in her family. She smiled proudly as she told me she just came from her grandson’s Eagle Scout ceremony from the night before, the 5th of her grandson’s to reach Eagle. She said something else about the event and it struck me, she was at the same Eagle Court of Honor I was at last night!!

What a small world this is. I know her grandson and her daughter (a dedicated Scouter) and we spent the rest of the flight talking about our families and the impact Scouting has made. Her late husband was a Scoutmaster, her sons are Eagle Scouts and now her 5th grandson. She pulled a small jewelry box from her purse and proudly showed me all of the Eagle pins and mentor pins that she had received over the years. You could tell she was proud of each of them.

So, just like the Scout that helped William D Boyce through the fog, I met a stranger today that was closer to me than I would have ever guessed, all because of Scouting. It brought such a joy to me to talk to her, see the pride she had for her family, and to share our joy of Scouting. I left her with a friend at the baggage pickup, probably never to see her again, but she took my name and made it a point to say she was going to tell her daughter and grandson that she met me. I’m glad we had those few minutes to share, I only wish I would have seen the pins when she first sat down. It would have made the trip so much shorter.

You never know where your impact will be felt, so keep delivering the promise of Scouting. Let your light continue to shine.

YIS

Phil

A wonderfully warm, yet windy, Spring day. Spent the entire day with family going from soccer game to soccer game. Even got to watch one of my Scouts play in part of his game.

To close the day we were invited to attend an Eagle Court of Honor for 3 Scouts from a local Troop. I never turn down an opportunity to celebrate the success of those in Scouts, ok, almost never. What a great evening for a celebration and the lake-side location was perfect. The OA did a great job in the ceremony and you could tell there were many happy parents and family there to celebrate these Scouts’ accomplishments.

The only negative thing I have to say is that we were one of very few from outside their Troop to attend. I’m not sure who else was invited, but I was asked on many occasion why we were there. I found it rather odd and a little upsetting. I got the idea that they thought we were spying on them or something. I’m a very inclusive person when it comes to Scouting and believe that we should all do more together, not just Troop apart from Troop. I feel not everyone else has seen that yet. Oh well, I know why I was there and that’s all that matters.

YIS

Phil

Today ended a really long week at work. The only time I had for Scouting today was to sit around the campfire at home with my wife and talk about all things Scouting.

This last year, with the BSA’s push to get all direct contact leaders Youth Protection Trained, including Merit Badge Counselors, our district and council has run into some roadblocks. Our council uses a separate system than the national office to keep track of Counselors as the national software doesn’t allow them to track what Merit Badges each Counselor is registered for. Turns out when we rechartered last year our counselors were not and many of them dropped out of national’s point of view. My wife made it her mission to build the list of counselors back up in our district to give the Scouts the opportunity to learn these skills. It’s been a hard road with many counselors becoming frustrated at the paperwork issues and the new training requirements. Many said that they’ve been a Scouter for 20 years and they shouldn’t have to do any of this paperwork.

All in all a very frustrating situation for everyone. Well, she found out today that the council decided to change how they tracked counselors and much of the work that my wife had done will possibly be lost. A year plus long effort and a Wood Badge ticket item (now completed) came to an unfortunate end. I feel sorry for her as her only goal was to support the Scouts. Too bad not everyone shared her vision. The process goes on and she’ll keep doing her best.

On a side note, today was the 17^th anniversary of my wife and I starting to date. Friday the 13^th 17 years ago and I couldn’t be happier. Thanks for the memories my love and here’s to many, many more.