Last night while falling asleep in front of the TV with my cats, I was watching “Pawn Stars” on The History Channel.     The show features a Las Vegas pawn shop and the stuff that’s brought in there to be sold or pawned.

One of the potential customers was an elderly gentleman who visited in complete Scout uniform looking to sell a large accumulation of stamps.     He was looking to raise money to send boys to camp.     He was hoping there would be something of great value in the pile of unsorted used postage stamps still on paper.   He referred several times to a “million dollar stamp”.   The horde, from what could be on TV, was very unremarkable and seemed to be heavy in stamps from the Third Reich.   Those who buy patch collections could sympathize with the plight of someone trying to buy this:   imagine if it was a completely unsorted and unfocused patch collection.

Continue Reading »

Popularity: 83% [?]

• Trapped Mars Rover Turning New Corner, Scientists Say

January 27, 2010

• NASA Budget Request Expected to Realign U.S. Spaceflight Goals

January 28, 2010 – US manned space flight? As long as we remain dependent upon NASA and the US Federal government, I expect that will not fly. The US no longer has either the national will or funding for such projects.

Popularity: 77% [?]

• 2010 Centennial Rank Advancement Badges

January 27, 2010

• 2009 Produces Record Number of Eagle Scouts in Occoneechee Council

January 28, 2010 – Occoneechee is the council juscil just to the east of where I live. Congratulations to my friends and brothers there.

Popularity: 38% [?]

• Merger Possible in Pennsylvania
  Posted on Thursday, January 21st, 2010 in Scouting News – Views: (34)
  I was told earlier this evening that the executive boards of York-Adams Area and Keystone Area Councils, BSA, have unanimously recommended their councils be consolidated by merger.   Next month the voting membership of both councils will be asked to vote on this merger.If either council votes “no” there will be no merger.
• Rotarian Honored for Scouting Work
  Posted on Wednesday, January 20th, 2010 in Scouting News – Views: (44)
  George Jennings, a frequent contributor of images to this site especially for New York issues, was recently honored by the International Rotary with the Cliff Dochterman Award.   This award recognizes a Rotarian who acts as a role model and renders distinguished and dedicated service to Scouting through active service, leadership or other exemplary contributions.
• Tipisa 326 Recent Chapter Issues
  Posted on Monday, January 18th, 2010 in Florida Lodges – Views: (62)
  As the followers of Florida OA items can attest (see here, here, and here), the chapters of Tipisa Lodge 326 are prolific in production of items for their members.   The  patch traders  within the lodge have established an informal network to keep the collectors of such items up-to-date with the latest items, which benefits the chapters with additional sales.

Popularity: 39% [?]

• Larry Pritchard To Now Lead the National Scout Jamboree

January 23, 2010

• 2010 Boy Scouts of America Centennial Commemorative Coin Available in March

January 21, 2010

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I was told earlier this evening that the executive boards of York-Adams Area and Keystone Area Councils, BSA, have unanimously recommended their councils be consolidated by merger.   Next month the voting membership of both councils will be asked to vote on this merger.

If either council votes “no” there will be no merger.

If both councils approve the merger will be effective March 1, 2010.   The temporary name Keystone York-Adams Council would then be used with a permanent name to be chosen within six months.   Susquehannock and Tuckahoe lodges would then merge on January 1, 2011

Further details can be found on the York-Adams Area Council website.

Thanks to David Hultberg for passing on this news via patch-l.

Popularity: 40% [?]

George Jennings, a frequent contributor of images to this site especially for New York issues, was recently honored by the International Rotary with the Cliff Dochterman Award.   This award recognizes a Rotarian who acts as a role model and renders distinguished and dedicated service to Scouting through active service, leadership or other exemplary contributions.   He is an active member of Hudson Valley Council and Nacha Nimat Lodge.   He is one of only four Scouters to receive this award since its inception in 1994!

The Poughkeepsie Journal has a short article online about this award.

Congratulations to George Jennings for being recognized for his service, and his 63 years in Scouting!

(Hmm… I wonder if this award has a square knot and if he has any to trade… )

Popularity: 40% [?]

As the followers of Florida OA items can attest (see here, here, and here), the chapters of Tipisa Lodge 326 are prolific in production of items for their members.   The  patch traders  within the lodge have established an informal network to keep the collectors of such items up-to-date with the latest items, which benefits the chapters with additional sales.   As a result, many of the items created do not become contrived rarities, and newer collectors can obtain and trade with little difficulty.

First off is the 2009 Service Day patch from Micconope Chapter.   The “30″ on the helmet also represents the 30th anniversary of the chapter. Continue Reading »

Popularity: 47% [?]

• Echockotee Lodge 200 Activity items 2010
  Posted on Monday, January 11th, 2010 in Echockotee 200 – Views: (66)
  Echockotee Lodge 200 recently held their 2010 Winter Fellowship (a weekend in Florida where the temperature dropped to 19 degrees), with the beginning of their 2010 series, celebrating the centennial of Scouting.   The year patch for this theme features a collage of several patches that were worn in North Florida Council over the years, with a large BSA fleur d’lis in the middle, stitched so that is elevated over the rest of the patch.
• Shared Items From the Web – January 12, 2010
  Posted on Tuesday, January 12th, 2010 in Shared Items – Views: (34)
• Shared Items From the Web – January 15, 2010
  Posted on Friday, January 15th, 2010 in Shared Items – Views: (56)
  Satellite Photos Show Destruction from Haiti EarthquakeJanuary 15, 2010 – This is a tragedy, obviously. Yet, let us learn here. This country has been a pit of misery and despair for over 200 years. It has known nothing but corruption and poor government throughout its history. It is the one place in the western hemisphere least prepared to deal with any sort of natural disaster.

Popularity: 31% [?]

• Satellite Photos Show Destruction from Haiti Earthquake

January 15, 2010 – This is a tragedy, obviously. Yet, let us learn here. This country has been a pit of misery and despair for over 200 years. It has known nothing but corruption and poor government throughout its history. It is the one place in the western hemisphere least prepared to deal with any sort of natural disaster.

Popularity: 36% [?]