Hi!
 MF>  .. My unit doesnt even talk to me anymore :/
That's a shame.  Any idea why?
 MF>  I ran our local JOTA event for the Scouts myself.. it was *originally*
 MF>  going to be a Venturer project.. oh well :/
At least the job got done!
 MF>  Umm if youre not sure... In New Zealand, Scouts are from 10 1/2 to 14
 MF>  1/5.. Venturers from 14 1/2 to 19... (I'm 17)
Here, we have Cubs from 1st Grade - Tigers through Wolves and Bears to 11 
years old WEBELOS.  Boy Scouts run through 11 - 18 years old.  There are 
Explorers and Varsity for the older boys.
 MF>  Roller Skating Merit Badge? Sheesh... Cant think of an equivalent here.
The badge is really called "Skating."  You can do it on ice blades or wheels.
 DB> This month we are going for an overnighter on the 
 DB> U.S.S. Kidd in Baton Rouge.
 MF>  Wow! That'd be Awesome.. Im a military nut.. hehe ..
We got there early to beat the street closing for the Baton Rouge Christmas 
parade.  It was cold waiting outside!  Had hot dogs, watched the parade, then 
boarded the ship.  Watched the bon fire, fireworks, then were assigned bunk 
ares.  We were given a tour and slept in the aft crewmembers bunks, 4 high.  
One of the boys thought he saw the ghost of the Kamakazee pilot who hit the 
ship at midship during WWII.  The bomb he was carrying went through the ship 
and exploded just after exiting the opposite site.  Killed ~60 crew members, 
many from discharge from severed steam lines.
 MF>  I myself have been tied up with the Auckland Central Gang Show. I was
 MF>  in the cast twice as a Scout - I assisted with the Sound Systems this
 MF>  year, since that is a field I am reasonably familiar with...
I've done sound and sound effects for a little theater.  I met my wife 
working there.  This group is in the Guiness Book for having the longest 
running melodrama, "Gold in the Hills."  I never worked that play, but we 
always had to work around the peanuts and shells - the audience can through 
peanuts at the villian.
 MF>  Technically, Im not a member of the scouting movement at present, since
 MF>  I didnt pay my fees this year. Unless I find a leaders position in the
 MF>  near future I'll become a 'dormant' member. :/
I hope you can stay with the Scouting movement!
YIS,
Don
Assistant Scoutmaster, Andrew Jackson Council Troop 88
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