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This year I had the opportunity to serve as Scoutmaster for our council’s National Youth Leadership Training program.  The time commitment was much more than I anticipated (and a large part of why my blog stood still), but it was one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had in Scouting.  The staff put a tremendous amount of time into preparing presentations and activities for the week-long course, which took place June 15th through the 21st.  I’m incredibly proud of what we accomplished.

NYLT illustrates Scouting at its best, which means the program is youth-led.  As the Scoutmaster, my primary responsibility was to make sure the youth staff prepared appropriately in the months preceding the course.  Once the course began, I stayed in the back and let the youth lead.  They did an outstanding job.  Simply outstanding.  It is really amazing to watch these young men present sessions on vision, planning, team development, conflict resolution, values, ethics, and problem-solving.  They lead games and activities designed to further enhance the participants’ learning.  And they set an ideal example of Scouting’s finest.

I consider it an honor to have worked and served with these young men and future leaders of America.

I’m back.  Well, I never really left…I just haven’t written in ages.  Perhaps I cursed myself by last writing about the next Jamboree in 2010.  In all reality, though, I was busier than ever for the better part of the first half of this year.  Now, though, things have calmed down and I’m able, once again, to write a bit.

Over the last few years, some of the most enjoyable Scouting experiences I have had are at Jamborees.  In 2005, I was an Assistant Scoutmaster at the National Scout Jamboree.  This past year, I was on the International Service Team at the World Scout Jamboree.  Recently I found out I was selected to serve as a Scoutmaster for the 2010 National Scout Jamboree.  I’ll be working with a tremendous group of adult Scouters to make the celebration of Boy Scouts of America’s 100th year a memorable experience for the almost 150 Scouts from our Council who will be attending.

National has already started promoting this once-in-a-lifetime event with this video.  It’s going to be incredible!

In related Jamboree news (courtesy of A Scoutmaster’s Blog), it appears National is looking for an alternative site to host future Jamborees.  Fort A.P. Hill has hosted the last seven National Jamborees and will host 2010 as well.  I fully appreciate the infrastructure which has been developed at A.P. Hill to support Jamborees.  It will be a significant undertaking to prepare a new site for the next Jamboree.

It’s always a pleasure to recognize the accomplishments of Eagle Scouts, especially fellow Eagles from Troop 176.  One of those is Andrew Seeholzer, who was selected as the Westfield Insurance Teacher of the Month for January, 2008.  Watch the video highlighting Andrew’s accomplishments.

My reflection on the Colts’ loss to the Chargers in the AFC Divisional Playoffs this past weekend: karma.

Several weeks ago, I left the office using a service road gate.  I’ve used that gate many, many times before, but this time was a little different.  There’s a cement factory along that service road.  And as I went along, I thought I was just driving through the sloppy mess produced by a typical Cleveland sleet storm; however, it actually ended up containing active cement.  Yuck.

Initially, I wasn’t aware I had just splashed cement all over the driver’s side of my vehicle.  Given the frequently messy appearance of cars during winter, I simply assumed I had a rather artistic display of dirt on my truck.  But a visit to the car wash confirmed the sinking feeling which had been nagging me: this substance wasn’t going to come off easily.

After the near heart attack a co-worker of mine almost had when I showed him my truck, I realized the potential gravity of the situation.  Not wanting to spend a significant amount of money to clean up the mess, I did some research online and ended up at Top of the Line Detailing Supplies.  They sell a product called Back-Set by Romix–a sugar cane syrup-based biodegradable, non-hazardous, non-toxic solution.  I did some additional searching and found plenty of positive reviews, so I bought a gallon.

Taking advantage of today’s unseasonably warm weather (for Cleveland, at least), I cracked open the bottle and gave it a try.  After applying Back-Set with a spray bottle and letting it sit for 10-15 minutes, I took a deep breath and turned on the hose.  The now-loosened cement washed right away.  Yep, just like that.  Really.  I was amazed.

Given the area of my truck speckled with cement, it took me a good hour and a half to apply the solution and wash off the residue.  In the end, though, my vehicle was restored, having required much less money and time than I originally anticipated.  While it may sound odd, if you ever find yourself needing to remove cement from your car, definitely check out Back-Set.

Yes, I know…I haven’t blogged in months. I wish I could could say there were a good reason, but there isn’t. It’s not that I haven’t been busy, or that I haven’t had things about which to write; it’s more just general laziness about posting. I hope to change that in 2008.

Nonetheless, there are a few items I’d still like to share. Writing about them now isn’t quite as timely, but I think they’re still interesting:

• While studying abroad in 2000, I traveled to Rome with a few friends. One of the most awesome parts of the trip was visiting then Assistant to the Vatican Chief of State Monsignor Timothy Broglio. We were introduced via the pastor of a Scout in my Troop who was friends with the Monsignor. On the way to his office at the Vatican, we walked through hallways decorated in ornate frescos and overseen by Swiss Guards. We spent about twenty minutes with Monsignor Broglio, who is a 1970 graduate of St. Ignatius High School (Ignatius men forever…)! Since that visit, I’ve kept tabs on now Archbishop Broglio’s promotions (so to speak) in the Catholic Church. Just about a month ago he was appointed Archbishop for the Military Services USA.
• I can’t say I’ve ever read anything by Chuck Norris, but this article caught my attention. I don’t always agree with what I read on WorldNetDaily, but I definitely agree with Norris’ comments about The Golden Compass. While it looks like a great fantasy movie, I can’t support the subversive message it conveys.
• On September 3rd, 2007, Distinguished Eagle Scout and world-renowned adventurer Steve Fossett was reported missing. Sadly, he was never found. Just a few months earlier, Steve had accepted the position of President of the National Eagle Scout Association (replacing now Secretary of Defense Bob Gates). I was eager to see what his leadership would do for the organization, but unfortunately we’ll never know. BSA put together a tribute to honor Steve and the many accomplishments of his life.
• Every day I read stories where the Boy Scouts face criticism for being the organization it is.  Most recently, the Cradle of Liberty Council in Philadelphia is faced with losing its council service center because of its refusal to compromise.  There can be no denying the positive benefits Scouting has had on the community in terms of countless hours of service.  Regardless of the city’s treatment of the Scouts, I’m certain they will continue to give back to their neighborhoods, and Scouting’s supporters will undoubtedly find a way to ensure the council’s continued operation.

The environment.  That’s what it’s about today.  It’s Blog Action Day.

The recent awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change certainly drew a lot of attention to the environment.  Rather than debate the merits of these recipients, I’d prefer to focus on the subject matter which warranted the award.

The fact of the matter is that the environment is something shared by everyone–everyone.  Around the world, the human impact on the environment has taken its toll.  It’s time to take responsibility for our actions.  It’s time to do something.

One of the simplest ways to be responsible is to put litter in its place.  I’m both amazed and disgusted when I see someone throw trash out their car window as they drive down the street.  Or when I see cigarette butts all over a parking lot.  It’s sad that some people are so irresponsible.  So others must step up and demonstrate what responsible people would do with trash: throw it away.

We did not weave the web of life; we are merely a strand in it.  Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.  ~Chief Seattle

 This looks like a worthwhile endeavor. I’m participating; how about you?

I love my iPhone.

I’ve had it for nearly three weeks now, and it’s an incredible piece of technology.  The interface is simply stunning.  My iPhone replaced a Samsung Blackjack running Windows Mobile 5.  I was frequently waiting for the phone to respond and redraw the screen–with the iPhone, there is no waiting…it just goes.

The built-in speaker is great–there’s no need to carry an extra speaker with me to listen to my tunes headphones-free.  Calling someone has never been easier; if I don’t have someone in my contacts, the large keypad makes it easy to dial the number.  Safari is amazing–I’m not seeking out mobile versions of every website I visit because I don’t have to.  iPhone-enhanced websites, like Leaflets, are awesome.

I’ve only got three complaints:

1. The headset volume is too low, even when turned all the way up.  At first, I thought this was serious enough to return the phone.  But after listening to four different phones at two different AT&T stores and experiencing the same low volume, I decided it’s not a problem with my phone.  Oddly enough, every time I’ve taken a call on it, I’ve been able to hear the other person just fine.  Regardless, I’d like to be able to turn the volume up even louder.
2. All-day “free” appointments (like birthday’s) show up as a regular appointment would in the monthly calendar view (that is as a dot on the day).  Instead, I’d rather they not show up because that indicates to me that I have the day free.
3. In a similar vein, appointments that cross more than one day (like a camping trip) don’t actually show up as appointments after the first day in the monthly calendar view.

I’m looking forward to the WiFi iTunes Music Store and additional enhancements (perhaps games?) that Apple releases in future iPhone updates.