ocus: “Seventy-six trombones led the big parade!” Does anyone have a clue what this means? Well maybe it’s time we brought it back! But whether we do that or just move forward with this new-fangled modern band stuff, this month’s theme gives the boys a chance to explore sound waves—that they make themselves. Give them a chance to explore how different objects can make different “nice sounds.” Let them experience changing a cacophony of noises into something that isn’t. And to you, the leaders, I say, “Sit back, relax, and enjoy!”

ANNOUNCEMENTS

In August of this year I started seeing a periodonist. Although I have always seen a dentist every 6 months he never did anything about some bad bad pockets I have developed over the years. Luckily that dentist dropped off our insurance plan, and our family started seeing another, who in turn sent me to see a periodonist since he was hoping my teeth could be saved. YIKES!!! In August, Dr. Hammond started an 8 – 10 week process of scaling my teeth and gums. Then we had to let me have a couple of weeks to heal up. After those few weeks we found my gums didn’t respond 100% to the scaling. On October 31 I went in for a 5-hour surgery on 8 different gum surfaces in my mouth and a tooth extraction. Here it is December 8, 2002, and I am 10 pounds lighter and not completely healed. There was a complication during my surgery, so my healing up process is taking longer because of that. Here’s another little note: I started becoming fit in April of this year, weight watchers’ and a fitness center, and with my latest 10 pound loss I am almost underweight, which isn’t so good either. SHEESH!!

Meanwhile we are still have a very serious family problem going on (not with anyone’s health) and I continue to ask for your prayers for a happy ending to this trouble.

For those of you who asked, I love driving my Highlander that Jim got for me in September. It is a 2003, Vintage Gold. Not too many miles on it yet, I haven’t been driving too much yet.

I pray that everyone has a wonderful safe blessed Holiday. Now on to: Baloo’s Bugle--

TIGERS

Achievement 5

There is so much to do and learn outdoors! You can have fun exploring nature and looking at trees, flowers, and animals. You can walk, run, play games, and ride a bike. It’s even fun to sit outside!

Let's Go Outdoors

5F
Go outside and watch the weather

Family activity

You can listen to a weather report on the radio or television. But it’s more fun to tell what the weather is like by going outside and using your five senses to observe what the weather for yourself. Your five senses are seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and touching. Some people can’t use all five senses fully, such as people who are sight impaired or hearing impaired. Often, people who can’t use one of their senses have learned to use their other four senses very well.

5F Go outside and observe the weather. Use your senses to help you describe what the weather is like.

What do you see? Is it sunny? Is it dark? Do you see stars, clouds, sunshine, rain, or a rainbow?
What do you hear? Do you hear thunder, rain, or the blowing wind? Maybe you hear traffic noise, children playing, or birds singing. How does the weather affect noises like these?
What do you smell? Do you smell flowers or freshly cut grass? Maybe you smell the aroma of someone cooking or the odor of farm animals. The air and wind bring these smells to your nose.
What do you taste? If the wind is blowing across a dusty place, you may get dust in your mouth. Does the air taste like dirt? Does it taste like salt?
What can you feel? Is it cold or warm? Do you feel the wind blowing? Do you feel rain or snow?

5D
With a crayon or colored pencil and a piece of paper, make a leaf rubbing.

5G
Take a hike with your den.

PRAYERS & POEMS FOR SCOUTERS

Heart of America Council

Because Cubs often look up to their leaders, we need to be aware of the example we set:

WAYS OF REINFORCING VALUES

1. Do, rather than just talk about.

2. Use new methods, new ideas.

3. Use other than your own suggestions.

4. Provide opportunity for discussion and participation.

5. Encourage communication.

6. Encourage expression.

7. Develop a more mature understanding of the meaning of honor.

8. Show more understanding of the worth of individuals.

9. Learn the meaning of helping people, sharing, and giving of one’s

self, rather than just things or money.

10. Develop an awareness of the need for service. Accept service as a

personal and group responsibility.

11. Show feelings of responsibility to community, state and nation.

12. Develop an understanding of the United States in relation to the rest of

the world.

13. Have pride in our country and its heritage.

14. Show an understanding of our country’s basic ideals.

15. Recognize and appreciate the differences of all human beings.

16. Develop an interest in and concern for others.

17. Extend kindness, consideration and involvement beyond your immediate

circle of family and friends.

18. Use an understanding of self as a basis for understanding others.

11 Rules For Being Human
Heart of America Council

1. You will receive a body. You may like it or hate it, but it will be yours the entire period this time around.

2. You will learn lessons. You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called LIFE. Each day in this school you will have the opportunity to learn lessons. You may like the lessons or think them irrelevant and stupid.

3. There are no mistakes, only lessons. Growth is a process of trial and error; experimentation. The “failed” experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiment that ultimately “works”.

4. A lesson is repeated until learned. A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it, you can then go on to the next lesson.

5. Learning lessons does not end. There is no part of life that does not contain its lessons. If you are alive, there are lessons to be learned.

6. “There” is no better than “here”. When your “there” has become a “here,” you will simply obtain another “there” that will again look better than “here.”

7. Others are merely mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects something you love or hate about yourself.

8. What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours.

9. Your answers lie inside you. The answers to Life’s questions lie inside you. All you need do is look, listen and trust.

10. You will forget all this.

11. You can remember it whenever you want.

Why I’m A Leader
Heart of America Council

I’m not a Cub Scout Leader for the easy hours, high pay,

parents’ gratitude, power or prestige.

I’m a leader because I want the world for your son and mine, to

be a world he can shape and help shape; a world of love and laughter, where he can show compassion.

I want him to be able to look at the stars, a sunrise, a sunset, the work and world of man -- and feel their beauty inside himself.

I want to help him to learn to finish anything he starts and do it well and to guide him to know his worth with a deeper understanding of himself.

I want to help shape men who have strength of character and are sensitive to the needs of others.

I want them to be the best they can be.

I’m giving of myself and my time. I reap rewards far beyond what I give. I receive for my children and future generations a better world.

I am a Cub Scout Leader because I care.

A Little Boy

By Ron Brown, Eagle District,,

Alamo Area Council San Antonio, TX

When I was a child, I spake as a child,

And acted in childish ways;

When I grew up, I put away

The trappings of childhood days.

But then, without asking permission,

A little boy entered my life,

And noisily garnered attention

From me and his mother, My wife;

And magically, that little boy

Got me to sit on the floor,

To play with the toys of my childhood,

That I had abandoned before.

So that little boy has a playmate

Who's grown up and taller than he,

And I have this sneaking suspicion

A little boy still dwells in me!

So, I got my son to join Cub Scouts,

Ostensibly for his own sake,

And we do achievements together,

(Though Pinewood cars I mostly make)!

When we go to Den an