February 2015 Newsletter

The February 2015 edition of our eNewsletter is out. you can view the online version and download the PDF from the Downloads page at http://post52.org/The_Good_Stuff/downloads.html

Mexican Magic on Bluebonnet Circle

The latest addition to our site comes from Jim Currie (Post 52, 1978 - 1983), who recently joined the forum.

He has posted an article that we will all enjoy on his experiences at Caro's restaurant. To read the article, click here.

Welcome to the Forum, Jim.

Gene Long Post

Gene Long has posted a comment of interest. Here's the shortcut: Dick McCollum on Jack Boyd.

Pieter Bruegel: Children's Games

Ever wonder how far back the game of Buck Buck goes?

In this painting, dated 1560, it was clearly a regular thing. This could go back centuries earlier.

Old Coots and Moe to Boot

Gabriel, Edmonds, Vivian, Starnes, Kleinschmidt, Yancy at the December 2013 21/52 Roundtable discussion.

If you look carefully, you will notice Robert's fine collection of Moe Dean art and photos.

It was reported on the Nishkin website this morning that Dinky Starns has died.   Dink was involved in Post 52 in the beginning along with Colonel Slaton and Jack Boyd.  Dinky was Nishkin's first lodge chief.  He served three terms in that office.  He was a Worth Ranch staff member for many years.   Dinky became a background figure in the early 1960s yet wielded a great deal of influence and was often called upon for advice.  

The Golden Age

An essay on The Golden Age of Scouting is now up on the site. To view it, click here.

Camping With Jack

We are all familiar with Camping With Jack, the biography of Jack Boyd by Chris Callaway and Heard Floore. While this has existed in print format since 1995, we are in the final stages of creating a digital version of the book.
As of August 2nd, the layout and formatting is complete and we are now working on finding higher quality versions of a few of the photos. Once the photos are swapped out we will be ready to output the book in a number of formats, including PDF and flip book (online virtual book).
It is within the realm of possibility that we may produce a print version, but it would be expensive and require a minimum order of 500 copies. It would have a slick cover and either be saddle stapled or with a square binding. Including printing and tax,  the cost would be either $9.25 each (saddle stitched) or $10.17 each (square binding).
As we are talking about $5,000, and as many of us are not rolling in cash, it does not seem likely that it will go to print, but it if did – and if it were to be edited to be PC - it would be something nice to distribute for free among the various troops in the district and elsewhere. Personally, I would love to see this happen.
Thinking a bit more realistically, I have something else in mind: As the original printing included a request for Jack Boyd stories, I think it would be a great idea if these stories to be compiled and edited with additional content providing context, then added to Camping With Jack as an additional chapter.
If this can be done, we'll let everyone know.

–MDG

The Evolution of Post 52

Chris's fascinating in-depth article on the evolution of Post 52 has been posted and can be read at http://post52.org/The_Golden_Age/post52evolution.html

This is a good read, so make sure that you take a look.

21 Stew

This is the recipe for the quick and simple stew that was developed back in the fifties by a mother of a member of Boy Scout Troop 21. Known as "21 Stew" it remained a popular item on the camping menu of Troop 21 and its successor, Troop 52, which then carried on the tradition for another half a century.

(If anyone has any tweaks, post 'em on this blog.)

Here's the recipe:

Hamburger
Minute Rice
Ranch Style Beans
Tomato Sauce
Salt & Pepper
Onion
Bell pepper

This was meant to be prepared by 11 year old boys. In other words, the proportions vary. May the spirit of the woods guide your hand.

Start the water for the Minute Rice.
Combine the beans and tomato sauce and heat.
Brown the hamburger along with chopped onions and peppers. For an authentic experience, burn the hamburger, then toss in a june bug and let it simmer for 10 seconds before removing. If the june bug explodes, toss out what would have been your share of the meal.
As the rice is going, toss the hamburger and veggies into the beans.
Season to taste, remembering to add a touch of campfire ash and a dozen gnats (option: Tabasco)

Serve over the rice (or, what the heck - just mix it all together) along with a nice vintage of grape Kool-Aid.

The Evolution of Post 52

Two weeks ago I posted a synopsis of the evolution of the Post on the secret web site.  It was broken down into four phases.  Last week I sent Trey a copy of Camping with Jack to be put into pdf format.  This will allow more people to access CWJ in a much easier manner.  Likewise it now may be possible to get Boyd Stories into a pdf format as well. 

Boyd Stories were essays that people who knew jack sent in after he died.  Some of these have been edited for content and clarity.  The goal is for the reader will be able to understand the particular story about Jack without knowing Jack or being there.   Publishing the raw copy verbatim runs the risk of the information being taken out of context.  The ultimate goal is to illustrate how Jack created the leadership model that he used.  We want people to understand the lessons that Jack taught in terms of real life situations.

The four phases of the evolution of Post 52  cite the events and happenings that forged Post 52.  These phases show how the post changed over the years.  It leaves a lot of room for people to fill in the blanks as well deals with many of the personalities that affected the path the post took at various junctures.

I hope that the round table videos from last winter can be put  on the site very soon.  I have not seen the videos, but am fairly certain that they will complement the four phases of the post's evolution.

Chris Callaway

Content Needed

Ever feel like you're not getting the reception you were looking for?

Recently Chris provided a document with a nice assortment of info that we can certainly put to good use. Great stuff!

Meanwhile, there are still a lot of empty pages to fill. When people get a minute, it would be great if they would please go through the menus and see what is needed.

We may be a bunch of folks either approaching middle age or well beyond it, and we all have a lot going on in our lives, but if everyone could dedicate a few minutes of their time now and then, scouts of the future will benefit from this.

Thanks!

–MDG