ISCA - Financial / Membership‏ Issue - RANT

Here is my thought...dump the hard copy. It is honestly not needed. The money would be better spent on a online forum/website. I don't even read the whole mag. I mainly read over the new issues and the OA Section. The last 20 to 25% is nothing but ads anyway.

Online would be cheaper, simpler to maintain, and think about this....instead of quarterly updates you could have instant updates to the point of daily posts/articles and blogs. Regular people could post and share their ideas more freely. You would be able to access the site world wide without the need of carrying piles of paper.

Sorry, but you can't say all the life members haven't gotten their $$$$ worth. All I know is if you raise those dues I am not renewing...why? It just not worth it. I assure everyone I am not interested in paying for a hard copy for multiple people. Tattoo "sucker" on someone else's forehead.

The life members got their money's worth. If they want a hard copy sooo bad make dip into their pockets to save it too. Offer them a 55% discount on yearly membership. That should at least slow the down the bleeding....but honestly this is a digital world. Its time to go online and become digital.

No kid born today will know what a turn table is or a what phone booth is outside of a history book or an old film. You don't think the paper is going to the way of the dinosaur? Waldenbooks just went down...think of the number of people that read news on the computer and iPhone...

Lets face it...ISCA has not exactly been very good with sending reminders for renewals. Its been up to the member to remember and a lot members don't even realize it until they miss an issue, which of course we don't get unless we pay even more. That is also ISCA fault for not having a universal renew date...could of simply prorated memberships until the renewal dates aligned...but no. Some would of paid more some less...but at least we would of all been on the same page....Not even a friendly renewal slip dropped in the package...

Non-lifers pay 45% more to save hard copy??? Sorry, where did you guys get your business degrees from again?

Make the lifers pay the 45% they are still getting the better end of the deal. Alienate your main source of income...I double dare you.

SIGNED ISCA Member #0913

The Deals Keep Coming??

OA Lodge 440 Chinchewunska Flap

Auction from Ebay -> BSA OA FLAP #440 Chinchewunska Lodge VERY RARE

Can lightning strike in the same place twice? I had a hard time finding a flap from this lodge for under $100 mint for my own collection. I do not think I have seen one go this cheap before? Anyhow, the starting bid was $40.00 with a BIN (Buy It Now) for $50.00.

As stated from the Auction: "This Chinchewinska Lodge #440 was merged with Lodge 37 back in the 1970's and is very rare.The flap was from Hudson Hamilton Council in New Jersey. The flap is in mint condition."

Click Here for Ebay Auction 440 Flap

I just hope the Seller's description of this item is better than his spelling of the lodge name....other than that its appears to be a good deal. Not as great as the one from two weeks ago but surely should make a decent dupe.

After my recent strings of lucky finds with BIN auctions I think I will to pay more attention to them first when searching on Ebay. Granted only 4 people saw this auction before me...yet none of them seemed that interested in purchasing it.

Christmas in July? Still a few good deals left on Ebay...

Chief Shabbona T-1


OA Lodge 120 Chief Shabbona A-1

Auction from Ebay -> Vintage Boy Scout Patches Cards Medal-1940-1960

Really... I think I finally know what Christmas in July feels like. The Chief Shabbona CSP and Arrowhead were both on Ebay. What makes that so unique you might ask?... Well, these two patches and about 50 more were in a one lot and the starting bid was $49.00 bucks with a Buy It Now of $99.00 dollars. Yeah, I know $99.00... Believe me, I am still stunned over that myself. The Chief Shabbona CSP was surprisingly in Mint Condition. The Chief Shabbona arrowhead appears to have been sewn; however, is stiff with some box soiling on it but those two patches are only the beginning of this lot. There is some Region patches, National Jambo patches, a few old camp patches, some rank patches and even a pin for crying out loud!. If you really want to see everything that was in this lot then visit below:

Click Here for Ebay Auction Lot of Old Patches


Sample of Some Patches From the Auction

Its nice to hit a good deal like this. I thought getting an Amangi Mos flap back on Yahoo Auctions in the day for about $25 bucks was a steal but this was just on another whole level.

What has me really puzzled is SIX people actually viewed this auction before I did. Why none of them chose to purchase this lot of goodies is beyond me...

Needless to say I am extremely pleased with this purchase... Right Place..Right Time!

Another Black Eagle Lodge Patch Emerges...

Black Eagle Lodge #482 2006 LLD Activity Round Patch

John's Back~! - another unknown Black Eagle Lodge patch...at least to those not living overseas. John also mentioned there is another LLD patch for the 2007 event but does not currently have one in order to provide me with a scan yet.

I haven't officially given this patch a classification yet; however, based off my past experiences with the lodge the training events are typically at the very beginning of the year. This patch will likely end up becoming the eR2006-1.

More information on Black Eagle patches as I hear about them.

Below is a picture preview of the mystery Black Eagle item last mentioned in my blog.


Black Eagle Lodge #482 1971 Flecha Roja Slide

New Flap from Black Eagle Lodge #482

Black Eagle Lodge #482 John Watsek Memorial Flap

At last, some news from the home lodge. John Woughter contacted and filled me in on a few things.

The below is in reference of the above flap...

"It was given to each participant in the 2007 Spring Fellowship at Camp Freedom. About 100 ordeal candidates (myself included, as an adult) participated, with a similar number of Scouts and Scouters who were already OA members. I don't know if there were extras that were then sold.

Notice the embroidered JW just above the WWW ... that stands for John Watsek, who as I'm sure you know was Lodge Chief and killed in an accident in March, 2007. Notice also the misspelled LDDGE (2 D's) ... that error was noticed when the patches and OA handbooks were being handed out and I believe they all have the misspelling (I'd be curious if there were any that were spelled correctly ... they would likely be are.)"

As you may have noticed no classification has been issued to the patch yet. I have yet to determine if the lodge considers this a fellowship patch or a lodge issue.

John Woughter has also informed me that the new Chapter Wa-Sha-She, which replaced Nacha Chuppecat, put out their first chapter flap. Unfortunately, I do not have a picture to show everyone of the flap yet. John said he would try to get a scan of the flap and all other new issues he gets a hold of.

Thats all for now. Speaking of new discoveries. How about an "old" but "new" discovery. A couple months back on Ebay a couple of Flecha Roja neckerchiefs slides were put up on Ebay...but I will save that for another day.

A Mile Swim Like No Other

Intercontinental Swim Medal Asia to Europe 1967

Mile Swim Award Requirements:

1.) Explain how regular exercise contributes to good health and why swimming is one of the best forms of exercise.

2.) Tell what precautions and procedures a swimmer and escort must follow for distance swimming over open water.

3.) Under the supervision of a currently qualified certified aquatics instructor, BSA or equivalent, participate in four hours of training and preparation for distance swimming (one hour a day maximum).

4.) Swim 1 mile (1,600 meters) over an approved, measured course.

What do you remember about the days when you earned your Mile Swim award? In my father's day he thinks it was 22 laps around the pool at Camp Currier in Eudora, Mississippi. During my summer camp at Camp Freedom, Dauphte, Germany, (affectionately known as Damp Freezedom), seldom did anyone complete the mile swim as you would most likely suffer from hyperthermia due to the cool weather at camp. However, during the 1960's and 1970's when the Transatlantic Council held summer camps in the Istanbul area, they really had the mile swim to beat all mile swims. To earn the award, you had to swim from Asia to Europe. Sounds kind of daunting, yes?

Actually, the distance across the Bosporus Strait was approximately 1 mile. That being said, however, did not make it easy. You see it was also a ship channel and you did have to fight some currents as well. Boats had to go out with each swimmer to make sure they didn't swim into a path of an oncoming vessel.

To my knowledge, no records were ever kept of who complete this scoutly challenge. I recently purchased a rather non-descript medal that has only the Fleur de lis on the front. On the back simply says Boy Scouts 1967 Intercontinental Swim Asia to Europe.

By the way, my claim to fame is I canoed from Germany to France down the Lauter River. Ok, so it was only around 20kms as the crows flies.

Should Patch Sellers Be Role Models of the Hobby?

Auction from both TSPA (406) and Streamwood (339)


Auction from both TSPA (406) and Streamwood (339)

Ebay Hall of Shame

I really do not like to do things like this but I have really had it. Seriously, who do these sellers think they are and why anyone would look up to these folks and call them leaders of the hobby has me thinking...Are you serious? What is so sad about this is they do a lot of big things for the hobby but seem to forget the little things are just as important.

Recent Auctions on Ebay:

EBAY AUCTION Chickasah 406 Flap From TSPA

I have had issues with TSPA for quite some time. In fact, I was banned from bidding on their auctions years ago. I won several auctions with them in a 36 hour period and combined the total costs and with the correct shipping all on one money order and they said I didn't pay for half of the patches. I sent them a scan of my money order with the break down and did eventually receive my patches. What made the experience so horrible is they tried to make it seem like it was all my fault. I left them negative feedback for their lack of common sense and haven't been able to bid on their auctions since. I was upset by this at first and then realized TSPA isn't the only seller in the world to obtain rare patches. The above patch was won by my father and while he may not care as much about the writing on the back as I do...its still wrong and its not the first time TSPA has done this. The lodge 46 Eriez flap in my collection was also purchased from them with nice a gluey substance on the back of it...also omitted from the listing.

Reality Check: Dear TSPA,

As a bidder, I assume all patches are MINT unless otherwise noted. Mint means to me as "New right off the loom". Patches in pristine condition are important to your buyers. As a trader, I can not trade these patches without disclosing the full condition of the patch and this will lesson its desire by another trader. As a collector, I wouldn't not want a patch written all over it in my collection. I want the patches in my collection to be museum pieces. While you can argue that your listing is not in error, the lack of quality information speaks GREAT volume about TSPA and its lack of concern for the items you are selling. TSPA does not alway sell quality patches and frankly does not seem to care if they do. I am quite sure TSPA would be most unhappy to receive a check with the words VOID on it without me informing them first. I do suppose you could see the irony in that.

How to Fix the problem: Spend 30 more seconds on a listing to describe the back of the patch if it has been tempered with. You don't even have to include a picture.

Final Thoughts: Has TSPA has become to big for themselves? You don't hear more complaints from TSPA auctions because they seem to ban their customer base if they have legitimate issues with them. I have received some quality patches from TSPA to include a Pristine MINT Black Eagle F-2 and it took me years to find a Mint one to my satisfaction. The $5.00 patches are just as important too.


EBAY AUCTION 339 Amo'Chk Woven Flap

Streamwood simply caught me on a bad day. I never really had an issue with them before and I honestly love what they do...Please..Please I beg of you....do not get lazy and turn into TSPA. If you got time to make funny merit badges and to organize a TOR or two you can afford a few extra seconds to describe the condition of your patches. A picture of the front alone isn't enough.

I do prefer mint patches for my woven collection...I am currently putting less than mint flaps simply to fill the holes. It is disappointing to receive a patch in less than mint condition when your not expecting it. Its like a kid opening up a Christmas present and a piece of the toy is missing and it doesn't work. This does not work.