Looks awesome! I wish the raccoon had been our mascot when I was in scouts long ago :) Great character.

Thanks. We're kind of rebels in our district by having a District Mascot/patch. Apparently, it's against BSA National rules. And the embroidery companies state-side who have licensing agreements with the BSA couldn't produce them for us. Apparently, part of the licensing agreement requires them to enforce BSA National's rules. So we got them made-up through a patch company in Canada, Zone West. Awesome people to work with and price-competitive with American embroidery companies.

Isn't it crazy how one group can regulate something so much? Good job finding a solution, though :) I hope BSA wouldn't reprimand your troop for wanting to be a little different.

(chuckle) I'm not with a single troop. I'm a district-level volunteer. So, technically, I'm a member of roughly 55 or so Troops, 60 or so Packs, a few dozen Venture Crews and Explorer posts spread-out over a 5 county area from Maine's Penobscot Bay to the Quebec border. Our district covers just over 8,500 square miles which makes us the largest district area-wise in New England...maybe the entire Northeast. We just absorbed most of the neighboring district due to financial problems at the council level--not a good situation. Prior to that change we only stretched from the state Capital of Augusta to the Quebec border. Our district is slightly smaller than the state of New Hampshire. Compared to where you are (based on your profile description), we're probably still considered tiny.

BSA National's loss, our gain. We'll keep rebelling and ordering our patches as needed from Zone West as needed. All "profits" from patch sales fund camperships for needy scouts in our district. We usually raise enough funds from patch sales (and a few other items) to send one Boy Scout and two Cub Scouts to a week of camp.

Yes, it is crazy some of the rules national puts out. And then I look at all the different ways they try to raise funds I think they're missing a golden opportunity here by not allowing districts to have their own patches. Look over the border to Canada and every scout district (at least those I've interacted with) have their own district patch. Then again, most individual scout groups (A group can consist of a Beaver Colony, Cub Pack, Scout Troop, Venture Crew and Rover--whatever, all sponsored by the same sponsor) have their own unit patch.

I handle email communications for the district and provide logistical support at roundtables (monthly meeting open to all volunteers) and various district events such as camporees. In the past I have served as scoutmaster in my hometown unit. I have also served as an Assistant Scoutmaster in that same unit and in New Hampshire and Texas (undergrad and grad school). I am an Eagle Scout, OA Vigil Honor and a Silver Beaver recipient. Vigil Name: Dachiguoagan Memhallamund Kitchkinet (quite the mouthful), which means: Patch Trading Guide.

I could probably go on and on...but should probably stop there for now. :)

That's an impressive resume :) Are you able to do all that in spare time or is that your day job? That's cool that you can funnel some of that money back and use it. My favorite aspect of cub scouts was always the field trips and camp outings.

I am a volunteer, though sometimes it feels like a day job. :)

To be honest, it feels like I put in less hours volunteering since I stepped up to district level a decade ago compared to my time as scoutmaster. I bet if I actually tracked my time doing scout-stuff, it would be about the same or more. It is a lot LESS stressful dealing mostly with volunteers rather than "clueless" parents.

(shrug) Somehow, I still find time to "have a life" outside of work and Scouting, but it can be a challenge at times.

As to the "impressive resume", one is bound to earn a few things after being in Scouting for 34 years (joined as a Cub Scout in the fall of 1978).