Fall Conventions

Fall Conventions In all the conventions that have been held and reported, up to the 15th of August to the General Board, great enthusiasm was manifested in the various departments of the Mutual Improvement work. Large attendance at the conventions indicated the interest which officers are taking and which the program is exciting in the minds of the leaders, an indication that the work will be enormously successful the coming year. The confer- ence program is pronounced the best ever, and the eagerness among the people, including the Priesthood and leading authorities, is very gratifying. Dad's Patrol Dad's Patrol, of Troop 4, of the Logan District, Cache Valley Council B. S. A. This is, so far as we have been able to determine, the only Dad's Patrol in the world. It was organized, April 23, 1923. The dads on the picture front row reading left to right are: — William Wayman, second class and merit badge; Geo. Ney, tenderfoot; Peter A. C. Pederson, scout master, second class and merit badge; Herbert Hawks, tenderfoot and merit badge; David Tarbet second class and merit badge. Standing left to right — Earl McDonald, first class and merit badge; William Cooley, first class and merit badge; L. C. McDonald, patrol leader, chairman of troop committee, second class and merit badge. To right of picture Scout advancement pole can be seen. This pole is used in all Court of Honor sessions of the Cache Valley Council. The pole is original in design and was hand carved by Mr A. A. Hughes of the Utah Agricultural College, and donated to scouting in this council.

MUTUAL WORK 1067 Camp Packs Picture taken during scoutleadres' school held June 3-8, at Logan, Utah under direction of Cache Valley Council B. S. A. together with the Utah Agricultural College. Some 90 scoutleaders from Utah, Idaho, Nevada and Wyoming attended the school, under the leadership of L. L. McDonald, National Camp Director, B. S. A. A permanent camp exhibit was built; this exhibit will be added to from time to time by the scout troops of the council. The picture shows L. L. McDonald, Victor Lindblad left and Dr. Geo. R. Hill on the right. To the front of the picture, on the ground, are the various kinds of camp packs. Left to right — Western pack, Yukon pack Swedish pack, barrell stave pack, and the regulation pack. Fathers and Sons' Outings We have received pictures and accounts of fathers and sons' outings from T. Leo Jacobs of Newdale, Idaho, July 15; also from the North Weber stake of July 17, 18 and 19, which was the largest and most successful outing of fathers and sons ever held in that stake; also an account from George A. Wilson, Malad City, of the scout trip from that stake to the Yellowstone Park, in which 207 composed the caravan; and from H. R. Kirkham, of Bingham stake, where they had a most successful outing. Accompanying the accounts were different pictures of the trips, some of which will be used in the Era with further details later. Thanks for the pictures and accounts. It was reported at the General Board meeting, up to the 15th of August, that over 8,000 fathers and sons in the various stakes had taken advantage of these outings, and that in all cases remarkably good times had been experienced and the fathers and sons had enjoyed themselves im- mensely together. A Trip to Catalina The "M" Men of the Adams ward, Los Angeles stake, demonstrated their ability to put over big things when, on July 4th, they conducted an excursion party from Los Angeles to Santa Catalina Island. It was the

1068 IMPROVEMENT ERA biggest undertaking of the class, and a huge success. Under the splendid leadership of the class officers, Jay Grant and Lorraine Crawley, every moment was fully occupied. The assembly was called for 6 a. m. at the ward chapel, and at 6:15, two busses, each carrying about 70 passengers, left for the 14-mile ride to the boat terminal. The remainder of the crowd arrived in private cars. Each member of the party wore an arm band of class colors, blue and gold, on which were stamped, "M" Men's Association. While waiting for the boat, the terminal was converted into an auditorium for an impromptu program of stories, songs and speeches, chief of which was a talk by Assistant Stake Superintedent James A. Rasmussen on "Inde- pendence Day." The crowd was treated to a thrill and surprise, when it was announced that "Archie" Freebairn, a worthy "M" man, had obeyed Ephe- sians 5:31. Mrs. Norma Taylor Freebairn, a "Gleaner", blushingly re- sponded with a speech, concerning the happy romance. It was noticed that when, on the boat, it was asked what the "M" stood for, "Archie" always replied, "Married Men." We sincerely hope that they may be always happy as they were that day. When the Avalon sailed at 10 a. m. there were 189 enthusiastic "M" Men and "Gleaners" aboard. The weather was ideal, the ser smooth and spirits high. Few were they that suffered from sea sickness, Dancing and a continuation of the impromptu program occupied the hours of the trip. Arriving at Catalina, the party was served with a luncheon such as only our own "Gleaners" can provide — sandwiches, pickles, fruit, cakes, salad, were had in plentiful quantities. The afternoon was spent in viewing the Marine Gardens, bathing and boating, and when the Avalon sailed at 8:30 p. m., a tired crowd of jolly "M" Men and happy "Gleaners" were homeward bound. The busses met the boat to carry everyone home where all arrived safely, well satisfied in the knowledge that the anniversary of a great and glorious event had provided a great and glorious celebration. Outings With My Dad (Tune— The Old Oaken Bucket) How fondly I gaze on the scenes of my boyhood, As memory's "movie" presents them to view. The days when I passed from the meekness of childhood To the time when I thought that I everything knew. The castles I built in my mind for the future; The jolly, good times that our gang always had; The yearnings I felt for a closeness with nature; And then the great outings I had with my dad. The long-wished-for outings; the joy-giving outings, The heart-clinging outings I had with my dad. I've been with good fellows, and some that were "yellows," Been thrown mids't the lure of the tempters of men; But there was one lever, that held me up ever, When I might have fallen again and again. The thought of my mother — yes, there was another; And when it arose — then I could not be bad, Its presence o'erwhelmed me ! when memory compelled me To think of the outings I had with my dad. The long-ago outings, the heart-clinging outings, Those soul-saving outings I had with my dad. George H. Brimhall.