The event featured a $2,500 putting contest and gift certificates and prizes for three flights of teams—provided by Ethan Allen and Belk’s. More than that, it was fun—the kind of wholesome outdoor fun indicative of the Boy Scouts.

This tournament marked the first time Stadri Emblems had the privilege of sponsoring a hole at such an event. As players worked their way through the tournament’s two courses, we became part of the golfing landscape, having a unique chance to achieve high-visibility as a Scouting partner.

The tournament was successful in its goal of providing funds for Scouting and increasing awareness of the Boy Scouts of America in Northeast Georgia. Since then, Stadri has sponsored many more tournaments, and, in 2007, became an Official Licensee of the Boy Scouts of America. This has enabled us to be even more involved with supporting Scouting at every opportunity, and passing on further savings to scouts on their custom Boy Scout patches.

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I just wanted to thank you for the wonderful job you did on the neckerchiefs. First of all, they look great – the boys that got them were very impressed at how much they look like the old ones! Second, getting a small batch to us at camp last week was a huge hit! It was great to end the week with all the Scouts in our troop finally wearing matching neckerchiefs. The rest of the order showed up at my home, no problem ( I have to admit I was a little concerned about that).

We will definitely recommend your company to others, and if a need for patches or similar items comes up in the future, I’ll be sure to check with you first!

Thanks again,
Dave Smith
Scoutmaster, Troop 249

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A common technique Stadri uses to gain compliance with the BSA’s standards is a stitching method called ghost stitching.

Ghost stitching embroiders the BSA identifier over the design in the same color as the design.

The result is an identifier that can be seen when closely inspected but doesn’t take away from the overall design of the patch.

Ghost stitching can also be used on the entire patch, matching the twill to the color of the thread. Such a technique can make for a patch that is hard to discern but vivid in contrast. Such patches can have a level of elegance that brings dress uniforms to a new level.

A Quasi-Ghost stitched patch will often be a split with some color in the text or image of the patch as well as in the merowed border.

Ghost stitching doesn’t add any cost to the patch, making the technique even more valuable for adding dimension to the patch or hiding a message in the design.

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Orc Partrol Patch From ClassB.com

To meet the BSA requirements for uniform wear, patrol patches must be 1.5 inches round with a khaki background, khaki merrowed boarder, and use no more than three thread colors. Originally patrols took the name as animals and used colored ribbon or leather as an identifier. Over time, silk-screened patches replaced the ribbons until finally embroidered patches where introduced. Historically, patrols were encouraged to place adjectives in the patrol names to personalize and help build troop spirit.

Animal identifiers are still used but there are a number of other creative identifiers using objects, food and beliefs. These patrol patches can often fall outside of the BSA regulations using colorful twill and more than three thread colors. In some corners of the Internet, there has been a lively debate about whether troops should break BSA regulations. Some leaders believe that the regulations are clear and shouldn’t be broken while other leaders feel they can gain troop unity and morale. No matter what side of the debate, when troops participate in competitions where uniform inspections will occur, those not using patrol patches to BSA regulations may be docked some points.

Urban Land Scouts Vegtable Growing Patch

Even if the patrol patch isn’t to spec, the small size offers a great medium for any message. The popularity of patrol patches with those who don’t participate in scouting has increased recently. The Urban Land Scouts use patrol patches in an effort to educate about the human relationship to plant life and Mother Nature. Nerd Merit Badges celebrate quirky accomplishments like an empty email inbox and fixing broken printers. I’ve seen designs for coffee patrols, Mr. Potatohead patrols and cow bell patrols. Patrol patches are a fun way of celebrating just about anything.

What is your favorite patrol patch? What’s a patrol patch you’d love to have made?

This post first appeared on the InsaneScouter blog on 10/4/11

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A few times a week, Stadri’s shipping department excitedly announces on the intercom: “the patches are ready for viewing!” It’s an exciting chance for the sales staff and artists who design the patches to see the finished work before they are individually boxed and shipped. With numerous custom designs, we’re always looking for the background story to a patch and the celebration of an event in embroidered form. The commemorative Boy Scout patches are among my favorite as they often depict impressive accomplishments.

In an open letter to Scouts and family, Keith Davis, Scoutmaster of Troop 163 states: “This fall, thousands of kids from the Catskill Region will return to school and be asked one question: “What did you do this summer?” Fifteen scouts from Troop 163 should have no problem answering the age-old question having hiked the length of the Catskill Aqueduct from the Ashokan Reservoir in the heart of the Catskills to the Central Park Aqueduct in New York City – some 120 miles away.

Catskill Aqueduct Hike Commemorative Patch

Part of the Catskill Watershed, the Ashokan Reservoir is part of a network of reservoirs supplying New York City and other small hamlets water. The Catskill Aqueduct is a series of rivers and underground pipes that connects the city with 40% of its water supply. Completed in 1911, engineer Sidney Clapp noticed many young boys playing around the dangerous work site and sought a way to organize them while teaching important skills and life lessons on their journey to manhood. The desires to organize led him to forming one of the first Boy Scout Troops in the country.

Based in Olive, N.Y., Troop 163 will depart August 19^th on their symbolic trek atop the aqueduct and complete their odyssey nine days later on August 27^th. Besides being some of the first to hike the route the scouts will have toured West Point, Stewart Air Force Base and spent a night at the American Museum of Natural History. For security reasons, the aqueduct is off limits and special permission was granted from the Catskill Watershed Corporation, New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Watershed Agricultural Council and other entities. The Catskill Aqueduct Trek promises to be a fantastic celebration of 100 years in Scouting and Olive’s unique roll.

Stadri Emblems has been privileged to be involved with the Olive Boy Scouts and their enormous undertaking. We look forward to hearing their responses to the question: “What did you do this summer?” While it is a unique trip, the team at Stadri knows this isn’t the only adventure Scouts are participating in this summer. What unique trips or accomplishments will mark your summer of 2011 as a summer to remember?

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Endeavour Embroidered Mission Patch

While Endeavour returned largely without payload, it did have a special stash of souvenirs including some very special Scouting patches. The crew members from all 134 shuttle missions (to date) have brought small U.S. Flags, crew patches, medallions, and lapel pins with them, so the tradition isn’t new.

Included on the official flight manifest – yes, I read the manifest – are 500 of the crew’s embroidered patches, designed by commander Mark Kelly’s mother-in-law, Gloria, along with more than 5,000 embroidered U.S. Flags and 2,000 of Endeavour’s orbiter flags.

More than 100 of the new robotic merit badges developed in cooperation with NASA also made the exclusive trip. Check out Boys Life for a chance to win a Robotics merit badge that orbited Earth on the space shuttle Endeavour!

BSA's Robotics Merit Badge

Lastly, mission specialist Greg Chamitoff was an Eagle Scout from Santa Clara County Council in California. Listed on the manifest is a special space patch designed for the occasion by the council with whom Chamitoff flew into space. I’ve been unable to find the patch in our system – there must be other companies producing embroidered patches, I’m truly shocked! I’ve reached out to the council in an attempt to confirm this and hopefully get an image of the patch. If I’m successful, I’ll post the image on this post, twitter and facebook, so check back or follow as I’m sure it’s a cool design.

What would you take into space if given the opportunity?

Related Posts:
Boy Scout Merit Badges by The Numbers
Boy Scout Merit Badge: Geocaching

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Hopefully the Boy Scout Handbook wasn’t needed to play the challenge but here are the answers before we announce the winner:

The theme:
A Scout is…
Each response will be one of the 12 qualities in the Boy Scout Law.

$200 Question:
Deserving of confidence; this 11-letter word is the first on the Scouts Law list
Answer: Trustworthy

$400 Question:
Frugal, or a car rental company
Answer: Thrifty

$600 Question:
Faithful, be it to your nation or your pal
Answer: Loyal

$800 Question:
This synonym for “amiable” linked with a comic book ghost
Answer: Friendly

$1000 Question:
Exhibiting courage
Answer: Brave

The big winner is: Daniel from the Pacific Rivers District!
Bravo!

As a bonus, Daniel was kind enough to answer a few questions:

Stadri: What is your involvement with the Boy Scouts currently or in the past?
Daniel: I am an Eagle and a Vigil honor arrowman. I am my District’s Chairman, a Scoutmaster, a Crew Advisor, a Ship Skipper, a different Crew Committee chair, a Post Committee Chair, OA Chapter Ceremonies Advisor, Conclave Auction Advisor and Trading Post staff, Conservation committee member for two Councils and I usually help run our District’s Camp-O-Ree, Spook-E-Ree, Scout-O-Rama and Honorary Awards Weekend.

Stadri: What part of Scouting do you enjoy the most? What about the least?
Daniel: Working with the kids and working with the professionals [the least- ed] – just kidding, most of them are pretty good people!

Stadri: Do you have a favorite merit badge or badge you are most proud of earning?
Daniel: Of course Eagle, and all the knots I had to be nominated for but on the sleeve of my red jacket I have my 1986 Quality Unit patch from the first year I was a Cub Scout and every year through 2010. 25 Years of Scouting, every one with a Quality Unit.

Stadri:  That is very impressive! Do you collect scouting patches in the traditional sense? Any plans for your limited edition patch that you’ve won?
Daniel: Yes, and my short term plan is to add it to a patch display I am putting together for our Scout-O-Rama because it looks so big and impressive.

Thanks again to all of those who participated. We’re gearing up with some cool scouting promotions involving another custom embroidered patch (limited edition of course), an announcement about a history making local troop, and perhaps another contest or two. Keep checking our Scouting Blog, Facebook and Twitter to find out how you can get involved and get your own custom or Stadri designed embroidered Patches!

Have a suggestion for a blog topic? Leave a comment and I’ll follow up with you!

Related Posts:
Framed, Oversized Custom Patches Make a Great Special Gift
Patch Trading Tips

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I’m a bit of a nerd – I watch Jeopardy!

Thanks, I appreciate your support. Moving on…

Tuesday was a special night of Jeopardy! It was episode number 6137 (I told you I was a nerd) and featured a category in the Jeopardy! round that was Boy Scout focused. Since Jeopardy! is so much fun that they put an exclamation point after the word, lets turn the category into a little contest:

The Game:
Below are the questions. Leave your answers in the comments section and next Friday (May 6^th, 2011) we’ll randomly pick a winner (using random.org) who has correctly answered all five questions.

Tell’em what they can win, Johnny!
One random winner will receive Stadri’s limited edition embroidered/printed patch combo (its a special process) commemorating Scouting’s 100^th Anniversary:

Stadri Emblems Limited Edition Scouting Centennial Woven Patch

Oh, so pretty.
embroidered/printed patch measures 13.5 x 10 inches.

Fine print:
This is supposed to be fun, quick and easy. The contest isn’t approved or endorsed by anyone. Stadri is making no money off of this contest. We’ll only be able to ship within the U.S. Chance of winning depends on the number of comments or contestants. The winner will be notified via email (so be sure to fill out that field when leaving a comment) but we’ll announce it both on Twitter and Facebook once we’re able to contact the winner.

And now, the Jeopardy! round:

The theme:
A Scout is…
Each response will be one of the 12 qualities in the Boy Scout Law.

$200* Question:
Deserving of confidence; this 11-letter word is the first on the Scouts Law’s list

$400* Question:
Frugal, or a car rental company

$600* Question:
Faithful, be it to your nation or your pal

$800* Question:
This synonym for “amiable” linked with a comic book ghost

$1000* Question:
Exhibiting courage

*Not a real cash prize.

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The Newest Merit Badge: Robotics

An important part of a Boy Scout’s journey, merit badges have been around for over a 100 years. The scouting handbook says “A merit badge is an invitation to explore an exciting subject. With more than a hundred to choose from, some merit badges encourage you to increase your skill in subjects you already like while others challenge you to learn about new areas of knowledge.” Since merit badges are another term for embroidered patches (and Stadri is all about embroidered patches) we’ve got them everywhere!  Here are some random statistics I’ve collected regarding merit badges:

14 – Merit badges in the BSA’s initial list in 1910 – they didn’t produce or award any them that year.
57 -  Merit badges the BSA officially manufactured and awarded in 1911.
11 – Of the original 57 that have the same basic design as when they were introduced.
140 – The maximum amount of merit badges available at any one time.
126 – Amount of merit badges available as of December 31, 2010.
161,252 – Bugling merit badges earned between 1911 and 2001.
21 – Total merit badges a scout must earn to achieve Eagle Scout rank.

12- Number of required merit badges a scout must earn to achieve Eagle Scout.
10 – Major types of merit badges.
4 – Legs on the Bee in the Beekeeping merit badge from 1914-1938. Bees have 6 legs.
1 – ‘Spoof’ or patrol patch that became an actual merit badge – Scuba Diving.
142 – Record for amount of merit badges earned by one person.
4 – Historic patches offered during the Boy Scouts Centennial.
113,638,951 – Total merit badges Boy Scouts earned from 1911 to 2007.

Completely random huh? What merit badge facts do you know?
Comment on here, Facebook or Twitter!

I used the following websites to compile the random facts:
www.scouting.org
www.bsatroop780.org
www.meritbadge.info
www.en.wikipedia.org
www.sageventure.com
www.troopcrew180.org
www.patchlodge.com
The Boy Scout Handbook

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Stadri Emblems has always been committed to involvement in the community on many different levels. This year we’re lucky enough to be working with the very local Olive Boy Scouts, Rip Van Winkle Council, Troop 163. These scouts have the ability to trace their lineage as one of the first (if not the first) Boy Scout Troops in the country. Of the other Troops claiming to be first, I would guess that none can lay claim to a New York Times article (hyperlink) written about them.

The first Eagle Scout rank was earned in 1912 with another 21 earning it in the same year. Of those 22, our Troop 1 had 5 scouts earn the honor of Eagle Scout:

If all of that wasn’t enough, the cabin the original Scout Mater, Sydney Clapp owned is still standing. The current owner has agreed to allow the scouts camp and hold special events at the cabin.

Pretty neat being able to trace history! Thanks goes out to Rob from the Olive Boy Scouts, we’re excited to be a part of your Troop!

Stadri Emblems is privileged to be an official licensee of the Boy Scouts of America.

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