The third most frequently asked question of Mike (the other two deal with how he knows so much about Scouting to be so young and how to pronounce "settamankie" *giggle*) is about that "four-pound binder" of his.

They have heard of it and want to know more about putting together their own binder, full of the things that would make them knowledgeable the next time they show up at their unit or District/Council meeting. (Haven't heard of it? This explains it!)

At the same time, the BSA has been successfully experimenting with placing volunteer and professional publications into a larger 8x11 inch format, complete with prepunched holes to be placed (and updated) from a binder. They even developed two binders - one in Scouting Red, the other in Cub Scouting Blue - to use with those publications.

Scouters LOVE the publications. They didn't like the binders. "Too bland," they stated. "Not functional to what I do in Scouting," said others, and "No dividers" or other items to make things "flow right." There was no place to put things like pocket certificates, or cards, or things which matter to the unit Scouter: rosters and at-a-glance telephone directories. A reminder of why they are doing this stuff, taken from an Internet forum. A flower or card given to them as a "thank you" from a youth member. Directions to the Council camping facility -- in plastic, to protect it from drink spills and light raindrops.

Well, now, Mike has found and have been using such a functional binder. While its not equal in size to his "four-pounder" (which he still uses, by the way!), it is the most functional binder that we've seen for Scouters!

And with more and more of the Boy and Girl Scouts' official publications, manuals, guides and training and support items being made to fit into a three- ring binder, doesn't it make sense that Scouters should have something uniquely made for them, to support the things they do best....and to help them to do their jobs better for others?? Makes sense to us, so we went out and looked a binder to do JUST THAT....

And Rose Walton is selling it exclusively to you...Again!!!

(Actually, we're selling TWO VERSIONS of My Binder! to you!)

My Binder! and My Professional Binder! are NOT products of, has not been endorsed by, or approved by the Boy Scouts of America or the Girl Scouts of the USA. It is a product which is ONLY available presently through this website, and is not available presently through any other source.

The graphics below don't do it justice, so I'll have to explain all of the great features of these binders. Better images of the Binders are coming; however, if you want to "cut to the chase", here's the prices and how to order yours. Be one of the first 70 and there's something special in the binder AS A GIFT FROM US JUST FOR YOU!

(Those that previously ordered My Binder! and we unfortunately refunded your monies...you should have already received a SPECIAL EMAIL NOTE from Rose Walton about how to "reclaim" Your Binder(s) and the special gift!! If you haven't received it yet, please let us know and thanks for waiting!!)

First, the binder is in this special color: Coffee Cream. It's the closest thing to tan, and matches our uniforms whether you're a Cub Scouter, Boy Scouter, Venturer Leader, or even a Girl Scouter!! The binder has those vinyl "covers" on ALL sides (most binders you buy in a retail store has only "slits" in the front and "spine" (the side); some will also have a "slit" in the back). In addition to the front, back and spine, this binder ALSO has an additional "side" which has a vinyl "slit" covering to it as well. The vinyl is "printproofed" which means that you can interchange printed materials in and out of the covers without any of it "sticking to the vinyl" as cheaper binders would do.

The benefit of this is that, in addition to the spine (where your name and other information about YOUR BINDER is placed), you now have THREE surfaces in which to place flyers, drawings, graphics or information onto, all protected from most elements!

Second, ever wanted to take notes and later put them into a binder for safe-keeping? You have to get out the lined paper, make the note, and if it's not pre-punched, punch the holes (get it right or it won't fit right!), and then put it into your binder. Now, all you have to do is open the right flap of YOUR BINDER, write your note, tear the sheet off (and read the nice "leadership note" at the bottom of each page; there's 12 different ones!) and pop it into YOUR BINDER. No fuss, no muss...and because the holes are predrilled, you KNOW that the sheets will fit perfectly into YOUR BINDER!

The benefit of this is now you don't have to carry a binder AND a notebook... everything is within ONE nice, neat, binder. YOUR BINDER!

Third, How do you organize things?? Well, for most people, we organize according to our job and what it entails. YOUR BINDER will have five pretabbed "dividers", so that you can divide your items:

• by what you need for YOURSELF
• by what you need for YOUR ROLE OR POSITION OR JOB
• by what you are given from your DISTRICT or Service Area
• by what you are given from your COUNCIL and
• by what you need for REFERENCE

This seems to work for most Scouters, whether you're a Cub Scouter, Boy Scouter, Venturer Leader, or Girl Scouter. It also works great for our youth leaders as well!!

(Need other divisions? We can handle that too for a small additional fee. Post Jessi and ask her what you need on the tabs!)

Or you can go out to any supply store and make your own! But you'll WANT OURS!! Why?

Does this answer your question?? This is the District/Service Area tab, on lightweight cardboard. As you can read above, it not only gives you space to write (in pencil, the players change you know!) the names and positions of key "helpers", but take a look at the dotted lines...you can actually GET and ATTACH your Executive's card RIGHT TO THE PAGE. So you'll never be at a loss in reaching YOUR man or woman dedicating their life's work to youth!

(there's also another couple of spaces on the reverse side for key volunteer cards too!)

Each divider is enclosed within a plastic page protector, giving double protection. And if you don't like our dividers...your Council or District or unit can create their OWN to place inside YOUR BINDER. The tabs are large enough to "stand over" even page-protected pages!!

Finally, YOUR BINDER will come complete with a pencil, pen/marker, and plastic holders for business cards, computer diskettes, "pocket cards and training certificates" and other things you and I frequently carry around. I don't want to put too much in them, because I want YOU to fill up YOUR BINDER with the things that make YOU successful as a Scouter! (My Professional Binder! has a slightly better pencil, pen and highligher set along with a couple more items geared to the professional counterpart.)

The professional binder is a special black binder completely enclosed in high-strenght nylon, with a strong zipper which fully encloses the binder.

It does NOT have the clear coverings anywhere on the outside of the binder, so you cannot insert your own covers or spine with this binder. Additionally, it does NOT have the additional "flap" that the volunteer version has but does contain all of the other items found inside the volunteer binder. This special binder makes ANY professional (or volunteer for that matter) stand out as it contrasts nicely with the official field uniform and can be customized with your Council's CSP or other emblem (instructions are inside the binder); and has a small engraving plate which can be attached to the front of Your Professional Binder identifying it as Your Binder!

My Professional Binder! is ONLY available in black. We have attempted to convince the company producing My Professional Binder! for us to make a version in Coffee Cream, but they were only interested in selling us the black binders. We can order My Professional Binder! in multiples of 20 for those Councils that want to outfit their field staff (or their field professionals and key volunteers) in Their Professional Binders.

Again, all of the inserts and other items found in My Binder! are also found in My Professional Binder! with the exception of the extra "flap" which is built into My Binder! and the clear vinyl covers which are only found with My Binder!

and YES, we will ship to AE/AP and anywhere else for a small fee. Post us and let us know where you want it sent to!

There are two ways to order: First, you can Post Jessi and tell her you're ready to get Your Binder! She'll take your order, arrange your payment, and send you out an invoice within a couple of days. We're pre-ordering the binders for a Feburary 15th release date. That date is the official "release date" of many of the BSA's revisions of publications; the new Scoutmaster's Handbook has already been released and the Venturing Leader Handbook is due for release soon. New versions of the Insignia Guide, the Advancement Procedures booklet and about 20 other existing BSA publications are also being released or revised in the "binder-sized" format during the spring of 2000!

The other way to order is to send your personal check or money order for $24.12, along with the shipping and handling charge you choose to the following address. Please enclose your EMAIL ADDRESS and VOICE PHONE NUMBER with the check so that when it is received here, we can quickly send your invoice and other information to you in advance of YOUR BINDER. The address:

Rose Walton PC Coaches
15201 Greenhaven Drive, #129
Burnsville, MN 55306-7130

(Minnesota residents -- we're required to charge that 6.5% sales tax no matter what. Please don't ask us not to charge it...we base the charge on your mailing address!)

PLEASE EXPECT DELIVERY TO START NO LATER THAN 15 Feburary. ALL of the binders must be paid for in advance; we're dealing with two new companies and they demand payment up front in advance. Your email address will also allow us to send you updated information on the status of YOUR BINDER, and to ask you for special information to personalize YOUR BINDER before we send it to you.

So...

(PS: The first 70 orders get some special items *in their binders*!! Can't tell you what it is but you'll be happy with them!! (at least we hope you will be!)

Jessi and I cannot begin to thank all of those whom have previously posted and asked about My Binder! and how to get one, two or ten of them!! We were really heart-broken when we had to announce the cancellation of the offer; we are now ready to go again and we've spent this time confirming with our suppliers that all parts of My Binder! and My Professional Binder! will be available and ready to ship before the 15th of Feburary.

So, unless the world truly comes to an end, or we start seeing the USPS being replaced by cybermail, or something like that, we'll be sending My Binder! and My Professional Binder outward.

Please help us to promote this project by letting others know about it....we're limited on how much TRUE advertising we can do via the established Scouting forums and mailing groups and since Mike and I help make those rules up, we're trying our best to live with those rules we set up!

Once again, My Binder! and My Professional Binder! are NOT products of, has not been endorsed by, or approved by the Boy Scouts of America or the Girl Scouts of the USA. It is a product which is ONLY available presently through this website, and is not available presently through any other source.

My Binder! and My Professional Binder! are trademarked items to describe the distinctive binders and it's contents made for Scouting youth and adult leaders by Rose Walton PC Coaches.