Lincoln's Birthday.

It is an interesting association / reminder date for me. 32 years ago on February 12th, I sat for my board of review held by members of our boy scout troop's committee and a representative from our district for the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. Yes, and they saw fit to approve the application too!

It was in the meeting rooms of the Astoria Presbyterian Church on 33rd street, next door to where I lived. Troop 90 was sponsored by the church since 1928.

Scouting was good for me. The program kept me off the streets while growing up. Scouting got me out of the city for weekend trips to the country. Events got me comfortable with alergies. The advancement program expanded my horizons. The merit badge program re-enforced things I liked to do - stamp collecting, coin collecting and railroading were my first three merit badges, followed eventually by printing, computers and photography. All topics which have become connected with my profession. (I have often said that if you look at a fellows merit badge sash you could see what he was to become in life.)

Being in a troop taught me a bit about group dynamics, personalities, different opinions and religious beliefs.

I was involved in the program since a cub scout, so at 16 when I became Eagle,  I was in the scout uniform for half my life. It was a big thing to have completed the advancement levels.

It has been a foundation to give back. I followed the example of the scoutmaster at the time, Joseph Chavatel. He earned his Eagle Award in the troop in 1964, and when he returned from service in Vietnam got involved in the troop as scoutmaster for 7 years. When his job took him to Washington DC, after a short interium, I took over the troop as scoutmaster which I did for 15 years until moving out to Wisconsin. Sadly after the short service of the scoutmaster after me, and 70 years in Astoria the troop closed.

However, I still see the program as a positive, and have remained active on a Venture Crew committee here in Central Wisconsin.

I've even gotten to write a book - the Standard Price Guide of U.S. Scouting Collectibles, which is still availale (autographed) from the author at a discounted $15.00 postpaid.

Do I disagree with some of the policies of the movement? Yes. (Can you say the three Gs) But as Michael Bloomberg reminded us in attendance during a Greater New York Council Eagle Scout Dinner some years ago (before becoming mayor of NYC) it is better to remain in the movement and try to affect change from within than leave the movement and try to do it from the outside as a non-member.

The Museum of American Finance has re-opened at a new location on Wall St.

Now at 48 Wall Street, the location is the former main banking room of the Bank of New York. A 20-year leese has been signed for 30,000 sq. feet of space which includes the main floor exhibit area, a 250 seat theater, classrooms, as well as collection storage and staff space.

The exhibition space features several theme-specific exhibition areas. The Financial Markets includes informaiton and displays in trading stocks, bonds and futures. Examples of historic stocks and bonds are on display, as well as examples of commodities. Banking in America traces the historiy of institutions. Monitors are places in a semi-circle around the top of the marble entrance stairway. Also in this area are a group of kisoks with video interviews honoring Entrepreneurs telling their success stories. There is a room dedicated to Alexander Hamilton (founder of the Bank of New York), and a "vault" featuring development of Money in America, from colonial times, thru obsolete currency and the begining of Federal currency to today's Federal Reserve Notes. There is special exhibition space for temporary displays as well as a 48-seat theater and a well stocked money themed gift shop. The exhibition area was designed by the firm of C&G partners, under the team leadership of Jonathan Alger.

The main bank floor includes eight large murals painted in 1928 by J. Monroe Hewlett depicting images related to banking, manufacturing and international trade.

Museum president Lee Kjelleren and museum founder John Herzog were on hand to greet visitors at the members reception, and to inform us of the decision by Duncan L. Niederauer, CEO of NYSE Euronext that the Musuem will be considered the defacto visitor center for the New York Stock Exchange.

Open Tuesday-Saturday, close on federal and market holidays. Admission is $8. for adults, $5 for children and seniors. See www.financialhistory.org