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What can YOU do?

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BSA Logo strongValuesThe world around us is an interesting place. You don’t have to look far to recognize shifting moral norms, busy lives, selfish attitudes, or misguided priorities. We all struggle with balance. This is one of the reasons that Scouting is so important as it teaches us about our capabilities (boys and leaders), how to overcome hard things, and how to serve others.

In light of recent public debate about the BSA’s membership policies (I’m not going to delve into that subject just yet – but soon) I find the outcome – meaning organizations abandoning their charters, and leaving Scouts without a Troop – to be a bit sad. I’ve even been in touch with Troops who are losing their trailer and gear because the charter org won’t let them take it with them to a new charter org. Even though the scouts did the work to earn it.

As I sat in a troop committee meeting yesterday, I struggled a little bit with the attitudes and organization of the meeting. I’m “just” the ASM over the new scout patrol (11-year-old Scouts or EYO) so I don’t have a lot of clout on the committee, but as we have a new charter organization, and are just chartering a new Troop, Team, and Crew, I was enthusiastic about this opportunity to start Scouting up “right”. To get everyone on board with the program, get them trained, get them excited about Scouting so they could deliver a great program to the boys.

Unfortunately as the committee chair started the meeting, I was struck by some of the immediate derision of certain Scouting policies (granted some at the district level) and/or training, lack of concern that some leaders that will be on the charter have not yet completed their youth protection training (YPT) despite the fact that our charter org requires YPT and BSA Registration *before* any contact with the scouts, and a generally lackadaisical attitude towards organizing the units.

So as I left the meeting a little disheartened – I’ve been contemplating the question, “What can YOU (meaning me/I) do?”

It would be easy to throw up my hands and submit to a sub-par Scouting experience and/or organization. It would be easy to become disgruntled, to complain, to become difficult to work with. It would be easy to be frustrated and angry about it and therefore have those attitudes reflected in my work with the Scouts.

Instead however, I believe I have the choice and the responsibility to do the opposite. To give them the benefit of the doubt. To realize they’re lacking some training, as well as motivation for scouting that I feel blessed to possess and hope to enable or facilitate them obtaining.

I can model Scouting in a positive light. I can provide encouragement, mentoring, guidance. Lead by example, display enthusiasm and support for those things I know are important.

When a Scouting program is not running properly – it is generally due to lack of leadership and lacking leadership is generally the result of lacking training. Training leads to competency, but it also opens up the door to what I call “Scouting Conversion” which to me means catching the vision of why Scouting is important. When you catch the vision, you know it’s not just about Scouting, and not just about fun activities or entertaining the boys. It’s a mission – a responsibility, a duty to fulfill and help our scouts develop their character and attributes that will help them be successful and contributing members of society.

Conversion to scouting provides motivation. It encourages you to sacrifice personal desires and attitudes for those things that are more important than selfish motivation. It provides a framework for success and for powerful learning opportunities for scouts and leaders alike.

So for those of you struggling in a Scouting role, or even a non-scouting role.. let’s commit to each other to not become discouraged. To not feel helpless. To focus on those things which we have power and responsibility to change.

Each of us has committed to “Do Our Best”. So let’s do it – even if it’s hard, or unpleasant. The results will be nothing short of miraculous. That much I know.

The post What can YOU do? appeared first on Latter-day Scouting.


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