Gealic Wolf Pages - A Challenge to Service

The Gaelic Wolf Scouting Pages have become quite a success. Our ISP where=
the pages are=20
hosted report that we have one of the most popular non-commercial sites t=
hat they know=20
of. With an average of over a hundred visits a day, things are going well.

Thank you all very much for your enthusiastic support.

This announcement of an addition is a bit longer than we usually indulge =
in, and I ask=20
you patience for my posting this during the holiday season.

I've noticed, over the years, a decline in the amount of high-value servi=
ce to others=20
in some of the Scout Associations, particularly in the more prosperous na=
tions. That=20
said, our new project is to bring quality service to others back into foc=
us as sharply=20
as possible.

Ours is a world that has many very serious needs, many of which are overw=
helming to our=20
governments and the many organisations founded to deal with such issues. =
All too often=20
we read of these problems in the newspaper or see them on what passes for=
news on=20
television, shake our heads because of our perceived powerlessness to do =
anything=20
significant toward making a positive change, and go on about our business.

Worse yet, many of us turn our heads at the sight of the homeless, ill-cl=
othed, or=20
socially outcast, so that they will become invisisble to us, as troubled =
as we may be=20
by what we see. Our children see us do this, and they, too, will do the s=
ame.

However, as members of the Scouting family, even more than as individuals=
, each of us=20
CAN make a difference, even when we, too, may be hungry or cold.. Let's t=
ake up the=20
challenge to do so.=20

Here is the newest text from the home page of The Gaelic Wolf Scouting Pa=
ges, jsut to=20
get you started:

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D

Added 27 December 1996 =97 A Challenge to Service

Scouting is, and always has been, a movement that=20
provides service to others. We are always reminded=20
of this in our Scout Promise, when we say words=20
to the effect, "...to help other people..."

Unfortunately, many of us have softened that focus=20
to the point where we feel really good aout doing=20
the occasional community service, such as making=20
improvements to a local park. While this is a good=20
thing to do, is it really enough? There are, after=20
all, a lot of very pressing problems where we can=20
make a very real difference in the lives of others.

A Challenge to Service is a section of pages where=20
we challenge each and every one of you to go out=20
and make that difference. Since we do not have a=20
handle on all of the areas where your very real=20
help is needed, we invite you to offer us more=20
challenges to include in the page. When you adopt=20
and begin working on a challenge, we would like you=20
to let us know what you are doing, so that we can=20
share your success with others around the world.

The level of challenge can be daunting, but we can=20
make a tremendous difference by working together as=20
a Scouting family of more than 17 million youth=20
members and Leaders. Don't be shy!

As our teaser, we offer the first challenge from the=20
page. Come along to see the others!

Challenge #1

We were talking with one of the administrators=20
at our son's school. Our conversation ranged=20
over many things, but one that stands out the=20
most was when she told us how hard it is to=20
watch some of the children at lunch on the=20
last day of school for the week, or just before=20
a holiday. They fill up their trays as much as=20
they can, because they are at least certain of=20
eating well for that meal.

It connected very much with my wife, because=20
she had an experience while providing a tour=20
for an inner-city class of students. Her=20
organisation provides lunch as part of these=20
facillity tours. One youngster came to her and=20
asked quietly if he could take one of the extra
lunches home to his mother, because they had no=20
food at home, and she had not eaten for a few=20
days.

Without pointing out any one nation, we have to=20
mention that this takes place in one of the=20
highly industrialised "first world" countries,=20
where such hunger is a more or less "hidden"=20
problem. It could very well be the nation where=20
you are sitting and reading this. Hunger is=20
everywhere.

What can you do to change this? Please tell us.

Please keep one thing firmly in mind. These are not, for the most part, "=
one-off"=20
projects that you can do and then go on to something else. Most of the ch=
allenges will=20
involve a long-term committment of one sort or another. However, these ar=
e all in the=20
best traditions of Scouting Service as envisioned by B-P. It's supposed t=
o be part of=20
who we are...

One of the major things about this set of pages on community challenges i=
s that we=20
would like any and all Scout Groups, Districts, and national Scout Associ=
ation offices=20
to tell us about projects they become involved in as a result of these ch=
allenges. This=20
provides an opportunity for both feedback and resources for others who wi=
sh to do the=20
same types of projects in their communities.

Drop by at the WWWaddress below. There are more challenges there now, and=
many more to=20
come, I am certain.

Norman

--=20
____________________________________________________________

Try this Scouting Link in your WWW browser:

http://www.win.net/~gws/gaelwolf/home.htm

Includes "The Serious Side of Scouting" pages where we take
on subjects such as ADD and survival training courses
for Scouts and Leaders, along with much, much more!

All pages optimised for use with the Netscape Navigator.
____________________________________________________________

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