Re: Support for GSUSA leaders
Robert Gerhard (ZonieCat@AOL.COM)
Thu, 13 Feb 1997 11:22:52 -0500
In a message dated 97-02-11 18:48:03 EST, you write:
<< it seems that the Girl Scouts have completely lost the concept of
patrols/dens/etc. The meetings always seemed to involve the whole
troop, with (at least at the Brownie and Juniors levels) a couple of
adults trying to plan and run things.
The program seemed also in many ways to be hampered by over-regulation.
As bad as the BSA can be at times on this, the GSUSA seemed to go out of
its way to inhibit activities other than normal meetings. From what I
have seen, this tends to lead to almost everyone dropping out before
they reach high school (so then it becomes that much harder to use the
patrol method).
Is this true in other parts of the country, or was this just the way
things were done around where I lived (MD). >>
A little of both. My wife and I had a large troop in West Texas. Most
things were done by the troop as a whole, but we did have individual patrols.
We were, however, one of the only troops to have patrols; most just weren't
large enough.
As far as doing things other than the troop meetings, this probably varies
from council to council. Our troop was very active and never had any trouble
from the council when we wanted to go camping or hiking, do service projects,
participate in events (parades, fairs), etc. But then, as I stated in
another post, our council was very supportive of us. (I'm begining to get
the feeling that we were lucky in having "one of the good ones" as head of
our council!)
Of course, in our new troop things are very different. Little to no
organization or planning, far fewer girls, very little communication from the
leader outside of the meetings. I guess this exemplifies how the quality of
the program varies in direct proportion to the commitment of the leaders.
(sigh) But we continue to be supportive in the belief that it is a two-way
street, and the feeling that we are about to inherit another troop and will
need that support!
Robert Gerhard
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
