Re: ACTIVE, PART2
Joseph Gatton (JDG1Joe@AOL.COM)
Thu, 27 Feb 1997 22:43:44 -0500
>Linda Clossen Wrote-
>OK, Scouters, I am getting close to understanding" active".
>Give me one last question and I hope I can lay this to rest.
>Sam Scout is the PL of his patrol. He needs 6 months of active
>leadership and active participation in the troop or patrol to fulfill
>his obligations. For 3 months of the 6 months he is doing his PL job
>and for 3 months he is gone playing baseball. Do I count both the
>baseball and leadership as his six months, even though he was not at
>the meetings? Do I count the three months he is active in the troop
>and make him do three more? I am sorry, I never knew that I was so
>dense.
Linda-
I would carry it a step farther. Though he may be missing some meetings,
activities, etc., is he missing all of them? When he is missing them, is he
making sure things are getting done by leaving his APL in charge(after all,
isn't that what the APL is for)? When he is there, is he doing a good job?
How old is he and are we expecting him to take on responsibility above his
years or training? There are too many varibles and we have to handle each
case differently.
>From my own experience, I can tell you what I have observed. I often make the
comment to other leaders that I believe I have the best Scout Troop that a
Scoutmaster could possibly have. I can take them anywhere without fear of
them doing something really stupid, or embarrassing me (chances are I will
embarrass them first). One thing I have discovered is that I often brag on
"my boys" when they act so very mature, and then I catch myself getting upset
when they act their age. Though it is very difficult in Scouting, we really
need to keep things in perspective, and we must never try to make a boy
choose between sports, band, swim team, etc., and Scouts. Though we know that
Scouting is building character traits that will influence the boy's life, we
have to realize that we are looking through the eyes of an adult. If we ask a
boy to make the choice, chances are we will loose him. This is not to say we
don't have guidelines. In my Troop, the SPL and ASPL are expected to maintain
80% attendence. Troop Guides, PLs, and APLs are expected to maintain 70%.
Regardless, if a Jr. Leader is not going to attend a meeting or activity, it
is his responsibility to make sure the job gets done. Teaching leadership is
not about attendance, it is about responsibility. I have a boy that has been
a PL for 6 mos. and is just barely maintaining 70% because of sports. But
when he is at the meeting or on a campout, etc., he does a great job. We had
elections tonight, and we talked about his performance. He wanted to run for
SPL,(and would do a wonderful job) but I told him I could not support his
nomination due to attendance. He understood and also gave up the position of
PL to someone that would be more active. That, in my opinion, is leadership.
Just my $ .05 worth (inflation you know).
YIS,
Joe Gatton
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
