Re: A troubleing OA Election Team Situation - Did we do the right
Robert Gerhard (ZonieCat@AOL.COM)
Fri, 7 Mar 1997 14:03:48 -0500
In a message dated 97-03-05 22:05:30 EST, you write:
<< I would be interested in hearing
any other views on other ways we might have handled this situation. I also
wonder if I should mention this to our Chapter Chief and Advisor. >>
Hello, Ed.
First off, job well done! It's not always easy to stick to your guns and I
think that by not caving in to the pressure from the SM, you tought the OA
members with you an important and valuable lesson.
Second, I would mention this to the Chief and Advisor. They need to know
that there is this sort of pressure exerted on the elections team on
occasion. To be forewarned is to be prepared! (Not that every instance will
turn into a situation like this. Still, if you had thought it was a
possibility, it wouldn't have caught you off guard.)
And third, about the only think I would have done - which you probably did
but didn't mention - would be to remind the SM that OA is a honorary
membership. If Joe Scout doesn't get voted in, perhaps Joe needs to examine
his relationships with his peers. And Joe's folks need to understand this as
well. There must be a reason why his peers chose not to elect him two years
running. (Perhaps several reasons?) Joe's parents need to understand what
the OA is, how it works and how membership is determined. If they are
holding the SM responsible for their son not getting in, they obviously don't
understand how this works.
Perhaps the best way to resolve this issue is to have someone from the Lodge
contact the parents on behalf of the SM after their son does not get tapped
out. That person could explain the situation to the parents, how elections
are run and who determines membership. There is no need for this matter to
come between the SM and the parents, since neither has any influence over the
outcome of the elections.
Best of luck resolving the issue, Ed. And, again, good job!
Robert Gerhard
Brotherhood '78
Bear DL - Pack 83
Ft. Worth, TX
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