Re: Volunteer attitudes about Professional Scouters
Adcdave (Adcdave@AOL.COM)
Fri, 5 Dec 1997 19:12:34 EST
In a message dated 97-12-05 11:51:44 EST, Paul.Meyermann@UNI.EDU writes:
<< In conversation with scouters absent any professionals, I have noticed a
theme of negative attitudes regarding the professionals they must deal
with. I have always thought that this was counter productive and often
unwarranted.
Why is this? >>
I have observed this to be largley due to ignorance about what a professional
is supposed to do.
Most people have very little idea of how little these people get paid, or how
much time they spend at their jobs. As a member of the District Committee or
Commissioner's Staff you find out that they typically spend about 60 hours a
week. And that most of them also have volunteer jobs also.
I have also found that professionals get blamed for a lot of decisions made by
"those people down at the Scout Office", when these decisions are made by
volunteers on various operating committees, and final approval is given by the
Council Board. These people are all volunteers, and they hire and fire the
professionals.
Of course professional scouters are also human. This means they are not
perfect, and some are better than others. This is also true of the
volunteers, so cut them a little slack, and remember we are supposed to work
together.
YIS,
Dave Hills
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
