From: EC92@AOL.COM
Date: Fri Sep 01 2000 - 18:48:23 CDT
Anyone who has EVER thought that, said that, or even imagined that might be
true, step forward.
This unit had, in essence, two groups - over 16 and under 12, with just a
very few kids in between - when #2 son joined it. I realized at the Troop
Meeting that all those over 16-year-olds are now over 18 and therefore we now
have about 3-4 over 16, a patrol's worth or so between 13 and 15, and two
patrols running at 12 and three at age 11.
Older youth? Leaders?
I just pulled the records on the ASPL they chose with my son, they picked two
13-year-olds to lead them. Including the older kids, none of whom would run
for the positions that were open, choosing instead to volunteer for the
assigned duty jobs the troop needs filled. And I have no doubt these two kids
will not only lead them, they'll make sure they get trained, too.
We could have formed those older kids into a Crew, they could have
participated as little as they did anyway in the programs for their age
group, and we would have had no change in what has happened over the last two
years. Why not? Adult leadership helping youth make things happen.
Even better - they elected two of the three kids who just came out of JLTC
and now know what an "ideal" troop should run like. I can't wait.
A child shall lead them.
Tom Petrik
P.S. - for all those of you who used to be a Beaver, my #2 son pulled a list
of emoticons from somewhere on the web months ago and finally printed it, to
find this one stuck in the middle:
: =
Enjoy yourselves. By the way, you all owe me a dime for that call out to the
Scottish shop in California for a tie....
