The REAL problems aboard ship
Kevin Buffington (bk618@earthlink.net)
Fri Jun 12 00:46:00 1998
Normally, I'm not one to air the dirty linen but I guess I have to,
since basically I'm asking for ideas relating to my feeling as to a lack
of personal success with my ship and how to make it better.
Background - FORGET IT! I just wrote three paragraphs and it started
sounding like I was looking for a pat on the back for the tons of
thankless hours I've put in.
Current - I have been a Mate for two years and Skipper of this ship for
three. I am a seven day a week Skipper. Membership is adults 4 youth 8(6
male,2female). I have one Mate(great guy). We have trained the youth
officers in leadership and planning skills and we function as advisors
not dictators. We try to ask them questions to consider when they are
working an issue and occasionally have to remind them of the rules
relating to various things and put our foot down. We have a ship
membership meeting twice a month and a Quarterdeck meeting once a month.
We(one youth and one adult per boat)race a couple Cal 20 sail boats each
week(other youth waiting till schools out). We just had a Memorial Day
weekend cruise at Catalina Island and are planning to go back next
weekend. We have a once a month vessel maintenance day and a half day
harbor trash cleanup day. We have a 32' Grand Banks Trawler, six cal 20
sailboats, a whaler tender, small sailing dingies, and just purchased 5
double kayaks.
Problems -
1. Oldest youth age 19 was only youth under old skipper and opposes
authority, advancement,and is really only around because he's dating one
of the girls. We have unsuccessfully tried to give him leadership
opportunities.He sets a bad example and have discussed this with him.
Other youth follow his lead. The Charter Rep. wants to kick him out. Now
I've got another boy(Mate's son) dating the other girl. They really
resist supervision but I have Capt. Blhye about two deep, adult female
attendance and especially not dissapearing, which hasn't gotten me the
good guy award.
2. Membership recruitment - We have posted flyers all over the city and
at the local schools. I think it's all about really getting the message
out but flyers aren't it.
We attended the area Boy Scout roundtable(Scoutmasters meeting)they
suggested we put on a boating day so at the local yacht club, we put all
kinds of boats in the water to take scouts out in the harbor, bought
food for a barbeque and NOT ONE Scoutmaster or youth atteded. I haven't
spoken to them since.
3. Rank advancement - Two of eight still havn't passed apprentice after
a year (one is my Mates son). The rest are Apprentice. I thought about
incorporating Ordinary Rank training into our 7 day summer cruise
balanced with the fun stuff but there is only a limited time. We have
scheduled classes on these subjects but nobody is interested. Some one
on one has worked but too time consuming. How can I make this training
fun, time effective, and entice them to attend. Food won't do it!
4. Training - I asked the youth if they wanted to go to Rendezvous this
year and told them that I felt every one of them could go and getting a
passing score on whatever the planned to compete in. They initially felt
it should be a fun outing. I did not want to take them if they don't
practice because I'm not going to take them anywhere to fail or waste
alot of ship funds. After a discussion they decided that they did want
to go and needed to schedule regular practice to be able to do well. No
practice days have been set. I will keep reminding them about time
slipping away.How do these other units get so well trained?
It seems the only thing they are really interested in is getting away
from adults (including us)and having fun.
I would be the immediate hero if i were to announce NO training, no work
details, no vessel maintenance, and no environmental harbor cleanup.
This to some degree is the mantra of the 19 yearold and his mother who
always reminds us that this is NOT the Navy or Coast Guard.
I have discussed the breakup of Exploring with the whole ship and
informed them that our Chartering Organization and myself have no
intention of breaking away from the 26 year charter as a traditional Sea
Scouting Unit and degrade itself to a sailing social club. This may be
the opportunity for the youth and parents that would like to be "just
social" to do so if they can find a sponsor.
When I get tough on them and start forcing them to do their stuff they
rebel, when I advise them and give them their lead, it is painfully slow
or never gets done. This balancing act is my eternal dilemma.
I guess I would be referred to as pretty tough if you asked the majority
of youth and some parents and not tough enough if you asked other
adults.
Any ideas on these subjects?
PS please excuse the typing, I just had eye surgery and can't see too
well yet.
Kevin Buffington
Skipper
SES 618
Redondo Beach. Ca
Ship Home Page http://home.earthlink.net/~bk618/
| 
