Re: General Questions
(no name) ((no email))
Thu, 2 May 1996 00:16:47 -0500
Pat asked:
>New scoutmaster still trying to figure things out -
There are some of us "old hands" still trying to figure things out too,
Pat...don't feel bad!!
>>From a short thread some time back -
>What is "Key 3" and related topics? How many of these >keys are there?
"Key Three" (in some local Councils, there's a "Key 4 or
Key 5") doesn't relate to a "badge or medal" as in "Scouters'
Key" or "Advisor's Key".
The wording "Key (pick your number)" refers instead to the
three, four or five KEY INDIVIDUALS managing your District or Council.
This includes the District Chair, the District Commissioner and District
Executive(s) of your District (hence, the additional numbers above three) on
a District level; on
a local Council level, this could be the Council President,
Council Commissioner, (Council) Scout Executive, and perhaps
the Assistant Council (Scout) Executive in larger Councils.
This could ALSO include the YOUTH representative, as it
does when I and other Exploring leaders talk about "Key Three" leadership:
youth (the Council or District Exploring
Officers' Association Chair), volunteer (the Council or District Exploring
Chair) and professional (the Council or District staff member assigned to
Exploring, the Exploring Executive or
Director, or the District Executive).
In some larger Districts and local Councils, this "key number"
could be larger (to SEVEN, in some Districts!).
The tradition of the "Key Three" goes back to the earlier days
of the start of the BSA in America. When Councils were being formed, there
was careful concern to maintain the volunteer
"influnce" into the program. Hence, when the first professsionals were
being hired, it was decided that three men would manage the program at the
Council, as it was then at the National level (the BSA left the position of
National Commisisoner vacant for almost 70 years before reinstating the
position mainly as a PR ploy that blew up in their faces). At the National
level, there was a President, Commissioner and Scout Executive. Councils
were encouraged (told) to align themselves the same way, and Districts when
they were formed to do the same. The
word "key three" became a part of BSA literature since 1922, when the first
Councils were given charters.
>Still trying to figure out all the levels of bureaucracy.
We are too *grinning*.
>Also have read with specific interest the various comments >on "new scout
patrols" and matters from SM's of small >troops. I would like to know more
about how small troops >handle dealing with the patrol method. We were a
>troop of eight - now 14 (registered). We have been working >actively on
recruiting and publicity, but we still end up with a >decent "patrol" for
any given troop activity.
Why? Are your PATROL LEADERS' COUNCIL planning and
executing the program, or are you and other adults doing this?
Many times, kids don't want to do something that they have
little "input" or "take" on, and don't want to participate in
something that doesn't appeal to them.
You will find that Troops that use the Patrol Method and allow the
leadership of the Troop (appointed initially, elected after everyone gets a
"feel" for what's going on) to shape, fold and
move the program, that soon, you won't have that "patrol" going
anymore...you'll soon have a Troop's worth of boys going...because THEY
chose the activity and THEY conducted the program and THEY are doing it and
deciding it. Believe me, it goes a LONG, LONG way when kids are talking
about WHAT THEY DID rather than what "Mr. or Ms. So-and-So had us do...".
>I am blessed with an excellent SPL. If you use the NSP >concept, does that
patrol stay self-contained with their own >PL, APL, etc?
It could. Or in the case of your small Troop, you can do things the "old
fashioned way" of just dividing the boys along neighborhood/school areas.
>PLC is considering two patrols for the troop but NSP for us >would mean 5
brand new scouts (2-4 at any given event) as >one patrol and 4 to 6 senior
scouts (First Class and
>up) as the other patrol at the event.
There's nothing wrong with that. You'll be surpised that many
of these so-called "new Scout Patrols" end up beating the PANTS off the
"experienced Scout Patrols" simply because the experienced Scouts get "high
and mighty" pretty quickly
as opposed to the New Scouts that "want to do things (and do pull them off)
right."
>We also have a Troop Guide with reasonably good Scout >skills but an
incredible burden - the SM is his dad
>(me). His advantage is that he was the Webelos Den Chief to >these new kids.
Don't let the Troop Guide (your son) take "command" of the New Scout
Patrol....remember, his job is to COACH and GUIDE the Patrol Leader and
Assistant Patrol Leader, NOT TO DO THEIR JOBS!!!! When you see that the
Patrol can function without a Guide, you can remove the Guide (that's why the
Troop Guide is an appointed position, not an elected one).
Hope that all helps you out, Pat!!
Settummanque!
(MAJ) Mike L. Walton (Settummanque, the blackeagle) (
co-Owner, Blackeagle Services of Kentucky (502.826.7046) __)_
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