Rumours - e-net.
Mark McCormack (markmc@ecn.net.au)
Wed, 23 Jul 1997 22:33:29 +1000
Hi Linda,
Unfortunately rumours ccan effect the unit as a whole, the last rumour
effected a fair number of people participating in an activity, mainly all
the new people coming up from scouts and thus do not know me nor know what
to expect in Venturers. WIth new people joining I have had to knock on the
head of misconceptions but sadly the damage has been done.
The activity was a video evening plus with out informing me a sleep over in
the hall. (the sleep over did not happen) Some of the new kids heard that
the videos were going to be R rated and some others heard that the sleep
over was going to involve alcohol. 2 things things which I totally reject
as appropriate for this age group nor is it legal. I have had a clash of
wills with the other leader as to what is or is not appropriate for venturers.
Normally rumours do not occur because there are good lines of communication
between the leaders and the youth members. At present this is not the case.
A couple of years ago in another unit one leader decided to retire, and
people also liked to gossip, The rumour as to why this leader left was wild
to say the least, I heard it with in 2 days of it being started, very
unusual, and immediately started damage control. The unfortunate factor was
that this rumour was not nice and needed quick action, it did not effect me
but all the same action was needed before real damage is done. The damage
being what that is being percieved by the youth members about us as leaders
and a negative attitude towards us does no one any good.
I do like your comment about the disclaimer and all rumours will be banished
etc., I'll try it.
Thanks for the imput.
Mark
At 19:01 22/07/97 -0700, you wrote:
>Mark,
>I always preface an outing with the disclaimer that all rumors will
>be banished and explained before we leave the parking lot to go home.
>
>When rumors are told to me about myself, I remind the informer that
>until I hear them from the source, I have not heard them. If someone
>can not talk to me to my face then they don't want me to know bad
>enough.
>If rumors are circulating around the Troop about things I have
>nothing to do with I ignore them.
>When something is important, my people come to me directly.
>
>____
>Yours in Scouting,
>Scoutmaster, Linda K. Clossen
>Troop 135
>Gerald R. Ford Council
>Grand Rapids, Michigan
>..I used to be sane...
>
>
| 
