EOAs & Sea Scout Knots
William H. Sills (whs@idcnet.com)
Sun Jan 25 15:20:44 1998
Cameron Mulder has the correct idea about how an EOA may be worth the time
and effort that are required to make it successful. Our local Sea Scouts
have helped Fire, Police, Air and and High Adventure posts as well as troops
and packs.. His EOA helped his local council Sea Scout Squadron's commodore.
His EOA did something concrete.
The USA's BSA uses embroidered square knots (and one overhand
knot) patches to represent hard medal awards such as top youth achievements,
eg. Quartermaster Sea Scout, Air Scout Ace, Rover Ranger, Explorer Silver,
Boy Scout Eagle, Cub Scout Arrow of Light and/or training/Honour awards. The
knot insigniae are worn in rows of three in lieu of the medals over the port
(left) breast pocket in a manner similar to military campaign ribbons.
There are two purveyors that carry Sea Scouting knots in Sea Scout navy,
white and khaki (as opposed to BSA tan). Northeast Region Sea Exploring
Flotilla Vice Commodore Rafi Y. A. Sharif has a firm called Zetamax. They
have every specialized Sea Scout knot as well as knots for Air Scout Ace,
Rover Ranger and Explorer Silver. His e mail address is rafizx@erols.com
Then, The Ship's Stores is our specialty supplier of all types of Sea Scout
uniforms, charts, insignia, and miscellany. They are located in Western
Flotilla in the Modesto/Stockton area. Contact Skipper Rod Mortenson at
tuolumne2@aol.com Their catalogue can be read and/or downloaded from the
internet.
Both of the above can be found linked to the Sea Scout web site at
http://www.idcnet.com at the uniforms section page.
Regarding EOA and other Scout programs. My Sea Scouts enjoy the
company of other young adults. They are considering traveling to the Rover
Moot in Canada, several Sea Scouts competed in the UK last September. We
have excellent relations with the Scouts de Honduras, El Salvador and
Guatamala. The point is not whether kids like each other but what an EOA or
Senior Scouting organization must do to be effective and useful. EOAs that
think of concrete tasks, that make effective step-by-step plans to reach
their goals and keep on each other until they have succeeded are the ones
that will be well attended and considered as worthwhile. The BS ones will
fail. That is why council Quarterdecks usually succeed even when their EOAs
become moribund.
Further, more effort must be put into keeping EOAs going. Local
council Squadron Quarterdecks have boats, bases, Long Cruises and equipment
that require constant attention. EOAs must "make work" to be effective since
they represent so many diverse programs. Quarterdecks know what they must
cover so there's less creative thinking about agendae needed. EOAs can and
should be more "global" in their thinking. Also, since there is less
"carryover" and litlle repetition, they need a dynamic EE to succeed.
Yoouung adults hate to waste their "valuable" time but love to be
crowded together. EOAs must get lots of kids to attend so pop, snacks, fun
and a goal they can EASILY SEE must be part of each meeting! I am sure that
this is true of every program in every country because our youth are really
the same and their differences are primarily superficial.
YISS;
Bill Sills
USA Sea Scout Leader
cameron mulder wrote:
> With the recent discussion about EOA i thought i would take a minuet and
> talk about what the Oregon Trail Council EOA has done, and possible get
> some help from the Sea Explorers on this list.
>
> The OTC EOA was formed in November of 97. Our major accomplishment
> since then has been sending our Council Commodore to Seabadge.
>
> In my council Sea Exploring is not a big program by any stretch of the
> imagination and that really to bad. It is a great program, I would be a
> sea explorer if i could (closest ship is a hour drive and i don't have
> the time to form a ship were i live). So the EOA officers were sitting
> around trying to think of things to do to help exploring in general and
> for some reason our council commodore's name came up, he has been a good
> friends to all of us for a long time. We decided the best thing we
> could do for Sea Explorer would be to get him the training he needs to
> be the best Commodore possible. So we quickly go onto the Sea Exploring
> web Site (i REALLY wish every cluster of exploring had a site like
> that). We looked at the various training possible and found out about
> SeaBadge. Quickly we called the course director for the one in western
> Region and were sent info. Then we all worked on getting pledges and
> were able not only to buy the gas to get there, pay for registration and
> get him back. But he have a little $$$ left over. So now we want to
> get him the Unofficial SeaBadge knot, because it looks cool, he doesn't
> like the Official one, and it would be nice to present to him at the
> next EOA meeting.
>
> So can any of you Sea Exploring help? I can't post to any Sea Exploring
> Mailing List because he is a member of them.
>
> So in the short existence of Oregon Trail Council EOA, we have done
> something. And i think its something that will have a positive impact
> on Exploring in my council. Without EOA he would never have known or
> had the ability to go to SeaBadge (he is a rather poor person
> unfortunately). That alone in my mind justifies having the EOA.
>
> YIE
> Cameron Mulder
> EOA Chair
|
