miscellaneous ramblings
Steve Tobin (srtobin@MMM.COM)
Tue, 30 Nov 1993 10:32:10 -0600
Mike:
> But again, I feel, it's a little too late. I still hold the opinion
> that only a volunteer or a professional that have had lots of
> volunteer interaction in his or her career, can REALLY tell the
> Scouting story and be able to relate DIRECTLY to those that they are
> trying to "sell the Scouting program" to.
> [stuff deleted all over the place...]
> It's the Cabot Guptons of the Scouting world that we need in External
> Communications, not some 22 or 28 year old slick-looking guy that has
> NEVER been a Scouter!
I find most boys coming in have a pretty fuzzy idea of what scouting is
about and what to expect. They see the hype put out and expect Boy
Scouting to be one big party. I'm going to start putting on a 'formal'
orientation for the new scouts, plus we have started working with the
Webelos groups to get them involved earlier. I think the reality is more
fun than the fiction, just harder to sell effectively.
We are a small town, with the typical small town newspaper, so we are always
welcome to provide news stories for publication. This is an opportunity that
we have made use of only sporadically. We are trying to make a point to
take pictures (the paper will even provide the camera!) and turn in stories
whenever an excuse presents itself. It has begun to pay off in little ways
(like the local community chest donating $700 to the local boy scouts for
the first time in memory, without asking) and a much greater awareness of
who we are and what we are doing. Not all papers are as cooperative, though.
On another note, I took a poll of my scouts at the troop meeting last night
on the girls in BSA issue for general curiosity. The results were (roughly)
25% for (although I question some of their motives!), 25% didn't care, and
50% were against it. Age range was 11 - 14. Some comments were; didn't
want little sisters hanging around, wanted activity with 'just guys',
wanted to be where they could 'be themselves' (whatever that means...
brings up an interesting question in itself) and so forth. The "fors" were
all older, although more older boys were against than for by a wide margin.
Interestingly, though, they have no problem with women leaders (ASM'S).
Although the women we have active are 'OK' in their eyes; i.e. don't make
them wash on campouts, don't nag to clean their tents and change their
clothes, you know, 'mom stuff'. Go figure it.
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
