Re: Adult Recognitions

Flame suit on. :-)

Just my 2 cents worth on adult recognitions and district/council versus
unit level:
In most places unit leaders get fewer recognitions than district et al.
But that's not always because they didn't earn them. And unit committee
members don't always know what their leaders should be earning. But that
gap can be filled by the commissioner staff. The unit commissioner
should be tracking these things for the leaders in their units. The
information should be regularly covered at Roundtables (which have
terrific programs that the unit leaders are attending, right?) I remember
wearing a couple of knots to a my first unit visit to a Scout troop I had
just been assigned as a unit commissioner. None of the boys had seen
them before and wanted to know how to earn them. Being able to point to
the religious emblem knot and the Eagle knot as something they could
strive for was helpful. And pointing out that those who had earned AOL
could already wear a knot lit up a lot of faces. Advancement and
recognition are important to boys who naturally liked to be noticed. The
second lesson it taught me was that the unit leaders weren't pursuing the
recognitions they had earned and that would inspire the boys. I fixed
that right away with the awards they had earnd but not applied for.

But I'd like to offer a proposal on the Vigil Award for Adults for
discussion: What about limiting Vigil to youth members? The OA is a
youth organization. Why would an adult want an award froma youth
organization? Adults are now inducted into the OA not as an honor, but to
serve an specific advisory purpose. There of course, is no striving by
adults to attain this honor (which is precluded from those who seek it
for themselves) so limiting it to youth shouldn't be a problem. I raise
the issue for discussion because too many times I've seen youth put
forward for Vigil with little credentials other than age in order to
"reach" an adult who wouldn't get VIGIL unless there was a youth to
balance the quota. I know this isn't true in all lodges all of the time,
but I bet it happens enough. BSA made the transition successfully with
its Eagle award (which used to be earned by adults). What if it did the
same with Vigil? If a lodge really needs to recognize an adult, there's
always the Founder's award (which can be given to two adults at a time
despite requirements otherwise - so much for rules). I mean we're not in
it for the awards, right? I'd be interested in any of your comments.

(BTW, I freely admit to having been presented the Vigil as a youth,
though it's my observation of the process as an adult that prods me to
proffer the suggestion)
Feel free to post your replies directly,

YIS

Kevin Doyle
kdoyle@hei.comm
Aloha Council, BSA
Eagle class of 1970
I used to be an Eagle (W-104-86)
I used to be a Bobwhite (W-CS-27)
E Imi Mau Oka Lokahi | }}}---|>---> | 1972

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