Re: Adult Awards, Leader Knots
Michael F. Bowman (mfbowman@CAPACCESS.ORG)
Mon, 4 Sep 1995 23:59:00 -0400
Paul Veltman,
Your frustration is understandable, especially if you haven't had much
help from your Council Service Center and have only seen knots going to
folks you have never met. I have to admit having had those thoughts when
I was a brand new ASM in 71.
I think that most of us are here because we see that youth servicing
programs can be of great help to the development of children into adults
with good character, citizenship, and personal fitness. Some of us have
migrated from positions of unit leadership to take on roles where we are
of service to other leaders as members of District Commissioner staffs,
District Committees, Council Commissioner staffs, etc. From this
perspective we get a different view of the importance of adult
recognitions. In almost any unit, it is critical to retain good leaders
and to encourage them to get as much training as possible to learn how to
put on the best possible program for the Scouts, whether by formal awards
or unit level awards.
The bottom-line is that BSA uses these recognition programs to promote
training and to encourage the retention of good leaders. Perhaps at this
point your enthusiasm is self-generating and you personally have no need
of these awards, but on the other hand don't you feel better about things
when your efforts are recognized by just a word of thanks? Sometimes not
everyone is as self-generating and these recognitions do a great deal to
help.
Of the knots that can be "earned" almost every one of them is tied to
unit service;e.g., Cub Scouter Award, Cubmaster Award, Den Leader Coach
Award, Den Leader Award, Webelos Leader Award, Tiger Group Organizer
Award, Scouter Training Award, Scouter's Key, . . . The remainder for
adults are by nomination and ones that a leader cannot set out to earn by
completing a regimine of requirements.
Perhaps in your area the recognition of unit leaders has been neglected
and this has contributed to your perceptions. As you continue to grow in
Scouting and at some later time become SM, Committee Chair, or take on a
District or Council job remember that those that serve with you deserve
recognition and help to see that they get it. Call your District
Commissioner, if you haven't met him/her and invite him/her to a
meeting. Find out who handles these training awards in your District and
take a look at the requirements cards. I think that you will see that
the training awards promote a better program for the boys by stimulating
leaders to get more training, to learn how to better conduct the program
and to stay longer.
While this is not as direct as teaching how to whip a rope or lash a camp
table, it has its place in the scheme of things. In the meantime enjoy
your work with the Scouts you serve. Hope that you will find many ideas
here that can help you as you try to help those Scouts.
Speaking only for myself in the Scouting Spirit, Michael F. Bowman
DDC-Training, GW Dist. Nat Capital Area Council mfbowman@CAPACCESS.ORG
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
