Re: The Scout Police
(no name) ((no email))
Fri, 3 Nov 1995 08:47:59 -0600
At 11:54 PM 11/2/95 -0500, you wrote:
>I'm known for quoting the guides and policy books to answer folks' questions,
>(not just here on the list, but in the snail world too!) but I also fully
>believe that Scouting IS NOT an exact science. I simply believe that you must
>know all the rules, policies and guidance in order to make an informed
>decision. And I always point out to the "hardliners" that when the policy
>says "should", "may", "encouraged to" it means just that - no stone writing
>there! But when it says "will" and "will not" (as in local councils and
>units will not change advancement requirements without approval of national
>or beds of trucks will not be used to transport people) ) then that is what
>it means!
Unfortunately, that's NOT what some local Councils feel, Jim. Each local
Council acts independently of the national organization and some feel that their
special situation merits a "change" in the way that they "interpret" the
National policy. Note that I said "interpretation", not "denial" or "refusal"
of the policy.
The advancement policy always gets some here (and elsewhere) in some
disconnect between what is said here (which reflects official policy as we
can get it, or read it, or post it, or know of it) and what the local
Council says "This is the way WE'RE going to do it". Between a volunteer
with a stack of books, all pointing to the exact pages, and a Council Scout
Executive that has been a professional for 22+ years, the scales are tipped
way on the CE's side despite what "national says" or what's "found in the
book". This list has been extremely successful in the past in getting the
collective attention of the Program Group in getting some of those
disconnects solved, but still, it's a matter of whether or not YOUR local
Council is going to "play the game according to the official rulebook or
from their "own rulebook", which they can modify
and a simple memo to National explaining the reason(s) why, gets them off
the hook.
>Gets back to my post (was it last week or week before?) where I said if it is
>safe, moral, ethical and legal, you will be okay 98 percent of the time --
>the other 2 percent requires that book quoting knowledge! :-)
Yep, and a good crossing of the fingers helps too.
I guess this is a good time to remind folks of what's stated in the WELCOME
letter we've all recieved. In the letter, there's a statement that your
BEST source of what's "officially done in your Council", is your local
Council. I can give example over example of policies which are done three
different ways in any two local Councils, without penalty to anyone (except,
as I've written here several times before, our youth and some adult
members). It's unfortunate, but it's changing....our new Chief Scout
Executive is quietly getting those local Councils that are doing "something
different" to come around to what the National literture, training support,
and the Regional Directors are expressing to the field. It's going to take
some time, but in the meantime, all we can do
is to continue to do things as close as possible to what is stated in our
literture and materials, and when that can't be done, to innovate and be
bold in what you choose to do (and don't forget to explain why, because
sooner or later, *someone* from National or your Region will ask why you're
doing it...you're not doing something bad, they want to know what created
the need to do this YOUR way (or the way that your District, or local
Council is doing it).
Those things become new policies and procedures which some local Councils
will not follow anyway....
What a cycle!
Settummanque!
(MAJ) Mike L. Walton (Settummanque, the blackeagle) (
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