Re: Passing the torch
Alan Houser (troop24@EMF.NET)
Fri, 3 Nov 1995 23:31:32 -0800
Steve Tobin <srtobin@MIRAGE.SKYPOINT.COM> asked:
>How about something new?
>I am looking forward to stepping down as Scoutmaster in a year or two
>(maybe), and am getting a Webelos father next March who is willing to take
>it on, and I think he may be a excellent candidate. Assuming I do, and he
>is, and he is, how should the transition be handled? What are the pitfalls
>to look out for? I am planning to stay on and work with troop, as well as
>working at the district level, so what are the factors involved in an ex-SM
>hanging around (such as butting out were I don't belong)?
>Been there, done it? Lay it on me...
Let me take for a moment, the perspective of the incoming Scoutmaster.
I was in that position myself, so I want to share some of the things I
did during that couple of years to get ready to be the Scoutmaster.
First, obviously, is Basic Leader Training. First available course.
Then perhaps he won't get chewed out by one of the boy leaders about it
not being Cub Scouts anymore and to let them handle it. (Long story,
not relevant beyond this much).
I also took the high adventure training course and Wood Badge, and
basically every other course I could manage during that time. Oh yes,
and Roundtables. Every single one! (We changed our meeting nights
so that both the SM & I could go to RT).
I became a Unit Commissioner. I had never seen a Unit Commissioner
before I became one, but I had read up on the position. And got trained.
Since our district commissioner staff was at a low point, I was offered
my choice of units to serve. I picked two troops that I thought I could
learn something from. (Which is not to say that I couldn't also offer
something to them). I later added a third, a brand new troop starting
from scratch.
Throughout all of this, I got to know most of the Scouters and troops
in the district, and a good many others in my council and in neighboring
councils.
By the time I became Scoutmaster, I had had the opportunity to observe
a number of different approaches to the Scouting program, and I could
pick and choose the things from each unit that I thought I could use to
help my troop when I became Scoutmaster.
Maybe not your typical approach to becoming Scoutmaster, but I had the
time to be an apprentice, so to speak, since my predecessor was not
going to walk out the door before I was scheduled to step in.
Alan R. Houser ** Scoutmaster, Berkeley Troop 24 ** troop24@emf.net
** WWW page ** http://www.emf.net/~troop24/t24.html **
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
