Re: What to do with Previous SPL's
Alan Houser (troop24@EMF.NET)
Wed, 19 Jun 1996 23:18:39 -0700
Robert Morley <Rmorley@STATE.MA.US> asks:
>I am unsure what to do with the SPL and ASPL. These two positions were voted
>on during a major reorganization of the troop. I don't expect the SPL to be
>re-elected, nor do I expect the ASPL to be re-appointed.
>What should I do with these two scouts. I am unsure about putting them back
>in the patrols. I dont' want them to feel "Demoted".
In the past, our oldest Scouts had formed the Senior Patrol and had
remained in the Senior Patrol after serving as SPL until they graduate
and go off to college. However, in the last two years, that has changed.
The PLC decided last year that they would have the troop vote to select
the members of the Senior Patrol, as well the Senior Patrol Leader.
(Previously, promotion to the Senior Patrol was decided by a consensus
between the existing members and the adult leaders.)
This year, two of the members had decided to step down and rejoin regular
patrols on their own. They would have certainly been reelected, but felt
that it was time for someone else to step forward.
There are two benefits from this that I foresee:
First, the two patrols will suddenly have a great deal more leadership.
Neither of the two will be patrol leaders, but they will be a great
resource to their respective patrol leaders.
Second, the new members of the Senior Patrol also have the benefit of
having these guys around as they learn to lead the troop. But they also
know they are ultimately responsible.
I am quite pleased with what they have decided, because they have also
set a new precedent: one doesn't have to remain a Senior Patrol member
forever. One is an Eagle, the other I expect to be Eagle by year's end,
so that doesn't have to mean that you remain a Senior either.
The key thing here is they have decided on their own what to do. My
suggestion here is, what do they want to do? If they ask for advice,
work with them to find a solution that meets everyone's needs.
Otherwise, let them decide what would be the best plan, then help them
work it out.
As for the suggestion that they could serve as Troop Guides, I have
often said the Troop Guide position is almost as important if not more
important than SPL. You really want to have one of your very best
Scouts there for the new Scouts. But, as Peter Farnham notes, if your
ex-SPL or ex-ASPL doesn't work well with the new Scouts, that's not
where you want him. My problem is both of these Scouts have been
Troop Guide, and don't want to do it again.
(BTW, the last four SPL's in Troop 24 have been Troop Guides. It is
a great experience for them to practice leadership every week. Not
to mention recruiting votes....)
Alan R. Houser ** Scoutmaster, Berkeley Troop 24 ** troop24@emf.net
** WWW page ** http://www.emf.net/~troop24/t24.html **
Scoutmaster, Mt. Diablo Silverado Council Contingent Jamboree Troop #3
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
