Re: More from PTC
(no name) ((no email))
Tue, 25 Jun 1996 10:47:49 -0500
Jason wrote:
>If we are going to get picky about information, then I will right now.
>As I said in my letter about uniforming, checking the uniform guide was
>essential. And, before we start jumping on volunteers, it was a
>professional from Dallas who made the statements and answered the
>questions. Let's not get all huffy about information.
WHOA!!! Kathie was only responding to your posting, not pointing
fingers!!
Don't shoot the messenger, Jason!
>>If we can't trust PTC info, who can we trust? That's the whole point of
>>the center!
Nope, the whole point of the Volunteer Training Center is to train the
trainers of BSA leadership and support training and to allow for input
into Scouting programs by volunteers and professionals in the "field".
There's a LOT of information which gets "released" at Philmont, only to
be countermanned once the folks return back "to the home offices".
A lot of times, Jason (I know this from experience, unfortunately!), our
professional staff members will state something during a conference,
and we all take it down mentally as well as physically, and take it back
to our Councils. Only thing is, when THEY get back and try to
implement the "suggested" or "recommended" or "great idea", they
GET BLOCKED, many times by OTHER divisions that feel that the idea
was stupid (they don't understand every aspect of the program, and
what would work well with Exploring doesn't work well with everyone
else!) or because it's something OTHERS wanted to get the credit for.
I'll give you a quick example:
In 1986, 87 and 88, I was on staff at Philmont, and many times questions
were asked as to why we are still using the "team" concept (briefly:
the traditional Exploring model calls for a series of four teams, which
allows for both youth and adult input and membership: a Program
Team, which is responsible for Exploring program and support within
the District or Division; a Sales Team, which is equal to the
membership and organization/extension committees in a traditional
District; a Service Team, which is equal to the Commissioners' staff
and also arranges for training and coaching of new and experienced
youth and adults; and a Finance Team, which is identical in function
to the finance committee in a traditional District) instead of melding
those "teams" into the traditional District format and allowing youth
to serve as "non-voting, adhoc" members of those Committees.
The answer was "Why NOT??," by the two professional members
serving as professional coordinators for the conference...."We'll take
it back and implement it". There was even a followup as to how would
we split up the Service Team because some District's Commissioners'
staffs does not have training and coaching as a "critical task".
We all went back to our Councils and Regions, announcing the new
"policy" and some Councils implemented it (and it worked!). However,
there has BEEN NOTHING that in written form that has come from
the BSA's Exploring Division announcing this change!!
When I asked in 1991 about this "policy" during a meeting of
National Exploring Instructors, the former Director of the Exploring
Division simply answered "We couldn't get the Program Group to
"buy off" on the idea, and it was dropped. The present way the
Exploring Division is set up is the way it is in our literature".
So, all of us that took good faith from folks that "are in charge"
had egg on our collective faces, and which is the reason why I always
add whenever I get information like that since going online in 1990,
that "take what I give as advice, as suggestion but unless I can point
it out somewhere, NOT AS POLICY."
I think that's what Kathie was trying to say as well, except she used
many less lines than I did.
Settummanque!
(MAJ) Mike L. Walton (Settummanque, the blackeagle) (
co-Owner, Blackeagle Services of Kentucky (502.826.7046) __)_
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