Introduction
Elizabeth Basden (SanAngl@AOL.COM)
Wed, 31 Jul 1996 23:17:57 -0400
I've held off on the introduction until I got the hang of the list.
My main interest is Girl Scouts; I'm a leader, trainer, etc. I was a Girl
Scout as a child and make sure my daughters have an equally great childhood
full of experiences that they can't get anywhere else by volunteering an
enormous amount of my life to that objective. Whew!
As the list is mostly full of Boy Scout stuff, let me establish my BSA
credentials.
My son was a Boy Scout on and off through military moves, etc. So I speak as
a
parent, not in a leadership role. I maintain my BSA membership as I REALLY
BELIEVE in the program and support it! I've traveled to the interior of
Mexico with the local council of Boy Scouts for an event.
There are several points I would like to bring up from common threads:
1. Rob and others: I know the flea song very well, but that's a dead issue!
2. Indulge me: Why do so many of you end with lines like "I used to be a
bobwhite" or I used to me a fox" or "I used to be a bear" or "I used to be a
beaver." What does this mean? Please answer kindly in the spirit of
scouting. Thanks.
3. Evette: You can be active in both organizations BSA and GSUSA (not GSA
-- hasn't been called that for many years). You would perhaps be surprised
that the same people who run the PTA , Sunday School, etc. are involved in
both sides of scouting. There are no conflicts, only common goals for the
good of children. However, you should be aware from the onset that these are
2 distinct organizations that sprang from a common background. There are
similarities and dissimilarities. As much as it might pain diehards from
either organization, neither has ALL THE ANSWERS. Some things one org. does
better than the other, and in other cases the other does it better. Go in
with an open mind. The unhappy volunteer is the one who says that the Boy
Scout way to do things is best OR vice versa (usually the loyalty is to the
organization joined first.) Also, if one is willing to spend $50 on a
backpack or hiking boots for a boy, the same should be true for girls. Good
luck and have fun!
4. I've been so surprised by the intense discussion about the camping MB. I
appreciate the calm voices who have spoken against adding to the
requirements. I would ask you to remember the boy who moves often due to
family transfers or drops out for a year or two due to a bully of a patrol
leader and must coaxed into a new group. 6 months? a year? I thought the
object was not just earning badges and advancing in rank, but rather
participating, learning, experiencing, and having fun. By the way, my son
did not attain Eagle, but boy did he have some FABULOUS times in Boy Scouts
doing things other kids can only dream of. I asked him today if he ever
earned the CMB, he thought for a moment, then said "no, I don't think so--
remember the 20 night rule?" But he knows the weekend (before we really
practiced low impact) he made a lean-to of pine boughs and returned home
covered in pitch (6th grade) or the weekend he was the emcee at the camporee
campfire (11th grade) or the short time he was a counselor at summer camp and
returned home a man (10th grade). By the way, he hates me talking like this,
but summer camp counselor was a life-changing experience. He grew up and I
credit BSA.
5. I'm also a Cadette leader and my daughter and I will attend National
Convention in October. e-mail me so we can meet.
I know this is so long, but at least it's all fairly orginal. I look forward
to the list each day and hope you take these suggestions in the spirit they
are offered.
EV
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
