Re: An Introduction... and a few questions.
Michael F. Bowman (mfbowman@CAPACCESS.ORG)
Sat, 23 Aug 1997 15:06:37 -0400
Clayton,
I'm not sure how a planning schedule for events can be in violation of
Scouting policies, unless what you mean is that some of the events are
not appropriate for Scouting. What kinds of events are planned? Are they
dangerous? Prohibited by the Guide to Safe Scouting? Or are they ones
that you'd rather not go on?
What do you mean when you say that schedule is ill-concieved? Do events
planned conflict with school events?
It sounds like the people at your planning campout were trying their best
to pull your Troop out of a nose-dive after a period without a
Scoutmaster and where many events may not have been going well. I
suspect they meant well and were trying to do the right thing.
If you believe that things can be done better, then you need to get
together with your patrol leaders as a Patrol Leaders Council and put
together what you believe is a workable plan. Then you need to present
this to your Scoutmaster and get him/her on your side that changes can be
made. Finally, you will need to make a presentation to the Troop
Committee and after expresing appreciation for their efforts, share with
them some of your ideas, asking for their help. If both sides go at this
with a cooperative attitude, chances are that some good will come of it
and some changes will be made. The important thing is not to make this a
confrontational situation or one with merely complaints or accusations.
Those don't sell. What does sell is a demonstration of leadership,
responsibility, cooperative spirit, and friendship.
This may not be easy and may take some effort, but if you don't take time
for the effort, they may not be persuaded that you have a better way of
doing things or at least not one that should be taken seriously. On the
other hand, if they can see that you and the other Scouts are trying to
plan and do the right thing, it will be hard not to try to help you.
Speaking only for myself in the Scouting Spirit, Michael F. Bowman
E-mail: mfbowman@capaccess.org Visit: ftp1.scouter.com/usscouts
U. S. Scouting Service Project FTP Site Administrator (PC Area)
Helping to deliver the promise of Scouting from Alexandria, Virginia
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
