Re: 1953 Handbook for PL

I had mentioned this idea to Mike B. already, but it seems perhaps
it's time to bring it before the whole group.

I feel that it is unfair to expect the boys to achieve great things if
there aren't the resources available to them. Today's Junior Leader
Handbook does a good job giving an overview of the various positions
(many of which really hadn't been described in previous "boy-oriented"
resources). But it doesn't really do justice to the PL position, like
the old PL Handbook did. There are also no real "youth resources" for
the SPL, to help him in his IMMENSE task.

So what I propose is that we see about taking those things from older
PL Handbooks which are still useful and combining them into a new PL
Handbook/Supplement, which could be offered to National for
publication or published in HTML on a webpage somewhere (which, as was
pointed out, would get around the printing costs and conservation
issues). Once that was done, next up could be an SPL
Handbook/Supplement, then perhaps Troop Guide. If National proceeds
to discontinue the Den Chief Handbook (as Mike W. mentioned) then
perhaps that could be added to this as well. The main issue I see
that would need to be resolved fairly early is permission from BSA to
use significant portions of their material.

Anyhow, I am willing to try to coordinate such a project (although it
will be a few weeks before I can devote effort to this as I will be
moving into a new home later this week). I'm pretty sure that I can
get one of the scouts from my Colorado troop to help make the final
product applicable to the youth members (he was a great PL last year).
I would need people with access to various PL Handbook editions who
were willing to search through and pull out info that should be
preserved and people to take the various bits of info and craft them
into a coherent lot (could be the same people or different people).
Also need someone to "run interference" with National and make sure we
don't trample toes. I have the 80s PL Handbook and one from the early
to mid 50s (should be arriving this weekend), and would be willing to
work on those two.

Do people think this is a worthwhile project?

Jon

--
Jon Dixon
dixonj@colorado.edu
http://sandman.colorado.edu/~dixonj/

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