Re: SCOUTS-L Digest - 28 Nov 1997 to 29 Nov 1997
Robert Garrett (rgarrett@METRONET.COM)
Sun, 30 Nov 1997 19:58:40 +0000
>Dear Scouters,
>Here is yet another tale in the never ending ups and downs of Troop 135.
>You may recall, my Eagle Wanna-be left the Troop this past spring. I would
>not sign his Eagle project because mommy and daddy did it for him. He
>stamped his foot and quit.
>Well, the little darling wants to come back. After questiong his intentions
>at a Scoutmaster conference, I found out he is returning with the sole
>intention of earning his badge. (I suspect mommy and daddy are, as in the
>past, tightning the screws.) He will then, immediately quit and continue to
>pursue his outside interests. He does expect that the Troop will provide him
>a beautiful Eagle Ceremony to impress the relatives. Personally, I have a
>problem with this plan. My other Scouts are livid. They want nothing to do
>with participating in an Eagle Ceremony for someone who obviously has no
>interest in the Troop, let alone doing a fundraiser to cover the costs.
Linda, here's my .02 worth on the idea. I'd have a conference with darling, mommy, and
daddy in which I would make it very clear to them what the requirements and expectations
were to be for the eagle project, and they would be strictly by the book. I'd also not pull
any punches about the feedback I'd received from the troop at large, but would be very
careful not to mention individuals. I'd also have a meeting with the troop at large, and the agenda
would draw heavily from ideas such as the scouting spirit, and the scout law (helpful, courteous....)
making the point that nowhere in there are there provisions for "if they deserve it".
After having laid it all on the table, so to speak, if darling still wanted to continue then I'd let him try.
Who knows? This could be the one thing that finally opens his eyes, so to speak. Even if that
doesn't happen, there would be lots of opportunity for growth and maturity in the rest of the troop,
by learning that walking the walk of a scout means more than just "when it's convenient".
YiS
Robert Garrett
Troop 57
Garland, TX
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