Re: "Charter Name Scout" question
Bruce E. Cobern (bec@PIPELINE.COM)
Tue, 26 May 1998 12:19:25 -0400
> From: settummanque, or blackeagle (Mike Walton) <blkeagle@DYNASTY.NET>
> Date: Tuesday, May 26, 1998 10:40 AM
>
> Track coach is mad as a hornet, and Mom and Dad (living in separate
towns)
> are extremely proud. Scoutmaster wants to recommend the kid for a
Heroism
> Medal but here's the problem:
Mom and Dad are right. The track coach is wrong, nearly dead wrong. I
guess, had the runner been killed by the train he would have gotten up at
the funeral and during the eulogy complain about how selfish this student
was to give up his life trying to save someone else because the track team
has now lost a valuable asset. How selfish can you be.
Outside of the Scouting question, I believe that there needs to be
voluminous mail sent to the principal of the high school, making sure he
is aware of the wonderful thing this student of his did, including the
fact that he selfishly gave of himself for others, even at the risk of his
track season. Those who would be in a position to know how the track
coach is treating him might also mention the selfish attitude of the
coach. When this student is then publicly recognized by the SCHOOL (and
maybe the city, county, state, etc.) for being a hero, I think the track
coach will back off.
>
> The application calls for the Scout to be "registered actively" as a
member
> of the BSA, which he is and has been. However, is that good enough to
> recommend the awarding of a Heroism or Meritorious Service Medal??
> Scoutmaster says "No", District Commissioner (and friend of Mom and Dad)
> says "Sure it is".
Unless the unit has taken active steps to tell this Scout that he is no
longer a member, then he is still a member, not only of the BSA, but also
of the unit. I don't think there is any question about him being ELIGIBLE
for the award, at whatever level the National Court of Honor decides is or
isn't appropriate.
>
> Public ceremony, with all of the bells and whistles, which would meet
the
> need of the parents, the local Council and get the track coach off this
> kid's back (even temporarily) -- but will state this message to Scouts:
> "You don't have to show up or be active with our units to be a "good
> Scout"....just pay your money every year and everything will be fine"
I'm with Jessie. Public ceremony with ALL the hoopla, bells, whistles,
etc. I see NO downside risk. What this young man did is independent of
how often he participated in unit activities. What it shows, loud and
clear, is that even though one might not be active on a daily basis, the
MESSAGE of Scouting can still take hold and affect the way we live our
lives and react in high pressure, risky situations. That is the message
that the SM should give the Troop as a result of this. the "even though
Johnny hasn't been very active due to other things on his schedule, he
still has learned the lessons that Scouting taught him in a way that led
him to risk his life to save another, and we are extremely proud of him."
If the SM can't figure out how to make this a real positive, chest-beating
situation for the troop then he probably shouldn't be SM because he might
be as selfish as the track coach.
---
Bruce E. Cobern
mailto:bec@pipeline.com
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
