"Charter Name Scout" question

Mike, sorry, this is a little long, but you hit a nerve. Maybe some of
this information will be helpful to the Council Commissioner when he
discusses this with the Scoutmaster. Scouting is not about becoming an
Eagle Scout. It is about making good citizens. I think the actions of
this young more than represent his qualifications in this area.

In addition, you do not need the Scoutmaster to recommend the Scout for the
Heroism award. Take a look at an application for the Heroism Awards. The
only signatures required are those of the committee members reviewing the
act and the Scout Executives. The Scout writes up and signs a letter
stating what happened. The rescued person(s) and any witnesses that can be
found do the same. An application (or at a minimum, the summary of the
action on the application) is filled out by the COUNCIL COMMITTEE for
Heroism Awards. The Council Committee also is the entity that must decide
which award to recommend. The application is not under the jurisdiction of
the Scoutmaster, the parents, or the track Coach. This is a Council
Committee action taken after interviewing the Scout and any other available
witnesses and victims.

The Scoutmaster and Track Coach are completely irrelevant in this case
since neither were involved in the incident. Their positions should be one
of support and of encouragement to the Scout. They should be encouraging
the Scout to apply (remember the Scout has to write up a summary of what
happened and sign it) and should congratulate him for his concern of his
fellow man. Any negative action or expression of views is inappropriate.
If they cannot do this, they should be told (diplomatically or if they are
thick skulked, not so diplomatically that they are out of line and should
shut up and get out of the way.)

>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"

Mike, you actually lost me for once here and I find it hard to believe you
actually wrote this and do not like it? Not enough coffee yet this
morning? :-] I think the message that would be sent by this is "Live the
Scout Oath and Law in your daily life." This can easily be incorporated
into any public presentation. Living the Scout Oath and Law in your daily
life has to do with applying what you have learned in Scouting, not going
to Scout meetings and camp outs. In addition, the Oath and Law are good
synonyms for the three Aims of Scouting.

"You do not have to be active to be a "good Scout"" I agree with this
100%. Think about it. The Aims of Scouting, to develop Youths into good
participating citizens of character, etc. (OK, I do not have the
Scoutmasters handbook with me at work, so I cannot quote.) This young mans
actions is a good example of the impact that Scouting had on him. YOU DO
NOT HAVE TO BE ACTIVE TO LIVE THE SCOUT OATH AND LAW IN YOUR DAILY LIVES.
Read them over and think about it. This is a great opportunity to help
others understand that the Scout Oath and Law are not just for Scout
meetings and activities. (However, being active at one time sure helps you
learn the meaning behind the Oath and Law.)

In our council, we try to present the Heroism Awards at our Council Dinner
or other Big Event. Granted, we are a small council and that makes this
easy, but like the Eagle Award, Heroism Awards are an indication of the
success of the Scouting Program and should be awarded at special
presentations. If the Scoutmaster does not understand this, I would hope
that the Council Commissioner and would be able to at least try and explain
this to him. Some may say the Scoutmaster needs an attitude adjustment, I
disagree. I think he just needs to be educated. There is just too much to
know and too little time to learn it these days. If the Council
Commissioner explains this to the Scoutmaster well, I think he will come
around. If not, at least you will have tried to explain the Councils
position.

Since I am on Index mode, I am a bit behind in the mail process, but all
the messages I have seen so far seem to point this direction. I liked
Bruce Coberns comments. The Councils position should be, here is a scout
that lives the Scout Oath and Law in his daily life. His community and its
citizens are important to him. (Things that really count.) It is not an
issue of meeting attendance and should not be presented as such.


Chris Haggerty, Sierra Vista, Arizona
Catalina Council Advancement Chairman
Instructor Trainer for Water Safety, American Red Cross, Ft Huachuca Station
E-mail: haggerty@primenet.com or chaggerty@bpa.arizona.edu

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