Quarterly "Hody Scouter" Posting
(no name) ((no email))
Wed, 5 Aug 1998 21:03:17 +0000
Hey all of you out there, either sitting around reading and
"listening in" or actually posting and participating!!
This posting is twofold: the main reason for this posting is to
invite you all sitting (or standing; aren't your legs tired yet??)
in the back of the room to move up and ask questions, state your
opinions, and share your experiences with your youth program and
your role in it.
Scouts-L is a YOUTH PROGRAMS DISCUSSION LIST. While the majority
of questions, comments and concerns come from members or former
members of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), there are many others
here from other youth-serving agencies...those associated with a
national organization and those with no national association at
all. We welcome you ALL to participate and to share with us your
high and low points about being a worker or volunteer within your
agency with all of us.
Scouts-L is a FAMILY OF SCOUTERS. We use the term "Scouter"
generically, not just to describe those adults working with a
Scouting program (as in Boy Scouters or Girl Scouters), but also to
describe what other groups would term "subscribers" or "readers".
That's me and YOU. A family?? Sure we are. Like all families, we
have those old-timers that bring a wealth of experience, knowledge
and background to our daily discussions. We have younger families
and members that are just learning the specialness of belonging to
a youth program or group as a member or leader. We even have
younger folk that are wanting to know "the basics", the rules and
the things they should stay clear of while working in their first
role. And like a family, we're all spread out: some of us live
next to each other and visit with each other off-line and without a
computer screen to mask us. Others live in one of the 50 American
States, in one of Canada's provinces, with the territories
controlled by the United States or in one of 22 countries around
the world! Clearly a world-wide family!!
And like families, not all family members agree on all parts of a
given discussion or topic. But we've learned through all of the
years of this discussion group that we have discussion and
disagreement with what the person SAID, not with the person him or
herself. It's kept us on track, increased the number of folk
reading and listening to us all, and most of all, have given this
group the national crediability it's had and continue to have
inside and outside several national youth-serving organizations.
When I go travelling around the country, I'm very surprised at the
number of professional and management employees of various agencies
that know of Scouts-L and speak so highly of it. "We can't
participate actively", they're quick to tell me, "but we get copies
of it from our volunteers and from others...and there's ALWAYS
great stuff there; some of which we actually USE here!" These are
the same words I hear from a lot of volunteers, along with "I
wished that I had a computer so I can join them too..."
The alternate reasoning for this posting is to remind you that
after you've shut off your computer for the day (evening, night or
just activated the screen saver!), to please SHARE what you've
read, talked about and seen here with others within your youth
program.
In this way, not only does the conversation and issue topic
continue here, but it also continues within your
organization...where the REAL impact of this list is revealed.
Many of the issues and topics discussed here become policies or
lead to policies not because of the depth and wealth of the people
here...but because we take those same questions and ask OUR
organization, OUR leaders and OUR managers and professionals and
seek their opinions and feelings. To get THEIR answers.
Sometimes our feelings get hurt because they clearly don't see it
our way or the way of the "majority on Scouts-L". That's okay. At
least you've exposed them to alternative opinions on how to best go
about working a specific issue or problem. And you've told them
*where you got it from*.
Just remember: The BEST source of getting YOUR organization's slant
on an issue or problem is through THEM FIRST. Don't be afraid to
ask them; after all, that's why they are there. Your organization
have a combination of new and experienced folk that SHOULD be able
to give you a good answer to your questions and concerns. If they
can't help, they SHOULD be able to point you in the right direction
to people who can. If you STILL can't get a good answer, here's a
forum whereby you can get SEVERAL answers to your question, to
share and to use as you go about your service to youth.
Scouts-L is a great resource. As one of those senior "old-timers"
here, I've used much of what we've talked about here for speeches,
conferences and training courses. I invite you to do the same.
This "International Roundtable Meeting which NEVER ends!" exists
for YOU, those of you sitting and "lurking" as well as those that
post continually here. It also exists for YOUR ORGANIZATION, new,
in "business" for years, or decades. Please share with us all how
you've done it, why you've done it, and when things DON'T WORK.
Look at the archives, and find stuff we've talked about that can
help YOU as you start out another year of service.
And please. Introduce yourself, and take your place on one of the
many hundreds of seats around our virtual fireplace....you're
welcome and we need you to help us make Scouts-L better and better!
Thanks for sticking around and for posting to our forum. And
please keep it up!
Settummanque!
(c) 1998 Mike Walton ("no such thing as strong coffee,...") (502) 827-9201
(settummanque, the blackeagle) http://dynasty.net/users/blkeagle
241 Fairview Dr., Henderson, KY 42420-4339 blkeagle@dynasty.net
privately at kyblkeagle@aol.com or waltonm@hq.21taacom.army.mil
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