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Eagle Requirements - being active
Bill & Beth Reiller (reiller@EMAIL.MSN.COM)
Tue, 27 Apr 1999 09:32:13 -0400
I would like to offer this thought to those who feel the need to add to
the Eagle requirements written by national.
I have been the troop advancement chair for 11 years and the district
advancement chair for 4 years. I too was frustrated at first with the
definition of "be active in the troop".
As I got to know more and more adult leaders around the council I
realized that most of them that had been in scouting as a youth also had a
life as a teenager. Teenagers as a rule are selfish. Not by choice, but it
is simply the nature of the beast. This is the one time of their lives that
they can be before the responsiblities of a career and family. Right now
they have school, jobs, scouting, sports, girls, cars, and etc. Many of
these leaders told stories of how they quit after making Eagle or just short
of Eagle due to other interests interfering. HOWEVER, once they had
children of their own they remembered the wonderful times they had in
Scouting and wanting the same for their children and got back involved.
So, now as I congratulate each new Eagle at the end of his BOR, I do so
knowing that he may quit for now but someday he will probably give back to
Scouting as well as bring new youth to scouting.
If you are adding to the Eagle requirements by FORCING that they provide
service to your troop NOW and making them give up other interests you are
jepordizing the happy memories that will create a future adult leader.
Just remember, some will stay and be the perfect role models for the younger
scouts and some will not, BUT, eventually most will give back to the program
in their own time when they are ready. So, just stick to the rules as they
are already written and be patient.
Just my .02 worth.
Flame retardant suit now on.
Beth Reiller
Troop 1776
Stockbridge, Ga
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