From: Peter Farnham (pfarnham@ASBMB.FASEB.ORG)
Date: Wed Jun 28 2000 - 09:31:54 CDT
Paul and all,
It's really up to you as to whether or not you tell the scouts the election
results prior to the tapout. I think if all four boys are going to be at
summer camp anyway and tapout is being held at summer camp, you NOT tell
them and let them find out at tapout. If, however, tapout were going to be
a separate event where they would have to come specially for it, you should
probably tell the kid who didn't get elected so he won't come for no reason
(and be even more ticked off).
Regrading parents, if they are usually invited to tapout, I think I'd tell
the parents of the kid who didn't get elected the news, and leave it up to
them as to whether or not to come. They might not want to make the trip
(especially if it's a long drive); otoh, they might want to be there for
moral support for their son when he learns he didn't get elected.
If the kid begins to whine about why he wasn't elected and why it was
everyone else's fault, this is a clear occasion for a SM conference. You
might--gently and with compassion--point out to him that this behavior is
an excellent demonstration of the traits that probably caused the troop to
elect three younger boys and not him.
As I've stated on this list before, the boys are almost infallible in who
they elect to OA and who they don't. Very rarely do extraneous issues
enter into the collective decision of the troop.
Hope this helps.
YiS,
Pete Farnham
Ceremonies Team Adviser
Colonial Chapter, Amangamek Wipit Lodge 470
Alexandria, VA
