From: Settummanque, the blackeagle ((MAJ) Mike L. Walton) (blkeagle@USSCOUTS.ORG)
Date: Sun Aug 20 2000 - 11:51:42 CDT
Bob Taylor wrote and asked:
>as long as were are re-wiring the basic training course, what would you
>think of doing some exploring for a bit snappier name for adult basic
The adult basic training course should be named the "ABC" course (with no
deference to the network).
This new course is providing the basic building blocks for all other
courses which would be taught, so
it needs to have a small, simple name. Actually, I think that now is the
time for the BSA to once again
use the name "Cornerstone" for this course, as they did for the basic
course for all Scouters back in
the early 70s. And while they are at it, to bring back the
fully-embrodered patches for those graduates
of the course...and this time, let's be consistant: in order to purchase
the patches, one must produce a copy of the Cornerstone card
_stating_the_position_which_you_have_been_trained_ to get the emblem.
None of this "Well, I was trained as a Scoutmaster but I want to get the
Cubmaster patch because I'm now doing that..." stuff.
The BSA got a strong boost of the number of people participating in the
training course (mostly for the patch, mind you), but with this new course,
every Scouter should attend. Okay. Maybe not the fully-embrodered
patch...maybe a strip with the word "Cornerstone" instead of "Trained".
The Boy Scout/Varsity Scout course should be named the "Scoutmaster Course"
(with all due respect
to my Varsity Scout Coach peers; there's more Scoutmasters and Assistants
than there are Coaches and Assistant Coaches out there...). This would end
the "Scoutmaster Fundamentals".
The Outdoor Skills Course should be named the "Outdoor Skills
Course". Everyone understands the reasoning for such a course.
As far as "catchy names", I would leave that to each Council to develop and
use. That's what's going to happen anyway, based on the traditions of that
Council and its Districts. The bad part is that when a Scouter moves to
another Council, the new Council may not know exactly what "Frostpoint" was
but they would know what "Cornerstone" is.
Just my two-pennies' worth...
Settummanque!
(MAJ) Mike L. Walton (settummanque, the blackeagle)
Crystal City, VA
