[RR] Questions

[DJ Holland]

I tried to send this last night, but nothing happened.  If we get two of these, read this first, there's a few additions from the other one.  If you don't get the other one, ignore this first paragraph!  ;-)   O.K.  In my first post introducing myself I said I had some questions.  So I think what I'll do is ask a few, read, digest & process the info.  Then, if necessary, do it again. As a way of leading into the first question(s) I think I should give a little background about our outpost. Once upon a time . . . . Way back when, we had a very active outpost.  Now mind you, this was before I moved here and joined the church.  My wife, who grew up in this church, tells  me there were a few GMA recipients.  Not to downplay this, but all the recipients were sons of commanders.  Our Sr. Commander's son was the most recent, about 3 or 4 years ago.  Since then, there has been a lot of Rangers talk by commanders, but little visible activity - from either them or the boys. At this time, I am cmdr. of Pioneers/Discovery Rangers (I am already looking to the new program for help and ideas).  There are about 5 boys who attend regularly, sometimes as many as 12.  I know I have enough boys for one regular patrol and possibly one irregular one.  However, out of 5 boys, 1 comes because his nephew comes for SA, one comes because his parents work with the youth group at the same time.  He and another boy (my patrol guide) are only killing time until they go into Youth next year.  My patrol guide has a uniform, but doesn't wear it and only 2 of the others will wear a Rangers T-shirt.   Some of the kids just can't afford a Class B uniform, and I would like to find a way to get them one.  All I get from my Sr. Commander is "First we have to see how much money we have in the account."  I get the same line when I talk about ordering the God and Me program for the boys.  I'm trying not to want a lot of stuff until we change over to the new program, but the God and Me will, I think, stay the same under the new program.  So I want to start on that.  My thought is:  if we have the money - spend it (on the boys!), if we don't have it, raise it.  But I just can't seem to get firm support from my Sr. Commander.  When I've talked to my pastor *very supportive of Rangers* he tells me I need to work with my Sr. Commander, as that is the chain of command.  The Sr. Commander is not necessarily tight with money, in fact in Sept. all the boys who ordered a long sleeved T-shirt got a free short sleeved one paid for from outpost funds.  But only 3 or 4 did.   Also, I have recently gotten my own Class B uniform (The Holy Spirit has moved on me to be involved in Rangers properly or to get out, and He won't release me to get out!  I love the Lord's sense of humor.)  When I wear my uniform, every Wednesday night, the long time commanders (who don't wear their uniforms) feel the need to tease me for wearing mine.  Attitude says a lot. Now my question is this:  how can I, with lackadaisical (sp?) Sr. & other commanders and unmotivated & disinterested boys create an environment to inspire a transformation within our Pioneers/Discovery Rangers group?  How do I change this from a babysitting service to a true Royal Ranger Outpost to live up to our charter?  How do I motivate the boys to want to wear uniforms or T-shirts?  How can I impact the other commanders of the magnitude of responsibility God has placed on our shoulders?  How do I weasel funds from our Sr. Commander for materials, uniforms and other necessities for the boys?   I have not yet been through LTC, but will be attending the first possible session when the new LTC is released.  I'm hoping to get some more ideas there, but for now I turn to you, my fellow commanders and ministers of the Gospel to tomorrow's men and commanders.   God has given me a burden, but this situation sometimes overwhelms me and I find myself (once again) crying out to Him who sits on the Throne. I know this message is long - like my first one, but I promise they will get shorter! In His Grip, DJ