Great ideas, we do much of the same in our section.  In the last year or so, we have moved the Sectional Commanders Meetings around to different host churches,  But as the old saying goes:  "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink"   In other words, you can move the meetings around, but you can't MAKE the Commanders show up.  I have tried various incentives, with little results.  The one's that really want to know what is going on will show up no matter where it is held.
 
On the Pinewood Derby Issue, we have seen much of the same.  Parents & commanders have used their Dermal Tool to shape the car so it looks perfect.  We KNOW that a St. Arrow or Buckaroo didn't do the work.  So this year I decided to address the issue head on and state it plainly in the rules.
 

A message from the Sectional Commander

Each year we grapple with the same issue of "Who did the work on this car?". So I thought that some general guidelines might be of use.

Fathers: We expect and encourage you to be involved in the making of your son�s Pinewood Derby Car, make it a father-son project. Do the things for him that he can�t do, like the use of electric saws and drills. Guide his decisions, give him advise, show him how to do things and then let him do it. Just keep in mind that this is his car and that he should do as much of the work on it as it is possible for him to do. We want to see what the boys can do in the design and creativity of their cars. What we don�t want to see is the father�s car with the boy�s name on it. Remember, a Ranger is HONEST, "He does not lie cheat or steal". Let us all work with us on this matter to keep things above board.

Also this year we will be giving out a JUDGES CHOICE Award to the best looking Boy made cars in the St. Arrows and Buckaroos.  For the judging being impartial, we have teamed up with a neighboring section, we judged their cars & they in turn will judge our cars.

Jim Hufferd
Sectional Commander
North San Joaquin Section
So California District

 

 

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