Last weekend t328 had a Campout at a park in the Columbia River
"Gorge" that looks remarkibly simular to the Rine river in Germany.
The town of cascade Locks even has some faux German buildings next
to the Texaco and Char Burger.. One of my favorite retreats btw!
It has a view like a million bucks next to "the bridge of the Gods"
Anyway- It rained like "King Kong" Sat. afternoon and the wind kicked
in on the campsight where 35 brand new 11 year old scouts camped next
to older "mentor" patrols, headed up by Boy leaders.
(*I'll convert this story to Royal Ranger language at this point.. )
Our Outpost is large and very outdoor oriented.
many-many camps and adventures.. 50 mile back pack trips and
sailing in the Florida keys ect.
5 years ago a Commander left the trailblazer group to lead the
Buckaroo/St.Arrow group because his young son was that age and his
older son left "Rangers" to play in a a orchestra.
(This gentalman is a Lawyer and community activist. (Disabled Special
Olymipics) ect.
Mr.Call returned last month with a entire intact Pioneer Outpost
to trailblazer Outpost 328 that uses the NTC format of boy leadership
for it's table of orginzation and is headed by Sr.Guide Josh Wheeler
GMA#3911 *Mr.Call is not currently a "Trailblazer Cdr." but is in
process and expects to return to his former role.
THE INCIDENT
------------
Following dinner in the rain, by patrol- the camp agenda called for
campfire at 7:00 pm and was delayed till 7:30.. then was started at
7:45 as darkness fell. *During Campfire, where the Outpost slowly
warmed into songs skits and cheers and was haveing a fine time..
Mr.Call toured the vacant camps with another non Cdr.gentalman and the
two began to chat about the disarray they saw in camp gear and open
patrol boxes ect.
They returned with a "Head of Steam" to the Campfire program in progress.
"Suddenly" in a slight lull.. a voice- Mr.Call raised and began to speak:
"GUYS.. I JUST RETURNED FROM YOUR CAMPSIGHTS AND THEY ARE A MESS..
I WANT YOU TO RETURN *RIGHT NOW THIS INSTANT AND CLEAN THEM UP- GO!"
"SR.GUIDE.. YOU AND YOUR STAFF WILL REMAIN HERE FOR A MOMENT"
-------------------------------------------------
(*All this came as a surprise and sounded like an Alert horn on a U-boat!)
*Then..Sr.Guide and his staff of 6 sat at a table, and Mr.Call began..
"Some of you guys remember me from 5 years ago.. some don't. But
I am back now and.. *I am very disappointed in what I see as YOUR
CONDUCT and JOB as Staff. *I brought 30 boys to what "I THOUGHT"
was the best Outpost.. Mayby- I made a mistake!! I had THOUGHT!
this was a well run Outpost of boy led Trailblazers, and now I
see it is not!
(I felt the emotional "vibe" of shock at this man speeking in a
condensending tone to the older boys...)
"Now these boys look up to you and see you as the example.. so
YOU WILL NOW SHOW THEM WHAT YOU SAY YOU ARE.. *LEADERS! AND PUT
THAT CAMP IN ORDER NOW!!"
THE IMMEDIATE REACTION
----------------------
SR.Guide Josh Wheeler jumped up and started to talk fast with a quick plan
and began to bark at his staff.. He ordered them to form quick teams of
two
and deploy to all camps and follow up on the desires of Mr.Call.
They ran into the dark, and I heard much yelling and commands going on.
>From the back of the covered area a mumble..
"If those boys acted like that more, we wouldn't have the problems we have
now" Mr.Call replied.. "I felt bad that I had to say what I did but,
someone had too, you can't stand around by the fire all day and call
yourself a leader.."
The next day
------------
The Sr.Guide staff seemed remote, distant.
When addressed, they looked back into the Leaders eyes and
did not respond with more that a few blinks of the eyes..
Mr.Call and 4 other leaders held a conference in the field
to chew over what went wrong and decided it was the fault of
a lazy senior boy staff. The boy leader were teaching younger
boys the Cut and Chop course and fire safety class and could see
Mr. Call very antimanted in his "lecture mode"...
The rest of the day the leaders began to suggest changes to the
boy leaders and they seemed to go quiet.
*First what do you think was going on?
*Next what would you do at this point..
DR "Doc A#1" Wheeler
=====
*High MORALE is the Index of effective Leadership.
--------------********+********--------------------
Morale raises belief of the Leader in the follower,
of the follower in the Leader, of each in themself,
and both in the .....cause!
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