Another point is this. Very few people have to be at everything that is going on in a section or a district. Your outpost doesn't have to attend every sectional or district event. Even as sectional commander I didn't make it to every sectional event . . . I had a staff that was well-trained, and I trusted them to execute events in my absence. We had a lot of sectional events, and I let it be known that sectional staff members were free to NOT attend, and to not bring their outpost, if they needed to be elsewhere or doing something else.
If a commander finds himself spending too much time involved in events and not having enough time for the boys and his family (and not in that order!), then it may be time to find others who can step in and help. Often there are other very qualified Royal Rangers commanders in the section or district who would love to help, but they are never asked -- perhaps they aren't part of the "good old boys network" in a district, or they don't live in the area of the district where everything happens, etc. Often, it's the same ones over and over who are asked to teach training classes, help with FCF Phase I and II, etc. And that means that a lot of potential talent goes to waste and the "chosen few" get burned out (and possibly their boys neglected).
Just my two cents on this subject.
Jonathan
At 06:10 PM 5/2/2002 -0500, clint grant wrote:
Well, I decided to find out, so I took a survey of nine sample districts (those starting with the letter "M"). If your the average Royal Ranger leader, your district's calendar probably looks something like this:_______ Let the Golden Rule be your daily rule. Please pray for your list sponsor: http://eBible.org/mpj/ To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe rangernet" to [EMAIL PROTECTED] or visit http://rangernet.org/subscribe.htm http://rangernet.org
staff and leader's training events, geared at men only-49%
events geared at both men and boys- 27%
events geared at boys-23%
add to this your section's calendar and it look's like this:
events geared at men only-61%
geared at both men and boys- 12%
geared at boys-27%
Of the events geared at both old timers and young bucks, the ratio of leaders to boys in attendance is generally about two to one.
If you happen to serve on section or district staff, your calendar will likely look more like this:
events geared towards men only- 70%
events geared towards both men and boys- 12%
events geared towards boys- 18%
Now, supposing that you are one of the very elite who serve on staff at national training camps, wilderness vigils, etc., and your presence is required at regional staff meetings, national council, so forth and so on... your calendar will look a little more like this:
events geared towards men only-78%
events geared at both men and boys- 10%
events geared at boys- 12%
While I can stake no claim in the upper echeclons of the powers that be, the Royal Ranger Hierarchy, I must admit that my calendar has indicated a propensity for favoritism towards the leadership and a neglect of the boys I am to be serving. Now, if this ministry were a household such as Jesus spoke of in parables, would the master of the house be pleased with the fact that I was spending twice the time and resources on the needs of the other servants than I was on those whom I was to be serving? Would I be promoted? Would I get more pins on my chest? More plaques and certificates on my wall?
How many people do you know, who show up at every staff meeting, conference, seminar, training camp, etc, all decked out strutting thier stuff like a rooster, then never have the time to put on khakis on Wednesday nite for the boys? How many people do you know who wear a blue, gold, or silver cluster, yet haven't conducted an outpost meeting in years? I can name a few.
Training leaders is great, but when we are too busy training leaders that we are not reaching boys, then we are going backwards. Let's put boys back in the mix on some of these training and staff events, instead of excluding them, and watch this thing grow.
Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com
