I kind of think that one trip to the altar for "THE NEW KID" makes all the "suffering" worth it - but hey, that's just my opinion - but I've always thought the creed was "to reach, teach amd keep boys for Christ" - not to reach, teach, and keep boys for the patrol method. Maybe I was wrong for the last 30 years though.
Michael In a message dated Wed, 8 May 2002 �5:12:23 PM Eastern Daylight Time, "Jeff & Ellrena Ortner" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: >HELP!! , > >TAG-A-LONG RANGER BOY > >RANGER-NET News for THE ROYAL RANGER OUTPOST LEADERSHIP > >In This Issue: What to do with the "NEW KID > >YES, IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME YOU WANT TO CAMPING > >O.K., you are going camping again and everything is loaded up and ready to go. Then >sure enough someone wants to bring a friend along or that problem boy gets invited to >the compute. > >You are getting tired of these "NEW KID" show-ups and want a chance to work with a >good Patrol system. Now the problem starts up again with leadership and authority >problems because the "NEW KID" doesn't want to follow your Patrol Leader and neither >does he want to stand at attention or walk with your group. Does this sound familiar >to you? > >As a Ranger leader this is a problem from the start and we need some control in this >area. > >May I suggest that you plan your campouts as a Ranger (Member) activity only. To many >boys want to show up at the local campout and want the icing off the cake , but don't >want to work for it either. They are there for the free ride and love to show up >"JUST FOR THE ACTIVITIES." > >Make your campouts a part of achievements and a privilege to get to go. Never let >those "NEW KIDS" control your Outpost or Patrols. They will if they get the chance. > > >They are the ones that usually start to complain too. About food, who they are >sleeping with, why we can't do this or go do that. Most often they are also the ones >that get in trouble, because they don't understand camp rules towards other peoples >stuff. They find money in a tent and just assume it is now theirs. They are the ones >that bring the extra snacks, cokes, a knife, or hatchet, wear the rag on the head , >plus don't have a uniform. > >They no they don't belong and try to get others to see life their way. They gripe >about the "BOY" leadership and buck him on every turn too. This brings attention and >gratification to him as a someone special. He is special all right, real special. > >But to the Outpost and to the Patrol Method they are suffering by this time. > >. I know this, not any other organizations lets complete strangers tag-a long. > >GET THE PICTURE??? > >WHAT DO YOU DO WITH SHOW-UP INVITES AT THE LOCAL CAMPOUTS. > >This is what we did and maybe it can work with you. > >Last year we made provisions for our main POWWOW campout to include all boys that >wanted to come and be apart of this great event. We realized that we were going to >suffer and that we wasn't going to win any prizes from a ragtag looking bunch of >boys. That year we realized that we had to look at this compute as a ministry and >knew that teamwork, the patrol system, nd the "BEST" camp award was going to take a back seat. We took 15 that year and 8 of them got saved. We retained only 7 of the original ragtag patrol, but our Outpost has now grown to 24 complete with uniforms and a Royal Ranger cabin at the church. > >So now lets look at what needs to be done this year. > >I suggest either you make the choice to go as a Patrol unit or go as a ragtag group >again. > >1. It is either a ministry to others with problems and your Outpost suffer. or > >2. A true Ranger Outpost gathering with pride achievements fun, and come home as a >success. > >So what do you do? > >We need to look at the whole picture here and ask some very tough questions about >what needs to be done. Either leave the "NEW KID" home or take him with you and >suffer. > >I think that after looking at every area the best suggestion is; why have Royal >Rangers at all, if you let anybody go to camp who wants to go. Do you realize that >your whole push (effort) to be in Rangers is compromised when you let just anyone go >with you. It is also possible that you may lose some great boys after the campout if >you let the tag-a-longs go too. If you want a ministry for boys and don't want >teamwork and control over your Outpost, then just go every year with the rag-tag >group. > >I'm not saying it is bad that you do that and don't get mad about our program as a >ministry, because it is a ministry. Plus we need every opportunity to get a boy >saved. But why have the effort to teamwork, boy leadership, and the Patrol system if >you're not going to do the work it at the Ranger activities? > >I said all this to make you think about your whole purpose in Rangers. > >~~I HOPE YOUR LISTENING NOW!!~~ > >OK HERE IS WHAT COULD WORK > >1. Make sure your boys understand that "THIS' campout is for you only, the "Rangers." > >Tell them this weeks early, before you go. So that your visitor "NEW KID" doesn't >show up the day of the campout. Let your visitors understand that to enter this camp >out you got to be in Rangers. For some period of time, not joining up at the last >week's meeting. > >2. Plan another campout, activities, or some other fun time to be a outreach to >invite more boys. Allowing tag-a-longs to everything can be a discouragement to your >regular boys. > >3. You got to have something (very special) for your Ranger Boys that they can brag >about it to others as an attraction to be apart of the Outpost team. Boys need to >feel that they are apart of a elite group that is different from the normal crowd. > >4. The Pow-Wow, make the effort of every year to be only Rangers or Non Ranger event >for your group. If you prefer. It's your choice. > >5. If you do take the "NEW KID" make sure he knows the ground rules "clearly" and >that if he bucks the system, either sent home or no more campout within the Ranger >Outpost system. > >6. It matters also with the personality of the kid, if you know he is a trouble maker >and has caused problems before. This campout sure isn't going to cure him. To him it >is a reward. > >I say were is your goals and what are you trying to accomplish within the Outpost >program? > >Is it just to get them saved, or is it a continuing program to make boys become the >best they can be for Christ, the church, and the local community? This is one tough >question and I see both working within the Ranger program. A Ministry, a Outreach, >Program, and a professional Christian boys Organization. You make the choice here on >how it works for boys. > >I believe there is a balance to it all and you need to find it for the good of the >boy's and the whole Outpost program benefits. > >God Bless from > >Chaplain Jeff Ortner > >P.S.>> I'm sure this will bring up more questions about this subject so, "LETS ROLL!" > > > > > _______ 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
