*The silence I hear speaks loudly<G> Let's assume the .new program desires to implement the Patrol system following changes to the structure of .Royal Rangers... ARE WE READY? How would we do it? --------------------- .. *Makeing the patrol system work requires everyone to confront the core attitudes in place in the Outpost. Control vs. Co-Operation... Is the goal of leadership to have the boys stand at attention and listen politely to lectures from Commander? Is his wisdom superior, his insight important enough to fill meeting after meeting? To accomplish that... Order everyone to be silent.. no talking... no looking around.. Teach Jr. leaders to bark and demand respect because they have "authority" and "blow up" every time a boy refuses to yield or co-operate. ...under this form of organization, the boys come and are rewarded for their yielding to a "Big Boss" who issues decrees in a top down form of communication... Independent thinkers, confused boys and super Rangers get their "noses bent" and begin to resent attending a "boring" meeting, without being used or involved.. they stop advancing and quit. Royal Ranger *burn-out! It goes like this: One Leader- "with something important to say" ..and everyone there is in the dark. a struggle begins as the Leader speaks looking at empty eyes, the back row fidgets and the mini conversations start to dis rupt the group. Leader sees this and in mid sentence stops to bark "HEY! LISTEN- UP!" The "Meeting turns into a struggle for power to CONTROL" Paramilitary model ------------------- This is where Orders are strictly issued and failure brings negative treatment.. Loss of game time, tong lashing, criticism, threats, or physical abuse. Long periods of standing at attention build the feeling that the LEADER is the only important member of the Outpost. Question... How can a boy become trained or elevated to leadership...True Leadership? It seems the "goal" is to find the boys ALERT and ready to participate, to be eager to achieve.. and the overriding spirit of the Perfect outpost is Co-Operation<G> Look at how groups of cooperating people treat each other and you will find basic RESPECT! *Leadership needs to become a "ball that we toss back and forth".... I propose that you "Toss the ball" to Sr.Guide and stand READY to "catch" and then "TOSS IT" to another<G> This process of momentary "impowerment" builds confidence in the boys to stand and present their feelings and ideas before the "group" and they will LIKE THE FEELING! *Let's kill the "I'm the boss you listen or I'll box yur ears..." Change to a relaxed mode where you "work with the boys, to become Leaders" by action and then *reflection.. Reflection... ----------- Good communication come from understanding where everyone is at mentaly,physicaly,spiritualy and socialy. Sharing the "good stuff" is what making the main thing-the main thing is about! Have the patrols discuss what worked in each exercise... and what didn't<G> Ask "reflective questions" and get the boys to speak out about describing THEIR OUTPOST! Set up Camp outs where the main agenda is to build teamwork.. OK Rangernet patrol... What's yur Ideas! <G> -=A=- _______ To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe rangernet" to [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Eat the hay & spit out the sticks! - A#1's mule" RTKB&G4JC! http://rangernet.org Autoresponder: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
