*Howdy! As part of my new job on Columbia Pacific Council of the Boy Scouts of America in Portland,Oregon... I attended a Cub Scout recruiting meeting for new cubs and new parents last night. My fellow Dist. staff executive, was asked a pointed question by a single mom about the "boys only" policy of the BSA. She also asked about access to her son in camps by her, and about other gender related policies the Scouts currently have. The Dist. Exec. is fairly new to the job, and shared that with a Father who was a Scoutmaster and a older brother who became an Eagle, many childhood memories was of pleasant scouting experiences, hikes camps and so forth... This "professional" scouter is a full time paid Staff member and was NEVER a "scout" as a child! *She was a "campfire girl"----- She explained to the Mom that research shows that for "maturity reasons" it is wise to separate boys from girls until a time of social maturity arrives and that is "around" 14 years old<G> This Female Scouter- shared that though Girl Scouts was available the group she visited, did not appeal to her as the activities were traditional... Campfire Girls was a outdoor experience and "more similar" to scouting ...... Girls may be found at "Resident Scout Camps" from intigtateing the "Venturing program" available to older Girl and Boy scouts... *At that point she cleared HER Voice- --------------------------------------- *You as a parent, are invited to become a leader of boys... you may continue on with him through his scouting career as far as the two of you agree.. The differences bewteen Cub Scouting and Boy Scouting come from the perspective of how the boys deal with each other and Leadership of their groups... Younger boys need guidance from adults, However- Older boys need to test themselves with each other, in real situations that require decision making and shareing responsibility. Your participation can take many forms, as an active leader to a background member of the pack or Troop committee and you are welcome to teach or become a merit councilor to the boys... serve on Dist. Staff and become as involved as you desire. The "Mom" asked about camping with her son... "As your son becomes a scout, he will desire to camp with his patrol.. because they are his friends and peers... You may come, and camp with the other Adult leaders. *In some circumstances, you may have to be creative with personal issues and we recommend you come with another woman or your spouse... to satisfy the requirements we hold for child protection and two deep leadership, but the invitation is open to you to choose attending or not." I thought the Dist. Exec. did a fantastic job of explaining that the facilitation of the camps and patrol leadership was by the boys and their boy leaders... *That Adults were there for health and safety as well as transportation, but the actual leadership was done by implementing the ethics thought by Scouting in regard to the Oath and Law... *Could it be- That in Royal Rangers the MEN have too tight a grip on "Commander" as leader, so that the reason we do not see leadership in the boys is that we don't "allow" authority and responsibility to be shared fairly? Could it be- That by "seeing" and making Royal Rangers a safe harbor from fear-abuse- negitive words-and domination, that we allow others to "Lead"? *Our mission allows us to say that we work to *Reach-*Teach and Keep... and we know the most effective tool for learning a job is to do it, Hands-on! Is REAL Leadership ever "letting go of the reigns?" Could it be that- Real leadership is raising the "morale" of the total group? Of expanding the "belonging-ness" to the quiet boy, the brash active child, the inner-city child, the Commanders son? Maybe if we desire growth of character that can be found in re-newing our minds to developing new ideas about Leadership? *Could it be that "the thing we want" HAPPENS IN THE BOYS- *Christ-Boy relationship? ...and the Adult leaders are secondary to that result? If that is the case, then every leader is welcome in that cause! *Men-*Women- "Behind every form of technical methiod of leadership is one implicit purpose- ....that of developing High Morale! *High morale is the index of effective leadership- No success is complete without it.. No failue final unless morale is distroyed... Morale is the emotional force that gives drive to group action.. *Morale is based on the belief of the leader in the follower- of the follower in the leader, of each in themselves- ..and both in the cause- to Reach-Teach-and Keep boys for Christ! -=A=- -- ��ࡱ�
begin: vcard fn: Duane Wheeler n: Wheeler;Duane org: OPT. 354 TPCC email;internet: [EMAIL PROTECTED] title: ->A N0.1<- note: "A life time adventure!" x-mozilla-cpt: ;0 x-mozilla-html: FALSE version: 2.1 end: vcard
