(Sr.Guide called the meeting to order on time, with "Fall in!" and had the color guard post the colors, and led with the pledges ect. then asked the Patrol Guides to take charge and go to patrol meetings and begin the agenda of that night) Sr.Guide Josh walked back... "The patrol guides and my staff with me run the meeting. Commander never steps in, except in emergencies or of course for one-minute praiseings<G> We give him time at the end of the meeting to leave the guys with a final thought... It's-" "I know... it's the One Minute devotion right?" "Yea...(smile) but he takes more a min. mostly, because what he has to say is important and well thought out. He told us at a Gold Bar meeting that if you can't get your idea out in just a few words, go back and think things through.. No one enjoys a windbag!<G>" "Ok but I'll bet he has a lot to say to you and the patrol leaders after the meeting right?" "Oh no.. he mostly hangs out, hands out papers and chats with parents... We do most of our planning at short Patrol Guides meetings after, just to debrief and set up the next meeting... The agenda is set at our big council meeting where we lay out the segments for the main features of the Ranger meetings before hand.. We've even had a Patrol Gold Bar camp out and planned the entire year right at camp!" "Commander is ready with one minute thoughts and praises<G>" "ah! or a one-min. reprimand! huh!!" "Wrong again..sir<G> Those only happen in privet back by another ranger using 2-deep leadership and never in front of the entire Outpost. Our "old man" knows what leadership is and works to build the prestige of the job in the boys. Humiliation never works, it always backfires and can turn into disrespect. Mostly, when new boys come the patrol leader and the patrol guide him to understand the "game" we are playing. If we mess up, we all know it and Commander will say something quietly to build a boy up, and never tear him down.. and in any case he always ends with a *praise, so it goes easy<G> "He reprimands...then praises you? I don't get it! That sounds phony!" (Sr.Guide sighed...) "Simple. *If you do wrong- he tells you exactly what you did wrong, and why.. it was wrong behavior. then he tells you how he feels about it, *and pauses so you can feel it as well, then.. in a moment he begins to tell you how much God loves you and that we all have faults and that mistakes are made by everyone from time to time.. He uses it as a "teachable moment" and a point of personal ministry, but builds back to your place in the group and how important you are to the Outpost. He says that "Goals begin behavior and that consequences maintains behavior" ...that we are a team and together we are the Outpost. You may be one way at home or school but at Rangers you have a clean slate, and a safe harbor to do your best- with God's help. "Ok let's go back...If you do everything without the Commanders guidance, how do you know what to do at the meetings?" Josh smiled- "It's really simple with the new program planning guide, and the prepared meeting plans... but we like to alter them and add or drop stuff to make it our plan. If we need resources we share that and the adults work to provide those items or suggest other things.. but the decision are ours to make." "Any decision?" "Well- I guess not... It would have to make sense and be safe as well as approved by the OP council and all the leaders, and the church<G> But my point is that we can bring anything up and we look at the logistics of any idea, and try to work our plans to fit in the yearly schedule.. we boys have a real say because *It's our program.. We are learning leadership and sometimes that's tuff!" The visiting leader was impressed by the depth of understanding Sr. Guide showed in explaining all the positives as well as the pitfalls of the One Minute Commander! He could see that here was a leader who ran his Outpost by the Patrol method and it inspired the Rangers to perform and be a major part of the real leadership and direction that they would take. There was order, discipline, but there was also fun and incentive. The boys were there because they enjoyed it, and knew they would have a go at leadership their way soon, in one position or another... Running an Outpost this way left the adults free to do other responsibilities that they had training in and expertise. What a Perfect outpost! what great kids! How could it be that no one knew about this style of leadership? He asked the OMC who stood by.... "Some people do know about One-Minute methods of leadership, but not enough feel ready to do it. It works and all I ask is that you share this idea with others! Please! *Some will find fault, or won't accept it, but some will see something and use it to their advantage... just remember- "...goals begin behavior and consequences maintains behavior" Mayby someday you will become a OMC yourself, but whether you do or don't if you use these methods with the people you deal with everyday you will find they work everywhere, because they are fair, and respectful of everyone's feelings. Not surprisingly, the leader joined the OMC's Outpost and found himself become a leader. After every meeting he felt good, and that was easy! -=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]
