From mfbowman@CapAccess.org Sat Jun 7 14:29:58 1997 Date: Sat, 7 Jun 1997 14:29:57 -0400 (EDT) From: "Michael F. Bowman" To: SCOUTS-L - Youth Groups Discussion List Subject: INTERNATIONAL TRIVIA - BONUS ANSWERS Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Status: RO X-Status: With thanks to Randy Finder, John Pannell, Lydia Pourciau, and Edward Brierley for their contributions, the answewrs are: The following countries use "Siempre Listo"(Always Ready or Be Prepared)on their insignia. Argentina Bolivia Chile Columbia Costa Rica Cuba Dominican Republic Ecuador El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Mexico Nicaragua Panama Paraguay Peru Spain Uraguay Venezuela Extra Bonus Points: Sempre Alerta Brazil Sempre Pronto Macau Portugal Speaking only for myself in the Scouting Spirit, Michael F. Bowman Dep.Dist.Commissioner-Training, G.W.Dist., NCAC, BSA (Virginia) U. S. Scouting Service Project FTP Site Administrator (PC Area) ftp1 or ftp2.scouter.com/usscouts E-mail: mfbowman@capaccess.org From mfbowman@CapAccess.org Mon Jun 9 23:27:49 1997 Date: Mon, 9 Jun 1997 23:27:47 -0400 (EDT) From: "Michael F. Bowman" To: ptaber@microtest.com Subject: Re:Wayward Willie In-Reply-To: <9706098658.AA865865660@microtest.com> Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Status: RO X-Status: From time to time I get questions from Scouters who do not want to personally post a question or to say something that might make the identity of a person known. Sometimes, I will put them in a hypothetical setting altering the situation slightly and eliminating identifying information so that it cannot be traced back or cause embarassment. This also facilitates more answers than what I might have to offer. And the Scouter can use what others have said about a "similar" situation in his/her own case. And of course these scenarios can lead to list discussion that is useful to all as we tend to face similar problems. In the case of Wayward Willie, I've already received a personal posting from another member of the list that was happy for the question because he has a similar situation in his own unit, but was not comfortable asking about what to do. Speaking only for myself in the Scouting Spirit, Michael F. Bowman Dep.Dist.Commissioner-Training, G.W.Dist., NCAC, BSA (Virginia) U. S. Scouting Service Project FTP Site Administrator (PC Area) ftp1 or ftp2.scouter.com/usscouts E-mail: mfbowman@capaccess.org From mfbowman@CapAccess.org Fri Jun 13 00:12:55 1997 Date: Fri, 13 Jun 1997 00:12:53 -0400 (EDT) From: "Michael F. Bowman" To: AL DEBENEDETTO cc: Multiple recipients of list SCOUTS-L Subject: Re: SPLITTING PACK contd. In-Reply-To: Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Status: RO X-Status: Laureen, There is an ancient curse "may you live in interesting times." No doubt the sage knew that the very things that can make life exciting and interesting can also create a number of challenges and anxiety. Your Pack at one time must have been incredibly successful to have grown to the point that it draws nearly 300 people to a Pack Meeting. Units grow when they are successful. Depending on the people involved, the meeting hall, and many other factors, this growth continue past the point where it is healthy. Eventually if a unit grows beyond its limits the program suffers and the process is self-correcting -- families and Scouts leave, fingers get pointed, feelings are left hurt, and the remaining folks have to dig out of a hole to get back where the Pack once was a few years earlier. This process is costly to both the families and the boys. It is much better to organize a good split that will result in two healthy and viable units to continue to help the boys grow. This is always hard because we always seem to have adults with their own agendas; e.g., I want all my son's friends from School to stay together, I've put in my time and don't want to be dragged by these new people, I want, I this, and I that. The challenge is to change the "I" business to the "boy" business - what's going to be best for the youth? What will help them have the best chance to have a good experience in Cub Scouting? What can we do to make sure they have the best program and one part of the Pack doesn't end up a poor relative of the first? There are no easy answers to these questions and almost none if the answer is prefaced with "I". Challenge your committee to discuss this issue, but with a rule in place that nobody present can use "I" "ME" or "MY" in any sentance. :-))) They may not buy into it, but you'll have made an important point about where the discussion should go. Once they get over the idea that the meeting isn't about adults, it might be good to review quickly again the basics of the Cub Program and how it is supposed to work. How can two units be structured to make it work? How can it be structured to assure that both units are healthy and will survive, ensuring the delivery of quality program to the youth members? You mentioned that the chartered organization was a Church. Invite the pastor to come to the next committee meeting and make it a point to ask him/her to give an opening prayer and brief opening statement of purpose for the meeting. Something along the lines of "Open our hearts and minds to a greater purpose . . . help us to be selfless in being good shepherds to these young people . . . guide us to find solutions that will be fair and help us to sacrifice more of what we want for what will be better for all . . . Opening remarks can be tailored along the same lines, provided they really are short and to the point -- a statement of interest and purpose from the Chartering Organization. Follow up with a proposal in a sales pitch - don't leave it to chance. Sell them on the idea that things can't continue because you are shortchanging the boys on program, advancement recognition, etc. Sell them on what a new start can do for them. Prepare for objections and meet as many as you can. Hopefully folks will get the message and start figuring some good solutions instead of wasting time arguing while the membership grows tired and complains. Speaking only for myself in the Scouting Spirit, Michael F. Bowman E-mail: mfbowman@capaccess.org Visit: ftp1.scouter.com/usscouts U. S. Scouting Service Project FTP Site Administrator (PC Area) Helping to deliver the promise of Scouting from Alexandria, Virginia From mfbowman@CapAccess.org Fri Jun 13 00:39:40 1997 Date: Fri, 13 Jun 1997 00:39:39 -0400 (EDT) From: "Michael F. Bowman" To: Kirk Kridner cc: Multiple recipients of list SCOUTS-L Subject: Re: Follow Me Boys In-Reply-To: <199706100406.XAA21455@mail2.texas.net> Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Status: RO X-Status: Over the years many a Scouter has queried the list in hopes of finding a way to get a copy of this most famous of Scouting films. Follow Me Boys probably would sell like hotcakes in our circles, but is not currently being marketed by the owner to its rights - Disney. Some copies turn up at video-stores that have been around for a long time - many years back copies were briefly distributed to some of them. If you find a carton of them in some backroom, you could probably make a great number of friends very quickly. :-)) I have a copy and someday it'll make its way back to me. So far it has journeyed from Virginia to New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Delaware passing from one Scouter to another, soon to come home and hopefully in one piece. Which is to say copies are hard to come by and once found tend to get circulated to eager hands. I still remember the first time I ever saw it. It was on a Saturday in the cold chill of February during Scout week in Lafayette, Indiana. In our then small Council (Harrison Trails Council) all of the Troops were invited to take part in a parade through the center of town. We all formed up on the lawns of the county courthouse with every lad in uniform and Troop flags fluttering in the stiff breeze. There was a lot of hand blowing and foot flexing to fight the cold. But we were excited and didn't mind too much. We were really excited because we'd been lucky enough to be one of the first units in the parade, which was really important later on. Finally it came time to start and one by one the units formed up and marched down the parade route on Columbia headed East on a course that ended in the lobby of the great and wonderful old Mars Theater, a place that had once had real lime lights and vaudeville acts. Being first assured us of balcony seats and up we rushed. The guys guffawed and made noises about having to see a silly Scout movie. In past years it had always been an exciting John Wayne Western. Once the movies started the restlessness ceased and attention was rapt. There were times when you could have heard a pin drop (wish it were so in a Troop meeting right) but it was so. I remember looking over to my buddies a few times and seeing one or two brushing a tear from their cheeks when Whitey decided to quit Scouts after his drunken father embarassed him in front of the Troop by bringing in melted ice cream. And again when Whitey's father had died and Lem took him in as his own son. And of course there was mad cheering for the boys during the war game and surprisingly even for the parade honoring Lem towards the end. I think that when we left, each of us was a bit prouder of the green we wore than before we went in. For months afterward we took to humming the song "Follow Me Boys" while hiking. In those days, I suspect most of us thought of Lem as a hero right up there with the Duke and Teddy Roosevelt and that that feeling also tranferred a little to our own Scoutmasters, who we saw in a different light after the movie. Thanks for letting me share a memory. Speaking only for myself in the Scouting Spirit, Michael F. Bowman E-mail: mfbowman@capaccess.org Visit: ftp1.scouter.com/usscouts U. S. Scouting Service Project FTP Site Administrator (PC Area) Helping to deliver the promise of Scouting from Alexandria, Virginia From mfbowman@CapAccess.org Fri Jun 13 00:46:15 1997 Date: Fri, 13 Jun 1997 00:46:14 -0400 (EDT) From: "Michael F. Bowman" To: "Bob Caron, Management Information Systems" cc: Multiple recipients of list SCOUTS-L Subject: Re: A-V catalog In-Reply-To: <009B59F5.B757DD00.796@umbsky.cc.umb.edu> Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Status: RO X-Status: The 1996 Audio Visual Catalog is produced by the Audio Visual Service of BSA. The catalogs are distributed to all Scout Executives and authorzied for local reproduction. It is not a supply item and not distributed throught the same channels. Updates to the catalog are sent to Scout Executives periodically and announced in "ProSpeak". The Audio Visual Service's telephone number is 214-580-2598. Speaking only for myself in the Scouting Spirit, Michael F. Bowman E-mail: mfbowman@capaccess.org Visit: ftp1.scouter.com/usscouts U. S. Scouting Service Project FTP Site Administrator (PC Area) Helping to deliver the promise of Scouting from Alexandria, Virginia From mfbowman@CapAccess.org Fri Jun 13 01:06:31 1997 Date: Fri, 13 Jun 1997 01:06:30 -0400 (EDT) From: "Michael F. Bowman" To: "George J. Dolicker" cc: Multiple recipients of list SCOUTS-L Subject: Re: Tarnished Honor In-Reply-To: <3.0.2.32.19970611140646.031f17b0@lexicon.ins.com> Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Status: RO X-Status: On Wed, 11 Jun 1997, George J. Dolicker wrote: > ... and the final Jeopardy answer is...? > George, The scenarios that I presented were in part of my own invention and in part based on real questions raised by Scouters in private who were not comfortable in putting them to a group. I've kept the sense of the questions but have altered facts and eliminated information that would have identified people where privacy was a consideration. The answers to these scenarios both public and private have been numerous and most helpful. Many wonderful suggestions and views were aired that will help not only the folks that asked questions, prompting me to post, but others on the list who have written to say these questions are very similar to situations they face as advancement chairs, etc. As in real life, often there is no real "Jeopardy Answer" per se. I am proud to say that nearly to a person, all of the Scouters responding came to feel that the young man's honor wasn't tarnished and that he was already an Eagle by virtue of his exemplary honesty and courage. When so many take this stand, we can all take comfort in knowing that we are indeed creating the safe haven for youth that allows them to grow and learn from errors instead of being punished for life. Similarly Willie was recognized as a leader in needed of coaching and direction. Again a lot of feeling for understanding youthful errors of judgment and looking instead at the potential for leadership and responsibility. The support of so many folks will no doubt help in the related situations. The more difficult situation was that of the Eagle wanting encouragement in the form of material reward. We seem to have come down to trying to help him see the importance of achieving for his own benefit and that achievement being its own reward and to also recognize that sometimes a Scout may not be a high achiever or self-generator where some rewards or motivators might be useful, though a high ticket item might be a bit much. There were some astute observations as well about being careful not to put on too much pressure to the point it causes resentment or ruins family life. Likewise there were observations about being careful not to condition driving or similar things on earning Eagle and a few arguments for it. Perhaps the most important thing that I will be able to share from the answers is that so many of you are looking hard at what is good for the young man involved and what will help him to grow. This will help others to ask the same question and answer knowing they are on the right track. Though I haven't been able to write to each of you personally, I thank each of you who answered and shared ideas. Speaking only for myself in the Scouting Spirit, Michael F. Bowman E-mail: mfbowman@capaccess.org Visit: ftp1.scouter.com/usscouts U. S. Scouting Service Project FTP Site Administrator (PC Area) Helping to deliver the promise of Scouting from Alexandria, Virginia From mfbowman@CapAccess.org Sat Jun 14 12:38:03 1997 Date: Sat, 14 Jun 1997 12:38:01 -0400 (EDT) From: "Michael F. Bowman" To: Don Izard Subject: Re: Tarnished Honor In-Reply-To: <19970613201904.12618.qmail@LuciaDiLammermoor.acsu.buffalo.edu> Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Status: RO X-Status: Don, Must have been raining cats and dogs. :-))) When I was on the staff at Cary Camp the ranger had a large dog, a collie if I recall. One day a stray mongrel not much bigger than an old tom cat wandered onto the parade ground in front of the mess hall. The collie was in heat and the wee little dog tried his best to get into a position to render service. The old ranger commented "better get that one a footstool" and we all roared with laughter. Well his amorous attempts left the poor thing humilated and he finally walked off head hanging low. The dog stayed around camp and seemed ashamed. After a few days it gradually acquired the nickname "tarnished honor." I suspect you can see why I was unable to explain the subject line to the list. ;-) Speaking only for myself in the Scouting Spirit, Michael F. Bowman E-mail: mfbowman@capaccess.org Visit: ftp1.scouter.com/usscouts U. S. Scouting Service Project FTP Site Administrator (PC Area) Helping to deliver the promise of Scouting from Alexandria, Virginia