From <@tcuavm.is.tcu.edu:owner-scouts-l@TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU> Mon Dec 1 23:02:15 1997 Return-Path: <@tcuavm.is.tcu.edu:owner-scouts-l@TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU> Received: from tcuavm.is.tcu.edu (TCUAVM.IS.TCU.EDU [138.237.128.148]) by cap1.CapAccess.org (8.6.12/8.6.10) with SMTP id XAA28375; Mon, 1 Dec 1997 23:02:15 -0500 Received: from TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU by tcuavm.is.tcu.edu (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) with BSMTP id 8587; Mon, 01 Dec 97 21:55:20 CDT Received: from TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU (NJE origin LISTSERV@TCUBVM) by TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU (LMail V1.2a/1.8a) with BSMTP id 9866; Mon, 1 Dec 1997 21:55:34 -0500 Received: from TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU by TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU (LISTSERV release 1.8b) with NJE id 9856 for SCOUTS-L@TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU; Mon, 1 Dec 1997 21:53:28 -0500 Received: from TCUBVM (NJE origin SMTP@TCUBVM) by TCUBVM.IS.TCU.EDU (LMail V1.2a/1.8a) with BSMTP id 9855; Mon, 1 Dec 1997 21:53:27 -0500 Received: from ALPHA.IS.TCU.EDU by tcubvm.is.tcu.edu (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) with TCP; Mon, 01 Dec 97 21:53:24 CDT Received: from mx1.dynasty.net (mx1.dynasty.net) by ALPHA.IS.TCU.EDU (PMDF V5.0-5 #20456) id <01IQOAXFT6VK001LC2@ALPHA.IS.TCU.EDU> for scouts-l@ALPHA.IS.TCU.EDU; Mon, 01 Dec 1997 21:51:40 -0500 (CDT) Received: from jessica ([208.205.50.135]) by mx1.Dynasty.Net (Netscape Mail Server v2.02) with SMTP id AAA193; Mon, 01 Dec 1997 21:51:36 -0600 X-Sender: blkeagle@mail.dynasty.net MIME-version: 1.0 X-Mailer: Windows Eudora Light Version 1.5.4 (32) Content-type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Message-ID: <1.5.4.32.19971202035118.00b8c278@mail.dynasty.net> Date: Mon, 1 Dec 1997 21:51:18 -0600 Reply-To: "settummanque, or blackeagle (Mike Walton)" Sender: Scouts-L Youth Group List From: "settummanque, or blackeagle (Mike Walton)" Subject: Re: wood badge beading ceremony X-To: Drew Mrenna , scouts-l@tcu.edu To: Multiple recipients of list SCOUTS-L Status: RO X-Status: Drew asked: >I have been asked by a friend to ask the group a question. Without >going into a lot of detail, can the award be given without a formal >ceremony? Sure. You can have a simple ceremony presenting the beads and certificate to the Scouter at just about any event. But, as a person on both sides of this (as awardee and awarder), why would you want "here it is...congrats!" (shake hands and applause) It's hard to present the Wood Badge without explaining *what it is* and *what the significance* of the Wood Badge and the experience that the Scouter took part in. That along would take up five or so minutes in ANY kind of environment except "here it is..." and now go sit down. Second, the act of presenting the Wood Badge, while "traditional", also serves a more useful purpose: you are actually *instructing* the person how to WEAR the things. If you just give him the neckerchief, still in the plastic wrap, along with the Woggle and place them on top of a framed certificate, how is he or she going to know how to *wear them* when there's NOT another Wood Badger around to show him or her??? Third, the Wood Badge presentation ceremony reminds Scouts and Scouters that Scouting is a GAME, and those "coaches" that took the time to learn how to PLAY THE GAME AND MAKE THE GAME EXCITING should be recognized in a public venue, especially with Scouts and parents present. While the Wood Badge program is NOT a "adult advancement program", it serves to remind parents and Scouts (and those awaiting Wood Badge themselves!) that there's a "goal to be met" by taking those additional courses and by attending the course...and this...the ceremony...is that goal. Finally, where *else* would we all be able to stand and sing "The Gilwell Song" together?? *heheheheehee* Seriously, Drew, the Wood Badge ceremony is not just a "symbolic gesture" aimed with the potential of embarrassing someone. It is part of actually *learning how to play the game of Scouting*. Imagine some Scout coming up to you after a Troop meeting and telling you "Mr. Mrenna, I've just earned Life but I don't want it presented at the Court of Honor. Can you just give it to me in my hands and I'll go home and ask my Mom to sew it on my uniform??" Of course, you would honor the Scout's request...but not before you do some SERIOUS EXPLAINING that first, part of the Scout program is advancement and from what I was taught, all advancements should be made in front of all of the Scouts and also in front of their parents, if possible. It's "part of playing the game". You would also, I'm sure, explain to him that I and the rest of the Troop are really proud of you and we want others to know how proud we are of you and your progress. We don't hide things in this Troop, and that's what you're asking me to do in a large sense. Finally, I want him to know that I'm proud of his advancement and I want to "use him" to spur others onward toward doing the same thing. That's what you need to tell this person, Drew: *Scouting is played by the rules, and part of those rules is that recognitions are made in public, and when all possible in front of Scouts and fellow Scouters and parents. *We, those of us in your Wood Badge Troop or Pack are very proud of you and your progress toward completing your "ticket"....many of us have had the honor of working with you, and what you are asking us to do is to "cheat ourselves" and to "hide the fact" that you have completed this special personal program. We can't do that, because Scouting is not about "keeping things back" * *I* am very proud of you and I want others to be equally proud of you and your participation and completion. I also want to "use you", a terrible term but it's the truth, to spur others out there into participating in a future Wood Badge Troop or Pack or as a staffer. I can't do that effectively if you're not there....and you need to be there because we're *asking you* to be there. To answer your question, yes, the Wood Badge can be presented just like any other training award during a Troop meeting, a Court of Honor, a District or Council function or meeting or even as part of a board meeting with the person's regular employer. But a significant part of why we do the beading ceremony is lost and so is the potential for encourging others to participate in the Wood Badge program; not to mention the loss of youth pride in an adult as well as the loss of another opportunity to strike out with "Back to Gilwell, Happy Land...I'm going to work my ticket if I can!" Hope this helps! Please let us all know what he or she decides! Settummanque! (c) 1997 Mike Walton ("no such thing as strong coffee,...") (502) 827-9201 (settummanque, the blackeagle) http://dynasty.net/users/blkeagle 241 Fairview Dr., Henderson, KY 42420-4339 blkeagle@dynasty.net kyblkeagle@aol.com or waltonm@hq.21taacom.army.mil ---- FORWARD in service to youth ----