Of course, the first is Primary Music Leader. But releases happen. So now...SCOUTMASTER! This makes the third time. Obviously I still haven't got it right, because the Lord keeps giving me another chance :)
So here's my situation and question: I'm really not good at detailed planning. And I'm even worse at detailed record-keeping. That pretty much dooms our scouting program to failure. But I'm really good at implementing plans, finding creative workarounds when things don't go as planned, and bringing a whole lot of energy and enthusiasm into activities. So what can I do in our scouting program to strengthen the areas where I am weak? (And if you say "more training" I will reach through the monitor and strangle you where you sit!)
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The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life. - Julie Beck
Surround yourself with Scouters... encourage and build up enthusiasm for the program with the boys and parents. If the Bishopric and YM presidency is not into Scouting, get them enthused about it. Show them that it can be so much more than just another thing for the young men to do... Show them it is much more than a fast-trak Eagle tool... Teach the boys how to run the program and let them run it and you advise. Don't run it for them. Give them the chance to succeed and to fail as individuals and a patrol / troop.
Insist on having a great committee. You need a good committee chair, and someone else on the committee who is a good record keeper to track all the advancements and completed requirements for the boys.
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It seems to me the only thing you've learned is that Caesar is a "salad dressing dude."
I say you should get a book, read the requirements for the ranks. Look over some of the merit badges available. And then have a lengthy discussion with the boys (and perhaps involve their parents) about what they want to accomplish in the program.
Try to help them see the value in achieving the rank of eaglescout, when all they want to do is get the videogame meritbadge.
Talk to them about including their friends in the program.
Maybe you should go to each scout individually and talk with them in their home? To get a feel for what each boy might excel at, and what they might need improvements for... ask God for help and the spiritual gift of love for each young man.
Pray for an infinite amount of patience, and try to help the young men take charge of their own program.
--Ray
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I'm not slow; I'm special. (Don't take it personally, everyone finds me offensive. Yet somehow I manage to live with myself.)
I'm really glad our scoutmaster has kept track of all the records and what merit badges my son has, etc. cuz I don't have a clue. All I know is he says, "He's doing great!" or he's right on track or whatever... Maybe just force yourself to do it right away, like keep a notebook to jot down everyone's progress... I don't know what exactly our scoutmaster does, but it's awesome. But once every few months take it to the mid-week meeting to "review" with the boys to see if you missed anything... "Hey, I did SO get the 1 mile swim! Remember??"
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Life is tough but it's tougher if you're stupid. -John Wayne
Don't lose those merit badge cards. Get a binder and put those clear sheets they use for baseball cards in it to hold each one. You can organize them this way. I was missing a couple when I applied for eagle. Fortunatly, the merit badge counsellors kept their copies.
Archery, Rifle Shooting, Shotgun Shooting, Sailing, Rowing, Canoeing, Hiking, and the cooking merit badge wasn't too bad. Fingerprinting was kind of interesting because you got to learn about law enforcement. Aviation was pretty neat. We got to go to the airport and met a guy that had a restored WWII recon plane. The recon plane had no weapons but is actually credited with one Japanese kill. It was being chased by a zero and was able to pull up faster than the Japanese plane which hit some trees.
I wish there was more of this for our girls. And their moms.
