Hood Ornament

The Chief here was a hood ornament on a car I spotted at a local car show.  I don't remember now what car this was on but the details in the ornament caught my attention.

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Fear...overcoming it.

On the backside of my office door is an image I composites of Jedi Master Yoda in his hut on Dagobah.  He is looking up from a writing desk and floating above him is the advice "Named must your fear be...before banish it you can."  So I say to you..name your fear and then overcome it.

For me using the phone is a problem.  I HATE TO MAKE A PHONE CALL.   I would much rather e-mail you, send you a text or some other form of instant message.  Yet I do it everyday.  I pick up the phone and make calls.  I over come that fear each time.  At work I used to have a problem of being constantly interpreted.  However the office had an open door policy.  So I was afraid to close my door.  I overcame that.  It can be really simple to over come your fears but like the jedi master said, you have to know you have a fear.

First we have to understand what fear is and why it exist.  It is defined in the dictionary this way:

Fear: An unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.

OK now you know what it is, now lets talk about how it works.  I think the best way I've seen it described is as a filter.  It slides in complete unnoticed and distracts your brain in some way and you are off on a different path not ever realizing that your fear has manipulated you.   

A while back I read a book by Tim Ferris, The Four Hour Work Week.  One of his chapters was on fear setting.  In the book he gave some great advice on how to control your fears and it started me to thinking about how I overcome something I am afraid of.

1 - I have to identify the fact that I am afraid of it.  IF you don't know that you are afraid of it that your mind is making excuses. 

2 - Understand the fear.  You now know that you fear I want you to figure out what it is about it that makes you afraid of it.  If its snakes, then why are you afraid of them.  Is it that you don't like the way they hiss or slither.  Is it that they might bite you.

3 - Face it...you know from step two why you are afraid of it.  Find some little way to deal with the fear.  If its like me, using the phone, then make a set call each day.  Nothing difficult and expand this until you get comfortable to the activity.  What you are doing here is resetting your minds idea of what is dangerous.  

No matter what your fear is I want you to face it.  Little steps at a time.

 

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Positions of Responsibility

In addition to the Senior Patrol Leader and the Patrol Leader as well as their assistant there are five more positions of leadership in the Boy Scouts that can count toward a scouts advancement.  These positions of Responsibility are important to the functioning of the troop and are often filled by your older scouts.  They will appear below in no specific order.

The Troop Guide is mainly responsible for helping new scouts to feel welcome and comfortable in the unity.  They will also help them as they work toward their First Class rank.  The official responsibilities are as follows:

• Introduces new Scouts to troop operations.
• Guides new Scouts from harassment by older Scouts.
• Helps new Scouts earn First Class rank in their first year.
• Teaches basic Scout skills.
• Coaches the patrol leader of the new-Scout patrol on his duties.
• Works with the patrol leader at patrol leaders’ council meetings.
• Attends patrol leaders’ council meetings with the patrol leader of the new-Scout patrol.
• Assists the assistant Scoutmaster with training.
• Counsels individuals Scouts on Scouting challenges.
• Sets a good example.
• Enthusiastically and correctly wears the Scout uniform.
• Lives by the Scout Oath and Law.
• Shows Scout spirit

The Quartermaster keeps track of troop or team equipment and sees that it is in good working order. He keeps records on patrol/troop or squad/team equipment, makes sure equipment is in good working condition, and issues equipment and makes sure it is returned in good condition.  Their responsibilities are as follows:

• Keeps records on patrol/troop or squad/team equipment.
• Makes sure equipment is in good working condition.
• Issues equipment and makes sure it is returned in good condition.
• Makes suggestions for new or replacement items.
• Works with the troop committee member responsible for equipment.
• Sets a good example.
• Enthusiastically and correctly wears the Scout uniform.
• Lives by the Scout Oath and Law.
• Shows Scout spirit

The Historian preserves troop/team photographs, news stories, trophies, flags, scrapbooks, awards, and other memorabilia. Their responsibilities are as follows:

• Gathers pictures and facts about troop/team activities and keeps them in a historical file or scrapbook.
• Takes care of troop/team trophies, ribbons, and souvenirs of troop/team activities.
• Keeps information about former members of the troop/team.
• Sets a good example.
• Enthusiastically and correctly wears the Scout uniform.
• Lives by the Scout Oath and Law.
• Shows Scout spirit.

The position of Den Chief serves at the request of the Cubmaster.

He is selected by the Senior Patrol Leader and Scoutmaster.  He is approved by the Cubmaster and the Pack Committee for recommendation to the Den Leader. The Den Chief helps Cub Scouts advance through Cub Scout ranks and encourages Cub Scouts to join a Boy Scout troop upon graduation. Their responsibilities are as follows:

• Knows the purposes of Cub Scouting.
• Helps Cub Scouts achieve the purposes of Cub Scouting.
• Serves as the activities assistant at den meetings.
• Sets a good example through attitude and uniforming.
• Is a friend to the boys in the den.
• Helps lead weekly den meetings.
• Helps the den in its part of the monthly pack meeting.
• Knows the importance of the monthly theme and pack meeting plans.
• Meets regularly with the den leader to review den and pack meeting plans. Meets as needed with adult members of the den, pack, and troop.
• Receives training from the den leader (and Cubmaster or Assistant Cubmaster) and attend Den Chief Training.
• Encourages Cub Scouts to become Webelos Scouts when they are eligible.
• Encourages Cub Scouts to join a Boy Scout troop upon graduation.
• Helps the Denner and assistant denner to be leaders.
• Enthusiastically and correctly wears the Scout uniform.
• Lives by the Scout Oath and Law.
• Shows Scout spirit

The Troop/Team Bugler should be able to make appropriate bugle calls, as requested, at troop/team activities. Their responsibilities are as follows:

• Makes appropriate bugle calls, as requested, at troop/team activities.
• Set a good example.
• Enthusiastically and correctly wears the Scout uniform.
• Lives by the Scout Oath and Law.
• Shows Scout spirit

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Real live episode of House

Sorry for the last few days on the blog..things have been crazy.  I have honestly felt like I was on an episode of House.  Last friday Alexis came home and complained that her foot hurt.  She explained that her and some friends were tumbling and she landed wrong.  Being a family with active kids we assumed that it was nothing more dangerous than a heel bruise.  She's had them before and she will have them again.

On Saturday we were off and running to a training meeting for Marty, he is preparing for his big summer trip to the 2013 Scout Jamboree.  Noodle tagged along but by midday when was complaining of a headache and a tummy ache.  Afterwards she sacked out on the couch and relaxed.  On Sunday morning she had an normally high temperature and we decided to take her to the doctor.

The Doc looked her over and ran some blood tests and even checked her foot out.  Her fever and tummy ache were the main problems so Motrin and Tylenol were prescribed.  As to the foot, even after the x-ray, the doc thought as we did a heel bruise.  That was Sunday.  Monday about mid-day the Doc calls back and explains they have a problem with the blood samples.  They believe they have contaminated them and want to run another set.  Back to the Doctors they go and another set of blood tests are taken.  While there the Doc brushes again her foot and Noodle winches.  The Doc takes another look.

Noodle having breakfast at the Hospital.

The heel was angry and inflamed and swollen.  The first words the Doc said was "It didn't look like that yesterday."  Which she was right it had not looked that way the previous day.  Needless to say the blood test and the urine test came back with bacteria in it and we were off and running.  Noodle was admitted and MRI's were  scheduled for later that day.  After tests and more tests the MRI turned up an infection in the heel of her foot.

Unfortunately since the infection is actually in the bone it means a course of antibiotics   My brave girl had a PICC line installed and will be receiving her antibiotics at home for about 8 weeks.  The good news is that she is doing better and as I write this she is watching Marley and Me in her hospital room.

With luck we will have her back home by Monday or Tuesday.  She's having to miss school and missed her 5th grade trip but she is doing great.  While on the school trip the class took time to send her a little message.

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The Adult Leaders

I had stipulated that the position of Scoutmaster was to be neither that of a schoolmaster nor of a commander Officer, but rather that of an elder brother among his boys, not detached or above them individually, able to inspire their efforts and to suggest new diversions when his finger on their pulse told him the attraction of any present craze was wearing off.   — Robert Baden-Powell, Lessons from the Varsity of Life, 1933

 The Scoutmaster is the adult responsible for working directly with the Scouts to help them create the program for the troop. The Scoutmaster trains boy leaders to run the troop by providing direction, coaching, and support.

• Trains and guides boy leaders.
• Works with other responsible adults to bring Scouting to boys.
• Uses the methods of Scouting to achieve the aims of Scouting.
• Can be male or female, but must be at least 21 years of age.
• Is appointed by the head of the chartered organization.

An Assistant Scoutmaster is an adult leader age 18 or over who assist the Scoutmaster in delivering the troop program.

• Assist the Scoutmaster as directed
• Works with other responsible adults to bring Scouting to boys.
• Uses the methods of Scouting to achieve the aims of Scouting.
• Can be male or female, but must be at least 18 years of age.
• Is appointed by the Scoutmaster and approved by the Troop Committee Chair.
• Abide by the Scout Oath or Promise and the Scout Law.

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Cluck...Cluck...

That's Noodle up there on Tater-tot.  I made this image at her first ever horse show.  I was proud pf her as she came out and showed everyone what Tate could do.  The pair of them took First Place in her age division.

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Scout Lead Troop

“In Scouting, a boy is encouraged to educate himself instead of being instructed.” - Sir Robert Baden-Powell

The Scoutmaster's real duty is to create an environment where the Boys can "Master Scouting" on their own. The Scout Master is to put the Boys completely in charge of everything. He is to establish a "Scout-Led" Program. In the long run a Scoutmaster is not interested in how many Merit Badges and Ranks the Boy's earn but rather is concerned with whether his Scouts are learning to lead and guide each other.

Over a century ago, when Lord Baden-Powell started the Boy Scout Organization, he envisioned a program that allowed Boys to learn how to become Leaders by "doing" what Leaders "do". Powell recognized that Boys only learn when they do things completely "on their own". The problem arise in the fact that it is natural for Leaders to want to do things for the Boys. The result of which is they start out by doing little things for them and before you know it the entire program is being run by the adults rather than the scouts. What becomes worse is when this adult lead mentality becomes the tradition and the scouts are cheated out of the opportunity to lead a unit themselves.
YOu say whats the harm...at least they are getting exposed to the activities. I say any Boy can 'show up' to Scouts and go through the motions (being told what to do); have his handbook signed and passed-off and obtain the ranks (given to him). I would prefer to have a group of Boys who arrive and perform their duties without being told or compelled? Applying all of their creativity and talents completely on their own? It is then, and only then, that they will gain experience that is not fake, but instead, alive and real.

At the age of 8 weeks old, a Bald Eagle has all of the needed body parts to actually fly and leave the nest. It is not until at the age of 12 weeks old that it actually spreads open its wings and attempts to fly. As the bird continues to fly on its own, it gains greater skill and eventually, over the years, is found soaring to greater heights among the majestic senior Bald Eagles... At the age of 12 years old, Boys should be spreading their OWN wings to fly. They should be taking charge of and leading their own program. This is only possible if they are enabled and allowed to do so!
Last summer our troop attended a local camp and that evening in the Scoutmasters meeting a number of scout masters came over to talk with our Scoutmaster and myself, the Assistant Scoutmaster. They were impressed by our young troop. They had watched as our vehicles arrived and the boys scurried to unload and organize the gear for the week long event. They had watched as two of the boys, the Senior Patrol Leader and the former Senior Patrol Leader, gave instructions as to what was to go where and assigned their fellows tasks. They had watched as the adult leaders of our troop pitched in to help but in the end were not permitted to do very much work. Instead it was done for us. In a the space of an hour and a half a complete campsite was erected and the Scout Master's had little to do it's apparent creation. What they asked and wanted to know was how we got the boys to do this. Our answer was simple. Their scouts.

Chris and the others who head our troop believe in the concept of a scout lead unit. However we have not always been fortunate. We have had to rebuild and restart the troop a number of times and as a result it was not until last year that we truly started moving toward a true scout lead unit. Today we hold a Senior Patrol Leaders council once a quarter. In these meetings the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) and his Assistant sits down with us to discuss plans for upcoming meetings and events. Currently in those meetings I act as the recorder and put everything on our website.  These notes form the basis of the meeting they hold weekly. In the field Chris and I let them fumble and stumble if need be, offering only advice and guidance. We try very very hard not to tell but to let them learn. Only stepping in when they are creating something that could be dangerous for someone.

Are we a true scout lead unit...not yet but we are headed there. If your in the Marmet, WV area on Monday Evenings drop by The Methodist Church and say high to the Scouts.  If your in our area and thinking of joining scouts come check us out.  We don't stand on ceremony just drop by and take part for an evening.

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