Unit Leaders, Please note that registrations for the Patriot District CPR/First Aid Class are now being accepted. See below for more information. YIS Chip
This class is CPR with Standard First Aid. It will be held at The Church of the Good Shepherd, Price is as follows: Both CPR and First Aid $23 CPR will go from 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM Please use this website to register to attend the course. Please note that payment for the class will be due the day of the class. PLEASE DO NOT SEND IN PAYMENT. Start Date/Time: 6/13/2009 8:30:00 AM End Date/Time: 6/13/2009 3:30:00 PM Online Registration Accepted Until: 6/11/2009 To register: click here Contact Email: merchantj@verizon.net Cost: $23.00 Activity Location: 9350 Braddock Road, Burke, VA 22015 US Directions can be found at: Location Map |
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Thursday, April 30, 2009
CPR/First Aid Class Registration Now Open
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Future District Committee Members
Unit Leaders, At this time of year many units experience the arrival of new adult Aasgeir Gangsaas, deputy district chairman, asks Scoutmasters to consider Please contact Dan Hurley, chair of the nominating committee, at (703) Yours in Scouting, Aasgeir Gangsaas |
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Monday, April 20, 2009
The Uniform
I remember being a 16 year old Scout in Mobile, AL in the 90s. I drove to my Scout meetings, but didn't wear the uniform for fear that a girl or a cool guy from my high school might see me in the uniform. It wasn't cool to wear the uniform in the 90s. It still isn't cool. I often find myself wondering, as a professional, whether the uniform is really necessary. I wonder if I could recruit more kids if they weren't required to wear a uniform.
There are professionals that don't like to wear the uniform. They're mostly the unmarried guys in our council, in their 20s. It might prevent them from meeting a girl (you never know when you might meet a cute girl out and about). It's not cool to be a grown man in the Scout uniform. And you gotta be cool to meet a girl.
Maybe the girls care less than the guys do. But you can't discount the power of confidence. And it's hard to be confident in your coolness while wearing a Scout uniform.
When I first started working for the Scouts, I heard that the uniform was one of the "methods of Scouting." We have some lofty aims and methods. You can google them, if you want. I could probably remember about half of them off the top of my head. There are so many things to remember as a professional: Boy Scout Law, Motto, Promise, Slogan, Cub Scout Promise, Law, Venturing Oath, Aims and Methods of Scouting, Mission and Vision of the council, etc, etc.
You know, when I interviewed for my job at the Boy Scouts, I was only looking for a "community-serving non-profit job." I soon found out that it wasn't just another non-profit. It was a "movement." Being part of a movement sounds grander than saying I work for the Boy Scouts. Being part of a "movement" implies that I'm part of something than is bigger than a "job."
These days I wear the uniform anywhere. I tell people that I have a wife and a baby. Who am I trying to impress? I'm not trying to meet any girls. I go grocery shopping in my uniform. I go out to eat. I'll go to community events and parades. It's a good way to meet people. Everyone has a Scouting story.
I also say that I wear the uniform out of convenience, but I wonder if I've also become more comfortable with what the uniform stands for. The uniform debate's always couched in a debate of what's cool and not cool. But Scouting has always maintained that the uniform is some lofty method that they use to accomplish its aims (which are also lofty). You can talk about what the uniform stands for--even maybe come up with some inspiring metaphors about Scouting. But when a Scout wears his uniform he is quite literally enveloping himself in the Scouts.
This might seem like a bit of a ramble, but I started thinking about the uniform for a reason. Our hardworking District Chairman, Hal Hagemeier, recently suffered a mild stroke and will be taking a break from some of his Scouting duties as our district's volunteer leader. He is expected to make a full recovery and I know many Scouters and me and my family will be praying for him.
Life has a way of throwing these sorts of wake-up calls at you. When you least expect it, a loved one has a health scare, the head of the household loses her job, a war errupts and Dad must deploy. The sorts of reminders that our life is precious and fleeting. It is at times like these that we look for meaning. We go to back to our religions, we let go of family greivances, and we want our lives to stand for something. The whole debate about the uniform being cool or uncool seems suddenly trite and silly.
Hal wears the uniform even when he's not wearing it. He worked hard to grow the Scouting movement in our area. And he has had considerable success during his tenure as our District Chairman. His leadership helped make the Patriot District a Quality District. With his recent health scare, I hope he finds strength in the volunteer work that he has done. Work that stood for something meaningful in the lives of so many of our district's youth.
There are professionals that don't like to wear the uniform. They're mostly the unmarried guys in our council, in their 20s. It might prevent them from meeting a girl (you never know when you might meet a cute girl out and about). It's not cool to be a grown man in the Scout uniform. And you gotta be cool to meet a girl.
Maybe the girls care less than the guys do. But you can't discount the power of confidence. And it's hard to be confident in your coolness while wearing a Scout uniform.
When I first started working for the Scouts, I heard that the uniform was one of the "methods of Scouting." We have some lofty aims and methods. You can google them, if you want. I could probably remember about half of them off the top of my head. There are so many things to remember as a professional: Boy Scout Law, Motto, Promise, Slogan, Cub Scout Promise, Law, Venturing Oath, Aims and Methods of Scouting, Mission and Vision of the council, etc, etc.
You know, when I interviewed for my job at the Boy Scouts, I was only looking for a "community-serving non-profit job." I soon found out that it wasn't just another non-profit. It was a "movement." Being part of a movement sounds grander than saying I work for the Boy Scouts. Being part of a "movement" implies that I'm part of something than is bigger than a "job."
These days I wear the uniform anywhere. I tell people that I have a wife and a baby. Who am I trying to impress? I'm not trying to meet any girls. I go grocery shopping in my uniform. I go out to eat. I'll go to community events and parades. It's a good way to meet people. Everyone has a Scouting story.
I also say that I wear the uniform out of convenience, but I wonder if I've also become more comfortable with what the uniform stands for. The uniform debate's always couched in a debate of what's cool and not cool. But Scouting has always maintained that the uniform is some lofty method that they use to accomplish its aims (which are also lofty). You can talk about what the uniform stands for--even maybe come up with some inspiring metaphors about Scouting. But when a Scout wears his uniform he is quite literally enveloping himself in the Scouts.
This might seem like a bit of a ramble, but I started thinking about the uniform for a reason. Our hardworking District Chairman, Hal Hagemeier, recently suffered a mild stroke and will be taking a break from some of his Scouting duties as our district's volunteer leader. He is expected to make a full recovery and I know many Scouters and me and my family will be praying for him.
Life has a way of throwing these sorts of wake-up calls at you. When you least expect it, a loved one has a health scare, the head of the household loses her job, a war errupts and Dad must deploy. The sorts of reminders that our life is precious and fleeting. It is at times like these that we look for meaning. We go to back to our religions, we let go of family greivances, and we want our lives to stand for something. The whole debate about the uniform being cool or uncool seems suddenly trite and silly.
Hal wears the uniform even when he's not wearing it. He worked hard to grow the Scouting movement in our area. And he has had considerable success during his tenure as our District Chairman. His leadership helped make the Patriot District a Quality District. With his recent health scare, I hope he finds strength in the volunteer work that he has done. Work that stood for something meaningful in the lives of so many of our district's youth.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
April Cub Roundtable Files
The April 2009 Cub Roundtable Files have been posted to our website
https://doubleknot.com/openrosters/ViewOrgPageLink.asp?LinkKey=27909&orgkey=371
Chip
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Redesigned "New Leader Essentials" (NLE) Course Now Live
Unit Leaders, I have received several questions from folks on the status of the new NLE Course. National has just released this course in an Online format through the BSA's Online Learning Center. Please check it out and let any new leaders in your Unit know it is available. Below is a Blog posting from National that provides more information. YIS Chip One of the coolest parts of Scouting is that every volunteer across the country shares similar values and experiences. It doesn't matter if you talk to a Scouter from Montana or Maine—the way volunteers talk and think about the BSA varies only slightly. Much of that consistency is the result of a carefully planned training program that the BSA has created for you, the adult volunteer. And with the release of an updated, online-based learning experience, it's even easier to understand what Scouting's all about. The Volunteer Development team created "This Is Scouting," a new required course for all adult volunteers. The hourlong program—available in the BSA's Online Learning Center—introduces participants to the following six areas of the Scouting program:
"This Is Scouting" replaces "New Leader Essentials," and volunteers must take the course to be fully trained. Once you log in to MyScouting, click the E-Learning link and select the course that can be found under Basic Training. You can expect to see a short, action-packed, and informative video for each of the six modules listed above. At the end of each video, you'll be asked to answer a few basic questions to test your comprehension. Once you're done, you'll get a certificate of completion and be on your way to enjoying the Scouting program to its fullest. For those of you without Internet access—probably isn't very many of you, since you're reading this blog, after all—the course is also available on DVD (BSA Supply No. 36118). To order, call the Supply Group at 800-323-0736. No matter how you take the course, whether on your computer or with a group using the DVD, just take it. Once you do, as the course's narrator says, you'll be one step closer to having "one of the most engaging and rewarding experiences of your life." |
Friday, April 3, 2009
Spring Camporee Website now with Camporee Bulletin
Unit Leaders, The Spring Camporee Website has been updated with a Camporee Bulletin and also the Patch design. Please go to the Camporee Website for more information. YIS Chip
Spring Camporee
Registration Unit Leaders should submit one registration for the entire Unit, not individual registrations. If you dont wish to use the website, you can also complete a paper registration form and submit to Mr. Kemp. If you submit a paper registration form, you must also submit a Unit Roster at the time of check in. **NOTE, the Camporee Activities have separate registration procedures that you will need to complete. Please see the Campreee Guide for these procedures. Fish Fry registration form can be found here. The registration on this website (or paper registration) is only to indicate participation. Camporee Guide Start Date/Time: 4/24/2009 2:00:00 PM End Date/Time: 4/26/2009 11:00:00 AM Online Registration Accepted Until: 4/22/2009 To register: click here Contact Email: depdir@ideapcs.org Cost: $20.00 Activity Location: 33017 River Mill Road33017 River Mill Road, Richardsville, VA 22736 US Directions can be found at: Location Map |
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Thursday, April 2, 2009
Scouting in the next 10 or 100 years
The focus of the Burke Connection this week was the Fairfax County budget. Increased taxes or decreased services? Most likely, it will be a little bit of both. Makes me wonder if I really want to purchase a townhouse in Fairfax County in these times of uncertainty (my wife and I are looking).
But another part of this controversial budget was the "out of the box" thinking that is going into maintaining government services. I see this as an opportunity!
For example, there has been some controversy surrounding the afterschool program, SACC. They want to keep the program, but reduce the funding and perhaps change the way the program is administered. Is there room for a Scouting program in SACC? Maybe the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts could go to Fairfax County and offer programming for a day a week.
But BSA doesn't stand for Baby Sitters of America. So what would this program look like? Would offering an after-school Scouting program water down our program to the point that it is indistinguishable from the dozens of after-school programs in our area? I'm not sure that offering an after-school Scouting program would be good or prudent.
On the other hand, it would allow us to offer Scouting to a population of kids that might not otherwise ever be exposed to a unique program and its important values. If we decided not to offer Scouting to these kids in an after-school setting, would we ever reach them? And if we don't reach these kids, what does that mean for our community? Even if a select few kids in our community get the citizenship and leadership training in Scouting, if the majority of our community does not hold these values, what would our country look like?
These are questions bigger than a blog post, but I do believe that Scouting has to think "out of the box." How to do this while still holding fast to our values and unique program is a question that everyone in Scouting--everyone from our local Cubmasters to our Chief Scout Exec.--is trying to answer. What are your ideas?
But another part of this controversial budget was the "out of the box" thinking that is going into maintaining government services. I see this as an opportunity!
For example, there has been some controversy surrounding the afterschool program, SACC. They want to keep the program, but reduce the funding and perhaps change the way the program is administered. Is there room for a Scouting program in SACC? Maybe the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts could go to Fairfax County and offer programming for a day a week.
But BSA doesn't stand for Baby Sitters of America. So what would this program look like? Would offering an after-school Scouting program water down our program to the point that it is indistinguishable from the dozens of after-school programs in our area? I'm not sure that offering an after-school Scouting program would be good or prudent.
On the other hand, it would allow us to offer Scouting to a population of kids that might not otherwise ever be exposed to a unique program and its important values. If we decided not to offer Scouting to these kids in an after-school setting, would we ever reach them? And if we don't reach these kids, what does that mean for our community? Even if a select few kids in our community get the citizenship and leadership training in Scouting, if the majority of our community does not hold these values, what would our country look like?
These are questions bigger than a blog post, but I do believe that Scouting has to think "out of the box." How to do this while still holding fast to our values and unique program is a question that everyone in Scouting--everyone from our local Cubmasters to our Chief Scout Exec.--is trying to answer. What are your ideas?
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