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Tuesday, August 11, 2009
August 2009 Patriot Press
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skill (IOLS) Registration Open
Unit Leaders, Registration for the Fall Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skill (IOLS) has opened. Please go to the event page at http://www.doubleknot.com/Registration/CalendarDetail.asp?ActivityKey=639833&OrgKey=371 to register. If you need more information, please contact Mr. Scruggs at pscruggs@ix.netcom.com YIS Chip
Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skill (IOLS) - Patriot  |
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Monday, August 3, 2009
65th Anniversary Commemoration Operation Dragoon 5 August 09 Arlington National Cemetery
Unit Leaders, Sorry for the late notice, but see the below message and attachment for information on this special ceremony. Chip
There will be a ceremony on 5 August 2009 at the Memorial Amphitheater in Arlington National Cemetery at 0900 to honor the veterans of Operation Dragoon, the allied invasion of Southern France. We will have 30 veterans of the landing present, primarily from the 3rd Infantry Division and the 1st Airborne Task Force.  |
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Tuesday, July 21, 2009
BSA's Innovation Council
Getting past labels and stereotypes, past the rhetoric and politics--even past some of the bad poetry of some Scouting leaders--is difficult in our movement.
I recently had the opportunity to meet with an official from the National Office's "Innovation Council." Rani Monson, Innovation Director at the National Office, was on a country-wide tour and wanted to hear what we thought about Scouting: how it needs to change and how it needs to stay the same.
It was a frank back and forth with Ms. Monson, our Scout Exec, Al Lambert, and three other district serving execs like me. She was at least as critical as we were of the Boy Scouts: we're not dynamic enough, not cool enough, not nimble enough, not inclusive enough.
It is her council that has put together an "innovation engine" for the BSA: http://ideas.scouting.org/
Ms. Monson was totally new to Scouting when she took her current job with the BSA, which has its advantages and disadvantages, as you might imagine. The major advantage is that she is a thoughtful advocate of our program, but also knows what an outsider might perceive about the BSA. And there are a lot of terrible perceptions of our movement.
Her ideas for our movement were complex, but from what I could tell, here are some results that she'd like to see:
I recently had the opportunity to meet with an official from the National Office's "Innovation Council." Rani Monson, Innovation Director at the National Office, was on a country-wide tour and wanted to hear what we thought about Scouting: how it needs to change and how it needs to stay the same.
It was a frank back and forth with Ms. Monson, our Scout Exec, Al Lambert, and three other district serving execs like me. She was at least as critical as we were of the Boy Scouts: we're not dynamic enough, not cool enough, not nimble enough, not inclusive enough.
It is her council that has put together an "innovation engine" for the BSA: http://ideas.scouting.org/
Ms. Monson was totally new to Scouting when she took her current job with the BSA, which has its advantages and disadvantages, as you might imagine. The major advantage is that she is a thoughtful advocate of our program, but also knows what an outsider might perceive about the BSA. And there are a lot of terrible perceptions of our movement.
Her ideas for our movement were complex, but from what I could tell, here are some results that she'd like to see:
- The uniform abolished, or a different uniform produced by the fashionable athleticwear maker UnderArmor.
- Better sharing of best practices among councils
- More digital resources and a more dynamic Cub Scout program
It was a disheartening meeting for me. Here was an outsider, put in an important position in the national office, giving credence to the worst stereotypes about our movement. On the other hand, she can't ignore the perceptions. If she did it would be business as usual in the National BSA and business as usual isn't working, if you read our 30-year membership numbers.
What did I take from it? As our Scout Exec said, we've been having the same discussion for 30 years--since he was a district exec in the south side of Chicago--and it has always been a question of how we maintain our identity and preserve the things that work, while making the BSA a movement that appeals to new populations. That's less of an answer than a question, I think.
A friend of mine who went to Philmont training with me approached the BSA's National High Adventure Director and said brazenly: "I want your job. What do I need to do?"
The guy smiled wryly said, "You have to have a hard head and thick skin." Surprising to us both. As we continue in this profession it rings more true than ever. I know that boys love to play in the woods, shoot weapons, play with fires. I know they like to swim and sail in lakes and go horseback riding.
No matter what anyone says about this movement, we're the best organization to give boys these opportunities.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Flying Circus Camporee Registration Documents
Unit Leaders, Pre-Registration information for the Fall Camporee has been posted to the website: https://doubleknot.com/registration/calendardetail.asp?ActivityKey=605241 This is sure to be a popular event so please get your pre-registration forms to Mr. Sternberg as soon as possable. YIS Chip
Fall Camporee 2009 When: October 16-18, 2009 Where: Flying Circus Aerodrome, Bealeton, Virginia Activities: Aviation Themed
Registration: Pre-Registration Forms are due by September 15, 2009. The completed permission forms: are due by September 30, 2009. Either email the forms to philip.sternberg@verizon.net, or mail them to Patriot Fall 2009 Camporee, c/o Philip Sternberg, P.O. Box 4052, Alexandria VA 22303, Contact Philip Sternberg with questions.  |
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Friday, June 12, 2009
Change to 2009/2010 Calendar of Events – Webelos to Scout Transition
Unit Leaders, There has been a change to 2009/2010 Calendar of Events involving the Webelos to Scout Transition. The Webelos to Boy Scout Transition Program has been moved from November 21 to December 5. Please contact Mr. Patrick Ring at pring978@verizon.net if you have questions. YIS Chip  |
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Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Patriot Press June/July 2009
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