A Scoutmaster's Blog

For a few years now, the Boy Scouts of America has done background checks on new adult leaders in troops, packs, and crews. When the organization first began doing this I thought it was a bit extreme, but I have gotten used to the idea. I have also noticed that others groups, clubs, and even schools now do the same thing for their volunteers.

Will background checks work to keep out the rift raft and troublemakers? I am sure it will help, but nothing is one hundred percent foolproof. It does sound like it has stopped some “undesirables” from holding Scout leadership positions. Unfortunately, it is also stopping some good people from holding a leadership role due to mistakes made early in their lives.

For example, I had a father who was very active with the troop. He worked well with the boys and they respected him. He was a good assistant scoutmaster. Unfortunately, when the council did a background check on him the council found that he had made a few wrong choices in his life over twenty five years ago. and then denied his application. This gentleman had straightened out his life a generation ago, has raised a fine family, and had already proven himself to be a good troop leader, but the BSA says that he is no longer good enough the be an assistant scoutmaster. (And no, I am not going to write here what his record showed, even though I know because he and I have talked about it.)

In this example, I think the background check has backfired against the local troop, and thus the BSA. This policy is actually keeping a good man out of the program. It makes me wonder how many more times this has happened around the country. Don’t get me wrong though, I happen to agree the background checks are a good idea, but I also think we need to take a look at the current character of the person, not just what happens to be on record from a generation ago. After all, people do change. They learn from their mistakes.

Or are we now going to teach the boys that once they make a mistake we should hold that against them for their entire lives?

I have been a scoutmaster in Scouting for over 25 years, so the background check has not been done on me yet. Last week I did receive a letter from the National Office asking me to complete a form because they are now doing the checks on all adult leaders. I can mail the form in, or I can do it online.

I am not worried. I have never been arrested, never done drugs, never been part of a political demonstration. I have never even got a speeding ticket. I am just an ordinary law abiding citizen of Minnesota. Always have been, always plan to be.

However, when I think about it, would this not be a dandy way to get out of being a scoutmaster after all these years? Hey Bubba, pass me a bottle of beer and give me the keys! It is time to get a record. (I am kidding, of course.)

We are now half way through the month of June. Summer is nearly one third gone. Families are going on vacations. Cities are having their summer celebrations. And Independence Day will soon be here! What a better way to honor the summer’s biggest holiday then to post a video of the Boy Scout Troop honoring our veterans who have served our country.

The 2002 Laughs For Lunch Show was held four months after the tragedy of 9/11. Patriotism was high in this country as we pulled together to pay our respects to those who died, and to those who became heroes. The Boy Scouts of Troop 68 wanted to end this show by doing something special to honor those local men and women who have served, and are serving, in our armed forces.

A few phone calls were made to the VFW Post (the troop’s sponsor) and the American Legion. We were able to borrow ten flags from the VFW for the song. Two alumni of Troop 68 had recently joined the Minnesota National Guard and agreed to participate. Several members of VFW Post 7050 also agreed to participate. We were set.

Unfortunately, we did not have time to practice with everyone before the show, so I was “directing” everyone from behind the stage. The timing may not have been quite perfect, but it did have the effect that we were looking for. It turned out to be a nice way for the troop to close the show and pay our respects to those who serve this country.

Watch this video post of Melrose Scouting Productions, and then leave a comment if your troop has done anything similar to this. Let’s share our ideas on how our troops and packs show their appreciation.
You can leave a note below, or at the PTC media forums.

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There was very bad news reported tonight in Iowa. Here is the AP report found on Yahoo…

DES MOINES, Iowa – The National Weather Service has received reports of injuries and possibly fatalities from an apparent tornado that struck a Boy Scout camp in western Iowa. Meteorologist Jim Meyer says law enforcement officials had called the weather service Wednesday evening and reported injuries and damage at the Little Sioux Scout Ranch. Meyer said: “We believe there were some fatalities and injuries.” A dispatcher with the Harrison County sheriff’s department in Iowa says first responders are at the camp and more are en route. She isn’t confirming reports of injuries.

Since this first article was reported online, news has come in that four people were killed at the camp by a “rain wrapped” tornado. Here is the latest update:

DES MOINES, Iowa – A spokeswoman for Iowa Homeland Security says at least four people were killed and 40 injured when a tornado struck a western Iowa Boy Scout camp. Iowa Homeland Security spokeswoman Julie Tack says a search and rescue team has been deployed to the camp near Little Sioux in Harrison County. She says the camp is covered with debris and downed trees after the tornado hit about 7 p.m. Wednesday. Tack says there were 93 campers and 25 staff members at the camp. The campers were between 13 and 18 years old and were attending a leadership training camp. “They were considered some of the best in the area,” Tack said. At least 40 people who were injured in the storm were being taken to area hospitals.

Please keep these victims and families in your prayers.

A little over two years ago I posted the first article to A Scoutmaster’s Blog. Since that day in May of 2006, I have posted 277 articles about my thoughts and experiences in Boy Scouting, along with a sprinkling of other topics.

A little over a year ago, on April 4, 2006, I posted the first video to the Melrose Scouting Productions Podcast, a podcast about Boy Scouting by Boy Scouts and leaders. There have been 39 videos posted do far, averaging nearly three per month.

During the month of May, 2008, this blog received 2545 visits (according to Google Analytics), with 2155 unique visitors. The podcast receives even more visitors. I give you these facts not to brag or anything (after all, there are other sites that make these stats seem small by comparison), but to prepare you for the following statistics.

I have read a couple studies about people who read blogs. It appears that only one or two percent of readers lave a comment or send an email to the blogger. I would have to believe that the stats for podcasts would probably even be worse since mosts people will listen to or watch a podcast away from their computer, or away from the website.

To tell you the truth, as a blogger and podcaster I find these statistics to be disheartening. I am like the majority of bloggers and podcasters in that I do not get paid for doing this. I do it because I enjoy it. But I will admit, after reviewing the stats for my blog last month and finding that less then 3/10 of one percent of people who visit my sites take the time to leave a comment, I am becoming a bit discouraged.

Is my writing that bad? Are the articles that boring? Are the videos that painful to watch? Yes, I admit that I am happy to receive the hits and visits that I do, but I would like to know if you, the readers and viewers, are enjoying what you see? Are you finding them to be helpful in any way?

By posting a comment you are able to leave feedback about how you feel I am doing. It is the only payment I ask of you. Heck, I would love to receive feedback or emails from even two percent of the sites’ visitors. It would be a lot more then I currently receive.

So, can you find it in your heart to help out a lowly blogger/podcaster? When you read an article that you enjoy or find helpful take a moment to leave a comment. When you watch a video that leaves you with a smile on your face drop me a line and let me know about it. I would really appreciate it, and it encourages me to keep doing it. Numbers are nice, but feedback is great.

I am not too proud to quote the boy in the movie when he said, “Please sir. I want some more.”

I could not pass up sharing this comic with you. It is a Family Circus comic and asks a very important question about the Boy Scout Slogan, Do A Good Turn Daily. I actually saw it in a newspaper over a year ago, but only recently found an online version of it, and it is in color!

We hear so much about gangs these days and the problems they can cause in a community. I found a short article about gangs that I think you may enjoy reading. It is written by David B. Disch, an assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 8, Tuscarora Council, Goldsboro, NC. Here is a short except from the article:

I will only mention some of the other gangs by name. I do this not because I do not know anything about them, but because I wish to spend my time allowed in this paper to discuss the advantages of joining my gang. These gangs, the Bloods and the Crips out of Los Angeles, California, the Folk, and Black Gangster Disciples, out of Chicago, Illinois, are only four of the more well known gangs. What is sad is that here in Goldsboro, North Carolina, our children are starting to emulate, at least by the names of the gangs, these groups. It was earlier thought that delinquent gangs were highly disorganized groups whose members behaved impulsively, and in which there was no particular goal or organized direction for conduct. (2) Gangs offer many things that homes and families today cannot. Gangs offer a sense of belonging. They offer loyalty to each other. Gang members speak of their fellow “gang bangers” as family. Gangs are identified by the colors of their clothing and have a distinct rank structure.

He then goes on to talk about the Boy Scouts as a type of gang. A good type of gang. A gang that helps the community instead of bringing harm to it. You can read the whole article at
http://ww2.esn.net/troop8/join_my_gang.htm.

Eight Boy Scouts of Melrose Troop 68 had a great weekend during their annual trip to Camp Watchamagumee over the Memorial Day Weekend. The troop arrived at camp on Friday, May 23, and stayed until the morning of Monday, May 26.

The Scouts accomplished a lot during the weekend. They began by reviewing the safety rules when using a saw or ax, and using campfires. They played games including kick ball and their favorite, Cature the Flag. The also spent a couple hours working on campsite improvements.

Building things seemed to be the theme of the outing. One group of Scouts built a raft. Another group worked on building a dock in the pond. A new treehouse was started but will take one more afternoon to complete.

Of course, it would not be a Watchamagumee weekend if the troop did not hold its annual Egg Drop Competition. The Scouts formed four teams that would create a package for an egg using only natural materials found in the woods. The packages would then be dropped from various heights. If the egg survived without cracking or breaking, the package would move on to the next level.

Each evening ended by sitting around the campfire. Each patrol had its own campfire on Friday night. The troop gathered around one campfire on Saturday for lots of stories to be told. During the Sunday night campfire program the Scouts did songs and skits, and played “Who’s Line Is It Anyway?”.

The troop would like to express their thanks to Mr. Duevel and Kraemer Lumber for their assistance in the treehouse project, and to Vern and Melvin Klasen for allowing us to use their land.

One month ago I wrote about a little song that caught my attention nearly a year ago called The Scout Law. I thought, and still think, it is a cute song that nicely pokes a little fun at Boy Scouting, and yet teaches the Scout Law and the meaning of the twelve points (kind of). This song is available as a free download provided by the two man group The Croutons at http://music.download.com/thecroutons/3600-8592_32-100115552.html

When I wrote that blog post on May 4, the song had received 241 listens since it was posted on that site on April 6, 2004, over four years ago. During the last month, after writing about it on this blog and a couple of Yahoo Scouting groups, and recently talking about it during the PTC Media audio podcast A Leader’s Campfire, there have been quite a few visits to the site and listens to the song. I checked out the site today and it shows a total of 327 listens. That is a 36% increase of the amount of listens during a one month period. While I do not take all the credit for that increase, I would like to think that I helped a little to get the word out about it.

Now that some of you have listened to the song, I would like to hear what you thought about it. Leave a comment by clicking on the link below.