Category: Scouting in General

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Committee chair timeline: March

march_200March is nearly here, and with it longer days and the urge to get outside. But before we lace up our hiking boots, let’s talk about some of the business items the committee needs to tend to this month.

Your primary happening this month will be welcoming the Webelos Scouts who are headed your way. Cub Scout packs are having their crossover ceremonies, and hopefully the bridge leads to your troop. If you’ve been doing your homework, you have had many prospective Scouts and their parents come and check out your troop at a troop meeting, court of honor or an outdoor event. Be prepared to welcome these new Scouts to your troop! Make sure your committee members who have a role in welcoming new members know their part in the process. Continue reading “Committee chair timeline: March”

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Scouting’s triangles

District-Key-3-PatchA triangle is the simplest two-dimensional figure and is one of the strongest in nature. The world is made of triangles, from honeycombs to bridge trusses. Three is a magic number in many ways beyond the familiar Bob Dorough song popularized in the TV series Schoolhouse Rock, including within the Scouting movement.

This past week, Bryan Wendell, Scouting Magazine’s editor, posted on his blog an item about the Scouting triangle from Scouter Michael Dulle, likening it to the triangle of fire. In the triangle of fire, you need to have fuel, oxygen and ignition. If any one of these is missing, you can’t have a fire. His Scouting triangle consists of youth, program and trained adults. Same thing – if a side goes missing, the movement falls apart.

This is just one of the triangles in Scouting, though. There are many more situations where three is the magic number that keeps us moving Continue reading “Scouting’s triangles”

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Sharpen your saw!

logs_200There’s an old story about two lumberjacks who each thought of themselves as the very best wood cutters in the world. One day they decided to have a log-cutting competition to determine, once and for all, who really was the most proficient at cutting logs. One of the lumberjacks worked feverishly throughout the contest, swinging his ax without rest to the point of exhaustion. The other lumberjack worked at a more leisurely pace. Even in the midst of the competition, he took several breaks while his competitor was chopping away. When the contest ended, much to everyone’s surprise, the second lumberjack had cut the most logs and was declared the winner. Continue reading “Sharpen your saw!”

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You talk too much!

megaphone_200You talk too much, you worry me to death

You talk too much, you even worry my pet

You just talk – talk too much!

John Lee Hooker’s lyrics made famous in a song by the 1960s R&B singer Joe Jones often resonate all too true for most of us. It’s been said that most people don’t listen to understand, they listen to reply. How often have you been in a conversation with someone, and as they’re telling you a story or relating an experience, the things that pop into your mind are what you’re going to tell them in response? Continue reading “You talk too much!”

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Committee chair timeline: February

feb_200As we move through the cold winter months, here are some thoughts of things to keep you and your committee occupied and looking forward to warmer days ahead.

  • Webelos Scouts are putting the ribbons on their Arrow of Light requirements, and now is the time to make sure they know that the bridge they’re about to cross leads to your troop. Your Scoutmaster and senior patrol leader should be visiting Webelos dens, giving them the “sales pitch” and inviting them to attend your troop meetings. Continue reading “Committee chair timeline: February”