Be Prepared

[Better4itall]

It seems our professionals (at both the national and at least one council level) have forgotten the Scout Motto, or perhaps never took it to heart.

We have a new Council Executive and he attended a council training class for the fall school recruiting season. One of his staff gave a briefing on the new fee structure, and the new rolling renewal. When asked about how that renewal will work he passed the question to the Scout Executive, who had to dance around the fact that he did not have the answers. This was in spite of the fact that he opened with stories of returning from the national meeting recently. 

The fact that those answers were not available at the national meeting when the new program was announced speaks volumes to the professionalism of national staff, but more importantly, they were not prepared. In spite of that they announced the program. 

Our local staff then was put in the position. of not being prepared to explain the program to the affected units, and while national needs to be held accountable for only giving half measure, our local professionals also had the responsibility to hold national to account for that failure rather than just delivering the message. If that had happened, they would not have to be held to account by their units for not having the answers.  

So our Council Executive was put on the spot, publicly.  Instead of simply admitting that he did not have the answers when asked, he gave permission for the units to "vent", and reminded everyone that the programs was going in place in less than 60 days, like it or not. I'm not going to go through the 12 points of the Scout Law, but that missed a lot of them.

We teach the Scouts in our units that leadership is about responsibility and accountability, and that the most effective leaders are collaborative and lead by example. The examples our volunteers were shown at that training event reflected none of that. 

If this was an isolated incident, it could be framed as an outlier, rushing in order to get improved funding in place. But it is not. There has been a pattern of incomplete programs being announced from national that have real-world consequences for unit leaders, chartering organizations and councils. 

Our nation is in desperate need of effective leaders everywhere, and one of the most reliable sources of that leadership no longer seems up to the task. 

 

[InquisitiveScouter]

On 6/9/2023 at 10:12 AM, Better4itall said:

no longer seems up to the task. 

I love your post.

Here are a few observations and words of wisdom for all...

- The Scouts in your unit need you.  Being a unit leader is the most important adult position in Scouting.  Be, know, do.  

- When you wear the uniform, or identify yourself as a Scouter, you become an ambassador of the ideals and the movement.  Unfortunately, people judge the movement from your words and actions.

- Although you wear the uniform, and you are an ambassador, you are not responsible for the actions of others, nor are you accountable to explain them.  Do not try.

- You will always find those who do not demonstrate our core values: The Scout Oath and Scout Law.  Distance yourself from them.  Find a group of adults who agree to hold each other mutually accountable, and you and your unit will flourish.

- The Boy Scouts of America is a corporation; Scouting is a movement.  The two are separable, in spite of the attempts of the former to monopolize the latter in our country.  (If the BSA goes Chapter 7, what will you do?)

-  The more integrity, service, and excellence you are able to achieve, and the closer you align your life with the ideals of Scouting, the more those who do not have those traits or ideals will hold you in disdain.  When they hold power, they will attempt to marginalize you.  This is true in any endeavor.  (See Proverbs 29:27)  When that happens to you, go back to the first point.

[curious_scouter]

On 6/12/2023 at 9:56 AM, InquisitiveScouter said:

- The Boy Scouts of America is a corporation; Scouting is a movement.  The two are separable, in spite of the attempts of the former to monopolize the latter in our country.  (If the BSA goes Chapter 7, what will you do?)

hear, hear!