Mmathis
TurtleMommy
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2011
- Messages
- 13,933
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- NW Louisiana -- zone 8b
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- 8b
- Country
This is a rant -- I have to vent -- so you don't have to read on if you don't want to. I despise confrontation and try to avoid it, but as you know, sometimes it's inevitable!
I won't go into the boring details, but as some of you already know, I am a Boy Scout leader (yes, ladies can be BS leaders, too). Have been involved with Scouting for 15 years in various capacities [Cub Scouts, and several Troop positions], and have been with our Boy Scout troop for 10-something years. My son made Eagle Scout and aged out at 18, but I stayed in troop leadership and continue to be involved with troop activities as well as being active in OA. So that's the background.....
I have been ill since December, so haven't attended any of our troop leadership meetings [you'll see why this is important in a minute]. And I only occasionally receive troop emails..... The troop has been planning an activity that involves a specially trained instructor [ or Merit Badge Counselor]. It's going to happen this coming weekend. The problem is that no one in the troop [except me, apparently.....] KNEW that there were instructor requirements, so that was never addressed in their planning. Several weeks ago I texted one of the leaders [I saw an email regarding the activity] and asked who they were using as an instructor? This person didn't know, so I explained about the "MBC [Merit Badge Counselor] requirements," etc. I never got a response. I sent a reminder text, and the person explained about all the planning they'd done and that "it was adequate." I spoke to the Scout Master and got the same response.
At last night's troop meeting I pulled up a copy [thank goodness for smart phones] of the book [ Advancement Guide] that outlines requirements for trainers [not the merit badge requirements, but the ones that state the qualifications of the instructor and that outlines the rules of scouting]..... Boy, did I ruffle feathers! Accusations were flying as to why no one else knew about this "rule." Finally, one of the leaders implied that if the boys couldn't earn this merit badge [as promised to them], that it was my fault because I had not attended the planning meetings where I could have brought this up sooner -- he didn't really MEAN that, he was upset and frustrated. But my counter to this was that "all of the troop leaders need to be responsible for reading and knowing what's in the Advancement Guide," GEESH! No ONE person in the organizaion should be held responsible for the safety [etc.] of the youth [etc.]. I then texted them the link to the online version of the Guide.
In the meantime, I happen to know of someone who is a qualified instructor and was able to contact him -- he has agreed to help out this weekend, even on such short notice [bless his heart!]. So, immediate problem solved and the scouts will earn the merit badge [and it's all about the boys].
I could go on and on and on........ But I won't. My hubby always asks me WHY I continue to put myself in these troop-related situations. It's because I want to see a quality Scouting program that follows the BSA guidelines, and I want to see that the boys benefit. SOMEONE has to do it! Most leaders come & go as their sons age out, so there is very little continuity of leadership. And to top it off, the majority our troop leaders aren't even trained in their leadership roles, and that doesn't seem to bother anyone......?
I won't go into the boring details, but as some of you already know, I am a Boy Scout leader (yes, ladies can be BS leaders, too). Have been involved with Scouting for 15 years in various capacities [Cub Scouts, and several Troop positions], and have been with our Boy Scout troop for 10-something years. My son made Eagle Scout and aged out at 18, but I stayed in troop leadership and continue to be involved with troop activities as well as being active in OA. So that's the background.....
I have been ill since December, so haven't attended any of our troop leadership meetings [you'll see why this is important in a minute]. And I only occasionally receive troop emails..... The troop has been planning an activity that involves a specially trained instructor [ or Merit Badge Counselor]. It's going to happen this coming weekend. The problem is that no one in the troop [except me, apparently.....] KNEW that there were instructor requirements, so that was never addressed in their planning. Several weeks ago I texted one of the leaders [I saw an email regarding the activity] and asked who they were using as an instructor? This person didn't know, so I explained about the "MBC [Merit Badge Counselor] requirements," etc. I never got a response. I sent a reminder text, and the person explained about all the planning they'd done and that "it was adequate." I spoke to the Scout Master and got the same response.
At last night's troop meeting I pulled up a copy [thank goodness for smart phones] of the book [ Advancement Guide] that outlines requirements for trainers [not the merit badge requirements, but the ones that state the qualifications of the instructor and that outlines the rules of scouting]..... Boy, did I ruffle feathers! Accusations were flying as to why no one else knew about this "rule." Finally, one of the leaders implied that if the boys couldn't earn this merit badge [as promised to them], that it was my fault because I had not attended the planning meetings where I could have brought this up sooner -- he didn't really MEAN that, he was upset and frustrated. But my counter to this was that "all of the troop leaders need to be responsible for reading and knowing what's in the Advancement Guide," GEESH! No ONE person in the organizaion should be held responsible for the safety [etc.] of the youth [etc.]. I then texted them the link to the online version of the Guide.
In the meantime, I happen to know of someone who is a qualified instructor and was able to contact him -- he has agreed to help out this weekend, even on such short notice [bless his heart!]. So, immediate problem solved and the scouts will earn the merit badge [and it's all about the boys].
I could go on and on and on........ But I won't. My hubby always asks me WHY I continue to put myself in these troop-related situations. It's because I want to see a quality Scouting program that follows the BSA guidelines, and I want to see that the boys benefit. SOMEONE has to do it! Most leaders come & go as their sons age out, so there is very little continuity of leadership. And to top it off, the majority our troop leaders aren't even trained in their leadership roles, and that doesn't seem to bother anyone......?
