 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
TROOP |
|||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||
|
S E C T I O N S |
|||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||
 |
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|
|
June 2010 To all the new Scouts in the Troop, Let me start out by telling you a little story. Anybody who has ever attended a National Jamboree or any major Scouting event knows that patch trading is a big deal. 2005’s Jambo was no different. The hot patch to have was the Marin, Ca. councils “Yoda” patch. At the time I wanted one. I wanted to be the first in my group to get one. I wanted bragging rights. I spent the better part of an entire day trading up and trying to get better and better patches so when I found a ”Yoda” I had trading power. In the end I never got one. I’m glad I didn’t. Because in the end all those patches I did get are sitting in a box in the corner of the closet. Sure each one has a story or some memory attached to it and they are a fun collection, but in the end they are still just patches. What I did learn from that experience was that I was so focused on the patch that I forgot the real goal. The real goal of Jamboree and Scouting in general is to have fun and experience new things. I missed hundreds of things that day. Things I will never be able to experience again. Right now many of you are probably hoping to be the first to get to a certain rank or be the first to finish a certain Merit Badge. If you are, my advice to you is to stop. Think about what you are doing. There is no race, there is no deadline! Being the first in your group to get a patch will not be your greatest accomplishment ever, It will not make a difference on your resume, it will not get you a better job, and it won’t get you into a better college. What you will have missed far out weights what you gained. There is the old saying that “it’s not about the destination but about the journey”. Don’t go to Summer camp, Jambo or any Scouting event hoping to come back with a sash full of Merit Badges. Go and enjoy the time , have fun, try something you have always wanted to do, accomplish something you never thought you could do. Come home knowing you had fun along the way. If you get a patch in the end that’s great. If not, it’s not the end of the world. Oh, and that Yoda patch that I and others wasted so much time trying to get. You can find them on EBay for about $20. Doesn’t seem like such a big deal now does it? Gary Marquardt
February 2010 Since this may be one of the first newsletters that new Scouts and parents will see I thought this would be a good time to reiterate what Boy Scouts is all about. For 100 years, Scouting programs have instilled in youth the values found in the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Today, these values are just as relevant in helping youth grow to their full potential as they were in 1910. Scouting helps youth develop academic skills, self-confidence, ethics, leadership skills, and citizenship skills that influence their adult lives. The Boy Scouts of America provides youth with programs and activities that allow them to: * Try new things. While various activities and youth groups teach basic skills and promote teamwork, Scouting goes beyond that and encourages youth to achieve a deeper appreciation for service to others in their community. Scouting provides youth with a sense that they are important as individuals. It is communicated to them that those in the Scouting family care about what happens to them, regardless of whether a game is won or lost. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Scouting promotes activities that lead to personal responsibility and high self-esteem. As a result, when hard decisions have to be made, peer pressure can be resisted and the right choices can be made. Gary Marquardt
June 2009 Why did “YOU” join the Scouts? One of the question we ask new Scouts is “why did you join Scouts.” Some will say “because my friend did” others say “to go camping and have fun”. A very small portion will answer “I want to be an Eagle Scout.” Most new Scouts don’t even know what and Eagle Scout is or what it can do for you in the future. What it is not is an award that is given out just because you are an older Scout. It is not given just because a Scout finished a punch list of items. What it is, is the Highest Rank in Scouting given for exhibiting leadership, organization and continued involvement in Scouting. It requires numerous Merit Badges, a project and is considered by many to be the equivalent of writing a business plan. One of the charges given to Eagles Scouts state ”you are a marked man, the world expects more from you.” A local businessman once told me that the reason he hired Eagles over other employees was that they could be trusted and they had the leadership skill he was looking for. Since NASA started manned space missions there have been 78 Eagles on board. On some missions the entire crew were Eagles. Of the millions of Scouts since 1912 only 5% have made Eagle (our Troop average is about 10%). These young men join an elite group that includes Neil Armstrong, Steve Fossett, Bill Gates, Steven Spielberg, and Mike”Dirty Jobs” Rowe. My next question to all Scouts is “Will you be one of the 5%?” Defy Gravity, Gary Marquardt
Is it easier to be a Cub Scout parent or a Boy Scout parent? From personal experience it’s easier in Boy Scouts. While some people think that the Cubs and Scouts are similar, there are many differences. Scouts do not have Dens. Scouts have Patrols but they are not like Dens and should not be confused. Patrols function with their own leadership in the forms of a Patrol leader. There is no Den leader, there is a Senior Patrol leader. So who are these people in Scouting. They are the Boys, not the adults. In Scouting the boys run the meetings and many of the other facets of the Troop. The job of the Adults is to “guide and direct”. Not to organize, run or do anything that the boys can do by themselves. That means that the boys plan the campouts, meetings, menus and even the calendar of events. Does that mean there is no need for adults in Scouting. On the contrary, there is something for everyone to do and everyone is expected to help in some way. Most jobs in the Troop require no more than 20 min. per week, and many are less than that. Being Scoutmaster only takes 1 hour a week. Many adults coming in from Cubs say “ I’ve been in Cubs and just want to take a break for a year.” Now is not the time to take that break. Now is the time to keep going and help give your son support as he transitions into Scouts. After a year then think about the break. Like I said Scouts is much easier. Everyone is asked to attend at least the opening or closing announcements. BSA does not stand for “baby sitters of America.” There are families who have never set foot in a Troop meeting and that is unfortunate. They have never seen their son get an award for advancing and have no idea what is happening with the Troop. I hope to see everyone at a meeting soon, Gary Marquardt
I hope everyone who attended summer camp had a great time, learned some new things and came home with a lot of memories and merit badges. I look forward to hearing stories from all of you
about your experiences. If you have a Thanks to Mark Eby and all the adults who helped make this summer camp a success. It is good to see more and more adults getting involved and spending time with the Scouts. We have several Eagle projects coming up in the next month or two for which you can earn service hours—plus help your fellow scouts. Be sure to sign up if you can help. Adults are always welcome and needed. The projects are always a fun time! It is almost time for the annual camp out planning meeting with your PLC. Be sure to tell your Patrol Leaders or your SPL any ideas you have for future camp outs so that they can be discussed and maybe added to the next year's calendar. If you know of any new places that the troop hasn't gone, be sure to get that information to the PLC. Enjoy the rest of the summer!
May 2008 I was recently asked “Who’s going to be the next SPL ?”. This is a very good question since in many Troops the SPL is appointed by the Scoutmaster. Many Troops, ours included, feels that allowing the boys to elect their own leaders is much fairer and exposes them to the democratic process. For many, this will be the first time they see how their vote counts and how a democratic society works. We have all seen or heard of elections won or lost on a few votes or seen where leaders were elected because of popularity instead of skills. This is a good place for the boys to be exposed to this. This process also gives the Scouts a chance to learn about other aspects of decision making and the system of checks and balances. In the Troop, as in government, no decision is made by just one person. Everything from menu planning to the yearly calendar is a group decision. Different parts of the Troop will provide input and work until everyone can come to an agreement. In the case of menu planning it falls on the Scouts going on the outing. The yearly calendar seeks ideas from all members, who then confer with their patrol leaders, who in turn take all the ideas to the PLC. The checks and balances come into play when something is considered dangerous or has not been fully discussed. Many times the PLC has been sent back to the table until a cohesive agreement has been reached. Much of this same process is what the boys will experience outside of Scouting when they enter the working world and have to make decisions with co-workers. This is also why BSA includes a requirement for First Class that the Scout speak with an elected official or lawyer to find out more about the democratic process. It is there to help them become better and more informed citizens who can help shape the future. Gary Marquardt
March 2008 As the old saying goes, “Everything Old is New Again”. So it is with the Troop. This year we are going to try and get back to some of the traditions and basics of Scouting. There will be more emphasis on Patrol spirit, team building, youth leader training and outdoor events. All this while still following the Scout oath and law. It should make for a busy and exciting year. To help get things rolling, we are going to be placing the new Scouts into Patrols at the end of March. This is a change from past years when the new Scouts were put into a temporary patrol for several months. This change should help get them more acclimated with the patrol method and strengthen the patrol. This will also make the first Summer Camp expedition easier as the new guys will have already known their patrol members for several months and know their way around the Troop. Speaking of Summer Camp, there are several opportunities for camp this summer. There is the Troop Summer camp at Camp Rotary. There is also a camp just for First year Scouts and there is camp just for those working on Eagle requirements. More info on these other camps will be forthcoming. Keep your eyes, ears and “computer email” on the lookout for all the fun, interesting opportunities that are available to you as part of Troop 457. Gary Marquardt
December 2007 Since its inception in 1910, the Boy Scouts of America’s mission has been to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. Boy Scouts was built on a sense of tradition, friendship, and community. Baden Powell called it an “esprit de corp.” Patrols and Troops worked together and functioned as a cohesive unit and helped each other develop skills and friends that would last a lifetime and make them better men and leaders in the future. In the coming year I would like to see the Troop get back to the basics of Scouting. Although advancement is part of Scouting, it is not the main focus. We should be more concerned with developing skills and friendships, and leave personal issues behind and come together as a team. Our Troop is one of the most respected in the District, but I feel it’s time we all focus on the task at hand which is preparing our sons for the future. Gary Marquardt
October 2007 Ten Reasons To Be An Adult Leader There are many reasons not to be a leader, but let me give you ten reasons why you should become a Scouter. (These are not in any sort of order.) 1. Be a Positive Influence in a Boy's Life: I think we can agree that there are many youth out there who can benefit from more of this in today's world. 2. Learn New Skills: You are never too old to learn a new skill and, to tell the truth, I don't think a person can ever learn too many skills. 3. Teach Boys New Skills: There are few things in life that will make you feel more proud then when you watch a boy or young man using a skill that you have helped them master. 4. Make New Friends: Not only will you form friendships with the boys, but you will also form new friendships with other Scouters. 5. Help Your Community: You provide this service through your unit's service projects and by helping boys grow up to be better adults. 6. Spend Time in the Great Outdoors: You really do need to get out of that recycled-air, stressed-filled office environment at least once a month. 7. Have a Good Laugh: Working with Scout age boys can be fun and funny in many ways. Just remember to laugh with the boys, not at the boys. 8. Go Traveling: There are thousands of places to go that provide a great Scout Outing. And do not forget the opportunities to go to a National Jamboree, Philmont, or the other high adventure bases. 9. Get Some Exercise: We could all use more exercise. Just try keeping up with a group of Boy Scouts. 10. Be a Kid Again! Scouting gives adults the chance to have just as much fun as the Scouts themselves. Make sure that you do! Well, those are ten of my reasons for being an adult Scout Leader. I am sure that after becoming a leader some of you could add some more to the list. How about giving it a try? Gary Marquardt
|
Scoutmaster’s Corner...
|
|
| [Troop 457] [What's New] [Scouts] [Parents] [Forms] [Photo Gallery] |
|
|
|
Please contact our Webmaster with questions or comments. |