The following message was received by Council Commissioner Tony Sitz. It illustrates why the work you do in support of Scouting's mission is so very important. There is a solution to the inappropriate behaviors that have permeated the news over the past year: Teach our youth to be Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent.

 

I would like to share with you the following message that our Chartered Organization Representative sent this morning to our Troop email list, and the open reply of one parent.  It is a great reminder that what we do in Scouting makes a difference.  Feel free to share as you see fit.

 Message from our Chartered Organization Representative:

I would like to say thank you for every participant from our Troop in yesterday's Scout Sunday service.  You all made us proud for your part in the service either by being an acolyte, reading, ushering or just by showing your support by being there in full uniform.  We thank you all, scouts and parents.  People took notice.

 

Open response from a parent:

And I, personally, would like to extend a thank you to the 10 leaders who were up there with all the boys! 

I know that each of you do this as a service, and are not being paid (and I'm not sure there is enough money to tempt you if your heart were not in it).  I am so appreciative that you take your time each week to spend with our sons.  Some of them don't have great role models at home and need this more than you know!

I appreciate each one of you!

Forgotten Words.

What once was a very common two word phrase seems all but forgotten in today’s society.

When was the last time you heard the phrase, “You’re Welcome?”

People with proper manners still say, “Thank you,” when they want to express gratitude to someone for some courtesy which has been extended to them. Unfortunately, for most people it has become habitual to respond with the phrase, “No problem.”

The next time someone thanks you for something you’ve done, ask yourself if you would have done it even if performing the courtesy was difficult - a “problem?” Is it our intention to diminish the significance of the act by stating that it was - "no problem?"

Thank you to all Scout leaders for instilling manners and wholesome values in young people. Let us also include a rebirth of the phrase, “You’re welcome,” as part of the living example we set this year.

“Eagle Out” Term Banned From Use.

 

Well, if it was up to me I would outlaw the use of the term, “Eagle Out.”

During my career I have had the pleasure of attending hundreds of Eagle Scout Courts of Honor. In most of these an “Eagle Charge” has been presented as part of the program. The following is an excerpt from one such challenge:

“As an Eagle Scout, you have assumed a solemn obligation to do your duty to God, to your country and to all mankind. Others will be watching you, expecting you to lead by example. In living up to these obligations, you will bring honor to yourself and to all other Eagle Scouts.

I charge you to undertake your citizenship with a solemn dedication. Be a leader, but lead only toward the best. Lift up every task you do and every office you hold to the highest level of service to God and your fellow man. So live and serve, that those who know you will be inspired to be and do better. Be among those who dedicate their skills and abilities to the common good.

Lead with a solid foundation of clean living, honest work, unselfish citizenship and reverence to God, and you will leave behind a record of which every Scout may be proud.”

By including this charge in the court of honor program, we suggest to the Eagle Scout that there is even more expected of him now. That it is his responsibility to give leadership to his fellow scouts and his community. And yet, contrary to this charge, people frequently use the term, “Eagle Out,” explaining and justifying why a boy ceases to be actively involved in his troop. If I could, I would eliminate the use of the term, “Eagle Out,” and encourage Eagles to give back to their troop by staying involved and to continue to provide leadership to their fellow scouts in weekly meetings, at campouts and especially at summer camp.

 

Lost Webelos!

 

There are currently 539 registered 5^th grade Webelos in the Quapaw Area Council.

Unfortunately, 323 of them are not going to join a Boy Scout Troop. That’s correct, the annual statistical average has shown us that only 40 % of our 5^th grade Webelos transition into a Boy Scout Troop each year.

When surveyed, the parents report the most common reason for their son not joining a troop is that they, “…were never asked.”

That is 323 boys who joined Scouting wanting to experience the fun and adventure that we promised him and his family. The longer a boy stays in Scouting, the greater impact it has on his character.

If you are an adult leader in a troop or if you occupy another Scouting role, you can have a positive impact on reducing this great loss. Each District Executive can provide a list of 5^th grade Webelos in each Cub Scout Pack. A phone call to the parents of each of these Webelos is the best means by which to invite them to a troop and to keep them involved in our great program.

Happy New Year!

As we enter a new year, it is time to recommit ourselves to those things that are the most important to us. One of those is our families. Scouting is a program that promotes and encourages family togetherness, engaging in positive activities that are beneficial to ourselves as well as other people.

In order to achieve a well-balanced life, we must be good managers of our time. Time to be split between family, work, recreation and for us, Scouting. Within Scouting, we must also manage our time in order to be effective. With this thought in mind, I want to repeat my request that each of us consider the role in Scouting which we find most enjoyable and where we feel we can be most helpful in fulfilling our mission. And then, to limit ourselves to serving in that one position.

Doing this will not only benefit our family but also the Scouting program to which we are so devoted. When we occupy multiple positions, we risk not doing either one to the best of our ability. We also risk not giving enough time or attention to our family or our vocation. And also detrimental, we keep other people from becoming involved as volunteers.

For 33 years I have heard the argument, “…there aren’t enough volunteers to fill these roles.” Upon deeper examination I have found in every instance that we simply did not ask enough people to serve.

I hope you have a blessed and productive 2017.

Points Four, Five and Six.

Points Four, Five and Six.

 As Scouts and Scouters we frequently recite the Scout Oath and Law. I did it on the evening of July 18th with others in attendance at an Eagle Court of Honor for Matthew Smith of Troop 391 in White Hall, Arkansas.

 There are twelve points in the Scout Law, all of which we pledge to obey when we recite the Scout Oath. As Bruce Peters explained during his speech at this ceremony, we strive to live up to these ideals but on occasion we fall short as none of us are perfect. And that’s okay. It is our effort to do our best that matters.

 Think of how different the world would be if everyone attempted to obey the Scout Law. Or, how different it would be if everyone just tried to obey points four, five and six, “…Friendly, Courteous, Kind…” Perhaps that would have prevented many of the recent acts of violence committed in our country and around the world.

 As youth and adult members of this great program called Scouting, we must continue to be a shining light for the rest of the world and demonstrate the proper way to treat others with respect, dignity and kindness.

 Let’s do our best to get even more young boys and girls involved in our program and have an even greater positive impact on our communities and our nation.

 

John

TOO MANY HATS!

Too often in Scouting we find ourselves volunteering for more than one position. This is a common occurrence with kind-hearted, generous people who believe strongly in the Scouting program and the benefits it provides for young people and their families.

Upon closer inspection though, we realize that this practice actually does a disservice to the individual, their family and the very Scouts and leaders that they have pledged to serve. To truly do any one district level position effectively and to the best of one's ability, it precludes us from doing another job. If one accepts multiple assignments, something will have to suffer. It might be our family, our vocation, the very jobs we have agreed to perform, or the units and leaders we are supposed to be helping.

Wearing multiple hats also diminishes the number of volunteers who can serve on district committees and commissioner staffs. We are all familiar with the old adage, “Many hands make light work.” More volunteers also means we can accomplish more as a team.

If you currently occupy more than one district level position, I strongly encourage you to determine which one you find most rewarding to you and/or beneficial to the district and reduce your load to just that one assignment.

The most common response to this message is that it is not easy to recruit a sufficient number of volunteers. While that is true, it is also true that we usually don’t ask enough people to fill all positions. Together we can identify and recruit enough people to fill every job. It never hurts to ask!