Boy Scout Troop 325
Scoutmaster Minute
The Second Greatest Honor
January 28, 2003
George Denise, Scoutmaster

Over the past two weeks, we have selected our new leaders for the next six months, either by electing them to office, or by appointing them. Either way, they volunteered, either by allowing themselves to be nominated and agreeing to run, or by volunteering for the appointed positions. How well our troop performs over the next six months is very largely dependent on them. If they take their new positions seriously, attend junior leader training, learn what is expected of them, attend the patrol leaders council, and then do their best, we are almost guaranteed to have a troop with good programs, good training, good outings, and a lot of fun. They can't do it alone, however. They need the support of the rest of you too. Each of you in the patrols have a responsibility to let your patrol leader know during your patrol meetings what you like and what you don't like about the meetings and outings, what you need to work on for advancement, what merit badges you would introduced in the meetings so that they can represent you properly at the patrol leaders council. The Boy Scout program is one of the true representative democracies where guys your age really have most of the say. But it only works if everyone takes his responsibility seriously. The leaders have to do their job representing the members' wishes, and the members have to let their leaders know their wishes.

Most of the leaders we have had for the past six months did a really good job, and I would like to thank them for it. (Applaud!) A few didn't follow through as well as they should have, but hopefully they know who they are, know what they should have done, and will do a better job next time.

For those of you who were just elected or were appointed, thank you for stepping forward and agreeing to shoulder this responsibility. Democracy only works if everyone supports it and does their part. Former President John Kennedy said, "Holding political office is one of the greatest honors in a democracy, second only to serving in the armed forces in defense of your country." He also said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." That is the spirit that forged America; it is the spirit that makes America strong still. For you, it starts right here, right now. Let's make the next six months the best six months in the history of this troop. You can do it, but you have to want to do it. And only you can make it happen.

Thank you, and God be with you.