Boy Scout Troop 325

Scoutmaster Pre-Minute
Accept With Pride, Serve With Honor
August 14, 2007

A repeat of a Classic Minute from 2003 witten by George Denise

    Tonight we hold elections for troop officers, and next week we will elect our patrol officers. The Scouts we elect this week and next will hold these positions for the next six months.

  Scouting is a unique organization. It is one of the few youth organizations that truly gives control of the organization to the youth themselves. The Scouts plan the annual calendar. The Scouts plan and run the outings. The Scouts plan and run the weekly meetings .

  It is a big job and the Scouts are learning. They will make mistakes. Things will not always go as planned. We may get a poor guest speaker. The game may not come off as well as planned. This should not be surprising, even adults with far more experience do not always plan their meetings as well as they might. Things do not always go as planned.

  In Scoutmaster conferences, I often ask Scouts how they like the program: how they like the outings, how they like the meetings. Summer Camp is usually number one on their list of likes, followed by outings, and then meetings.

  Most Scouts tell me they like everything. Some find the meetings a little boring, however. Most do not like to stand around too long. I have observed over the years that those Scouts who attend most of the outings, most of the meetings, most of the service activities, who are advancing regularly, and who join in activities enthusiastically when they attend seem to have the most fun. Those who do not attend regularly, or who hang back and do not join in, or who are constantly looking for things to criticize, as you might expect, seem to have the least amount of fun.

  Nonetheless, how well the meetings are planned, how well individuals and patrols are prepared, and how well meeting plans are carried out makes a big difference in how much fun the meetings are and how well they go.

  When you nominate individuals for positions of leadership, look at those leaders who are most qualified to lead: those that work actively and enthusiastically in the troop; those who step forward and help when help is needed; those who work with younger scouts when they need help; those who are working actively on advancement themselves; those who have held other positions of leadership; those who have attended junior leader training within the troop; those who have attended the council's junior leader training program - Bristlecone JLT; those who have helped with and who have held positions of leadership in other areas: Trail To First Class, Webelos Woods, Cub Scout Day Camp, Order of the Arrow, Camporee Staff, and Bristlecone Junior Leader Training itself. These are the leaders who have the most experience and typically show the most enthusiasm.

  Leadership is the job of bringing resources and people together effectively to accomplish a common goal. Our goal is to plan and carry out a fun program of meetings and activities. Nominate and elect fellow scouts who you feel will be able to most effectively lead you.

  Most importantly, nominate and elect fellow Scouts who you respect, and who you feel respect you.

  Also, remember: Scouting is about learning to be good citizens, and good citizenship is about serving your fellow man.  If nominated, run proudly and enthusiastically. If elected, serve with honor and endeavor to do your best.

  There are job descriptions here available for you to look at. Qualifications to run for SPL are at least Life Scout and age 14 or higher and preferably attendance at Bristlecone JLT, though it is not required; qualifications for ASPL are Star Scout or higher and at least age 13; qualifications for all other offices are First Class Scout or above. Also, the same person may not run for SPL two terms in a row, but he can run again after he has not served as SPL one term.

  Thank you. Now, on with the elections.