The Harvest

This is the 400th post on Scouteradam.  I started it back in 2009 and now over three years later it’s still going strong.  At about 38,682 views (since moving from Blogger to WordPress) later as I type this it’s been a great journey.

I am not leaving and this blog is not going to fade.  Yes, it will continue.

I have written about many subjects as it relates to my journey as a Boy Scout Volunteer.  Fresh from Wood Badge as a participant and staffer, to being a new Cubmaster and District Training Chair.  I have been opinionated, depressed about what to do and excited about what has happened and what will happen.

I have met people both in the Virtual Internet Roundtable in the Twittersphere, Facebook, Linkedin and Google+ worlds and in real life because of my interactions.  I cherish and value them. Even if some of them are just dead wrong. (Mainly Linkedin)

I wanted to write a profoundly awesome post for the 400th posting.   I wanted to take what I have learned and also what I was feeling and put it down so you can understand it and that I can re-live it years from now.  So, here goes.

No matter what you do in life or what you volunteer for or how you want to be remembered,  “What you Plant now, You will Harvest Later“.  I got that from the BSA Licensing Facebook Page off a photo they posted.

It is significantly simple. In the picture is the words “Do your Best” with Always in front.  Do you Best is the Cubscout Motto.

You do not have to be a Cubscout or a Scout to Do your Best.   You just have to do it.

That sentence does a lot for me.  As a parent, I try to make sure my children understand right from wrong, the golden rule and manners.  I also try to show them the outdoors and that the world is not viewed through a TV, Monitor or an iPad.  I also try to carry myself in the same way my parents wanted me to be.  I still remember my Grandfather, Bill Trask showing and explaining how to shake hands and it’s meaning.

Whether you are in Scouting or not, these traditions, values and character traits ring true in how we would like to pass on to others.

Please take a moment or a few, and look at what you are planting.  How are you planting it and why are you.  Is it for your children, your community or something else?

Because what you Plant, will grow and you will Harvest it.  Let’s just make sure that we tend to it.  So, like any investment in a 401k or 529, make good choices.

Yours in Scouting.

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The Wood Badge Song

In a Linkedin forum, someone posted their Cubscout version of the great song.  The School is Gables, hence that name.  But wanted to post it here for fun.  I might alter it for my use.  If there is a way to sing, let’s do it!

I used to be a Tiger
A good old Tiger too!
But now I’ve finished Tigering,
And I know what to do.
I’ve done all my Achievements
And can Tiger no more,
So, I’m going to be a Webelos yes I am!

Back to Gables, happy Land!
I’m going to be a Webelos yes I am!

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Posting in forums

Whether you post on PCTMEDIA.net or as I also do on Linkedin.com for Scouting related items, it’s hard to convey what you mean entirely.  The written word is very powerful and leads itsself to have people read between the lines.  One on One conversations that are face to face are a lot better since people can pick up on the non- verbal communication that is also going on.

Face to Face helps since if one person is not getting your point, the speaker should pick up on it.  In my recently forray into posting my opinon on Linkedin, I have come to find out several things.

There are a lot of well meaning knowitalls.  Once and awhile I agree with them.  However, I generally do not since they seem to be closed minded.  Mainly the topics are about how to run a Boy Scout Troop.  I have no experience in Boy Scouts except for what I read and listen to from Scoutmaster Jerry, Clark Green, Scoutmaster Shawn and The MISS Show.

However, in the linked forum above, there are a lot of angry people.  Yes, every troop will be run different.  Some Troops are Merit Badge Mills and others fully get it.  I know where I am going to steer Elliot towards.

Posting on Linkedin is a fully different experience than posting on PTCMEDIA.net forums.  Within PTCMEDIA, we basically know eachother after a while.  We generally follow eachother on Twitter and Facebook and make comments back on forth that way.  Also, the An Hour A Week show is taped before a live audience that is in a Chatroom.  The comments that fly in that room…OMG.  They are very off the wall at times, but very highly supportive when a Scouter posts a great question.    The An Hour A Week show host Chris, is great.  We generally post goofy comments just to trip him up.  Within the forums, all posts are answered by the community and hosts of PTCMEDIA.  There is not an air of dis-trust or reading between the lines.  Those who post will follow-up with clarity if needed.

My overall point is that, we all have points of view that others can take wrong.  Which really is “We do not see it your way because we do not understand your comment fully yet”.  Scouter’s should seek to understand and clarify when needed.  Granted, people are not going to agree.  However and hopefully that disagreement is after fully understanding where a person is coming from and why.  Linkedin does not have this.  PTCMEDIA and the community does have this.

Because I listen and read items from PTCMEDIA.net that if I was dropped into a Scoutmaster position tomarrow, I would have a lot better idea on how to work with the Scouts and make their Scouting experience what they need it to be.  (But very happy to be the Cubmaster of a great Pack right now….)

Yours in Scouting.

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What not to do about Knots

I learned something this past week about Den Leader Knots and made friends with a Scouter on the opposite coast as I.  I first wrote about Den Leader Knots in this post.

(These are not my knots. I googled and found them.)

I am on Linkedin and a member of several Boy Scout Discussion group.  The week of Thanksgiving I spent time making my points know in these forums and also on PTCMEDIA.net.   I had an idea of how Den Leader Knots worked.  You follow the requirements and submit the paperwork.  My education via this forum, PTCMEDIA and my twitter account was incredible.

Two administrative items that I learned are: Assistant Den Leaders cannot earn the Den Leader Knot, Tiger Den Leader or Webelos Den Leader Knots.  The person needs to be the DEN LEADER and also registered AS the Den Leader on the charter.  One way around this that I learned not via Linkedin is register them as a Den Leader on the Charter.  One person on PTCMEDIA asked why do people have Assistants, they should be fully involed within the Den.  I agreed.  I describe the people who are Leaders in our Unit as co-Den Leaders and not assistant.

But it did not stop there.  From the forum posts, I found a Scouter who helped me understand how Knots are earned and the spirit that they are earned in.  Just like Scouts earning their advancement in rank and other awards, Scouters need to do the same.  There is not an overlap or two-fer for them.  Meaning, one event cannot count as two.  Also, to avoid confusion, records should be kept and questions asked by those who would authorize/sign-off on the Award.  This was learned when I asked about the International Scouter Award.  This award is something that I have decided to work towards.  It will take atleast six or so years to complete due to all the requirements.  Which, once earned will only allow people to ask how I got it .  That will allow me to help others understand another side of Scouting and what fun can be had.

The main thing about Knots, is they are to be earned correctly. They are not to be given out as awards or as service.  I know some units/people do this since most knots can be bought through the Scout Shop without paperwork.  That action does a disservice to both the person and the knot.  A Scout is Honest.

Also, learning about Knots, I was able to make another connection through Scouting that has enabled me to understand more about how Scouting should work.  This is in the spirit of the Cubscout Promise and Law of the Pack.

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