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Scoutmaster Minute 12/10/2001: Diversity
I'm sure that you have noticed that not everyone is the same. We are
different in our physical appearance, our skill and ability levels, even our
interests, our backgrounds, and in many countless other ways. These
differences are called diversity. The dictionary defines diversity as “A
feature or characteristic in which things differ”. The differences sometimes
present challenges. I think they make our lives more interesting and our
country and Troop stronger. It is important to remember that Scouting is open
to all. All scouts are equally welcome in our Troop and are entitled to the
same level of support and respect as is shown all other Scouts. If he can find
it in no other place, a Scout must be able to find a SAFE PLACE in Scouting.
Whether it is a Troop meeting, activity or campout, all Scouts in this Troop
should feel safe and welcome. Joking with each other and having fun is okay,
but be careful and think before you say or or do something. Follow the Golden
Rule. Would you want to be the subject of the jokes, teasing or tricks? They
probably wouldn't seem as funny if they were directed at you. Think about how
you would feel before doing something to someone else. Remember the points of
the Scout Law. Among other things, a Scout is Helpful, Friendly, Courteous,
Kind, and Brave. A Scout who stands up for and is a true friend to another
Scout who might be less popular because he differs from others is living by
the Scout Law. I expect nothing less from all of you. While we are all
different, as Scouts and Scouters we all share one thing in common. We have
all taken the Scout Oath. In that Oath we promise to "obey the Scout
Law." Everyone should do their best to live up to that promise.
Scoutmaster Minute 11/05/2001: The Real Way to Happiness
Who can tell me what the Scout slogan is? That's right, “Do a Good Turn
daily". The handbook tells us that a Good Turn is an extra act of
kindness. It might be a big thing like saving somebody's life with courage and
skill. Or could be some small act like picking up trash on the street or
helping a child get his kite out of a tree. There are two good reasons for
doing Good Turns. one of them, obviously, is that it makes other people happy.
But you will find, if you do a Good Turn daily, that it makes you feel good,
too. Baden Powell, the man who started Scouting in England almost 80 years
ago, said this about a Good Turn: "The real way to get happiness is by
giving it to other people. " Everyone of us should be doing our Good Turn
daily. Are you? If you don't think about it very often, it's a good idea to
start now. We'' be reminding ourselves later this week when we do a Troop Good
Turn for Scouting for Food. But if you have the Scouting Spirit, you will do
your best to follow the Scout slogan in your daily life with some small
service to your family, your teacher, your friends, or a perfect stranger.
Scoutmaster Minute 10/15/2001: Take the first step
The Chinese have a saying, "The journey of a thousand miles starts
with a single step. " There's a lesson for us in that saying. I'm
thinking of advancement. If you come to troop meetings without ever looking in
your Scout Handbook; If you never ask how to pass a test or ask about a merit
badge, you will not advance very far in Scouting. In Scouting, and in life,
the rewards come to those who take the bull by the horns, and make things
happen for themselves. I hope every one of you set the Eagle Scout badge as
you goal in Scouting. As a step toward that goal. I hope that most of you will
receive some award at our court of honor in January. Whatever the goal you set
for yourself, remember that only you can take that first step toward it. No
one can do it for you. Once you've taken that first step the next step becomes
easier. And the each step after will be easier still; because you're on the
way along the Scouting trail. After the meeting tonight, and during the next
week, please think to yourself: “What goals can I set for myself. We have a
campout coming up at the end of November, and, I want to get the most of it.”
Take the time to read your Scout Handbook; Take the first step toward your
next rank or award; Begin your journey.
Scoutmaster Minute 10/15/2001: The Character Wheel
Scouts, if you loosen five or six adjoining spokes on a bicycle wheel, it
will warp out of shape so that it no longer makes a true circle. Pretty soon
you're going to have a bumpy ride. Your character is something like a bike
wheel. The spokes are a series of rules that in Scouting we call the Scout
Law. The points of our Scout Law are guides to help you stay straight and
true. if you get loose and sloppy on any point of the Scout Law, the result
will be the same as loosening the spokes on a bike wheel. Your personality
will be warped and out of shape. One way to stay true to yourself is to see
that your observance of the Scout Law is always foremost in your mind. When
doubts creep in and you might consider violating one of the points of the Law,
think about the warped, out of shape bike wheel and resolve to live up to the
ideals of Scouting.
Scoutmaster Minute 09/17/2001: What is our flag?
What is our flag? You might say it's a piece of cloth. Would that be
right? Well, it's true that these pieces of cloth could make a US flag,
but then we would have more than a piece of cloth, wouldn't we? What is our
flag then? It's a symbol of our country, of the principle for which we
stand. It's a guarantee of protection and security for us. And
isn't it a thrill to see our flag flying at the top of a tall staff? The blue
in our flag is a symbol of faith and loyalty - the faith and loyalty of our
country's founders. The red in our flag denotes sacrifice, the sacrifices made
to establish our nation. The white of her stars and alternate stripes stands
for purity of heart and mind. Yes the colors stand for bravery, loyalty and
purity. Is there anything in these pieces of cloth by themselves that demands
our respect? No. They could be made into an apron just as easily as a flag. We
could mop the floor with them or wipe our shoes with them. But the flag these
pieces of cloth could make represents our great nation and everything the
United States stands for. That's why, we give our flag the respect and loyalty
that we owe the United States of America.
Scoutmaster Minute 07/16/2001: Winning isn't everything.
Some years ago a hard-nosed coach said, "Winning isn't everything, but
it sure beats whatever's second. " There's some truth in that. Everyone
likes to win. Very few people enjoy losing. The trouble is that in every type
of competition, there must be losers as well as winners. That's true in sports
and it's also true in the games like we had tonight.. It's also true in life.
You and every other human being find that sometimes you have to be a loser.
Perhaps your sports team loses a game on an unlucky break. Or maybe you work
hard in school but get low grades. Some people might say you're a loser. Maybe
so. But you don't have to stay a loser. The real difference between winners
and losers is that a loss makes some people more determined to do better next
time. In the long run they are the winners because they learn to profit by
their defeats and mistakes. No, winning isn't everything. We can learn from
losses, too. Let's remember that during the next meeting and in the years to
come.
Scoutmaster Minute 06/18/2001: Do a Good Turn Daily.
If I gave you a choice, which would you rather have, the apple or the
seeds? I guess most of us would choose the apple. A long time ago there was a
guy who would have taken the seeds. He was a nut about apple seeds - so much
so that people called him Johnny Appleseed. For many years he walked across
hundreds of miles of our country, back when most of it was frontier land, and
everywhere he went he planted apple seeds. The trees from those seeds fed many
thousands of people in later generations. That's real long range planning!
Many of us are interested mainly in the present. We don't think ahead like
Johnny Appleseed. Maybe you don't want to go around planting apple seeds like
he did. But there's another kind of seed you should be planting every day -
the seed of good feelings between you and your fellow man. You can do it by
living our slogan, "Do a Good Turn daily. " Every time you do a Good
Turn , you are planting a seed of good feeling. That seed may start the growth
of a tree of Good Turns in each person you help. So that one Good Turn may
lead to many other Good Turns through the years, affecting the lives of
hundreds of people.
Scoutmaster Minute 05/21/2001: Two Little Words
Here's a little quiz for you: “What's the most welcome two-word sentence
in the English language?” Some of you might say, it's "We won!"
Others would vote for, "Here's money!" But I think the most welcome
two-word sentence is "Thank you. " It isn't used as often as it
should be. How often do you use it? And how often do you say thank you to the
persons who are closest to you, your mother and father? How often do you say
it to your friends or even strangers when they do something for you? It's so
easy to forget, especially if the Good Turn is done by somebody in your
family. Too often we take for granted the many things our parents and other
family members do for us. Next week we're going to have a family night for
members of our families. Here's a challenge for you. Between now and then, see
if you can find some reason to say thank you every day to some member of your
family. You may be surprised how they will react. A simple thank you costs
nothing, but it means so much to those who matter most to you. And remember,
manners make the man and can be the difference between you being just another
Scout and one who earns himself respect from those around him.
Scoutmaster Minute - 05/11/2001: A Scout is Trustworthy
It seems that before the first man walked on the moon, NASA found an area
of New Mexico where the topography was similar to the surface of the moon.
They decided that it would be a good idea to take the astronauts and the lunar
lander there to check out the equipment. They arrived at the area and unloaded
all their gear. During the second day while working with the equipment they
noticed a flock of sheep on the horizon. As it drew closer they could see
several dogs herding the flock and two Navaho Indians walking behind. The
Scientists knew that they were Navaho because the reservation was near by. The
Two Navaho Indians set down on the ridge and watched them work for several
hours.
Seeing the Navahos watching them, two of the scientist decided to go talk
to them. After walking up the ridge they soon discovered that the old Navaho
could only speak in his native tongue but his son could speak English. The old
man said several things and his son translated, "he says, what are those
things down there?" The scientist explained that they were men in space
suits and that they would be traveling to the moon by rocket and once there
they would get out and be the first men to walk upon the moon. The old man
nodded and said a few more words that the son translated "so, they will
walk upon the moon?" And the scientist confirmed. The old man nodded and
said a few more words. The son said, "he wants to know if he can send a
message to the moon with these astronauts." At this the scientist became
very excited and searched their gear until they found a tape recorder. The old
Navaho recorded his message. The scientist asked the boy to translate but he
wouldn't.
They worked about a month next to the reservation but every time they asked
someone to translate the message they would listen to it, smile and shake
their head no. Finally they found a Professor of Native American studies that
agreed to translate the message in exchange for some funding on a research
project. He listened to the tape and smiled. He said, "this message is a
warning, it says, Look out for these guys, they are coming to steal your
land."
You may wonder why I told this story as my Scoutmasters Minute. Our program
element this month is Leadership and the reason the old Navaho sent this
message was because he did not trust the white man. Trust is a very important
part of Leadership. If you cannot trust your leader or he cannot trust you,
your patrol will not be very effective. Trust is also very fragile, it takes
only one action on your part to destroy the trust others have in you. Often
times when trust is breached it can never be rebuilt.
Scoutmaster Minute 04/16/2001: The Boss and the Leader
The boss drives group members; The leader coaches them. The boss depends
upon authority; The leader on good will. The boss inspires fear; The leader
inspires enthusiasm. The boss says "I"; The leader says
"we." The boss says "Get there on time"; the leader gets
there ahead of time. The boss fixes the blame for the breakdown; the leader
fixes the breakdown. The boss knows how it is done; the leader shows how it is
done. The boss makes work a drudgery; the leader makes it a game. The boss
says, "Go"; the leader says "Let's go." Who would you
rather follow?
Scoutmaster Minute 04/9/2001: The Cost of a Compliments
There are two things in this world that cost you nothing. Yet both of these
have great rewards. The first is a smile, for it pays back smiles in many. The
second is a compliment. Only you can make some one’s day by paying them a
“Free” Compliment.
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