From: Steve Hoar (pilgrim@clover.net)
Date: Sat Jul 27 2002 - 12:32:33 CDT
I find it appropriate that a council that withholds the Philmont Patch is
also from our nation's capitol. It is an apt reflection of the DC
mentality where they force compliance with rules with the threat of
withholding benefits.
In many ways the policy is insulting to the scouts and scouters on the
trek. With a minimum of 2 to 4 adults per crew the ratio of boys to adults
was either 5:1 or 3:1. In effect the trek coordinator told the adults
that they were incompetent and not able to control a handful of boys.
The second insulted group of folks is the crew chiefs. The trek
coordinator has ursurped the crew chiefs authority and emasculated him.
Its nice to know that the policy was discussed at the adult leader training
sessions. Hmm, as the boys are supposed to be the leaders on the trek it
might have been appropriate to include the crew chief in the training so
that they would know what was expected of them. They might have even had
ideas on better ways to control the crews.
No, the failure here is on the part of the adult. It is a failure of
leadership. Leadership (bossmanship) by mandate is an easy and lazy way to
go. Anytime you have to resort to threats you have failed in your role as
a leader. If anything needs to examined it is the leadership qualities and
abilities of the adult trek coordinators. Effective leadership involves
more than bossing and threatening. Not everyone is cut out to be an
effective leader.
Stephen M. Hoar
Licking District
Simon Kenton Council
pilgrim@clover.net
www.lickingdistrict.org/licking.htm
Fax - 801.327.3783
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