These are the thoughts of a previous Committee chair and friend. While this was 20 years ago, I think it is still important.
Well as many of you know, Mike Stoecklein has moved to MN and will no longer serving as the Troop Committee Chairman. He asked me to send out this note to all as a farewell thoughts.
-TF
8/11/2003
Dear Troop 161 Parents:
As most of you know, after 13 years in Racine our family is moving to Minnesota. For the last ten years, our family has been actively involved in scouting, and for the last 3 years I've had the honor of serving as the Troop's Committee Chairman. The job of the Chairman is a "behind the scenes", supporting role - to see that the Scoutmaster and Scouts have what they need to accomplish their objectives. Most of you probably know me as the person who stood up at each Court of Honor and encouraged parents to play an active role in the Troop (soliciting volunteers). At this juncture, I want to play a different role and offer three pieces of advice to each parent who has a scout in Troop 161. Indulge me in a "Committee Chairman's Minute ". Forgive me if I am frank in my advice.
1. Plav an active and meaningful role in your son's scouting career. Talk to him about scouts. Ask him how he likes the Troop, his Patrol, and the leaders. Ask him what he is doing. Does he need help with achieving his next advancement? Does he know how to earn a merit badge on his own? Take an active role, but don't do the work for him. I've seen too many moms and dads doing the work for their son. I know they think they are doing their son a favor, but they are not. They are also teaching a false lesson about the purpose of scouting. The objective is not to see how many patches you can earn in the shortest amount of time. Our society has entirely too many people who are wrapped up in doing things for the outside reward. Such young men grow up to be shallow, boring men who will only do a task if there is something in it for them. They also tend to be come competitive and selfish, rather than learn about teamwork and cooperation. Such men are not leaders.
Go one step further and volunteer to attend scout activities with your son. Go camping with the scouts, whether it is for a weekend or a week. Scouting is not a babysitting service. I heard about and witnessed several situations where parents dropped their son off and left the scouting to the Scoutmaster. I hear about a weekend where the Scoutmaster and one adult were left with many first year scouts for a rainy weekend while the parents rushed back home to sleep under a warm roof, and then returned to impatiently wait until the tents and gear were packed away. I witnessed other accounts where parents used the scout outing as a chance to play a few rounds of golf and stay at a motel while their son was pitching the tent, building the fire and learning about some useful outdoor crafts. Boys notice what their parents do (and don't' do). Make your choices carefully.
2. Learn about the Troop and find a way to play an active role. Troop 161 is intended to be "scout run ". That means that the Scoutmaster works with the Senior Patrol Leader, Leadership Corps and Patrol Leaders to carry out the kind of program that the scouts will find most beneficial and that they can rightfully call their own. The Scoutmaster depends on two primary groups of adults to help make this happen — Assistant Scoutmasters and Troop Committee. Assistant Scoutmasters are selected by the Scoutmaster to help him with the program of scouting (teaching, mentoring, and leadership development). The Committee is comprised of adults performing a variety of jobs, and we are always looking for help and assistance. We have some very capable people who carry out the roles of Assistant Scoutmaster and Committee Member. They will teach you what needs to be done so that the work is shared evenly by all. Tell Mr. Falendysz or the in-coming Committee Chairman that you would like to play a more active role as an adult Scouter.
3. Support your Scoutmaster Tim Falendysz (Mr. F) does an outstanding job. Let me emphasize that...he does an OUTSTANDING job! Twelve scouts from our Troop recently spent two weeks backpacking in the New Mexico wilderness. They witnessed wide variation in Scoutmasters and adult leadership capability among the hundreds of adults who were assembled for that short time. Believe me...Troop 161 is lucky to have Mr. F! Your Scoutmaster has no sons of his own, but every Troop 161 Scout is his adopted son. He makes sure that each and every scout is safe, and he goes out of his way to provide an example of the Scout Oath and Law. Tell Mr. F that you appreciate what his is doing, and ask what you can do to support him in his important work
I hope you '11 consider my advice as Troop 161 continues to be a model Boy Scout troop. I was proud to be "active" in Troop 161
Yours in Scouting, Mike Stoecklein
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