BSA Troop 373 Smoke Signals

SMOKE SIGNALS NEWSLETTER

FEBRUARY 2004

by Richard Earle

Leadership

Our Troop 373 tradition is to elect Scout leadership every six months. These decisions will shape what the Troop is and does, not only for the next six months but forever, just as Troop 373 today is the reflection of all of those that have come before. There have been hundreds of books written and thousands of classes and lectures given on the qualities of leadership. The new Scout leaders will be expected to perform wonders with minimal training, little authority other than what they can earn for themselves, and a crew of individualists that they must mold into a team. It should be challenging yet fun. They will succeed, to various degrees, as those before them did. And each of them will be better for the effort. It is my goal as Scoutmaster to help coach and advise our new Scout leaders and let them make some mistakes in order to learn from their mistakes. Every Scout in our Troop has the opportunity to become a Troop leader and learn what leadership is all about. Below are a few examples of Leadership styles:

Lead by Example: "Do What I Say, Not What I Do!" has never, ever, been a successful leadership style. If you can't, or won't, do it yourself then don't expect others to do it on demand. Leading means being out in front, breaking the trail and setting the direction. You should do everything first at least once before asking others to do the same.

Lead by Respect: Unlike Soldiers, Scouts have no legal responsibility to follow a leader, boy or adult. Leaders lead by earning the respect and following of their followers. A large part of this is not making big mistakes, and big mistakes are avoided by thinking things through before making decisions and by planning in advance. Respect is also reciprocal - to get respect you must give it. Intimidation will get you nowhere.

Lead by Service: Many folks equate Leadership with Command. In my experience, nothing is farther from the truth. The best Leaders lead through service. They clear the way and make things easier for their followers. They run interference between "Management" (That's me, my assistants, and for patrol leaders, the SPL and the other Scout Leadership) and the rest of the Troop or Patrol, they handle the paperwork, and they provide the resources required to attain goals. Anybody can stand up and holler orders, but unless you are in the military all you will accomplish is to lose your audience.

Lead with Confidence: Make a decision and stick with it. Look like you know what you are doing and proceed with confidence. Usually you can pull it off. It is far better to do in confidence and be wrong than to quibble and never do at all. Of course, it helps to do your homework and actually be as confident as you appear. Understand also that decisions are made based on information, and don't be afraid to change a decision in the presence of new or better information. And never take chances when personal danger, physical or otherwise, exists. Walking into a dangerous situation in perfect confidence with a patrol in tow will not make any points.

Lead Individuals: Leaders don't lead groups. They lead people. Every person is different, and it is the job of the leader to take the collection of skills and talents he is given and turn it into a single unit capable of more than simply the sum of those skills and talents. A leader must know what resources are available as well as where weaknesses exist. A good Leader's charges are always treated equally, but not identically.

Lead Toward Goals: You can't lead unless you know where you are going. A leader must have a goal, or several goals, for the group as well as each member. The goals need to be agreed to and understood by every member of the group. A goal is no good if you keep it to yourself. It is also of great benefit to keep track of the goals you have met, and go over those in finding new goals for the future.

Lead through Communication: The primary job of a leader is to communicate. Communicate up to "Management", communicate down to his followers, and communicate across to his peers. This communication takes many forms, formally at Troop and Patrol Leaders Council Meetings and the Adult Troop Committee meetings, and informally on a continuous basis. Communication is the source of information, the basis for developing goals, for identifying resources, and for directing efforts. Sometimes there can be an overkill of weekly announcement e-mails but sometimes you might need some information on upcoming events and you will know where to look for the information either in your e-mail or on the Troop 373 web site on the internet.

Support your new Troop leadership and help them by giving them feedback. Attend the by-monthly PLC meetings or talk to the SPL or Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders during the Troop meetings with suggestions or feedback about the Troop programs and activities. Communications needs to be two way and only listening and following does not always help improve your surroundings. We all want Troop 373 to be the best and we can start by listening to our Troop leadership and paying attention by not talking during the announcements or weekly programs.

Remember, as the Scoutmaster of Troop 373 I too will listen to your suggestions but will encourage you as a Scout to bring your comments to the real Troop Leadership to Matt W., Senior Patrol Leader or Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders Corey O., Justin B., or Eric J.

For Life Scouts (and parents of Life Scouts), here is an updated list of Eagle Advisors who are available and eager to work with you on your trail to Eagle:

A few members of troop 373 and our dads had a daring adventure/overnighter at the top of Copper Mountain the last weekend of January 2004.We all met briefly at the base of Copper before taking the chairlift up with our gear. After dropping off our gear at the patrol hut we skied all day. The last chairlift of the day landed us at the patrol hut to lodge for the night.

We changed into comfortable clothes and entertained ourselves by listening to music, playing card games and visited with one another. After supper we were exhausted and curled up in our sleeping bags. We woke up early the next morning and got our packs together. With heavy packs on our backs, we skied down the mountain making the first tracks of the day. Some of us stayed at Copper. Others went home. This was yet another memorable event in the life of scouting.

On Saturday, Feb. 14^th almost 20 people went snowshoeing in Golden Gate State Park. We went on a six mile hike through the woods. It was extremely grueling but we lived. Many people on the hike lost a snowshoe at one time or another. It was challenging to keep the shoes on because we were going so fast. Over the course of the day, we traveled 2000 vertical feet! It was a great day except it was a little cold.

Troop 373 was well represented that day. Connor A., the Werner family, B. and Richard Earle, the Bolin family and many others came on the hike. Some of the people had trouble keeping up with the group. My dad had to carry me at one point to get up the hill.

We took over 5 hours to do the hike. We finally ate lunch at 5 pm at McDonalds on the way home. It was a good thing we had camelbacks and snacks to survive the hike. If you go snowshoeing remember to bring plenty of water, sunglasses, sunscreen, and snacks.

GROCERY CERTIFICATES

Troop 373 scouts can earn 5% back of King Soopers Grocery Certificates purchased through the Troop. For every $100 in grocery certificates you purchase, $5 will go into your Scout account.

If you purchase just $100 a week, you'll earn $180 for your scout account in 9 months. That's enough to pay for scouts’ summer camp in most cases.

Certificates are available at all Court of Honors and during the first 15 minutes of most weekly Troop meetings at Homestead Elementary.

ADVANCEMENT PROCEDURES

Just a reminder for the Scouts from Advancement Chair, Pam Lengerich:

· Tenderfoot, 1st and 2nd class scouts must check in with the advancement chairman, Pam Lengerich, to record their advancement.

· Star, Life, Eagle, please remember to:
Schedule your scoutmaster conference, call Troop Committee Chairman, Rick Byrd and ask to be placed on the troop committee schedule. Please remember that the troop committee only meets on the second Monday of each month. Plan ahead!

Troop Jr-Leaders

Justin B.

Eric J.

Corey O.

Patrol Name

GROCERY CERTIFICATES