Congratulations and thanks to Tim Osburn, who recently completed his Eagle Scout Project focusing on ShelterBox awareness.
See the full story at: ShelterBox USA: – News.
A Scouter’s Journey: 2012 in Review
It’s been a busy year, just not all of it with Scouts; though as my family will tell you that takes plenty of time.
Lucky for me the WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 8,400 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed this blog, it would have taken 14 years to get that many views.
Click here to see the complete report.
Honoring the Scout Law
BSA has been getting a lot of bad press lately. I’m not sure how much the general public pays attention to Scouts in the news but having a daily Google News alert on it I see quite a bit. Whether its the Ineligible Volunteer files (just one of the youth protection tools that I think are being twisted out of context) or the recent reassertion of the Scouts (US only) policy on no homosexuals, every day I see more and more. Buried between those stories are the heroic stories of Scouts themselves, saving lives and strengthening their community.
The homosexuality issue has gone as far as the Supreme Court that came out (no pun intended) in favor of the BSA as being able to set whatever membership standards it chooses as a private organization. The company line of the BSA is that matters of sexuality are a family matter and discussion of such has no place in the BSA program.
While I’ve had some sympathy for people like Jen Tyrell who was forced out because of her status, she and other adults knew going in that if you want to wear the khaki then you’re agreeing to play by the BSA rules. And that isn’t to say that I agree with the exclusionary rule itself at all.
Recently I heard of a story of a Scout, 17, who had recently completed all the requirements for Eagle Scout. He also recently came out and announced “publicly” (within his limited community) as being homosexual. His Scoutmaster has refused to sign the paperwork acknowledging he Scout attainment of Eagle.
I thought about what I would do if it were one of my Scouts that had the courage to come out in our community and I’d have to say I’d be signing that paperwork without a doubt. What’s the message that’s being sent here when a Scout that’s completed every requirement for the top Scout rank, including an Eagle project that focused on tolerance in the community and then to say you’re not worthy of this honor because you’ve made a decision to love the opposite sex. How is that young man not supposed to feel like he is less of a person solely because of his sexual orientation when by all other standards he was a model Scout. How is that living by the Law that has been core you our program for 100 years.
A Scout is:
Trustworthy, – how is this Scout to feel like he could trust an adult that let him go through all the motions of being a Scout only to pull his support for the Scout when he needed it most.
Loyal, – what’s more important, to be loyal to a young man that you’ve spent years training to be a leader or to a policy that is long overdue for amendment
Helpful, – Well in this case the Scoutmaster has only been helpful in bringing even more attention to the hypocrisy of his position.
Friendly, – I hope that the Scouts themselves in his Troop are not influenced by this “leadership” and consider this Scout to be any less of a friend than he was.
Courteous, & Kind, – Exclusionary discrimination is practically the opposite of these very tenets.
Obedient, – well the leader is being obedient to the letter of the law regardless of conscience.
Cheerful, – I hope the Scout can be cheerful at least knowing that many people in his community and out support him in being worthy if the prestigious rank he has earned.
Thrifty, (ok so maybe one principle of the law that doesn’t come into play)
Brave, – If coming out as homosexual as a teenager to an unsupportive community isn’t brave I don’t know what is.
Clean and Reverent. – Can anyone really say this young man is anything less to God because of his orientation?
I wonder how many members of our community see these stories and because of these it’s the face of Boy Scouts to them. Having been a Scout leader in our relatively small town going on 9 years now, anyone in the community from the grocery clerks to the mayor know me as the “Scout guy”. How many would think that I agree with this kind of discrimination solely on my association with the Scouts. How many families wouldn’t support their sons being Scouts because of this image.
It’s gotten to the point where I’m wondering myself how much longer I can be a representative of a group that refuses to acknowledge the bigotry of it’s past and move forward to a new era of consideration. If it weren’t for my commitment to the Scouts in my troop now and my responsibilities as a mentor to them I’d probably have hung up my uniform already.
If you’d like more information on this particular case or would like to sign the petition supporting this Scout please visit change.org
Patches seen above available via inclusivescouting.net
Bearing Up: Reflections on ShelterBox SRT Assessment
Much like the Order of the Arrow and Woodbadge, within ShelterBox training there is an element of keeping the details to yourself as not to spoil it for future participants. What I can tell you is that the past week has been mentally and physically exhausting (as promised); and I loved it.
Myself and 11 other candidates spent 4 days being assessed on our leadership skills, navigational abilities, self sufficiency in primitive conditions, logistic skills and our knowledge of ShelterBox and it’s role within the global humanitarian community.
The exercises we participated in were difficult by design. It was the kind of scenarios that made you ask yourself ‘How badly do I want this? How much can I pull from myself and put myself through to be a part of an amazingly dedicated group of volunteers.’ This week has reinforced for me that there are two components to endurance, physical capability and drive. Your ability to achieve something difficult may be governed by your physical attributes, but with the right amount of passion you can stretch those limits exponentially with the amount of heart you are willing to put behind it.
I’ve been reading Bear Grylls autobiography Mud, Sweat and Tears. If ever there was a story that exemplified the potential to overcome adversity through passion and persistence, this is it. Many times through the week I reflected back on this. Whenever I felt my abilities being pushed, my mantra to myself was “Bear Up.” Doing so enabled me not just to adapt to adversity but to overcome it with a smile.
It will likely be a few weeks until I find out if I’ve been advanced to the final assessment phase. My heart tells me that this is something I can do. Hopefully my performance convinced the evaluators that I can as well.
Big ShelterBox Week
This week is Big ShelterBox Week. ShelterBox is the premier international aid organization that provides emergency shelter and life-saving equipment following disasters such as earthquake, volcano, flood, hurricane, cyclone, tsunami or conflict. ShelterBox is entirely funded by donations and the work we do would not be possible without the many thousands of donors who so generously support our work. While we are continuously seeking donations throughout the year, Big ShelterBox Week is when we conduct our major drive for fundraising and to raise awareness of the organization.
I was first introduced to ShelterBox at the National Jamboree in 2010. In 2011, after the disaster in Japan, I volunteered to be a ShelterBox Ambassador. This August I will be heading to Texas to complete (phase 3 of 4) of the selection process to become a ShelterBox Response Team member. Throughout my journey I have been increasingly impressed by the assistance that Scouts have provided during our deployments.
For this years Big ShelterBox week I am asking for your help – and there are three ways you can do it.
- Help with a click: Become a friend of ShelterBox USA on Facebook. If we get 5,000 new friends, Lumber Liquidators will donate $5,000 to help us deliver shelter, warmth and dignity to families in need.
- Make a personal donation: If you have the means to do so please make a donation to my personal fundraising page. My goal is to raise $5,000 for ShelterBox. I’m 68% of the way to my goal, and with your help we can reach that mark.
- Share the message: Share the work of ShelterBox with your friends and family. Ask them to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or even better request a speaker from ShelterBox for your group or organization. If you’re in the Tri-State area I can help you directly.
On behalf of ShelterBox USA and the thousands of families you’ve helped us to support worldwide, I thank you for your support.
Thank You For Helping
This month marks my one year anniversary as a volunteer for ShelterBox. It certainly doesn’t feel that long. As with Scouting, through ShelterBox I have met an amazing group of volunteers. A few I have had the pleasure of meeting in person, and many others online.
I want to thank everyone that’s helped me along the way. Those who’ve donated, those who’ve organized presentations at their clubs or units, and all those who’ve supported my role in ShelterBox.
This afternoon I was surprised to receive the following press release:
Kenilworth area volunteer earns national award for efforts following Japan earthquake and other disasters
SARASOTA, Fla. March 5, 2012 – Kenilworth area volunteer, Doug Metz has been recognized by President Obama and ShelterBox USA with a Presidential Volunteer Service Award for his efforts during 2011 to provide shelter, warmth and dignity for survivors of natural and other disasters worldwide.
In the aftermath of disasters such as the Japan earthquake and tsunami last March, many watched on the television wishing they could make a difference. Metz knew ShelterBox, an international disaster relief charity, would be on the scene delivering it’s iconic green box containing a family tent, water purification, a cook set and stove along with other lifesaving supplies. Through Metz’s efforts of raising awareness and funds for ShelterBox, the organization was able to provide more than 17,600 ShelterBoxes to families throughout the world in 2011, including the tornadoes in the southern U.S., drought and famine in East Africa, widespread flooding in the Philippines and the subsequent earthquakes in Turkey.
“I am truly proud to honor our volunteers, who work hard year-round to support ShelterBox and our efforts to help families rebuild their lives across the globe,” said Emily Sperling, ShelterBox USA President. “It’s because of the continuous efforts of our volunteers such as Doug that we are able to help so many vulnerable families each year.”
The President’s Volunteer Service Award is a special recognition presented on behalf of President Barack Obama. The award is part of a national recognition program created in 2003 through the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation for individuals of all ages who contribute a significant amount of time to volunteer activities.
ABOUT SHELTERBOX USA
Since 2000, ShelterBox has provided shelter, warmth and dignity following more than 170 disasters in 80 countries. ShelterBox instantly responds to earthquake, volcano, flood, hurricane, cyclone, tsunami or conflict by delivering boxes of aid. Each iconic green ShelterBox contains a disaster relief tent for an extended family, stove, blankets and water filtration system, among other tools for survival. ShelterBox’s American affiliate, ShelterBox USA is nationally headquartered in Sarasota, Florida. Individual tax-deductible donations to ShelterBox USA can be made at http://www.shelterboxusa.org, (941) 907-6036 or via text message by sending SHELTER to 20222 for a one-time $10 donation. Location and time specific donations cannot be accepted.
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My thanks to each and every one of you who have helped me to in turn help others affected by natural disasters.
If you’d like to learn more about ShelterBox please visit http://www.shelterboxusa.org/ or
ShelterBox Scouts: http://www.youngshelterboxusa.org/
If you are looking to donate to ShelterBox please consider making a donation by visiting my Fundraiser page.
The Friendship Knot
A couple days ago I wasn’t quite feeling it before a troop meeting. It wasn’t scouts per say but I was having trouble getting my khaki on in a spiritual sense. My friend Shawn suggested to teach the boys something new as a way to kick my slump.
We dedicated the “educational” portion of the meeting to learning how to tie a scout neckerchief with a friendship knot. You could say I’ve always been a bit of an Anglophile, especially when it comes to Scouting. When our troop adult leaders added the neckerchief to our uniform, another Scouter friend, Kiff, taught me from across the pond how to tie a friendship knot as is common by our English Scout brothers. I’ve been wearing it that way ever since. Thursday night I taught the Scouts how to tie the friendship knot and then they practiced tying it on each other.
Tonight our troop welcomed four new Arrow of Light scouts from Pack 83 at their Blue & Gold. When it was our turn at the ceremony to welcome them to our troop the boys crossed from their parents on one side if the stage to the troop on the other. The parents removed their cub scout neckerchiefs and as each one was asked by name to join his troop, one of our troop scouts would tie their new neckerchief on them with a friendship knot. While the ceremony was simple it was very well received.
It was great to see the pack thriving. Between scouts and families they were busting out of the venue a few years ago we’d had room to spare and then some. God willing that growth will continue to make the troop grow too. With the four that crossed tonight we’re in double digits for registrations for the first time in a long time.
I’m excited to see how the Phoenix patrol carries through on their “Lead Train Inspire”. As a small patrol they’ve definitely lived up to their namesake. There hasn’t been a challenge put to them yet they haven’t beat when they have a common goal in mind.
