Waves of Glory

The Internet and social media have changed the landscape of Scouting. This has been especially evident with the 2010 Jamboree. In near real time we’re seeing all kinds of reports from the field – thousands of Scouts and Scouters sharing their thoughts, their joys, their pictures sent from AP Hill to readers and viewers around the world.

One of the technical aspects of Jamboree that I’ve really appreciated is QBSA, a radio station (run by Scouts of course) that is broadcasting from the Jamboree via the Internet. Thanks to QBSA I had the opportunity to hear a very inspiring speech from Secretary of Defense Gates as he addressed the Scouts yesterday morning. Regardless of how I feel about who SHOULD have been there to speak, in hindsight I don’t think there could have been a better speaker for this audience than Gates. Gates is an Eagle Scout and addressed the Scouts with an understanding and appreciation of what they do, what they stand for and what it means to be a true citizen of our great country.

I believe that today, as for the past 100 years, there is no finer program for preparing American boys for citizenship and leadership than the Boy Scouts of America.

Earning the Eagle Scout’s badge was “the only thing I had done in my life that led me to think that I could make a difference; that I could be a leader,” he said to applause. “It was the first thing I had done that told me I might be different because I had worked harder, wasmore determined, more goal-oriented, more persistent than most others.”

The secretary told the Scouts some of them will go on to be leaders in industry, the government and the military. But most importantly, he said, Scouting has set them on the path to

“…becoming a man of  integrity and decency, a man of moral courage, a man unafraid of hard work, a man of strong character, the kind of person who built this country and made it the greatest democracy and the greatest economic powerhouse in the history of the world.”

A full transcript of Gates’ speech is available: SPEECH

A video of the speech is also available via the Pentagon Channel: CLICK TO VIEW THE VIDEO

So if you’re not at Jamboree there’s still a lot you can experience.  Head to http://www.bsajamboree.org/JamboreeRadio.aspx and give a listen.

You can also see the BSA’s Flikr page for great photos of Scouts enjoying Jambo 2010.

 

Obama Chooses “The View” over National Jamboree

There has been a lot of discussion and debate as to whether or not  President Obama supports the Boy Scouts of America.  After his inauguration he accepted the honorary position of President of the Boy Scouts of America – a position accepted by every President since Taft, despite the urging of activists that he do otherwise.   From what I understand a lot of the discussions on whether he was behind the BSA focused (or at least began with) delay’s the signing of Eagle certificates which is/was tied to a logistical issue on the “licensing” of the President’s signature which is the case every time a new President takes the office.  I personally cut him a lot of slack as assuming that role was probably not the highest priority among all the challenges he faced when he took office – the economy being just one.

Unfortunately I can no longer make excuses for this man that I voted for as I feel that he has certainly turned his back on the Scouts in the United States. Monday it was announced that President Obama has decided that an appearance on the daytime talk show “The View” was more important than his visit to the BSA National Jamboree.

CNS News reported:

President Barack Obama, the honorary chairman of the Boy Scouts of America, will not speak in-person before the group on Wednesday at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia, as part of the organization’s 100th anniversary celebration. However, the president is sending a videotaped message to the scouts for Wednesday, the same day he will be in Manhattan to tape an appearance for ABC TV’s talk show “The View.”

Bob Dries, chairman of national news and media at the Boy Scouts of America Jamboree – a gathering that happens every four years and attracts thousands of scouts from around the world – told CNSNews.com that the organization was told on Monday that the president had scheduling conflicts and would not be speaking in-person at the week-long event…

…Obama’s three predecessors spoke at the event – George H. W. Bush in 1989 and Bill Clinton in 1998 in-person, and George W. Bush who spoke via video in 2001 when bad weather prevented him from traveling. George W. Bush did speak in-person at the 2005 Jamboree.

I do not think that a daytime talk show is an appropriate venue the President of our country and I think it lowers the prestige of the office. He is our leader but he behaves more like a celebrity. I also understand that the President has a number of image issues (some deserved and some not) that he is trying to compensate for in the media, however I can’t help but feel that that image could only be improved by speaking to and inspiring 40,000 of our country’s future leaders rather than pandering to the talk shows. What makes it even worse is that he is missing the opportunity to address the Scouts live in preference for a taping of the view.  We don’t celebrate the 100th anniversary every year you know.  How often do they tape I wonder?

 

Jambo Fever

It’s been building up for a while now but really kicked into high gear a couple weeks back.  Between the news lists I follow and Twitter, I was being bombarded by people’s excitement and enthusiasm for the 2010 National Scout Jamboree. I think it was Scoutmaster Jerry and his daily countdown that finally put me over the edge.  As I saw it there were two alternatives: 1. drop off the ‘Net for the next few weeks and deal with the symptoms of DWS (digital withdrawal syndrome) or 2. find a way to get my son and I to Ft. AP Hill.
When I pitched the idea to my wife she surprised me with a “you guys should go – I bet it will be a great experience.”  The opportunity to meet up with 40,000 of my Scouting brethren to celebrate 100 years of the greatest service organization in the USA – you bet we’re looking forward to it!
Originally I wanted to make the trek (about 285 miles) by train but Amtrak’s rates weren’t as thrifty as I was looking for. So we’re going to rent a car and travel down on Friday. We’re planning to be there for all the festivities on Saturday and will hopefully return Sunday as well. And yes I plan to stop by the PTC Media meet-up on Saturday  to thank Jerry for his “motivation.”

 

Swimming to the Top

I had been working with Scott on his swimming merit badge for a few months. Most of the work wasn’t on the badge itself as much as coordinating when and where to take care of things.
It was at my first or second meeting with the Troop that I heard about Scott’s dilemma. Scott was one badge shy of completing his requirements for Eagle. The other members of his Patrol had all worked on the Cycling merit badge. So had Scott, however when the time came for the Patrol to complete their final distance ride (25 miles?) Scott had been ill. By the time he recovered none if his Patrol mates were up to doing another 25 mile trek. As an alternative Scott decided to pursue the Swimming badge. The story I’m told is that for the next year he was jerked around by the District Advancement committee by being pointed towards a number of swimming counselors – and any he was able to make contact with told him they were no longer serving as counselors. One badge remained as his last hurdle between him and the coveted Eagle badge. Scott pressed on, completed his Eagle project and continued to look for a counselor.
As quickly as I could I applied to be a counselor for the badge. I’d been a lifeguard when I was younger an had competed on the swim team for my high school (in addition to being a competitive swimmer from about age 7). I didn’t doubt my qualifications. I ruffled some feathers as I repeatedly inquired a to the status of my application. I wanted to work with Scott a soon as I could but I didn’t want to jeopardize anything by starting before all the paperwork was in order. Finally my application was approved.
We knocked out the “discuss” requirements at our last Troop meeting for the year. I made plans to meet Scott at a local pool where his family were members. We covered a lot of the practical requirements in the first session and made plans to finish up at the next. When we met again we made it through all but one (jump in clothed, inflate pants etc) when we had to vacate the pool for thunder. The one badge between Scott and Eagle was now one requirement.
The next night we were back to the pool and Scott was ready. He was a little embarrassed to be jumping in with his clothes on (there were a lot o people at the pool) but he summoned his courage and did it. Getting undressed while in the water and turning your clothes into a flotation device isn’t easy. Scott struggled but overall his execution was excellent. He offered to “save” his sister a few more times to make up for his performance but I assured him there was no make-up necessary and that he passed with flying colors. At one point he thanked God (that the rain held off this night) and then said “and thank YOU Scoutmaster Doug.” “You’re more than welcome, but that’s not really official yet” I said. “Oh yes it is” he answered. We both left the pool beaming with pride.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]