Scoutmaster Minute - 21 September 2021

This past week, the Lake Ridge community suffered the loss of a young coach at Woodbridge High School.  Our prayers go out to his family.  Some of you witnessed this tragic event in real time at Friday's football game.  Seeing someone die in front of you is a traumatic event.  Some of you were fortunate to have not been in attendance, yet have experienced other trauma in your lives.  Most of us can say this last year has been marked by stressful events surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fortunately, humans are social animals.  We have the capability to communicate and lean on one another and we possess compassion for others.  I hope you know that if you need help, you can rely on me.  I also hope you can make that pledge to anyone in our formation.  You may not be a mental health expert, but it is important that others know that you have their back and if needed, you can point them to someone you can provide them more help.  It takes courage to ask for help; it takes courage and commitment to be there for someone else.

A Scout is Brave.

Scoutmaster Minute -- 14 September 2021

As we prepare for our Survivor Island Campout, I leave you with a quote from the Chief Ambassador of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, Bear Grylls:  "Survival can be summed up in three words – never give up.  That's the heart of it really.  Just keep trying."  

As we prepare for Survival Island, we know that conditions will be tougher than a normal campout.  Take it from Bear Grylls – don't give up, just persevere.

A Scout is Brave.

Scoutmaster Minute -- 7 September 2021

One hundred and nine years ago on Labor Day, September 2, 1912, the Boy Scouts of America awarded Arthur Eldred the first Eagle Scout Medal in BSA history.  Unlike Eagle Scout candidates today, Eldred did not have a troop board of review, he had a national board of review on March 29, 1912.  His panel members included the BSA National Headquarters Chief Scout Executive, James West; Daniel Carter Beard; Ernest Thompson Seton; and Scouting's founder, Lord Robert Baden-Powell, who journeyed to America via ship to attend the board.  Given that he passed a national board from prestigious members of BSA HQs and the World Scouting Movement founder himself, one would think that he would have received his Eagle Medal right on the spot.  Yet, this was not the case, as BSA had not finished the design and casting the first medal.  Why you may ask?  Well, BSA had just created the rank of Eagle in August of 1911 and Scout executives did not anticipate anyone could complete the requirements so quick.  Arthur Eldred greatly exceeded their expectations and earned the medal before it was cast.

We have expectations of one another.  What a pleasant surprise when we deal with someone who exceeds our expectations of performance and potential.  I encourage you to follow Arthur Eldred's example and surprise people by exceeding their expectations.  This could be jumping in and doing more than your share in your family or patrol, or it could be finishing a task well ahead of schedule.  Whatever it is, I challenge you to do your best.

A Scout is Helpful.