Scoutmaster Minute

A ripple effect occurs when an initial disturbance to a system propagates outward to disturb an increasingly larger portion of the system, like ripples expanding across the water when an object is dropped into it. 

What may seem as a small act of kindness can have a huge and lasting impact. William D. Boyce who was helped by the scout in the London Fog did so out of Scout Spirit and living out the Scout Oath and Scout Law. 

Those scout's actions back in 1909 are why you and I are standing here today in the cafeteria at Lake Ridge Middle School. That one act of kindness and doing a good turn daily inspired Boyce to start Boy Scouts of America which now has over 1 million active youth members and 628,000 adult volunteers. 

Since that one act of kindness in 1909 there have been millions if not billions of other acts of kindness and good turns that have been performed by youth and adult scout members. 

The ripple effect from that one act of kindness over 100 years again continues to propagate outward reaching into your life and the life others to this day. The potential of one scout, with one act of kindness is limitless. 

Do a good turn daily. A scout is kind. 

Scoutmaster Minute -- 20 August 2024

Greatness only occurs with effort. Would you be so bold as to try? Let's take into consideration the speech of our 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt, given at the Sorbonne in Paris, on the 23rd of April in 1910: "It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."

A Scout is Brave

Scoutmaster Minute -- 13 August 2024

Every four years, the Summer Olympics provide the opportunity to compete on a global level – to be the true world champion in a sport. Many athletes train the better part of their lives to compete in their respective sports. When they achieve, they achieve greatly. When they fail, it is in front of the whole world. By now, most are aware of a less-than-spectacular performance during the inaugural (and maybe only) Olympic break-dancing competition. One would have to deny oneself of social media to avoid a meme or reel lampooning the effort of one Olympian who ended up scoring zero points for her performance. Yet, at the relatively old age of 36, she was out there representing her country and trying her best to leverage her creativity to make up for her competitors' youth and athleticism. Let us keep perspective of the bravery of all who step onto the stage to compete, knowing that only one individual or team in each category will leave with the gold first-place medal. Understand the margins for victory are sometimes mere fractions of a second or judgement calls from referees. Know that epic competitions provide opportunities for epic fails. As spectators, let us be kind and not revel in the agony of the defeated but instead celebrate and emulate their courage to compete.

A Scout is Brave. A Scout is Kind.

Scoutmaster Minute - 6 August 2024

School starts soon. As we live in an area where many families are transient due to their jobs, undoubtedly there will be new faces in the classrooms and in the hallways. Many of you are familiar with what it is like to be the 'new kid.' If you know, you know: "Will anyone speak to me? Will I make friends? Will I be bullied? I sure miss my old friends. Why did we have to move?" Knowing that, I ask you what your role should be in welcoming 'the new kid?' Will you ignore or will you engage? Will you add to the anxiety, or will you take it away? Will he or she have to earn your friendship, or will you give it freely? If you are passing in the hall, will you offer a smile? Do your best to make the new kids feel welcome, as you would want to feel welcome if you were in their shoes. To close with a quote from Maya Angelou, "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

A Scout is Friendly. A Scout is Kind.