Today is All Saints Day and while that is specific to one group of religions, I think the concept is worth exploring as Scouts. You’ve all heard the phrase “It takes a village to raise a child.” which points to the fact that it takes many adults, not just the parents to guide each of us to adulthood. 

Today I encourage you to think about your village. Some of the other youth and adults you know will make a significant positive impact in your life. A few you might recognize now, others it may be several years, hopefully you won’t be like me and recognize some of them in my 40’s. 

The Scout Law covers this too. I believe we’re supposed to be obedient to those still with us and reverent towards those no longer on this Earth. 

I’d like to tell you about one of my saints, Joe Myers….

Another phrase is “I’m here today because I stand on the shoulders of giants.” Recognizing that no achievement is truly achieved as an individual.

So, who’s in your village, whose shoulder do you stand on, and how are you honoring them?

What is the buddy system? It’s basically the act of pairing up two individuals, (in our case, two scouts) together and having them work as a single unit. During scout camps I tend to pair up scouts who are working on the the same merit badges. They walk the trails together, cook together, and if one needs to use the latrine the other will patiently wait close by for her or his buddy to finish. Where ever your buddy goes, you go.

We teach this practice way back in Lions and Tiger Cubs. While the scouts are in these early dens, their adult “Akela” is their buddy. As they move on up to Wolf, Bear, and Webelos we pair them off with another Cub Scout in their same den. If we only have three cubs in the den, then we will have the three work as a buddy group.

Buddy systems are used in more places than you may expect. The United States Armed Forces practices the buddy system.

• Air Force – Wingman
• Army – Battle Buddies
• Navy – Shipmates

Even some religious organizations like The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints use the buddy system. Missionaries while on their mission, are always with their companion and are always together and never alone.

Why do we practice the buddy system? Number one – Safety. As a scout leader, you have a stewardship over the scouts to ensure that they are safe. If we are backpacking in the deep woods of the Uinta National Forest, the last thing I want to worry about is an injured or lost scout due to not being paired up with a buddy. Also, as a leader, you know the importance of two deep leadership and buddies through YPT.

Your buddy has your back and you have your buddies back. Watch our for, and help each other.

The challenge of who to pair with who will always come up. Friends will always want to pair up with each other. Sometimes I allow the pairing to occur naturally, and there are times that I will assign the buddy groups if I know that there will be some major goofing off between friend pairs. Use your best judgment as you will know the attitudes and characters of each of your scouts.

Have fun out there, be safe, and always stay with your buddy

Buddy System – from Scouter Life; The Buddy System — ScouterLife

How many of you have applied for a job? What was the first thing you had to do – paperwork right?

If you haven’t applied for a job, maybe you’ve watched your parents go to a doctor for the first time, lot’s of paperwork right?

So paperwork is a part of life, maybe not one fo the most exciting parts but important none the less right?

Story of tuition reimbursement (by being better at paperwork, I saved thousands on tuition.)

In Scouting, paperwork matters too. When a Scout applies for Eagle Project, much of their effort is evaluated based on the paperwork. When a Scout applies for Eagle Rank, it goes all the way to National Headquarters for review; that is only based on paperwork.

Unfortunately, paperwork for advancement has not been a strength for this troop. We have a lot of incomplete paperwork. Alex, Hannah, and I will be spending a lot of time trying to fix that and get us caught back up.

You can help too. You can practice getting good at paperwork, it’s a necessary part of life. Bringing your Scout book to meetings is practice. Showing your book to a leader to get it entered in Troopmaster is practice. Hunting down the right scout or leader to sign it off is practice. Because all of this practice matters, for you and for the Troop.

4 Oct. 2021 – CoH

Once again, I would like to congratulate each scout on their accomplishments that we are recognizing today. While I have been the Scoutmaster for Troop 219 for only a month, I’ve been with the Troop since the beginning, working with and watching each of you progress. For Troop 295, I’ve been watching for more than 3 years, even if it is from a bit more afar. 

The patches that you’ve earned and received today are only a symbol, a visible expression, of the changes each of you have undergone. I want you to think about these three things and the progress in yourselves as represented by the patches.

First, you’re learning about “Hard stuff, done right”. Each badge and especially ranks are a complex set of interlocking requirements designed to push you out of your comfort zone. Many of these skills take practice to achieve. You have met this challenge and succeeded.

Next, you’re developing character and learning to balance self with selflessness. As you put into practice the Scout Oath and Law day in and day out, it is becoming imprinted on your heart and mind. Along with Be Prepared, for the tough times in life, you’re developing the traits that will carry you through life, with more confidence and dignity than others. 

Finally, you’re learning endurance in the pursuit of your goals. Few of the good things in life come easy and you’re demonstrating that you know how to strive for them and seek the help of others to get there. For 219 I know several of you have been in Scouting for as long as you could be. And for 295, I met a number of you as tiger cubs – 10 years ago; a decade in Scouting.

So now, I want each of you to pat yourself on the back and be proud of what you have achieved. Recognize that these patches are symbols of deeper growth, growth that carries throughout life and well beyond Scouting. Thank you.

Scouts, what’s the second point of the Scout Law? That’s right, “A Scout is loyal. ” Our Scout handbook explains that a Scout is loyal to his family, Scout leaders, friends, school and nation.

I’m going to add one more thing to that list – a Scout is loyal to his team. The team might be his patrol or sports team.

Your patrol or soccer team can’t be as good as it should be if you goof off a lot or constantly complain about your teammates or your patrol leader or coach. A winning patrol and a winning team, must have a winning attitude. That means that every member must be willing to do his part and not spend time griping because the patrol’s plans or the game are not going his way.

That doesn’t mean that you have to be close friends with everybody in your patrol or team or even like all of them. But it means that when you join, you commit yourself to the success of the patrol or the team and pledge to give it your best effort.

In Scouting and sports, it’s teamwork that makes winners. So whenever you’re with your patrol or sports team, remember, “A Scout is loyal”.

from MacScouter, SM_Minutes.pdf (macscouter.com)

[Write 911 on the board]

What does this mean to you. 911 who you call for help? 9/11, the worst attack on American Soil in the history of the US, or your birthday.

This weekend was Sept. 11 and the 20th Anniversary of 9-11. Your parents will remember the events of twenty years ago today. You probably have learned of them in history books and television. There are few days in the history of the nation when, as they say, “the world stopped turning” and everything changed direction. Pearl Harbor. Gettysburg. 9/11.

The events of the day speak for themselves. I would like to speak to how this day speaks to the Scout Oath.

On by honor I will do my best

Your honor is something that cannot be taken, but only given—it is what you do when nobody else is looking. The same with ‘doing your best’. Only you know what your best is, and you may not even know that until you are called to duty.

To do my duty to God and my country

Many people are paralyzed in an emergency. When the time for service comes, a Scout stands up—for her God and her country, for friends and family.

and to obey the Scout Law

A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent, in good times and in bad.

To help other people at all times;

Times of crisis are a true test of character.

To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.

It is much easier to do what must be done with stamina, smarts, and good common sense.

However, the best lesson of the day may actually lie in the Scout Motto: Be Prepared.

Be prepared, Scouts. Be prepared.

Life only gives pop quizzes and there is no review session.

• Adapted from John Scout’s SM minute for the 10th anniversary.https://johnscout.wordpress.com/2011/09/11/when-the-world-stopped-turning/

Today is Labor Day, it’s a holiday that was established in 1894 to recognize the Labor or working people and the Labor movement, the organizing of workers to represent and campaign for better working conditions and treatment from their employers. I’m sure you’ve studied some of the post-Civil War working conditions in school.

So other than not having School today, what does this have to do with Scouting? It recognizes the value of people and their work. (Courteous, Kind, Helpful, Loyal, Brave) It recognizes that no one owns anyone else, remember they were not that far removed from indentured servants and slavery, employers still thought of employees as “theirs”. By extension, it recognizes a duty of leaders. It recognizes the ability of individuals acting as a group, and with a better vision, can impact positive change.

Have any of you seen the movie “Hidden Figures”? Were there any leaders improving working conditions in that movie?

Katherine Johnson

Al Harrison

John Glenn

As we wrap up our Labor Day, I’d like each of you to think about what you can do either now or in the future as adults to make positive change.