Trails to Testimony - eBook

To make it easier to get into the hands of those that need it, Brad Harris' book Trails to Testimony is now available in eBook at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.  Not sure yet if this is one you can "loan" out but for less than $9, it is great to be able to have the book right at my fingers where ever I am.

Do me and Brad a favor, and write a review of the book where ever you buy it.  I don't get anything from it and I don't get anything if you buy the book but my hope is that LDS Scouters will see the book and feel very impressed to read it.

Community Emergency Response Team - CERT

My son and I just took a 21 hour FEMA course to become members of a CERT (Community Emergency Response Team).  Some of the things we can do on this CERT team are search and rescue, triage, victim relocation, evidence searches and actual medical treatment (low level).  As a Scout leader and ex EMT a lot of this was just a refresher for me especially from my resent Red Cross Wilderness First Aid Course for Philmont next summer.  This is training I have actually wanted to do personally along with Citizen Fire Academy and Citizen Police Academy.  At times this class took forever (this goes to say that no matter the subject, the teacher is the most important key to the students learning and being interested) but most of it was very interesting.

I was grateful to have my son by my side but at times I wanted him to go on his own and during our final exam I purposely stayed away from him so we would be in different groups.  I wanted to release him into the wild as he was the youngest person in the class.  In his group he was selected to lead 4 grown (and old) adults in triaging "victims" (who were actually the local fire department) - not something very common in today's world.  My son went into the room before me as I was in the group moving victims to medical after triage.  The firefighters were throwing crazy at us left and right and made it difficult for us as a group to triage patients.  When my team entered a room I saw my son with a firefighter attached to his leg not letting him go.  My son was trying to convince him to let go of him so he could help other victims.  The firefighter kept calling my son Jesus and asked him to "help" him.  My son did awesome and I was glad he did well.  The CERT team is just up my son's alley.  He loves to help and he loves adventure!  Sort of like his Dad.

Some of the things I noticed about CERT teams is that they work just like a good patrol.  A group leader sits back and surveys what needs to be done as well as making sure that the team stays safe.  He creates a plan of the group to follow.  Teams are limited to 7 or less people.  I watched some teams fall apart because too many type A adults wanted to be in charge - not enough indians and too many chiefs.  Leaders were selected at random (not like the patrol method) but to be successful you need listen to your leader.  You always have a buddy by your side - you can never be alone!!!  One of the things I really like is if while working as a CERT team someone gets sick or can't go on, the whole team must return to "rehab" to fix whatever is wrong.  This is something I wish our patrols would do more - rally around those who need help.

It was a great experience and I was glad to take it.  I can't wait to help and help my community!

CERT bag with my new favorite tool!!

Fishgutts Jr. playing victim while we improvised splinting with only the items from our cars.

Fishgutts Jr. putting out a fire.

Wood Badge in Nevada and Wood Badge in General

Evenspor over at LDSScouter Blog is about to head to Wood Badge.  Her course (like the Course I am staffing) is having a hard time getting participants.  My personal feeling on why everyone seems to not want to sign up is the change in membership standards - this isn't a statement for or against the change and whether you agree or not our boys still deserve trained leaders.  LDS Scouters for some reason have been saying for years that the Church was leaving Scouting and this membership change has seemed to give them ammo.  So here it is in black and white - we ain't leavin'!  THE LDS CHURCH IS NOT LEAVING SCOUTING ANYTIME SOON!:

For the past 100 years, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has enjoyed a strong relationship with Boy Scouts of America, based on our mutual interest in helping boys and young men understand and live their duty to God and develop upright moral behavior. As the Church moves forward in its association with the Boy Scouts of America, Church leaders will continue to seek the most effective ways to address the diverse needs of young people in the United States and throughout the world. 

The Church’s long-established policy for participation in activities is stated in the basic instructional handbook used by lay leaders of the Church: “young men … who agree to abide by Church standards” are “welcomed warmly and encouraged to participate” (Handbook 2: Administering the Church [2010], 8.17.3). This policy applies to Church-sponsored Scout units. Sexual orientation has not previously been—and is not now—a disqualifying factor for boys who want to join Latter-day Saint Scout troops. Willingness to abide by standards of behavior continues to be our compelling interest. 

These standards are outlined in the booklet For the Strength of Youth and include abstinence from sexual relationships. We remain firmly committed to upholding these standards and to protecting and strengthening boys and young men.
The Church appreciates BSA’s reaffirmation of its commitment to “duty to God,” which includes service to others and moral behavior—central principles of our teaching to young men. As in the past, the Church will work with BSA to harmonize what Scouting has to offer with the varying needs of our young men. We trust that BSA will implement and administer the approved policy in an appropriate and effective manner.    

A letter signed by the First Presidency of the Church is being sent to all Latter-day Saint congregation leaders throughout the United States. The letter will include the reaffirmation of Church policies and standards referenced in today's public statement.

LDS Scouters - get in the game!  We are here to stay and Wood Badge applies to more than just Scouting! Sign up and learn something!

It is time to do OUR DUTY and GET TRAINED.  Some closing statements from Presiding Bishop Gary E. Stevenson:

Duty—shall we drill down just a little deeper?  Thomas S. Monson, the leader of my church and a longtime member of BSA’s National Executive Board, said, “I love and cherish the noble word duty and all that it implies.”

Duty to God is the heart of Scouting. It is a founding principle as old and deep as the organization itself. What does it imply? The World Organization of the Scout Movement defines duty to God as “adherence to spiritual principles, loyalty to the religion that expresses them and acceptance of the duties resulting therefrom.” And a BSA duty to God task force said, “Spirituality, reverence, morality, [and] ethical behavior . . . are terms which reflect and demonstrate ways to fulfill duty to God.”

........... 

Some may not see the sacred gatekeeping role scouting plays. They may see only fundraising and not a foundation. Others may brand scouting activities as merely outdoor recreation, but it can and must be shown that BSA is not a camping club; it is a character university centered on duty to God. I quote again from Robert Baden-Powell: “The whole of [scouting] is based on religion, that is, on the realization and service of God.”  

I stand here today with a resolute belief that Scouting must never overlook this core principle. We still need duty to God. We always will.  When the societal and political winds come, and they surely will, scouting cannot unhinge itself from this foundational principle. This great organization cannot be deterred when we remain strong in our solid foundation, when we stand united for duty to God. 

W&RFA

This weekend I am about to get my Emergency Medical Technician, first aid, wilderness remote first aid skills on.  The victims better be ready to wrapped in miles of gauze and helicoptered to safety   Who cares if they are fake medial conditions!!   It is going to be a very long weekend full of learning and fun.  I can't wait!!

I love training like this!!  And did I mention I am going to miss Church.   Mormons everywhere are disappointed in me.  LOL!!

Train much??

No Church Training

I just received email from my local Church leaders that says they won't be training us this year because they spent all last year "getting to know us" and that took a lot of time.  What the crap..........???

I know I am a complainer but this is ridiculous.  It is one thing to be train me poorly.  It is another thing to just tell me you are not going to train me at all because "it will take too much time".

Mormon Wanna Be Training - Little Philmont

Little Philmont is an LDS version of a District Training Day.  And to be honest, I haven't seen a good one.  From word of mouth my own Venturing Adviser told me they said "We won't be training you this year because all of you are old leaders."  When everyone was asked to introduce themselves more than 75% of the leaders had less than 2 months on the job.  How is that old and trained leaders?  I am glad I didn't make it to Varsity Training because I would have just gone internally nuclear.  I am glad I had a funeral to go to so I could escape early.

Clarke Green said in a comment on this post that his answer to training was to give up.  And I tend to agree but leaders just can't expect to know how to do their job unless we teach them some how.

I am done with Little Philmont.  I am not going next year.  And to be honest I may email or mail the Stake leadership that thinks this training is doing the leaders any good.  It gives them the impression that they are trained when clearly they are not even close.

I am sort of the too the point of just shutting up, keeping my head down and just doing my job in my unit.  I am tired of being associated with LDS Scouters that can't or won't do their job.  I don't want to be around them.

Previous Little Philmont issues here and here.

Mormon Mentality - Don't do a good job because you are a volunteer.

I found this in a Mormon blog I follow on occasion and this story fits most Mormon Scouters to a "t".

Being the forgiving/forgetful type, it didn’t take long for me to let go of the trauma of my winter adventure. That lasted until I went to the official summer girls’ camp later that year and talked to the other leaders. Someone mentioned how they didn’t go on the winter time camp training and how they thought it was silly, anyway. What would camping in the winter do to prepare you for tornados, mosquitoes and heat rash in the summer? I protested, “But it was MANDATORY training! You had to go or you wouldn’t be allowed to attend the summer session!” One woman (who later became my dearest friend and Life Mentor because of her reply) scoffed, “Yeah. Like what are they gonna do, fire me? We are v-o-l-u-n-t-e-r-s. They are just grateful I agreed to do this at all.”

This mentality will forever be our downfall.  Either do a good job or don't do the job (and don't accept the calling). Your selective decision to do some things and not do others shows that your heart, might, mind and strength is not truly doing what the Lord asks of us.  Doing a half-job will get us no reward.

Being a volunteer doesn't remove our obligation to do the best we can even if we can't be fired.

Youth Protection

Dear Circle Ten Scouting Parent, Leader and Friend,

As the “Key 3” of Circle Ten Council, BSA we want to address recent news related to our Youth Protection policies. We recognize you have entrusted to Scouting the development and safety of your child and other young people that Scouting serves. We are honored by your faith in this organization and want you to know these are top priorities.

In this period of heightened awareness about youth safety, we want to share with you Scouting’s many important programs, policies, and procedures that help protect our members. We are committed to consistently strengthening and enhancing our Youth Protectionmeasures and, in recent decades, have expanded our programs significantly as more information and new techniques and technologies have become available to us.

Recently, experts in youth safety and the media have acknowledged the strength of our Youth Protection programs in place today:

• "The Boy Scouts of America is one group advocates say has gone farthest to institute such measures to safeguard kids." (MSNBC, November 2011)
•  "The Scouts’ current prevention policies are considered state of the art and several independent child-protection experts told The Associated Press that the Scouts—though buffeted in the past by many abuse-related lawsuits—are now considered a leader in combating sexual abuse. 'The Boy Scouts have the most advanced policies and training,' said Victor Vieth, a former prosecutor who heads the National Child Protection Training Center in Minnesota." (Associated Press, January 2012)
• While we continuously evaluate and strengthen our Youth Protection programs, we recognize that abuse can happen anywhere, even in Scouting. You may have heard recent news surrounding the release of certain Ineligible Volunteer Files. BSA Ineligible Volunteer Files, still in use today, help keep people deemed to be unfit leaders out of Scouting. Still, we believe constant vigilance is the best protection. In Scouting, we tell everyone involved with our programs that “Youth protection begins with you.” ^TM That means that each of us have a role to play in keeping kids safe.

We want to ensure that you are aware of our Youth Protection programs, policies, and procedures so you know what to expect of our organization.

Our safeguards include the following:

• All volunteers must complete a rigorous application and screening process before joining Scouting. As part of this requirement, applicants must provide references and submit to a national criminal background check. We also verify that our organization has not received any prior allegations of misconduct on the volunteer’s part by checking names of adult volunteers against our Ineligible Volunteer Files. Our goal is to ensure that all adult volunteers represent the values and character outlined in the Scout Oath and Scout Law and are good leaders for children.

• All volunteers are required to complete Youth Protection training and must renew the training every two years. This training is accessible to the general public online at www.Scouting.org, under the Youth Protection tab. Please review the training, as it provides important information about detecting and preventing abuse, no matter where it may occur.
   
• Scouting’s two-deep leadership policy requires at least two adults to be present for all Scouting activities. No youth should ever be alone with a Scout leader for any reason.
   
• Every Boy Scout and Cub Scout handbook includes a pamphlet to help parents teach their children how to recognize, resist, and report abuse. If you haven’t done so already, please immediately review and discuss this information with your child. A copy of the pamphlet and other youth-oriented literature is available under the Youth Protection tab on our website (www.circle10.org).
   
• All Scouting activities are open to parents, and we encourage families to enjoy Scouting together.
   
• Anyone suspected of inappropriate behavior will be immediately and permanently banned from Scouting. If you ever have any concerns about your child’s safety, please contact the Circle Ten Council, BSA at 214-902-6700. Our after-hours emergency contact number is 972-762-0108. The purpose of this number is to report a Youth Protection emergency or a fatal or serious injury (one that requires hospitalization) during non-business hours.

These measures are by no means the full extent of our efforts, but given the media attention youth-serving organizations, including Scouting, have recently received, we wanted to share some of the most important aspects of our program. Additional information and resources can be accessed by visiting http://www.scouting.org/youthprotection.aspx

On Monday, September 17th, The Dallas Morning News published a story from the Los Angeles Times about the Ineligible Volunteer Files and there were several news reports from local TV stations. While they used a slightly different set of IV Files (1970–1991), they do include a majority of the files that will be released in Oregon (1965–1985). 

The Oregon Supreme Court upheld a lower court’s order to release 1,247 of our Ineligible Volunteer Files from the years 1965 to 1985. We now expect these files will be released in redacted form during a press conference held by plaintiffs’ attorney Kelly Clark in the next 3-4 weeks and circulated to additional media electronically.

Ineligible Volunteer Files, still in use today, help keep people deemed to be unfit leaders out of Scouting. Still, we believe constant vigilance is the best protection. In Scouting, we tell everyone involved with our programs that "Youth Protection begins with you.™" That means each of us has a role to play in keeping kids safe.

As the files are released, we expect a significant amount of attention from media and the Scouting community, which are likely to have questions about the files, our Youth Protection policies, and, in some cases, about incidents directly related to our council, even if they are outside of the time period of the released files.

The Boy Scouts of America believes any occurrence of abuse is unacceptable, and we regret there have been times when the BSA’s best efforts to protect children were insufficient. For that we are deeply sorry and extend our deepest sympathies to victims. We are committed to helping members in our Scouting family who have suffered abuse and assisting them through a variety of means, including counseling.

In the more than 40 years since these released files were created, we have continuously enhanced our multi-tiered policies and procedures, which now include criminal background checks, comprehensive training programs, safety policies, and mandatory reporting to law enforcement of abuse or suspicion of abuse. We have always cooperated fully with any request from law enforcement and today require our members to report even suspicion of abuse directly to their local authorities. We are committed to the ongoing enhancement of our program, in line with evolving best practices for protecting youth.

As someone who directly interacts with Scouts, their parents, and other volunteers on a regular basis, you will likely be a first point of contact for questions, and we are asking for your help in reassuring and preserving their trust. Below, we have provided guidelines for dealing with any inquiries you might receive as well as some messaging you can use.

• If you are contacted by a member of the media, please be polite but refrain from providing any comment on a specific case or anything pertaining to the files. If asked about the BSA’s Youth Protection program, speak only from the talking points that have been provided to you. Please refer media inquiries to Pat Currie, Scout Executive/CEO at 214-902-6701 or to the BSA National Media Support Team at 855-870-2178.
   
• Reports of Current or Recent Suspicious or Inappropriate Behavior should be handled with the care and personal sensitivity befitting this issue and in accordance with the BSA’s mandatory reporting policy.

Additional information and resources can be accessed on our dedicated Youth Protection website at www.bsayouthprotection.org. We encourage you to look through this site and become familiar with all of the new and updated information we have provided.

Thank you again for all that you do to help keep Scouts safe.

Yours in Scouting,

Ernie Carey                 Matt Walker                          Pat Currie                                           

Council President        Council Commissioner          Scout Executive/CEO

Lawsuit Speaks the Truth

"The transient nature of these adult leaders, who in this instance, were called by ministers in their local LDS church to act as Scout leaders — sometimes only for a very short time — assured that there would be little continuity or consistency in the hazardous weather training they received," the suit argues.

Full lightening article here which includes quote above.
Full drowning article here. (Some in the comments section have stated that because this boy in this article was 17, he was an adult and should have know better.  I find that highly offensive.  The adult should have known better.)

I feel bad for all of these parents.  I actually feel bad for the leaders too.  They have to live with this on their conscience for the rest of their life.  No matter, the Church still has a transient nature for leaders hence the lack of training.  Training will not remove all fatalities but it will limit them.  I have heard it a million times before:

• I won't be here long so I don't need to get training.
• How hard it is to teach a merit badge each week?
• Roundtable is just another meeting to go too.
• I will learn on the job.  No need to get trained.
• We will call this a Priesthood gathering hence I don't need to use Scouting standards.
• I was a scout as a kid, so I know what I'm doing. I don't need to get trained. (via Eric the Half-Bee)
• I've been set apart; the Spirit will tell me everything I need, so I don't need training.  (via Eric the Half-Bee)
• The Church is dropping Scouting in the near future anyway, so I don't need training.  (via Eric the Half-Bee) 

I refrain from most of my thoughts on the comment but I will say this - parents bear ultimately are responsible for their children which includes but isn't limited to going on all outings with their sons.  They should know the who, where, what and when of who their son's leaders are.  I am pro non-LDS troops especially if the LDS Troop has untrained leaders with a Bishopric that doesn't insist on require being trained.  I am very transparent with my parents as to my training so they know what I have done.  I wonder what kind of role the parents played in this troop.  Seriously, if they used the Troop as a "drop off and keep rolling" daycare for their kids I feel bad but they do hold some form of responsibility.

I don't mean to sound harsh towards these boys parents.  No matter what the circumstances, they don't deserve a dead son.  I hope soon parents and Scout leaders will come together so that they can work TOGETHER to give their son the best Scouting experience in the world which includes many great and wonderful trained leader.

I have started battling the "training issue" with this scripture:

Wherefore, now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence. DC:107:99

You can't learn your duty and act in your Scouting office in diligence if you are not trained PLAIN AND SIMPLE!

And because I was a criminal justice major, I would love to know how long each leader had been a leader and what their training was[n't].

BSA Wilderness First Aid

For one of my "tickets" for Wood Badge Staff, I am wanting to take a wilderness first aid course.  I know the Red Cross does one and the BSA.  Has anyone taken any of these?  What did you think?  Worth it?

Leader Specific Training

I would love as much feedback as possible on this.

If a leader goes to their leader specific training, like say Scoutmaster Specific Training, and the trainer only covers 25% of the material and cuts the training session short, what happens to the person being trained?

• Do they need to retake the training?
• Are they really trained?
• What if they are handed a trained patch without having attended IOLS?  
• Should they even get that patch with the training material not being covered?
• What percentage of the training should be covered in order to be considered trained?

My thoughts.............


Would we be comfortable with the fact that an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), an Emergency Room doctor or a soldier who only had 25% of the material they were supposed know presented to them by their teacher and only knew that said 25%.  

• Is this a decent comparison?

Ideas on what you would tell:

• The trainer that ran the training session.
• The sort-of trained leaders that attended with the intention of getting trained.
• Why are LDS Scouters so determined to re-invent the wheel when it comes to "Mormon" Scouting and training?

Quote - President Gordon B. Hinckley

Think of this quote in relation to LDS leaders who still refuse to get training.

"This is the great day of decision for each of us.  For many it is the time of beginning something that will go on for as long as you live.  I plead with you: don't be a scrub!  Rise to the high ground of spiritual, mental, and physical excellence.  You can do it.  You may not be a genius.  You may be lacking in some skills.  But so many of us can do better than we are now doing.  We are members of this great Church whose influence is now felt over the world.  We are people with a present and with a future.  Don't muff your opportunities.  Be excellent". ~  President Gordon B. Hinckley

A calling in your Ward's Scout unit is the only calling in your ward that has set and true training protocol.  Either you are trained or you are not.  There is no fence sitting.  This is not a calling where training comes "on the fly" or "on the job".  Why then would leaders refuse to go and attend their training especially if we believe that Scouting is truly an inspired program of the Lord?

Time, patience and persistence.....when all else fails.

I was listening to Scoutmaster CG's pod cast #98 and Clarke brought up that the problems with youth leaders planning poorly or not planning at all are common (that for some reason surprised me!).  He recommended time, patience and persistence.  He also mentioned training has nothing to do with the development of skill.  Remind me next time you see my eyes spinning like a slot machine...........

My assistant Coach (he has been a huge God-send) and I had a discussion about this and have decided to take a strictly positive reactive approach to the boys so the boys will enjoy interacting with us because of our positive nature (Clarke actually mentioned this!).  Find the positive no matter how hard it is.  FIND IT!  This is something that is difficult for me as I find myself judging myself as I train new Coaches in the District because I don't run the "perfect" program.  In fact, I have at times called myself a hypocrite.  Harsh but I am my own worst enemy.  (When The Judgment comes, the Lord will have an easy time because I will have already judged myself roughly.)  I need to find the positive in myself too.

Scouting should be cheaper.

I wish Scouting were cheaper.  No idea how it could be but the uniforming portion is so expensive and to do anything we are charged.  I have to eat somewhere so it might as well be at a Scout function.  I honestly can't believe I am charged every time I train someone.  I don't want to push that cost on to a trainee so the money has to come from somewhere.  So I guess it is coming out of my pocket.

New LDS BSA Training Chart

What I find funny about this new chart is that in 6 weeks this thing will be outdated.

Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills

This weekend I spent Friday, Saturday and part of Sunday at Camp Wisdom helping to teach Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills.  I enjoy teaching and I enjoy the outdoors.  I was happy to be asked and happy to be out there.  Friday got down to 40 degrees at night but by the time Sunday rolled around it was 70 degrees with a ton of humidity.  We were expecting rain and got none.  Thank goodness!

For LDS Scouters that attend this course, they are allowed to leave late Saturday night.  Some in our District don't like this because they are forced to cram necessary training into a shorter amount of time than the syllabus says you should.  I also do not like this.  We tend to treat LDS Scouters like they are special when some LDS units are not even quality units.  How do we expect quality units when the training they receive is done in a "hurry up" fashion so they can leave?  I explained to those in the District that we are also Youth Ministers and we have responsibilities on Sunday.  I also explained that the boys have responsibilities on Sunday and that is why we don't camp on Sunday.   

I am not one to camp on Sunday, ski on Sunday or entertain on Sunday.  I believe Sunday is for worship and family time.  I do believe though that if I am not in Church due to Scout training, it is a great place to be.  I don't make it a habit but I also don't avoid it.  In the end, I don't go to training or train to get out of Church.  I go to build bridges, I go to network and go to effect BSA leaders that don't often get to experience a LDS Scouter that is dedicated to Scouting as I am.  I also go to train or be trained (I attended a Friday, Saturday, Sunday Wood Badge).  When we were about to leave, the Scoutmaster for the course brought us (my fellow LDS Scouter - we got the nick name Mo Bros [Mormon Brothers]) and discussed that LDS Scouters are encouraged to leave to be home on Sunday, expressed his thanks for us staying and how we had an "out" to leave because we were LDS.  Then something happened that I never expected ~ the IOLS participants gave us a standing ovation.  I was not expecting that.  In fact, it was embarrassing but I am grateful that they appreciate us. 

One of my favorite parts was that the IOLS staff invite a few of their sons who are Scouters up to help cook and clean.  I enjoyed interacting with these two boys.  They were great kids.  They asked a ton of questions about the LDS Church and I was happy to answer them.  When I wasn't teaching, I spent time with them cooking and cleaning.  We had a great time including using our catch phrase "spicy meatball" in a Mario voice.  It was a ton of fun!  I hope when (of if) I am invited back that they are there again.  I hope to add my son to the staff too. 

By the way, I made it to all 3 hours of Church by leaving training at 10 AM.

Below are some pictures from the event.  Please note the changing colors in Texas!  Fall is coming soon!

 

My fire starting class.  Too bad there was a fire ban.  I love playing with fire!!!

Texas Fall.

The challenge was to see how many cheese puffs I could shove in my mouth.  I ended up with 4 in there.

Due to the fire ban, we were forced to dutch oven cook on a propane stove.  I used foil to make sure I created the perfect environment for my dutch oven.  You do not need those expensive kits.  My pizza was great.

Varsity Leader Specific Training

If there are any Coaches, District Training Committee members or anyone else that wants copies of the materials I hand out when training a new Coach, please email me.  I have sent 3 copies in the past few weeks to Missouri, Utah and Washington.  Hopefully this help spread the Varsity love and help to educate new Coaches.

I also have this available in my Dropbox.  If you want a copy, I can send it electronically too. 

What it takes to be trained

New BSA standards for considering yourself "trained" for your job.  Click here

.

Slothful Scout leadership

Tory has a great post over on his blog Adventures and Accidents (which the name of his blog is genius) about LDS slothful Scout leadership and not performing their calling.  I wish we could get the sloths to read it.