Live From The Field

By Settummanque on 6 May 2014 in Email Posts, Uncategorized

One of the recent discussions on Scouts-L (a daily electronic mail discussion group) focused on the emphasis many people have in “making” or “becoming” an Eagle Scout.

Tony wrote in part and asked:

“I wasn’t around back in the 60s, but was the emphasis on it just as strong then?”

Yep. Only thing was that we didn’t have all of the “trappings” which went along with “becoming an Eagle Scout”.

I am dating myself but so be it.

In my day, there were no “Eagle Coaches” because there were a group of your peers, Eagle Scouts, who guided you toward selecting an appropriate service project, helping you with framing it so when you went to your Scoutmaster (who already had some idea of what you were going to do because you and he have been talking about parts of it since First Class), he would say “okay…go do it…need some help, just ask”.

There wasn’t an Eagle project book. Buddy, you had roughly eleven lines on the inside of the Eagle Scout application to explain your project, what good it was going to do to whomever and how are you going to gather and use materials to get it done. You had to show up to an adult on the District’s Advancement Committee (which meant perhaps it was your Troop’s Advancement person because in those days, EVERY Troop’s Advancement person was a member — not on paper but actual member — of your District’s Advancement Committee…) and explain to him or her what you are going to do. Most cases, that person approved it based on what YOU said you were going to do. Didn’t need a piece of paper, unless the project was so darned complicated (or over their heads) that they needed to read a bit before they said “okay…need any help? Just ask.”

You had NO PROBLEM getting people to help you find merit badge counselors. Those outside your Troop you knew because those Eagle Scout peers told you about them — what they expect, what you can get away with, what the standard is. If they could do it, you could too. Running around the track– no biggie. Saving money and explaining where you’ve spent it, well,… And you had NO PROBLEM getting people to participate in your Eagle project. Other Eagle Scouts. Scouts from your Troop. Scouts from other Troops. Girl Scouts. Kids who want to be Scouts but their parents say they can’t for whatever reason. And there were no haggling about money for this or that — you need some nails? Someone went out and bought you a box or two. Needed to have a poster made — you didn’t do so hot with the Art merit badge, but some parent made the poster, had you to approve it, and they had it copied and distributed. All you had to do is ask (politely of course). Leftover materials went to the person you led along with a letter from YOU thanking them for the opportunity to help.

When you got everything completed and participated in the District’s or unit’s Eagle Board of Review, there were people there who wanted you to succeed. Not fail. They knew you, saw that you lead your project and put in the time to get it done right. They went behind your back and actually called up and talked with those people you listed as references. Then they did their own “Barnaby Jones” or “Rockford” (two detectives of that time period) and asked OTHER PEOPLE you didn’t even list on the application about you. They beat you over the head verbally with it. You would do well to remember the Scouting ideals and answer the questions and concerns honestly and forthright because failure to do that meant that they were not going to sign that application and the advancement report *that night* but ask you to come back in a few WEEKS after you’ve fixed what needed to be fixed.

And your parents and Scoutmaster supported their decisions, and worked with you to make things right — or to put their arms around you and say “Well, maybe you can go out for the school play (or baseball) (or get a job at the diner down the road).” Most of all, they told you correctly: being an Eagle Scout is NOT among the more important things you will do with your life…it’s great, but not everyone will earn Eagle.”

Your peers — your Eagle Scout peers — show up for your Eagle Court of Honor. So do anyone else who earned Eagle, because the newspaper published — whether you “liked it or not” — the fact that you’re going to receive your Eagle at a ceremony on a certain day and time and at a certain location. There were no “Eagle Scout” dis or dat…it was a part of the Troop’s Court of Honor, with a little more flair when it came time for you and your parents to stand as the Scoutmaster gave the medal to your Mom to pin onto your chest. It became something that some parents drugged their Cub Scouting-aged kids to witness, saying “see…that’s gonna be YOU and US there like they are…”

You got a date afterwards because some gal who didn’t know you as anything but a “geek, a witless fool” now sees you as a “potential lifetime partner” and acceptable to her Dad, even with the pony tail you hide under a hat or the dark glasses you always wore because you, well, you were a little “under the weather” sometimes…and everyone knew it.

Men would call your house and ask if you would be available to come in and talk with them about a job.
You don’t remember filling out an application. You don’t recall calling them up asking if they were hiring. But there you were…being offered a job. Not a GREAT job or even a good job…but something more than your non-Scouting peers got — a JOB.

You stayed with Scouting until the pressure got too much for you and you tearfully leave for Exploring. Or for Janice. Or for that Mustang that your parents bought you for a graduation present. Or for Big School U. Or all of the above.

Yeah. Everyone promoted the idea that you and I should be Eagle Scouts. But it for a different motivation, one which had nothing to do with merit badges or shiny Eagle badges, or reams of paperwork. Not everyone got there, but for those who really wanted it, everyone else supported you if not in actuality at least in thoughts, prayers and good thoughts.

Settummanque!

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About Settummanque

Take your standard Oliver North. Add strong parts of Bill Cosby and Sir Robert Baden-Powell (the founder of Scouting). Throw in Johny Bravo without the "hurhhs!" and his pecks. Add a strong dose of parenting, the sexuality of a latin lover, and Mona Lisa's smile. And a 40 year old's body frame. That's me basically *grinning*

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