Roundtable (13 Nov 14)

I was in the wrong room.

Here I was, decked out in a Boy Scouters’ — no, strike that. I was in a VENTURING LEADERS’ uniform, trying to find the right classroom in the large church. Green shirt, grey slacks, green socks, black shoes.  My Wood Badge hung neatly around my neck; my nametag attached above my right pocket.

Roundtable is a monthly meeting of Scouting leaders — Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Venturing.  In most communities as it is here in southern Tennessee, Roundtable occurs on the second Tuesday or Thursday evening each month during the typical “school year”. In our community, Roundtable starts promptly at seven and ends at eight p.m.

Those who leave work early enough have the opportunity to change into the Scouting uniform representing their role in the national organization; those who don’t have the chance to go home or to a restroom and change into their Scouting duds just show up in street or work clothes. No harm no foul — they just are glad that you attended.  The meeting is not mandatory but if you attend Roundtable it counts in part toward training awards or training keys.  Teaching at Roundtable helps to curb some of the “personal requirements” — “ticket items” — toward earning the Wood Badge training recognition.

No Roundtable in July or August. Summer camp season. Vacation season.

Roundtable — not “the Roundtable” nor the “Roundtable meeting” — just “Roundtable” — is attended by adult volunteer leaders at the unit and local community level. The intent of the meeting is two-fold: to allow a free flowing amount of information exchange between everyone present and to allow the leaders of the Roundtable — the Roundtable Commissioners — to share information from the “higher parts” of Scouting — the local Council in Nashville; the region and the National organization in Texas — with those volunteers truly making Scouting work in their communities and towns.

It is also a “continuing educational experience” for those participating, adding to their general or specific Scouting knowledge.  How do I keep the noise down?  How do I go about training the boys to lead themselves?  What kinds of things do boys in general like to do– I know what MY BOYS like to do…but not all boys like to watch “WOW Championship Wrestling!” 24/7.

Roundtable.

One hour. That’s all which is asked.  Does not turn out that way, because like with most things in which the interest is piqued, once you get talking about things — you want to stay and talk more.  I wrote a story in my book “Patches and Pins” about the “meeting after the meeting” — the meeting in the parking lot, the hallways, the garage, and frequently at the local Double Burger or Waffle House whereby groups of volunteers will get something to eat and finish their conversations started at Roundtable.

Or start brand new ones based on the information shared or distributed at Roundtable.

Work has kept me from being an active part of the local Roundtable for almost a year. I was discouraged from participating. No, I didn’t do anything wrong nor I was told NOT to attend. The problem is that my employer — the Air Force — is going through a contract renewal on the base and many of the people who attend Roundtable, well, they work on the base as a contractor.  There’s a conflict between my work job and my Scouting job and until the contract stuff was finalized, I was merely asked to keep a low profile and to not answer questions about the contractual stuff. 

So instead of being rude to my friends and fellow Scouters, I bowed out locally, going to Roundtable up the road or down the road or sitting the monthly meetings out.

I missed them. 

I decided to wear the plain Venturing uniform over the regular field uniform with all of the doodahs and whatsits and just “be Scouter red”, as in “redneck Scouter” this evening. Most of the Scouters here know who I am; they have read my postings, seen my website, know that I know quite a bit about Scouting the program and a little about Scouting the application. They knew that I was a “ground Scouter” a Scoutmaster, a Varsity Team Coach, an Explorer Advisor and Skipper.  They knew that I was a Commissioner and worked briefly for the BSA while in college.

All that stuff. Some knew that I had a family — somewhere, not there — and that I will talk anyone almost to death about this stuff I love — Scouting.

I was late getting to tonight’s meeting — again, they only keep people there for an hour and I was already four minutes late getting to the parking area at the big expansive church which hosts Roundtable — and several other activities.  I parked the car, thought twice about taking the backpack with the insulin with me and said to myself “nah…already late as it is”, and range-walked myself to the front door of the building.

Once inside, I forgot how large and expansive the church really is. I walked down the hallway, opened the door and walked in, finding a seat toward the rear of the room.

“Tonight we’re going to do some cooking and baking,” the older woman spoke, motioning to me to move over and sit down.

“We are so proud of all of your contributions. We hope that tonight’s program will help you to think about new recipes.”

Interesting, I thought. Roundtables are known for not just “Scouting stuff” but things which will help a young man to discover new reasons for staying involved in Scouting. I looked around the room and saw nobody in a Scouting uniform. No males. I kept my jacket on.

I think that I may have walked into the…