Scouting, Volume 70, Number 4, September 1982 Page: 11
82, E1-E24, [16] p. : ill. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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The value of voluntarism
The dollar value of time volunteered by
Americans is now estimated at a record-
high $64.5 billion a year.
This amount, computed by Indepen-
dent Sector and based on findings from a
Gallup Survey commissioned in 1981,
includes the number of persons involved
in volunteer activity, the hours of volun-
teering done per year, and the dollar value
of the hours by education level [of the
volunteer].
The resulting total of $64.5 billion is 50
percent higher than the amount in-
dividuals contribute in actual dollars to
the causes of their choice. In 1980, for
example, giving by individuals was $40
billion. Thus, the combination of con-
tributed time and dollars by individuals
was approximately $105 billion.
The Scouter
Chicago A rea Council
Reassuring confidence
A recent summer vacation gave me the
opportunity to go sailing with my
15-year-old son, Tim, who had earned
Small-Boat Sailing merit badge at Boy
Scout camp. We were sailing on Lake
Michigan within view of the magnificent
Straits of Mackinaw Bridge when, while
trying to complete a reverse turn, I man-
aged to dump both of us into the lake far
from shore.
In a daze of sorts I realized we were
nearly out of sight of the beach and the
boat was completely upside down. As the
final portions of my life flashed before my
eyes a calm and very firm voice said to me,
"Keep both hands on the boat at all
times."
It took me a moment to realize the voice
belonged to my Boy Scout son who was
reciting the procedure he had learned to
get his merit badge. I immediately began
Scouting September 1982
to feel better just from the sound of con-
fidence in his voice, and I gave him my
complete attention while waiting for his
next instructions. Tim went through the
necessary steps to right the boat, and soon
we were once again enjoying our sailing.
Since that time the byword in our family
during an emergency or crisis is, "Keep
both hands on the boat at all times."
Richard Wheeler
Scoutmaster, Troop 362
Marshall, Mich.
Trustworthy transportation
Several years ago I accompanied several
Scouts to the Sugar Bowl football game
where they served as ushers. Unfortu-
nately I left the lights on when we parked
the car, and when we returned after the
game, the battery was dead.
A gentleman who lived on the street
where we parked noticed our predicament
and invited us in to use his phone. It was
late New Year's night, and getting a tow
truck was almost impossible. Noting our
problem the gentleman surprised us all by
saying, "Why don't you borrow my wife's
car and take these Scouts home? I used to
be a Scout, and I know you can be trusted.
You can return the car in the morning."
Needless to say, several Scouts were
quite impressed that evening with their
reputation for being trustworthy.
Marvin Kiel
New Orleans
Four essential points
"One can say that there are four essential
points to look for in a leader:
(1) "He must have his whole-hearted
faith and belief in the Tightness of his
cause so that his followers catch the con-
tagion and share his fanaticism.
(2) "He must have a cheery, energetic
personality with sympathy and friendly
understanding of his followers, and so
secure their enthusiastic cooperation.
(3) "He must have confidence in himself
through knowing his job. He thus gains the
confidence of his men.
(4) "What he preaches he must practice,
thereby giving personal example."
Robert S.S. Baden-Powell
Founder of Scouting
A force of habit
It has long been a tradition in our troop to
end each meeting with the Scout benedic-
tion. Until the other day, I had often
wondered if it still had any meaning to the
boys.
At the start of high school band practice
last week, one of our Scouts, a drum
player, was asked to lead the Lord's
Prayer. Everyone stood, all heads were
bowed, and the young Scout started, "And
now, may the great Master ..." Two other
members of the band, also Scouts, quickly
joined in.
Needless to say, our guys were a little
embarrassed, but when called upon to
explain the Scoutmaster's Benediction,
they were proud to be able to tell their
fellow band members what it meant and
where they learned it. This is certainly one
tradition we'll keep alive in our troop.
Ross L. Mecham Jr.
Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop 35
Quitman, Miss.
Gone fishing
Scoutmasters attending the roundtable
meeting were discussing the May program
theme, "Look Out Below," when the
question came up, "Where's the best fish-
ing spot in the state of Minnesota?" Flor-
ian Kauth, Scoutmaster of Troop 119 gave
this answer:
"The best fishing spot in Minnesota is
where everyone in the group is having a
good time. It is the companionship that
exists between father and son or the Scout
leader and his Scouts.
"It doesn't matter whether you are
sitting on the shore or out in a boat and
perhaps not even wetting a line—just
talking. It is the bond between the persons
at that time and place. Each is at ease. The
best part is not in catching the fish, but the
companionship and understanding that
exists.
"Isn't this what Scouting is all about? A
man and a boy each giving—each enjoy-
ing the other's company and the Scout
learning, without knowing it, a little more
how to live in this complex society.
"The best fishing spot in Minnesota? It's
the place where man and youth begin to
understand one another."
A Ibert C. Holler
Roundtable commissioner
Minneapolis
And it walks on two legs
Recently I was invited to give a demon-
stration and talk about tree bark craft to
our local Weeblys Patrol. Before I began I
was reminded that these were younger
boys.
When I asked, "How does a birchbark
basket hold water?" (You use spruce gum
to seal the sewing holes.) the only answer,
faint and trembling, was, "With its little
arms?"
G.R. Osborne
Kelso, Wash.
Do you have a Scouting story—serious or
humorous—to share with our readers? If so,
send it to Scouting magazine, 1325 Walnut
Hill Ln., Irving, Tex. 75062-1296. If we use
it, we will pay you $10. ■
11
ou outing teici
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Boy Scouts of America. Scouting, Volume 70, Number 4, September 1982, periodical, September 1982; Irving, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth353590/m1/13/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Museum.