Subject: Scoutmaster's Minute
From: alan houser <houser@CEDR.LBL.GOV>
Here is something I came across that you may find interesting and useful. I have seen several versions of it, all basically the same, but this one has a credit line.
Alan Houser
Scoutmaster, Berkeley Troop 24
We live in an area where geese are very common. We see them coming in the Fall and leaving early Spring. Their migration is an awesome sight. There is an interdependence in the way geese function.
Date: Mon, 21 Mar 1994 19:59:35 -0600
From: Peter Van Houten <peterva@QM.WV.TEK.COM>
Subject: Scoutmaster's Minute
Here's a story I heard this weekend that would make a great SM's minute! It was told verbally to me so I may not have quoted it perfectly. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! It was a great object lesson for my son who is going into Webelos.
In Scouting,
Peter Van Houten
Upon graduation from college, a few years back, a young man received a gift from his older brother. It was a shiny brand new Packard. The car of his dreams! One morning as he approached the car he saw a young lad of 12 peering through the windows into the car! Obviously enthralled with the car, the lad didn't hear the young man approach. "Is this your car?" the lad asked when he noticed the man. "Yes it is!" the man responded! "Wow! This is a nice car!" remarked the lad, "How much did it cost?" "I don't know!" answered the man. "It's your car, but you don't know how much it cost?" exclaimed the young lad. "No," stated the man, "you see, my brother bought it for me!" "I wish...I wish...I wish" stuttered the lad. The man thinking he's going to say, I wish I had a car like this. "I wish I was like that brother!" finished the boy!
Amazed at the lads response he offered to drive him around the block! As they were driving, the lad requested if he would drive him home. Thinking he wanted to show off that he was riding in a new car to his friends, the man agreed! They drove more than a few blocks to where the boy lived and as he turned onto the street the man noticed that it wasn't the best kept neighborhood! The houses were dirty and broken. He pulled up in front of the boys house. "Please wait," the boy yelled as he ran into the house! "Oh, he's probably going to get his family to show off the new car", the man thought to himself.
The door to the front door opened and out came the young lad. In his arms he carried a small boy, crippled from birth! The lad brought him out to the car, and stated as he hugged his younger brother, "See, just like I told you! It's a brand new car! And someday, I'm going to buy you one just like it!"
How unselfish this boy was....to be the kind of brother that looked after other first!
What kind of Scout are you...Are you like the older brother!
Peter Van Houten / E-Mail:
peter_van_houten.techsupport@qm.wv.tek.com
Peter Van Houten
Snail Mail: 7225 SW 160th
Beaverton, OR 97007
E-Mail: peter_van_houten.techsupport@qm.wv.tek.com
Fidonet: Peter_VanHouten@p15.f54.n105.z1.fidonet.org
A friend of ours was walking down a deserted Mexican beach at sunset. As he walked along, he began to see another man in the distance. As he grew nearer, he noticed that the local native kept leaning down, picking something up and throwing it out into the water. Time and again he kept hurling things out into the ocean.
As our friend approached even closer, he noticed that the man was picking up starfish that had been washed up on the beach and, one at a time, he was throwing them back into the water.
Our friend was puzzled. He approached the man and said, "Good evening, friend. I was wondering what you are doing."
"I'm throwing these starfish back into the ocean. You see, it's low tide right now and all of these starfish have been washed up onto the shore. If I don't throw them back into the sea, they'll die up here from lack of oxygen."
"I understand," my friend replied, "but there must be thousands of starfish on this beach. You can't possibly get to all of them. There are simply too many. And don't you realize this is probably happening on hundreds of beaches all up and down this coast. Can't you see that you can't possibly make a difference?"
The local native smiled, bent down and picked up yet another starfish, and as he threw it back into the sea, he replied, "Made a difference to that one!"
There are hundreds of thousand (millions) of boys around the world who can benefit from the Scouting experience. We can't reach them all, but even within our own groups we see our task overwhelming, not making any difference. However, to that one boy in your den, pack, troop or post who looked to you as a role model, a friend, an inspiration (even if he never told you) you've made a difference!
You Do Make A Difference -- in making our world a better place to be....One Boy At A Time!
Date: Mon, 6 Jun 1994 18:42:11 -0500
From: Ian Ford <ianford@DIRCON.CO.UK>
Subject: D-Day Scouter's Minute
The following is based on
" The Left Handshake - The Boy Scout Movement During the War 1939 -45 "
by H St. George Saunders, [ Collins, London 1949] pp139 - 140
No better example of how French Scouts helped their country during the occupation can be found than in the story of Jean Pierre Comboudon, a 16 year-old Rover Scout from Issy les Moulineaux, a suburb of Paris. After the invasion the township was cut off by fighting between allied and occupying troops. Food was not getting through, and there was general disorganisation of services everywhere.
Jean Pierre persuaded the Mayor to give him a free hand. Equipped with two lorries, a small sum in cash and a motorcycle he went around local fields and farms and collected some ten tons of vegetables. Next he ventured further afield into Oise, which was still the scene of actions between the retreating Germans and Canadian forces. He and his companion collected some thirty tons of foodstuffs. On the way back to town he not only had to deal with a flat tyre, but also one of his lorries was hit during an air raid, and he had to put out the resulting fire. On the way he encountered two wounded passers-by, and drove them to the hospital. But the hospital was deserted, empty of staff and supplies. He went around the town collecting medical supplies and bedding and established the wounded in the hospital before continuing his journey back to Issy. Rations for 25,000 people were issued, which fed the inhabitants until the town was liberated by American forces on 26 June after a battle lasting three days. During this time Jean Pierre rescued wounded .
As if this was not enough, he penetrated a position held by 400 desperate SS troops, who were convinced that they would be slaughtered and determined to fight to the last. Jean Pierre managed to persuade them to surrender to the allies, and by so doing saved many lives on both sides.
The above is a paraphrase of the original. I occasionally persuade our Scoutmaster to lend me his Scoutmaster's Minute to try to introduce little bits of Scouting history to the troop, and I used this story last week at our meeting which fell between Memorial Day and the D-Day anniversary. Scouts from Transatlantic Council had recently returned from Normandy where we visited the Pointe de Hoc and the American Cemetery. One Scout in T401 is dual French / American and his grandmother visited us in camp and told the boys how she had been a little girl during the D-Day Landings and had watched the American forces come ashore. Her family had been involved with the Resistance, and she herself had previously been interned in a concentration camp. Clearly this story had particular significance for the Scouts who had actually visited Omaha Beach a few weeks previously, but I hope that it might be usefull to <all> you Scouters and your troops.
Ian Ford
Troop 401 BSA
(American School in London)
Date: Wed, 16 Nov 1994 22:30:40 -0600
From: Bob Condon <rec@EPOCH.COM>
Subject: Re: Need Scoutmaster's Minute for Eagle Court
To: Multiple recipients of list SCOUTS-L
One of my ASMs had a good one last night which may not be profound enough for an Eagle court but great for a SM minute.
Have everyone stand in the audience.
Have everyone cross their arms.
Have them look which arm is on top.
Ask them to re-cross their arms so that the "other" arm is on top.
Ask them what they feel...
The response is typically "different, weird"
Ask "which way is CORRECT?, right on top or left on top?"
They may balk at the word CORRECT (which is good).
Ask "which way is WRONG" The answer typically is neither way is right nor wrong.. just different.
You now can tell them that each one of us is different.
If you can work with each other's difference, then you will make a difference in the world.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bob Condon Phone: (508)-435-1000 x 55634
SM Troop 1, Acton, Ma. Fax: (508)-497-7703
rec@epoch.com
Newsgroups: rec.scouting,can.scout-guide
From: bs872@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Henry Ian Ross)
Subject: Re: scoutmaster minute
Date: Wed, 4 Oct 1995 15:04:52 GMT
Brian Downing (brian@raven.cybercomm.net) writes:
> i have to give a scoutmaster minute at our trops court of honor the
> scoutmaster usally does this but he asked me to do it. if any one has a
> good story. with the theam of teamwork i would love to get a copy of it
> thanks
> brina
In Canada, we have a SCOUTERS FIVE:
from THE BEST OF THE LEADER and others...
"How can we determine the hour of dawn - when the night ends and the day begins?" the rabbi asked of his students.
"When, from a distance, you can distinguish between a dog and a sheep?" one of his students suggested.
"No" the rabbi answered.
"Is it when you can distinguish between a fig tree and a grapevine?" another student asked.
"No" he replied.
"Please tell us the answer, then" said the students.
"It is when you can look into the face of a human being and have enough light to recognize in him your brother," the wise teacher replied.
"Until then, it is night, and the darkness is still with us."
A young Indian brave was busy at work carving a canoe out of a log.
As he worked, members of the tribe passed by. Everybody had a piece of advice to offer the young man.
"I think you are making your canoe too wide," one of them said. The young brave, wishing to show respect for the advice of an elder, narrowed down the canoe.
A little later, another warrior stopped by. "I'm afraid you are cutting the stern too full," he said. Again, the young brave listened to his elder and cut down the stern.
Very soon, yet another member of the tribe stopped, watched awhile, then said, "The bow is too sheer." The young brave accepted this advice as well and changed the line of the bow.
Finally the canoe was complete and the young brave launched it. As soon as it hit the water, it capsized. Laboriously he hauled it back onto the beach. Then he found another log and began to work anew.
Very soon, a member of his tribe stopped by to offer some advice, but this time the young brave was ready.
"See that canoe over there?" he asked, pointing to the useless craft on the beach. "That is everybody's canoe." Then he nodded at the work in progress. "This one," he said, "is my canoe"
Once a Traveller and a Tracker set out to explore the world together. As they wound their way through the wilderness, the Traveller was amazed at the Tracker's habit of pausing several times a day to pray.
"Why do you pray to something intangible?" the Traveller asked. "How do you know there is a God?"
Now the Tracker was very skilled in noticing things and, through the years, had gained much insight reading the smallest signs. And he answered the Traveller this way:
"I know there is a God when I see the leaves turning yellow. I know there is a God when a trout jumps at a fly, and when grass waves in the dry wind. I know there is a God when clouds shade my head and the stars wink at night."
"So you see," said the Tracker, "I know there is a God, for I can see his footprints throughout the Universe."
[found on the wall of an old Inn in Lancashire, England]
Give us, Lord, a bit o' sun
a bit o' work and a bit o' fun;
give us all in th' struggle and splutter
our daily bread and a bit o' butter.
Give us health, our keep to make
an' a bit to spare for poor folks sake;
give us sense, for we're some of us duffers,
an' a heart to feel for all that suffers.
Give us, too, a bit of a song,
an' a tale, and a book to help us along,
an' give us our share o' sorrow's lesson
that we may prove how grief's a blessing.
Give us, Lord, a chance to be
our goodly best, brave, wise and free,
our goodly best for ourselves and others
till all men learn to live as brothers.
Amen.
Wood and water ... wind and tree
Wisdom ... Strength ... and courtesy
Scouting's spirit go with thee.
Useful in an open setting Scouts Own, use surroundings to fill out the lines, take your time and encourage the Scouts to look about themselves.
We look about us ... and see the grass and trees ...
We look about us ... and see the blue sky and crystal waters ...
We look about us ... and see the birds and animals that live in this world with us ...
We look about us ... and see the camp where we have had so much fun
....
We look about us ... and see our brothers (and sisters) in Scouting ...
We look about us ... and see God's Hand everywhere ...
We look about us ...
O Great Spirit!
Whose voice I hear in the wind, whose breath gives life to the world ... hear me.
I come to you as one of your many children ... I am small and weak, I need your strength and your wisdom.
May I walk in beauty.
Make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset, make my hands respect the things that you have made, and my ears sharp to hear your voice.
Make me wise, so that I may know the things You have taught your children, in every leaf and rock.
Make me strong, not to be suspect to my brothers but to be able to fight my greatest enemy ... myself.
Make me ever ready to come to You with straight eyes, so, that when life fades, as the faded sunset, my spirit will come to You without shame.
Speak to people - there is nothing as nice as a cheerful word of greeting.
Smile at people - it takes sixty-five muscles to frown, only fifteen to smile.
Call people by name - the sweetest music to anyone's ear is the sound of their own name.
Be friendly and helpful - if you would have friends, be friendly.
Be cordial - speak and act as if everything that you do is a real pleasure.
Be genuinely interested in people - you can like everybody if you try.
Be generous with praise - cautious with criticism.
Be considerate of the feelings of others - it will be appreciated.
Be thoughtful of the opinions of others - there are three sides to a controversy; yours,
the other person's, and the right one.
Be alert to give service - what counts most in life is what we do for others.
When you walk through the woods,
I want you to see ...
The floating gold of a bumble bee,
Rivers of sunlight, pools of shade
Toadstools sleeping in mossy jade
A cobweb net with a catch of dew
Treetop cones against the blue
Dancing flowers, bright green flies
And birds that put rainbows in your eyes.
When you walk through the woods,
I want you to hear ...
A million sounds in your eager ear
The scratch and rattle of wind-tossed trees
The rush as a timid chipmunk flees
The cry of a hawk from the distant sky
The purr of leaves when a breeze rolls by
Brooks that mumble, stones that ring
And birds that teach your heart to sing.
When you walk through the woods,
I want you to feel ...
That no mere human could make this real
Could paint the throb of a bullerfly's wing
Could teach a wood thrush how to sing
Could create these wonders of earth and sky
There's something greater than you or I.
When you walk through the woods
and the birches nod
Please, meet a friend of mine named God.
Hope this proves useful,
Yours in Scouting
Scouter Ian
Scouter Ian Ross (VE3ARE)
First Collins Bay Sea Venturers
Kingston, Ontario
ROSS@KRDC.INT.ALCAN.CA
Date: Sun, 12 Nov 1995 21:48:07 -0800
From: Scott Drown <scottdd@HALCYON.COM>
Subject: A Scoutmaster's Minute
I have been looking about for Scoutmaster's Minutes and Steve Tobin's site has been alot of help. It is my feeling that the Minute is an important teaching tool and ending to a meeting. I gave the following a couple of weeks ago ad lib but wanted to share it. I hope you will feel it has merit. I called it:
Good Evening.
A few weeks ago the grandfather of one of the Scouts visited the Troop. He was a Scout himself during the Depression in the 1930s, about 60 years ago. It was a hard time for him and many others but he had good memories of Scouting. He watched the meeting and visited with the Scouts and joined in in our closing circle for the Scoutmaster's Minute. We then sang Scout Vespers as we always do.
His wife of 30 some odd years was with him and she noticed that the grandfather, who had not been involved in Scouting in years, still remembered the words and tune to the Scout Vespers and was able to sing with the Troop with no hesitation. He remarked to his wife afterwards that that simple song brought back all the memories. Memories of all the things he had done in Scouts, all the the fun he had had, all the valuable lessons he had learned in Scouts that later helped him. It also showed him that the traditions of Scouting were still steadfast after so many years.
Memories and traditions powerful things. Memories and tradiition are an important part to Scouting. It is important to recall for both Scouts and Scouters that what we build here in the Troop are memories - traditions. We build them between ourselves while following the Scout Oath and Law. They are the start of memories that will last us a lifetime.
So as you walk the Scouting trail remember the memories are what you build. Pledge yourself to build good memories, good memories of the fun you have had, good memories of the lessons you have learned.
As you leave tonight reflect on the memories and tradtions of Scouting that you yourself can carry forward to the betterment of all.
Good Night
Scott Drown
SM Troop 39, Maltby
Mt. Baker Council, Everett Wa.\
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 95 12:13:40 -1000
From: Bill Stewart <stewartw@newtrier.k12.il.us>
To: srtobin@skypoint.com
Subject: Your page is awesome!
I recently discovered the scouting Jump station and have been checking out a few things each day. Today I hit your page and enjoyed it very much. Here is a scoutmaster's minute I have used with some success:
Equipment needed: Flashlight, a paper grocery bag and darkness.
Consider the flashlight. Think how useful it is as we find our way along the trail at night or prepare to bed down in our tents.
Consider the batteries in our flashlight. If we keep them too long or use them too much eventually they loose their power and our light dims beyond usefulness.
Consider that if we have only one flashlight for a group of people, only the one person holding the light determines what we will see or what directon we will proceed. If we have many lights, we have many possibilities and choices to make. Also notice that if everyone holds his light high at the same time, the light fills an area larger than if everyone holds their light low. Notice how the group benefits from the light held high.
Consider what happens if we put our light inside a paper bag and turn it on. We can see what is inside the bag very well but can not see things outside the bag well at all bacause the bag cuts the light. Sometimes it is important to see inside the bag. sometimes it is important to see outside the bag.
The flashlight is like us, like people. We are most useful and helpful to others when we are outside the bag and in groups.
The batteries are like our beliefs and our ideas. Sometimes they need recharging or replacing inorder for the light to remain useful.
The bag represents some of the choices we make about sharing our selves with others.
How will you hold your light? How Long will your batteries last? How many bags do you bring along and is there anything worth finding inside?
Consider the flashlight.
From: mrprice@ix.netcom.com (Marlin Price )
Newsgroups: rec.scouting
Subject: Scoutmaster's Minute
Date: 27 Jun 1995 01:09:58 GMT
I heard this on the radio the other day and thought it would make a good Scoutmaster's Minute. Im not sure the geography is correct but the message is good. I would be interested in any other Scoutmaster Minute ideas.
In Israel, there are two major bodies of water. Both of these bodies of water are fed by the waters of the River Jordan.
One is the Sea of Galilee, which is full of fish, and is surrounded by lush vegetation and trees. It is a living body in every sense.
The other is the Dead Sea. There is nothing green there, there are no fish, and the sea is stagnant and dead.
The difference is that the Sea of Galilee overflows, for every gallon of water that flows into the sea, a gallon given up and is passed on downstream. It is constantly renewing itself, it gives as much as it takes.
The Dead Sea, on the other hand, because of its geography, only takes. It gives up nothing. The water there is never cleansed, it stagnates and dies. And everything depending on it dies also.
Some people say that there are two kinds of people in the world -- those that constantly give of themselves (who help other people at all times), and those that only take.
Those that only take Eat Well.
But those who give Sleep Well.
Yours in Scouting
Last edited: February 22, 2004
The NetWoods Virtual Campsite, Steve Tobin, Campmaster