🚀 go-pugleaf

Hello Fellow Scouters!

I guess this is where I formally introduce myself to the Rec. Scouting
people....before I do that, I wish to thank those that have sent me
copies of postings from the list while I was at Eastern Kentucky
University (where we have NO access to INTERNET) and those that
allowed me to host onto their accounts at Western Kentucky University
this fall so that I can make occasional postings (to individuals,
because I did not have NEWS privs until past Friday).  I am starting
to learn how to use NEWS here, so please excuse me if I "faux-pas"
sometime. 

My name is Mike Walton.  In my brief Scouting career, I have served as
a Scoutmaster for three different Troops; Coach of one of the nation's first
non-Mormon Varsity Teams; and as Advisor for four different Exploring
Posts.  I have served on nine local District Committees, seven Council
Committees, two Area and two Regional Committees, and two National
Committees all before I turned 30 years old.  I have served as
Commissioner at the unit, district and Council level; as a member of
Exploring's national youth cabinet for three years; certified as a
national Exploring instructor and served three and one half years as a
Paraprofessional Executive for the BSA, working with rural and urban
youth.  I am an longtime public speaker, willing to go anyplace
anytime to speak to anyone on the Scouting movement and the programs
of the BSA.  I am the guy that some of you mentioned that has every
possible square knot (this is NOT true, I assure you!) (*broad smile*)
on his uniforms and looks more like a Russian General (I likened it to
Oliver North, thank you!) than a Scouter. 

I am 33 years old. I am black (and I prefer that to
"African-American").  I have my OWN opinions on what Scouting is and
how it should go and how it has missed the mark...and those opinions
are DIFFERENT than those that I publically express to Scouting groups
and other publics as a Scouter.  

I am a parent, a divorced father of three young hope-to-be Scouts: a
daughter 8; two sons, 6 and 4. Their mother will NOT let them become
Scouts, a predictament that I thought I would never see.  They live
with their mother across the state from where I am living presently. 

I am hopeful that the BSA will somehow find me and give me a chance to
serve as a fulltime executive. I am waiting for that opportunity but
in the meantime, am waiting for the chance to once again serve
Scouting in any way I can. 

Let's see....I think that you guys spend too much time running down
each other and the general Scouting program.  I have been monitoring
the discussions here for the past couple of years and man, you guys
are really terrible about letting each other have their say and let it
go at that.  Yeah, yeah...I can see the point of view of Dominick (we
have talked a lot over the past months) as well as the point of view
of others that don't think he's right.  But you guys (and girls) don't
just let the personal points stand..you got to go back and stab at it
and stab it until not only its dead, but if someone else has a
similiar opinion (or you merely *think* that that what's they're
thinking) you got your "knives" ready for them too!

I thought the entire intent of this discussion list is to talk and
dissect the Scouting programs...see what makes them tick, to support
and address concerns from each other and to offer and receive help
with problems and concerns you have as a Scouting leader...not to
destroy personal psyches in an attempt to demostrate your own personal
viewpoint!

Therefore, my postings to the listing here will be of what a
professional (if one was a member of the list) would say...and would
offer as help, based on 26+ years of Scouting experience on many, many
levels.  I will NOT get into personal fights here over personal
issues. As I stated before, I *do* have my own PERSONAL feelings on
many of them issues, will express them, and those feelings are not the
BSA's...just mine. 

Another thing that you better get used to....long postings!  I don't
just give a glib "yeah, that's right" answer. When I was growing up,
my father would not just tell me why I don't need to do those things,
but he also illustrated the reason why not. I understood better than a
simple "you can't do it!". I am like this in person, as many of you
know.  I do understand that several people get this in pieces, so I
will attempt to be brief where it needs to be. 

Finally, and this is addressed to those that receive this overseas.  I
know a lot about the German and British Scouting programs, have worked
with them and have received awards from the DPSG and the British
Scouts of the Rhine for my leadership in getting their programs
intertwined with those of the BSA's Transatlantic Council.  But I
don't know everything, and I look to your postings to help educate me.
So, please, take some time and explain terms that may be unfamiliar to
me and my fellow American Scouters; and likewise, as I did with the
Project COPE posting, I and others will try to explain our screwy
Scouting programs and why we do what we do here to you. 

I am looking FORWARD to the postings here, will read and comment on
whatever's here, and will accept your critisms as well as your pats
on the back for whatever I say here.  The bottom line (and as a Army
Officer, I failed to provide that at the top of the posting..sorry!)
is that I am here as an additional resource for you and your units. I
will tell you stuff you don't want to hear as well as my own personal
reasons and explainations.  You can take them or leave them, for all I
care.  But I do this to better the program that I love with most of my
heart, that I care about deeply, that I disagree with on several
points, and that I hope to see my sons and daughter get the best of
someday. 

I have no other reason for being here. Guten Morgen, liebe Pfadfinne
und freude!!  (good morning, dear Scouters and friends). 

Settummanque!   <- I'll explain that some other time...)  (*smile*)

Mike Walton    (WALTOML@WKUVX1.bitnet)
Friend and BSA Scouter
Greenwood, Kentucky