Jack gets inducted into OA September 23, 2009
Posted by irisia in jack, jack accomplishments, jack boy scouts, Jack community service, Jack leadership.1 comment so far
Last weekend Jack went with several other boys from the troop for his OA “ordeal”. I get the sense that they mystery surrounding the term ordeal is that way for a reason. Suffice it to say that he said they did LOTS of service and ate what he termed “scant” amounts of food – the worst of which was a lunch that consisted of 2 pieces of bread and one piece of bologna. He came home with his OA sash and proudly wore it to his next meeting.
Jack volunteers 45 hours at Council Cub Scout Camp June 22, 2009
Posted by irisia in jack, jack boy scouts, Jack community service, Jack leadership.Tags: Volunteering cut scouts
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Jack volunteers 45 hours at Council Cub Scout Camp
pictures coming
Jack volunteers 2.5 hours at the Memorial Day celebration May 31, 2009
Posted by irisia in jack, jack boy scouts, Jack community service.Tags: boy scout volunteer opportunity, boy scouts
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The town tried a new Memorial Day celebration this year. They had an event in town with a band, the Legion, food, and family fun. It did rain all day but the turnout was not bad. I guess rain is to be expected in the Spring. We received an email in the morning that they really still needed volunteers to help serve BBQ. I really liked this double sense of giving back. We have a great vendor partner who makes BBQ. He has military background and he always seems to offer to make/sell his BBQ without accepting any profit at events that benefit the Legion or any other armed services related fundraisers around town. Well, today he asked the Scouts to help him serve BBQ at the Memorial Day event. He was not accepting any profit and the Scouts were asked just to help him serve. They gladly agreed but the volunteership was low. When we received the email that they really needed people from 11-1:30, I asked Jack to go. He initially didn’t want to go. He ALWAYS steps up to volunteer. I mentioned to Howard that Jack wasn’t inclined to go and I noted that I guessed Jack had earned the right to say no once or twice. But to both of their credit, Howard said, “Jack, why don’t you just go” and Jack said OK. He dressed up in full Class A’s. Howard dropped him off in the center of town on the way to the laundromat. Ug, yes, the washer is still broken. Howard told Jack to “scout” (pardon the pun) around and if he didn’t find the group or if they weren’t working, to just walk over to the laundromat. Jack didn’t show up so we assumed he was working. I went over to pick him up at 1:30 but couldn’t find him. At about 2PM, Jack arrived home on foot. He could have easily asked for a ride but he opted to walk home. He had a full cake in hand. Since the turnout wasn’t as good as expected, they had some cakes left over. I guess only Jack would walk 30 minutes home with a big cake in hand. Good priorities all around. I’m really proud of him – bubbling over.
Jack volunteers 10 hours over 2 days at the spring fair May 16, 2009
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As I use this blog to made a record of events and contributions the kids make so I don’t forget when it comes time to tally up service hours for a badge, Beta Club, etc, Jack put in 5 hours today selling hot dogs at the scout fundraiser.
It’s funny. Jack is a very typical oldest child. If he’s going to do anything, he wants to be out front, keeping busy, working. So, when I went to the booth as he was 4 hours into it, I was not surprised to see him standing at the front of the booth taking money and calling to the back for hot dogs with this condiment or that condiment. But, what was funny was seeing the new scouts – who had just bridged over – wearing the walking hot dog banner sign. Jack used to ALWAYS do that. So, when I saw them, I was walking with Howard and asked them if that was the scouts form of hazing. He said that the scouts actually fight over wearing the sign and taking hot dog orders throughout the fair area. I guess, being an introvert, that I would find that hard to understand. What would seem like a punishment to me is a privilege to someone else. Go figure.
Here is a picture of he and his friend out on the roof the week before.
Jack works 6 hours on a service project March 15, 2009
Posted by irisia in jack, jack boy scouts, Jack community service.Tags: 10-hr service project, 8-hr service project, attend 8-hr service project, boy scout service project, oldest boy, service project in the rain, treating an oldest child differently
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Yesterday Jack was supposed to work at a service project. It was one of those times I really debated if I made the right decision. It was raining and the service project was supposed to be outside. The leader who was running it has a lot of military experience and is very zealous. He likes to think the boys can tough things out and would not be the one to cancel an outdoor service project because of rain. To make it worse, it was supposed to be 10 hours. But, Jack’s good friend’s father is a leader and he was taking his son to the service event. So I felt that if Mike was willing to take his son, and they were all going together, then I would let him go. But all day I worried that he would come home sick and we would pay for a week for making a foolish decision.
It’s funny about how I make different decisions because Jack is my oldest child. I guess I am as bad as the zealous leader. If it were Matt or Kate, I would never have let them go. But I do want him to be tough and brave and more like a man.
The length of the service project was supposed to be really long. It was supposed to be an 8-hr project but it was going to be extended to 10 hours because two of the boys needed some extra service hours. I’m into working really hard, especially on service, and I was so proud of him that he was willing to do it. This was the first time he complained about service. He always jumps right in but even he thought 10 hours was crazy.
So they had an interesting discussion about a particular scout advancement requirement to “attend an 8-hr service project”. Jack debated with the boys that the requirement translated into working the whole 8-hour project. The other boys debated that they just needed to “attend” and work a couple hours – and if they needed 8 hours, they could work those another day. I’m not sure if this is something that is up to the discretion of the leader. But it seemed to me that the interpretation of this requirement that has the most integrity would be to work an 8-hr day. I was proud of Jack that he interpreted the requirement that way.
But, after it was all said and done, the group they were partnering was sponsoring an event that almost nobody showed up for so they ended up wrapping up after 6 hours.
Jack volunteers 8 hours and Kate volunteers 5 at the BBQ sale February 9, 2009
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The boy scouts had the annual BBQ sale fundraiser. Jack volunteered 8 hours over the span of 2 days. But, lil’ Kate volunteered for 5 hours!! Really she was just going with Howard since I had to go out of town. But, what a trooper for an 8-yr old to hang out at a fund-raiser for 5 hours straight. I hope she gets the same bug for community service.
Jack volunteers 6 hours at the BBQ sale January 29, 2009
Posted by irisia in jack, jack boy scouts, Jack community service.Tags: kids community service
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I’m at our national sales meeting and I’m having a great chance to not only talk to our franchise owners about business but to talk to them about fun and family. I was talking to one of our brand new franchise owners who is only 23. I asked him if he and his wife might have kids some day. He said he has a lot of thoughts and questions before they make their decision. One of the questions was how do you ground children when kids these days seem to have so much compared to what a lot of us had when we were kids. I admitted that although we are SO far from comfortable financially, that we still spoil our kids in comparison to when Howard and I were kids. If the kids need gym shorts for school, we send them with money the next day. If they’ve had a growth spurt and need a couple new outfits, we go out and get them the next weekend. When I was young, each of these purchases would have been planned – and that was more the mode at that time. I generally received one new outfit as a back-to-school outfit and the rest of the year, I leaned on hand-me-downs and clothing I bought myself as soon as I could get jobs.
But, back to the subject at hand. What we try to do is introduce the kids to as much commuity service opportunities as possible. We want them to not only go tit-for-tat for what they’re given but to begin to truly love giving ther time and energy as much as possible.
Jack seems to truly love giving his time and this 6 hours helped him meet his rank advancement goals for boy scouts.
More boy scout service hours for Jack November 8, 2008
Posted by irisia in jack, jack boy scouts, Jack community service.Tags: boy scout service hours, boy scouts, eagle project
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Jack and I walked today for probably about 4-5 miles. It was a great walk. The weather was absolutely gorgeous and we had good conversation. It was really effortless with the exception of the fact that my quads ached just a little bit from the cheer practice jumps last Thursday. On our way back we decided to take a walk through the museum driveway for our trip back. We noticed a couple trucks by the third trail and saw that they were working on the wheelchair ramp eagle project for the bridge. The scout said he was excited Jack showed up on time but we didn’t even know about it. So, Jack put on some work clothes and went back for 5 hours. He said they went over and got 3 pizzas for 4 boys. Yikes! I guess they compensated for the calories they lost hauling stones and concrete mortar.
Jack gets another letter of thanks for volunteering October 30, 2008
Posted by irisia in jack, jack boy scouts, Jack community service.Tags: boy scouts, volunteering
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The other night at the court of honor, Jack and JP were asked to come up to the front. They both had no idea why and I think for a moment it made them nervous. They both were thanked and recognized for their unsolicited volunteering at the cub camp out. Another very nice letter was read that had been sent my the cubmaster after their campout. Here it is:
I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you how proud we were of two of your young men from the Troop. the Pack had a camping trip this past weekend at the Museum. While we were setting up camp, JP and Jack walked over to the museum from their neighborhood. They asked if it was okay for them to camp with us. We were glad to have their presence since this was our first camping trip for the year and we had a lot of beginners. During the weekend JP and Jack organized activities with the kids, helped teach the Web2′s fire starting and rope tieing, helped in the kitchen with cooking and clean-up, demonstrated a proper flag lowering ceremony, cheerfully did a skit for our campfire, and helped break camp and load our trailer. They also participated in our 2-hour service project for the museum that involved clearing the trails and lining the garden path with rocks. They both really stepped up and demonstrated leadership skills to our young boys and the boys looked up to them. Our leaders, as well as our parents, were very impressed. We were fortunate to have JP and Jack participate in our weekend, especially since they volunteered to be there without having to be asked. The respectfulness and service of Scouts like JP and Jack is a testament to the success of the Troop leadership. Thanks for letting us borrow your Scouts this weekend.
Jack helps the pack September 29, 2008
Posted by irisia in jack, jack boy scouts, Jack community service.Tags: boy scouts, camping, pack, volunteering
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I know it’s gloating and boastful to brag about my children but I’m just so damn proud of Jack. Saturday he went over to help the pack of young boy scouts who were having a major camping and training day. He stayed all day, trained the kids and ended up camping out and helping with cooking, etc. Here’s a letter one of the leaders sent. After that, he went over for 1.5 hours and helped unload pumpkins from a truck, volunteering again.
Good morning, Steve.
I just wanted to drop you a note and let you know about the exemplary service of a few of your scouts this past weekend. Our Cub Scouts were camping at the Museum when Jack Steele and JP took it upon themselves to show up, in uniform, and ask how they could help then later asked if they could camp with us, too. They helped prepare meals, taught knot tying and shelter making skills to the Webelo 2′s, coordinated a flag football game during free time, assisted with our service project and in general served as great representatives of the Troop to the younger cub scouts. Many parents and leaders were impressed and pleased with their initiative. TA also joined us for a few hours on Saturday at my request to help teach knot tying and fire safety skills to the Webelo 2′s.
The Pack was very thankful to have the older scouts there and wanted to pass the good news of their service along to you.
Best Regards,
…
