Scoutmaster Podcast 143

Trivia contest announced — listeners must post on the Scoutmaster Blog Facebook page which country in the World Organization of the Scouting Movement has the most Scouts; prize is a copy of 'The Scoutmaster's Other Handbook' by Mark Rase.

Clarke writes from the middle of Hurricane Sandy. Listener mail from Paul Kemp (Troop 720, thank you note), Ray Britton (Troop 42, Oak Ridge TN — reflections on leadership development vs. training and the Groundhog Day cycle of new Scouts), and Dan Jones (discovered the blog, flagged broken archive links). Clarke also mentions participating in a Google Plus Hangout on starting Boy Scout troops.

Second installment of youth leader development: the critical role of adult attitudes, capacity for adversity and uncertainty, protecting the developmental environment, and the reflective (vs. directive) approach to mentoring youth leaders.

Anonymous new Scoutmaster asks how to handle an adult volunteer who yells at and belittles Scouts. Clarke explains that removing volunteers is the authority of the committee chair and chartered organization representative — not the Scoutmaster — and calls the behavior bullying that must stop immediately. A follow-up email reports the volunteer apologized and the committee chair addressed the issue.