Philmont 2024

  Style notes 2024: Shorts are ok on men. Neckwear: bolos are out, neckers are in with 'friendship knots' at the bottom.  Look it up.  Bling and awards and knots worn only as appropriate. Shoulder tabs are sometimes not worn for the "mindset" of horizontal sensitivity.  Sorrels hasn't worn them for a few years.  And undershirts.  No matter how hot.

  Videos!  This menu is worth the click. https://scouting.webdamdb.com/bp/#/folder/930030/ The best of these to show (above photo) potential recruits:     https://scouting.webdamdb.com/bp/#/folder/13252664/158098156 In commissioner work, Commissioner Tools are highly touted here as a resource to keep track of things.  In our particular council, commissioners have grown out of the habit of using them.  Because the metrics for measurement of success are changing, I really want to wait a bit before I push these.   

  Open floor Q & A is a major part of what happened this week.  Some of that is the general style of the event, but the top leadership uses it as a signal of the two way communication that is needed in the scouting world where so much is changing.  The players here this week: Scott Sorrels - National commissioner, former lawyer, always in uniform, relaxed ethos.   "I love Q and A"  Scott loves to talk about the research that shows that scouting does not really have a bad reputation, but often has no reputation at all.  In general, though, over 80% of the general population has a positive view of the movement. Roger Krone - National CEO.  Some scouting experience but known for being CEO of large corporations.  Lots of energy and vision.  Out front on rebranding and new vision. Larry Chase - Quiet commissioner type in charge of national unit service team nationally.  Introvert affect. For me, there were FIVE different sections in which this happened.  They usually went ove

  Smallish religious services are featured at Philmont most days.  They are typically wonderfully generic and don't last long at all.  The ones I have attended had no singing or prayers and ended with not a benediction, but with "Are there any questions?"  I am sorely tempted to use this ending back at my congregation, but not sure what I would get.   Quite apart from the vanilla chapel presentations are the spiritual issues being here raises in me.  Insignia.   There are plenty of people with many rows of award knots and lots of badges and pins and special "neckers" (what we used to call neckerchiefs).  I arrived with two uniforms, one fairly plain without much fanfare and one with the whole shebang.  Context is everything in how we present ourselves, but still.  For me, humility is a struggle and I am constantly challenged here to take a deep breath and NOT top the last story or even brag about my great kids.  A part of this studied humility is choosing which

  Scouting is full of words.  We have official mottos, slogans, laws, and an oath. This is never more true than in the very practical commissioner corps.  Commissioners have had various roles over time but have generally been connected to helping units meet their goals and standards.  Some of the phrases of commissioning are about the job description, sometimes called the culture.  At the moment, this is Be the Heart Build Relationships Change Lives But there are other similar ones in play, sometimes called Priorities, but still job descriptions: Be the single, best resource Deliver great, SAFE programs (SAFE is another acronym) Enable Significant, sustainable growth As for strategies, we have Impact, Partnership, Communication Assess, Plan, Act While here, I found a pen with a previous incarnation of the commissioner job description: Support Growth Through JTE (another acronym) Contact Units Linking Unit Needs to Unit Resources Supports Timely Charter Renewal Other more informal sloga

  Saturday, June 8 Arrived yesterday at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico for a scouting commissioners conference.  Met the gang who arrive early for all things last night.  These are particularly extraverted people, so I fit right in.  Snuck away for a great cigar after dinner last night in the only tiny area in which it is tolerated, but well worth it.  The Training Center, which is somewhat distinct from the area where the backcountry hikers gather, is designed for adults and their families.  This year the Commissioner week is very well attended with over 298 registrations.  Much higher than previous years and there is some excitement and a bit of stress about this from the staff. Learnings:   Value of “North Star Award” which is a prestigious medal for non-scouters who make big contributions to the program in some way.   Vast differences in how councils do training for commissioners.  Saw Scott Sorrels, the national commissioner, and his wife in the dining hall.  I have meals with