PLC briefing 30 Dec 2005

I sent sometime discussing with the PLC.
Attendance:
SPL QJ
PL ZW
APL WW
APL WM

Absentee:
PL YH (Malaysia - grandma's ill)
PL JH (No reason)

(YH,
I hope your grandma is ok. There are only two major issues currently: 1. Recruitment and 2. River Rafting.

We discussed most of the stuffs using the previous as guidelines. SPL, PL and APL will have most materials. Do approach them.)

The year end is approaching. I really hope that the world will end peacefully. For the scouts, I will wish that the PLC are able to lead with pride, with efficiency and more importantly self awareness.

YK

Year 2006 Listings-Anticipation before the same issues occur again and again.

Currently year end is coming. Most of the year 2005's events are coming to an end.

Again, through reflections and forecasting in event...let's see whether we are able to improve in some areas, (we can comment on today's blog coming back to it again maybe half a year from now):

Events
--------
1a. Recruitment will be on the 14/01/2006.
1b. Water rafting team will be moving their items on the 14/01/2006.
This will be a classical issue of human resource problem.
I call for a meeting on the 29/12/2006, 3pm. Every TFSG in FJSS worthing his salt must come down, will come down, besides doing some cleaning. We will also discuss about the issue the Event 1a,1b. SPL may you allocate the people in a draft first?Who is going where:Water Rafting and Recruitment, Who is able to build structure for the Sec 1?Cook?

PL ZW, any idea in recruiting the scouts. What are the quotas?Yes I have the posters. Do you require anymore items?

APL WW, you say there is a suggestion for recruitment? What is it?Recruiting who?


2. Anyone who is in charge of the forth coming event?


3. Donation Draw and Jobweek. Why is it we are always getting lower and lower?How are we able to increase the revenue? How do we motivate our fellow brothers in getting more and more revenue? Is there any better method?Why are the brothers scouts not motivated? Why the money collected is always so messy? Can anyone be appointed to check the amount of money collected?Can we come out with a workflow in executing?Are the leaders able to lead?


4. Is there a better communication models? Can someone consolidate all the active scouts contact number (updated) and email into one file and everyone will have everyone's numbers?


5. Why do the teachers always have to wait for the passport? Can anyone see that by delaying, you are just delaying everyone's time? Why all the inconvienence for the others?


6. Punctuality of the PLCs.Was an issue. Is an issue. Is it going to be an issue in the year 2006?


7. Being responsible. I look at some scouts. Half way through, they are not able to substain. Why?

Of course, again I also question myself about whether these things have been done from my side. Yes, APL WW, thanks for your understanding that I am indeed attempting to be with you guys though workload is enormously high. I still would like to try harder if possible.

I will put this very bluntly, the most important asset of scouts will be the scouts. Eveyone counts. Despite our natural differences,eg: races, languages, blood types, age, ... this brotherhood in scouts will bond us.

BE PREPARED.

YK

Back from KL trip

The 3D2N trip has ended. What a KL trip!

The highlight of it would be our own and only Ms Sabrina and Perry-Stand-In. I must say that it was an eye popper!

It was very commnedable that Suba and Jinhui had volunteered the roles, idol of all idols.

Chenghao, from zhss is another fellow brother that I nust say have caught my attention, the way he sang, and the groove moves. But his dancers are not around siah...>Duh<

Thanks also for SPL QJ and PL Ah Hock for organizing when required.

First comes thought; then organization of that thought, into ideas and plans; then transformation of those plans into reality. The beginning, as you will observe, is in your imagination.~N.Hill

NPC

We have gotten silver. Maybe everyone should comment on it?
Think about it...
1) What have we done before the NPC, during the NPC?
2) What is the general feeling before the NPC, during the NPC?
3) What are the problems we faced before the NPC, during the NPC?
4) More importantly are the skills transferrable to the next year sec 1 and sec 2?
5) How should we be better?

Some of the visitors may thought getting a silver is easy.No, it's not. Considering our team, it's quite a feat. Well done.


"Pain is temporary, Pride is forever"
~ Scouter Lai

Thoughts

As mentioned during the briefing:" Aligned View".
What is that?
First why are we going for the competition? What is our objective? Then we asked ourselves what exactly have we been doing during this month? Individually, did we try hard enough?

Must all of us do these unnecessary distractions again and be distracted by all these squibbling? The reserves in the other schools view themselves as a necessary not a liability. Why is it from our team, we see it as a liability/sub? Why can't we see ourselves as a team?

If we always see ourselves as a bigger thing than the team, it will then be easy to predict the outcome of our NPC result. SPL and the rest of the PLs will spend the whole day infighting,complaining and doing basically nothing.Did they? Their common objective is clear, are you?

I urge all of us to keep that little thing called pride in check.

YK

There is no "I" in "TEAMWORK"
Teamwork is working together — even when apart.
A group becomes a team when each member is sure enough of himself and his contribution to praise the skills of the others.- Norman Shidle

Pain is temporary,Pride lasts forever

Just completed mine tenth iterations (This seemingly simple poster has taken 9 changes and almost 30 layers) on the poster. It may notl be accepted for the NPC, it will be slightly changed to be the poster for recruitment.

The poster incident taught me a number of things:
1. We will be able ot learn new things through assignment.

2. Things can be done (using the program) if there is a single-mindedness in doing it.

3. Time has to be spent (Upon calculation, I spent almost 34.3hrs in designing,testing.)

4. In case of time management, if I want to design, time in other areas has to be sacrificed.

5. Talk is cheap, see is deceiving and action is dear -)

6. Self assess is our greatest asset.

7. Learn through mistake.

"...for if there is a singlemindedness in doing the thing, determination in executing the thing,
the will to complete the thing,
that thing, in particular manifesting in any form,
will and must be completed."

Fox Scout Cheer

Fox Cheer
We come from the Scout Group Famous in West Area.
We come from the famous Flying Fox Group.

We fight for our glory, We Fight for our Victory.
We Fight for the Spirit never seen before.

Fox Group, Fox Group all the way.

We like it here, We like it here. We found ourselves a home, a home sweet home!
XXXXXXXXXXXXX

STAND UP (2 CLAPS)
BE PROUD (2 CLAPS)
SAY YOUR NAME (2 CLAPS)
OUT LOUD (2 CLAPS)
WE ARE FROM (2 CLAPS)
FOX GROUP (2 CLAPS)

MIGHTY MIGHTY FOX GROUP
UP THE SKY DOWN THE SEA
HIT AND STRIKE FOR VICTORY

XXXXXXXXXXXXX
[WHO ARE WHO ARE WHO ARE WE]
WE ARE WE ARE FOX GROUP
[WHO ARE WE]
FOX GROUP
[WHO ARE WE]
FOX GROUP
Ohhhhh…………
[FOX GROUP GE MA MA]
OLE OLE AH AH

XXXXXXXXXXXXX
[FOX GROUP GE MA MA]
OLE OLE AH AH
[SHOUT IT OUT]
FOX GROUP
[SHOUT IT OUT]
FOX GROUP
[SHOUT IT OUT]
OH YEAH….

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

[Cheer Leader]
Fox Group Solid
[All]
S O LID
Fox Group, Fox Group SOLID.

14/11/2005 NPC training blog

There are some miscommunication today. Some time is lost, some lesson is learnt:
1. Crossing of the poles have not been standardized.
2. Usage of saw to cut ...

PL JH, may you blog down the group cheer?
Thanks.

For All patrol members: "Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success."

For SPL: "Leaders aren't born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that's the price we'll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal."

Scouts keep up the motivation -)

11/11/05 NPC training blog

A colleague asks me what is the deal about NPC? To the sec 3 scouts, I believe you should know that the deal is that NPC is the "Mother of all camps". It is the National Patrol Camp where all scout unit pitch against all different units in all aspect as a scout: building, pitching and cooking.

But building, pitching and cooking are skill level issues. They are only about your own skill. The underlying but more important skill will be: unity, planning, coordination, support and will power.

I certainly hope that more scouts can give more support and align your views with SPL QJ.

Please take a look at the photos I have taken:
1. Diagonal lashing
2. Square lashing
3. Round lashing

http://www.4thtyldesley.co.uk/skills/lashings.htm

Please take a look at the illustrations presented by the uk scouts. Anything missing from our side?

Successful people I admire are comfortable in their own skin. They don't need to take themselves too seriously....but they take their professionalism very seriously indeed. ~ Elaine Canty

NPC Preparation 10/11/2005

The team is preparing the tower, at the time of blogging, Scouter Zhen Feng is around. After the afternoon, Venture Guo Yao will be coming down.

A couple of scout members are missing today. Understandly some are having remedial lessons, but they will be joining later. Notably of the MIA personnel involved will be JH. What happened? Any acounting to be done?

SPL, may you blog down todays event and comment? Thanks.

2005 PLC investiture hike

Congrats to all newly appointed APLs, PLs and SPL.
Guess the hike was a breeze,wasn't it? -)

Glad to see all of you have persevered through the whole process. Especially I have to mention Jinhui and Yonghock, despite the large load/mass ratio, they have without any external help, completed it.

One slight disappointment...where were the patrol members to witness that their APLs, PLs and SPL have completed the significant hike? SPL, what do you think?

Have added the 2005 investiture hike photos.
Will upload the actual investiure photos later.

YK

Stepping down

It has been quite a while since I last updated this blog. ;) Previous week, we were having some cooking in ZHSS. It was not a pretty scene. We had left much of a mess. It defintely caused much trouble to the teachers in ZHSS.

My young gentlemen, that was IRRESPONSIBLE. It will be kept in my mind. From the discussion that I had with SPL QJ and PL YH, obviously some group/s had left there. Of course, when such troubles occur, many will push around. Do remember this is a uniform group, we share and we grow together.

Then of course last week we had a hike, alas, I had to attend a settlement of an incident. I understand more sec one scouts did come for the meeting. Have this in mind, SPL and PL, we need to grow the junior scouts. Some formulation of interesting meetings must be carried out. The rule is that it all started with planning, planning and planning.

:)

YK

ULTBC Take 2

Went for the Unit Leader Basic Course.

Coming to think of it, there were numerous occasions that were unexpected. I was assigned to Group 7 (aka Quala Group). Our members consists of:
1.Vijay-Teacher (Unicorn)
2.Doreen-Teacher(Queenstown)
3.Kassidy-Teacher(Tampiness)
4.YK(me)-Teacher(Foxscout)
5.Greg-Med Student(HCJC)
6.Kenneth-NS(Tampiness)

The course has some intestesting events that I felt had let me gain some insight, for example, the camp development. During the lesson, we were told that how a camp should be developed, from reaching the site to the process of pitching the tent till securing the campsite and of course breaking the camp.

During the course, I took the opportunity to pitch a 6 men tent with Greg and 2 other campmates. Took almost 9mins. Under the supervision of Greg, I finally am able to differentiate the different and tie 11~15 knots and lashings or hinges. I seriously felt that as a scout teacher, at least there should be an understanding of the knots. Hey,we are the scouts.

On the second day, we were told to cook. The weather was bad and ultimately we were literally cooking in the rain, I was totally drenched. The poncho was used as a cover for the chicken. We did not have time to bath, so it was a totally cool,cold and wet look from 2pm to 8pm.

I am not a night person since young so I was able to fall into sleep within 10mins at every night. -) The ground was rocky.

Human had a naturally emotional side, when the camp is drawing to an end, we always hope that it will be extend it slightly longer...

YK

Recent updates

Recently had an opportunity to have a quick discussion with HOD PE. I highlighted my area of concerns to him.

1. During our recruitment, we had almost little or no opportunities to display our skill set. This will affect the membership of scouts.

2. The quality of the students that we attract may not be align with what we wanted to achieve...Hence it will affect the general turn out of the students.

Though he KIV these points, but yes I will highlight to him the next time. In fact, everytime I have the opportunities, I will tell highlight to him again.

Yesterday, I had to appear late (almost 4.30) because I had a remedial with the sec 4 graduating class. Anyway luckily able to see SPL QJ and Rover Wilbur (note: must give constructive remarks, okay?too chim a word from your mum, I cannot comprehen), talked about 2 things:

1. Reshuffling of personnels, this is a last resort but sometimes when I am pushed too far...my bottomline is when things happen such that people are taking things for granted.

2. Hiking to get batch. Hopefully the sec 1 will be getting the pass in cooking and pioneering if the next week hiking to the Zhenghua's Park can be approved. Tentatively, SPL,PLs and APLs, please remind the sec 1 that they must have the necessary items with them. Otherwise just like both APLs, cooking have to be done twice. Oh, hopefully the weather can accomodate our plan. -)

So much for now. Later have to take a cab down to Pasir Ris for the exploration. Will taking digital camera along.

YK

Donation Draws and Courses

Collecting of the Donation Draw ticket was finally over.After that followed by a few days of good sleep. In terms of spirit, definitely higher now. Now I have to settle other collection of money (other than Scouts, also involved in SWC in school).

We have collected a total of $2810.

A few things to take note of this exercise:
1. Selling of tickets should be carried out far ahead.

2. Collecting of money should be a week before.

3. LRT, MRT, Chinatown and Orchard are good places to start.


There are 2 courses that are coming: IT course and First Aids Course.
Both are useful.

During National Day celebration, I was rushing to attend to a colleague using some basic First Aids. Many just stand there and use eye power... :(

IT course is useful, in fact if possible we should just volunteer to go. Free courses...Who in this act receives? Those who volunteer because you gain one more life skill.


“All know the way, but few actually walk it.”

~ Bodhidharma
6th century Zen Master

YK

Woke up at 4 :>

As the second term comes to an end...golly this is the 6th week (7th week NDP cum rest, so 2 days to study...8th week exam...9th week give result..10th week again some courses...), it seems things either fall into places or just left hanging.

In my case, some are left hanged...so woke up after interrupted sleep. And I recall that it has almost been a week since I last updated the content. :)

Last week...a number of things occured. NDP rehearsal, GaG, Shadow closing down, Hand signs,...a bit of madness here. NDP rehearsal took up some time. GaG was at the afternoon, I went back to school to do some stuffs till afternoon (Arghh...where was the rest?!) Then Shadow closing and Hand signs occur at the same time so Sec 3 including SPL could not make it. But it seem like there was a communication breakdown here...so sec 1 and 2 do not know where the sec 3s were.

A couple of things was racing in my mind...I saw how our SPL organise things and find that things are quite well planned. especially on last Friday. Their group actually stayed at City area to sell. The efforts show.

There were some days that I was discussing with SPL and QH about the planning...to let them understand the situation, sometimes it is good to let you guys know what is going on.

I will stress again that SPL is definitely trying hard in his scouts' stuffs. On that side, I can vouch for it. Sometimes I called him and discussed. Correct these things, I must admit, were not too easy. Thanks SPL QJ, seen a remarkable improvement on your side. Keep it and do not lose it.

Since I try to be as "open" about things and such, I will not delete the comments...It serves as a archive so year/years when we look back...we will then understand what we have gone through...

My comment is that in any position people will criticize...We look at each other and we will always say that it is easier to be in the other person's position.

I think just by criticising is so easy... you can ask any people who quit scouts...and they can criticise even more...you ask them what they have done...then they will say: nothing.

My position is always quite clear, as a person though...If you think you can do better, I step down. You continue, I assist.

But of course,alas, as both a teacher and SL, I will not have the luxury of saying such thing.

Only a quote to offer to all who learn along with me :"Responsibilities gravitate to the person who can shoulder them."

YK

Balla..Tix and Trip

I do suppose it is getting a little late, blogging about last week's stuffs. As it is I require 2 days and organise my thoughts.

Friday, we did not have any meeting. Naturally nothing to comment. Saturday was our Foxscouts Soccer Tournament. :) Was I glad that I did not miss this event. :) Okay, now I am very proud to announce that Fajar unit has a few strikers, namely: Bryan,Kim Young Ming, Suba, Gopi, WM, WW and of course our SPL, QJ!!! I watched almost all the games except the last one(sorry too late, I really have to go, appointment delayed already).

I especially remembered the part where Bryan dribbled past 3 of his seniors...and for your information, Bryan was not as big size as them and he had injured himself while warming up...that is the kind of spirit Siah!!!

Kim, WW and WM also scored a number of goals that I thought was brilliant. Again...just so amazing that the kick was so natural.

Suba and Gopi, our sec 3 scouts were also in a very good form playing with enthusiaism. Gopi, the goalkeeper and intercharging into midfield was keeping with the pace with the others. Good.

QJ has lead well by creating the atmosphere for the scouts, and giving them opportunities for them to perform in different roles. I thought that was also commendable.

But I suppose Jeffrey really deserves my praise too, he kicked the ball so hard that he injured his leg. Spirit for sports. More importantly spirit for teamwork because they said they were going to stay and forfeit their tuititon if the unit gets into Final...Woa Biang...very supportive twins.

Of course, every match will have its unpleasant matters...sometimes we just have to concentrate on the positive and neglect the negative parts, isn't is, Suba? =)

Important thing is we go through together, as a group (me included). Anyway, as I have mentioned, often if we are able to hold ourselves strong and be participative in the events, being more pro-active, the rest will be taken care of in its natural course.

Of course that will drive me to say another point, SPL and appointment holders, may you coordinate with the scouts and ask them to bring the tix on Fri meetings? Thanks :>

YK

How did a plane fly?

Funny, isn't it? Totally irrelevent topic concerning scouts. But pause for 5s, have you asked yourself this question? I mean, we know that there is this gigantic transportation that weighs between 163,500 kg to 226,800 kg (and just for the kick of it, it has more than 1,500,000 just for the bolts and nuts alone). Isn't it amazing that such system has been built?

Now if we happened to study just the sheer size of it, even to build a plane of this size would have been much of a burden to any company. What about been a couple of hundreds a year? Impossible? Yet such is the feat undertaken by Boeing.

Now the key is never about the size of a project...it often is about the people involved in the process. Are they having the same focus into the same aligned direction? It must be understood that everyone will play a part having the same sense of identity and the will to last.

As I had mentioned in our last meeting, our unit faced 2 big problems. One, people are leaving. Two, those who stay wanted to contribute to the unit and ultimately to the group, yet more often than not, due to interests and dissatisfaction, created internal conflicts. Hence do not have the aligned direction and sense of identity.

From my own observations, the first question is the product of the second question.

I had mentioned that regardless whether our unit has had produced 10 Advanced award recepients or 10 Commissioner award recepients, if we cannot resolve the biases/criticisms that are so often slugged around to each other, we would have very limited growth. People slack, that fact I do understand. But what about people who wanted to grow yet often than not only see each others' weakness?

What is scouting? I asked you. After that personal achievement? Using small talks to demoralise others? Using small gestures to make others a laughing stock?

Why people leave? Simply, there is no bond...Who in their young minds would like to join a our CCA after witnessing such ungraceful acts?

Why use mouths and give fake modesty? Why not discuss in a constructive ways, be it whether you are the sec 3,2 or even 1?

Ask yourself, why does the plane fly?

p/s:
1. I was telling Ms Yong that Jinhui would definitely would turn up. He did. :)

2. Though 13~14 turn out, I am already glad. Suba and Gopi, good to have you back. Improvement always come in small increment.

3. SPL QJ and PL JH have done an excellent job of posting me the attendance automatically even without me requesting. Do hope that you are getting the letter from the sec 1s. If they mentioned that they have given to the teachers-in-charge, check with us.

22 Nov 2005

2 things happen concurrently:
1) One team member pull off from the NPC at the last min at the eleventh hour.

2) The NPC team is overly stretched for the NPC preparation and open house is coming soon.

From my perspective, no problem, I strongly believe that attitude will be the factor. I was telling the other members that as long as they are willing to stick with it. We will overcome it. I am glad, awfully glad that my SPL is very composed even with this news. SPL is definitely more matured in handling difficult situations.

For the second point, I have told Ms Yong that it may not be a good idea to be involved in the 1st wave recruitment. Let's see what is the outcome.

YK

The very essence of leadership is that you have to have vision. You can't blow an uncertain trumpet.
~ Theodore M. Hesburgh

Direction in Scouting

Scouter Lai came to FJ today and had a session with. Always enlighten me and pull up my spirit.

He was telling me about the direction in scouting that we had often forgotten. Now what was the direction about? To look at this carefully, we will need to know what is the difference between other CCA and Scouts.

We had the patrol that consists of different levels and ages and races. Look around and you realise that it is a unique setting...A setting for interaction and communication in a less regimented structure, in hope that there is this bond that will be built and everlasting and that is the direction I will claim is one of the important directions in scouting.

When I look at Venture KY and Rover W, I ask myself why of all these troublesome and never pleasing works, they choose to stay in scouting. Especially Rover W and the number of things he has to commit:

1. Attending classes

2. IT rep for foxscouts (mind you not only FJ)

3. OPs Rover in FJ

4. Playing active role (in the committee) in all major events

5. Coming down specially to give tests so some scouts can pass the test

Now consider this, are we even saying "thank you" to him that often? Are we respecting him in all these stuffs... all these stuffs even they are at backstage when nobody really notice?

Instead I see that many scouts are taking advantages...calling him whenever they like...not being at the very least of courteous when seeing him at any place, behaving in a sub-par manner.

Of course it especially saddened me that my APL actually "gave him face" and keep on harping on the issues that the seniors are not doing anything, are not taking care of anything. More so it saddened me when I thought the APL should have at least the sensibilty to understand that the best person that we are able to change is ourselves, for the better and not to commit the same mistakes that the seniors have committed. More so when individually, the APL has achieved so much.

Just for thoughts:

1. Why do we place brotherhood higher than individual's need in scouting?

2. Have we ever show gratitude to people's kindness of assisting us in achieving our goals?

3. Do we want people to treat us like how we treated others?


YK

In response to myself

Already 1am after replying to my dear SPL QJ.

Offer this quote to myself and who understands it:
"They're certainly entitled to think that, and they're entitled to full respect for their opinions but before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience."

-Atticus response to his daughter regarding how others are calling him name, from the book "To kill a mocking bird" by Harper Lee.

In response to my SPL QJ

>firstly, i feel that this blog is not an effective way of communication as not >everyone visits it. if we have issues to raise, we shud clarify things before >everyone instead of relying on this platform where everyone is sarcastic in their >comments.this will nt further improve the present deteriorating situation. not >everyone has a computer at home n not everyone go online regularly, how >then do we get our disapproval and unhappiness across to everyone?

Good point that blog is not effective because not all scouts have PCs. In fact, by itself, it is definitely not effective. But some PLs did respond. You, at least responded.Thank you :) Clarifying matters can be done only when both parties are willing, if I am willing to communicate, are you (APLs and PLs included)?

Do suggest any way to improve the present deteriorating situation.

>and i wuld like to point out tt i feel mr yu is interventing too much into my role >as a SPL. as an SPL i was hence given the task and trust of the teachers to >carry out my duties well. yet i ask myself, how much have i actually contributed >when all i am doing is just to carry out your orders? anyone culd do that. as an >SPL, im the one who controls the patrol, yet you are exerting all your authority >on me that it becomes much too overbearing.

Dear SPL, maybe you are the SPL, therefore I have a higher expectation for you. May you also list your current duties? Thanks.

>i hope tt u will reflect upon this and let me do more of my duties by myself. if >you dont have more belief and trust in me, how will i then develop and learn >along my journey of being a SPL? i urge u to let me have more control on my >own. secondly, pls do not compare us with the Sec 2s. you have to understand >that the Sec 3s have a heavier workload as compared to them n we are alr >trying our best to contribute..sometimes certain things from our perspective n >experience of being a scout for the past 3 yrs tells me tt wat some of the Sec >2s are doing is a waste of time.

Don't worry, I am always in constant reminder of myself. Things are done after thought.

Of course I cannot compare the Sec 3 with the Sec 2. Senior scouts should be more organized, more willing to contribute and more matured. I do also expect that the senior scouts are more willing to participate. Should I have higher expectation for the senior scouts or for the junior scouts?

What is a waste of time? Please comment.

>yet i feel that u are always being biased against the sec 3s and siding with the >sec 2s. thirdly, pls dont have the mentality that i m the only one who is always >against you. the others do have sthg to say but are too fearful to raise them >up lest u use ur authority to pressurize them into taking ur stand.

Again dear SPL QJ, your concerns are needless.I will not be so easily biased. Do ask them to comment too. I will not let my authority to pressurize them.

>fourthly, the bootlicker weize which you favour live by the quote "words without >actions". excuses like "having a diahorrea" are being far too exploited and we r >sick n tired of it. pls look into this matter. next, as the role of senior scouts, we >have the authority to pump our juniors when they do sthg wrong. this tradition >has always been carried out in scouts.

SPL QJ, firstly I disagree with you using such term as "bootlicker". It will definitely cause much misunderstanding.Secondly, I do not favour anyone. I do observe.

>u fear tt the juniors wouldnt come for scouts lest they feel tt its too tough. but >we have been through this before n we've come thus far. reflect upon the way >u pump us. does this mean tt we shud not come for scouts in future?

SPL QJ, I do not fear you "pump" anyone. My concern is , do they know why they are being pumped? Again, I do reflect.

>NCC is a much more horrible experience with much more pumpings. an >adequate amt of pumping is essential in scouts;where else do we get a sense >of belonging from if we cant even rejoice ultimately, having passed thru all the >different phrases in scouts? i wuld also like to pt out tt the system of passing >down msg from SPL to PLs is not very effective. we have our way of doing it >to ensure tt the msg gets across to everyone.pls dont relentless insist tt we do >it ur way if we culd achieve the same results with the original way.

Agreed with the point of enjoying having the sense of belonging. Again, is your method effective? May we take an honest look at the continuous attendance from the attendance list?

>lastly, pls have the responsiblity to return me the battery which u have >borrowed from me during group camp. i wuld appreciate tt very much. some >teachers in fajar used to say tt we must have the initiative to return things >which we haf borrowed yet someone is not doing it. this is merely the >comments which u wanted me to give. dont be agitated by my comments. this >is my opinion of things that is currently happening in scouts. hope u'll respect >my opinions though u may not agree.

Respect definitely given to you for your opinions. Thanks for the reminder about the battary, it was being used to take photos for the scouts. Remember I passed the digital photos to Rover W. I used up two of my battaries for the camp.

To my dearest SPL QJ

Dear SPL QJ,
I would like to comment on a few things:

1. Please send the email to this add:

2. Thanks for sending me the Donation Draw tix on Sun.
On that issue, a few points:

i) You have not included the subject. Therefore not clear.
No communication between you and me.

ii) The Donation Tix file has the wrong file name. Sloppiness?

iii) The Donation Tix file has clearly no alignment. Sloppiness agin?

iv) You mentioned in the Donation Tix file that some PL cannot be contacted, some scouts cannot be contacted? Why is this so? Again, explain clearly and precisely. (Look at it in my perspective, if I required sloppiness in such work, I may as well ask the junior scouts to settle all these matters. If you cannot complete these tasks, then are you able to lead them?)

v) Now, as i mentioned before, selling tix is important. How are we able to fix the low selling numbers?

3. I suppose I will acquire the attendance for the BBGS campfire attendance, where is it?

4. Where is the rest of the explanation letters?

5. Above mentioned are issues that I have told you. Please correct. On the positive note, you have done a great job of assisting APL WM. Yes, indeed, all for one. One for all. On that issue, you have done well by automatically calling him and told him that all NPC scouts will chip in.

Bukit Batok Girl Guides Campfire

PL ZW, what do you know? Thinking I will not turn up? Had to run an errand on that day, but nevertheless, I turned up. Yes, I stood on the bench, shouted the cheers, ran around the campfire. But you? As mentioned before, the one year's grace is up. Thanks for testing my patience. :)

Scouts from our FSS: 3
Again, 3 familiar faces: PL YH, APL WW, APL WM.

Where are the rest of my PLs? SPL QJ claimed that being a wonderfully connected person, he had to attend a birthday party.

What about my other PLs? Where are the rest of the 7 who wanted/expressed the interest to come?

Wanted to share this monologue that I took from the movie, K-PAX by Kevin Spacey acting as Prot:

Prot : I wanna tell you something Mark, something you do not yet know, that we K-PAXians have been around long enough to have discovered. The universe will expand, then it will collapse back on itself, then will expand again. It will repeat this process forever. What you don't you know is that when the universe expands again, everything will be as it is now. Whatever mistakes you make this time around, you will live through on your next pass. Every mistake you make, you will live through again, & again, forever. So my advice to you is to get it right this time around. Because this time is all you have.
How true it is, when we reveal to ourselves that we could have done more...we could have tried that a bit harder...we could have cared more...we could have...we could have... we COULD have and that was in the past!

Note to myself:
1. Those who do not want to put their hard earned bagdes on, retrieve it back from them.
2. Bring the scouts to sell the tickets. Fri/Sat/Sun

Planning and executing

Dear brothers and sisters scouts,
School will be starting soon. Upon reflection, have you settled most of your stuffs? Most, if not all, scouts have replied that they were not feeling too good regarding this issue. After enquiring them, I understood that they had yet to complete their assignments and projects.

More often than not, most of us (including me, guilty as charged), often procrastinate our works. We delayed the works, trying to avoid it and finally resigned to do it at the last minute, producing unpleasant results that are sub-parred. The common methods to avoid works will be: reading comic books, playing arcade games, chatting and IM excessively.

Some scouts will however refute my comments, claiming ever faithfully that they have indeed been trying to fit everything without the comic books, games, chats but with little success of completing their stuffs.

I urged you to step back and think...have you ever planned? Now most of us, in fact, I suppose my dear SPL and PLs will consider planning to be the easiest part of every program. From the meeting that I received ( sometime they even missed it :( ), planning is always so easy, the technical word that I shall use to describe it will be 'rudimentary' . And most of the time, I will not receive it until it is on Thursday, or even Friday. Rudimentary, isn't it?

Naturally, since planning is rudimentarily panned out just for the show of it, execution will be of course, ill-executed and ultimately will create an ill-disciplined unit.

Now, brothers and sisters, this is no longer about Scouts. It's actually very much about how we view ourselves. For that matter, it is how we want our lives to work out. Do you want it to be fragmented, without planning and ever-last minute palm sweating and mumbling or to approach it with more confidence?

I, for once, sincerely hope that in this coming semester, we will be able to correct our procrastination and have a detailed planning and execution of it.

YK

SPL QJ: 1. Where are the rest of explanation letters for Crime Prevention? Who have not submitted? I said before, individually, you are good, as a SPL?Where is the updated donation list?
PL ZW:1. Where is the plan for the structure? 2. Where is the List for Discipline? 3. When will we be cleaning the scout den? How should we clean it?
PL JH: I saw your comments about the NPC on the letter,I sure think you are for real about getting gold. But are we able to get gold without effort?
PL WZ:...G store okay?Scout den okay? Everything Okay?
PL YH: Assist them.
Senior scouts: Have you been selling the donation draw tix? Did you go with them? How is the results? Are you putting enough effort?

After Group camp 2005

Hello fellow scouts,

It has been almost a week after the group camp, how have you been? I often heard fellow scouts that they have no time to complete their stuffs. Having so much time now, are you putting them into good use? :)

Last year, before I even started teaching, I had participated in the Group Camp 2004. New teacher was given opportunity to choose CCA and I chose Scouts. Such affinity.

In comparison with last year, of course there were added responsibilities. There were more things to be learnt from my fellow brothers' and sisters' scouts, be it from a new member(mostly from the sec 1) of our foxscouts group or veteran from other leaders.

From the new member, I had learnt that they had ideas that need to be uncovered or even discovered (remember that night, we discussed in the kitchen tent?). They had the perseverance that almost amazed me when they were building their tents. I am still amazed and I am proud of you. For the J brothers, what can I say? Despite their wet feet, they carried on all activities with much enthusiasm. Of course not forgetting their care and concern shown to their little brother, Jordan?

From the leaders, I learnt the difficulties in planning and execution for the camp: what if it rained?(And rain it did,right XH?) All the involvements behind the scene where most scouts would not have appreciated. Logistics (Scouts, you really thought food just fell from the sky?), time management (Poly students have long started their schools) and coordination.

Therefore I disagree with some scouts claiming that Group Camp 2006 (next year) will be the same, for that matters, every group camps are the same. No, they will not be. As we grow, mature and go to another level, we will experience very different issues. You may even face the same issue but resolve or see it in a very different way. That is when you know, you have learnt something. Hence my little advice to scouts: open up your mind and be prepared.

Bring it on, Group Trip 2005 and Group Camp 2006.