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.