Poems & Prayers

Why I'm a Leader

Author Unknown

I'm not a Scout Leader for the easy hours, high pay, parents' gratitude, power or prestige.
I'm a Leader because I want the world for your son or daughter or mine.

A world they can share and help shape: a world of love and laughter where they can show compassion.

I want to help them learn to finish anything they start and do it well and to guide them to know their self worth with a deeper understanding of themselves.

I want to help shape men and women who have strength of character and are sensitive to the needs of others.

I want them to be the best they can be - whether as career people or tradesmen, young adults who are the hearts of the family.

In giving my time and myself I reap rewards far beyond what I give. I receive a better world for my children and future generations.

I'm a Scout Leader because I care.

The Material below was provided by Baloo's Bugle.

PRAYERS & POEMS FOR SCOUTERS

The Scouter’s Dilemma
Heart of America Council

I love my children, I’m telling you
And I know there's a lot of work to do
In Scouts and Brownies and PTA
But frankly, I just can’t get away.

At the end ofa day, I’m tired you know.
Just want to go out and see a show
Or watch TV or play some bridge
Just so darned tired to mess with kids.

And speaking of kids, you know that crime
Is on the increase all the time?
They ought to do something maybe at school
To teach the kids to respect the rules.

Or perhaps the church should do more good
And teach them to act the way they should.
I can’t understand why they get that way
Something’s wrong somewhere, I venture to say.

I send my kids to Scouts and such
But it really doesn’t help too much!
They don’t appreciate good things at all.
I used to be a Scout when I was small.

They need more volunteers you say
Must be plenty around - must be some way
To interest parents in worthwhile work
That’s something no one has a right to shirk.

Well, I hope they find someone, I’m telling you
My kids need a leader to look up to
They need someone to direct their play,
It’s really.a shame I can’t get away.

Code Of Ethics For Volunteers
Heart of America Council

As a volunteer, I realize that I am subject to a code of ethics similar to that which binds the professionals in the field in which I work. Like them, I assume certain responsibilities and expect to account for what I do in terms of what I am expected to do. I will keep confidential matters confidential.

I promise to take to my work, an attitude of open mindedness; to be willing to be trained for it; to bring to it interest and attention. I realize that I may have assets that my co-workers may not have and that should use them to enrich the project at which we are working together. I realize also that I may lack assets that my coworkers have, but I will not let this make me feel inadequate, but will endeavor to assist in developing good teamwork.

I plan to find out how I can best serve the activity for which I have volunteered and to offer as much as I am sure I can give, but no more. I realize that I must live up to my promises and, therefore, will be careful that my agreement is so simple and clear that it cannot be misunderstood. I believe that my attitude toward volunteer work should be professional, believe that I have an obligation to my work, and to those who direct it, to my colleagues, and to those for whom it is done, and to the public.

Being eager to contribute all that I can to human betterment, I accept this code of ethics for the volunteer as my code to be followed carefully and cheerfully.

Astronaut Frank Borman Prayer
USSSP

Arrangement: Have Cub Scouts and their families form a large circle. The Cubmaster then reads the following prayer, which was broadcast to earth by U.S. Astronaut Frank Borman, while on a moonorbiting mission in December, 1968. (Cubmaster should explain what he is reading).

Give us, O God, the vision which can see the love in the world, in spite of our failure. Give us the faith to trust Thy goodness in spite of our ignorance and weakness. Give us the knowledge that we my continue to pray with understanding hearts, and show us what each one of us can do to set forward the spirit of universal peace.

The One-Dollar Bill

Take out a one dollar bill and look at it closely.

The dollar bill you're looking at first came off the presses in 1957 in its present design. This so-called "paper money" is in fact a cotton and linen blend with red and blue minute silk fibers running through it. Its actually material.and we've all washed it without it falling apart. A special blend of ink is used, the contents we will never know. The bill is overprinted with symbols and then starched to make it water resistant and pressed to give it that nice crisp look.

If you look on the front of the bill, you will see the United States Treasury Seal. On the top you will see the scales of justice. In the center you have a carpenter's T-square, a tool used for an even cut. Underneath that is the Key to the United States Treasury. That's all pretty easy to figure out, but what is on the back of that dollar bill is something we should all know.

If you turn the bill over, you will see two circles. Both circles, together, comprise the Great Seal of the United States. The First Continental Congress requested that Benjamin Franklin and a group of men come up with a Seal. It took them four years to accomplish this task and another two years to get it approved.

If you look at the left hand circle, you will see a Pyramid. Notice the face is lighted and the western side is dark. This country was just beginning. We had not begun to explore the West or decided what we could do for Western Civilization. The Pyramid is un-capped, again signifying that we were not even close to being finished. Inside the capstone you have the all-seeing eye, an ancient symbol for divinity. It was Franklin's belief that one man couldn't do it alone, but a group of men, with the help of God, could do anything.

"IN GOD WE TRUST" is on this currency. The Latin above the pyramid, ANNUIT COEPTIS, means "God has favored our undertaking." The Latin below the pyramid, NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM, means "a new order has begun." At the base of the pyramid is the Roman Numeral for 1776.

If you look at the right-hand circle, and check it carefully, you will learn that it is on every National Cemetery in the United States. It is also on the Parade of Flags Walkway at the Bushnell, Florida National Cemetery and is the centerpiece of most hero's monuments. Slightly modified, it is the seal of the President of the United States and it is always visible whenever he speaks, yet no one knows what the symbols mean.

The Bald Eagle was selected as a symbol for victory for two reasons: first, he is not afraid of a storm; he is strong and he is smart enough to soar above it. Secondly, he wears no material crown.....and we had just broken away from the King of England. Also, notice the shield is unsupported. This country can now stand on its own.

At the top of the shield there is a white bar signifying congress, a unifying factor. We were coming together as one nation. In the Eagle's beak is a banner proclaiming "E PLURIBUS UNUM", meaning "one nation from many people."

Above the Eagle you have 13 stars representing the 13 original colonies, and any clouds of misunderstanding rolling away. Again, we were coming together as one. Notice what the Eagle holds in his talons. He holds an olive branch and arrows. This country wants peace, but we will never be afraid to fight to preserve peace. The Eagle always wants to face the olive branch, but in time of war, his gaze turns toward the arrows.

They say that the number 13 is an unlucky number. This is almost a worldwide belief. You will usually never see a room numbered 13, or any hotels or motels with a 13th floor. But think about this: 13 original colonies, 13 signers of the Declaration of Independence, 13 stripes on our flag, 13 steps on the Pyramid, 13 letters in the Latin above, 13 letters in "E Pluribus Unum", 13 stars above the Eagle, 13 plumes of feathers on each span of the Eagle's wing, 13 bars on that shield, 13 leaves on the olive branch, 13 fruits, and if you look closely, 13 arrows. And for minorities: the 13th Amendment.

I always ask people, "Why don't you know this?" Your children don't know this and their history teachers don't know this.

Too many veterans have given up too much to ever let the meaning fade. Many veterans remember coming home to an America that didn't care.

Too many veterans never came home at all.

Tell everyone--especially your children at the dinner table tonight-- what is on the back of the one dollar bill and what it stands for, because nobody else will.

Author Unknown