2014-2015 Chartering Packet Arived

In the 2013 Chartering Thread, JoeCool wrote:

"What a disappointment when the package arrived. Not worth giving the editions to man, boy, or beast. Straight into the trash. So let me get this straight...we pay hundreds of dollars in order to get a 15% discount on supplies? What a deal. I made the mistake of telling all this to our new children's pastor. Potential ammo for him to drop RRs. "

I didn't charter in 2013, but I did charter our Outpost last fall.

I got the packet from the Church Secretary last week. I cannot believe it. ALL of the combined "Rangers Now" flyers stacked on top of each other probably would not equal one edition of the Quarterly Magazine that the boys got a few years ago.

I REALLY want to keep this constructive, and not have it evolve into a "whiz & moan" thread, but it is looking more like National HQ is trying to persuade me to drop our church out of the program.

Please tell me that it's going to get better.

Maybe it will get better once the new national Cmdr has time to implement some changes...

That being said, I haven't chartered in two years. Not because I didn't want to, but because I'm such a procrastinator! Maybe one day I'll be a good Ranger and do what I'm supposed to....

The quarterly magazine was something that showed the leaders at Outpost Level that Springfield was thinking about them. They had reminders of upcoming events and encouraged participation, because they made those in the Outpost feel that they were a part of something; something bigger than the Outpost, and bigger than District. The 2-page "Rangers Now" pamphlet does not instill that feeling.

I believe that there is such an extraordinary opportunity with people looking for a "scouting" organization (possibly alternative to BSA) that reflects core values.

I don't want to see the R/R Program suffer, but something needs to open the eyes of those "up top" who are "moving the checkers around".

I can definitely agree with that.

Take a look at boys life.  It doesn't seem to have any hand sanitizer in it.  I didn't see any adds for a life long servant leadership either.  So guys even boys life isn't perfect.

(For those that need to be clearified... I am poking at what they are delivering and am very disappointed in Rangers Now)  They can't find anyone doing anthing but camping and they darn well don't want to highlight that.  So you get Rangers Now.  BAM!  VISION!  WORLD CLASS!  FOOO FOOO!

It may take a deep pruning to get the dead wood out of HQ.

(Please keep in mind I wished it was different)
Take a look at http://readyrangers.tzo.com if you want to see what Rangers Now is all about!

Mark Jones

Phillip Gross wrote:Maybe it will get better once the new national Cmdr has time to implement some changes...

Let's hope so.

In looking at the Bio for the previous National Director, here is a quote:

"His vision is to grow Royal Rangers by building a responsive and relevant evangelistic program for boys....."

Without trying to put words into the mouth of someone else, it could be deduced that he felt that, prior to his tenure, the Program was not Responsive, Relevant, nor Evangelistic.

I think that most of us can agree that, when it is run like a Boys Hands-On Patrol Program it can be highly Responsive and Relevant.

Insofar as "Evangelistic", I believe that a man's finest witness is through his character, and not his mouth.

I think that this is supported in which the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians,
"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal."

Jesus also referred to this, when he spoke of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in the Temple.

"Love" and "Witness" are demonstrated in part when someone gives and does not expect or demand anything in return.  In the past few years, it appears to me that the Organization has been giving less and demanding more from those under their Stewardship.

There was a Poster-Board in the Retention Office of an Army Unit that I was in 25 or 30 years ago.  It said, "Just ignore your Troops, and they'll go away".

Oh how true that saying is. It happened in 2000, 2008, 2012, and was very obvious from rangerforums days.

I haven't chartered in 2 years. I've been very naughty Royal Ranger.

I was glad to see Rangers now had changed a bit. No mention of hand sanitizier or the rest of the canned fooo fooo we have been holdinig our noses on for the past 7 years.

I hope it gets real and it has some substance to it. We will charter because it is a blessing to our District. Hopefully National will have some time to get back on track before the train totally derails.

Mark Jones