Planning to Win or not planning and failing.

After many years over 20 in Rangers there has been a lot of things that have come and gone. Many boys, leaders, programs, assets, liabilities and the list goes on.

One thing through it all has stayed on the line. 25 years ago a Commander I respected that was involved in outpost - National on a weekly basis. He taught me a few things.

1. Take your calendar out and plan to have at least one event each month.
a. This can be a outpost event.
1. Trip to the Fire station.
2. Trip to the woods.
3. Local campout.
4. many more things for sure.... Rocket shoot off.

b. Any Area - National event is a FOR SURE go.
1. If your missing District Pow Wow. Don't.
2. Area and Section events will build your program. Associating and
working with others in your town or area that are like minded sharpens
you and your outpost.

2. Event Planning. Keep a copy of what you did so you can use it next time and it
begins to get easier and easier to plan these events. A few minutes and you have
it all ready to go. Building off what you did last time and fixing what didnt' go so
good on the last event.

We are getting our calendars ready for 2015. District Calendar hits the list first. Those all get scheduled. Then we add in the outpost events. Keeping in mind where TBQ and JBQ fall.

I use the Ranger Database Events and Calendar parts that are designed to handle any event we go on. In the events database there is over 20 layouts for each event. Some you use some you don't. Yet almost always you will need a Flyer, Perm Slip, Schedule, Suggested Check off lists, Suggested Menu and the other forms cover every thing from maps, vehicles, Last minute stuff and a lot more. It's cool to put a event on the calendar and in 5 minutes you have a complete up todate packet to send home with the boys so they will be ready. All questions get answered because you build off the last event and answered those questions already.

Calendar gives you options of lists, monthly and the ability to show or hide all the different calendars and yet keep them all in the same calendar.

Bottom line. Draw a line in the sand and plan for 2015. Do your very best not to cancel. With 30 outtings a year for the past 25 years... I can only recal canceling 3 events..due to extreme weather and even at that... we did something else or modified it for just our outpost.

Plan today to win boys and girls for Christ.

Mark Jones

There always seems to be a lot of advice and ideas for outposts with a lot of resources and leaders. (I wonder what the average outpost size is? Shouldn't be hard to figure out...number of boys divided by number of outposts.) What is really needed is a topic thread that outposts with 1-2 commanders can benefit from.

Same amount of work just fewer hands doing it.

Over the years I have created events from a spreadsheet. I never delete the sheets or pdf packets I create from pdf factory. I can go back for years pull up an event and plug in current data and create a packet. I've digitalized permission slips, media recording permission form, special activities form (for hawk, knives, and guns), and so on. I create the front cover letter and add 2 permission forms and possible special activities form if needed.

Mark Jones wrote:After many years over 20 in Rangers there has been a lot of things that have come and gone.  Many  boys, leaders, programs, assets, liabilities and the list goes on.

One thing through it all has stayed on the line.  25 years ago a Commander I respected that was involved in outpost - National on a weekly basis.  He taught me  a few things.

1.  Take your calendar out and plan to have at least one event each month.
     a.  This can be a outpost event.
      b.  Any Area - National event is a FOR SURE go.  
             1.  If your missing District Pow Wow.  Don't.
             2.  Area and Section events will build your program.  Associating and
                  working with others in your town or area that are like minded sharpens
                  you and your outpost.  

Good advice
it's a little tougher for our Outpost.
There are no Section events, haven't been events in our Section in years (pre-2007 at least)
We are not welcome at District events under the current District Leadership (because we have girl rangers)
I have not done well at Outpost events this year.  I really lost heart after losing 8 of our 10 Rangers due to a Pastor transition in our church. The church is growing again, but so far it has not brought any new kids in.

Still recovering that heart. Its getting better & I am starting to plan for 2015, but I really need another Commander who really knows the field craft side of rangers/scouting because I don't. I haven't camped since 1986. Please pray that the Lord will provide someone to help me make this a better outpost.

Guys a calendar plan is not affected by the size of your outpost. The bare number of 3 can make a whole year of planned events.

The saddest words in the world is "I almost" don't let the devil make you talk like that.

Get that calendar out and schedule one event per month. Plan your outpost meetings around it and go and do.

These events can be any lenght from a couple hours to over nighters. A 23 hour campout I have found to be the best.

Yet get that 2015 calendar out and pencil in events. It doesn't have to be a Rangers only event. Include them in your family trips as well. I know if I don't put it on the calendar it DOES NOT HAPPEN. So give the devil a black eye and plan a exciting year for your outpost.

I have visited. Log Cabins, caves, stores, bowling, archery, shooting, nature center, corn field mazes, Tons of stuff. Put down some always great trips and add a new one or two to the mix.

Chris your missing out staying home from the District Events. You can do a make up event for the girls. Don't miss District Pow Wow. No program is perfect. Yet most programs can be tweaked to get the most out of them. Your outpost would be welcome around here. Girls can't camp at our District Pow Wow..as it's a District rule but they do come camp with us at many of the other camps we go on that are not on District property. It will change it's just a matter of time.

Mark Jones

Mark Jones wrote:Guys a calendar plan is not affected by the size of your outpost.

True, but when you can't get another commander or a dad to come along on the outing, it's a non-starter every time. Besides the district campout, I don't even average one outing a year. Sad, but true.

There is something broke there. Never had a problem getting someone to go with us. I have had a issue of drivers or me being woe is me..but when it came down to it....there is always a way to make these events. If I threw my hands down and quit at the first sign of a hassle... the devil wins. I expect him to do that. Yet he rarely wins.

I know commanders that their testimony is always..."we almost" well. Somethings broke. Either their asker is not asking or their faith needs a booster shot or their Pastorial staff needs to be pruned or given a good shaking to get the dead limbs off of them.

devil is a master of offering up excuses to people. Souls are lost to many of these excuses. Don't fall for it it's a trick.

Get that calendar out and get your asker out and God will send you help in Rangers.

Yet bottom line. Souls or excuses. We as commanders have to believe seriously that unless a boy or girl makes a decision for Christ and remains in that decision they will bust hell wide open. That thought keeps me from yielding to my lazy flesh and going and going and going.

Everytime I miss an event or a meeting or even a church service because of myself's conjured up excuses.... I feel bad.

Mark Jones

I'm in the neighborhood of Mark. Yet want to do so with grace. I would suggest cmdrs in this position ask for an announcement from the pulpit. Preferably with a chance to clearly state that a lack of help is hold your kids back. Make it clear you are looking for help, not replacements. That training is available. That fellowship & fun come as perks to the job.

As a final note remind them, if we don't find time or men to invest in our kids, the devil will

Fellow Ranger Commanders. Take heart. We all have things we wished we could do better. I know I have a long list. There are many things I fail at. Just don't seem to have it in me to do the right thing...(ask my wife she will give you the low down on me grin)

I posted this thread to shake the tree a bit and share what I know works and builds Rangers. Some of the time these kind of things come out like a finger pointing at someone and saying your broke. In reality we are all broke.

Take this on a faith type thing and try the Lord in it. Schedule one event a month and ask God to help you on a daily basis to make that happen. Start easy and fun and build your Rangers from there.

Mark Jones

I second the idea. This time a year schedule a leaf rake or just an afternoon hike. If an overnight feels too much, make it an afternoon.

take a leap of faith... I dare you B)

Mark Jones wrote:One thing through it all has stayed on the line.  25 years ago a Commander I respected that was involved in outpost - National on a weekly basis.  He taught me  a few things.

1.  Take your calendar out and plan to have at least one event each month.
     a.  This can be a outpost event.
            1. Trip to the Fire station.
            2. Trip to the woods.
            3.  Local campout.
             4.  many more things for sure....  Rocket shoot off.
   
      b.  Any Area - National event is a FOR SURE go.  
             1.  If your missing District Pow Wow.  Don't.
             2.  Area and Section events will build your program.  Associating and
                  working with others in your town or area that are like minded sharpens
                  you and your outpost.  
     
2.  Event Planning. Keep a copy of what you did so you can use it next time and it    
    begins to get easier and easier to plan these events.  A few minutes and you have
    it all ready to go.  Building off what you did last time and fixing what didnt' go so
    good on the last event.

 
Plan today to win boys and girls for Christ.  

The Lord uses many people to convey his messages. One of them (in my opinion) is Mark Jones
The Lord sent me a big message about Rangers in a dream the other night. In an way,pointed me right back here.

Ok Lord, Message Received

Our Ranger Program is weak because I have been weak. Praying for someone to come & help me make it better, rather than doing better with what I have.

I will take your plan Mark & sit down with Christi & see what we can cook up for 2015.

P.S. Mark, (and others)do you have an event in December?

I don't touch the weekends of November & December because I don't want to fight the church & parents & weather. Play practice, holidays times 2 or 3 each w/ grandparents & "modern families".
We find this a good time of year to do the family merit. Have the boys do chores, etc.
If you do have service on the Wed before TG, it will only be half attedance. I cout it as a bonus night & pop popcorn & play Charlie Brown Mayflower Voyagers, then talk about it. If you can't find a Bible lesson in the pilgrims, you aren't looking.
January we are looking at doing a lockin for either a leadership merit, or Jr Leadership foudations I posted earlier

All Holiday weekends are up for question. I avoid those. Yet each month gets at least one event.

I am working on my Ranger Calendar for 2015. There are not enough weeks in the year to get it all done. Still trying to work it in.

There really is no month we don't do several events.

Between leaders, Outpost, District and Backpacks and Float trips and fishing trips. Just not enough weeks.

Some folks say, well what do you do with your wife? I look at them and say.... my wife gets me 6 of the 7 days pretty much each week.

The devil has been throwing that wife/family card out to tons of Christians. This is an excuse of the devil. We must believe that the RR ministry can make a difference between heaven and hell.

Include your family or make it a family event with Rangers invited. I almost never get the majority of my Rangers to go....but even one or two is a step in the right direction.

Yesterday in our Leaders meeting at our outpost. Only 6 of the 15 showed up. Yet we continue on full bore and hope the luke warm folks get on the train with us. Sometimes they do sometimes they don't. It's with God's help they do.

Mark Jones

Some like Strods, Chris, and I contend with colder and nastier weather sooner. The only event we do in Dec is our party on Wed night. All Nov events before the big turkey day.

I have avoided any December events for the last 5 years. Too much competition with family, church, school & social events, not to mention all the other hustle & bustle of the season.

We have a 25 miler backpack this Friday - Sunday.

then in middle December we do a over night backpack.

This is last years RR calendar. I made almost all of them.
http://readyrangers.tzo.com/Currentcal3col.pdf

Winter lockins with game nights and Ranger Derby Crafting are always good. Watch those calendared events when scheduled. Christmas parties and family get togethers are not a good time to do events. Yet there is plenty of days in both months that make a great event to take your Rangers on. There are so many things you can do. It's almost unlimited. Don't let the devil keep you from ministry. He is a master at giving us excuses.

Mark Jones

We are having our Springfield Sections Ranger Derby Crafting day today. Yup Valentines Day! What a better time then to get the kids out of the house. Get Dad all covered with Saw Dust like our Lord Jesus Christ did and then come home and lay out the valentines Love!

Next weekend in our Dine and Racing with our church. Over 500 will be there. Lots of fun. 6 boys saved at the batcave already this year. It pays to get those dates on the calendar.
Mark Jones

Grin. Freeze if you please campout this weekend. Car pull up haul it less than 1/8 mile and we got 7" of snow and a wintery mix forecasted for Friday night. Now the old dead in my spirit inside of me is wanting to stay home. Count it all up as a foolhardy idea and just watch tv or do some Ranger record keeping at home..... YET!!!!!
There is a group of young men ranging from 13 to 23 that want a chance to brave the 15 degree weather and the freezing rain and go....grrrrr. Ohhh how I wished I was a sunday school teacher.

YET!!! Rangers is more than that. Ready for Anything!!!!!
If you guys want to come down and warm up in our 15 degree weather and snow and ice your welcome to join me. You will find me gathering firewood and tending the fire.

Mark Jones