by OldGreyBear » Fri Dec 03, 2004 9:28 am
One often hears that the most diificult transition in Scouting is that of from scout to Adult Scouter. The following ceremony makes a clear distinction that the member is no longer a scout, but is now considered to be an adult:
Bridging a Scout to ASM
Scoutmaster: Tonight, we are saddened to say farewell to one of our Scouts whom has reached the age of 18. As you know, Boy Scouting officially ends for our youth at the age of 18. I have asked our Commissioner (name), to be present this evening in order to assist (name), our Troop Committee Chairman and myself with this presentation.
Will (rank of Scout) (name) come forward at this time and please stand in front of our Troop's flag.
(all participants move toward the flag. The Scout should be in front of the flag, the Scoutmaster and others behind the flag but still visible to the audience.)
Troop Committee Chair:
(Scout's Name), we have seen you grow physically from the time you became a member of this Troop on (date that Scout became a member of the Troop). We witnessed your progress from boy to man through our program. We are proud to have had you serve as a member and leader of this Troop and we would like to present you with a small token of our pride in you and your progress. May you wear it as you make your way through this world, remembering the good times you have had in this Troop and the great friends you have met while here.
(Troop Committee Chair pins the small Universal emblem on the shirt of Scout. He salutes the Scout, and then shakes hands with him. The Troop Committee Chair stands back and the Commissioner steps forward.)
Commissioner:
(Scout's Name), your involvement in the Scouting program is noteworthy and your progress along the Scouting trail has been noticed by those outside your Troop. As you know, your Troop is one of several belonging to the Council, and we are proud to have been able to provide you with this great and valuable experience. You have learned as much as you could about this great land-its people, its past, present and your future within it. You participated with other Scouts, under leadership from others; and later, under your own leadership, to complete service and conservation projects to benefit others. Your citizenship in Scouting was only a subset of your citizenship as a member of this community, this state and this wonderful nation of ours. We will miss your enthusiasm and willingness to serve.
Scoutmaster:
(Scout's Name), Anytime a Scout leaves my Troop, I feel a little sad for them and myself. Sad, because I too, remember the great times we have had together and will miss your company here. More importantly, I feel sad because I feel that perhaps I did not have enough time in order to further develop you along character lines. I hope that my personal example to you have given you ample opportunities to see the way I live and apply the principles of Scouting to my personal life.
(The scout and Scoutmaster shake hands and the scout leaves the room, the scoutmaster and all in attendance watch the scout leave the room, close the door sharply for extra effect, everything should be silent, the sign could be used to maintain silence)
Scoutmaster:
It is indeed an honor to introduce the newest Assistant scoutmaster of Troop XXX.
(The scout who left the room, re-enters with an ASM patch pinned to his shoulder)
(I wasn't gonna say anything.)