Posts Tagged ‘BSA’

Men of Schiff is now published March of 2013.  I believe it will interest not only professional Scouters and their families, but also volunteer Scouters and people who have never been a part of Scouting.  Their story is integral to the history of the United States.  Interested? Take a sneak preview now.

The author, Win Davis, is located in Florida.  Men of Schiff:  A History of the Professional Scouters Who Built the Boy Scouts of America, is his first work for publication.

He is a former professional Scouter, retired attorney, retired  Air Force officer and lives with his miniature schnauzer, Pepper.

An Eagle Scout, the author has been a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America for more than sixty years, as Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Scoutmaster, Sea Scout Skipper, Commissioner, Commodore and other positions too numerous to mention.  He spent five years as a professional Scouter and attended the National Executive Institute at Schiff Scout Reservation in 1970, which gives him a unique perspective on Boy Scouting.  He was fortunate enough to meet and talk with many Scouting notables and non notables.  Win had the privilege of being a personal friend of William L. “Green Bar Bill” Hillcourt during the last years of his long life.  He has traveled and met Scouters from all around the world, professional and non professional.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Men-of-Schiff/132276016953904?ref=ts&fref=ts

http://www.menofschiff.org

I’ve known Win since 1981, he was on the staff of Troop 234 in Longwood, FL. and we met on the trip to Washington D.C. Win was the first Scoutmaster of Troop 46 and when he moved to Hawaii I took over as Scoutmaster. I have started to read the book it is fascinating.

Bug Juice

I remember growing up as a Scout and we always had bug juice or Kool Aid available. The items above are not Kool Aid but Hot Sauce and they are some of the hottest available.

We carry some of these Hot Sauces in our little store at ProBest Pest Management 425 W. Guadalupe Road, Gilbert, AZ 85233 1/2 between Gilbert and Cooper Roads. Stop by ad see if you can stand the heat………

Black Widow, Rattler’s Sting and Scorpion Hot Sauce..

I was talking talking recently to a Mother of a soon to be Eagle Scout and we got into the discussion just how much parents play a part in this achievement. I can assure you that I don’t think I ever would have made it without my Mom’s helping, (THANKS MOM) whether driving me to a meeting or camping trips. Parents often play a major role in sports, school and other events so it’s no wonder that they also play a vital role in Scouting.

So Thanks to all the volunteers, Mom’s and Dad’s, Uncles and Aunts and to all those you get involved in the daily lives of young men and women. Through your support Scouting works!

By the way ProBest Pest Management has two Eagle Scouts – Lead Technician Seth Dodge and the Owner – Keith V. Birkemeyer.

  Effective Leadership – What Scouting Taught Me!

I think leadership is something you are born with and is also something that you can cultivate and make better. As an Eagle Scout, former Woodbadge Scouter’s Key trained 15 year Scoutmaster I spent many a day planning, organizing and setting into motion events and training programs. Each and every day at ProBest Pest Management those same thoughts help me to plan and organize my day, month and year. I carry everyday my “Marketing and Planning book” because as the saying goes “He who fails to plan, plans to fail“. So what is my plan:

1. I have a 1 year plan and 5 year plan!
2. Marketing, advertising and planning are a day to day process.
3. Try something and if it works continue, if it doesn’t try something else. With that being said you must track the marketing.
4. To succeed everyone must understand the plan and be on-board to make it happen.
5. Training is essential, there are 2 things that I never care about; #1 taking my employees to events with other pest industry technicians – some leaders worry that their technicians will be stolen by other companies. If they leave they weren’t that loyal to you anyway. weren’t that loyal to you anyway. #2 I require certain amounts of continuing education and encourage my employees to learn and yes even to the point of getting them certified as Qualifying Operators which means that they could leave and start their own business. Anything is a risk but if you treat your employees well, hopefully that will come back around (Karma).
6. I encourage my employees to speak their minds but ultimately it still is my ship to steer.
7. No one is perfect and the way you learn is by making mistakes.

Scouting builds character!

The Scout Motto “Be Prepared”  

As we go through life we all strive to set our sights on what is ahead! I was reminded of all this because of that new TV show – “”Doomsday Preppers” but the Boy Scout movement has known this for a long time. The time to know about a chemical spill is before it happens, that is why we always promote and encourage  our technicians to know that Label and MSDS backwards and forward, page for page!

We all understand the importance of “Be Prepared”, we all have auto insurance or liability insurance – which helps us when something unforeseen happens. So having a plan before a catastrophe happens is prudent and advisable.

ProBest Pest Management offers refrigerator magnets with the Emergency Numbers, all children should be instructed in the use of emergencies etc and these magnets make it easy to have them available in a convenient place. Drop by our office in Gilbert for your magnet.