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Issue 100 – Service Above Self

We need today, right now, at this very moment, to take a profound lesson from Liviu Librescu, engineering science and mathematics lecturer at Virginia Tech, born in Romania, who on the anniversary date of the Holocaust remembrance, made a decision in the full knowledge of what was about to happen—knew and made it anyway—to save the lives of others and in doing so to die.

By blocking the classroom door with his own body he gave the students in his room time to escape from that marauding murderer who fired through the door killing Mr. Librescu.

Professor Librescu was a survivor, himself, of the Holocaust.

We need, also, to remember the 100 million Scouts who have come before us and our generation, who gave of themselves in service to others in the selling of US Bonds for two world wars, collected countless thousands of tires and rubber products during WWII, and the list goes on and on in service to others above self.

We also need to take a lesson in presence of mind and self-reliance from VT senior, Kevin Sterne, who when a bullet from that same murderer’s gun tore an inch-long gash through the femoral artery of his right leg, fashioned a tourniquet from a lamp cord, thereby preventing himself from bleeding out in what would have been a mere few fast minutes.

Kevin is an Eagle Scout.

How often, we need to ask ourselves in this moment, do we say to the Scouts in our care, “Go do this or that and you’ll get ‘service hours’.” How often do we split hairs over what sort of project is “worthy” of service hour credit. How often is the incentive we propose to the Scouts we’re trying to mold into responsible, contributing citizens something-for-something, quid-pro-quo, if you already have your service hours you needn’t show up.

How often, conversely, do we set the example that the reward at the end of the day may not be service hours at all. It might, instead, be an inner feeling of accomplishment, or perhaps the simple knowing that someone else is now better off than they were before we did what we did.

It’s time to reevaluate ourselves and our leadership messages about service. How do we equivocate between “do this and get service hours” and “help other people at all times.”

Kevin Sterne saved his own life because he had the skills and applied them; Professor Librescu saved the lives of others because that was the right thing to do.

Andy

 

Have a question? An idea? Found something that works? Send it to me at AskAndyBSA@yahoo.com. (Please include your COUNCIL or your TOWN & STATE)

(Copyright © April 2007 Andy McCommish)

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About AskAndy

Andy is a Board Member of the U.S. Scouting Service Project, Inc.

Andy was recognized in 2017 as a National Distinguished Eagle Scout and Regent of the National Eagle Scout Association. He is currently serving as council member-at-large. His previous position, which he held for over 20 years (except for several years when he served as District Commissioner and Assistant Council Commissioner-Training), was Unit Commissioner. He has previously served as Den Leader, Webelos Den Leader, Cubmaster, Pack Committee Chair, Scoutmaster, International Representative, and--as a Scout--Patrol Leader, Senior Patrol Leader, and Junior Assistant Scoutmaster. He is a charter member and founding director of his prior council's Alumni Association and Eagle Scout Alumni Association, both established in 2001. He earned Eagle Scout rank at age 15, in 1957; two years later, he earned the Explorer Silver Award--at that time referred to as the "Double-Eagle." At age 16, he served on the National Junior Leader Training Camp Staff at Schiff Scout Reservation (at that time this was a salaried position). He also served on the Philmont NJLIC Staff in 2002, 2003, and 2004, and, later, on two Pilot Regional NAYLE Staffs. His recognitions include: Kashafa Iraqi Scouting Service Award, Distinguished Commissioner, Doctor of Commissioner Science, International Scouter Award, District Award of Merit (2), Scoutmaster Award of Merit, Scouter's Key (3), Daniel Carter Beard Masonic Scouter Award, Cliff Dochterman Rotarian Scouter Award, James E. West Fellow (3), Wood Badge & Sea Badge. He has attended four National Scout Jamborees: Scout in 1957, First Assistant Scoutmaster in 1993, National Staff in 2001, and NESA Featured Speaker in 2014 and 2017. The BSA included his article titled "Frictionless Scouting Events" was incorporated into the BSA National Training Video, "Meetings of the District" for ten years. He is a charter member of the BSA National Advancement Advisory Board and has written multiple technical articles for the BSA Advancement Team's "Advancement News" since 2012. Read Andy's full biography

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