Scouts-L
The following information is taken from Jon Eidson's welcome message giving new users instructions on how to use Scouts-L. You will get the complete uncondensed version upon subscribing. This description is longer, because I firmly believe that this discussion group is one of the best places on the Internet to find Scouting information, to share information, and to test ideas.
SCOUTS-L is the "Electronic Roundtable that Never Ends". SCOUTS-L provides opportunities for members of youth groups world-wide to interact, compare notes on their programs, discuss organizational problems and concerns, and communicate with members all over the world! While the groups discussed may be heavily weighted towards the programs of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), it also includes Girl Scouts and Girl Guides, Boys' and Girls' Clubs, and other world-wide scouting and youth organizations.
If you can imagine a daily meeting with parents of Scouts, leaders at the unit level, Scouters (scouting leaders) at the group, local Council or Regional level and occasionally some people who make Scouting their career (or did at one time or another) -- from all over the nation and from around the world -- you have an idea of the impact this discussion list has.
Discussion covers a wide variety of issues and topics, from the silliness of a "Woodbadge animal" to the very seriousness of child protection policies that many organizations have recently installed. While none of folks on the list profess to have the answer to EVERY issue or question, they do spend a great deal of time answering as many as they can. In most cases, they not only answer the "where it can be found in the literature" question, but also give some practical applications of why it is or is not so.
Discussion includes stories of how units or groups are doing, to inspire and to just share with others anxieties, fears and joys. It can get personal occasionally, because Scouters on the list have grown to be more than merely people discussing youth programs...they've become friends. They care when fellow members are in the hospital, or when their new son or daughter is born, or when a fellow Scouter attended our first training session or decided that perhaps his/her services were needed elsewhere
Not everyone on the list is in total agreement every day with all issues and resolutions of issues. There are arguments and Scouters express themselves with deep personal emotion, but also remember that they are in the company of fellow Scouters...people who understand that disagreements are a part of being human; that the disagreement is with the other point of view, and NOT the other person. Therefore, you will NOT find here the outlandish language and ongoing discussions about topics that have no real answer to them. These folks don't have time for such nonsense...thry're too busy discussing issues that CAN be resolved.
Subscribers are free (and encouraged) to extract and download the information shared and share it with those that you work with in your youth agency or group. In this way, you are not letting the information die! Many Scout "roundtables" use the information from this list each month!
Subscribing to Scouts-L: The act of SUBSCRIBING to the SCOUTS-L list is to place your name on the list which will allow you to receive all postings to the SCOUTS-L list as well as to be able to post messages to SCOUTS-L.
You may subscribe or unsubscribe via the web at http://listserv.tcu.edu/cgi-bin/wa.exe?SUBED1=scouts-l&A=1.
To subscribe via e-mail you may send a 1 line email message to:
LISTSERV@TCU.EDU
without any extra headings or signature lines. This message should be as follows:
SUBSCRIBE SCOUTS-L your name
You should use your REAL NAME in place of "your name". Handles are not accepted on SCOUTS-L. Your email address is taken from the "FROM" line of your email heading.
The Scouts-L Listserv: The Listserv is a computer that accepts commands or inquiries. THERE IS NOBODY PHYSICALLY AT THE LISTSERV ADDRESS! Take some time to learn how to use and interact with the LISTSERV. This will save you a lot of time and headaches when you want to search for some past topic, retrieve files, or change some of your options. Remember there are two E-mail addresses that you use:
SCOUTS-L@TCU.EDU
is used when you want to POST a message to the group,
LISTSERV@TCU.EDU
is used when you want to subscribe, unsubscribe, get files, database searches, and change options.
Commands: The commands to LISTSERV are contained in the body of your email message. A good command to start with is "HELP". Other useful commands to LISTSERV are:
A special note to those who reply to a digested SCOUTS-L is to change the subject line to something appropriate.
