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Wanted: New Explorer Chief

It's time once again to call for "fresh blood" for this leadership position.  After five years as Guides/Explorers chief -- and three years of hoping for a successor to step forward -- I've decided to bow out, regardless of whatever leadership vacuum it may create.

It's been two years since we dropped the "I-theme" to maintain our focus on the idea of dads sharing one-on-one time with their kids.  While I can't say that our change has helped recruiting efforts, as we had hoped it would, it definitely was a step in the right direction.  This isn't a program about native cultures, but rather one about fostering the relationship between dads and kids.  It is meant as an antidote to the tendency to benignly ignore our children during the years they need -- and want -- time with us the most.  It's all about dads making a commitment to make time for their children, not simply sharing time when they happen to have a free afternoon.

December 1999

What will come next year?  I don't know.  Perhaps a shared responsibility among the Explorers dads and sons to organize activities and recruit new families to the program.  Perhaps a renewed commitment to carve time out of busy schedules to ensure we have time for the really important matters in our lives -- including that all so important bond with our children.  It's well worth the effort.

— Mike "Laughing
Dog" Kruchoski
Chieftain, Sun Clan