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"Man Scouts" is the name given to the young alumni of the Troop who continue to stay active and who participate in quasi-leadership roles. The Man Scouts are often available at the larger Troop events such as the Birthday, Memorial Day Parade, Horseshoe, and even the Family Dinner. They act as intermediaries between the adult leadership of the Troop and the senior scouts of the Staff Patrol whom were the most junior scouts when the Man Scouts were in the senior positions. In addition, the young men often act as a labor force for more serious projects that can not be entrusted to scouts and might be too strenuous for parents to do. When not working or liaising with the younger boys, the Man Scouts serve as extra eyes and ears to assist the Scoutmasters.

History

What originally began as a joke has now evolved into a cohesive group of interested young alumni. The Man Scouts are tasked with doing the most tedious and strenuous tasks that need to be done around the Cabin and Camp Horseshoe but also remain a close group of friends who enjoy helping the Troop and remaining close to those friends they made in Scouts. Man Scouts value a good sense of humor, and incorporate silly traditions and humor into what are sometimes otherwise boring and strenuous tasks.

Patrick Fitzgerald coined the term "Man Scout" at Camp Horseshoe in 2004. However, the Man Scouts were not a fully recognized unit until three years later. In 2007, the Man Scouts operated as a cohesive group under the leadership of Man Scout Patrol Leader Bill Kiniry who was later joined by assistant patrol leader Mike Kiniry. The two brothers have retained those positions, running unopposed. However more recently, Bill Kiniry has been put on probation due to his lack of attendance in the 2011-2012 scouting year.

In 2009, the Man Scout position "Secretary of War" was created, and bestowed upon Matt Kravitz who had joined the patrol the year before. Matt Kravitz, in the interest of improving the Troop, created the Man Scout Council. The Man Scout Council is comprised of the upper echelon of Man Scouts. The council meets somewhat regularly, and discusses matters relating to the condition of the Troop and how it can be improved.  The first annual Man Scout Council Meeting was held in June, 2014, at Camp Horseshoe.  

In 2010, Michael Magnotta was made Quartermaster of the patrol.

In 2011, Justin Hood was made Man Scout Patrol Scribe. Justin has been instrumental in organizing the Council and maintaining communication.

In 2014, Matthew W. Dong was made Acting Man Scout Secretary of War, as a recurring title whenever Matt Kravitz is unavailable. Matt J. Magnotta was promoted to Master.  The Council defered the vote of Council Member for another time.

In 2015, Titles and Duties were assigned.  

In 2016, Matt J. Magnotta, Justin R. Hood, and Matthew W. Dong were voted to the council.  

Requirements

The criteria for becoming a Man Scout are as follows:

1) Must be over 18, and thus no longer a Boy Scout.

2) Must have attained the rank of Eagle.

3) Must be a member of the Order of the Arrow.

4) Must attend at least three events each year or spend the entire week at Camp Horseshoe. (The Birthday counts as two events if you arrive early in full uniform and stay for the entire event, or alternatively, if you shuttle people to/from the event. The Lion Turkey Dinner and the Family Dinner each count as half an event as does attendance on a Board of Review both standard Boards for the entire troop and Eagle Boards.  Making an appearance at Horseshoe counts as one event, as does attending a Troop Committee Meeting. Honest and meaningful participation in Facebook conversations or email chains regarding the troop counts as either half or one event, at the discretion of the Man Scout SPL.)

After meeting all the basic requirements, the Man Scout Council must approve the prospective member. This is followed by The Trials: 5 tests that the initiate must pass in order to become a Padawan Learner. Padawan's are assigned to a Man Scout Mentor. After remaining an active and dutiful Padawan for a full year, an initiation ceremony is held. Upon completion of the ceremony, the initiate is a Man Scout.

NOTE: While not a requirement, all Man Scouts thus far have some type of "disability." For example, Justin R. Hood is color blind, Matt J. Magnotta is left handed, Matt Kravitz has a lazy eye, Adam Muhlenhaupt got his hand caught in a pully and now has a messed up finger, etc. The "disability factor" has held true for so long that it was actually written into the Man Scout Law. Future Man Scout candidates are encouraged to have a disability, or at least fake one.

The Trials

Trial of Skill

"The cave! Remember your failure at the caaaaave!" - Yoda, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

The first Trial is the Trial of Skill. The initiate must demonstrate the ability to work under pressure to complete a series of tasks that draw upon skills learned in scouting.

Trial of Courage

"As you know, the key to victory is the element of surprise... Surprise!" - Captain Zapp Brannigan, Futurama: War is the H-Word

The second Trial is the Trial of Courage. The initiate must demonstrate courage through adversity. Because this Trial is so easy to fake your way through if you know it is coming, it is administered without the initiate's knowledge.

The Third Trial

What are we supposed to use, man? Harsh language? - Pvt. Frost, Aliens

The third Trial is a secret.

Trial of Spirit

"This is for all you new people: I only have one rule. Everyone fights. No one quits. You don't do your job, I'll shoot you myself. You get me?" - Lieutenant Jean Rasczak, Starship Troopers

The fourth Trial is the Trial of Spirit. The initiate must demonstrate that they are overflowing with spirit. "Spirit" is not limited to Troop Spirit.  It includes Man Scout Spirit and the Man Scout Mentality that goes with being a Man Scout.  The initiate must be able to show excitement in Troop activities and be able to get others excited about scouting, while simultaneously staying true to the values of the Man Scouts.

Trial of Insight

"Who would cross the Bridge of Death must answer me these questions three, ere the other side he see." - Bridge-keeper, Monty Python and the Holy Grail

The final Trial is the Trial of Insight. The initiate must stand before the Man Scout Council, and answer a series of questions in a satisfactory manner.

The Council

The Man Scout Council is a select group of Man Scouts who meet/communicate somewhat regularly to discuss the current condition of the Troop and how it can be improved. What actually takes place at a council meeting is similar to a PLC.

Only Man Scouts who have attained the status of "Master" are allowed to sit on the council. In order to become a "Master," you must be a Man Scout for two years, and then be voted in as a "Master." Once a Master, you must then win a second vote to be admitted to the Council. The Council will only hold this vote when it is clear that the Master is fully committed to the Man Scouts (eg: The Master has finished school and has a career, but still makes time for Man Scouts). Additionally, only Masters who were SPL (or have a letter saying they were) can be on the council.

The Council Members are:

William F. Kiniry III

Michael A. Kiniry

Adam P. Muhlenhaupt

Matt J. Magnotta

Justin R. Hood

Matthew W. Dong

Man Scout Council Meetings

Man Scout Council Meetings are official meetings at which the Man Scout Council members discuss the state of the Troop. While these meetings can be held at any time or place, they are usually held once a year, on the Saturday of Troop's week at Horseshoe at 3:11 pm.  Council meetings are run by the council, but are open to all Man Scouts, initiates and approved dignitaries. Anyone in attendance can air grievances and submit evidence before the Council. A summary of all evidentiary points, themes, and testimony they wish to present should be summarized or otherwise listed on a typed document, double spaced (unless a list), with 1 inch margins. Documents should not be stapled (paperclips are okay). We take your evidence very seriously, so please take our evidentiary requirements seriously.

Council meetings are also used as a screening process for new initiates who wish to become Man Scouts.  


General Agenda:

Short speech by a Council Member.

Promotions and Demotions.

Man Scout Reports

Interrogation of the SPL.

State of the Troop.

Closing (Man Scout Oath and Law).

Grounds for Expulsion

A Man Scout can be expelled from the order for the following:

Violating the Man Scout Law (The Oath is more of a set of guidelines)

Disobeying a Man Scout Council Member

Causing a scene

Man Scout Sign

As the Boy Scouts hold up three fingers as their scout sign, the Man Scout sign is only two fingers. Modifying it to a peace sign or "pew pew" is also acceptable. When saluting, however, the pirate knuckle salute is used.

Man Scout Oath

On my honor, I will try my best to do my duty to Clifton Lisle and Murica, and to obey the Man Scout Law; To drink yellow cap at all times, to keep myself reasonably fit, mentally sane, and two deep.

Man Scout Law

A Man Scout is:

Fearful (combination of friendly and cheerful)

Courteous

Kind

Disabled (see note under "Requirements")

Accountable

Brave

Clean (sometimes)

Reverent

Integrity (A Man Scout is the "embodiment of integrity"... think about that.)

Patrol Song

We're the man scouts! We don't do anything.

We don't do anything.

We don't do anything.

And if you ask us,

To do anything,

We will end up

Doing everything.

Members

Bill Kiniry -- Supreme Chancellor  (Master)

Mike Kiniry -- Vice Chancellor (Master)

Adam Muhlenhaupt -- Council Liason (Master)

Matt J. Magnotta -- Praetor (Master)

Matthew W. Dong -- Lord Marshal

Michael Magnotta -- Artificer

Justin Hood -- Prothonotary (Master)

Matt Kravitz -- Aedile (Master)  

Matt H. Herbst -- Field Marshal

Mark Zibinski AKA "Butters" -- Military Tribune

Sam Cepielik -- Tribune of Plebs

Cody Pitz -- Secretary of the Interior

Matt Lindgren -- Guide

Erik Muhlenhaupt -- If he'd only show up to things, he'd be on the council.  (Master)

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