Thoughts of the Day from Mickey 7/15/15

The shape of the Scout insignia, the fleur de lis, is a representation of a flower, a lilly or iris.

Every new young Boy Scout is taught as a part of earning his first rank the greater signifigance of the fleur de lis. It is shaped like an old ornate compass needle that was used to help ancient mariners to navigate their way through the oceans seas. 

The top of the Scout emblem is a compass point that is not to lead a Scout or Scouter through the woods while hiking and backpacking. Rather the Scout insignia is to be used for Scouts and Scouters to assist in guiding them through the vast, uncertain,  and rugged  terrain of the wildernesd known as life.

The compass point of the Scouting emblem it is to help Scouts and Scouters to navigate their way through making decisions in their lives that lead them on the path to being healthy and productive members  of society. Folks who will some day find themselves at the end of that path to be seated at the final campfire and sit before the Scoutmaster of all Scouts. If they stayed the course they would be deserving of their final badge that is in likeness of the trail sign,  a circle with a dot in the center.  That  same trail sign embossed on the headstone of the founder of Scouting's final resting place means, "I have gone home".

As someone dissmissed from Scouting in an injust and sudden way, my heart weeps for the individual or few individuals who have decided my untimely and  unfair fate as a Scouter. I feel no hate or malice. Instead my heart weeps for them as it may be possible that somewhere in life they may have lost their way by misplacing their compass.

I am Mickey and these are my thoughts for the day:

It easy to find yourself lost in life. Often it is through our actions of helping, guiding and being there for others to find their way,  that we find our own. Be a mentor to others. This does not need to be a formal process and often all it takes is to lead others by the example by your own actions.

I will take my leave of you today with a couple of quotes from Robert Stephenson Symth Baden-Powell, founder of Scouting:

"The real way to happiness is to give it to others"

"In Scouting you are combatting the brooding of selfishness"

-Mickey

From Mickey

(Originally Posted on July 4th 2015)

There was a story of a young boy.

The boy was not a very popular boy. He wasn’t athletic. He wasn’t the best looking kid. He had a family who struggled financially so the boy never had expensive $100 sneakers or stylish clothes. He was often bullied. He sometimes struggled academically, however it was not aptitude rather it was effort. He had what most youth workers these days would describe as "risk factors" present in his life.

Despite all of this, the boy was a Boy Scout. In Scouting he wore the same uniform as everyone else. $100 sneakers and stylish clothes did not matter. In Scouting had the opportunity to make friends, learn skills, leadership, teamwork, and most importantly the core values of that organization. As he grew up in the program and he learned about the importance of community service and duty to God and Country. Things were still a struggle in his life, but he had Scouting.

Then at age of 16, while on staff for the first time at a Scout camp, he experienced the most intense exercise in leadership and teamwork thus far in his life. He also discovered the passion of teaching and more important; a work ethic, confidence, sense of competence, self-reliance, and the quest and thirst to be more than he was.

He returned home from the summer and back to school where went from being a C+ student to A+ student. He never became the most popular guy in school but he suddenly realized he didn’t need to. He also realized it was not the stylish clothes that dettermined who you are its how you walk, talk and carry yourself. He had learned one of the most important lessons in life.

He had also greatly benefited from a few very special teachers and several adult Scout leaders in his life. When he became an adult he realized the impact that others had on him and decided that would be his mission. It was a mission to work with others, “...to help others at all times..” , “...to endeavor so far as his power lies to be unselfish to the devotion of the service and welfare of others...”, “.
.to unselfishly and willingly shoulder the burdens of others...”, and “...to live a life of leadership and service...”.

He coveted those ideals, and they became sacred to him. He always worked on this mission with the understanding that it was something he would never ditectly benefit from or ever even see. It was a work of…faith…ofblind optimism...and the idea of sowing seeds through his work that may take root and if they did they may someday grow and bear fruit…fruit that others may benefit from. It was a way for him to pay forward all that he had recieved as a youth. Without the time given to him, he may never have grown up to be who he was.

During his younger years as a Scout he earned a few awards and achievements that some would see as prestigious. Sometimes he felt embarrassed when he was called out from his peers and recognized. There were after all other folks who had worked as hard as he had. They were also deserving of praise or awards.He never felt his contributions were anymore than anyone else. He was just a small part of it all.

As a Scouter he attended some really cool trainings, had the opportunity to have some wonderful experiences. He met, worked with, was billeted with, and shared meals with Scouts from around the world. He met Scouts of many different faiths, talked with them, listened to them as they shared their customs and and beliefs. He even observed some of their practices of worship. He learned of the world beyond his town and how dropping one small stone in a huge lake could cause a ripple across the whole body of water. After all of this as a man he decided to spend his life giving back, and serving others.

Then after many years he became his son's leader. The pride a dad feels seeing his own little boy set on the path to possibly follow in his foot steps through Scouting. The thought that his son would discover and learn all he had, made his chest swell with pride and brought an occasional tear of joy to his eye. None of what he had been awared or accomplished as a Scout mattered any longer, it was his little Scout who mattered. All that he accomplished was nothing next to the Scouting experiences he would share with his son.

Then the once boy turned man began to speak out about things that he felt could or should improve, not for his benefit, but the benefit of his son and his son's peers and for all of the youth in the area. For his out spokeness, for speaking out about what he thought was right, he was punished and asked to leave Scouting.

It makes me sad to think of all of this. I don’t feel angry at those who decided they wanted to silence him, I feel pity because they may not have ever benefited themselves as the boy once did and may not see the need to help others as he does.

I am Mickey and...this is my story.

Mickey and the Profera Family's History in Scouting

(Originally Posted July 6, 2015)

Day 11 of my exhile from membership of the organization that helped to create my identity.

I am of a family of Scouters. Growing up i was a third generation Scouter.

1952: Tony Zinnanti, affectionately called Uncle Tony (god rest his soul) agreed to take over as Scoutmaster of his son's troop, Troop 44, untill they could find a suitable replacement. He was replaced 20 years later and remained a registered Scouter till the day he went to sit at the final campfire at the end of the trail when he was in his 90s. He waa a Silver Beaver recipient and trained Wood Badger who took gis troop to a couple of national jamborees and Philmont Scout Ranch.

1957: Uncle Tony recruits the son of his best friend/first cousin, my Dad,Michael L Profera Sr., Dad came very close to earning Eagle Scout. None the less he continued on as an adult leader and replaced Uncle Tony in 1972. He is Wood Badge trained, a Silver Beaver recipient and a Vigil Member of the Order of the Arrow. He was the Scoutmaster of Troop 44 until 1997 and still remains aa a registered Scouter.

1973: I was born. There are folks who are in their 50s who can honestly tell the story of changing my diapers as an infant at troop meetings. As an infant my father carried me arround the Trails of the local Scout Camp, Camp Tri Mount. I was the troop mascott for years.

1984: I became an official Boy Scout. Over my youth years I earned the Rank of Eagle Scout, Vigil Honors in the Order of the Arrow and was on Camp Staff. I continued on in my adult years as an Explorer Post Advisor, Venture Crew Associate Advisor, and Assistant Scoutmaster in what ever town I lived in as i moved around and went to college in my 20sI Also continued on
Summer camp staff until nearly 30 (12 full time summer and 1 part time summer).

1985: I recriuted my best friend and someone I have always held in my heart as a brother, Paul Wayne Benjamin. We grew up in Scouting.

1988: My brother Peter Profera becomes a Boy Scout. Over his youth years he becomes an Eagle Scout and Vigil Member in the Order of the Arrow. He also worked on summer camp staff during his youth and into his adult years (12 years total). He was a youth in my Explorer Post where he met his future wife, Catherine Watzka Profera, the daughter of my associate Explorer Post advisor. She also worked as a staff member at summer camp. He and his wife later became Venture Crew Advisors.

1997: I met my wife Christine DeMarco Profera, who earned her Gold Scout in the Girl Scouts. Her sisters were Girl Scouts and her mom a life time member. My wife even worked for the local Scout council and part time camp staff member.

2007: My son and apple of my eye Michael III came into this world and only a few hours old we took pictures of him with a Cub hat and neckerchief over the blanket he waa swaddled in.

2013: My son became a Cub Scout, 4th generation Scouter.
My brother and his wife are Girl Scout Leaders with their Girl Scout daughter and Den leaders with their Cub Scout son.

I am of a Scouting family carrying the torch and light of Scouting for 63 years.

Then without warning or previous converation ir written communication I recieved a letter that I am out of scouting for allegedly being "negative and antagonistic" (for speaking my mind and wanting to see things done the right way and pointing out things that could and should improve). I broke NO criminal laws. I broke NO BSA youth protection rules. I broke No BSA safe guide to Scouting rules.

I am Mickey Profera and this is my story.

If you want we are still accepting letters of support for my apeal to the national headquarters; send to freemickeyprofera@gmail.com or christineprofera@gmail.com.

Also there is petition on the freemickey Facebook page along with additional writings and information about all of this.

I want to thank those who have been there for me and provided me with so much support and love. Thank you is not enough.

I want to thank those who have joined the ‪#‎freemickey‬ movement with your #freemickey selfie posts to the Freemickey Facebook posts.

If i get reinstated we will have a huge gathering of friendship and fellowship.