The saving grace of the 4th Dominica St. Alphonsus Scout Troop. Group Scout Leader; Mr. Steve Charles.

Hello my dear readers. I hope by now that you guys have read my post on sister blog “Story Mwen To Tell” where I shared some of my precious scouting memories, and that’s what brought you here. If not, and you’re reading this first, then head on over after to read the other. You won’t regret it.

Scouting. A precious commodity that we cannot afford to lose.

As I mentioned in the other blog, Mr. Charles approached me early 2022 and told me that he needed help in revamping the dying, if not already dead troop. I gave my word that I would and today we can say that we’ve got our head above water, at least.

I decided to interview Mr. Charles because during our conversations he would always reveal things about the troop that I had no idea of. He wasn’t just retelling stories either, he was speaking from experience. Having recently interviewed Mr. Roy Royer who founded the troop in 1954, also as a massive revamp of the then dying 4th Dominica Scout Troop. He could not use the same name and so added the name of the parish. Mr, Royer, at the time of his interview with me was 98 (now 99) and so was having a little trouble giving details. I saw the importance of getting as much documented as possible and so I then decided to obtain and immortalize Mr. Charles’ many accounts of events and activities, while he was still young and the memories though quite some time ago, still crisp with detail.

Mr. Charles would like the public both in Dominica, and overseas to know that the 4th Dominica St. Alphonsus Scout Troop is very much alive and are recruiting new members. Boys from age 6 and girls from age 14. Interested persons can contact the troop’s executive via phone +1767 277 0152. Email: infostalphonsus@gmail.com, or via visit during regular Friday afternoon scout meetings from 5pm at the Scout Den, located at the Goodwill Parish Hall. With that said, do enjoy my interview with present Group Scout Leader of the legendary 4th Dominica St. Alphonsus Scout Troop: Mr. Steve Charles.

• Thank you for agreeing to this interview. May you please introduce yourself for those who do not know who you are.

My name is Steve Charles and I am currently the Group Scout Leader and Band Major (Mace Man) of the 4th Dominica St. Alphonsus Scout Troop. I have been a member of this troop for the past thirty-five (35) years. I joined at the age of five. Please don’t try to guess my age. Hahaha

• What is your favourite thing about scouting?

There are so many things that I love about scouting, but I believe my favourite is the discipline. It’s the most important. It encourages one to become a future leader and gives the survival skills necessary for any type of disaster.

• When did you become the Group Scout Leader and how has it been so far?

I took up the position of GSL in August of 2021 when I decided to revamp the troop. At the time the troop was dormant with only three boys attending scout meetings. Three from a troop that once had more than four hundred active members. I guess migration and even the Covid_19 pandemic among other factors are to be blamed. We did the groundwork and slowly the numbers began to climb. An election was then held when the membership began to pick up and again, I was nominated and voted in as GSL. In my time of being a young boyscout, it was so different. There were not so many distractions, and we definitely had no access to the internet or technology like children do today. It is now very challenging to recruit new members. There seems to be a lack of interest. I however have a strong Executive team and a few dedicated parents who make me feel that even the smallest rock can take down the giant before us. Special shout out to Yola Toussaint, Carissa Dangleben, Rhymer Alfred, Laura Deschamps our Executive Treasurer, Leandra Savarin, and all the other parents/scouts/executive members making the necessary sacrifices of time and energy to fight this good fight. Sincere thanks also to Ms. Lydia Leblanc, our Attached Youth Officer. In the early days of our revamp, sometimes she would be the only one there to help me with the troop members.

Let me just insert here, Ms. Leblanc has been acting youth officer for the Roseau North and Valley district for eight years. She has been with the Youth Division since 2012, first working as a facilitator. then center manager, followed by acting youth officer since 2016. She is a wonderful addition to our circle of supporters and helpers.

• What is your most cherished scouting memory? (For this we have the actual interview audio. Press play! 🙂

I can’t help but laugh at this. Mr. Rawle was something else. He always seemed to be a step ahead of so many things. I remember when we travelled to England for the jamboree, it was a long drive to Hyland’s Park and we all (except for him of course) fell asleep. When we woke up, he had said to us “You guys didn’t take note of a single landmark just in case we need it. I could walk my way back to the airport because I memorised the route. That should be some points deducted.” Man oh man.

• What are some of the difficulties that your troop in particular is facing at the moment?

I would have to say that our biggest hurdle at the moment is membership. There is a lack of interest in joining the movement, and I’ve spoken to other youth group leaders and they expressed the same sentiments. The numbers seem to be dwindling or stuck across the board of organisations. Our troop will be seventy years old on the 26th of this month (July 2024), and we refuse to let it die. We have embarked on promotion and recruitment drives in various schools and even the state college. I don’t think that the young ones understand the power of scouting in their life. They don’t know what it can do for them. Our troop produces so many successful members of society. We are exploring other creative ways to rope them in. Big shout out to the Convent Preparatory School who really rallied around their students when they were seen in uniform and on parade. Special thanks to Mrs. Lawrence, Principal of the Convent Preparatory School.

I am making an appeal to the current parents of the boys in the troop as well as the future ones, to give Mr. Charles, his leaders and executive members ALL THE SUPPORT that you can. It is a necessary relationship. Children listen to and pattern on their parents, therefore if they see dedication to the troop and respect for the leaders, they will automatically follow. Commit to your children being in the troop and they will commit to wearing and properly representing in the uniform. Pay the subscription. Take part in fund raisers. Come to Church Parade. We cannot do it alone.

• What is one, or maybe a few things about your troop that make it stand out?

My troop is most likely the longest serving troop on the island to date, and maybe even in the Caribbean. We were at one point the largest, boasting over four hundred (400) active members. Let’s not even get started on the scout band.

That’s a whole interview on its own. We have been recognized for a certain level of discipline and prestige in the way that we carried ourselves and duties. This particular troop has seen some of the most successful people on the island and even abroad for those who have migrated. We have members who are now in the army, navy and air force. We have teachers, business owners, lawyers and doctors, government ministers and entertainers. Even if some our members are not popular, they are good, upstanding members of society. I believe they can all give some credit to the discipline received in the troop as one of the reasons for their success. We are also the only troop named after the church parish that they serve. You see this tree here? We planted that! I remember like yesterday. We even helped to carry large sea stones from the bay side (Pottersville) to the church yard when the new St. Alphonsus Church was being built. We did it all for service to God, community and country.

• What is an unknown but surprising fact about you? (For this we have video footage of Mr. Charles.)

• How do you feel when you put on your uniform, and does it still feel like the first time, if you remember the first time?

The first time I put on my uniform, I was five years old. Boys usually are recruited at the age of seven, but somehow, I was accepted at five. It was a proud moment for me to be in uniform and still to this day, whenever I wear it, there is an incredible sense of belonging. Believe me, I am super proud of my troop. I ensure that I am always clean and neat, especially being at the forefront.

• If you could snap your fingers and have five things appear for your troop. What would they be?

Snapping right now.

• Firstly for the troop to survive! Way after I am leader. I’d love to know that it lives to be more than 100 years of existence.
• Secondly, a spike in membership growth. I am imploring the youth, come join us and you won’t regret it.
• For the future leaders to always show love and compassion, patience and understanding to the members. Times are changing, but discipline is forever a must when running an institution like this one. The boys and girls (my daughter is a member of the troop) who are seriously interested should be protected at all costs and invested in so that the troop can continue shape the future successful members of society.

Help from the public and private sector with our efforts to revamp and survive. We thrived on our exchange of goods and services in the past and we cannot do it without the public. We are right now in need of so many things and sponsorship is needed until we can reestablish and get back on our feet. Check out our wish List, because you may have something that you no longer need or use, that we require.

• Finally, more recognition from present and past members alike of the contributions that scouting made to their lives. We asked quite a few non-active members for a few words to encourage new members and they did not comply. I guess that they are too busy, but I feel that if the troop served them well in their youth, so can it help the present members today. A word of encouragement won’t hurt.

There were role models for them when they were young, and now the young ones who are active members need role models as well. Stop by the scout den. Give a little account of your days of scouting. Donate some cash. Give some of your time to one of our activities, be it a clean-up, a drill practice session, a fishing expedition or whatever the case may be. It takes nothing for you to give back a little to the troop that sheltered you and kept you out of trouble.

• What would you say to a young person doubting joining the movement, particularly your troop?

My friends. The internet, and technology might be captivating and what you consider fun, but trust me, nothing compares to having the outdoor experiences that scouting offers. You need to experience the thrill of a camp. Starting a fire from a few stones and some twigs. Tracking both people and animals. Let’s not even get started on parades. Have you seen our troop on parade? It’s the best feeling! Being trained in first aid. Understanding the Semaphore code being used when ships pull into the docks. Understanding the Morse code when you hear it in a movie. You may decide that you don’t like it, but at least try it. I can assure you that once you give us a chance, you will begin to understand the magnitude of the movement.

• Describe your life in three words.

I love life!