#DareToDo

At last week’s National Order of the Arrow Conference (I’ll do a write-up about the whole event soon), National Chief Alex Call launched a movement in his Wednesday night address. He asked (“dared”) each of the 15,000 Arrowmen in attendance to join him in impacting the world in a positive way as the Order begins its second century of service.

The concept is simple: Execute one, simple act of service (a “good turn”, as it’s been called in scouting for ages) each day. But now, instead of staying quiet about it, talk about it – Tweet about it or post it on Facebook with the hashtag #DareToDo. Why brag? Well, it’s not bragging as much as it is changing the common perception that there’s more bad than good in the world. By executing good deeds and spreading the word about them, we hope to start changing hearts and minds towards positive action one day at a time.

The challenge was to take the #DareToDo pledge for 100 days, but I have a feeling that for many of us, it’ll continue beyond the first 100 days.

We’d love others – YOU – to join us. Would you?

Here’s a video of the 25-minute address where Alex issued the challenge:

Ideas to start with:

A friend asked, so here are some ideas to get you started. But first, it’s important to note that no idea is “too small”. As our National Chief said in his address:

Love is simply the act of making others matter. -OANC

— OA National Chief (@OANationalChief) August 6, 2015

• Pay for the order of the car behind you in line
• Buy some cinnamon roles or other treats at the airport and take them around to the airline and airport employees (a friend did this at the Detroit airport today as they were flying home from NOAC)
• Give an hour or two to help at a homeless shelter
• Go spend some time with residents at a nursing home (some Arrowmen in Hawaii, catching wind of the challenge online, did this earlier this week)
• Offer to take an elderly neighbor to the store, or to church, or just spend some time with them over a cup of coffee
• Say “hi” to the person at school or at the office that no one usually speaks with – be friendly
• Cover some extra work and hours for a coworker so that they can make it to a family event
• Just give someone a warm smile
• Cut the neighbor’s grass
• Walk up and down your block picking up the trash
• Help raise or collect some money for a good cause
• Volunteer – anywhere!
• Hold the door open for a few extra people
• Be a little less aggressive in the morning rush
• Help clean up your table to make the wait staff’s job easier
• Check out some of the things other people are doing via the Twitter #DareToDo Search for more ideas

• Article on the Scouting Magazing blog: http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2015/08/05/dont-keep-your-daily-good-turns-to-yourself-share-them-using-daretodo/
• On the Web: http://dareto.do
• On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/daretodo2015
• On Twitter: http://twitter.com/dareto_do

Here’s a running log (updated each day) of my own #DareToDo posts:

Day 1 – August 6:

My #DareToDo today: Picked up each piece of trash I walked by. @DareTo_Do #NOAC2015 — NOAC Eagle (@NOACEagle) August 6, 2015

Day 2 – August 7:

For my #DareToDo today, I picked up a bottle of ashes from the Centennial Fire for my friend @danielreid back home. pic.twitter.com/l9CztpsWfE — NOAC Eagle (@NOACEagle) August 7, 2015

Personally walked a young Arrowman to where he needed to go to track down his 10k medal. #DAREtoDO — NOAC Eagle (@NOACEagle) August 7, 2015

Day 3 – August 8:

Bought the coffee for the car behind me during a stop driving home from #NOAC2015 #DareToDo http://t.co/1xIhdVXxGu pic.twitter.com/GHS4MuavsZ — Michael Halbrook (@Halbrook) August 8, 2015

Day 4 – August 9:

Sharing the gift of music at Mass this morning. A scout is reverent. #DareToDo pic.twitter.com/zCAjdkt2gM

— Bread Alive (@BreadAlive) August 9, 2015

#DareToDo Traded seats on the plane with another guy so he could sit with his wife and child. — Michael Halbrook (@Halbrook) August 9, 2015

Day 5 – August 10:

#DareToDo Went to the hotel lounge for breakfast w/out my cell phone, so I could focus on & talk w/ people. Amazing conversations @dareto_do

— Michael Halbrook (@Halbrook) August 10, 2015

Day 6 – August 11:

#DareToDo Had a great long call w/ my grandpa’s old friend who’s having a hard time dealing with his death. Becoming a new friend to her. — Michael Halbrook (@Halbrook) August 11, 2015

Day 7 – August 12:

#DareToDo: Simple today, but every little bit counts – Cleaned up the mess of paper towels on the floor in the office restroom.

— Michael Halbrook (@Halbrook) August 12, 2015

Day 8 – August 13:

Spent extra time helping an older, shorter lady get her suitcase into and out of the overhead bin. #DareToDo — Michael Halbrook (@Halbrook) August 13, 2015

Day 9 – August 14:

Today’s #DareToDo is real results to help ensure I’m here long-term for my wife & kids: Hard work = lowest weight & blood pressure in 2 yrs!

— Michael Halbrook (@Halbrook) August 14, 2015

Day 10 – August 15:

Emptied my pockets for the firemen collecting in their boots for charity outside of the local store. #DareToDo — Michael Halbrook (@Halbrook) August 15, 2015

Day 11 – August 16:

#DareToDo Day 11: Hand-written notes and gifts for two newly-inducted @oabsa Arrowmen from my home troop pic.twitter.com/kaDizRkwXN

— Michael Halbrook (@Halbrook) August 16, 2015

Day 12 – August 17:

#DareToDo Installed new A/V equipment in the media lab for our kids’ school’s morning announcement TV broadcasts. — Michael Halbrook (@Halbrook) August 18, 2015

Day 13 – August 18:

#DareToDo Day 13: Picked up trash on my morning walk around the park with my #3 son pic.twitter.com/dA8Z46L7sT

— Michael Halbrook (@Halbrook) August 19, 2015

Day 14-26 – August 19-August 31:

Picked up a TON of litter as I traveled and hung out with my family:

Haven't forgotten #DareToDo, just too busy to post. For the last week, I've been picking up litter whenever I run across it. Lots out there!

— Michael Halbrook (@Halbrook) September 1, 2015

Day 27 – September 1:

#DareToDo Helped a coworker find the way back to his hotel from a team dinner.

— Michael Halbrook (@Halbrook) September 2, 2015

Day 28 – September 2:

Doorman said "You went to @PhilzCoffee? Great choice!" Gave him some cash to treat himself to some after his shift too. #DareToDo

— Michael Halbrook (@Halbrook) September 3, 2015

Day 29 – September 3:

Doorman said "You went to @PhilzCoffee? Great choice!" Gave him some cash to treat himself to some after his shift too. #DareToDo

— Michael Halbrook (@Halbrook) September 3, 2015

Day 30 – September 4:

#DareToDo Day 30 (9/4) Took the day off and spent it with my wife for our 11th Anniversary!

— Michael Halbrook (@Halbrook) September 10, 2015

Day 31 – September 5:

#DareToDo Day 31 (9/5) Left a bunch of spare change in some parking meters for others' benefit.

— Michael Halbrook (@Halbrook) September 10, 2015

Day 32 – September 6:

#DareToDo Day 32 (9/6) Did a bunch of extra work around the house before & after our kids' birthday party. They had a great one w/ family!

— Michael Halbrook (@Halbrook) September 10, 2015

Day 33 – September 7:

#DareToDo Day 33 (9/7) Took 3 of the 4 kids so my wife could have a lighter day with just 1 of them, and take her mom out as well.

— Michael Halbrook (@Halbrook) September 10, 2015

Day 34 – September 8:

#DareToDo Day 34 (9/8) Called BINGO for my kids' school (ongoing fundraiser).

— Michael Halbrook (@Halbrook) September 10, 2015

Day 35 – September 9:

#DareToDo Day 35 (9/9) Had a great lunch w/ an old client; caught up, listened a bunch, and shared some career input & advice.

— Michael Halbrook (@Halbrook) September 10, 2015

Day 36 – September 10: