Re: [Philmont]: Philmont Patches for Sale

This was the basis of a fairly heated thread some years back. I suppose
the hot-button issue is when someone is trying to acquire an Arrowhead
so as to wear it under false pretenses (that is, "I did a trek"). John
Leblanc wrote a fairly poignant response indicating that there can be
other purposes for wearing an Arrowhead (that is, in memory of a
deceased Scout or Scouter), but it has been my observation that anyone
who is wearing an Arrowhead under false pretenses is attempting to
deceive. Which is pretty dumb when there are so many Philmont Phanatics
out there who can expose a non-trekker in a hot minute's worth of
questions. I always knew when someone was trying to snow me about their
alleged Philmont trek.

I agree that anyone who would trade or sell their Philmont patch
certainly didn't care about it - probably because they had a miserable
experience. Pretty sad. I do know that a large percentage of
Arrowheads for sale by patch traders were included in large collections,
often sold for peanuts by widows or children (I know of one such
collection sold about 10 years ago, a dozen large boxes of hundreds and
hundreds of items, including a dozen Arrowheads and many other priceless
items, that was "sold" to a trader for $40).

I also agree that the "curator" collector that Jim describes below is a
special case, and I have no particular heartburn about his passion (one
I admittedly do not share). Again, when the intent is history,
preservation, display, and probably donation to a Scout museum some day,
that's a world apart from the jerk wearing two Arrowheads at a Jambo and
claiming to have earned them. I have respect for the first, and nothing
but contempt for the second. Certainly no one will ever wear my
Arrowheads and pass them off as their own....

- Dr. Bob

Jim Welton wrote:
>
> If someone is willing to trade their Arrowhead for cash and prizes, it
> is now in the hands of someone who cares about it a lot more than the
> original owner.
>
> Interesting that somehow an Arrowhead is better tossed in the bottom of
> a desk drawer, tossed in the sock drawer, or twisting on a uniform, than
> carefully cataloged, preserved, and cared for by a collector. Most
> collectors I know of Philmont items have been to Philmont and desire to
> create a kind of museum of Philmont artifacts. They will spend hours
> pouring over the major Philmont collecting guides. Researching stories
> and pictures, looking for forgotten items. Many times when Councils,
> Camps, Districts and what not finally get around to caring about their
> history, it is those collectors who they turn to and find long lost items.
>
> This isn't about pretending to have completed a trek. It is about being
> a curator.
>
> Just an alternate opinion. Your mileage may vary.
>
> YiS,
> Jim Welton
> McAllen, Texas

-------------------------------------------------------
Scouting E-mail Discussion Lists @ usscouts.org
Subscribe/Unsubscribe at http://usscouts.org/lists/
Listserv Commands at http://usscouts.org/lists/lc.asp
-------------------------------------------------------
Send listserv commands to: listserv@troop47.com
Send postings to: philmont@troop47.com
List FAQ found at: http://usscouts.org/lists/faq.asp
List Administrator: philmont_owner@troop47.com
-------------------------------------------------------
As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow
Scouts and Scouters, do your best to be trustworthy,
loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient,
cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
-------------------------------------------------------

 
Received on Mon Dec 19 22:20:53 2005