From: mnep@att.net
Date: Wed Jan 29 2003 - 20:53:41 CST
Thanks everyone for the personal stories. It helps knowing that others have
had similar issues to deal with.
I received an email note from him last night saying he was saddened by our
upset words. He is now accepting of my holding back on sending in money for a
his spot (we several unfilled spots in our two crews, so it won't be a problem
if he is able to get in shape and does attend the shakedowns) and that he
expected that I will see in the next few months that he can keep up with the
boys.
I did respond back with some quotes from the Philmont Planning Guide and the
Philmont Advisor's Guide about the importance of being in shape and the
importance of training as a crew. I told him that since Philmont stresses it,
I as a first time advisor was not in a position to waive the requirement for
his participation in the shakedown hikes. I did re-extend the offer to take
his schedule to the crew and work to schedule some activities that would fit
it, but that he did need to do what he could to meet the scouts schedule as
well.
I like the example below. I hope my situation works out similarly. I sent him
the Philmont phone number that is published in the medical section of the
planning guide and urged him to call it. I hope that the first few shakedown
hikes he participates in help him to realize that it is much more difficult
endevour than what he is experiences on the treadmill. I do wish him luck in
his efforts, and wish I could be as positive as he is that he can get into
shape in the next 5 months but I just don't see how that is possible. We are
from a flat part of Illinois, so we not only don't have altitude, we do not
have any type of significant hill on which to train.
He did say that he was upset with me because he thought that I was denying him
the opportunity to go to Philmont. I replied that it is our sons opportunity;
our opportunity was 20 - 30 years ago. Now are role is to support our sons,
and I need to make sure that every adult meets the requirements in order to
help support the scouts opportunity. I don't know if he can see past his
desire to go to Philmont in order to be able to see his potential impact on the
scouts.
>
> We had an advisor in a similar condition for 2001. Super nice guy, and
> excellent leader, but he needed to lose about 100 pounds to even make the
> weight. He managed to lose 50 by dieting and hiking a lot with his pack,
> and somehow thought he'd still be allowed on the trail (Denial is a
> powerful thing!) The crew went along with him, fully knowing he'd never
> make it. They never sent in his money, and the week before they left, he
> finally called Mark Anderson at Philmont. I don't know exactly how the
> conversation went, but he tearfully resigned from the crew the following
> day. It was tough for everyone and the rest of the crew had to pick up what
> was to be his share of the travel costs (driving) but it was expected
> anyway. Good luck -- it's not easy. In this case, it was Mark who ended up
> being the 'bad' guy.
>
>
>
>
>
>
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> -------------------------------------------------------
> 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.
> -------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
>
>
>
-------------------------------------------------------
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.
-------------------------------------------------------
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