Re: [Philmont]: Over already! Thanks

I had a chance to talk to Brad Jones (now a staffer at Miner's Park)
just before I went to summer camp, and he confirms that the trash bins
are indeed overflowing all over the Ranch, and that the "normally"
scheduled pickups are not keeping up.

The harrassment charge probably dates from a few years back, where at
some camps the staff refused just about every effort. I had to
personally intervene on a few occasions after my Scouts had spent an
hour compacting trash into uranium, and still it was refused. But this
was just a minor annoyance, and we certainly didn't take it as
harrassment. But some people take offence at anything and everything,
and write long diatribes (upon return to Basecamp) over utter
trivialities and perceived slights such as this, and (usually) when the
Powers that Be get enough such complaints over enough years, they will
act. In this case, however, they have clearly over-reacted (is anyone
surprised???) Hopefully a compromise will soon be reached, because the
current situation is clearly unacceptable - when staffers have to start
storing trash inside their cabins because the bear-bins are (needlessly)
stuffed, lives - and property - and bears - are at risk.

It is also important to remember that Philmont is the primary
backpacking training school for the BSA, and that policies and methods
taught here are used across the United States, and also by U.S. Scout
Unit going elsewhere (Canada, etc.). When a basic operational aspect of
Philmont is tossed out for no good reason other than bitching and
whining Advisors, it has an immediate and negative impact on Units doing
other, similar long-distance/long-term backpacking treks in true
wilderness areas. This is not something that should be learned the hard
way.

For these reasons, for those Advisors still heading to Philmont this and
next year, I would strongly encourage you at least to compact, and teach
others to do so as well. It will be appreciated by an already overtaxed
staff and (bitching and whining aside), IT JUST ISN'T THAT HARD. And
the life you save may be your own.... or a Staffer's.... or a
Scout's.... or a bear's....

- Dr. Bob

Philhockey wrote:
> 99 % of the time I just read messages on this board, but I must ask, how is
> trash compacting harrassment? Aren't those who usually cry foul on such
> topics usually the ones who say that the dumps are over flowing?
>
> Just Curious.....
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mark Waggoner" <markjwagg@hotmail.com>

-------------------------------------------------------
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 Wed Jul 9 05:47:53 2003