[Philmont]: Does your Council Contingent enforce weight rules, etc?

I'm in the process of helping to rework some of our Council's rules and
regulations on its Contingent treks. Currently, we have a standing
reservation with Philmont for 16 Council Contingent treks per summer but are
supposed to go to 20 in 2004. We hold a lottery in September for each
upcoming year and draw from the postcards we receive from leaders during the
first 9 months of the year. The postcards are made available at our Council
Service Center and though our Scouter monthly newspaper. Once a unit is
selected they are given a payment schedule on what is due when and how much,
etc). We usually have a wait list and if a unit cancels the first on the
list gets a call. Because our Council provides buses for transportation we
really try to encourage only 2 adults per crew but if push comes to shove
and a crew needs to be filled up 3-4 adults may be on the roster. I know on
one trek I advised we ended up 2 short about 8 weeks prior to our date of
departure and I was allowed to fill the spots with a father and son who had
asked the Council if there were any available spaces. The father and son
made a team that easily fit in with our Crew.

A few things bother me about our system. Each year we have a few crews that
get close to June and announce they are short several members and can the
Council please provide a list of individuals who would like to go. Also,
each year we get down to the wire only to find out that a crew leader is
about 20-50 lbs over the limit and once again, there is a mad scramble to
get a leader who can meet the guidelines. We also hold some pre Philmont
trainings and an advisors meeting in April where we give out the Crew
packets. Seems like each year we have a crew or 2 that hasn't a clue of what
to expect at Philmont that doesn't take advantage of our trainings or even
show up for the meeting.

So, do other Council's have any rules that work to ensure that crew numbers
are solid by March or April of the year's trek? (I realize there are
unforeseen circumstances and some crews may come up one or two people
short.) Do you impose any penalties or is your Council just there to collect
the fees and leave it up to the individual crews. Would it be legitimate to
require participation in pre trek trainings or meetings, etc.

Do any Council's impose any kind of weigh in or contract when overweight
folks sign up for a Council Trek or do they even refuse them?

Keep in mind I am just speaking of Council Contingent treks, not units who
deal with Philmont on an individual basis.

YOF
Chris in Houston

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Received on Fri May 9 11:17:36 2003