From: Wayne Rascati (wrascati@cox.net)
Date: Sat Nov 09 2002 - 17:06:14 CST
MessageI too have advocated the change in the call-in system. It works to the disadvantage of those who have inferior phone companies -- yes there are still some in this country. Today, after 90 minutes I gave up. After 55 minutes I was aware that we weren't going to get one of the slots, but I was hoping that we might get a low number on the call-in list.
That is how our Crew managed to go this past summer. We got the call on Veterans Day last year from Betty. We were 69 and 89 on the waiting list for 2002 and we were just under the hour mark for call-ins when our call got through two years ago. In fact two of the callers from our unit got through at the same time.
I have heard different alternatives or adjustment suggestions put forward--
-- limit each call in to one crew of 12 people; that way if a unit wanted two or three slots, they would need to get through three times.
-- limit the number of pre-approved slots that the Councils get before the rest of us ever get a chance to compete for the remainder.
-- or conversely, allocate all the slots to the Councils and let them award them to units within their Council based on a series of national factors to be developed or they can have a Council lottery.
-- mail lottery system
-- requiring a credit card non-refundable deposit charged at the time of call-in; that way only the earnest would put in for it and not overbook.
-- cut all treks by one day so that more units can go; would allow one or two more slots each departure day between June and August and not increase the number of youth in the field at the same time.
-- and the one I heard today below, lengthen the time between which crews can return.
I read in the Philmont mailing that over one million phone calls were made last year. That's a lot of effort that could be put to better use in Scouting than punching redial on a telephone on a Saturday morning.
Maybe BSA will wake up and realize that their present system is unfair and needs to be addressed. But then fair isn't one of the 12 principles of the Scout Law.
I enjoyed Philmont as did each of participants in our crew. I wanted the slot not for myself, but for the youth that we serve. Hopefully, they one day will get to enjoy the opportunity.
Wayne Rascati
Los Padres Council, Crew 105 (Santa Barbara, CA)
2002-805Q Advisor - the ONLY crew from Los Padres Council to go in 2002.
----- Original Message -----
From: Phil Brown
To: Multiple recipients of list philmont
Sent: Saturday, November 09, 2002 1:37 PM
Subject: RE: [Philmont]: How quickly did it sell out this year?
Kevin,
I could go on at length with reasons to change the system and alternative methods that would be superior to the phone in. I avoided that since it was discussed at length after last year's call in. I agree with you that a lottery would be as fair as the current system. And it would require a lot less effort.
One idea that I have not seen before is to lengthen the time between when a unit can go. With so many units not getting in, maybe instead of limiting units to every other year, it should be every third year. There's Northern Tier and Sea Base for the other two.
At any rate, the phone in system needs to go.
Phil Brown
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-philmont@troop47.com [mailto:owner-philmont@troop47.com] On Behalf Of KKoloff@aol.com
Sent: Saturday, November 09, 2002 2:38 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list philmont
Subject: Re: [Philmont]: How quickly did it sell out this year?
In a message dated 11/9/2002 1:32:10 PM Central Standard Time, philbrown@enterinfosys.com writes:
Anybody want to guess at the number of
hours spent? Imagine some of the things that could be accomplished if
all those hours were spent doing something constructive for scouting
rather than pushing a redial button. For this reason alone, it is time
to change the system that Philmont uses for allocating treks.
Well, I agree in part, but for the other reason you stated of other units that will never get to go because of the phone in system.
My troop didn't go last year, won't go this summer, nor 2004 because of not being able to get in through the phones. Best thing I could offer as a substitution is a lottery, it would be more fair. Elegible uinits send in a post card, then they are drawn in order same as phone calls recieved in order, seems a better plan, therefore it will never be implemented.
Kevin Koloff
Oklahoma
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