[Philmont] "Quality" of Staff at A staff camp in 2003

From: H. Rice Brewer, Sr. <hrb@bpsnwa.com>
Date: Wed Oct 17 2007 - 09:24:02 CDT

Billy,

It has been pointed out to me the source of your reference.  As I re4fuse to read *that* rag after they belittled some of my very good friends. I simply did not make the connection.  My apologies.

Yes, there are always a few bad apples in every bunch.  Unfortunately, Philmont can't be as picky as they used to be when it comes to staff.  Some years ago, it was 5-6 applicants for every position but now, as you may know, some positions go begging and some are never filled.  Yes, the number on staff has more than doubled to 1,000+ but the number of applications has dropped from +/-3,000 to roughly 1 for every position (if Phil Management is on list, please feel free to correct my numbers if you wish).

No "first stones" here, of course.  Yes, we played harder than we should.   However, I don't *think* it ever got in the way of our job.  At least  I hope so.  Yet, we were oh so very young.

In the end, I guess I cut the back country staffers a bit more slack than others as I have been there, done that and shot the t-shirt full of holes. 

-Rice



White, Billy Wayne (GE Indust, ConsInd) wrote:

I hope that your last line was in jest.  To equate one bad back country staff experience to " a case of beer and a bong" is a bit of a stretch, don't you think?  

No, it was not in jest.  It was a reference to the statement and behavior portrayed in the Outside mag discussed a few days ago. If they act that way in front of young scouts and older adults, there's nothing left to restrain them alone with a group of their peers.  

Remember, back country staff members are only a few years - if that many - removed from the protective cover of their mothers apron.  They are but young adults trying to find their place in this world.    

But they were Scouts. It doesn't matter how far they are from momma, they should act like Scouts. Or at least that's what I expect of Scouts.

 

 Sounds as if the problem at Uracca was that they were lacking a slightly older CD who could rein in the typical disdain youth of that age have for some of us older and supposedly wiser folks.  I assure you that once the PTB found out what was going one, it was addressed with possible dismissals.  Mark Anderson simply does not put up with such antics.  

True enough, he or someone did.  I don't know what was done but was told that the problem had been dealt with.   

Now, don't get me wrong, some do "play" differently in their off time (and generally off property) than do others.  Shoot, when I was on staff, I know I did some things which I regret.  Some of it was stupidity.  Some of it was "stretching the wings".  Some of it was blowing off steam.   

I certainly can't "cast the first stone" either.  We've all made mistakes even in the name of having fun, or at least I have.

 

 However, at no time did our late 1970's off-piste activities even come close to what has been described in what I will generously call journalistic offerings of the past few years.  

Rice, I guess my point was that even in "God's country" there may be some who acted like the Outside mag writer said.  I don't know. Believe me I didn't like the article depicting Scouting as it did.  I cancelled my subscription to the mag after that article appeared also. There is, we'll all probably agree, a not so hidden agenda against Scouting in the journalistic world.  But just a few bad apples in Scouting, or on staff at Philmont, acting like those depicted in the article or like we observed at Uraaca, give those looking for an opportunity to hurt the BSA all the ammo they need.

 

If the writer had been on the porch with us that rainy night in 2003, he would have reached the same conclusion. Some of the same "slang words" he used in his article were used on the porch that night, just not in a drunken stupor but in a feeble attempt at humor.

 

Rice Brewer
Fort Smith, AR

Wayne White, present CC, former SM of 14 years,

Troop 222, Moulton, Alabama  

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As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow
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Received on Wed Oct 17 10:32:14 2007