Re: [Philmont]: Different Categories of "Deficient" Advisors

AMEN

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dr. Bob Klein" <drbob@troop111.org>
To: "Multiple recipients of list PHILMONT" <PHILMONT@troop47.com>
Sent: Friday, September 24, 2004 2:35 PM
Subject: [Philmont]: Different Categories of "Deficient" Advisors

>A dangerous topic, but here goes: Regarding unScoutlike contempt of
> "deficient" Advisors, I think it is important to recognize that there
> are a variety of categories of Advisors who can't cut it on the trail.
>
> First are those who are simply physically overmatched despite their best
> efforts. One of the sadder moments I have ever witnessed on the Ranch
> was a 20+-Arrowhead graybeard taking himself off the trail because he
> simply couldn't do it anymore, and knew it. Based on a brief
> conversation we had, he'd half killed himself getting ready, knew
> exactly what it took, did his best, and realized that he was impacting
> way negatively on his Crew's experience. His Crew repeatedly offered to
> basically carry him, really they just about begged him, and he refused
> as a matter of pride and honor. Two tears traced down his stern face as
> his Crew disappeared down the trail. That man had my utmost respect,
> and I hope I have that kind of courage when that same inevitable reality
> faces me.
>
> The second type are those who trained hard and got their carry weights
> down, but simply didn't do enough and got surprised. They were first
> timers, and didn't understand what it took, despite all the counsel and
> warnings. But they soldier on manfully, with a rueful grin. Their
> Crews treat them with respect, because they knew they had been training,
> had faithfully made the meetings, hikes, and shakedowns, and were full
> members of their Crews. In such cases, the Crews do what they have to:
> lighten their loads, slow down, take breaks, pick easier trails, etc.
> And usually with humor on both sides. I've got no problem with that
> situation, and hope no one else would, either.
>
> But then there are the members of the third category: Folks that didn't
> do a damn thing other than pay their money. Meetings? Too busy.
> Hikes? Too busy. Shakedowns? Too busy. Training? - "I'll get in
> shape on the trail". Gear? - "I know what I need, and I'll take
> whatever I want". Crew? - "Hey, what's your name again?" Crew-Chief? -
> "I'm the "Advisor" - you do what I say". And so on and so on. Sound
> familiar? Every experienced member of this list can read you chapter
> and verse on these types of Advisors. They are a boat anchor around
> their Crew's collective necks. As well as being jerks to the Philstaff
> and fellow Crews/fellow Advisors. Their Crews usually have little pity
> for them, because they know full well they didn't do squat to get ready.
> It is common for these Crews to implode on the trail, and fall apart
> into 3 or 4 sub-cliques in absolute dysfunctionality. They keep the
> Camp Directors and Chaplain Staff busy.
>
> Some members of this list have tagged me for what you regard as the
> overly aggressive preface on each of my on-line diaries. Do you know
> why that is there? Basically because I have had numerous emails through
> the years from Advisors who blamed me for their miserable Philmont
> experiences because my diaries paint them as being too easy. The first
> two or three times I got these, I thought maybe the senders were joking
> or something. Wrong. So I have to put an explicit warning on my
> diaries so they can't use me as their excuse - or at least won't to my
> face via email. "You have been warned".
>
> Am I contemptuous of such "Category III" Advisors? Yes, I am. I've
> earned the right. How many thousands of times has that damn alarm clock
> gone off at 4:15 - 4:30 am, insistent that I get my fat ass out of bed
> and do what has to be done to get prepped for Philmont, or the
> Appalachian Trail, or the Swiss Alps, or the Sierras, or the northern
> Rockies? Does anyone think I really enjoy backpacking 50 pounds of
> telephone books for two hour stretches up and down death hill day after
> day when it's 95 degrees out, or backpacking 10 miles to the National
> Airport Metro through thunderstorms, 80 percent relative humidity, in
> sleetstorms, or when it's 10 degrees out? Or running 2 or 3 miles up
> and down hills, or spinning an AirDyne as hard as I can for 30 minutes,
> with my arms and legs on fire and my pulse too fast for me to measure?
> Or completing those last 10 agonizing miles of a 50/20 Hike? I'm typing
> this sore as hell from this morning's 5 am run and workout (I pushed a
> little too hard today) - and my next Philtrek is 10 months from now.
> This is what it takes for Bob Klein to keep up with his Scouts, and he
> may not like it but he does it. It's either that or surrender and get
> busy dying (no thanks).
>
> So yes, I don't have a lot of pity for folks who were "too busy" or
> whatever other excuses they have, then go out there and make life
> miserable for their Crews and anyone else who is unfortunate enough to
> cross their paths. They deserved what they got - but the rest of us
> (and the Philstaff) don't deserve the spin-off grief. As far as I am
> concerned they are the single worst aspect of Philmont, and - yes - they
> deserve our contempt. They've earned it. Commitment is more than a
> flush checking account.
>
> End of rant.
>
> - Dr. Bob
>
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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.
> -------------------------------------------------------
>
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>

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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.
-------------------------------------------------------

 
Received on Fri Sep 24 19:06:27 2004