[Philmont] council contingents

Just so there's no confusion, I have no problem at all with crews made up of people from all over a council. We took one in 2005 and it was, in my opinion, an all-star group. They bonded fabulously and said some wonderful things about each other as we sat around the "campfire" pit at Tooth Ridge Camp the last night on the trail. It's one of many moments at Philmont I'll never forget.

My questions are more about how other council's accomplish their signups for the council contingent crews to Philmont.

Do you set specific dates for the signup - say a one month period - when applications are accepted?

If so, when do you do it in conjuction with the lottery sign-up? Before or after?

I know... lots of questions. Thanks in advance for your answers.

Pete Swiggum
Green Bay, WI

  ----- Original Message -----
  From: bill55@comcast.net
  To: Philmont List Member
  Sent: Friday, September 29, 2006 7:46 AM
  Subject: [Philmont] council contingents

  Southern New Jersey council uses individual sign ups and first come first served for its council Philmont contingents. Sometimes the allotment fills up quite rapidly, other years not. Some networking has been done in the past to place oversubscribed Scouts in the contingents of neighboring councils which have space. Generally, those from one troop are kept together, if they desire. Occasionally, a Scout who is returning for a second trek may want to do a SS itinerary, while the others from his troop, first timers, have less lofty goals. This is accommodated.

  I don't know for sure, but I don't believe there has ever been a problem with one troop hogging multiple crews. I would hate to have to commit to have a crew of twelve from just my troop in order to participate. Three years ago, four of our boys signed up. The advisors and the rest of the crew were from different units and they bonded together well. This year, five of our boys and one adult formed a provisional crew that wound up with 6 troops represented.

  While at first, during the shakedowns, it was easy to categorize them as "the SNJ guys" and "the Burlington guys", by the time they got on the trail, each was seen as an individual and, more importantly, as a crew member.

  While going as one crew from one troop has its advantages, I think that as long as you have one or two buddies going, the makeup of the rest of the crew is not so important, since they will all bond anyway by the end of the trek, in ways that don't happen on weekend Troop campouts.

  There is also something about "first come, first served" and "don't be left out" to get some of these guys off the schneid. I'd hate to see a couple of go getters miss out because their friends couldn't commit.

  Just my two cents.

  Bill Sheehan, ASM
  Troop 55, Pitman, NJ
  Philmont '70, '72, Autumn Adventure '01,'03,'05

-------------------------------------------------------
Scouting E-mail Discussion Lists @ usscouts.org
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
-------------------------------------------------------
To Unsubscribe send text email to:

     To: listserv@troop47.com
     Subject: unsubscribe
     Body: unsubscribe philmont@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 Fri Sep 29 08:16:00 2006