Just asking.

-------------

Thank you for keeping all of us informed of the sad story of the Chicago Area Council's Board of Directors refusal to drop the sale of Owasippe. It is very obvious to me that there is something devious in this refusal. I find it impossible to believe that no one knew of the bankruptcy [?] of the council for two years. Where is the money coming from for the legal fees if the CAC is bankrupt?

Pulling new By-Laws out of the air is also astounding, and very convenient. $12-million will turn a lot of heads in Texas.

 

Yours in Scouting,
~ Bob B, Silver Beaver '94

 

[Note: CAC did not file for bankruptcy, but it is having cash-flow difficulties and had to borrow against its trust funds as reported at a prior Executive Board meeting.]

 

That council, who art in Chicago,
 hallowed be thy camp.
Thy proceedings come.
Can it be done
 at Owasippe as it was with Hoover?
Give us this day our daily crisis.
And forgive us our litigation,
 as we forgive those who litigate against us.
And lead us not into frustration,
 but deliver us from deadlock.
For Scout camps are a tradition
 of fun and adventure and laughter,
 forever and ever.

Amen.

 

~ by Cliff Golden
Scoutmaster Troop 33
DeKalb, Illinois
http://www.geocities.com/cliffgolden/troop33dekalb.html

 

The National Council wants out of the Camping Business and into Learning for Life. Almost every Council is selling their Summer Camps. Des Plaines Valley Council has just announced that they are selling their two camps in Wisconsin.  I took the time to investigate the surrounding summer camps during the Christmas holidays. 149 troops camped at Owasippe last year. The adjacent Scout Council summer camps cannot accommodate all 149 troops.

 

If we ,the Scout Leaders, do not stop the selling of Boy Scout Summer Camps, soon there will not be any left to camp at. You see, every Council thinks the other guy is going to pick up the slack, so they do not have to bear the expense of operating a camp.  The professionals want to live off the interest generated by the Endowment Fund so they do not have to keep beating the bushes for money.

 

~ Erv Brinkmann

 

[Note: Not every council is selling their summer camp, but there is a growing number of such sales...just Google "Scout camps for sale".  We're also not sure if Des Plaines Valley Council is formally putting up their 2 camps for sale...but just considering this action.]

 

I read the articles regarding Gerber and Owasippe. What struck me is why my council can't seem to do what Gerber is doing so successfully. Perhaps we should deed the property to make it the "Gerber Scout Reservation."

 

Chicago says it needs $2 million for improvements and yet it allegedly has assets in access of $21 million. Even if you remove the $7 million that I believe it claims as the value of all real estate, furniture and equipment, that still leaves $14 million. And they can't find $2 million to provide a quality camp at Owasippe? Could it be that pumping up the endowment fund is more important than the camping program? Who would ever believe such a thing of the Boy Scouts?

 

Unfortunately, their contract with the developer requires them to exhaust all appeals. Or, if they can bankrupt Blue Lake Township, perhaps the township will cave. I wonder what part of the Scout Oath and Law covers that tactic?

 

Reinhard Plaut
Chicago

from the OSA Guestbook, www.owasippe.com

 

All this talk about Jamborees and pumping water are nothing but a legal smokescreen. The Council is claiming that Blue Lake has "taken" their property due to the restrictive zoning.

 

According to Michigan Case Law "as a prerequisite to a takings claim, “the landowner must show that he sought alternative uses of the property as zoned and was denied, thus leaving the property owner with land having no economically productive or reasonably beneficial use.” Braun, supra at 159

All the CAC is doing is coming up with wacky ideas to use the property as zoned, that they know are going to be shot down, so they can show the judge that they are trying to find alternative uses.

 

I don't know if it will work or not. I guess time will tell.

 

~ Vince Rychtanek - Elgin, IL

09/13/2007

Hey, Scout Leaders!  The very best action is to donate to the Blue Lake Township Legal Defense Fund.

 

Buying stock and attending the Stockholder Meeting will not work because they will not let you talk and will kick you out if you protest. You also have to spend a lot of money to go to the Stockholder Meeting.
 
The key to saving Owasippe is supporting the Blue Lake Township Court Battle with our donations. If Ben Smith cannot build houses on Owasippe land what can he do with the property?
 
You have to open up you wallet and donate $100 dollars to Blue Lake Township.  You will spend a $100 dollars to go to just one Cubs Baseball or Bears Football Game which lasts for just an afternoon. A donation to Blue Lake Township will make Owasippe last forever.
 
If someone can find a way to make donations to the Blue Lake Township Fund tax deductible that would increase the chances that people would donate to the fund.
 
Blue Lake Township Legal Fund
1491 Owasippe Road
Twin Lake, Michigan
49457-09440
 
~ Erv Brinkmann
Veteran Scouter and Eagle Scout

----------------------------------------------------
Snowball Your Funding Via Your Units
----------------------------------------------------

09/13/2007

Donate $100 to your unit. Then have the unit send their $100 to the Blue Lake Township Fund. Then YOUR donation is tax deductible. It's the same thing as donating to the unit, and then the unit decides to spend their new $100 on something. You would also want to let Stone know of your units donation. Got to keep the old boy smiling.
 
~ Wayne Schimpff

-----------------------------------

09/21/2007

 

The National Jamboree could be akin to allowing an 800-lb bull loose in a china shop.  We forget how fragile the Owasippe ecosystem and soil system is and how intrusive a 40,000-person Jamboree can be. The Jambo brings demands for infrastructure and services that do NOT exist and may be impractical to create for just a 2-week event that is only run once every four years.

 

- Ron Kulak

 

---------------------------------------------
Owasippe and National Jamborees
---------------------------------------------
Weds, Sept 19, 2007
www.owasippe.com

 

While I am glad to hear that our Council leadership is FINALLY waking up to the other possible scouting-related uses for Owasippe, I wonder how Jamborees will affect the land and the usage of the land by the scouts on a yearly basis?

 

I have never been to a Jambo, but if I am not mistaken they usually require huge swaths of open fields. Where would these be obtained Owasippe? (Perhaps clearing out Carlen or Crown - which would then mean that these camps will never re-open.)

 

Also, with the huge prep needed for a Jambo, and all of the additional people attending the Jamboree, would that mean that our scouts' use of the summer camp be curtailed or eliminated every 4 years?

 

Just wondering...anyone else have any thoughts on it?  

 

~ Jerome Lasky
Chicago, IL

 

 

 

 

 

 

*** Note: In a response from one of the township trustees to Erv, it was exclaimed that they will look for whatever ways they can to raise the funds and will NOT throw in the towel.  They have NO intention to capitulate and rezone!!

 

I stand before you with a heavy heart. My name is Al Medaco and I am
an American Indian. I understand that someone is trying to buy a lot of land on the south side of Big Blue Lake (commonly known as Owasippe camp). I don't think that they are negotiating with the rightful owner. The Creator owns this land and He is just letting us use it. As an American Indian (before the coming of the Europeans), we did not believe that we owned the land. The Creator made this land so we could use it and appreciate the beauty He put into it. I do not believe that by destroying the beauty of the land and putting up
buildings will keep the beauty of it as the Creator intended. I urge the people that make the decision to sell the land (which is still owned by the Creator) to follow their hearts when making this decision. There are not many places of beauty left, so let us keep this one unspoiled.

 

~ Al Medacco
Freesoil, MI

 
--------------------------------------------
A Quixotic and Wasteful Venture
--------------------------------------------
an editorial

 

It's insanity to think that you can move all of the operations and facilities of Owasippe and jam them all into the immediate Blue Lake Area.  The cost of rebuilding and relocating would be incredibly high, wasteful, and totally unnecessary.  The facilities that Owasippe now has are adequate with some upgrades.  Money can be better invested to upgrade and expand what Owasippe has and to implement a full-blown PR program to better market their great camping product and facility...TO INCREASE ATTENDANCE AND USAGE YEAR-ROUND!

 

Hey, guys, GET A CLUE! Easy to say...NOT easy to do!

 

Besides, ALL Scouts and Scouters want access to ALL 4,700+ acres of
Owasippe for camping, hiking, horseback riding, boating, swimming, nature study...the whole gamut of summer camp activities that Owasippe can uniquely offer today.

 

If CAC wants to show its sincerity and caring, then drop the lawsuit against Blue Lake Township.  Instead of spewing words...take some tangible and positive actions for us Doubting Thomases.  Announcing that the contract with Ben Smith has been ripped up would do wonders for the volunteer Scouter psyche and give new hope to the people of Blue Lake Township who want their community and the environment protected.

 

~ Ron Kulak

---------------------------------------------------
What other people think of Owasippe
---------------------------------------------------
from www.Owasippe.com

 

I am a member of a yahoo message board for all things related to boy scouts. Go to this link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Boy-Scout-Talk.   Anyhow, there was a discussion of where troops go to summer camp, and when I mentioned Owasippe, someone responded that they though the camp had been sold already. This may be a problem with attracting out of council units to the camp, if "outsiders" believe it has already been sold!!

 

~ Jerome Lasky
Chicago IL

June 18, 2007

We elected a new board. Our hope and desire was that it would be more
open and transparent.  Why wasn't Micheal Hughes' "Open Letter," posted on the Council's web page?  Did the board have input and approve the sending of this letter?  How come Board and Executive committee meetings aren't
listed on the Council calendar?

 

I just finished the on line training for troop committee members. In it was stated that all functions of the BSA are open to any scout leader or scout parent to observe. What do you think of the idea of having a contingent of interested parties attend all Board and committee meetings?

 

~ Reinhard Plaut
CAC Troop 923

 

[NOTE:  As of June 21, CAC has posted Mr Hughes' open letter and it
can be seen in its entirety at http://www.chicagobsa.org/, then tab
to "current events".  Sometimes, the squeaky wheel will get the
grease...thanks for squeaking!  Don't forget to share your views and
wishes to Mr Hughes at Mhughes@chicagobsa.org.]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
CAC Needs To Consider The Aftermath of Its Actions
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
06/19/2007

 

I sincerely hope that the tactic of the CAC is not to win by draining the Township's defense fund.  They will in all likelihood NOT win the zoning battle in court, and Mr Sturdaven is going to be successful in rallying the troops to get enough monies donated and enough friend of the court briefs to ensure victory.  Using this approach will only create enough ill-will between the players to make it very hard to mend fences afterward.
 
The end game is important here. 
 
CAC needs to think about life after this court battle.  What will relations between the citizens of Blue Lake Township, Muskegon County and the rank and file Scouters look like after this matter resolves? 

CAC leadership posting open letters in certain places but not on the CAC website, etc, is not a good sign. 
 
It is time to think about the future of this Council, not to figure out how to drain your opponent or use a divide-and-conquer strategy by attempting to partition the Camp.  Besides, doesn't the Board need to approve such "offers", especially since there is a contract on the table to sell the property?
 
~ Charles P
CAC COR

-----------------------------------------------------------------
A Perspective From a Staff Alum of 70 Years Ago
-----------------------------------------------------------------
This whole situation is so sad.  This is one time I wish I had the money of a Bill Gates, I'd buy the place myself and then arrange for it to remain as Owasippe in perpetuity.
  
I just wonder...no, I don't wonder...I KNOW how those honorable, stalwart Scout Professionals of our day (circa the early thirties), would proceed against this horrendous proposed rape of Owasippe.   George Schnier, Al Nichols, Roy Alm, John Lovett, George Mozealous to name a few (George Mozealous was like a big brother to me).  Roy Alm really put the pressure and conducted a tough interview when he tested me for Bird Study Merit badge...I sweat but I admired him for his thoroughness.  I believe his title was Director of Camping or Camps.  George Schnier, was Northwest District Comissioner, Director
of Camp Checaugau, Big Blue Lake.  I was on his Staff at Camp Robert
Stuart in 1936. He was a father image if there ever was one!  They would abhor even the thought of such a move. 

 

Warmest Regards,  - Fred Brems

---------------------------
Holding My Breath
---------------------------

June 22, 2007

from www.owasippe.com

 

I know most message boards get quiet as the camping season begins.

Everyone is busy with their troops camping and getting ready for summer camp.  But right now, I almost feel as if everyone is holding their breath. The open letter from council president Mike Hughes is almost too good to be true, an opportunity to work out a creative solution that meets the financial needs of the council, provides for a long term solution for summer camp for Chicago and other Scouts, opens up the vast resources for conservation, education as well as other area youth organizations for generations to come, and protects
the quality of life for the local citizens. This is not only a step in the right direction but it would also prove to be a milestone achievement for which all parties involved on both sides of the issue may be proud.

 

I recall that Mr. Smith named the corporation he formed for the development project in honor of his grandson. I would call on him now to participate in the saving of this precious jewel as a protected resource as a donor. In that fashion he would truly honor his grandson, and then his great grandchildren and their children could see the real wonder of this beautiful land as he sees it today. And remember and thank him for his vision.

 

Mr. Smith, a real opportunity of a lifetime is now in front of you. 

 

~ Uncle Willie Vannerson
McHenry, IL, Scouter

March 26, 2007

 

Good luck, gentlemen, and best wishes to restoring good governance and good program in CAC!  The healing must now begin in earnest and the dog must once again wag the tail (instead of the other way around)! 

 

I would recommend going out to the district roundtables ASAP, meeting
with your constituencies, and LISTENING to what they have to say.   Visiting Owasippe this summer would also be a very prudent and wise thing to do (ie. MBWA - Management By Walking Around) while it is in session to meet with the Scouts and Scouters in their sites and program areas and see first hand what that legendary facility is all about and how special the camp is for them from their perspective. 

 

Furthermore...Owasippe is YOUR program and facility and the entire board should become familiar with it and what it delivers for the good of our Scouts.  When was the last time you sat around a troop campfire...or ate a meal in the dining hall next to a Scout...or watched a Scout traverse the COPE Climbing Tower...or saw the eagles perched upon their nest...or gazed across the majestic waters of Lake Wolverine...or dipped your toe in the chilly waters of the melodic Cleveland Creek...or took a stroll into the cavernous Paradise
Valley...or jumped up and down on the Quaking Bogs?????  Do you know
what kind of unique vegetation and wildlife inhabit Owasippe?  Do you know what is in the camp's inventory of supplies for use by the Scouts?  Are you aware that we operate a ranch at Owasippe?

 

Has it been awhile since you have stepped foot on YOUR/OUR property? 
Have you even been there previously and know of its geographic setting?

Perhaps it is time to walk a mile in the moccasins of the Scouts and come to a full understanding of the legend of Owasippe and what it truly means to them and to those that will come after them!

 

You know, there are just some things in life that you just can't put a pricetag on or effectively evaluate in the text of a contract.   We ALL look forward to your extended visit at Owasippe and hope to see you soon on the trails of the camp.

 

We wish you well...for the sake of our Scouts.

 

- Ron Kulak

 

Thank you for your very insightful editorial last week regarding the letter of intent from the Owasippe Outdoor Education Center. I couldn't agree more with your statements that it's finally time that the Chicago Area Council pay back some of the good hospitality that West Michigan has shown it. If it wants out of its ownership of Owasippe Scout Camp, that's fine. But rezoning and developing the land is not the solution that anyone wants (well, except those on the Chicago Council board who have dollar signs in their eyes).

 

I'm hoping that the Chicago Area Council will welcome the new potential purchaser of the Owasippe Scout Reservation. This would be a complete solution that is a win for everyone involved - the council gets the money they claim they need, the Scouts get to continue using the property, and the township keeps its green space and character.

Plus the environment is protected against massive development, allowing the 19 endangered and protected species that call Owasippe home to thrive in their chosen environment. And let's not forget the added benefit to all of Western Michigan in the form of expanded use of the property, increased revenue and quite possibly more jobs with year-round operation.

 

This is an exciting move on behalf of the OOEC. It is an organization that deserves our support. I am glad they are providing an alternative to the Holland banker's "pave-and-build" plan. Hundreds turned out to the public meeting last January to oppose turning Owasippe into a housing development. I feel confident that, if there were a public meeting seeking opinions on the OOEC's plan, hundreds would turn out in support of it. Unfortunately it's not up to the public to accept the letter of intent from the OOEC. That can only be done by the Chicago Council. May they be "mentally awake" enough to take this chance to end the 4-year fight and still come out as winners.

 

~ Susan Derby
Whitehall MI

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Reinhard Plaut, CAC T923

an editorial by a veteran Scouter

 

Recommendations of a yay or nay on each ballot/slate are being reserved until such time as we can see who the nominees are and whether it is collectively determined that they satisfactorily represent the best interests of volunteer leadership in CAC.

 

In these waning days preceding the council election, many questions are raised by concerned and dedicated Scouters, namely:
- Will the roughly 2-dozen or so board nominees from frontline Scouters even be recommended to the nominating committee for consideration?  If so, will they be included on the slates?
- Will the nominating committee lead or be led by the whim of Scout Exec Jim Stone?  Will the tail wag the dog?
- Will the concerns and will of the volunteer Scouting community be ignored as folly by the nominating committee or will that seriously be considered in their effort to restore the faith and trust of Rank and File Scouters?
- Will the nominating committee permit only money interests to be involved with the board, so-called 'rainmakers', or will there be significant representation from the Rank-and-File to directly address program and membership interests and needs?  Many Rank-and-File nominees can actually do both and will play a hands-on role.  Balance will be an important component of the new council board.  But who dictates what 'balance' means?

 

A positive turnaround in Chicago Area Council will only occur when the faith and trust of volunteer leadership is restored and when they are equally represented in council governance.  Nothing short of that will satisfy the council electorate.  NO simple concession to placate their interests will be acceptable.  Poor council management, misinformation, unlawful dealings, and lack of respect to volunteers has been endured too long to allow this insanity to continue in Scouting.  

 

So, here is where things are at.  The council nominations committee can either pay attention to and include those Rank-and-File nominees presented for inclusion to executive officer positions and to the board of directors and have the slates elected and supported...OR...they can ignore them and merely work with only those nominees that suit the personal agenda of Scout Exec Jim Stone and have the slates soundly turned down...yet AGAIN!  The latter exercise in futility will then force them back to committee to redraft the slates and/or move National BSA to get more directly involved in making a decision, good or bad. 

 

Part of the impediment to progress possibly may be the present Scout Exec.  Unless the nominating committee will be assertive and fiercely objective, the only way we can turn the corner and restore fair and representative council governance will begin with the removal of Jim Stone as Scout Exec, the sole remaining lightning rod that National BSA ignored and did not extract.  Was it the BSA good-ole-boy network that allowed Stone to survive and press his personal agenda yet another day or just blind trust in this shrewd and cagey pro?  

 

This ongoing council fight that has been enduring for nearly four years is not about program and the ideals of Scouting.  This political battle is all about ego, control, and lots of money (potential sale of Owasippe to Ben Smith @ $19.5 million)...at the behest of just a handful of selfish men and at the expense of generations of past, present and future Scouts and thousands of dedicated Scouter volunteers.  As a result, our beloved program has suffered, we have lost membership along the way, and Scouting has taken a huge PR hit in Illinois and Michigan.
 
We wait and watch to see what this interim council board is made of.  We wait and watch to see who is selected for the five slates.  The response and acceptance of CAC volunteer leaders will manifest itself in their votes on January 27th.  All CORs and MALs need to be there with a very strong showing from their brother and sister leaders who should attend to bear witness and lend their moral support.

 

We implore all who are involved in this process to do the right thing!  Let's turn the corner and rid ourselves of this nightmare. 

 

Carpe Diem!  Get the VOTE out!

 

Ron Kulak
Lachawelendamen Lenape
'Suspended and Spurned but NOT Silent'

 

 

Randy Possehl, a Scouter from Baltimore, stated "Somehow, I find it
difficult to believe that someone in Chicago woke up one day and
said 'Hey. I think we should sell our camp.'"

 

It's a naive assumption that the rank and file run the scout program.
The Board is made up rain makers, money men and women who look at one
thing only...the economic health of the franchise.  They get their information from small groups of sub-committees who are part of the executive committee. The subcommittees are told what the problems are that need to be solved, and they come up with recommendations.

This falls into to solutions for all problems.  Cut expenses and sell assets.  They cut expenses, reduce services, fired the low price help, defer maintenance. Ergo the customer base shrunk. What to do, what to do? 

Go to plan 'B'. Sell assets but make sure nobody finds out about till
it's a done deal.  Well, the word got out and here we are.  Welcome
to the real world of scouting.   It certainly could not have been a problem of mismanagement and questionable ethics at the executive level, now could it?

I have to agree with Randy on one thing however. It's long past time for everyone to wake up. As much as we enjoy working with kids, we better not ignore the politics of the organization.

 

Reinhard Plaut

 

----------------------------------------------------------
Something's Fishy in Denmark...err Chicago
----------------------------------------------------------
from the Scouts-L email group, 12/15/2006:

 

{ Somehow I find it difficult to believe that someone in Chicago
woke up one day and said "Hey I think we should sell our camp".  I
find it easier to believe that the local volunteers were instead
simply paying no attention to the deteriorating condition of the
Council finances and the impact that was having on the ability of the
Council to provide services to the youth in the Council. }
   
I don't believe this is the case in Chicago.  Chicago Area Council has already sold 406 acre Hoover Scout Reservation for $18 million.  That comes out to $44,334 per acre.  I would think that should put the council finances securely in the black.  I don't understand why there would be any additional need to sell Owasippe after transacting that sale.
   
I don't know if I believe in a national conspiracy from Irving, Texas, but something smells funny in Chicago, and it's not the lake.   

 
Here is an excerpt from an article regarding the sale of Hoover:   
"Yorkville, IL – The Chicago Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America is selling the 408-acre Hoover Outdoor Education Center – prime riverfront real estate in Yorkville – to conservation interests. CorLands, a Chicago-based nonprofit conservation group, is buying the land on behalf of the Kendall County Forest Preserve District and the United City of Yorkville, for a total of $18-million.  The first phase of the three-part purchase is projected to be completed by year-end." [Note: Now paid-in-full. So, where's the money?]
  
http://www.growingsensibly.org/news/releaseDetail.asp?objectID=1526
  
Cliff G
SM, DeKalb, IL

September 21, 2006

POINT BY P Lamson: "I think  the bigger issue is why should the
county be able to change some one's land zoning without reason or
permission of the land owner."

 

COUNTERPOINT by Jim Schlichting of Whitehall, MI:  "I believe you are
totally right but not in all situations.  Some camp lands, such as Owasippe, are in a very different situation from what you describe.  The Chicago Council is involved with a 'Legacy Ownership'.
 
90+ years ago, the land was in the middle of no-place.  Chicago Scouts came in and purchased the land before zoning laws were even established.  The land has been used for a summer camp and the community grew-up around the camp.  The community adopted a character, lifestyle and zoning that made summer camps the major economic engine and essence of the community. 

 

There are four additional camps owned by other not-for-profits that have been established and grown within the 36 square miles of the [Blue Lake] township.
 
Legacy Ownership places a fundamental responsibility onto the Chicago Scouts in this case.  The Chicago Scouts long ago established the ambiance, atmosphere, and character of the community that grew-up around it.  That community is fighting to keep itself what it is, not a site for residential urban sprawl.
 
The community rejected the attempt by the Chicago Council to rezone and establish the camp as residential property.  The community says it has been camp land, it is zoned as camp land, and as the residents of this township we are saying it will stay as camp land.  The local government is even willing to effect a land purchase that will put into the Chicago Council's bank account the full value of the land as it is now.

 

There is an obligation of a Council, who created a community almost a century ago, to consider the resulting community wants, needs and zoning in order to cash as their "dollar resource".  This is especially true when the Council has received property tax relief in the amount of millions of dollars over 95+ years from the schools, local, county and State governments year after year.  That relieved the Council from paying for local schools, local fire services, local emergency medical service, and more local services.
 
The idea that the National Council of Boy Scout of America (who have now taken control of the Council) is cramming down the throats of the local community a demand for the maximum land value is obscene in light of the concessions the community has provided the BSA for almost a century.  Call it carpet-bagging or whatever.  The property has been taxed at the Council's request...as 'camp land'. 
 
Now it's time for the National Council of BSA and the Chicago Boy Scouts to press on with their demand for a change to residential zoning through new State and Federal lawsuits.  This land matter isn't the basis of the Council's governance issues that have caused the uproar in Chicago.  It is just another symptom of a local Council attempting to apply the National Scout Policy of transferring land assets into cash assets.

August 7, 2006

Returned from Period V with my Troop at Camp Wolverine.  Awesome
week!  We are returning next year for sure!  With all the rhetoric, what are the chances that National would purchase OSR and turn it into a National camp similar to Sea Base, Northern Tier, Philmont?  Just think of the possibilities.  For those boys that don’t have access to a “traditional” camp, OSR could be the answer.  With National exposure, the program could be expanded, facilities restored, and boys would not miss the truly great experience OSR
provides. 

 

~ Mark Janus
Scoutmaster, Troop 7
Springfield, IL

 

[Note: This concept has been talked about among scouters for years, however National would need the will to take an unprecedented leap of faith to make this a reality in Michigan similar to the bases it runs in Minnesota, New Mexico (2), and Florida.  It's a GREAT idea whose time has indeed come...now more than ever.  Owasippe has the facilities, the land, the infrastructure and human resources, and the community support to make this work for ALL of our Scouting brothers and sisters.]

August 15, 2006

I was up to Owasippe a couple of weeks ago. I stepped out of the car and just took a deep breath and sighed. It had been a few years since I had been there and, frankly, I had forgotten how much I love it there!!  Thanks [to ALL] for everything you're doing to try to preserve this wonder ...this little slice of heaven on earth ...this haven for our boys (and their moms!). Keep up the good work!! You and all the others who are involved and determined to save Owasippe continue to be in my prayers.

 

~ Beth Munder, Tinley Park IL

 

August 10, 2006

If there is one constant with camp fees, it is the simple fact that, no matter what the fees are, someone will think they are are too high.  While Program Director for a camp with one of the lowest fees in the region, I still heard the complaint that the fees were way to high.

 

Comparisions from camp to camp are difficult for many reasons, such as
location and program offerings.  Another comes from the local council's view of its camping program.  Some councils see the camp as part of its scouting program and therefore, part of the financing of the camp is done through the fund raising and financial support of the council.  This is consistant with statements in the National Camping School material.

 

Unfortunately, there are councils with leadership (either board or executive) who believe that the camp fees, both summer and off-season, should finance the entire year-round camp operation.  Even with a smaller fee, we were able to make some extra funds beyond the direct summer camp expenses.  I do not see a problem with this since summer camp creates extra expenses such as extra utility use and maintenance.

 

Even so, I was told by some board memebers (of course, not all) that summer camp had an $80,000 deficit.  They felt that summer camp should pay not only for the summer expenses (staff, food service, program materials, etc), but the year round expenses including the ranger's salary.  To them, camp should not create any expense to the council budget.  It was as if camp was a self-supporting entity and not a council program offering.  Admittedly, this was partially due to poor year round fund raising by the council, which was later
REMEDIED BY A NEW SCOUT EXECUTIVE. 

 

When a council is looking at camp as a finance stream, unfortunately then you have the choice of raising camp fees or reducing expenses.  With as much as 80% of the budget tied to staff salaries and food service, reduction of expenses can lead to many future problems.  A camp runs on its stomach. 

 

~ Al Whaley
Evanston, IL - Northeast Illinois Council BSA
[ie. Camp Makajawan]

 

As we follow the efforts to preserve two local irreplaceable treasures, the Owasippe Scout campgrounds and the Scenic Drive area, there are also voices calling from those not now present on earth.  These are voices of future generations who will suffer the consequences of what is done now and will judge if the present actions were wise and thoughtful.

 

Let us hope that these future judgments will not be like the judgments we now make on our past city fathers' actions ago.  For once upon a time at the Muskegon Channel there was huge wonder, a massive sand dune known as Pigeon Hill. It was like a beacon for passing ships and a splendor to behold when looked upon from the shores of Muskegon Lake.

 

Now it is gone, sacrificed by ignorant city fathers to commercial interests and when we pass its location we can only view with regret just sticks and stones and curse those responsible.  Let us hope that future generations, when passing Owasippe or traveling Scenic Drive, will not have the same views of regret and be cursing their forefathers.

 

~ Paul M. Ladas
Fruitland Township, Muskegon County MI

 

After spending the last two weeks with Troop 306 at Owasippe, Mr Vlach succumbed to complications caused by a pulmonary annurism suffered within 24 hours after returning home from camp.  Jim was an Assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 306 in Chicago but had served for four years as its Scoutmaster.  Jim worked up at Owassipe a couple times at Camp Carlen, and I believe he also dedicated some time up there as a volunteer commissioner at Camp Wolverine.
 
Jim served Scouting as a volunteer leader for over 25 years.  He
served in many capacities in the unit and district.  He was a recipient of the District Award of Merit, Silver Beaver Award, and Vigil Honor of the Order of The Arrow.  He supported efforts to Save Owasippe and had camped there with his unit for many years.  His son, Tom, also had served on staff and was a Staff Apprentice "CIT" in the early 80s.

 

A memorial service for fallen Order of The Arrow members, "The Broken
Arrow Ceremony" was conducted on Thursday, July 27th, as part of the
visitation at the Linhart Funeral Home in Berwyn, IL.  Interment was
at Lakeside Cemetery in Phillips, WI.

 

James J. Vlach was an Air Force Veteran and the beloved husband of
the late Sharon (nee Cohn); loving father of Jennifer (Martin) Hufnagel, Thomas (Karie), Ruth and Rachel; dear grandfather of Salena Vlach, James, Jacob and Mollie Hufnagel, Nathan Doolin and Malaikai Stewart; loving son of the late Frank and Jennie; fond brother of 10. 

 

May he rest in peace and his spirit be with us around the council
fire at camp.

I cannot believe he did that !!!  Where, in God's name, are there any
signs in or around Owasippe that read, "members only"?

~CJT

 

Perhaps all of these individuals should be invited to Owasippe to
experience it first hand.  With the composition of the executive
council being changed by inclusion of bordering councils [outsiders],
who may or may not use Owasippe and typically go elsewhere, their
perception of the importance of the camp to the core CAC folks may be
lost on these representatives.

- J Ryckman

 

[Note:  I couldn't agree more.  The new executive committee members
ARE the stewards of Chicago Area Council and should know and
understand its resources as Woodbadge teaches us.   Management-By-
Walking-Around (MBWA) is an excellent opportunity to see up close and personal what they have been getting lip service about and to also talk to frontline scouters and camp staff...not to mention see Scouts in action in multiple program venues. - RK ]
 

----------------------------------------------
No Legislation Without Representation?
----------------------------------------------

07/05/2006

Notice that there are no proletariat Scoutmaster on the governing list.  Notice how the National Council can dedicate a settlement under threat of taking over the property and selling the property of the CAC when the National Council wants to, but when the proletariat Scout Leaders go to the National Council for redress of their grievances they say " Our Hands are Tied.  The Local Council is a independent entity, and we have no control on it.
 
YIS, Erv  Brinkman

------------------------------------
Lot's of things need shaking out
------------------------------------

07/05/2006

1. When using the word "reorganization", it implies the CEO is a short timer.
2.  Use of an executive board comprised of surrounding councils screams "merger".
3. The letter from CEO Stone obviously is not telling the whole story.
4. Why I say seek first to understand...emotions about potential OSR
closing forces everyone to say "where will we camp".  From the previous regime's perspective, there are plenty of other campsites.

National's "big plan" for supporting councils is for them to develop a BIG endowment and run council "operations" off of that (it's in the national bylaws).  Rather than seek donations, the executive board decides it is easier to just sell assets.  Mind you, I am NOT defending this.  I just think it's important we understand the logic.
 
That being said, the new executive board needs to get sold on the idea that OSR is financially viable (even a profit center) and that lot of the accounting is not incorrect or dishonest but just misapplied so that Owasippe appears to be not financially viable. 
 
Accounting, statistics and economics are all subject to a certain amount of creativity, ie: I am real certain when the council put a roof on the ad center that all the expense may have been applied to that year's budget showing a big loss instead of amortized over the life of the roof, a standardly accepted accounting business method.
 
~ d,h

-------------------------------------------------
A Question of Faith and Trust and Money?
-------------------------------------------------

07/05/2006

Imagine you are watching 60 Minutes and this is the part where Andy Rooney says: 

 

Why is it that when we asked National to intervene when our camps were listed for sale we were told it was a local issue? 

 

Why is it that when we asked National to step in when the COR’s could not, in good conscience, elect a slate and the “incumbent leadership” refused to alter the slate we were told it was a local issue? 

 

Why is it that when concerns were raised over the considerable cost of legal actions taken to further and insure the sale of Owasippe we were told it was a local issue? 

 

Why is it that when three of our volunteers were sent expulsion letters, we were told it was a local issue? 

 

Why is it that after 11 dedicated Scouters decided to take this matter to Civil Court and the Judge agreed with their position, it became a National issue? 

 

Why is it that the only solution (?) National has is that the COR’s and
volunteers of Chicago Area Council cannot lead CAC and promote
Scouting’s mission?

 

I repeat myself when I again say “Look well to the watch fires my
brothers, we are under siege.”         

 

“On my honor”, a concept whose time has passed.

 

“Show Me The Money!”
  
- Tom G, CAC Scouter

--------------------------------------------------------

06/01/2006

 

Educate And Inform Our BSA Leadership!

 

The inside back page of the Life section of a recent USA Today has an interview with Rick Cronk, the new president of the BSA. Right now at
least, the article is also available online at
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-05-23-cronk-interview_x.htm

 

Let Mr Cronk know how strongly you feel about Owasippe's preservation and how important it is for this grandaddy of all camps to continue in service to our youth intact and unaltered.  Get him up to speed about CAC's governance problems and unfair dealings with its volunteers at...

 

Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream
Atn: Retired President Rick Cronk
5929 College Avenue
Oakland, CA 94618

 

With its rezoning request still pending before the Blue Lake Township Board, the Chicago Area Council, Boy Scouts of America has proceeded with a lawsuit against the township challenging the current zoning designation of the Owasippe Scout Reservation.  The suit, filed in 14th Circuit Court in Muskegon, Michigan, will be heard by Chief Circuit Pro Tem William Marietti.

Jim Schlichting, Owasippe Outdoor Education Center’s Development Director, said, “It comes as no surprise that the Chicago Scouts have gone ahead with this suit.  If you go back to 2004, to the Council’s original request for the rezoning, you will find that they, in so many words, said they intended to sue if they didn’t get their way with the township.”

 

Commenting further, Schlichting said, “It’s rather obvious that the Chicago Council has no interest in listening to township, county or regional residents.  By not acknowledging that township residents have the right to determine what kind of community they live in, the Council is just plain operating with arrogance.” 

 

“It’s also rather clear, based on other unrelated legal actions taking place in Chicago, that the Chicago Scout officials aren’t even willing to listen to their own members,” commented Schlichting.

 

Joe Sener, Chairman of OOEC, said, “This entire matter of the Owasippe property having become worthless by action of the Blue Lake Township is absurd and just plain contrary to the facts. The claim of a ‘taking’ of the value of the property by the township will not stand up to a court test.”

 

Sener continued, “The Council pushed the Owasippe Outdoor Education Center away when we finally, after many months of them ignoring our written presentation, sat in their offices to discuss an offer on the property.  Since that time, with the outstanding assistance of former Muskegon County Administrator Frank Bednarek, we have grown that proposal.” 

 

“OOEC is totally in sync with the Master Plan of the township and the overwhelming sentiments of people from West Michigan and beyond.  The Owasippe property has great financial value zoned as it is, but the Council just doesn’t want to hear about anything of less value than total conversion to residential property.  The Council’s stand of wanting what it feels is maximum financial value has constantly been struck down as a claim of a taking by government.” stated Sener.

 

The OOEC Chairman concluded, “I guess this is an attempt to use muscle and might to fight for the biggest financial gain after 95 years of operating in Muskegon County.  The facts are that the Muskegon community has offered continuing support to the Chicago Scouts and there are a huge number of members, former members and others who believe the action by the Council is an embarrassment.”

 

[Note: Click here for more information and other interesting hyperlinks... http://blog.forestimages.org/2006/03/23/camp-owasippe-push-for-rezoning-and-sale/ ]

April 25, 2006

 
WOW!!  It was the first time that I was in an Appellate Court and for such a noble cause as the arguing for YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE in a Democratic election!!

 

You should schedule an outing for any of your youth sometime to attend a hearing for any meritbadges that involve citizenship or the law. (Not that any units have scouts as lititgants or of course the proceedings of the Scouter 11...disclaimer, so I don't get another letter)
  
We will NOT be voting tonight [Thursday].  The reason was plain and simple. All of the Appellate judges felt that it was not fair to all the voters to be able to have enough time to make arrangements to come out and vote.  That's it. Nothing more and nothing less.  They wanted to make sure that they had all of the facts to make an informed decision given stacks of papers that were filed by our beloved council in the last week.  CAC is planning on filing a motion to consolidate all of their prior motions on Monday.
  
Do not give up the faith. The two hour discussion and the comments from the Judges and the attorneys present were positive and the case that the Scouter 11 have is a strong one.  Stay the course and stay the path.  In the end we shall all have an opportunity to make a difference.
  
On behalf of all that continue to struggle to bring freedom and democratic representation to the youth and families in our scouting family, a sincere Thank you to all for your thoughts, wishes, support, prayers and blessings throughout this entire ordeal and please continue to support the Scouter 11 in this cause.
  
There is a legal fund set up called the HEART Fund that helps our cause by defraying the legal costs of raising such a case.  I would ask that you monetarily help the Scouter 11 at this time as you have been there for them in spirit and as a brother or sister.  They have risked so much and continue to risk all that they have in order to bring a democratic process forward to our Council.
  
All of this is not just about Owasippe. It is about who can vote to control the future of your boys and families in OUR Scouting community.  Please donate whatever you can afford for this cause and support those brothers and sisters with a donation to the HEART Fund. The form can be found on the Ft Dearborn and OSA websites.
  
Thank you all again for your efforts and keep the faith.
  
YIS,
 John Hosty Jr.

 

-------------------------------------------------------

 

I am old fashioned I guess.  I think Boy Scout camps should stay Boy Scout camps.   Yes, times do change but certain things should be preserved whenever possible.  New boys in the Scouting program have a right to enjoy Scouting in a pristine setting that is inspiring and uplifting.   My memories of camping at Pico Blanco in Monterey Bay Area Council, in a new Scout uniform, and the fabulous fully embroidered temporary patch received upon completion of summer camp, are among my most cherished, precious memories.   I imagine many feel the same way about the Chicago camp.  So, Ron's post is very welcome news [ie. Township planning commission rejecting rezoning request by CAC].  

 

"Lagging interest in camping is another reason the Scouts give for wanting to sell the property." [per Muskegon Chronicle, 03/18/2005]
 
I find the above utterly fantastic.  The fact that there is a hue and cry about selling the camp clearly suggests otherwise.  The whole point of a B.S.A. Council Scout camp is to provide for and promote Scouting and Scout camping.  To say that there is a "lagging interest" in camping as an excuse to enter the development business is ridiculous on the face of it (prima facie).
 
To say there is a "lagging interest" in camping is absolutely incredible. The Scout Council is responsible for promoting Scouting, which includes Scout camping, and to suggest that there is a "lagging interest" is an appalling thing.  They are saying that people are, in effect, not interested in Scouting.
 
This is like a hospital saying people are not interested in their health as a reason to explain underutilization of a hospital.
 
I suggest that a compromise be sought in this case.  People have to earn a living (the home builders) and Scouting needs funding.  It might be possible to look again at the development plan and find something which preserves the best of the camp and allows some development to take place.  I'm not familiar with this area at all, and if a compromise on the land utilization is not possible, the Scout camp should trump the development.
 
~ Joe Jansen
JAJansenJr@gmail.com

=======================
Keep Up The Good Fight
=======================

03/31/2006

I think you are doing a terrific job...keeping everyone informed as this saga unwinds.  You guys are in the right on all counts and there is no need to compromise on anything.  In my opinion, you have already given up enough land, and it is time to draw the line.  Our small council has two camps and, undoubtedly, at some point in time will sell one of them.  To this eventuality, we have started a camp support group that is independant of the council with the hopes of preserving our camp.  Your efforts are an inspiration!  Keep up the good fight; many here are watching and cheering you on.
 
~ Bill Dorrell
T-28 ASM, Mt. Pleasant IA

============================
Kudos To Blue Lake Township
============================
from www.Owasippe.com Guestbook, 03/24/2006

 

I am feeling a sense of relief that the community around Owasippe is supporting the cause for keeping Owasippe untouched.

 

I have noticed something that makes me think even higher of Blue Lake Township. This entire re-zoning process has been kept open, and the input of the citizens (even those from outside community) have been solicited and listend to throughout the entire process. Nothing was done behind closed doors, and the decision to reject the re-zoning proposal was based on the input and wishes of the community.

 

If this issue were to have surfaced in Chicago, no input, or very limited input from the citizens would have been sought (or the "open" meetings would have been scheduled at the most in-opportune times). A few alderman with connections to the developers would have forced the zoning change through and the average citizen would have been left out in the cold.

 

So, kudos to the members of the Blue Lake township zoning committee for actually listening to their citizenry, and doing the right thing.

 

~ Jerome Lasky - Chicago, IL

02/08/2006

 

      It isn't often that we, as individuals, get to make decisions that will have far reaching effects upon our communities, but you have such an opportunity right now.  You have heard all the reasons to not re-zone Blue Lake Township, and a few reasons to do so.

 

      I would like to take the liberty to borrow from the Christian Bible, very briefly, here.  Judas, one of Jesus' disciples betrayed him, sending him off to his enemies, to die.  After the betrayal, Judas' conscience bothered him so much that he went into the temple and took the 30 pieces of silver that he had been given to betray Jesus and flung them across the temple floor.  He then went out and hung himself.      

 

      Some people want to betray all that is best in Boy Scouting and sell the land for a profit, allowing the land to be raped and pillaged.  May they, and all who have a hand in this betrayal, choke on their profits. That goes for the business men involved (the buyers) and the professional Scouters.  Greed runs rampant in the Chicago Area Council, BSA.   All they see is the silver; they have no consciences in regard to their stewardship of this precious land, which was meant to be handed down from generation to generation.  Most of the Council board have never seen Owasippe, nor hiked its trails, nor canoed its waters.  They have no idea other than greed.

 

     One of the key points of Scouting is conservation of natural resources.  These resources will turn into nearly 1,300 houses and roads, etc.  Gone, forever!  Don't let it happen, Blue Lake Township.  Don't give in to the Judases, for they are truly scoundrels... wolves in sheep's clothing.   Do not ruin the jewel of western Michigan.  Let's still have this natural wonder in Western Michigan, for our grandchildren, long after all the sellers and buyers are dead and buried. 

 

Don't cave in.  Thank you.

~ Bill Schaefer, Twin Lake, MI 
 [with permission]

=================
Dear Mr. Monette,
=================

02/10/2006
a letter to Blue Lake Township

 

What a difficult job you and the Commission have in balancing the needs of the Township along with those constituencies for and against the proposed sale of Owasippe Scout Reservation.   Such a significant decision that will affect generations to come has been placed in the lap of the Commission and it is not an enviable task. 

 

Bottomline – from my perspective, the sale of this land and rezoning it will take away what has been and hopefully always be a place where our youth realize the wonders of nature and grow up to become the good citizens of this country.  Without camps such as Owasippe, the youth of America thinks shopping malls, theatres, restaurants and video games are what growing up is all about.  I fortunately had the privilege of attending Owasippe three years as a scout and seven years on staff.  I say privilege in that although I was paid a nominal amount for the work done I would have worked without pay to be able to experience Owasippe and all it had to offer. 

 

I saw the baby eagles when they were born and I walked the trails and canoed the rivers.  I learned how to survive and be accountable for myself.  I learned responsibility – a trait lacking in so many children today.  I made friendships that last to this day and taught hundreds of boys how to swim, row a boat and paddle a canoe.  I taught many how to save lives and I would like to think they have successfully done that due to my teaching.  Where can this type of environment exist without a camp such as Owasippe?  Yes – Scouting has changed significantly over the years.  It always has and I believe that our culture will turn towards what Scouting has to offer once again.  Unfortunately, if the camps are now sold based on the current needs of a misguided Scout Council, there won’t be a camp available when the trend is reversed.  I am saving for retirement and recognize the importance of not touching the principle of my investments and watch it grow.  By selling Owasippe you are touching the principle.  This has to be a basic value and I hope one that the Commission understands and reflects upon when making their decision. 

 

Please vote against the proposed rezoning and sale of this property.  Take a stand for what is necessary in educating our youth.  Discuss the opportunities of opening Owasippe to Scouting not only from Chicago but also from Michigan, the region and across the country.  If managed properly so many more can see the wonders of this beautiful land and recognize Michigan for its belief and trust in our youth.

 

~ Larry Gersch, Gurnee, IL  60031
[with permission]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

~Lyle Monette, Chairman
Blue Lake Township Planning Commission

 

 

 

 

 

For the entire story and graphics, go to...
http://matrix.millersamuel.com/index.php?p=369

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

~ Bob G, Southeast Mich

 

I live in Blue Lake Township and am interested in the situation with the Owasippe Boy Scout Camp.  I have watched news and read articles about this situation and have become concerned.

 

I personally have visited the camp.  I have ridden their mountain bike trail and fell in love with not only the beauty but the peacefulness and tranquility it brings to me.

 

I have personal memories of the biking trail.  I went with my uncle and brother.  It was an inspiring experience until I got lost.  It was almost dark and we had no lights.  I was worried we would have to sleep on the ground.  When I took a breath of fresh air my worries melted away.  With a new sense of adventure we pressed on.  After we started off again it was only a little while until we came to a road.

The Boy Scout camp has many critters, one of these being the bald eagle.  I found it interesting that Owasippe was an original repopulation area of the bald eagle.  Another endangered species that calls Owasippe home is the Karner Blue butterfly.

 

Owasippe, the great American Boy Scout camp, America’s first Scout camp, and they chose to build it in our lovely state of Michigan.  How would you feel if a part of our history was erased?  If we lose this, it won’t come back.

The camp is not just for Boy Scouts, but for human beings in general.  It is a place to relax and breath the fresh air.  Don’t let this go to waste.  Remember, we don’t want our history erased.

 

~ Kristin Martin, Holton MI

=========================================
Treat It Like A Baby...Preserve Owasippe
=========================================
01/29/2006
White Lake Beacon Letters to The Editor:

 

My compliments to reporter Debra Carte on her story concerning Owasippe. As a participant in the public meeting I watched her record the many comments made by those who knew it was important to speak out. It would have been difficult for me, as I am sure it was for her, to choose the most noteworthy comment because every speaker spoke with sincerity. The most repeated comment was about preserving the land of Owasippe for the future.

 

While listening, it seemed to me that I was hearing an extended community of people realize that a precious baby is presently in their care. Through their words they acknowledged this particular baby needs to be tended to, nurtured, and protected. Because the baby cannot speak for itself it must rely on others for its voice as well as its perpetual care and feeding. Many unselfish acts by caregivers in the past and present show that this unusual baby, called Owasippe, has a value that is beyond the measure of dollars and cents.

 

The fact that Owasippe exists, as it is today, should help us realize that many people before us, especially the American Indians, saw Owasippe land as a sacred land. Will Owasippe continue to be a revered land of many or will it be mutilated and divided up for the pleasure of a few? Please send your comments about Owasippe's future to Planning Commission Chairman Lyle Monette, 11063 Nichols Rd, Holton, MI 49425. The future of Owasippe truly is in the hands of those who care.

 

~ Nancy Frye, Holton, MI

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

~ Joe Jansen, Scouter-L Group

 

http://webmaila.juno.com/webmail/8?folder=Inbox&uniqMsgId=0013cNpl00001SzJ&attachId=2&user=owasiron@juno.com

 

 

 

 

 

=======================================

from www.fortdearborn.org

(12/1/05)  In his decision in Chancery Court, Judge Martin Agran
agreed with eight of the nine complaints brought against the Chicago
Area Council and Council President Lewis Greenblatt by the Scouter
11.  Judge Agran also found that Greenblatt had breached his
fiduciary responsibilities as Council President and that his
dissolution of the December Nominating Committee and subsequent
appointment of a new nominating committee was in violation of
Illinois law.

Citing violations of the Illinois Not-For-Profit Corporation Act,
violations of the Bylaws, and irregularities in procedures, the
eleven Scouters filed suit in October against the Chicago Area
Council in an attempt to force CAC President Lewis Greenblatt to
bring the Nomination Slate approved on May 5th before the voting
members.

The plaintiffs, known as the Scouter 11 include James Adamitis, Pete
Conway, Rita Eagan, Bill Eagan, Glenn Emig, Herb Goode, Craig
Johnson, Chauncey Nizol, Joe Sener, Vince Sheridan and Larry
Strickling. The action listed The Chicago Area Council, Lewis
Greenblatt, and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan.

(Lisa Madigan was involved in conformance with the Illinois
Charitable Trust Act and in fulfillment of the Attorney General's
duties at common law as they relate to Illinois charitable
organizations.)

The Scouter 11 filed the suit as a result of recent actions by Lewis
Greenblatt, CAC president, and members of the Executive Committee
who rejected the nominating committee's proposed slate of May 5th,
disbanded the sitting nominating committee, and appointed Dennis
Chookaszian to chair a reconstituted nominating committee. 

Three previous slates submitted by the original nominating committee
had been overwhelming defeated by the vote of the membership and
many felt that the May 5th slate would be approved by a majority of
the members.  However, Greenblatt was opposed to the slate and took
actions to prevent it from coming before the membership.

In their First Amended Complaint the plaintiffs raised nine issues
for which they requested judgment.  Although the decision is
contained in a long judicial summation, Judge Agran basically ruled
in agreement with the plaintiffs on the following issues:

> The December Nominating Committee (as defined in the First Amended
Complaint) was duly appointed by the Board of Directors;
> The May 5, 2005 slates (also defined in the First Amended
Complaint) were duly approved by the December Nominating Committee;
> The act of the Executive Committee in disapproving the May 5, 2005
slates was beyond its authority;
> The members properly petitioned the Council to hold a meeting to
vote on the May 5, 2005 slates;
> The Defendants violated the Plaintiffs' rights by not calling a
meeting of the members within 60 days of June 10, 2005 for the
purpose of conducting a vote on the May 5, 2005 slates;
> Defendant Greenblatt's action in dissolving the December
Nominating Committee is in violation of the General Not For Profit
Corporation Act of 1986, including Sections 108.40(a) and (c)(4);
> The action of the Executive Committee in appointing a new
Nominating Committee after Greenblatt's dissolution of the December
Nominating Committee violates 805 ILCS 105/108.40(c)(4); and
> Any slates nominated by the new Nominating Committee are void and
should not be presented to the members for a vote

The complaint also contained a ninth issue involving seemingly
illegal appointments to the board of directors by Greenblatt.

Any persons voted in or appointed as Directors by the Executive
Committee but not the Board of Directors are not valid Directors
because their appointments were made in violation of 805 ILCS 108.40
(c) and such persons have no power or authority to serve as
Directors of the Council.

Judge Agran dismissed this point due to the fact that the alleged
illegal appointees were not specified by name.

Agran's rulings should now open the way for a vote on the May 5th
slate presented by the original nominating committee.

More detailed information will be posted as it becomes available.

# # #

Chicago Area Council, Boy Scout of America leadership states that Owasippe Scout Camps serves only 3 percent of the youth registered with the Council and the Chicago Area Council can not afford to support such a small membership number.

 

Here are the facts.  The youth membership is divided approximately into the following categories:  32000 Learning for Life, 6200 Cub Scouts, 3500 Boy Scouts and 700 Venture Scouts. Learning for Life does not camp and should not be counted in the percentage of youth that camp at Owasippe.  The CAC statistics state that about 1500 boys’ camp at Owasippe. That is 43 percent of the Boy Scouts not 3 percent.  Any volunteer organization that can get 43 percent of its members to participate has a very successful organization.

 

Chicago Area Council states that in the 1970’s 10,000 scouts camped at Owasippe and today only 3500 scouts are campers.  In 1970, the Council operated 14 section camps, today they operate two camps.  One section camp was burned down in an arson fire and never rebuilt. The 11 remaining camps were located on land that the Council sold. Every year, we increase the number of campers - 25 more campers this year than last year. If CAC would open more section camps we would have more campers, and Owasippe Scout Camps would show a profit instead of a loss.

 

Learning for Life Youth is a separate non-profit corporation from traditional Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Venture Scouts.  The Learning for Life has separate professional scout executives and separate funding.   The curriculum for Learning for Life does not have camping, a system of advancement leading to Eagle Scout or leadership training guided by experienced, and dedicated volunteer adult leaders.

 

Learning for Life is a course of study, just as English is a course of study.  Learning for Life is a motivational course in ethics taught by professional teachers and directed by the school administration and local school council. Learning for Life has curriculum, lesson plans and workbooks written by the Boy Scout of America which Teachers use to teach the Learning for Life Course. Learning for Life is sold to the Local School Council or Board of Education., and they decide whether several grades or the entire school participates in the Learning for Life course. There are about 300 thousand students in the Chicago Public Schools so not every student participates in Learning for Life.

 

In traditional Boy Scouts, the adult leaders, the youth, the parents and the sponsoring institution volunteer their time, talents and money. Everyone connected with Learning for Life is paid.  The taxpayers fund Learning for Life. When the Local School Council decides to fund a new motivational course, the Teachers will stop teaching Learning for Life and the membership will drop like a lead shot.  Traditional Boy Scouts will continue on because everyone is emotionally involved and dedicated to the principals of Scouting.

 

Learning for Life people are dedicated only to a pay check. Learning for Life is just another of an unending parade of motivation fads. It will not last long.

Citizens of Muskegon County and Blue Lake Township need to stand fast and resist the pressure of Ben Smith, the land developer, to destroy the treasure that is Owasippe Scout Camps. He will walk away with a huge profit, and stick you with tax bill for the required new infrastructure, and expanded school system. The school tax is always the most expensive item on your tax bill and it never goes away.

 

Any job that can be done on a computer can be done in Bombay, India, and anything that can be loaded on a truck, can be made in China.  The wilderness that is Owasippe can not be imported, and the jobs that Owasippe provides can not be exported.

 

~ Erwin F. Brinkmann
Assistant Scoutmaster, CAC Troop 944

============================================
09/13/2005 - Remember The Past and Protect The Future!
============================================
I was and I am again a member of [CAC] Troop 923. I moved to Central Illinois in 1978 and have stayed somewhat active in Scouting over the years. I also am active again with Scouting in Central Illinois with a local Cub Scout Pack. I have made several return trips to Owasippe between 1978 and 1991.

 

Until this year, my last trip to OSR was 1991. Having returned to Owasippe this year with the Scout Troop of my youth, I was amazed to see how much Owasippe looked the same but different. In the past I brought several central Illinois Boy Scout Troops to Owasippe in the 80’s & 90’s. They were amazed at what was there and everyone loved the camp. If advertised and marketed properly, the potential for a great regional camp is unbelievable! 

 

I say it is different because the camp is already considerably smaller than when I first attended in 1966. With assistance from other Scouter’s this summer, I re-traced the steps back to where several of our closed or lost (sold off) camps used to be. I was heart sick at what has transpired to the ”Old Owasippe” and have a renewed appreciation for what remaining Owasippe really is. The Chicago Area Council does not realize what it has for a camping facility. 

 

Why are there no ads, in the Scout and camping magazines? Why has CAC decided to turn its back on such a rich and great tradition? When I first heard about the possible sale, I was mortified. I have memories and experiences from my years at camp that need to be passed down to other youth. Many of these experiences are only possible at a camp of Owasippe’s size and woodland variety. I have decided that if it is possible I will return to camp in 2006 to help the scouts that do come up and do my best to help “transfer” the “Owasippe Experience” to the next generation of youth.

 

I was impressed with the amount of “Save Owasippe” signs that I saw all around Whitehall. I heard local town people talking about how they are hoping the camp would not be sold. It’s amazing how an OSR t-shirt would get people to walk up and ask questions. I hope and pray that the local zoning board sticks to it current decision on the “camp only” zoning.

 

Since I am a BSA member, I am going to try to stay in touch with the on-going OSR situation and keep the Scout’s and Scouter’s in my prayers. I pray that OSR will be there for future generations of youth camping. It would a terrible loss to our youth if this camp “went away”. When I was a young scout, I was taught by a very wise group of adult Troop leaders to “Keep the Outing in Scouting”. Hopefully the CAC will remember that as well!

 

~ Bob Lagerquist
Committee Member, CAC Troop 923

09/01/2005 - Time For Teamwork and Loyalty To Owasippe
=============================================
I have been a scout/scouter for over 49 years and during that time I have been a loyal follower of scouting (Eagle Scout) and its principles, to include loyalty to Owasippe.  I fully support your stance on Owasippe. 
 
I served on staff there and have been there over the years as a scout and scouter.  Having served in many Adult positions and now as a District Commissioner I find you comments with regard to the District Chairman and District Commissioners very disturbing.
 
You have the wrong enemy.  The real problem is how council has wasted and not accounted for large sums of money over the years, but I can't but help blame the scoutmasters who have not been loyal to Owasippe as noted by the declining attendance.  Such was not the case when I was a scout and scoutmaster.  EVERYONE SUPPORTED OWASIPPE YEAR AFTER YEAR AND DID NOT GO ELSEWHERE, except for an occasional trip to Philmont or a High Adventure base.  SUCH IS NOT THE CASE NOW.  But take a look at how many of those absent scoutmasters and troops want to jump on the bandwagon now to save Owasippe.  In fact they are using it as an excuse for everything.
 
I wish you would target in some of your email and attacks those absent scoutmasters and troops. 
 
A great way to turn the tables is to have 100% of all units from CAC attending Owasippe, especially next year during the 95th anniversary.  A show of support of this magnitude would show Council and it would send a message that you better account for every dollar spend by those units to send their boys to camp.  Council could no longer use the declining attendance and lack of funds then.
 
~ Gordon Lohrman
District Commissioner, Iroquois 

 

First, his 3% figure.  Does that also include the youth served through
Cub Scouting?  Cub Scouting is really not a camping program.  Certainly not Tigers, Wolves, and Bears.  Webelos is only an introduction to camping and Owasippe was never promoted agressively to any of these Cub Scouting groups.  So what is the percentage of Boy Scouts in CAC that go to Owasippe?  Isn't that easy to find out?  We know the total number of scouts that go each year.  We should be able to find out the number of Boy Scouts in CAC. 

 

Second, his statement that the decline is not the result of lack of
promoting camping.  Who's he kidding? Not only has there been no
aggressive promotion of camping but the promotion that has been done has been self defeating.  Did you see the commercial CAC ran several years ago on some of the Chicago access channels?  It was a commercial
directed at kids and it told the kids how great scouting is because it
is going to build your character.  Give me a break!  What kid is going
to run up to his mom or dad and want to join anything because it will
build his "character"? 

 

Has CAC ever ran an ad like this?:  Joey gets home from school all
excited, "Hey mom,dad. Billy and Sammie went to camp in the summer.
Billy learned to swim! Sammie went canoing.  They both got to shoot
arrows and rifles at targets.  They went hiking on a forest trail. Billy caught five fish in 1 hour!  Sammie got to cook his own meal, and everybody liked it.  Billy said they sat by a hugh campfire and the leaders were doing crazy skits and songs.  Mom, it was the 'Boy Scouts'.  Can I join?  Please?"

 

Either Greenblatt doesn't have a clue or there is more to this than we
know.  Shame on him!

 

~ Jim K, Arrowhead Dist/CAC

===============================================
08/24/2005 - A Veiled Threat...Should We Be Fearful?
===============================================
I have just re-read the letter of B. Smith dated 8-15-05, he has made what appears to be a direct threat to CAC, to the residents, and to the BSA itself.

I think he said "the longer and more costly the process of getting the property returned to it's former zoning, The more property will have to be developed".

 

He also states "If our investors grow weary of this process, there are others who are willing to step in - and I can assure you they will not have the same attitude we have".  Now, I am not an expert, but that statement in my opinion tells me Mr Smith truly cares only for his own financial well being. I truly question his real intentions, once the sale goes through he and his investors can and will do what is best for them financially in the long run. No one in the council let alone this country can tell someone what they can and cannot do on their own property as long as they stay within the limits of the laws of this nation.

 

Mr Benjamin Smith, you are trying to bully people, you must have been a child used to getting what you wanted. You letter sounds like "If I can't get you to do as I want, I will bring in others who can force you!"  This is simple old fashion Mafia/Chicago political tactics to get what you want.  You sound like you have taken a page out of Al Capone's play book (do as I say or I'll have some of my friends who are not so friendly take care of you).

 

I hope and pray your neighbors and customers of your bank can read through your lies, you have NO intention of ever using this land for conservation past the next five or ten years.  You would have more respect from me and people like me if you just came out and said "Hey, this place would be wonderful for lake front property with all the trees and wildlife.  I could make a fortune developing and/or building secluded vacation homes".  Stop pretending you give a damn about the Scouts and your community and face up to your need...or should I say greed?

 

Once in your possession, the only grandchildren that will be able to enjoy this property will be your own and the grandchildren of your investors through the millions you all will make from the real estate sales!   No Thank You, Mr Smith!!!  I pray each day that the zoning will not change, that the members of that community and the zoning board see through you, and that the powers in control (for now) at CAC get shafted and the sale falls flat.

 

Although the scouts in my troop choose to camp at other long term camps to get new camping experience, they have and will continue to call Owasippe their "home".  They are both proud and ashamed of that statement.  Proud, because they share what scouts from Chicago have been doing for nearly a century and ashamed that their own council can sell Owasippe without regard to how this will shape the future of scouting in Chicago without a place for resident camping once it is gone.
 
~ John Smith, SM - T610

==================================
08/24/2005 - Lew Greenblatt's 3% Stat
==================================
In response to a question that asked about the veracity of Lew Greenblatt's (CAC Council President's letter to the White Lake Beacon.) assertion that the CAC camps only 3% of it's youth, the following may be helpful.

 

That includes everything you can count including LFL. The last break down of membership I have for the CAC is for October 2004. There it lists a total of 2,866 boy scouts. Approximately 1500 CAC Boy scouts went to camp. That's about 50%. That percentage has stayed about the same for the last 60 years.  If you count everyone in traditional scouting, the number was 8,377 or 18% have attended Owasippe.

 

It is obvious that we no longer have the population count we
need.  However, when you take into account that another 1500 attend from off council, it seems to me that one thing that has to be done ... is view Owasippe as the "Philmont of the Midwest," and recruit units to attend from all over the country.

 

If scouts will pay close to $2000.00 to go to a Jambo than at $200 /
week, we've got the best deal in town.

 

~ Reinhard Plaut, T-923 CAC & Member-at-Large

 

'Frontline’ Scouts Opposed To Sale of Owasippe

 

I spent several weeks up in Michigan, at different times, in Holland, Whitehall, Muskegon and Blue Lake Township. At most of the places I went to, I was wearing an Owasippe shirt and I was questioned as to why the Boy Scouts want to sell the camp.

 

I want to make it known that the 'scouts' and the 'leaders' do not want to sell the Camp and have voted, time and again, against selling it. We have held protest marches, pickets and wrote letters protesting the sale of this precious piece of land, here in Chicago. We have written about the fact that Camp Owasippe started out as a parcel of land that was over 22,000 acres, which included Paradise Valley, Owasippe's Grave, Stuart, Beard and many other areas, which have all been sold off, by the Chicago Area Council, over the years. We now have around 4,700 acres and don't want to lose anymore of this precious, non-renewable commodity. And the past sales were also against the wishes of the 'frontline' scouters.

 

What I mean by 'frontline' scouters is that these are the people who actually come up here, with the boys, the troops and the families, and spend our hard earned money while we are here, in Michigan. We go to the beaches, the farmers markets, the stores and the restaurants, and please let's not forget the "Ice Cream stores." We enjoy the nature, the forests and the lakes, ponds and streams - and we spend our money. And we come because we love the camp, we enjoy the communities and appreciate the people of Michigan, who welcome us when we are there.

 

We, the people of Chicago scouting, do not want to sell Camp Owasippe or to lose this jewel, or the peace, or the community surrounding the Camp. The Chicago Area Council, by their own words, already have over 19 + million in their coffers and do not need to sell this for more money. Please help us continue our fight, in Michigan, and we will continue our fight here in Chicago.

 

~ Helen Gesell
An Owasippe camper and visitor since 1965 and a member of T683 & 600.

- from Ft Dearborn District E-news

7/8/05--In a long three-hour-plus meeting, CAC Executive Board Member Dennis Chookaszian met with Chicago area Scouters on July 5th at the European Chalet banquet hall to discuss issues which have recently surfaced in the Council concerning nominations to the Board of Directors. (See article on district website)

Although the meeting was called at short notice and not widely publicized, approximately 160 Scouters and interested parties were in attendance.  Attendees represented members from every CAC district as well as one representative from the Learning for Life program.  Several District Chairmen as well as Scout Executive Jim Stone were also in attendance.

Chookaszian, a former CAC President, who has been appointed by current CAC President Lewis Greenblatt to chair a reformed nominating committee, began the meeting by reviewing the council nominating process.

According to Chookaszian, the procedure is as follows: 1) A nominating committee is appointed; 2) The nominating committee accepts nominations from the membership.  3) The nominating committee formulates a slate. 4) The slate is presented to the Executive Committee for approval; and 5) If approved by the Executive Committee, the slate is presented to the membership for voting.

However, Chookaszian may have been in error because a reading of the Chicago Area Council Bylaws Appendix B, which contains election procedures, finds no mention of Executive Committee approval. [The current CAC Bylaws may be reviewed at www.fortdearborn.org]

Chookaszian then gave a brief presentation of the number of youth involved in both the traditional programs and Learning for Life.  Chookaszian is former National Learning for Life President.

During the meeting Chookaszian referred to LFL participants as “youth served” rather than “members” apparently since technically LFL is an ethics curriculum rather than a membership organization, as he explained.

Chookaszian then opened the meeting for questions from the floor.

When asked why the previous nominating committee had been disbanded and why the slate they had proposed on May 5th was blocked from coming before the voting membership, Chookaszian stated that he could not speak for the reasons each voter on the Executive Committee had opposed the slate.  However, he personally
had voted against the slate because he felt it was not representative of the current demographics of the council but that other voters may have had other reasons.  Later in the meeting he stated that all of those who had voted against the previous slate had shared his opinion.

Pauli Johnson, a volunteer from Fort Dearborn District asked how the newly formed nominating committee could be representative of the membership when 5 of the 7 nominating committee members were also the same members of the Executive Committee who had disapproved the previous slate even though at least 40% the voting membership had supported it based upon signatures on a petition to the council demanding a vote on that slate.  Johnson questioned how the general
membership would get fair representation under these circumstances.

When asked what would happen if the membership chose to vote down a slate presented by this current nominating committee, Chookaszian stated that if the future slate was defeated, the Executive Committee would refer to the bylaws for a resolution.

The bylaws of the Chicago Area Council were changed by the Board of Directors in 2004 to include a clause which allows that after a presented slate is defeated twice by the voting membership, it may be referred to the Board of Directors for resolution and they may appoint themselves despite the wishes of qualified voters.  These bylaws changes were approved and instituted at the Board level and were not voted on by the general voting membership.

Scouter Mary Beth Niziol asked how the general membership could make informed decisions when documents such as the bylaws and financial statements were not always readily available to the members.  Chookaszian stated that those documents were available to anyone who asked at the Scout office.

Another Scouter, who identified himself as a recent graduate in business and accounting, questioned the accountability of the Executive Committee if their actions could trump the oversight responsibilities of the full Board of Directors.  And although Chookaszian continued to defend the Executive Board’s recent action by citing the bylaws, when questioned regarding specific clauses or wording in the bylaws which justified his position, he stated that he was not personally familiar with the exact wording but left interpretations to CAC legal counsel Louis Vitullo who had approved recent Executive Committee actions. 

It was pointed out by an attendee and verified by Jim Stone that Vitullo had not been in attendance to offer advice at the meeting when Greenblatt refused to entertain a motion for the full board to review the actions of the Executive Committee.

In referring to the current impasse, Chookaszian speculated that most of the dissent in the council was due to the sale of Owasippe and that once that sale was completed, membership would settle down and the council would go on about its business.  He stated that he believed that aside from the sale of Owasippe, there were no other issues of contention.  However, several members insisted that this was untrue and that the main issues of concern were council governance and accountability to the membership.

Scouter Jim Adamitis questioned the fairness of refusing to allow a membership vote on the May 5th slate and why the Executive Committee would continue their present actions when it was obvious by defeats of three previous slates and petition signatures of over 130 voting members that the membership had no confidence in the current administration. 

“What makes you so wise as to force your opinion,” asked Adamitis, “as opposed to the collective wisdom of 130 voting members and front-line Scouters who signed the petition?”

Chookaszian stated that the Executive Committee was committed to its current course of action and intended to follow through until the sale of the Owasippe property was finalized.

“That’s complete arrogance,” said one southside Scouter following the meeting.   “If we vote them out they can appoint themselves back in.  What is the point of our vote? If we disapprove of their actions, they don’t care.  They do what they want.  They completely ignore the wishes of the membership.”

Although the meeting was conducted in an orderly fashion, tempers flared at one point causing Chookaszian to walk out of the meeting.  He later returned and the meeting continued.

“I’m tired of it all,” proclaimed one Scouter.  “Ultimately, it’s the kids who lose.”

http://www.fortdearborn.org

~ per www.fortdearborn.org (from a handful of contributing reporters)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seems to me there are at least 3 factual errors in his letter...

1> CAC actually supported the Blue Lake Township Master Plan for recreational zoning so they could get their taxes cut.
2> The "less than 3%" number includes LFL which is not part of the BSA
program nor does it have a camping component [and is an classroom enrollment for a values-curriculum].
3> "We have similar goals, so why aren't we working together?"
Really?  Then, why did he dismiss the former nominating committee [and not recognize the 130+ signed Scouter petitions]?

~ Reinhard Plaut, CAC T-923

=========================================
08/15/05 - Abandonment of Traditional Scouting?
=========================================
A rebuttal to Greenblatt's letter to The Beacon:

 

Wow!  Talk about taking the "out" out of "scOUTing!"

At one time I was willing to give the CAC the benefit of the doubt. But
this statement leads me to believe that the overall objective is to not
invest money or effort to support camping. Rather they seem intent on
pillaging a windfall profit from the generosity of those who do believe
in "traditional" Scouting values and redirect those resources to the
remaining 97% percent, meaning the Chicago Public School system
programs. (BTW, I still really question these numbers regarding the
number of children served via LFL).

 

To me, it sounds like the board is not only selling Owasippe, but is also selling out "traditional" Scouting.  Are they truly intent on burying Scouting?  If so, they should simply resign and leave the assets and resources behind for "Traditional" Scouting. There are those in this nation who believe that there are values and skills best taught in the outdoors.

 

CAC seems to be running a shell game to shift the assets from "traditional" Scouting to LFL just before turning off the lights on "Traditional" Scouting.  To date, there has been no detail explanation or accounting for the millions of dollars gained from the sale of Hoover in Yorkville and the intended sale of Owasippe. I'm sure there have been discussion in the smoke filled backrooms at the private business clubs where they conduct their secret ad-hoc meetings. But...these discussions are not readily available the rank and file volunteers, the voting CORs & members at large, and perhaps even to some of their fellow board members who are not invited to these meetings!

 

Also, I would seriously question the veracity of the statement "it is
not a result of a lack on our effort to promote camping."  In general, I
have seen no effort to promote camping from the CAC board or staff.

   * I have seen minimal effort on their website. Even basic information
on operations is missing.

   * I have never seen a direct mail piece to promote attendance at
either the camps or the High Adventure program, which they don't even
consider High Adventure (check out High Adventure on the website and you
will not see Manistee Quest listed).

   * I have not seen a single add in any Scouting magazine while other,
smaller camps and venues promote their less attractive locations.

   * Directors and staff were not officially named until just weeks
before the season began preventing

Honestly, if these folks promoted their businesses the way they promote
Scouting, their shareholders would have voted them out long ago. Of
course, that would have happened already to the CAC board if they didn't
change the rules to prevent their constituents from having a voice in
the process.

 

Mr. Greenblatt's letter appears to be an effort to establish lines of
communication between the counsel board members and Blue Lake Township.   But I would first encourage Mr. Greenblatt to open a line of
communication with his own constituents as to what his true intentions
are because right now I don't believe he or the other members eager to
sell of Scouting have shown all of their cards yet. Remember the first
Scout law.

 

~ Willie Vannerson, ASM - McHenry IL

 

 

I believe if we all worked together in a true scout spirit we could have an excellent  Learning-For-Life program AND an excellent traditional scouting program WITH the best scout camp in the world.

 

~ Thomas Grigoletti, Scoutmaster of CAC Troop 683

 

 

 

Last week I attended the Boy Scout Camp Owasippe, a 5,000 acre summer camp in Whitehall, Michigan owned and operated by the Chicago Council of the Boy Scouts of America. My 2 sons & I, along with 19 other scouts from the Greater Cleveland area enjoyed a week long retreat in the woods working on merit badges, fishing, climbing and riding horses, among other scouting activities.

 

I have to tell you that this has been one of the best Scout camping experiences in my 15 years of scouting as a leader and parent of 3 scouts.   While there, I was astonished to learn that this pristine camp was on the selling block. I can only wonder, what is the Chicago Boy Scout Board thinking? Have they lost their minds? This camp is a mecca for scouting and it is being disregarded as a burden for the sake of development. I submit that these directors do not serve the boys and are blinded by the 19 million dollars that they hope to gain from this unholy venture.

 

Where will the boys go then? Chicago needs Owasippe for the sake of its children and for the hope that young boys can still play in the woods, discover themselves, learn to challenge their limits on their own, make lifelong friends, and give back to the community what they have so innocently learned, to do their best. I submit that the Chicago Boy Scout District needs to go back to their deliberation room and really ponder whether they have been loyal and trustworthy in carrying out their responsibility to the boys of Chicago and the nation. Any Chicagoan with an ounce of respect for the Boy Scouts and love for Camp Owasippe, needs to know what is happening. This loss extends beyond the borders of Illinois and Michigan and affects us all.

 

Mark Corcoran
Boy Scout Parent
Troop 401, Fairview Park, OH

07/10/2005 - Ex-CAC Exec Weighs In On Saving Owasippe
==========================================================
I try to keep up with the happenings in the Chicago Area Council.   Seems to me that many great Scouters have to exert far too much energy trying to protect the heart and soul of your service in behalf of youth. Good, decent and committed leadership, working cooperatively, CAN find a way to keep the treasure, OWASIPPE. I applaud your grassroots efforts to save Owasippe.        ~ Dean Lollar, New Mexico

 

In a world so riddled with constant changes, some not always for the best, I’d like to ask for your support in helping to prevent a change that could cause a major loss in one of our local communities. As a member of the Blue Lake Township in Muskegon County and the State of Michigan, I fear for the possible loss of the treasured Owasippe Scout Reservation. I believe that this property is a National Treasure and it is the oldest Scout Camp in the United States of America - established in 1911.

 

I’m sure we can all agree that children are our future. It is our responsibility to provide them with the appreciation, the learning experience and the existence of nature at its best. For it is today’s children that will uphold tomorrow’s environment. Owasippe Scout Reservation is one of the rare natural beauties left in the world today for this upcoming generation to use as their learning experience and to love as the generations before them have loved.

 

This camp and the surrounding area is unique, it is beauty at its simplest and it is truly irreplaceable. I plead for your support in helping to prevent this gift from being rezoned into an all to common residential classification.

 

We need your support of the nonprofit OOEC (Owasippe Outdoor Education Center). OOEC would continue to offer camping to the Scouts as well as businesses, church or other organizations, that would like to camp at Owasippe. Our children need your support. Our children’s future children need your support. Please help us to save the Owasippe Scout Reservation. Saving something to priceless can only be the right thing to do.

 

~ Sandra Henry

 

~ Kurt "OPITA" Bihlmayer

==============================
A Report From The Field
==============================
by Kevin Posen

 

Mike Finnegan, my Dad, myself, and our kids got back from Owasippe yesterday after three wonderful days of fishing and hiking.  My Dad caught and released a trophy bass in Lake Wolverine, 6-1/2 lbs and 22.5 inches long, largest bass ever caught in his lifetime.  I caught and released a 4-pounder, and we caught another thirty fish among us all.  We saw the eagles, otters, wild turkeys, a million chipmunks and A PEACOCK (???) on our Blue Trail hike.  
Last night, I attended my son's troop meeting where 43 Scouts chose the merit badges they will be working on at summer camp.   I can't wait to go back to Owasippe for another week on June 25!
 
~ Kevin [Medinah, IL]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note: You can learn more about the state’s Karner Blue Habitat Conservation Plan and Michigan’s Natural Communities at www.michigan.gov/dnr/

 

~ Ron Sebonia

================================
Developing Owasippe Unthinkable
================================
May 9, 2005
White Lake Beacon - Letter To The Editor

 

In a country where big dollars rule the day in almost all things, we find a multi-millionaire developer poised to preside over the extinction of one of Michigan’s most treasured lakes. I refer to Big Blue Lake of Muskegon County.

 

Let me qualify myself as a spokesman who is against the madness of building many hundreds of homes on or near this tiny jewel of a lake. My beloved wife’s family has been involved as property owners there for 96 years. We know the lake intimately and hold a great love for all it represents.

 

Blue Lake cannot possibly support this project environmentally. Hundreds upon hundreds of trees will be destroyed. Lawn fertilizer and sewage will run off into the waters. To even contemplate building such an inordinate number of homes on a small and fragile lake is unthinkable.

 

With water access rights being offered to all buyers, as is a certainty, one can only imagine the impact of hundreds of boats madly racing around the lake on a Sunday afternoon. Even today, the noise pollution created by but a few screaming jet skis is intolerable. The effects of many dozens of such craft, aimlessly traversing the water at top speed, cannot be overstated. Nor can the danger of such behavior be ignored.

 

So, in the end, Big Blue Lake will simply die, in terms of water quality, wildlife and the peace and tranquility it has afforded Michigan residents for a hundred years. By this time, the developer will be off on some other destructive project and the people who have spent their money building there will have a lake which has become worthless and we will all be the poorer for it.

 

Charles W. Lewis
River Forest, Illinois

 

 

A little over a year ago, my husband and I purchased property in Blue Lake Township, on the White River. It is vacant land, and it holds a dream for us. Our dream is to build a house for our family (ourselves and our two little boys, ages 2 1/2 and 1 1/2) in a peaceful, natural setting, allowing our children to experience nature and all it holds in a way children growing up in a suburb never will.

 

Now the possibility of Owasippe and all it's land being sold and turned into homes and developments threatens our dream. Our children may not grow up in the quiet setting we want to create for them. Instead, it may someday be just like any other city or suburban area; deprived of the almost untouched thousands of acres that have managed to remain intact for over 100 years. Once it is broken up and sold to the highest bidder, what will we be able to give to our children? And their children?

 

~ Krissy Buys
Muskegon

====================================
05/09/2005 - Developing Owasippe Unthinkable
====================================
May 9, 2005
White Lake Beacon - Letter To The Editor

 

In a country where big dollars rule the day in almost all things, we find a multi-millionaire developer poised to preside over the extinction of one of Michigan’s most treasured lakes. I refer to Big Blue Lake of Muskegon County.

 

Let me qualify myself as a spokesman who is against the madness of building many hundreds of homes on or near this tiny jewel of a lake. My beloved wife’s family has been involved as property owners there for 96 years. We know the lake intimately and hold a great love for all it represents.

 

Blue Lake cannot possibly support this project environmentally. Hundreds upon hundreds of trees will be destroyed. Lawn fertilizer and sewage will run off into the waters. To even contemplate building such an inordinate number of homes on a small and fragile lake is unthinkable.

 

With water access rights being offered to all buyers, as is a certainty, one can only imagine the impact of hundreds of boats madly racing around the lake on a Sunday afternoon. Even today, the noise pollution created by but a few screaming jet skis is intolerable. The effects of many dozens of such craft, aimlessly traversing the water at top speed, cannot be overstated. Nor can the danger of such behavior be ignored.

 

So, in the end, Big Blue Lake will simply die, in terms of water quality, wildlife and the peace and tranquility it has afforded Michigan residents for a hundred years. By this time, the developer will be off on some other destructive project and the people who have spent their money building there will have a lake which has become worthless and we will all be the poorer for it.

 

~ Charles W. Lewis
River Forest, Illinois

 

==========================================================
Has anyone taken a serious (academic) look at the cost of replacing
Owasippe? I think I saw a quote from Chooka$ian to the effect that the
council could find something closer to Chicago that would see more use. I think that's a fiction. My gut tells me that to replace (as irreplaceable as we know it really is) OSR would cost around 6-8 million depending on proximity. That's based on about 200' of shoreline on a lake that can handle canoes, rowboats, and small sailboats, as well as a lodge, dining hall capable of handing 300 campers/session, a food preparation facility (possibly part of the dining hall), storage, docks, and pool all on about 200-250 acres...IF such a parcel even exists in a two hour radius of Chicago!  Could we get one of the local university B schools to do a case study in this regard?

 

~ Ron Sebonia

 

 

 

 

 

 

~ Nick Groszowski
Holton, Mich

 

 

 

 

 

 

<Suspended & spurned but NOT Silent>

 

~  Ron Kulak

< Suspended and spurned but not silent>
Chicago Ridge, IL

 

Let's please take some time to consider the ramifications of another development in beautiful west Michigan.

 

We are a state known for bountiful forests, amazing lakes, and wide open spaces.  Through time we have lost some of our most amazing identifying assets to development. Do we want to mirror our neighbors and sell our unique attributes for another mini mall or subdivision or do we want to maintain resources that not only we can enjoy for years to come, but will also draw tourists and income?

 

We should draw upon our natural attributes to stimulate the economy. The developments we have invested in have been quick fixes that will be outdated and vacated in years to come. Who wants to live in a waste land? We want to live in an area where we can hear the birds sing, see the butterflies float, and smell the fresh clean air. Once those things are gone they aren't easily brought back.

 

Please think about the trade off here and work to save Owasippe.

 

~ Crystal Chumley-Jarvis
Montague MI

 

The Scout Council has as its mission to see that this is facilitated.
Selling the camp property may raise great funds for the endowment but
there has to be some solid proposal in place that will provide a summer camp program of value EQUAL to that previously provided at the old summer camp <Note: still undefined>.

 

I just hope that the bests interests of the boys in the program will
be kept foremost in mind as this <Owasippe> situation plays out.

 

~ Joe Jansen
JAJansenJr@gmail.com
http://www.customprograms.info/scoutingresources.htm
I used to be an Owl.  SC-70-15

 

=====================

Dear Editor,

 

It was with great shock and sadness to hear of the sale and certain demise of what I as an Eagle scout and parent of a current scout, called Camp Owasippe.

 

I truly felt like I have lost a dear friend. The sale at Camp Hoover at least allowed our camping presence at the camp site while still preserving a beautiful piece of God’s earth. The sale of Owasippe does nothing except garner the scouting organization 30 pieces of silver ($19.4 million). It is unfortunate that the Chicago Area Council’s Board has turned its back on the very ideals (respect for the environment) that we try to instill into young scouts.

 

Whether it was in writing or not, one can be certain that whoever donated this beautiful land in 1911 to the Boy Scouts assumed that it would be preserved in perpetuity in its pristine state. A scout is trustworthy comes to mind. The board certainly has violated that part of the scout law.

 

The point that the developer Mr. Ben Smith III will tread lightly is laughable. The developer talks a good game until the zoning change from campground to residential is obtained from the township. The legacy of what was once Owasippe will again be violated and subdivided. It is also unbelievable that a lease agreement wasn’t obtained before the deal was completed, good legal counsel. Fat chance of getting that after the sale contract has been completed.

 

I seem to remember something about “mentally awake,” oops someone was napping. It’s a loss for scouting that those who carried out this boondoggle and violation of trust only thought in terms of dollars and cents. Maybe there were too many insurance executives, accountants and lawyers on the Chicago Area Council Board. They put a price tag on something that was truly priceless, once again selling off the legacy and memories that hundreds of thousands held more dearly than the bottom line.

 

Hopefully the Blue Lake Township Zoning Board will be “brave” and not grant the zoning change to residential allowing some other solution which would preserve the integrity and honor of the boy scouts and that “little piece of Heaven,” Camp Owasippe. It will be interesting to see who ends up with lake front property on Big Blue Lake, maybe Judas himself.

 

~ Kenneth M. Stoffel
Palos Park, Illinois

 

========================

========================

Dear Editor,

 

I am appalled and ashamed that the Boy Scouts would put such a beautiful property up for sale instead of making the efforts to raise funds to save it for future generations. We all owe it to our children and future generations to donate to save this historic property, America's first scout camp. As a tourist who considers Whitehall one of my favorite places, let’s protect Whitehall's tourism economy also by preserving this precious property.

 

~Kirt Manecke
Milford

 

 

===========================

Dear Editor,

 

In 1947, I was two, my parents took me to Blue Lake Township for the first time to a little house on Fruitvale and First, our family summer home. Back then it took 8 hours-plus to get from Chicago to our summer home and the Scouts had already been doing it for 36 years.

 

In 1956 I took a train from Chicago for the great adventure that is Owasippe. For the next 12 years I looked forward to going to Camp Blackhawk. My grandmother would bring fried chicken down to the Scouts at Rochdale landing, when they would land their canoes. The journey started for me again in 1978 when I went back to Owasippe as Scoutmaster of Troop 6 in Chicago. I have seen the look on young Scouts’ faces as they live the Owasippe experience for the first time. I watched my two sons grow with the Owasippe experience and join their father as an Eagle Scout.

 

This summer I will be taking my troop to Owasippe for the 27th summer to experience America's Premier Scout Camp and all the wealth of earth and heaven. We are America's oldest Scout camp, serving youth since 1911, and now a speculator wants to take it over and destroy what God put there. Do not let this happen, keep Owasippe for the young. Let them experience it in perpetuity. I do not want my 39th summer to be my last. I want my future grandchildren to have the Owasippe experience.

 

~Robert P. Burns, Jr.
Scoutmaster CAC Troop 6
Eagle Scout

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

=====================================
03/28/05 - Standing Together To Protect The Land
=====================================
I as the founder of the Owasippe Conservation Group since 97 am saddened at the greed that has taken place in the <Chicago> Council. Since 97, we have donated 3200 hours of work a year on the camp in exchange for hunting.  All of the dedication and pride our group has put into the camp to make it grow and go has seemed to only enhance the property for resale.  This is one reason why I have not yet rewired the camp's high voltage system...all 6 miles of line.  We stand here with you in defense of the land that brought so much laughter to the children.  Our 80 members stand ready to help where needed as we have in the past.  So, please call on us as we still strive to save the land we so dearly love.  Still working.
 
~Dennis Blankenship
huntowasippe@aol.com

 

No hyperbole, just stark reality of what certainly will be unless all of us act in unity to prevent this tragedy from occuring and make the CAC to realize the folly of their decision.   Ladies and gentlemen, Scouts and Scouters alike, dont sit idly by and watch the future of Scouting vanish into some strangers pocket.
Make sure your COR votes "NO" to any actions which will enable the
sale of Owasippe to be consumated. If your COR cant be made to "see
the light", then replace him or her.

 

We simply must take every measure possible to make the CAC see the
error of their decision. The money they choose to make is to support
non-traditional Scouting. Is that what all your time and hard work is
for?

 

Don't Speak, ACT!

 

~ C.J.Tomlin
COR 647 & 3647, Iroquois Dist, CAC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 ~ Bob Westfall, Committee Chairman, T-906, Valparaiso, Indiana

I'm almost in shock over this. Part of my youth, my identity is being sold off for a fraction of its worth. There are memorials to friends now lost. The ashes of friends are in the lakes. And its being done in a back handed sort of way that I have come to expect from professional scouting executives. A meeting was held to vote on the sale and three votes were allowed to be phoned in on a conference call while other board members who would have opposed the sale were not able to vote or give their proxy. It stinks like Chicago politics and I can't help but be saddened by the loss of a place I haven't been to in years and had no plans of returning to any time soon.

 

It is still the place I return to at night. It is still a great part of what shapped me. It is still an ideal place for getting children off the couch and into life. And we sang:

 

All the wealth of earth and heaven
bless they woods and dales
over all they lakes and forests
happy youth prevails...

 

...Well, maybe if mommy and daddy buy one of the condos.  I think mostly youth loses out here.

 

~ Rich Rosenthal, past Owasippe Staff

================================================
03/09/2005...Let The Will Of The Chartered Org Reps Be Heard!
================================================
"A 4,700-acre campground in Michigan owned since 1911 by the Chicago Boy Scouts council would remain largely undeveloped by an investor group that has agreed to buy the land for $19.4 million, the head of the group said Wednesday."

 

"It's possible the Boy Scouts could lease part of the Owasippe Scout Reservation from the developer, but one Scout official said Wednesday that the council also could use the proceeds from the sale to buy a campground that's a bit smaller and closer to Chicago."
 
[Wait!] Is this not what Hoover was ?????

 

~ M Opitz

 

Note:  The issue and resulting decision is so HUGE that it should still be brought to bear for scrutiny and decision before the entire voting body of the council's CORs and MALs.  It's the only way to achieve fair and representative treatment.  Let the voices of the frontline scouters be heard!

===================================
03/09/2005...Practice What You Preach?  Naw!
===================================
There is a few things I would like to get off my mined. The more I think about this vote to sell Owasippe the more ticked off I get. If everyone who is allowed to vote was given the opportunity to vote. If we had lost fairly it would have been a little easer to take.  Is it too much to ask that the Boy Scouts of America  Chicago area council be  FAIR.  

 

Other things are for 90+ years we have been told this is your camp don't cut down trees, pick up itsy bitsy , be careful with fires, etc. it's your camp take care of it. We have been told teach your scouts to take care of this land it's your camp too, if you do it will be here for your kids. We have done our best to take care of our camp.

 

For CAC to sell it off to someone to put million dollar condos on it goes agents everything we have been taught. Owasippe to me is a place everyone can enjoy rich or poor young or old not just the rich. CAC is doing a great disservice to the youth of this council. I know there are a lot of very good people working hard to save Owasippe as it is I want to thank you for your effort.                 
       
~ Tom Grigoletti troop 683

========================
03/09/2005...Take A Stand!
========================
We as volunteers should screen the intentions of our council to find out why they believe we need to close our scout camps. Our land is a precious resource that we should not give up to these people of the council, we may never see the day, but, our children's children may see a day where they may need to grow food or live on this camp we call Owasippe.

 

To my knowledge Hoover was sold for Eighteen Million, what was that money used for? Where did that money go? I know that there was talk of trying to purchase camp Kiwanis but Ray Charles could have seen the answer coming from the Cook County Board. Since the BSA will not allow Gay Leadership the County of Cook will not do any business with them, if in the eyes of the County Board you discriminate against any person or group, the Board can and will every time refuse to do any business with you.

 

How much is enough?  How can CAC justifiably send volunteers into the lions den to ask for monies to be donated to the FOS?  Especially after the three wise (guys) men decided to suspend one of the most giving volunteers I have met in this lackadaisical organization of our council, and/or district.  Then they send out more or less warnings to two other hard working if outspoken volunteers to silence if not bully them and the rest of us into submission.
 
To all volunteers, TAKE A STAND!

 

The hundreds if not thousands of volunteers cannot be wrong.  Encourage your reps to get to these important meetings and vote in the best interest of their and our children, put people in place that will work with the volunteers...not against them.   The money shortage had to have been identified some time ago, but greed seemed like it had a great deal to do with the decisions of CAC.

 

Turning farmland into subdivisions, is like turning Hoover into something other than a place near Chicago that is accessible to all, this seems very similar to what these foreign governments could be doing to us.  Starving out the masses for the betterment of the few.

 

 

Mark you always seemed to be a good man of high principles, please don't let the greed of the first two here sway your intentions as a great volunteer! Even though they seemed to have shown you the kingdoms of the council, put them behind you and ignore their evil intentions.
 
~ JW - CAC, T610

~ James Kash

 

 

================================================
02/25/2005 - Owasippe Is The Tip Of An Iceberg
================================================
To provide a great scouting program we need the tools to do the job.

Owasippe is only one of those tools. But it is the culmination of the year long program. It provides program opportunities that I can not supply in the city.   It is not the glue that holds the program together but the tip of the iceberg that represents the rift between traditional scouting and the professional staff. The professional staff appears to be only concerned about the money while we frontline scouters are concerned about the kids.

 

I have heard put forth the theory that the professional staff would be happy if the traditional scouting program would go away and then they could sit back and run Learning For Life. The more I see of Jim Stone Inc, the more I begin to wonder.   Please do not get confused or think that this fight is only about Owasippe.  It is about the future of traditional scouting in the Chicago Area Council and who is going to define how the program will be preserved for the next generations.

 

I went to Owasippe for my 50th time last summer and took my grandson for his first. I WILL FIGHT WITH ALL OF MY HEART AND SOUL TO MAKE SURE HE CAN TAKE HIS GRANDSON TO OWASIPPE IN 2054!

 

YIS, Craig W. Johnson

 

=========================================
02/25/2005 - The irony did not escape me.
=========================================
As I walked down the street from my office to the post office with my armful of letters to the CAC board, my path took me past the corners of Illinois & Dearborn. It was at this corner in Chicago in the Boyce Building in 1910 that William Boyce began the process to form the organization we call Boy Scouts of America. Now, 95 years later, at what may be Chicago Scouting's darkest hour, I carried past that location my letters urging the board to remain true to the ideals and aims set forth by Boyce, Beard, Seton and others who built this program.

 

It is those very ideals and aims that drew me into the program as a youth and pulled me back in as a father. I am not ashamed to say that I grew up at Owasippe and that I am thankful that my two sons had the opportunity to experience it too, even though it's not the same as it was thirty years ago. I truly hope that the board can find a few moments this weekend to reflect upon aims and ideals the BSA founders put forth not 2 blocks from where I now sit. The same aims and ideals that stirred the imagination and excitement of young men a century ago still burns in their hearts today. Owasippe is the foundation of the council's camping program and camping is central to those aims and ideals. Owasippe in it’s full glory is central to stirring the imagination, the adventure and the dreams of our youth.

 

Two blocks from where I now sit, the seeds of the Scouting movement were planted. The fruit of that sowing now appear to be withering in the very city where it took root.

I am not ashamed of my Owasippe experience. But I know three score who should be unless they decide to remain true to the founder’s vision on Tuesday.  

 

~ Uncle Willie Vannerson, ASM

 

==========================================
02/25/2005 - The dirty deed is not yet done! 
==========================================
Don't despair as we have options to exercise which will take time and, by the grace of God, will succeed.  Keep the faith and say prayers.  If you feel like doing something, send a courteous rebuttal to our illustrious board members, especially those in the "for-sale" group. They need to hear and see our disappointment and disapproval... including letters and photos directly from the Scouts! 

 

I would suggest not participating with CAC where feasible and boycott its events and fundraisers.  They've turned their backs on their loyal Scouting family and we should return the favor!  We've been betrayed :-(
 
Provide input and thoughts whenever it comes to you.  Continue to talk to each other.  BY ALL MEANS...get your unit CORs and MALs out to vote on Monday evening, March 9th (see below), to turn down the board slates...we need to send a strong vote of NO CONFIDENCE!!!  All Scouters can attend and be in the gallery to witness the vote.

Thanks for what you do for Scouting!  Remember our Scouts!  Remember the Camp and continue to bring your troops to Owasippe!  Don't allow CAC to have a self-fulfilling prophecy of deteriorating attendance. 

 

~ Ron Kulak, "Suspended But NOT Silent"

 

 

~   by for now,  Arlene (Ishnala's)...aka- Pump House Two.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

~ Ned Swanson, USN/Eagle Scout/Owasippe Staff, La Jolla, CA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

==============================
Hey, They Shot The Messenger!
==============================
Ron, it is unconscionable that individuals who have proven by their actions, to be unreliable custodians of scouting's present and future, should attack and impugn volunteer Scouters who have proven their commitment to Scouting ideals day after day, year in and year out by being on the front lines of the organization.  Your passion for preserving what is good and right in Scouting should never be questioned, especially by these people bent on destroying what drives Scouting's success, the outdoors in Scouting.

 

Owasippe and the ideals of Scouting it represents is the vehicle that drives the heart and soul of Scouting, our youth.  In the short time we have become reacquainted, I as well as many others, have seen that passion in you and I would expect nothing less than for you to carry on the battle. 

 

Remember, for them it is easier to address the messenger, than to address the message by admitting there may be a better way.  They believe that by taking punitive action against you, the messenger, the message they don"t want to hear will go away.

 

While I would not encourage you to press the message to the point of risking being taken out of the picture completely by the pro-organization and council volunteers who follow,  I believe you can and should continue to be an advocate for what is right.  At this time, gentle encouragement of the forces you have already put into motion may be the best course of action. 

 

~ B/G

 

 

 

 

Dear Ron Kulak and other valuable subscribers of the Scarlet Sassafras,

 

I have been receiving these newsletters for quite some time now and I have agreed with alot of what people are saying and have kept quiet for quite some time.  There were things printed in the last newsletter that I just didn't agree with so you've forced me to voice my opinion.  IN NO CIRCUMSTANCES WHATSOEVER HAS OWASIPPE LODGE NOT LIFTED A FINGER FOR BOTH OWASIPPE SCOUT RESERVATION OR HOOVER OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTER.  But you wouldn't know that would you Mr. Kulak, because last time I checked you weren't even registered with Owasippe Lodge or even the Chicago Area Council.  Let's gets some facts straight.  Right now, Owasippe Lodge #7, gives over 1800 workhours and $500.00 in supplies each fellowship weekend at Hoover.  We're also at Hoover in June setting up campsites for the staff.  Also, we are the #1 source that the council looks to for service to Owasippe with our annual Memorial Day Work Weekend and our three induction weekends during the summer.  And further more in your previous newsletter it was stated that attendance has increased over the last two years.  How do you think that happened? MAGIC!  Owasippe Lodge is the only organization in this Council that has a camping promotion program that has directly led to an increase in attendance at Owasippe.

 

Now ask yourself this question Mr. Kulak.....Why hasn't Owasippe Lodge "supported" any of these "Save Owasippe" groups?  I'll tell you why, because life is a two way street.  If you would like to see Owasippe Lodge assist your groups maybe your groups should assist the Lodge in their efforts to become an integral part of the Summer Camp experience.  I can attest for all active members of Owasippe Lodge that are on staff at Owasippe that the senior staff and the camp directors couldn't care less about our efforts to make the Order of the Arrow worth something more than an extra "hour a week",  worth something more than a "cool sash" and a pocket flap.  Maybe your groups shouldn't continue to bash the wrong people/groups [Owasippe Lodge] and start addressing your problems toward the right people/groups.

 

Yours in WWW, Alexander D. Lohse
[Immediate Past Lodge Chief - Owasippe Lodge #7,
Current Chapter Chief - Nacha Alluns Chapter
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster - Troop 904]

===========================================================
An open letter to the editor of the The Scarlett Sassafras
===========================================================
(Note:  I tried to respond to the Sassafras email but discovered that I
can't respond to your readers as you have it restricted.  I want to
apologized to the readers of the Arrowhead group for sending it to them
but it is the only way that I know what must be said once and for all and I feel that all should know how I feel.)

 

To the Editor...you used extremely poor judgment, in allowing the article that "questioned" Owasippe Lodge's commitment to our dear and beloved camp to be in your Sassafras.  I assumed it was an article submitted by someone other than yourself otherwise this saddened me even more knowing you as a longtime friend would write such a thing and expecially since you were at one time very active in the OA.  It is sad to see that you spend so much time supporting OSA, its members and OOEC than in our youths and their dedicated leaders that works so hard everyday to make Scouting what it is and the many wonderful organizations that are officially affiliated with BSA.  It seems some of us may be losing our focus by spending so much time "Saving Owasippe" and criticizing CAC and its members including our youths.

 

Perhaps, we need to ask ourselves why isn't some of these organizations
you mentioned aren't supporting the Order of the Arrow Memorial Day work
weekend or the Weekend Fellowships instead of starting their own
weekends?  Why aren't they there working side by side with our youths?
Why aren't we following the youth's agenda instead of our own agenda?
What happened to the youth run programs!  Instead the article asked
Owasippe Lodge to "assist any of the affiliated groups" namely those
that are run exclusively by adults.  Perhaps they should seriously consider serving the youths and maybe even involve the youths in their
organization?  Perhaps we should review the basics of the Scouting
program and what it originally intended to be.

 

I am confident to say as one of the Charter Members of OSA, that when we signed on, it was with the understanding that this "new" organization would be supporting the youths especially in the area of summer camp and not to take over or even run Owasippe and I believe many feel the same as I do.  Maybe you have a great idea but meant to say that the OSA should be an alliance of the Order of the Arrow and asking how can we support their programs, instead of the other way around?  Certainly we don't stand so tall that we have to stoop to talk to any of our youths?

 

Do we need to ponders our innermost intentions?  Dr E. Urner Goodman
would be very saddened by the comments being made against our youths and
our Order.  Perhaps you need to question in your article the Camp
Director who, this summer, publicly criticized in front of the whole Camp Staff that the OA was taking too much time away from the summer camp's program.  That the OA Induction Weekends, OA Social Nights and other OA activities is somehow not part of the summer camp program.  Perhap you need to advocate in your article the importance of the role of the OA and start praising how much they have added to the summer camp program.   Perhaps you can suggest that the other organizations affiliate with the OA and educate others that the success of summer camp can be greatly enhanced with the involvement of the OA in its programs as it was originally intended.  Put that in your article!!!.

 

Mention the fact that the OA seldomly, if ever, hangs a plaque or put out special notices to make claims of their accomplishments but do so because it is expected of us.  Should we not stand in the shadows of our youths and let them have all the glories?  Perhaps you can challenge many of your readers to work with the Order of the Arrow, I know many of its members are or at least at one time or another a fervent supporter and member of the Order of the Arrow and knows of its purpose.  Maybe you can question when was the last time some of them came to an OA Memorial Day Weekend, a Fellowship Weekend, a Fall Gathering, a Section Conclave, NOAC, etc.  Ask some of them where they were when some of the youth Arrowmen needed a ride to a function!  Even a grander idea is to have The Scarlett Sassafras focus exclusively on the Scouts and the wonderful stories involving them, and promote how the Scouting and Camping program can be made stronger through them and how other organizations can get involve to support them!!!

 

I pray that Owasippe will always stay in the hands of our youths and that we refocus our purpose to Scouting.  I pray that if we have an agenda or issues that we feel strongly about that we work within the system we have and not try to be divisive or use the Scouts for our own means.  And most importantly, I pray that I (as I do sometimes) and others keep our mouths closed and let the Scouts do the talking and run the "Programs". 

 

God bless and thank you for your time.

 

by Bob "Rooti" Radtke (not representing anyone but myself)

=================================
An Editorial Commentary
=================================
by Ron Kulak, owasiron@juno.com

 

Re OOEC:  The Owasippe Outdoor Education Center is the camp's best hope for salvation and preservation as we now know it either as a CAC-assigned long-term manager of the properties and program or as a new owner-operator or both.  It's obvious that CAC does not have the talent or interest in developing this choice piece of real estate into a world class facility that our Scouts can benefit from.   Their view of Owasippe appears to be as a commodity that can be exchanged for mucho-cash.  The OOEC takes a different view at Owasippe with the "glass as half-full"...as a resource for further nourishment and for use by a variety of youth-related organizations (BSA being a key client and partner) as well as by the communities of Muskegon County...and beyond...while maintaining all of Owasippe's wilderness areas and saving it from becoming a residential subdivision. 

 

Re Owasippe Lodge OA:   I take nothing away from what the lodge has done and now does for Scouting and Owasippe.  They should be commended for their service.  However, my arguement is in what they are NOT doing in respect to fighting for the preservation and saving of Owasippe.   Silence and inactivity is only detrimental and plays in the hands of those whom would eliminate or incapacitate Owasippe as a valuable program resource for our Scouts.  The advisors to the lodge have to take their share of responsibility for poor judgement and mediocre action in this matter.  I was not aware that the 13th point of the Scout Law was "Infallible" nor did I realize that "Obedient" was now to include "blind obedience" contrary to what is defined in the Scout Handbook.   And, I'm sorry if certain folks have their feelings hurt or don't like to be called-out but, if they can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!

 

Re Youth Leaders:  All of these lodge "youth leaders" are references mostly to those who can serve in the military, drive a car, get a credit card, possibly vote on November 2nd, have kids and even get married...mostly adult stuff by government and society standards.  They are old enough, then, to take or reject advice and to make good or bad decisions.  We're not talking about Webelos or Tenderfoot Scouts here by any stretch of the imagination.  So, they are not beyond criticism when it is deserved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continued...click onto newslink:

 

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- Reinhard Plaut, T-923

 

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PS:  For more info and details of how you can help stop this selfish destruction, see: http://www.loony-show.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2738

 

I just returned from OSR (Blackhawk GO!) 2nd Period.  Boy, what a week!  Our boys tried to fit in as much as they could in one short week, USS Silversides, White River canoe trip, wall climbing, horseback rides and merit badge, and backpacking outpost.  The staff was excellent, the food was good and plentiful and the program is tops all the way around.

I took three boys, including my son, out on the backpacking outpost
overnight.  In my opinion, it's a sleeper program. There was just the
four of us and Heidi, the High Adventure director, which is a shame as
it's a great program for the middle to older scouts with little or no
backpacking experience. 

 

We were taught some basics about gear and backpacking techniques
(mirrors the Philmont way), then hiked a few miles down to the Marl Beds
and Quaking Bog.  The wet spring has made the bog especially "quaky."
We then headed north a ways into Turtle Valley (you won't find that name
on your USGS topo!) and set up our campsite in an out of the way clearing. Set up our gear fly, bear bags and tents and had a great feast on chicken and rice with raspberry cobbler for dessert.  The next morning we broke camp and trucked into Ad Center where we dropped off Heidi and the crew gear. 

 

Since there were just the four of us and Heidi changed the normal route,
which loops to Bass Lake for the evening and then back to Crown the next
day via the orange and blue trails. But we're headed to Philmont in a
few weeks and I needed to more miles on our boots. So we said our
goodbyes and headed back onto the trail, south along the red trail, then
cut over the white and orange trails to the blue, and finally made our
way back to camp sing "I'm happy when I'm hiking" load and proud as
we walked into our campsite.  It was a great experience.  I'd encourage
more troops to sign their boys up.  Too many scouts see no more of
Owasippe than what's a half mile radius from their campsite.  The trails
are in good shape and mostly well marked, and travel through some of the
most beautiful woods and dales you'll every see.

 

Heidi led our trek as all off her regular trail guides were out on the
trail with Manistee High Adventure treks.  That's awesome news!  My
understanding is that they even had to turn down a couple of treks as
they did not have enough guides to accept them all (HIRE MORE!)  In my
opinion, the Crown High Adventure base is a sleeping "cash Cow" that
should be marketed and grown.  There is absolutely no reason why
Owasippe cannot become the Philmont of the Midwest and become one of the
most desirable destinations for older scouts.  Plus the new ferry opens
up a whole new market for high adventure treks.

 

Speaking of the Lake Express Ferry, we had a great ride both ways. It was cloudy and foggy on the way over, but that did not deter the boys enthusiasm.  The 2.5 hour ride allowed us leaders to sit with the boys and review their schedule and blue cards.  Plus I cannot say enough on how well the Lake Express staff treated us.  A SNAFU on the Muskegon side left us stranded at the terminal. The manager there recognized our problem and called a local bus company and made emergency transportation arrangements for us.

 

After the closing campfire on Friday, which was beautiful from the new fire bowl watching the colors of the sunset on Big Blue, I hung around as the staff worked together to put out the fire, sing the old camp songs. I joined in as they started the lower lake medley, in reverse starting with Camp Stuart.  The new Blackhawk fire bowl built by the OSA is wonderful. Kudos to all who made it happen!

 

I have so much more to say and I'll embellish some of the experiences
later.  But we had a great time. But all of the leaders agreed that the camp staff and facilities where top notch. They expressed a noticeable difference between the Napowan staff and Marilyn's crew at Blackhawk.  She should be proud of them and their commitment to running a top notch program.

 

BTW, Our troop signed up for the same site for next year.  The PLC has the final say in Sept. at the planning meeting but it's a good start.

 

~ Uncle Willie

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07/23/04 - Shazzam!  Chris Hill Climbing Wall Impresses!
=============================================
I've just returned from Owasippe and I can proudly say that it was my best summer camp I've ever had.  I'd really like to thank Danielle, Jenny and Kirsten from the climbing wall and COPE staff for making a lasting impression upon myself and the rest of Troop 101.  Shazaam! Looking forward to maybe staffing/CIT next year.

 

Thanks a lot, Owasippe.

 

~ Simon Gifford of Oakwood, OH

 

(Note: Go to the TSS Home Page for a full pic of this climbing wall)

 

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07/23/04 - Financially Dire Straits or A Self-serving Illusion?
====================================================
I have been going to Owasippe for the past nine years. I have so many great memories of Owasippe, from earning my first merit badge to earning my last merit badge and earning the rank of Eagle. This July was my first time attending Owasippe as an adult leader. I guess now being a leader and not going through the whole ordeal of working on merit badges anymore, my perspective has changed.

 

I went along with my Troop to Camp Wolverine (Zaxie!) and found out that some outposts were free. I want to know why these would be given for free when OSR is supposedly $200,000 in debt?

 

Also, I stopped by Carlen and while I was there I noticed that some of the kybos and the pool had hot water tanks, and new roofs. I'm not sure but I thought Carlen was closed... But, I know that Camp Wolverine has cold water, bad conditioned kybos, and bad roofs.

 

The last question that I asked myself was whether or not my children would be able to attend Owasippe the same way that I did (and everyone that is reading this). I know that Chicago Area Council owns the camp, and I am planning to go up there for the fix-it.

 

~ Brandon "Smiley" Ferrell, Burbank IL (CAC)

=================================
07/23/04 - More Owasippe 2nd Period Feedback
=================================
My son had a good time at Space Ex.  The other 2 boys from our troop said it was boring the first day.  Also there were no merit badge books available(!?).  Lucky my son brought one, or they would still be sitting there.  I didn't see any in the trading post either, but I didn't look that hard.  My son also took photography, and he enjoyed that. Too bad most of the stuff he learned is going by the wayside to digital photography.

 

The weather was rainy but didn't stop most activities.  The troop went
tubing on Thursday and it was pretty cold but they had fun.   Our troop won the Wolverine Regatta (we were the only entry) and the staff hunt.  I entered a snickers cake in the cooking contest.  I didn't win, but there was none left.  Ironically the winner (jambalaya) was not all gone?????  Anyway during the cooking contest judging a staffer named Jim Rich started talking to me.  It turns out he and my dad were Trainmens Local officers.  My dad was sec treas and Jim was president.  Never know who you'll meet......

 

8 boys went sailing but we didn't have anyone for Cope or Climbing.  The
older boys did go golfing on Wednesday. (There's a golfing outpost?)   I rode on the Hart-Montague trail Friday 44 miles.  It was a nice solitary ride with great weather for cylcing.  (Note: there are no local vendors who rent bikes at this time, so bring your own).

 

~ Herbert Dulzo, CAC T-617

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

~ Kurt E.B., T616, CAC

 

 

 

 

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What a great site (Scarlet Sassafras). As a continuing regular at Owasippe with my son, I hope it's still available for my son's son. But I fear this will only happen if we get it away from the "professional" scouters. 

 

  - Jkryl3

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Rather than making plans to sell part or all of our one remaining camp, how about putting a portion of the money from the sale of our Hoover Outdoor Education Center to use in a way that will be agreeable to all of the scouts and scouters that I have talked to.

"How shall we put a portion of the money to use in that way?" you ask.

Very simple, put a portion of that money into a trust fund and use the
interest to keep Owasippe open for my son, and his son, as well as the
future generations of all other scouts and scouters.

You say you want to "serve the needs of our traditional membership".
What is more traditional to scouting than camping. If you truly want to serve the membership, keep our only remaining camp open.

Speaking for myself, and possibly others, I would rather have to wait a few days to hear back from my District Executive than to lose the ability for my son and future generations of young scouts to spend time at camp, a camp that they can truly call their very own.

Once any or all of our camp is sold, we lose it FOREVER. There is no way that we will ever be able to buy it back.

The solution is, listen to the volunteers ideas on how to make the camp more profitable. Rent it out in the off season.

Yours in Scouting,
Jim Dreger
ASM Troop 337

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Norm Ullman, outgoing mayor of Whitehall, Mich, said he believes the community needs to continue the fight for clean water, air and soil, as well as push to save the Owasippe Scout Reservation.   "It is absolutely critical to the quality of life in this community to keep that camp out of the hands of developers," he said.  

 

Last week Ullman was honored by his fellow city council members. Ullman served on city council 12 and a half years in his first term, 1967 to 1979, before running again for office in 1991. The city has term limits, allowing council members to serve just 12 years at a time.

 

-- White Lake Beacon

 

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Upon his death, Baden-Powell had two letters published.  The one to scouts is well published in scout handbooks and elsewhere.  His second letter to adult volunteers (Scouters and Guides) is not as widely reproduced.  In that, B-P wrote regarding the Scout Movement:

"You will do well to keep yours eyes open, in your turn, for worthy successors to whom you can, with confidence, hand the torch.   Don`t let it became a salaried organization: keep it a voluntary movement of patriotic service."

Herb Dulzo, T617

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ron Kulak

 

 

 

 

 

 

It has been granted a reprieve by the far-sighted Chicago Council of the Boy Scouts of America, but that doesn't mean the threat to the existence of the Owasippe Boy Scout Reservation is over.  Far from it.

That threat would come in the form of an immense land dissection by developers that would change Blue Lake Township forever. It would also spell the end of a unique piece of county history, as well as one of rank of Muskegon County's most cherished tourism charms.

At stake today is the very existence of Owasippe, one of the most famous names in Scouting.  For almost a century, it has been serving the Boy Scout troops of our area and the Chicago Council as a unique and sprawling outdoors "university" for the thousands of young Scouts who have passed through its gates.

What those Scouts have learned and have seen is quite remarkable. For through those gates are wondrous lakes, woods, hiking trails, meadows, streams and forests covering 4,800 acres of unspoiled wilderness. It is home, in addition to Camps Blackhawk, Wolverine, Reneker and Carlen, to all kinds of birds, plants, fish and wildlife. It is an invaluable and rare sanctuary close enough to Chicago to be viable for Scouting, yet far enough away to be left relatively untouched.

All of this could come to an end, however, with the sale of this property. Earlier in October, the Chicago Council's executive board recommended the camp be sold to stem ongoing budget problems caused by a drop-off in campers, which is due to many factors, not the least of which is the continuing controversy over the Boy Scout organization's aims and goals.

That "sell" recommendation was, however, tempered by a later resolution allowing volunteers the time to establish a hefty, $15 million endowment that would save the property for future generations of camping. Although no time limit was put on the funding drive, clearly the clock is ticking.

Owasippe's fate is not just Blue Lake Township's concern, but the county's, and even the region's. We urge the formation of a local task force, either independent or county-directed, to look at the issues affecting Owasippe, in order to be positioned to make funding and grant recommendations to the proper authorities should the opportunity arise. The time to save Owasippe is now, not when the ticking stops.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daily Southtown, Tuesday, November 19, 2002

Recently, the Chicago Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America announced its plans to sell the Owasippe Scout Reservation. The camp comprises several section camps and is the oldest and largest council Scout camp in the country. The sprawling camp covers 4,800 acres of pristine Michigan wilderness.

I have been a member of Chicago Area Council since 1965. I first attended Owasippe in 1969 at Camp Wolverine South with Troop 490 from Hickory Hills. What a great place! It took three years before I passed the swim test, but each year I got a little better. For swimming merit badge, I had to rescue the staff member, who really resisted attempts to rescue him. We camped in site 3, right across from the pool. It used to be called the sand pit. We stayed in site 3 for a few years and then moved to site 10. Much less sand.

In 1972, we were camping at this site when lightning struck our site. Five Scouts were struck; three of the Scouts stopped breathing. Our Scoutmaster revived them all. The tree that was struck splintered and fell on one of the tents. The next day, a few adult leaders took the piece that fell (about 8 feet long) and engraved it with all the Scouts' names. We called them the Lightning Patrol.

Our Scoutmaster, Mr. Christensen, received a medal from the National Council. This rather large plaque hung in the Wolverine South Lodge until it closed in 1979. I camped at Wolverine South in 1977, 1978 and 1979. I was Scoutmaster of Troop 490, the same troop I attended OSR with as a Scout. The Wolverine South section camp closed in 1980. I was assured there was a place in the Owasippe museum for our plaque. I never saw it again.

Troop 490 started camping at Camp Black Hawk subcamp in 1980. It was quite a change. We did try to camp at Camp Stewart one year; unfortunately, that was the year they decided to close that subcamp. I moved to Evergreen Park and joined Troop 656. They were also regularly attending Black Hawk. Then Camp Carlen, another subcamp, opened, and we camped there for several years.

When I finally had a son who was Scout age, he joined Troop 656. At the time, the troop was attending camp Shin-go-Beek in Wisconsin. We went there one year, and I decided my son had to experience Owasippe. We transferred to Troop 617 in 1992 and have been going to Owasippe ever since. In 2000, I took my second son on Manistee Quest, a weeklong backpacking adventure run by Owasippe Scout Reservation. My third son is also cherishing his experiences at Owasippe. He attended in 2001 and 2002.

Take the time to multiply these experiences times the total number of Scouts attending Owasippe over 92 years. There is no conceivable way to put a monetary value on these experiences. Yes, my business experience tells me the camp should close. However, when you take a look at all the leadership experiences instilled in Scouts (the Mission of the Boy Scouts is to develop leadership), it is very effective and cannot be minimized to a real estate appraisal.

If my memories of camp spark your memories, I ask that everyone who has attended Owasippe over its 92-year existence go to our Web site at www.owasippe.com and help save Owasippe Scout Reservation!

Herbert A. Dulzo,  Advancement chairman
Troop 617,  Evergreen Park IL

 

 

 

 

Herb Dulzo

 

 

 

 

 

H Gesell, CAC - Troop Chair and general busybody
email: scouter9933@hotmail.com

 

 

On Tuesday night I attended a fireside chat that was organized by the CAC Board of Directors (council president Lewis Greenblatt, scout executive James Stone, Anthony Gibbs and Bobby Madison).  The meeting was poorly attended by the leaders of this once great council.  Roughly 30 scouters attended this meeting.

 

This fireside chat was to share content of the Strategic Long Range Plan.  I havent seen the strategic long range plan of the CAC.  To my information the strategic long range plan for the CAC is listed in the new copy of the council Scouter newsletter.  Tuesday night was the first time I heard about the plan.  So until I see the new copy of the Scouter, I will not comment my views or thoughts.  Some leaders found a lot of differences to what was being said and what was actually stated in the Scouter newsletter.

 

What I didnt like about the meeting was the restriction of time they gave to the leaders to ask questions, to make comments and/or suggestions.  We were only giving a half hour to ask questions, to make comment and/or suggestions.  The attitude displayed by our Council President, Lewis Greenblatt and Scout Executive, James Stone was very negative. They refused to take questions from a few leaders and didnt answer the questions of many others fully. To me it seemed many of the questions received the same answers.  

 

I feel that this meeting left me more confused and with the uncertainty of our council camps still looming, I asked myself this one question.  What is the state of our councils future?  I know Jon Chucla asked a similar question.  Our council president Lewis Greenblatt and Scout Executive James Stone did not reply to Jons questions. Anthony Gibbs ended up answering that question.  The question was along the lines of what will happen to scouting in the CAC if the council cant get out of its financial troubles. This was an issue that a mentioned to the save our camps group.  Anthony Gibbs stated that once the council filed for bankruptcy, the national council will come in and take over.   The National Councils first order of business will be to liquidate all CAC assets (like Owasippe, Hoover and CAC Headquarters). 

 

We must look at CAC as a corporate business to understand the liquidation process.  The National Council will settle all debt of the CAC by means of closing the camps and then sell them off.  Then it would be the National Councils decision to keep scouting from the Chicago Area Council by dividing the units up into other councils, in this process scouting will lose many units even if the units dont fold.   National Council will ultimately decide which units will be saved and then placed into a new council.

 

This issue should become a growing concern by all the scouters of the CAC.  If this does happen, this will not be the first time in Scoutings history that this has happened.  It can happen and it might happen to this once great council of ours.  It is apparent that mistakes were made, wither these mistakes are recent or were made in the past.  The bottom line is that we all are just beginning to feel the effects of those mistakes. We cant allow ourselves to continue passing the blame, we just cant keep passing the buck. The buck needs to stop here. Whatever happens we need to stand together. Maybe it is time that we start accepting some of the blame ourselves.  Maybe we should be asking who failed who?  Did council fail the units or was it the units that failed council?   

 

If our camps do survive we need to do our part in making sure this never happens.  It is time that we learn how to communicate. We need to strive in getting are units to use our camps. We need to promote our camps on going. We need to get more involvement from our Order of the Arrow Chapters.  The number one goal of anything organization should be membership.  I dont like hearing the on going joking about giving only one hour a week.  We all know the countless hours that we all give.  Its time that the old pool of leaders let the younger pool of leader emerge rather than get pushed away or stepped on.  Attend District Roundtables or promote to leaders about becoming a unit commissioner. I am tired of hearing leaders say what can i do to help.  There are a lot of things that we can do and its time to start making these changes together to better our council.

 

Randy Etapa             

 

 

 

 

.....Kurt B

 

 

As a youth involved with a Scout Troop in South Chicago in the
60's I had the incredible experience of spending a couple of weeks each
summer at Camp Stuart.

Four years ago my son joined a troop in Calumet Council. When I
discovered that the troop attended Camp Blackhawk at Owasippe Scout Reservation, I was overjoyed. I now have a troop picture from 1969 with my father and I at Owasippe, and a troop picture from 1999 with me and my son. This kind of tradition and heritage is what Scouting is all about.

Our 74 year old troop has been going to Owasippe for a number of years - I believe our current streak is somewhere around the last 14 years straight. We are not in the Chicago Area Council, but each year look forward to returning - even with the higher out of council fees. As
Scoutmaster, I have begun to look at alternatives for our troop - not
because we want to go elsewhere, but we need to be prepared in the event we're "asked not to return". Looking at other camps and programs I've decided I definitely don't want to go elsewhere. Owasippe is special and has so much to offer.

Our troop has learned to avoid "Scout burnout" by structuring our weeks.   We have also come to rely on the Adventure Patrol for our first year campers, and it works really well. In my opinion there is more than enough at OSR for Scouts to do over their camping careers.

Which brings me to a question. I look at the back of Scouting magazine
and I see ads for all kinds of summer camps, high adventure bases, etc., but I never see an ad for Owasippe. If falling attendance is a problem, why isn't the Chicago Council promoting the camp more? Building on the tradition of Owasippe's legend, and being the oldest continuing operating Boy Scout Camp in the country should be a draw for Scout troops from across the greater midwest at least - and certainly the country. 

An Old Stuart Camper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THANK YOU TO YOU, Pat, Bob, Ron, and Sue for coming down to
Juarez and letting the facts be known.   My prayers are with you.   I have gotten letters out and am doing what I can.  I wish it was more, but I am firm on saving Owasippe.  Thank you again and make sure the others get my family's thanks. 

Bob McMillin

 

 

I hope with all my heart that this can be worked out for the  future
scouts that will miss the happiness of camping at Owasippe. I have fond
memories of camping with my two sons and the other scouts in our troop.  I always hoped to bring my grandson to camp with me but it wasn't to be.  It will be a great loss to scouting if this camp is closed.

Frank Wiatrowski

 

Oct 31, 2002... How To Help A Camp

Well, whenever I hear of camps closing, being sold off etc, I find it to be a very sad occasion and often a very short sighted decision.

We in Narragansett Council have probably 8 camps and perhaps two more camping areas that could be considered camps but owned by somesort of friends of scouting group.

One of our camps on Block Island off the coast of  RI (about 12miles) is really poor but the only place you can legally camp on but its a great place to biking and nice ferry trip there too.

Two other camps , our largest are supplementary funded in two unique and different ways. Buck Hill Scout Reservation in northern RI tried a go with scout summer camping but it did not work out so the area where tent platforms are now rented out during summer months for family camping and is mostly trailers and motor homes. I guess it keeps the camp funded and there is enough land that we can camp as troops and pretty much avoid the motor homes even when they are present....the camp is about 2000 acres.  The other large camp has been in existence since 1916 and is a shade under 2000 acres also......it is well know world wide and that is Camp Yawgoog. One of the long time staff members and professional scouter who recently died at about age 97 or 98 came up the idea of a alumni group..........all you had to due was have camped or be a friend of the camp to join.........dues very and they yearly dues money is NEVER spent ! Instead only the interest on the account is spent so that the endowment fund continues to grow! I.................you can see i am sure how a simple idea can do so much............hope other groups try it! it works!

read below to see what this fund has been able to do! you can see how the scope and cost of the projects have increased as the fund grew!

YIS, John Blanchard SM Troop 35 West Greenwich, RI

 

 

 

Jim Marszalek, Wolv North Staff 78, 79

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

--- Kurt. B, Camp Carlen/Troop 616

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 In Iroquois district, we generally only have 15 people on the boy scout side of the roundtable. There are district positions unfilled. There are district events that don't happen or that are done poorly because there is no one to chair the event or even if there is someone to chair the event, there are few to help with the planning and execution. I don't blame anyone for this. How can we demand of anyone that they must volunteer more? How can we expect people who are struggling to keep their own units running properly to volunteer more time?

--- E Gorz

 

 

 

 

 

--- J Smith

 

 

 

Oct 17, 2002...Chicago Area Council's Future

 

To my understanding and to help shed some light on the situation at hand about Chicago Area Council's proposed plans on selling both Owasippe and Hoover are based solely on a short term financial concerns.  The financial reports for Chicago Area Council clearly shows that council is bankrupt and within 3 to 4 years, there would be no other alternative then to file for bankruptcy.

 

If Chicago Area Council does file for bankruptcy, council will immediately be taken control of by national.  When national takes over Chicago Area Council, all council owned properties (Owasippe, Hoover and Headquarters) will be seized and immediately sold.

 

Jim Stone, Anthony Gibbs and many board members do feel that they have exhausted all that they can do in trying to save Owasippe and Hoover from being put up for sale.  Hopefully, board members like Joe Senor and Bill Egan can make the other board members see that all has not been exhausted just yet in todays meeting.  Chicago Area Council is fully aware of what is at stake and that the sale of any camp or even both camps could result in the loss of many scouts and scouters.  It is true council as been irresponsible by not truly exhausting all possibilities in trying to save our camps, themselves. 

 

Fact of the matter is that council wants all of its financial concerns out of the red within 3 to 4 years.  Council it not just looking for money to keep our camps open, but to eliminate all debt and to have long term finances available.  Council's best solution of its financial concerns to date is the proposed sales of our camps.

 

For those who have asked the question how can council even sell property that was originally donated.  Well to my understanding the agreement(s) clearly states that council holds all discretion on the use of the land, which includes renting, leasing and/or the selling of the land .      

 

Council's realization of this matter might solely be that in 3 to 4 years, they will all be out of a job.  So is council really looking out for the best interest of scouting in the Chicago Area Council or for their own welfare?         

 

Yours in Scouting, Randy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ed Gorz

 

 

 

 

 

Vince Rychtanek

 

 

 

Elizabeth Jackson, Staff 1998-2000

 

 

Ed Gorz, : egorz@lakecable.com

 

Sept 30, 2002... OK, So, Let's Crunch Some Numbers--

According to the Chicago Area Council's own web page (http://www.chicagobsa.org/friends_of_scouting.htm) the Chicago Area Council serves 59,000 registered Scouts and Scouters. We must raise at a minimum $10 million by June. This amounts to $169,492 for each Scout and Scouter in the Chicago Area Council--this is the minimum. Ideally we would like to have $15 million or $254,237 per each registered Scout and Scouter.

Simple donations from our members will be helpful but obviously for the amount of money we will require, we are going to have to solicit from corporations. Which ones? The ones already being hit up by the Council? In these economic times corporations are looking for ways to decrease their donation dollars not increase them.

That leaves soliciting new corporations who are not already contributors to the BSA. That will require more than simple letter-writing campaigns. It will require facts, figures, printed proposals, schmoozing, personal visits to corporate officials, etc.--Pretty daunting for volunteers who only have their spare time for these efforts. Raising that kind of money is a full time job.

Now, a grassroots campaign is a very noble proposition but not a very practical one. For that kind of money in that short amount of time I would suggest hiring the services of a professional fundraiser.

In addition, I would like to question whether the Council intends to help with this effort or do they just intend to wash their hands of the matter and leave everything to the volunteers intending for us to fail? Do they intend to show any cooperation at all? Perhaps that is why they were willing to appear that they were taking a big risk by allowing us this "opportunity." They expect the task to be too massive for us to accomplish. They have set the standards too impossibly high in an impossibly short time. In their minds, they are taking no risk at all. The surveying and scale down efforts continue. They threw us a bone with no meat on it. Basically they have told us to "cough up or shut up."

The Council was also quick to point out that any donations could not interfere with the Friends of Scouting campaign. Of course this is important to them. Donations from Friends of Scouting pays salaries for the executives. I would suggest the opposite approach. I would suggest putting pressure on them by boycotting Friends of Scouting until this issue is resolved to our satisfaction.

After all, why would we want to donate to a fund that is obviously not intending to use the money for their stated purpose? Read the Council's own webpage concerning what donations to Friends of Scouting are used for:

"In the field of camping and outdoor activities, the council:
1. Maintains reservations for year-round camping and Cub Scout family outdoor events (Our camps serve year-round activities, camping, and training centers).

2. Covers costs of camp repairs, equipment replacement, utilities, maintenance, insurance, camp rangers (These and other charges are not paid for by the boys fees).

3. Employs full-time rangers for the protection of the properties and the convenience of units using the facilities (They keep these facilities available at all times).

4. Provides unit leaders guidebook, camp slides, folders, literature, and other aids to help units with their outdoor program.

5. Provides scholarships or "camperships" for Scouts who need some help to have a summertime camp experience.

6. Offers units the high adventure of Philmont Scout Ranch, high adventure bases, national jamborees, field days, camporees, and other special events (These would not exist without a council giving leadership and coordination)."

The above, according to the Council, is part of what we are buying with our Friends of Scouting donation.

Yes, we must continue with our grassroots effort but it will not be enough. We are going to have to fight this fight on other fronts as well. I think we are going to have to get tougher.

1. We need to retain an attorney. Actually retain one and not go for a volunteer. A volunteer attorney might have a good heart and all the right motives but we need someone who has this type of thing as his specialty, who is paid so that he has a vested interest in our cause and our success and has more than volunteer time to devote.

2. We need to file a legal injunction against the sale of our properties. Once this is done there is a legal discovery process. There can be no more covert action on their part. We will be legally able to request and receive any and all documents from the Council that we request or require--including a full audit of where all donated monies have been dispersed.

3. Our attorney needs to review the Bylaws of the Chicago Area Council for any procedural errors in the way the Council has handled any of these matters. Any actions or measures not following published and approved procedure must be discounted and disqualified.

4. We need to institute an immediate boycott of donations to Friends of Scouting and other council funds until this matter is settled to our satisfaction.

5. We need to immediately review whether or not we want to retain our current executives in our employ. Their covert and transparently sneaky actions have betrayed our trust. They have not been open and forthcoming with us. We can no longer have a satisfactory and cooperative working relationship with those we no longer trust.

6. We need to contact each member of the Board of Directors of the Chicago Area Council personally. They are volunteers as well as we are, however any information they receive is coming to them only with the spin placed on it by the Council Execs. It is not inconceivable that there is an attempt by Council to manipulate them just as the attempt was made to manipulate us. We need to insure that they know fully both sides of the issue. They have the vote. We need to lobby and campaign.

7. We need an organized and thought-out publicity campaign geared to put public pressure on our Council execs and make them accountable for their actions not only to us but to the general public. We need to also appeal to the emotions of the general public. The article in Sunday's Tribune was excellent and a good start. But a photo of a Scout with a tear in his eye over the loss of his campground would inspire more sympathy for our cause than a picture of Bob Kurth hauling around his gear bag (no offense meant to Kurth). We donate money to "Jerry's Kids" not "Jerry's Adults"--Why? Kids will inspire more sympathy and in actuality kids are the ones we are representing in this matter. I know that we don't always have a choice in what is pictured but having been interviewed in many newspapers, I realize that often the photographers shoot photos of what is readily available. If we know we are going to be interviewed and photographed, let's be prepared to communicate the exact message we want to communicate.

Why must we do these things? Because the council by their actions has drawn the battle lines. They have given us no other options. If we are going to win the battle, we have to have more than good intentions. We have to be armed with the proper weapons.

Ray Toler

 

 

 

Folks, they are trying to FIRE not only all of us but CURRENT AND FUTURE CAMPERS RIGHT NOW.   As for not taking non CAC units, this is simply nuts. If the problem is that there is not enough money coming in to operate the place, would someone please tell me how telling 55% of our
customers (all of whom are paying extra - with no CAC camperships involved) to go to hell is going to make the operation more profitable?  My troop Has camped at Owasippe 11 of the last 12 years. The ASM responsible for the one year not there is no longer with the troop. Lets make it so for any professional who is so out of touch with CAC BSA as to consider selling Owasippe.

John Armstrong

 

 

---  Donna Black 

 

Anon.