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A Prayer for Owassipe
------------------------------------------------
04/02/2008
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.
--------------------------------------------
Just A Money Grab?
--------------------------------------------
a
personal opinion
03/31/2008
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.]
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Questions Scouts' tactics and motives
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11/04/2007
Muskegon
Chronicle
Letters to The Editor
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 $2 million to provide a quality camp at Owasippe? Could it be that pumping up the endowment
fund is more important than the camping program? Who would ever believe such a thing of the Boy Scouts?
Unfortunately, their contract with the developer requires them to exhaust all appeals. Or, if they can bankrupt Blue
Lake Township, perhaps the township will cave. I wonder what part of the Scout Oath and Law covers that tactic?
Reinhard Plaut
Chicago
-----------------------------
Smoke Up Your @#$
-----------------------------
Thu
Oct 18, 2007
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
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Donate to The Blue Lake Township
Legal Fund
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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
-----------------------------------
Bull in A Chinashop?
-----------------------------------
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
----------------------------------------------------- -----
Blue Lake Township Defense Fund
-----------------------------------------------------
-----
08/27/2007
One Man's Opinion...
This fight is not over. It has just begun. CAC is not going to back down. They
are going to court in October. The Blue Lake Township needs money to continue the fight. They have about 30 thousand,
and they need 80 thousand.
We need to dig into our pockets and send Blue Lake 50 or 100 dollars {each]. If they do not
get 80 thousand dollars by October, they will probably throw in the towel and change the zoning laws to housed from camps.
There is about 1,900 or so people living in Blue Lake Township. We cannot expect them to come
up with the money while we sit on the sidelines and watch. We are getting the direct benefit of their blood sweat and
tears.
The Blue Lake Township government is all that is standing in the way of the CAC Executive Board and
Council Executive Professionals. WE have to support them with our cash.
If you do not donate to Blue Lake this is what it will cost you every year you go to camp.
Your
Troop will be the out of out or council troop and therefore you will pay the premium that our of council troops pay to Chicago
Area Council. This year it is 15 dollars a boy. Multiply the number of boys you take to camp by 15 dollars.
The Scout Camps that you will want to attend are further away than Owasippe so multiply the extra
cost of transportation by the number of cars that you take to camp. Add this up and this is the extra cost that you
and your troop will pay each year that your troop goes to camp. Forever!! I think that will be a lot more than
the 100 dollars you will give to Blue Lake Township today.
You and your troop will be in direct competition for
campsites in the remaining BSA camps. It is a good chance your troop will not find a place to go to summer camp next
year. Your troop might have to travel many 100's of miles more to find a summer camp who will accept your reservation.
This
fact is not lost on the professionals of the surrounding councils. They will view this as a profit center they cannot pass
up. They will sock it to the out of council troops because they are just obeying the law of supply and demand.
All
the talk about what a shame that Owasippe is gone, all the work we did as members of the Order of the Arrow and Owasippe Staff
Association on the Owasippe Scout Camps are in vain IF the Blue Lake Township quits the fight or CAC wins the law suit.
Now
is the time to open your wallet and shell out your 50 or 100 dollars!!! Next year will be too late :-(
~ Erwin
Brinkmann
*** 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!!
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Scouts not negotiating
with the rightful owner of Owasippe
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07/02/07
Letters
To The Editor
Whitelake Beacon
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
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An Open Letter to The CAC Board
of Directors
---------------------------------------------------------------
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.]
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CAC Needs To Consider
The Aftermath of Its Actions
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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
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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
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
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Open Letter to The NEW CAC
Board and Officers
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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
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Time for Chicago
Council to pay back the community
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White
Lake Beacon
Letter to The Editor
March 18, 2007
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
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A
Binding Contract On Owasippe?
----------------------------------------------
February 19, 2007
Can anyone tell me, or should I say does anyone actually know, why when we try to discuss alternate
ideas about saving Owasippe we are met with "We have a binding contract." When we ask about the court costs being paid...'binding
contract'. Yet, Mr Hughes makes a video and says we are now telling the buyer we want to alter the deal. CAC is now telling
Blue Lake Township that CAC wants to alter the deal.
Now, there is an avenue which isn't met with 'binding contract'. $19.4 million... does that still
hold if we are only selling part of the camp? As I see it, CAC can alter the amount of land to be sold, can alter what
the buyer will do with the land after purchase. One would think that the buyer could alter the offered buying price.
Anyone know exactly what we are bound to?
As he would say, 'just thinking out loud'.
Thomas L. Gerez Sr.
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Has Anyone Bothered To Review The Owasippe Contract?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
February 19, 2007
from the Arrowhead District Yahoo Group
I am assuming that the buyer's obligation under the contract is contingent upon the CAC obtaining
a zoning change. I certainly don't have thorough knowledge of the contract or status of the case, but...the CAC has so far
tried and failed to get the zoning change.
The issue becomes what duty does the CAC have to continue to pursue the zoning change through continued
appeals after the CAC has been denied by the township. What does "good faith effort" mean? CAC seems to take the
position that it must pursue appeals from the township's denial of the zoning change. This may not be the case.
The fact that the township has denied the appeal may be enough for CAC to void the contract.
The contract should detail what CAC's obligation is to pursue the zoning change and whether it must appeal negative decisions
by the
township. It may be that the CAC could declare the contract null and void based upon the township already
refusing the change. On the other hand, there may be a contractual obligation to continue to appeal denials of the zoning
change to even higher levels of governmental authority.
I think the CAC board needs to tell the membership what the CAC's contractual obligation is regarding
pursuing the appeal. Is CAC pursuing the appeal of the zoning decision because they are obligated to do so under the contract
or is CAC pursuing the appeal because they want the sale to continue to go through.
It appears that a majority of the membership would want the appeals stopped if there is no contractual
obligation to pursue it and would want the contract voided. The membership should insist on an opinion letter from the CAC's
attorneys as to whether CAC can stop the appeal process and void the contract. The CAC should be square with the membership
as to what it's intention is if it is not contractually obligated to continue to appeal.
At what point has a good faith effort been made? One can argue that one has already been made
to change the zoning and it has failed. This would allow CAC to get out of the deal.
Has the CAC obtained an opinion letter from the attorneys as to what extent the CAC is obligated
to appeal township decisions? It seems we are taking it on faith that the CAC has a contractual obligation to exhaust
all appeals. This may not be the case. Does anyone have access to the contract?
~ Jim Kash
-----------------------------------------
Can The Pursuit of Money Precede Program?
-----------------------------------------
February
16, 2007
I attended Owasippe from 1979-1996 and it hurts to hear that my former Council is that greedy for
money. Their job is to provide a place for Scouts to camp and provide programs for them as well, and not get rich on.
They need to take a pay cut to balance out their budgets!!
I can still feel the spirit of Chief Owasippe that was instilled in me as a Scout.
Take care & keep in touch,
Dan P. Ferguson
Alamo Area Council, B.S.A.
-------------------------------------------------------
Reflections
On The January 27th Election
-------------------------------------------------------
February 1, 2007
National representation was there and all ballots were counted in the
presence of all.
A representative for National went on to say that the Bylaws have been changed and if the next vote does not go through, then
National
will come in and take over. This might mean that we will lose our voice in regards to the Council and that they
may not renew the Council charter and then proceed to dismantle the Council.
Personally, I took this as a threat in 2 ways. Yes, we could lose our voice om the Council.
And yes, the Council may close, but we will still have scouting and the frontline scouting will still continue.
Council may close? Well, then the Council will have to be concerned about working with us to
come up with a solution that we like or they may lose their jobs. But, as long as we deliver a quality program to our
scouts, I feel the boys will be fine. WE have to remember to put them first.
~ Helen Gesell
COR Troop 612, CAC
-----------------------------------------------
Can
A Nuclear Option Be Avoided?
-----------------------------------------------
February 1, 2007
Your right. It's just that we woke up 3 years ago. I don't buy into conspiracy theories either.
That fact is that, while CAC is flush with cash and other assets, it's been spending about one million a year more than it
takes in. The former board decided the way to address that issue was to sell assets (read Owasippe, Hoover, and not
to replace buildings destroyed by fire) in order to increase the endowment fund to a level that would cover that short-fall.
That's a plan that is near and dear to the bean counters and would have worked
if everyone had signed on.
Had the Board been forthright with their financial situation, this might all have been avoided. Any
new Board will still have to deal with this issue. It will not go away. What we're hoping (perhaps naively) is that a new
and different Board will be more creative and open. Yes, the unwashed masses do have a plan. So far no one in power is interested.
- Reinhard Plaut, CAC T923
------------------------------------------------------------------------
An Opportunity To Improve
The Governance of CAC?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
01/01/2007
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'
-----------------------------------------------------------
Pulling The Wool Over Our Collective
Eyes?
-----------------------------------------------------------
from the Scouts-L email group, 12/15/2006:
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
--------------------------------------------
Scouting Asset Metamorphosis?
--------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------
Owasippe As A Regional Camp?
--------------------------------------
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.]
---------------------------------------------------
Got To Preserve That Little Slice of Heaven
---------------------------------------------------
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
---------------------------------------------------------------
Camp As A Program Offering...OR...As a Profit
Center?
---------------------------------------------------------------
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]
------------------------------------------------
Don't make the same mistakes of the past
------------------------------------------------
July
24, 2006
Muskegon Chronicle - Letters to The Editor
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
---------------------------------------------------------
Requiem For An Elder of The Tribe
---------------------------------------------------------
James"
Jim" Vlach, age 63, ASM Troop 306, Chicago IL.
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Capital Campaign
Resurrection...NOT A Capital Asset Sale!
--------------------------------------------------------------------
July 19, 2006
What is going to happen when the new Executive Committee goes up to
camp? I think that
the entire board who votes should go and not only
the new executive committee.
What a difference on how the property
would look TODAY if they took
the insurance money and rebuilt the dining hall at Carlen and the
Lodge at Reneker.
I hope that someone points out to the board that the
constant raping of the land and resources over the years along with
no
overt publicity campaign for camping and utilizing the property caused
much of her appearance today.
Some
of that BONUS Hoover money could make quite a difference towards
Capital improvements for this property and would help
in a partnership
with the OOEC in allowing for the continued operation of the
facility.
It was refreshing
to see that the NEW Executive Committee is comprised
mostly of Bankers and not Lawyers, Insurance people or Real Estate
Developers.
Bankers always seem to look at their bottom line more.
Maybe they will realize that Owasippe is Chicago Area Councils truly
only
appreciating capital asset that will never depreciate.
God Bless all of you, say a prayer and keep the faith!
YIS,
John
Hosty
-------------------
I Am Ashamed!
-------------------
July 19, 2006
I am absolutely ASTOUNDED by the piece "Warning Letter from Jim
Stone" in the most recent
edition of Scarlet Sassafras Blast. I
first became aware of Ron Kulak during the 1970 season. Here was
a
"senior" staffman held in high regard by both his peers and
managers. I learned from him and those like him.
When a man like
this is stripped of his very membership in the organization he has
volunteered so long and hard for,
the message is lost. I cannot
believe that the concept of arrest by a Sheriff would ever be raised
in connection
with OSR and its very life blood. Something is
DEFINITELY wrong in this Council, and I am ashamed that the
conversation
between Mr. Adams and Ron Kulak occurred on the property.
Yours in Service
Bruce H. Petersen
---------------------------------
Members
Only at Owasippe?
---------------------------------
July 19, 2006
I cannot believe he did that !!! Where, in God's name, are there any
signs in or around
Owasippe that read, "members only"?
~CJT
---------------------------------------------------------------
Road Trip to Owasippe for New CAC Exec Committee?
---------------------------------------------------------------
07/05/2006
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
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Rick Cronk, New BSA President Takes The Helm
--------------------------------------------------------
06/01/2006
Educate And Inform Our BSA Leadership!
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
--------------------------------------------------------------------- CHICAGO SCOUT COUNCIL SUES TOWNSHIP
– AGAIN
--------------------------------------------------------------------- by OOEC, 05/23/2006, www.ooec.org
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.”
=================================
Our Justice System In Action
=================================
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.
CAC Wizard by Anon.
-------------------------------------------------------
===========================================
MESSAGE FROM THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE
===========================================
by Larry Strickling
04/02/2006
I understand that concerns have arisen over the fact that the slates to be
presented on April 20,
as posted on the CAC website, are different in
certain respects from the May 5 slates that were included in the Court's
order
of earlier this month directing the Council to hold an election on the
20th. As you also know, in his order, the judge
directed that the
Nominating Committee, which included Rita Egan, Glenn Emig and myself, meet
to consider nominations
received this month. We did meet earlier this week
and as a result of those discussions, several persons were added to
various
of the slates, specifically as follows:
Officers:
Joe Yokley was nominated as Vice President Training
Willard
Brown was nominated as a Past President
The following persons were nominated for board seats:
Leslie Anderson
Jim
Dunneback
Josh Feigelson
Sheridan Turner
The following persons were nominated as members at large:
Darius
Bright
Charles Brown
Richard Christopher
Reginald Hill
Rita Perry
Derek Phillips
Charles Price
Keisha
Walker
Chris Weinum
Five of these individuals, including Brown, Christopher, Hill, Price and
Weinum, were originally
suggested as board nominees. They did not receive a
majority vote from the committee but were then successfully nominated
as
members at large.
In addition, what many of you may not be aware of is that last year, even
after May 5, the
Nominating Committee met one more time in June. One of the
actions taken at that time was to remove certain persons from
the slates
because they had not responded to repeated requests from the Council office
to register for their positions.
This week, the committee unanimously
reaffirmed its earlier action to remove those persons. The persons affected
by
this decision were as follows:
Board
Thomas Bean
Michael Gonzalez
William Moody
Eugene Scott
Members
at Large
Lester Busse
Jack Donoval
Theresa Horvath
Yusif Mumin
Dan Nishibun
Homer Ortego
Raquel Ortego
Nathan
Rosenburg
Phillip Sanders
Walter Smolka
James Wagner
Robert Wooten
Jesse White, at his request, was moved
to the Honorary Board.
In addition, since the completion of the committee's work last June,
several persons have
resigned from the board and this week the committee
agreed to remove them from the slate. Those persons are Bill MacGowan,
David
Johnson, Ben Perks, and Bill Saltenberger.
I think this accounts for all the differences between the slates posted
on
the CAC website and the ones in prior circulation. It is important that
people understand that these actions were
not controversial within the
nominating committee. If someone who was removed feels that action was
taken unfairly,
I apologize on behalf of the committee and urge that person
to get in touch with us. I don't think any action can be taken
before April
20 but hopefully, the matter can be addressed promptly after the election.
===================================
Preserve Scout Camps For Our Youth
===================================
from
Scouts-L Email Group, 03/27/2006
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
====================================================
Dear Blue Lake Township Planning Commission members,
====================================================
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]
===========================================
Appreciation
to Owasippe-Hearing Community
===========================================
02/05/2006
White Lake Beacon,
Letter to The Editor
On January 14, 2006, the Blue Lake Township Planning Commission conducted a public hearing addressing
the rezoning of the Owasippe Scout Properties.
Being a small, rural township, we haven’t had past experience
conducting a hearing of this magnitude and emotional response and were unsure of what to expect. We were very grateful that
it went so smoothly, but it would not have without the support and help of many individuals.
We appreciate all those who took the time to come and speak, as w
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