|
-----------------------------------------------------------------
CAC REORGANIZATION PLAN ANNOUNCED
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
June 29, 2006
For several years, there has been controversy within the Chicago Area Council about the governance
of the Council and the proper direction
of the Council’s programs. Indeed, some of those disputes recently
became the subject of litigation in the Circuit Court of Cook County,
Illinois.
We would like to update the Scouting community in the Chicago Area
Council (“CAC”)
on the progress toward resolution of these matters,
including resolution of the impasse relating to the election of
members
at large, directors, and officers.
During the spring, the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America
(“National”)
assembled a fact-finding committee to meet with the two
sides involved in the litigation in the Circuit Court of Cook
County. For the sake of convenience, we will refer to these two
parties in this communication as “the
incumbent leadership” and “the
Scouter 11.” After meeting with the two parties and discussing
the
matters within the committee, the fact-finding committee (which
purposely had no representation from the CAC)
reported to National.
Having reviewed those findings and recommendations, National
concluded that, in view of the history
of conflict, neither the
incumbent leadership nor the Scouter 11 could effectively lead CAC
and promote Scouting’s
mission.
National presented a reorganization plan to both parties in the
litigation with the goal of re-focusing
the Council on effectively
promoting Scouting within the City of Chicago and surrounding
communities. The parties
were given the choice of accepting
National’s plan of reorganization or risking the loss of CAC’s
charter,
in which case all the assets of the Council would have
reverted to National for use in promoting Scouting in the local
areas.
The plan of reorganization, which was accepted by all of the parties,
includes the following
primary elements:
1. A new executive committee (which would also constitute
the
Nominating Committee) would be formed and approved by CAC’s Board of Directors. The committee would consist
of seven experienced former presidents/chairpersons from bordering councils and two representatives from each of the incumbent
leadership and the Scouter 11. Over the next six months, this executive committee would primarily manage the affairs
of the CAC with the ultimate goal of
having the CAC elect a slate of directors and officers in January
2007 in accordance
with the bylaws of the council.
2. Six specific members of the existing board (three
from
each of the incumbent leadership and the Scouter 11) would step down
from the board of directors and all committees
but would be
encouraged to join the Advisory Board. These six individuals have
all given generously of
their time and talents, but they were
perceived to be “lightning rods” for the opposing parties. We
wish
to express our gratitude to those individuals: Dennis Chookazian;
Rita Egan; Lew Greenblatt; Brian Kasal;
Joe Sener; and Larry
Strickling. We are a better Council because of the past efforts of
these six dedicated
Scouters.
3. All members of the existing executive committee
would
resign from that committee.
4. All litigation and appeals would be dismissed.
5. Various changes to the bylaws would be adopted
to prevent
a similar course of events from evolving in the future. Key among
these is that, upon two failed
attempts to elect the slate, National
would decide who the elected officials would be.
The members of the to-be-formed new executive committee have already met twice, and an air of dedication,
understanding, and cooperation is prevailing. There have been tremendous attempts on the part of the non-CAC members
to comprehend the issues that brought the Council to its present position.
The members of this new executive committee represent a very
significant body of experience in
managing affairs of local
councils. The seven members from the bordering councils are to be
the following:
• Calvin Bellamy, former President
of the Calumet Council;
• Brian Harris, former President
of the Thatcher Woods (now
Desplaines Valley) Council;
•
John Jadel, former President of the Northeast Illinois Council and former President of the National Eagle Scout Association;
• Richard Jones, current President of Area 7 of the
Central
Region;
• Mike Skarr, former President of
the Rainbow Council; and
• Randy Tavierne, former President
of the Three Fires Council.
Joining these gentlemen are Mike Hughes and George Walper from the incumbent leadership and Jim Adamitis
and Glenn Emig from the Scouter 11.
This new committee is undertaking to have meetings with interested
Scouters to listen to the
concerns directly from the various
constituencies within CAC. These meetings are expected to begin in
August.
Additionally, the committee has been charged by National
with the responsibility to review the pending sale of Owasippe
and
the related zoning matters and the relative position of Learning for
Life within the CAC program. At this
juncture, there are no plans to
alter the previous decisions made by the board of directors on any of
these matters.
As decisions are made by this new, select executive committee, we
will advise the members of
the Chicago Area Council. Because of the
sensitive nature of these future discussions, we implore each of you
to
understand our need to communicate only the final recommendations and decisions. We intend to review in detail each
of the major issues which has brought this council to this impasse. We believe we can find acceptable solutions to each
problem and opportunity before us, and we want to assure the members of the Council, as well as the many other supporters
of Scouting within the Chicago area, that the interests of the youth in the Chicago Area Council will continue to be served.
James D Stone
Scout Executive/CEO
Chicago Area Council, BSA
On behalf of the Reorganization
Committee
=============================================
So, We Hit A Speedbump In The Road!
=============================================
an
editorial
Until word comes down from the Illinois Appellate Court regarding the appropriateness of the election and the validity
of the nominated slates, the council election will be postponed until further notice. The judges aggressively pursued
facts and had rapid-fire questions for the attornies of both sides.
Four judges presided over the hearing on Thursday, the newest of which was the Honorable Anne Burke. She joins
veterans of the bench judges Joseph Gordon, Margaret McBride, and the senior presiding judge Robert Cahill. They assured
all that they would quickly decide if they would accept CAC's request for an in-depth appeal hearing and if the election should
move forward sooner vs later.
The judges were quick to point out flaws and were very opinionated regarding their jurisdiction of the case, the necessity
of hearing it, and the actual substance of the matter...but didn't yet feel they were 100% sure of the facts or their decision.
Judge Margaret McBride stated her concern over CAC's apparent "arbitrary capriciousness" with the present slate and nominating
committee and wondered about the council's inability to get three prior candidate slates elected in 2004 by its constituent
membership.
At least 35 frontline Scouters were in attendance supporting the "Scouter-11". From what could be seen, only three
alleged supporters of the Greenblatt-Stone cabal were in the courtroom: Michael Hughes, Brian Kasal, and Susan Castillo.
It was also pointed out that two attornies from the National BSA office in Irving, TX, were present in the courtroom monitoring
the proceedings...further indicating that national BSA leadership has placed this whole matter on their radar screen.
We apologize if anyone was put out for coming in for the vote that we just couldn't reach in time. Sometimes, the
unexpected happens and we have to roll with the punches, but we continue to hope for the best and to put one foot in front
of the other. We were in an akward situation and couldn't shut our electoral machine down if there was even the remotest
chance that the vote could have occurred.
Stay tuned and thanks for your continued interest and support! UNITED WE STAND! Don't be discouraged by this
bump in the road.
If you are able, please support the HEART Fund with a donation. There is no better time than now to contribute
your monetary support for our legal battles still engaged. Details can be found on both the Fort Dearborn and Owasippe
Staff Association websites.
Lastly, if you want to be sure that your CAC unit chartered organization rep is on our email and mail list, please forward
that person's contact info to me at Owasiron@juno.com (ie. name, address, phone number and email address), and I'll promptly get this to the appropriate COR/MAL database coordinator.
Obviously, CAC is not cooperating with "the rebel alliance" and is not forthcoming with such contact information that can
be used in organizing and communicating with our Scouter constituency.
~ Ron Kulak
Suspended and spurned but not silenced.
=============================================
Judge Agran Mandates CAC Election!
=============================================
www.fortdearborn.org
(3/1/06) At the hearing today [Wednesday] in Cook County Chancery Court, Judge Martin
Agran ordered the Chicago Area Council to conduct its annual election on the May 5, 2005 slate on Thursday, April 20th.
The election will be held at the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza at 6:30 pm on the specified date
pending confirmation from the hotel. If no confirmation is received from Holiday Inn, the judge ordered that another
suitable location be chosen.
Additionally, Judge Agran ordered Scout Executive Jim Stone to mail notice of the meeting
to all voting members of the Council no later than March 6th.
Additional nominees may be submitted to the Nominating Committee in writing provided they
are received on or before March 21st. The official members of the Nominating Committee per the order are: Lawrence Strickling,
Lewis Greenblatt, Rita Eagan, Brian Kasal, Glenn Emig, and Michael Hughes. In compliance with
the order, the Nominating Committee will meet to review any new nominations on March 28th at 8:00 am at the Council office.
Judge Agran also issued a ruling concerning the Scouter 11 motion that recent Greenblatt
appointments to the board were done for the purpose of "stacking the deck" with cronies. The Scouters had asked that
these recent appointees be removed from the board.
On this point, Agran ruled that appointee David Galowich was properly elected and appointed
and may remain on the board. However other appointees, Leslie Andersen, Willard Brown, and Josh Fiegelson were not duly
elected or appointed and may not sit as directors at this time.
Following the ruling, CAC attorney David Simon filed a motion asking the judge to stay the
election. Judge Agran will hear arguments and rule on this motion on March 8th. In addition, Simon stated that
CAC intends to appeal the Chancery Courts decision to the Appellate Court asking for a restraining order to halt the election
process.
Despite the intention of CAC to appeal, Agran stated in his order: "Pursuant to Supreme Court
Rule 304(a), there is no just reason to delay enforcement or appeal from this order."
Up until now there has been no indication that the full CAC Board of Directors has officially
been notified of any of the previous decisions of the Court in this case. A board meeting is scheduled for March 15th, at
which time the board should be expected to receive a full report on all proceedings.
==============================================
"HEART" LEGAL FUND DONORS NEEDED!
==============================================
PLEASE let your friends and Scouter associates know that a fund to assist efforts to help carry on this legal
battle by the "Scouter-11" to correct and reform council governance has been established at LaSalle Bank of New Lenox. Financial
contributions should be sent to the "HEART Fund" (ie. Honesty, Ethics, Accountability, Reform, and Transparency). Donations
should be payable and sent to "HEART Fund" c/o LaSalle Bank NA, Atn: Stan Benes, 251 E Maple Street, New Lenox, IL 60451.
A flyer and transmittal form for this special fund and donor program can be found on the following link:
http://www.owasippe.com/docs/heart_fund.pdf
With the account just being recently opened, substantial donations have already started to stream in. Your personal
contributions are urgently needed and graciously accepted at this time! THANKS goes out to those who have already stepped
up.
Financial assistance is definitely needed from us all...NOT just from these eleven brave Scouters IF we are to
prevail in our mission of improving the Scout program for our youth, maintaining the "Outing" in Scouting, allowing our Scouters
to have unimpeded self-governance, and to restore fairness and accountability to council administration.
Educate your
friends and fellow Scouters, beat the drum loudly, and help us expand our army of supporters and our cache of cash to continue
this worthy fight.
CAC Notifies Membership of Election
www.fortdearborn.org
(3/7/06) In a mailed announcement postmarked March 6th, the Chicago Area Council notified Chartered Organization Representatives and other
voting members of an election meeting to be held at Holiday Inn Mart Plaza at 6:30 pm on April 20th.
The meeting was scheduled in compliance with a recent order of Judge Martin Agran, who mandated the time and place of the election. The last election was in
December 2004 and the proposed slates for that election and two previous elections had been rejected by the membership.
The slates to be brought before the membership on April 20th will be the ones proposed on
May 5, 2004 by the nominating committee seated at the time of the December 2004 election. Following the third defeat
of the slates, the December nominating committee made several changes and proposed a slate on May 5th they felt would be approved
by the membership.
But Council President Lewis Greenblatt refused to bring the May 5th slate to a vote
and subsequently dissolved the December nominating committee. He then appointed a new nominating committee which proposed
a different slate, reinstating many of the changes made by the December committee. over 40% of the voting members petitioned
for a vote on the May 5th slate but Greenblatt refused to honor the petition.
However in a court case brought against Greenblatt and the Chicago Area Council by eleven
local Scouters, Judge Agran declared Greenblatt's actions a breach of his fiduciary duty and in violation of Illinois State
Law.
Agran's final order on the matter mandated the upcoming election.
Members may make further suggestions to the nominating committee in writing provided the
suggestions are received before March 21st. The nominating committee will reconvene on March 28th to consider any new suggestions.
No nominations will be accepted from the floor at the meeting.
All CORs and voting members should make plans to attend this extremely important voting
meeting. Holiday Inn Mart Plaza is located at 350 N. Orleans St. across from the Merchandise Mart. The meeting
will begin at 6:30 sharp and according to the bylaws, no other business will be transacted.
[ Note: In a brief court hearing with Judge Agran on Weds, March 8th, CAC was denied
its request for a stay of the election, ie. temporary restraining order. After CAC's legal counsel pleaded for
consideration of their request, Judge Agran said he would uphold his order of March 1st mandating the April 20th vote on the
May 5th slates. The CAC Admin may now be seeking injunctive relief and a stay order through the Illinois Appellate Court.
]
April 20th Election Flyer
=============================================================== Pertinent Facts Regarding
the Vote on April 20
=============================================================== from www.fortdearborn.org
· The council held an election in May, 2004 and the slate of candidates was defeated.
· The council held another election in September, 2004 and the same slate of candidates was defeated again.
· After this defeat a series of facilitated summit meetings between paid professional staff, board members, and volunteer
scouters were held from October, 2004 through February, 2005. (None of the suggestions that resulted from these meetings
have yet to be implemented by the council.)
· While the facilitated meetings were going on, the council held another election in December, 2004 and the same slate
of candidates was defeated for the third time.
· A nominating committee, appointed by the board, developed a new slate of candidates which they felt would be a good
compromise slate. That slate is now known as the “5th of May slate”.
· Lew Greenblatt, Council President, did not like some of the names on the slate and tried to get the nominating committee
to make changes to the slate.
· This effort was defeated by the nominating committee twice and the slate was supposed to be presented to the voting
membership.
· Per the council by-laws if 20% of the voting membership requests a vote on an issue, the council is supposed to hold
that vote within 90 days.
· A petition signed by 40% of the voting membership was presented to Lew Greenblatt in June, 2005 requesting that the
May 5th slate be brought up for a vote.
· On June 22, 2005 the executive committee of the board met and at this meeting Lew Greenblatt did the following:
dismissed the nominating committee which was appointed by the board, threw out the 5th of May slate, ignored the petition
signed by the 40% of the voting membership, installed a new nominating committee, and instructed them to produce a new slate
of candidates.
· At the full board meeting held on June 23, 2005 when questions arose about these actions, Lew Greenblatt refused to
discuss these issues and closed the board meeting
· As a result of these actions by Lew Greenblatt and some members of the executive committee a lawsuit was filed in the
Cook County Chancery Court over the governance of the Chicago Area Council.
· As a result of this lawsuit Judge Martin S. Agran found that Lew Greenblatt had breached his fiduciary responsibilities,
violated the by-laws of the Chicago Area Council, and had broken the law of the State of Illinois.
· Judge Agran ordered the council to hold an election on the 5th of May slate on April 20, 2006.
· It is extremely important for all board members, council Members at Large, and Chartered Organization Representatives
to attend the meeting on April 20th and vote for the May 5th slate.
For the final amended slates to be presented for consideration and election by the council electorate on April 20th,
go to... http://www.chicagobsa.org/
[ NOTE: GET OUT THE VOTE...ALL HANDS ON DECK - GENERAL QUARTERS! Anyone can come by to bear witness to this
democratic process and to the beginning of reform in CAC. However, we NEED ALL COUNCIL VOTERS to make arrangements
to do what is necessary to be at the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza, 350 N Orleans, on Thursday, April 20th, by 6:00pm with evidence
of 2006 unit chartering and/or personal valid 2006 registration in-hand. Please expect to be challenged at the door,
so BE PREPARED! Council Electors are urged to make personal sacrifices, if necessary, to be in
attendance and to cast their vote FOR ALL 5 MAY 5th SLATES... FOR REFORM AND FOR POSITIVE CHANGES IN CAC! ]
================================================
On Quinnzees, Igloos, and Other Fun Snow-Things
================================================
I
prefer quinzees as my snow shelter of choice. You can build them with only 6" of snow, though it's a lot of work.
Here's a website that explains it pretty well.
Here's Dan Beard's version of building an igloo. It works too.
- YIS, Cliff Golden
PS: For Quinzees, it doesnt matter how deep the snow is, as long as there is enough to make a big pile for every
2-3 boys. Just put in "Quinzee" in your search enginge, and youll find all kinds of stuff.
===========================================
Judge
Orders Vote on May 5th Slate
===========================================
EXTRA: www.Fortdearborn.org
(1/5/06) On Tuesday, January 4th, at "high noon" in the Cook County Chancery Division in downtown
Chicago, Judge Martin Agran listened to questions and arguments by both sides and has now agreed to the judicial relief requested
by the Scouter-11 by mandating that Chicago Area Council must now move ahead and hold its annual election of board members,
executive officers, and members at large but only as provided with the previously designed May 5th slate.
After discussion with both sides, Judge Agran further ruled that only the members of the CAC nominations
committee who originally engineered the May 5th slate may consider additional nominees but that the slate must otherwise remain
intact as it was first approved by that committee. The court will now permit registered CAC Scouters to forward recommendations
and resumes of additional candidates for this slate within 30 days of the election, yet to be set.
In court representing both sides to this case as legal counsel were Leonard Shifflett of Quarles
and Brady LLP for the plaintiffs (Scouter-11) and David Simon of Wildman, Harrold, Allen and Dixon LLP for the defendants
(CAC).
During the hearing, CAC's legal counsel requested to amend the original nominations committee with
replacements for two original committee members who have since resigned from the council, namely Bill Saltenberger and Duke
Chapman. But Judge Agran denied CAC's request to do so after the Scouter-11's attorney argued that there was no provision
in the council bylaws that required the nominations committee to be comprised of a certain minimum number.
The remaining members of the court-approved nominations committee are Lew Greenblatt, Rita Egan,
Glenn Emig, Mike Hughes, Brian Kasal and Larry Strickling. No other committee may be convened nor can the council ignore the
election process now required without being in contempt of court.
"The Court reiterated its December finding that the Council had acted illegally to prevent the nominating
committee's May 5 slate from being presented to the membership for a vote and remarked that the process Council was seeking
to implement now seemed designed to again deny the members a vote on the duly approved slate from last May," stated one of
the plaintiffs.
Judge Agran acknowledged that CAC bylaw procedures require providing registered scouters an opportunity
to submit names for consideration for the board slate prior to the election. The judge did direct that thirty days be allowed
prior to the voting meeting for additional nominations to be submitted, however the May 5th slate could be put forth intact--new
nominations are not required.
The court set January 19 for a status hearing and requested both parties come prepared with a plan
to admininster this election, i.e., date, time and location of the election.
Plaintiffs hoped that an early agreement will be reached on these matters so as to eliminate any
further arguments and a need for further judicial intercession.
CAC's legal counsel acknowledged that the Council has no problem with running an election but only
sought court clarification on the final rendition of the May 5th slate and the constitutionality of the nominations committee
to administer this.
More clarity on remaining procedures and a schedule will arise within the next two weeks. Background
material on this case with links to PDF copies of court filings are posted to www.fortdearborn.org.
# # #
^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^
JUDGE SIDES WITH SCOUTER-11
per Debra Carte, White Lake Beacon, 12/19/2005
“The Scouter 11” prevailed in all but one of the nine charges they brought against the Chicago Area
Council of the Boy Scouts, and they’ll be back in court on Jan. 4 in the hopes of a unanimous decision.
The 11 Scouts, some of them council board members, sued the Chicago Area Council and its president, Louis Greenblatt,
on Sept. 27, charging violations of council bylaws and the Illinois Not-for-Profit Corporation Act.
The Scouts sued when Greenblatt took steps to prevent the council membership from voting on a slate of officers
and directors, called the May 5 slate, that he opposed. The Scouts said Greenblatt went as far as to dissolve the December
committee that nominated the slate, created a new committee and appointed members to it he knew were in agreement with him.
Judge Martin Agran of the Chancery Court of Cook County, Illinois, agreed with eight of the nine charges brought
by the 11 Scouts, saying Greenblatt had breached his fiduciary responsibilities as council president, and that by dissolving
the December nominating committee and appointing a new one, he had violated Illinois law.
The Scouter 11’s ninth complaint asked the court to invalidate Greenblatt’s appointments to the
reconstituted nominating committee and to order a vote on the May 5 slate. It was dismissed by Agran because a procedural
error failed to name the appointees in the complaint.
The Scouter 11 is now asking Agran to amend his ruling to make way for the membership to vote on the May 5 slate.
Agran will hear their request on Jan. 4 in Chicago along with a motion by the Chicago Area Council that asks the judge to
allow it to meet in order to discuss the judge’s decision. Because the Scouter 11 suspects Greenblatt and the council
may use the opportunity to dissolve the December nominating committee and void the May 5 slate, the Scouts have filed a counter-motion
against the request.
On Dec. 9, a spokesperson for the Chicago Area Council said the council is seeking clarification with regard
to what is the next ballot and what will happen to the board members who are currently serving.
Devin Schindler, a lawyer representing the Chicago Area Council, said there is a need to confirm whether several
individuals on the May 5 slate have withdrawn their names from nomination. If they have, the slate may no longer be valid
under the bylaws, Schindler said.
As to whether Greenblatt should now resign in light of Judge Agran’s decision, Schindler said he will
not.
“Lew Greenblatt is not resigning from his position. He has done nothing wrong and there is no reason for
him to resign. Lew is a hard-working volunteer who holds this post because of his love for scouting. For anyone to suggest
that his conduct - or the conduct of any of the hard working volunteers who serve on the board - would warrant a reprimand
either does not understand the nature of the litigation process or is being petty and mean-spirited,” responded Schindler
in an email.
Some believe Greenblatt is opposed to the May 5 slate because it may be more disposed to retaining Scout camp
property the council is now trying to sell. The council sold Camp Hoover in Aurora, Illinois two years ago, saying the council
was strapped for cash. It has now accepted an offer of $19.4 million to sell the Owasippe Scout Reservation in Blue Lake Township,
outside of Whitehall. The reservation is 4,765 acres of ancient forests and lakes, and is habitat for the endangered Blue
Karner Butterfly.
A significant number of the Scout membership are opposed to the sale of Camp Owasippe. In a memo issued by Greenblatt
shortly after the Scouter 11 filed suit, he said he believed the lawsuit was brought as a result of political fallout over
the council’s attempt to divest itself of camp property. The attorney for the Scouter 11, Leonard Shifflet, has said
the lawsuit had nothing to do with the selling of camp property.
In a recent press release, the Owasippe Outdoor Education Center (OOEC), a group of local and Chicago area Scouts
working to preserve Owasippe as a camp, said the court’s decision in favor of the Scouter 11 is a step to reforming
the governance of the Chicago Area Council.
“Over the last few years we have observed a growing unrest among the membership of the Chicago Area Council
with the vision and oversight of the traditional Scouting program of the Council. We believe this decision of the court is
a step toward reforming the governance of the Council to better reflect the wishes of its constituents,” the OOEC stated
in its press release.
The $19.4 million offer on Camp Owasippe is contingent on the property being rezoned for residential development.
The Chicago Council submitted a rezoning request to Blue Lake Township about a year and a half ago. The request, if granted,
would take the 4,700-acre camp out of the conservancy district established by Blue Lake Township and would open the property
up to development with lots ranging from 11,000 square feet to 10 acres.
A public hearing on the rezoning request will take place on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 10 a.m. at the Blue Lake Fine
Arts Camp in Blue Lake Township. A huge crowd is expected to attend, and township planners are anticipating the hearing to
last most of the day.
Copyright © 2005 Shoreline Media, Inc.
- per www.fortdearborn.org:
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.
# # #
[Note... More background on this case and all the grievances filed in the original 19-page complaint
along with subsequently filed motions can be found for your review and study on the Fort Dearborn District Website at www.fortdearborn.org along with accompanying links. You will NOT find any reference to this case and complaint on the CAC website nor in its printed
"Scouter" newsletter.]
==============================================
Is The 3rd Time A Charm? Summit
Set!
==============================================
The recessed Annual Meeting of the Chicago Area Council will
occur on Wednesday, December 1, at the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza, 350 N. Orleans Street, Chicago, at 6:00pm. The proposed
election slates had been voted down by the membership first in June and then again in September. The purpose of
this meeting is to consider the report of the Nominating Committee and to vote on reconstituted slates. This is NOT
exclusively a board vote but will be an added reconvened meeting of the CORs and MALs for voting purposes. Be sure your
chartered institutional rep is there!
Suggestions for consideration by the Nominating Committee may be submitted no later than November
1 to G.A. Finch, Chairman, Nominating Committee, Chicago Area Council, BSA, 1218 W Adams, Chicago, IL 60607.
On September 8th, approximately 54 volunteer Scouters, comprised of board members, members at
large, and chartered organization reps, met at the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza in downtown Chitown to reconvene the annual
CAC board meeting from June for the purpose of electing five different slates of officers and board members. In
each instance, the slates were voted down roughly by a margin of at least 3-to-1. Upon the conclusion of
the voting, the meeting was adjourned with no other dates set for a subsequent board meeting to decide the fate of those slates.
The voting results were as follows:
> Members At Large: 9-Yes, 37-No
> Board of Directors: 13-Yes,
36-No
> Advisory Board: 12-Yes, 40-No
> Executive Officers: 13-Yes, 40-No
>
National BSA Reps: 12-Yes, 42-No
Curiously absent from the board meeting was Dennis Chookaszian, council spokesperson in the Tribune
and Sun-Times and apparent leader of the adhoc strategic properties committee dealing with the proposed rezoning and fate
of Owasippe. From a board of directors group of 50-60, there were fewer than 15 of them at this meeting.
Also, representation of chartered organization reps and members at large was also lacking at about 12% of those so designated.
But, before the above election takes place, an opportunity has also presented itself for council dialogue
and potential reform per the Council Exec Committee. At least one summit meeting of board members, selected district
volunteers (only two per district), and pro-staff has been scheduled for October 25 beginning at 4:30pm at a conference
room in the building which housese Presdient Lew Greenblatt's office. It is anticipated that the meeting will be
moderated by a 3rd party facilitator. Council issues and concerns from all sides will be discussed and debated
with the goal of the group to find common ground and to develop an action plan to devise a better, more responsive council
with better administrative representation from the districts. If you want to know who is on your "district team"
of delegates, contact your district chairman or district commissioner and let them know what is important to you and how you
feel about things. Be sure that your district delegates are knowledgeable, conversant, and well versed in district and
council issues and truly represent the sentiment and dedication of district volunteers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
CAC Financial Data From Guidestar, Illinois Attorney General's Office
Chicago
Area Council's IRS 990 for fiscal year end 2000. You can find it
at http://www.guidestar.org
Do a search for : Boy Scouts of America Chicago.
Then click on the small link that says
: more financial information.
Then click on the line that says: view IRS form 990.
If you page down a few pages you
will find a number of interesting things.
Note: Keep in mind that Owasippe has been reported to run a deficit
of $200,000 year. By the way, the Detroit Area Council's camp, D-bar-A, runs an annual deficit of $400,000 which
they consider an acceptable level to support their program facility. They have made the philosophical decision
to NOT make their camp a "profit center" to support the council bottom line but rather to allow the council's bottom line
to support their operations at their council camp.
Financial stats from the CAC Annual Report to the Illinois Attorney
General's
Office for the period 07/01/2001 through 12/31/2001 (including 2001 IRS form 990):
* Total Revenues = $ 3,320,892
*
Total Expenses = $ 3,216,378... for a net surplus of $104,514
* Top 6 Annual Salaries combined for $579,300 and are
included in a total payroll of $1,016,509. Include another $109,216 of employee benefits and employee expenses
account for 36.5% of revenue. In the 18 months ending December 31, 2001, CAC paid out $3,436,700 in total
salaries
and related expenses. This is to support a reported 40,000 youth in 7 districts...or roughly $85.92 per
youth or $490,957 per district.
* Interesting Expenditures with no further explanation: Travel expenses of $61,951;
$685,852 in supplies; Specific Assistance to Individuals of $163,498 (see below).
* Camping Fees of $1,144,284
represents 34.5% of total revenues. Surely, most of this had to come from summer and off-season usage at Owasippe
and Hoover.
* Gross profit from sales of inventory = $385,622. Is this trading post
merchandise or sales
of program assets? This represents 11.5% of total revenue.
* Insurance Claim Settlement = $502,807
(This is the insurance
settlement from the Owasippe fires on fully-depreciated buildings). This represents
15% of total revenue. This has NOT been reinvested at Owasippe for replacement structures, ie. Reneker Lodge,
Camp Carlen Dining Hall, ranger residence LC1.
* As an assest, CAC booked $4,256,656 in respect to land, buildings
and equipment at Owasippe. What basis is used to establish this value...cost or market?
* In 2000, CAC earned
$172,733 in income from interest, dividends or
amounts received from other payments. How much of this
was earned on principal amounts held in trust for camp operations (endowments) and did this get transferred to help support
camp operations as originally intended by the original donors of such funds or did this offset interest expenses from
general operational loans that such funds may have securitized (ie. $2,000,000 in principal on a line-of-credit)??
*
$163,498 in national membership (registration) fees were paid for
children who were unable to afford them. What programs/districts
are these youth from and what head count does this represent? Also, does this have to be paid out at the
detriment to programs and facilities, ie. sale of camping properties.
* Interesting comment regarding Line #93A, Camping
Revenue... "earned for use of camping facilities which help to develop character and personal fitness in youth".
*
In the six months ending December 31, 2001, CAC expended $220,893 in "occupancy expenses" or $516,657 for the eighteen
months ending December 31, 2001...or $28,703/mo. This is presumed to be related to mortgage payments and
utility costs on the service center.
* How much interest was specifically drawn from the Fossett Endowment Fund and
the Milton H Gray endowment fund to specifically pay for improvements in those programs at Owasippe? Information
from Owasippe indicates that they received no such funding from these programs to tend to related camp needs in the last
twelve months.
AND...given the above...we're really concerned about a $200,000 deficit at Owasippe? Where's
our priorities?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
What About Previously Established Endowments?
And, if you were wondering about those secured "funds held in trust" from donations and other endowments, click
open the below accounting from Chicago Area Council which shows their 12/31/01 status. Wow, who controls those pursestrings
and authorizes the use of earned interest?
> Click Here For CAC Trust Fund Records
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Let's Take A Walk Down Memory Lane
Joe Sener, Chairman of the Owasippe Committee, and
Steve Adams, CAC Director of Camping report plans to reconstruct the Camp Carlen Dining Hall in time for the opening of Camp
next June (2002). They have indicated a committment to get the camp back on track and to utilize available insurance
proceeds to begin work on a replacement structure as soon as possible. If construction delays are encountered, the camp will
still open with a makeshift dining hall, probably a circus tent, to feed the attending troops en masse. Camp Carlen will open
for the 2002 season with 4 periods of Scout program, one week of Venture program, and one week of Webelos program (2 split-week
sessions). Next summer will be Owasippe's first attempt to design a summer camp program specifically for Venturing BSA. This
feature will be open to ANY registered Venture Crew regardless of Council affilitation.
Camp staff and interested
leaders can submit their design and usage ideas to Joe Sener and Steve Adams at their respective e-mail addresses and are
encouraged to do so at their earliest opportunity as architectural plans and proposals for a new Carlen dining hall are already
being reviewed. The Owasippe Committee, however, has yet to review definitive details on any replacement structure for final
approval. Rumor has it that the new dining hall design may include a new camp office and trading post.
TO BUILD OR NOT TO BUILD?
It would behoove those passionate about camp program quality and those concerned about Owasippe's legacy to
be proactive in pursuing the early rebuilding of these structures in an expert fashion fully utilizing available insurance
proceeds. Please communicate
your positive interests and constructive ideas early and often to...
>>> Owasippe Fires, Anonymous Website
NOTE...There still is no word on when or how the Camp Reneker facility will be
rebuilt but several concepts have been discussed which include an on-site ranger's residence and a separate storage/program
outbuilding.
It is rumored that insurance proceeds may have a time element involved. If that is true, it would behoove
the council to take swift action to rebuild, to maximize their benefit, and to minimize any out-of-pocket expense for reconstruction.
Any further procrastination would also just unnecessarily delay the introduction of any replacement structures which the quality
of the camp programs depend on and which campers expect to have at their disposal and usage.
cFall2001
> Send your ideas and opinions to Jim Stone
Supporting Commentary
07/05/2002 - A Scout Is Trustworthy?
Is a Scout always trustworthy or only when it suits him? Case in point... it
was a fairly logical assumption that, when the Camp Carlen dining hall and Camp Reneker lodge burned down, replacement buildings
would spring up fairly expeditiously paid for by the proceeds from sufficient building insurance. We were told
that insurance funds were received and were being held "in trust" for replacing the structures.
Well, here we are, a year-plus later and...guess what...NO buildings, NO plans and specs,
NO articles or proclamations of the future... only silence and inaction. This all raises questions, some of which
are... Why the silence? Why no action and the unusual delay? Where is the insurance money? Where
is the commitment to the camping program? Why is complacency even an option? That these questions
even have to be made raises the spectre of "distrust" with the Scout council administration.
Questions do not get answered unless posed to the source and to those accountable to Scouting.
Press the questions, demand answers, and require the perpetuating of program and facilities. Our silence only empowers
the few to take care of business for their own benefit...not for the Scouts.
Dan Beard
------------------------------------
12/03/2001 Regarding COPE and Carlen...
The Owasippe Committee is working on plans for a climbing tower. First
we need an inventory of what is on hand and get some idea of the costs to build the tower. There is about $1,000 remaining
from the OSA contributions. I believe there are also poles on site. Tim Toerber has joined the Committee and will be performing
the inventory so we can determine where we are.
I have seen the specifications for the reconstruction of the Camp
Carlen dining hall and it consists of a detailed, priced Bill-of-Material based on the original designs. There won't be any
more work done in that area until at least after the Council Strategic Planning is done... similar for Reneker.
---
Joe Sener, Owasippe Committee Chrmn
Joe_sener@baxter.com
November 2, 2001...
I want to take this opportunity
to discuss some of the different things we are working on at the Owasippe Committee.
We are working diligently to
line up a solid team of Camp Directors for next summer. We have talked to some great candidates and are trying to reach others.
Our goal is to have had the preliminary discussions with the directors prior to our upcoming first round interviews on the
Saturday after Thanksgiving.
The Council Strategic Planning Team has begun working on a revision to our five-year
plan. We are clear and agreed on our mission: To serve the youth of Chicago. One outcome of our plan is likely to be a plan
on replacing our buildings at Owasippe. As yet, we have not decided what to rebuild and where to rebuild it. The insurance
proceeds from the unfortunate fires at camp are safe and working for us until we determine how best to use them.
We
have enlisted the aid of one of our friends and neighbors at Owasippe, Ron Humbert, to help us with the conservation plan
for Owasippe. Ron is an avid naturalist and a geologist by training and a former staff person. Ron will be a great addition
to our team.
The investigation continues into the cause of the fires at Owasippe. Jim Stone is staying very close
to the investigation.
The cabins at Owasippe have been shut down for the season and the ranger staff, led by Ron Wilson,
are settling in for the long Winter.
Out next steps are to finalize a series of calls to those leaders who filled
out surveys while at camp. Finalize the strategic plan, conduct the staff interviews and work on new program ideas for this
summer.
We are looking for help from the volunteers of Chicago. We need people like you to help out. Please give us
a call.
Joe Sener
Joe_Sener@baxter.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FIRE INVESTIGATION STALLS
There has been no breaking news on the investigation. The Muskegon County Sheriff
Robert Carter said there is no determination, yet, on whether the most recent fire was arson. "We haven't been able to find
the perpetrator because we haven't had any information," said Carter. "This is a perfect example of how the Silent Observer
program could give us a break in this investigation." Carter said anyone who wishes to leave a tip with Silent Observer can
do so by calling 72-CRIME (722-7463).
Scout Exec Jim Stone and Assistant Scout Exec Anthony Gibbs drove out to Lansing,
Michigan, in Mid-October to meet with the state's ATF Director and a State Senator to look into why the arson case hasn't
progressed and turned up any further leads and convictions. They have been concerned and perplexed for some time now over
the lack of positive results from the fire investigation by the county, state and federal authorities.
The Owasippe
Staff Association (OSA) has issued a resolution regarding the fires and has posted an initial reward of $1,000 on news leading
to the arrest or conviction of the person(s) responsible for the fires. The State of Michigan had already posted a $5,000
reward and Muskegon County has an unstated reward value. You can read the OSA's board resolution at http://www.Owasippe.net
and view some new pictures on the aftermath and cleanup of the Carlen fire. Anyone wishing to contribute toward the OSA's
"reward fund" may contact President Ron Derby at Rderby@xbx.com or c/o The Owasippe Staff Association, PO Box 7097, Westchester,
IL 60154. Derby said anyone sending a check should note it for the arson reward fund. "If this case is resolved in a manner
other than through our reward offering, all the money in that fund would be used to rebuild," said Derby. "Anyone donating
would get a notice for their taxes of a charitable contribution."
No word has yet come From Chicago Area Council regarding
the composition of a specific committee to review the prospect of reconstructing the burnt facilities. However, a strategic
plan is being devised regarding the overall use of Owasippe and this will dictate, moreover, what type of structures are built.
Tentative plans to rebuild Carlen for 2002 have been stated, however there are no specific concepts or timetables regarding
same. It has been 7 months since the last fire at Camp Carlen on May 15th. Camp Reneker reconstruction plans are still unknown
for the same reason, waiting on a council strategic plan.
Insurance benefits have been paid to Chicago Area Council
and are on deposit in a designated "fund". Specific amounts are unknown. We all are eagerly waiting for CAC to take some positive
action with all of this and respond accordingly to the volunteers. As time moves on with no action or plan, it becomes more
likely that no reconstruction will occur by the opening of camp in July 2002. While legitimate concerns still exist about
a possible arsonist still on the loose, there has NOT been any urgency to move forward with discussing the potential usage
and design of these replacement facilities within existing committee structures, ie. Owasippe Task Force and Camp Properties.
Before the first shovel of dirt is turned over for new foundations, a plan must exist.
------------------------------------------------------------
OWASIPPE FIRES CHRONOLOGY:
* Sept 24, 1999...Camp Blackhawk dining hall extensively damaged in three places internally.
* March 25, 2000...Property manager's personal residence (LC1) is heavily damaged by fire.
* March 27, 2000...Property
manager's personal residence incurs second fire which completely destroys the building.
* September 1, 2000...Fire demolishes
the Reneker Family Camp lodge along with all stored program equipment from the prior summer.
* May 15, 2001...Camp Carlen
dining hall destroyed beyond recognition by an intense overnight fire during a driving rainstorm.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STAFF ASSOCIATION PASSES RESOLUTION!
The OSA Takes a Stand Against
Arson
Reward Offered - June 20, 2001:
WHEREAS...
Owasippe Scout Reservation is Americas oldest operating Boy
Scout Camp in the United States, established in 1911, located on roughly 5,000 acres in the Manistee National Forest, and
serving thousands of Scouts annually, and
WHEREAS...
The Owasippe Staff Association is a not-for-profit corporation
dedicated to the physical well-being of Owasippe Scout Reservation and to the enhancement of its programs and facilities,
and
WHEREAS...
There has been recent and catastrophic damage done to these same facilities and resources of Owasippe,
namely a residence, a program lodge, and two dining halls, all consumed by fire suspected to be arson, and
WHEREAS...
There still is at large the perpetrator(s) of these fires, breeding uncertainty, fear, and caution among those using the
camp.
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED...
That the Owasippe Staff Association denounces these acts and finds them to be
criminal, cowardly, immoral, and in opposition to its own purposes and principles, and
That the Owasippe Staff Association
formally requests the Chicago Area Council, BSA, and its administrators and law enforcement agencies treat this matter as
their highest priority and exhaust all available resources in the ongoing investigation of these fires and in the arrest and
conviction of those responsible, and
That, in keeping with these interests, the Owasippe Staff Association posts a
reward of $1,000 leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for said crimes against the camp and encourages
all others who support Scout camping to assist with this reward fund and in the overall investigative effort to bring those
responsible to justice.
That it be known that the Owasippe Staff Association offers our talents and participation
to any planning/rebuilding committee and strongly encourages the formation of said committee in a timely fashion.
Approved
by a unanimous vote of the board of directors of the Owasippe Staff Association on this the 20th day of June, 2001.
Signed
and Sealed,
Ron Derby, President
Attested to,
Mike Campbell, Secretary
------------------------
Anyone with information should contact the Grand Rapids branch of the ATF. Call 616-456-2566 and ask for Agent Mike
Marquardt. You can also call the Muskegon County Sheriff's Dept. at 231-724-6351.
The larger the reward, the better
the chances are of someone coming forward with information. Would you like to help bring this criminal(s) to justice?
If
so, please make checks payable to the Owasippe Staff Association c/o The OSA Arson Reward Fund. Send checks to the OSA, P.O.
Box 7097, Westchester, IL 60154.
If the case is solved in a manner that does not qualify for the reward, the OSA will
roll the reward fund into a rebuilding fund to be used at Owasippe. Tax deduction documentation will be provided accordingly.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nov 16, 2002... CAC Endowment Trust Funds (asof 12/31/01)
What follows are the specific accounts held in trust by CAC, the principal amounts of which are restricted and
whose interest income is to be specifically used for a program or to support general operations of the council.
At the end of 2001, the total of these funds were $7,447,519.01. Some of these funds may have been used
for collateral on loans to the council, but we are not certain of that. If that were to be the case, it can be logically
assumed that the interest earning potential would be degraded to some degree by the associated loan expenses.
It has also been alluded to at the fireside chats that continuing annual operating deficits by CAC may have to start eating
into these principal balances if there is NO OTHER recourse or cash flow, ie. loans, delayed payments, expense reductions.
The council president, Lew Greenblatt, has stated at the Fireside Chats that CAC's anticipated loss for this fiscal year will
be anywhere from $750,000 to $1 million.
Owasippe Funds
1980 Capital Campaign (camperships) * $ 961,168.32
OSR 1981 Land Sale (camperships)
262,883.70
OSR 1981 Land Sale (maintenance)
354,241.27
Nunn - OSR *
73,477.84
Fossett - OSR * 38,220.77
OSR 1994 Land Sale (Operations)
64,567.92
Milton Gray - (OSR Gray Staff Village) *
30,900.00
Owasippe
Endowment Total: $1,785,459.60
>Potential Earnings @ 2.96% APY, Netbank: $52,849.60
Hoover Outdoor Education Center
Hoover Fund *
$1,987,672.99
Hoover Foundation *
659,094.93
Hoover Total: $2,646,767.92
>Potential Earnings @ 2.96% APY, Netbank: $ 78,344.33
Other Remaining CAC Funds
Watzek *
$1,136,435.82
Permanent *
73,686.61
Schiff Foundation * 156,161.20
Vehon *
958,430.58
Bequests
401,433.07
Nickles *
18,379.97
Sea Exploring
81,442.36
Burket * 189,321.66
Other Fund Total: $3,015,290.98
>Potential Earnings @ 2.96% APY, Netbank: $89,252.61
CAC Endowment Funds Grand Total: $7,447,519.01
>Potential Earnings @ 2.96% APY, Netbank: $220,446.56
Please Note: It has been reported that Owasippe's annual operating
deficit is anywhere from $200,000 to $325,000, depending on whom
you talk to and at what meeting it was reported. The specific components of
this are a mystery. Also, we believe that no funds were allocated or distributed to the
Owasippe operations from either the Fossett or Gray Funds as originally designed to support the Sailing Base
or the Staff Family Village. It probably is time to ask for a specific accounting of the
specific amounts of earned interest and the dates and amounts of their allocation and specific uses
at Owasippe during 2002.
* Denotes donor-restricted funds. All other funds are board designated.
|
| CAMP WOLVERINE POOL PARTY - WHERE WET IS BEST |
Numbers Are In For the 2002 Season
by Joe Sener, Owasippe Committee Chrmn
I thought I would share the final numbers from Owasippe. The summer finished at about
97% of plan, short just 3%. Unfortunately the plan was already about 12% short of last year. Clearly, we paid
the price for last years issues. As a result of fall off in attendance and our inability to get any interest in a Venture
camp at Carlen, we closed that camp at the end of 5th period. Many of the staff have stayed on to volunteer for room
and board.
The good news is that sign-ups for next year are VERY strong (Pete Klaeser
is still working out the numbers
but I will have them by next week). The staff did an OUTSTANDING job of delivering on a great program. We will
try to have an analysis of sign-ups for 2003 versus 2002 along with early projections for attendance.
On a staffing
front. We will announce the leadership for next summer at the closing banquet this year (Sunday, August 11).
(NOTE: Owasippe's key leadership were asked to return and they have tentatively accepted
pending their review of their personal schedules and council contracts for 2003).
*** Click Below To Open A File Showing 2002 Attendance Numbers for Owasippe Scout Reservation by District...
> Click Here For 2002 OSR Stats
National Camp Standards Inspection '02
On Tuesday, July 2, Owasippe was visited and inspected by a team of national camp inspectors from
the BSA. All section camps and the reservation in general received an "A" rating. However, the COPE high course
was temporarily shut down to address BSA inspection issues and to make some corrections. Work began immediately to
make necessary repairs and amendments to bring the course into compliance with national BSA standards. In addition,
a 2nd opinion and inspection was requested of the firm retained by the BSA to design and regulate their "rope courses".
As a result of all this, the COPE course was deemed to be suitable and safe for use and its "high course" reopened on July
15 (3rd Period).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
03/08/2002...from Joe "Duke" Olechno on the upcoming Bio-Blitz to be sponsored by the Michigan
Nature Conservancy.
Steve Horvath and I tried to compile all the plants and animals in a long list when I was at North,
maybe '76.
There are a few hot spots. Paradise valley (and Gerken Creek and Brown Turtle) have some very interesting
wooded wet areas. Most people will probably think of these because they are so obvious. I think that the Quaking
Bog area is often overlooked on flora and fauna because everyone is jumping around. There are some interesting marl
bottomed lakes east of Bass Lake. Some areas out there are very high in mints that are probably the remnants of agricultural
mints. There are also some very sunny wetlands (in contrast to Paradise VAlley) that might be of interest. There
are a number of sundews that are just above water line in Wolverine. Cleveland Creek downstream of the dam but before
Russell Road has an interesting marsh with plants I rarely found elsewhere in Owasippe but were not particularly rare in Michigan.
There were some interesting insects at the oil sites a few miles east of camp but I think that they were private property.
I think that the tar pits by the admin. center were too small to draw anything special. Some of the rarer plants
- pippsissawa, indian pipe, lady slipper and rein orchids, iron wood, a very thin, strap leafed milkweed, various ribes.
There are a large variety of blue and yellow spotted salamanders (Jefferson and Tiger?) as well as some efts (9-acre
lake area for them. Red-eared pond sliders are ubiquitous but probably because kids let them loose since they should
be farther south. A few lesser seen birds include Kirtland's warbler (I saw only once between West and Stuart either
71 or 72, nightjars (North about 76 - I think that they are actually common but because they are crepuscular not seen often)
and once a grouse (I would have said a greater prairie chicken but it could of been a sharp-tailed - in either case, it was
not a pheasant.)
Perhaps one of the most interesting plants from a historical point of view if not from a native flora
or rarity POV are the apple orchards around the reservation. These are "spitter" apples for the most part. Grown
from seed rather than from cuttings as most apples are today. That means that the apples taste and look different on
every tree. This is the type of apple that Johnny Appleseed planted across the Ohio Valley. I encourage you to
read "The Botany of Desire" by Michael Pollan to understand the importance of something so mundane as apple trees that
don't match any commercial strain.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blame It On The Weather...Bald Eagle Sightings Are Down by
Dave Lemieux, Muskegon Chronicle Staff Writer, 03/15/02
Bald eagle sightings in Muskegon and Ottawa counties dropped by more than half from last year, according to the
Department of Natural Resources' annual midwinter survey.
|
