Re: 16 YO drivers/National
Bruce E. Cobern (bec@PIPELINE.COM)
Tue, 27 Apr 1999 12:10:41 -0400
-----Original Message-----
From: Kevin Woods <kswoods@CHRISTA.UNH.EDU>
Date: Tuesday, April 27, 1999 11:54 AM
>Second, I am conceding that the GSS and the travel permit, do STATE
area,
>regional, or National event. Although in the last 10 years in
scouting, I
>cannot remember the last "area" or "regional" event here in NE.
>(OA conclaves are regional, I guess)
OA Conclaves are, technically, "area" events, since the section is
either a full area or a subset of an area. Sections exist ONLY in the
OA, so their events are area events. National Leadership Seminars are
run by the regions and are region events. Likewise, I believe Cub
Woodbadge is a region event, although it is not one that involves youth,
so it would not be germane to this discussion.
>
>But I would like to see it made more clearly. Even our DE was caught
when
>presenting at SMF.
I'm really not sure how much clearer it could be. Let me even venture
some conjecture for the reasons for the rule. The events held on an
area/region/national basis are far more likely to involve longer
distance travel than local events in your council. As such, they
involve more driving time. To require that ALL drivers in the group be
over the age of 18 would require two adults in each vehicle and would
reduce the number of youth that could be transported in each vehicle.
Thus, it would take more vehicles to get the same number of youth to the
event, would require more adults, reduce the youth/adult ratio, etc.,
etc.
Remember, the rule puts some rather severe restrictions on the ability
of those under the age of 18 to drive, including the fact that the trip
must be under the leadership of a 21 year old. I would probably
interpret "trip" in this case as being the group of vehicles traveling
together (although not in convoy). That would mean that if one vehicle
had to leave at a different time than the rest a 16 year old would not
be allowed to drive unless there was a 21 year old in THAT vehicle.
Otherwise, if 3 vehicles are traveling together there would only need to
be one 21 year old with the group.
This is just my attempt to reach some logical (to me) conclusions about
the purpose and implementation of this rule. Of course, any group is
free to set their own, more restrictive rules. However, with National
OA Conferences, for example, putting severe limits on the number of
adults attending (even though adults are those over 21 in this case)
forcing all drivers to be 18 could severely impact the ability of a
lodge to get to a conference within the youth/adult guideline ratios.
>
--
Bruce E. Cobern
mailto:bec@pipeline.com
