Bs and GS Joint Event (long)

Well, for those of you who remember a thread a while back about BS troops
and GS troops doing a joint event. I had mentioned that it just didn't
happen around here and wanted to help bridge the gap in scouting. (Note:
I didn't say "join the orgs.") Just have them be able to do a joint
event. I think they should be able to work in the community together and
at least know each other exists. Why not support each other?

This whole discussion had started when I had posted on rec.scouting about
GS being invited to put flags on the graves of veterans one year. My
troop was the only one to show from GS. Everyone said, "Oh, the BS do
that." And it was made very clear we were not welcome when we arrived, by
the other leaders present. My girls were taken aback by this as many had
fathers and uncles in Desert Storm and they took this very seriously.

Please note, I am NOT faulting BS. The GS troops hadn't even wanted to
go. At least the BS invited us. It is definitely a joint problem around
here. I just don't understand the attitudes. One doesn't even want to
hear about the other. Whenever I mention BS I get really strange looks
from my troop leaders right up to council. This has always bothered me.
I have been politely reminded many times that we do things VERY differently.

I had gotten in touch with a BS leader just outside my town, and we had
planned for our scout troops to go ice skating together. Neither of us
had great support from our fellow leaders, but they had agreed, if we
planned it. We did.

Well, many of you expressed to me privately you wanted to hear the results...

Well we went this past Sunday. And I must say, it was no different than
the welcome I have received from my suburb's BS troops. The other BS
leaders backed out on my new friend, one by one, at the last minute. The
leader who was supposed to start the boys telephone reminders, never
called the head boy to start calls. Consequently, my friend only had one
scout who remembered to show up. I had my troop, 10 out of 13 girls, and
3 leaders. I felt bad for him because he did not feel the other leaders
were backing him up.

We did go and we all had a great time, including him and his one scout.
Everyone wants to go back again.

But the question still remains... What is the stigma of BS and GS doing an
event together around here? I can't fault the kids, as the BS leader has
come to my troop and likewise I have also visited his troop. I felt we
got along very well. The kids were great, and looking forward to meeting
some GS's. My girls were very excepting of him, almost to a point of
scaring him as I don't think he was used to having young girls come up to him
and want to talk. :-)

So where does this leave us? ...Right back where we started.

Sorry so long, but you asked...and frankly I had to get this off my
chest...Thanks for listening.

Lisa Varner << lvarner@freenet.columbus.oh.us >>
Haven't been there. Don't want to go. Don't need another t-shirt!

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