Re: Alaska (part two of two)
(no name) ((no email))
Sun, 18 Feb 1996 23:06:28 -0600
(continuing to reply to Rhett's posting on merging Alaska into
two or one local Council):
>What I hate to see happen is a council that the local community >worked so
hard to create in 1965 all be turned into a service >center for Western
Alaska Council with para-professionals as you >call them trying to serve our
present council boundries (1.5 times as big as texas)
There are folks here in this state (and others) that have fought
just as hard to retain their history as a local Council when they
had to consolidate operations. It's NEVER easy, Rhett, whether
we're talking about Alaska, and the massive nature of the land,
or Kentucky, with two Councils that have been conducting business
since the 50s.
>....not only do you have to have
>support for the urban areas, but you end up having to have people >support
the outling areas...
What has happened in most cases with the consolidation is that one
Council takes the "lead", and everyone else assummed their old
positions within the "new Council". The Council and the Districts
are realigned for better service, and in some cases, a new person
may be hired to work in special areas which were previously covered by two
people from the two old Councils (for example,
Exploring, or in-school Scouting).
>Anyways, Alaska council was split into the respective councils >for a
reason...we DID used to be one council, but it wasn't >working.
So true. So true. There wasn't also a lot of celluar communication, no fax
machines, no email. Travel back then took
WEEKS, not a couple of days as it does now. Air travel is a
little better, but still can be a problem in the far northern
end of the state. Alaska is still a difficult place to conduct
Scouting, and the "operative answer" may be to NOT have a Council
at all, and instead operate as part of the Direct Service Council
instead. You want THAT? You want to get your insignia, service
and materials from the National Office? (no you don't, but I
can tell you from personal experience, being a youth member of
that Council, that the service they provide isn't really bad.)
>.....we are actually the biggest council
>geographically (huh, TAC actually serves americans living around >the
world, we serve Americans on US soil only, for that reason, >counting all of
europe is fine, remembering that you really don't >serve europe, just
americans living in Europe).
Also those living in the Near East and North Africa, as listed
on their charter.
> Should we really undo what was done in 65 (rejoin the Alaska >Council)
because the way it was was not working?
No. Because it may be that's the way that the Western Region
and the Boy Scouts of America wants to handle the administration
of the program in Alaska.
Settummanque!
(MAJ) Mike L. Walton (Settummanque, the blackeagle) (
co-Owner, Blackeagle Servics of Kentucky (502.826.7046) __)_
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