Re: False Accusations of
OLAN WATKINS (76207.3431@COMPUSERVE.COM)
Thu, 4 Apr 1996 17:20:53 EST
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#: 8718 S0/CompuServe Mail [MAIL]
04-Apr-96 12:11 CST
Sb Re: False Accusations of
Fm Ted Thomasson [103113,2246]
Olan,
>>Part of the aults training and responsibility today is to
>>be trained to KNOW how to avoid situations where the adult
>>is unprotected or vulnerable!
I did everything to protect myself!!!! The charges were totally unfounded and
I had two other leaders who were present and were able to back me up. My
point is that parents of scouts can make any charges that they want to make
and you are going
to suffer the consequences. IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE IF YOU ARE INNOCENT, the
charges are all that matters.
It sounds like you're saying if you follow all of the rules (2 deep, etc..),
these kind of things will never happen. Well my situation certainly refutes
that theory. All the scout leaders out there better start understanding that
if the charges are made, they are responsible for the legal cost, and
repairing their reputation (if it can be repaired). BSA is not going to do
anything to help you!!!
How do you prevent yourself from vunerable situations??? I'm sorry but
reading your letter makes me feel that you think what happened is my fault and
I cannot accept that. I followed the rules, I've taken over 300 kids to
summercamp over the last 6 years and have never even had a complaint.
The parents that made these charges never called me, or showed up at one of
our scout meetings, or called the committee chairman. They sent they're
letter to the D.E. They also told numerous Cub leaders in the area that I was
an abusive S.M. They never asked me for my side of the story, they accepted
the word of an 11 year old, obviously troubled, child.
The fact is that you can follow all of the rules and there are parents out
there who are going to blame you and there is nothing that you can do about
it. If you are willing to accept that risk, then more power to you. I'm not
ready to risk everything I have to help someone else's child.
Ted Thomasson
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Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
