Thanksgiving
Henry Grabkowitz (hgrabkow@CONCENTRIC.NET)
Thu, 28 Nov 1996 11:00:15 -0500
To each and all who give their time on behalf of one child, many children or
in pursuit of the ideal which is Scouting:
I was a Cub and Boy Scout commencing in 1966, achieving Life Scout rank.
With the beginning of college, I drifted away from Scouting until my older son
joined our current troop in 1992. Coming back allowed me to look at the
organization anew, and I was stunned to find that, in our little corner of
New
York City, the movement appeared to be growing.
We are a self-chartered unit (a not-for-profit corporation is the Chartering
Organization of record) in our 87th year and are recognized as one of the
original
Scouting units formed in 1910.I and several adult leaders met recently to
discuss the
relocation of our annual Father and Son (read Scout and Significant Adult
Influence ---no gender restrictions) dinner, which is coupled with our
Eagle Court of Honor. We were at our previous
location for 77 years, which was located opposite the site of Dan Beard's
residence.
Changes in the church governing body over the years where we held previous
dinners
created an atmosphere where all non-church affiliated activities were
dissuaded, via
either direct exclusion or significant increases in rental charges, the
purpose of which
was less financial and more to "send a message". We have been hit with a
300% rental
increase over the past three years. We attempted to open a dialog with the
governing body and received a two-sentence response stating that there was
nothing to discuss and the body's decision stands. It was signed by a
typewriter "The Governing Body".
At our most recent committee meeting, there was discussion of "maintaining
a tradition" vs. finding a new location.
Henry Grabkowitz
hgrabkow@concentric.net
hgrabkow@worldnet.att.net
Treasurer, Dads Club of Troop 1 Flushing, Inc. - Our 87th Year
Asst. Den Leader, Den 2 Wolves, Pack 479, Bayside, NY
Brotherhood Member, Suanhacky Lodge #49
"I have a Life, but, sadly, not an Eagle"
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
