A potential problem, redux

Thanks to all those who responded to my question about adults "luring" boys
to their troop. A number of you pointed out that there is nothing wrong in
competing for Webelos. I agree, in principle. My major objection was to
the overtures being made by adults to boys already in our troop. I guess
the bottom line is, "Why would you do such a thing?" If the boys are
unhappy in our troop, they know that there are other units out there. I
feel strongly that "raiding" other troops, particulary when done by adults,
should be out of bounds.

As to the question of Webelos and "ownership" of packs, there is nothing
wrong with the free market operating. But as a very old Scout, I remember
the "old days" when units were neighborhood concerns and we walked to
meetings. I think you will find that the BSA still instructs its
professionals to consider the geographic distribution of units.

Well, we live in a small village on the outskirts of a larger city -- but
not contiguous to it. We are the only troop and pack in that village. It
may be "legal" for other units to recruit from this pack, but what impact
does that have on the neighborhood concept? If our unit folds because of
this practice, there will be no Boy Scouting in our village. At this time
we have a number of boys who walk to meetings, because their parent(s) work
second shift, etc. (And a disturbing number of them come from
single-parent households.) If we fold, where do they go?

BTW, I don't think this situation has anything to do with our unit per se.
We are consistently recognized as a Quality Unit. Anecdotally, our two
patrols won first and second place in the district's winter event last
month. But we are not a "wealthy" unit. We don't have all the fancy
equipment other units possess, nor can we afford some of their amenities.
We just offer the Scouting program -- shouldn't that be enough?
YiS
Michael


Michael Holmes
MHolmes@pitnet.net

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