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Re: A National Youth Protection Failure
The Hammons family (hhammons@LAUSD.K12.CA.US)
Wed, 13 Jan 1999 22:02:02 -0800
Well, I seem to have omitted what most people needed to Know about this
fiasco and especially Andrew Mako.( You got your ear on, Andy)
First, Whay blame National? two Reasons. First the creww was made up of
Venturers from Two Regions as the result of a National Decision and thus
the first split of leadership and Second, they made the charter
arrangements that went south that triggered the whole mess.
Secondly, the Charter came some 8 hours late due to paperwork problems
in Lima.( Why they had to refuel in Lima, I don't know because the
scheduled carriers flew nostop from Santiago to Dallas). Thus all flight
arrangements went in the bit bucket. The domestic Airline (continental)
tried to get the kids home. To that effect, they split the Western
Region part of the crew onto three different flights. The one leader
left went with the largest group of kids.However, the Frantic Four as
they became known were the last to depart and in total disregard of FAA
regulations about International Unaccompanied Minors, they were not
boarded on the next flight and subsequent airline personel were less and
less helpful.
As to where the other adult leaders were, they were still in Chile with
the balance of the Crew. You see, Two different after Jamboree tours
were offerred and BSA made no effort to insure that all of a unit went
on the same tour.
While the leaders are not relieved of the responsibility, BSA made
impossible for them to fulfill it by the structure of the house of cards
that were the travel and tour arrangements.
Just as the Trek leader is responsible for the arrangements and outcome
of those arrangements for the outing that he leads, Just so is National
Ultimately responsible because it was their decisions and lack of
follow-thru that created this whole mess.
Phil Hammons
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