Re: Scouting in Europe
(no name) ((no email))
Sun, 31 Jan 1999 03:00:05 -0600
Hi Susan!
Susan Pennett <pennetti@EROLS.COM> wrote and asked:
>My son and I are going on a school sponsored trip to Europe over
>spring break (first week of April). Though a very tight schedule,
>there are two locations where we may have free evenings - Munich
>and Verona. Not sure as of right now the geographical area we are
>staying in either of these large cities, but should know in
>another couple of weeks.
Not sure about Verona, Susan, but I hate to disappoint you with
Munich. The Americans basically moved out of southern Germany
(with some exceptions in Garmisch and Berchesgarten; and this year,
families living in Augsberg (a 40 minute's drive to the east of
Munich) will be moving northward to around the Heidelberg area.
There may be still one American Troop and Pack which meets at or
around the American Consulant in Munich, but I don't think so. I do
know that there's a very small Pack and a very small Troop that is
still meeting in Garmisch, if you can get down that far south
(another 40 minute ride south and east).
When the American Seventh Corps cased their colors four years ago,
the BSA's Transatlantic Council lost two Districts, both of them
VERY STRONG Districts (Alpine and Bavaria). Those executives were
transferred to other places within the Council and the Council
realigned their Districts so that basically most of Germany is
within ONE District whereby in the past, it was split five ways.
Many of the Scouts and Cubs still behind are Lone Cub Scouts and
Lone Boy Scouts under the administration of the TAC. It was
disappointing to me and sad too, because I was there both in the
Council's "big time days" as well as when the Council was getting
so large that they simply couldn't keep up regularily with the
numbers of youth and military communities wanting Scouting. When
the American military rolled into the NATO military community
structure, even small communities like Kempten, Donauworth and
Ravensberg (with maybe five or so American families with
Scouting-aged children living there!) wanted a Boy Scout Pack and
Troop set up.
>Does anyone know how to contact the equivalent of council or
>district or troop in those areas? Or do you have any POCs in
>those areas?
You might want to reach the Transatlantic Council, BSA in
Heidelberg when you arrive in Germany, Susan. Someone there should
be able to help you find a unit to visit with and meet with. I've
found the folks at TAC to not only be friendly but to bend over
backwards to help others coming to Europe to visit...it helps tell
their story!
The Council has a partial Website up; hey guys and gals from
TAC...post Susan privately and give her your email address and the
phone number in H-berg please!!
If you're going to do something "officially", Susan, make sure that
you contact the BSA's International Division and ask for a
"International Letter of Introduction". It's free, and painless,
but with that letter the Division will also provide you with
information on host-nation Scouting associations and points of
contact in Munich. I do know that two of the three national
Scouting associations (the German Pathfinders and the St.Georges
Pathfinders of Germany) do have "field offices" in the "capital
city" of Bayern (Bavaria). So, even though they may not be
opportunities for you and your son to meet up with American Scouts
and Scouters...maybe there's a BETTER chance that perhaps you can
meet up with German Scouts and Scouters instead!
Have a GREAT trip and let us all know of the outcome, please!
Seeing this snow outside, makes me WANT to take a trip to Germany
to a "warmer climate!" *heheheehehehe* (it really isn't that bad
here in sunny Minnesota today!)
Settummanque!
(c) 1999 Mike Walton ("no such thing as strong coffee,...") blkeagle@mninter.net
http://www.mninter.net/~blkeagle Burnsville, MN 55306-7130 (612) 435-3068
privately at kyblkeagle@aol.com or waltonm@server.kaiserslautern.army.mil
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