highland05

More info. This CO had chartered this particular unit for many years previously. The CC held the recharter so that it could expire. No one from unit or district level brought any info or paperwork to CO. Previous DE then left Council. IH of CO that had signed previous charter had left, new IH was not given any info or aware of situation. Come to find this out now.

Doesn't the unit operate under the auspices/pleasure of the CO and not the other way around? If this holds true everywhere, then all a unit has to do is hold their documents/recharter then go wherever they choose and the previous CO has no say.

Even BSA says that part of the reason a CO would charter a unit was to further not only Scouting aims, but also be able through Scouting to further develop CO programs to family and boys in their community. In this case, through sleight of hand and fortuitous timing the CC took everything to a new location. If this is the way that BSA conducts itself, why would a CO even bother to charter any unit at all? How can a CO protect itself?

CO had chartered many units when local council was in habit of running to it to sign charters when in a bind and they needed one. When DE was asked by new IH/COR for list of all units that had ever been chartered so they could be aware, they said not to worry about it, charter was only for the year, and if the unit didn't come to the CO for a re-charter, they didn't have that unit anymore. This had led to a much larger issue with the "ownership" of a unit that was moved (with assets) to another CO without permission of old CO. What is recommended course of action legal or otherwise? Local council wants to let sleeping dogs lie. When does National get involved in local Councils doing what the handbooks say is supposed to happen?

New IH assigned new COR to a pack unit that had been operating without oversight for many years when they became aware that they were indeed the CO. New COR had come from pack and had/has built relationship with adults. CO also has a troop unit that has had an active COR for many years. IH would like different COR's for respective units. Does the IH have the final say on this, what's the collective wisdom out there, and where does BSA stand?

There is a national organization called Rails to Trails, that rehabilitates former railroad track sites into suitable hiking trails. You can find them online with a simple search. There you can find info on suitable and available trails.

There are a number of excursion type trains run by clubs or for profit entities. Best bet is to have an idea of where you want to camp, then locate org.'s in that area and contact them as to possibility of doing what you suggest.

By the way, I have found that there are many high adventure camps in the Mid-Atlantic and SE that are in close proximity to these type of scenic train excursions. Smoky Mtn RR, TN Valley RR, Blue Riidge Scenic RR, just to name a few . . . I would be interested in hearing how it goes.