Back in late 70's I was attending Connely Skill Center to learn how to repair Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Equipment .
It was during this time a friend told me abut this Industries place on the south side that liked to hire eagle scouts. they where primarily machinists but I would be doing machine repair not machinist work .
Sounded good so I looked into it and arranged an interview. They wanted to hire me the next day but I first wanted to finish school . You don't worry about that you do not need to finish school you will never need those skills in your life working here the boss giving the interview told me . What give up schooling are you kidding me ? You go to be kidding me I told him he said no he was not I told him I was not interested in the job . He said well when you finish school your welcome to come back and apply I never did , any one telling me not to finish school they where out of there mind and definitely not some place I want to work.
The one thing I learned well from my grandfather and many friends his age who have all passed now with time and who lived thru the great depression was you never ever stop learning and you finish what you start.
because it will give you the skills and knowledge you need to make it in the toughest of times like they did .
If this was the attitude of this company sorry I am not interested and in the long run it was a good idea as they where a major supplier to the steel mills which where getting ready to crash which I knew was coming which means with little seniority I would be out the door and you can imagine how many machinists lost there jobs as CNC automatic machines where coming on the market . The company would see dire times and actually move out of the city and now they have recovered but it took a long time for them. In mean time using all those skills I acquired allowed me to stay in Pittsburgh and make a living and start my own business as my health declined another issue I would be dealing with while my friends and neighbors would all go running from here and now all wish they had not and want to come back to Pittsburgh . I never went to my parents during the hard times for money like my friends I took out the high interest loans etc and paid everyone of them off because my parents did not have the money and I was going to stand on my own two feet .
Yes I went thru very hard times but it would have been even harder had I not finished refrigeration school because like electric that's one skill always needed by some one .
I know many in the Eagle Scout community where upset I walked away from the opportunity but what did I walk away from a job where I would not have had even a tenth of the adventures good or bad I have had in my life.
That's the one thing that has always made people so jealous of me I live life by my rules and I am self made by the sweat of my brow . Something they could never hope to attain because they had to always play by and follow the big corporation game.
But then again that's why I am the Lone Eagle Scout
What about you ?
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Sunday, December 15, 2013
How did Karl Pierson ever become an Eagle Scout expressing Socialist /Communists views
Yes it is a sad fact that some Eagles Scouts break there oath and ruin the Eagle Scout name one of the most famous Charles Whitman the Texas Tower Terror Killer who acted as a sniper killing 17
Now we have the case of the Colorado School shooter Karl Pierson 18 yr old who left a 17 year old student in critical condition
and shot and killed himself
Now what makes this even more disturbing is the fact how he ever got by the Eagle Scout Review Board since he vividly expressed Socialist views and often wore communist themed T Shirts .
Not elements you want in an Eagle Scout when you review the scout oath and law . Which specifically says duty to God and Country .
Espousing socialist and communist ideas is not duty to country .
Those on his eagle review board who granted it to him now have to live with what they did.
At least in the case of Whitman it appears a brain tumor played a role in his behavior and hopefully some day we may find out what caused Pierson to do what he did.
Espousing socialist and communist ideas is not duty to country .
Those on his eagle review board who granted it to him now have to live with what they did.
At least in the case of Whitman it appears a brain tumor played a role in his behavior and hopefully some day we may find out what caused Pierson to do what he did.
excerpt From Fox news
Students and a teacher said Pierson was an Eagle Scout who finished at the top of speech competitions. He competed in extemporaneous speaking — in which students prepare short speeches on current events — in the National Forensic League's national tournament in June in Birmingham, Ala.
Excerpt from news article
Pierson has been described as a dedicated and bright student from a religious family who attends Bible study meetings, leaving those that knew him shocked.
"They're just a normal middle-class family, like many of the families around here," neighbor Diane Shea said.
Thomas Conrad, who had an economics class with the gunman, described him as a very opinionated Socialist.
"He was exuberant I guess," Conrad told The Denver Post.
Well this just goes to show how easy it is to get your Eagle Scout award in today's world and how low the scouting program in general has gone in bending to political correctness.
What a dam shame they have allowed it to generate to this. Maybe its time to do away with scouting all together and start a new.
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Scouts are suppose to have excellent directional skills not our High Adventure Explorer Post when we went to Kings Mountain
When I was with a High Adventure Explorers Post Based out of Spenser Ave Church in Carrick they decided to stay for a explorers weekend at the now closed Kings Mountain Resort in the Laurel Highlands of Westmoreland county off Pa. 711 should have been an easy place to find it was right near 7 Springs Resort in Champion Pa.. Well I knew where 7 springs was and also know Pa -711 on weekends my father liked to drive all over pa. for something to do and we got everywhere there where attractions which where free . It was a cheap way to have fun we packed a lunch and off we went . He had taken us up to Ohiopyle and general Uniontown, Fayette county area on several occasions so I knew the main routes even at age 17 . I always loved looking over maps and when I was 13 I navigated a trip with my biology teacher all the way to Portland Maine along with 13 year old friend Mark Giles who also loved to travel and was good with maps .
We lived in Carrick which is in the south hills so the resort would be south east of us an easy 1 hr ride down Pa- 51 to I -70 east to US 119 to Pa 31 then Pa 711 or we could go turnpike 1 exit at I-70 to Pa-31. So I got in my Friends dads car he was driving that weekend and off we go down 51 to liberty tunnels to parkway east OK I figure where going turnpike round about way but a straight shot . No we get off and follow US 30 to Greensburg in the mean time passing another chance to get on turnpike we went right under it .
We then get on Pa -130 towards Norvelt and end up on Pa 891 with a bad turn and end up in Mt Pleasant on Pa 31 then finally get up on Pa 711.
The whole time I am trying to get some ones attention there going the wrong way they did not want to hear it a 1 hr trip ended up 3- 1/2 hours after all the wrong turns and Friday night traffic
We get to the resort and its really nice with chalets etc but since we where so big a post we stayed in a double Mobile home which was still nice there was plenty of activities but just trying to stay warm and dry was a challenge while the kids from richer explorer posts had the latest in Ski clothing and fashions on We had on jeans and work boots with thermals .
But all in all we had a great time. on Saturday my friend Mike and I who I rode up with got permission to run into Connelsville to get some extra food as what was being provided by the resort was lacking not so much in taste but quantity and with the cold you needed to boost calories so we picked up some staples.
Hey while your at it get a case of beer for the leaders one said we thought they where kidding I was 17 and Mike just 16 you had to be 21 to purchase beer at a distributor . But they said do not worry its Fayette County the good ole boys will not ask for ID .
So into Connelsville we go with a $10.00 bill for the beer.
We stop at the one beer distributor in town after shopping and sure enough we pull up in station wagon and they sell us a case of beer no ID no questions we took back for the leaders .There where many places that felt you should be able to drink at 18 not 21 and we could have just have easily went over to W. Virginia and gotten a beer where it was at the time 18 .Of course after all the Drunk Driver deaths etc and crack down by the Liquor control Board and MADD members a beer distributor would be out of there mind to do it today.
I never drank the little I tasted I did not like the taste and I saw what booze did to how many people around me some who died from it so I never drank it A very small glass of wine at Christmas at my in laws was it .
In the long run it probably helped me to be able to survive Stage IV colon cancer .
Well we get back and that evening they had a nice program at lodge and some went ski lifts at near by seven springs. I even ran into my Eagle Scout Dinner sponsor last time I would ever see or speak to him again as I did not fit into the mold of the corporate eagle scout council wanted Too Bad .
That morning we woke up to heavy snow and resort driver came by in 4x4 truck with plow with chains on he said much more was coming and we should get out while we can. Knowing how it snows extremely heavy and how bad snow and wind gets up there my friends and I left , while others decided to stay for lunch etc and go to seven spring its not going to be that bad they said .
While we got out the others got stuck in with little to no food for 2 days till state could get to them with big plows .
So guess how foolish hey looked and while my friend and I took the short way home down turnpike which they work hard at to keep open the others took the other way not believing us and got caught several times taking 8 hours to get home some people never learn. I was with post couple more months till it was dissolved as leaders had quit and there was not enough on board to run it and so many of us where out on our 18th birthday .
We lived in Carrick which is in the south hills so the resort would be south east of us an easy 1 hr ride down Pa- 51 to I -70 east to US 119 to Pa 31 then Pa 711 or we could go turnpike 1 exit at I-70 to Pa-31. So I got in my Friends dads car he was driving that weekend and off we go down 51 to liberty tunnels to parkway east OK I figure where going turnpike round about way but a straight shot . No we get off and follow US 30 to Greensburg in the mean time passing another chance to get on turnpike we went right under it .
We then get on Pa -130 towards Norvelt and end up on Pa 891 with a bad turn and end up in Mt Pleasant on Pa 31 then finally get up on Pa 711.
The whole time I am trying to get some ones attention there going the wrong way they did not want to hear it a 1 hr trip ended up 3- 1/2 hours after all the wrong turns and Friday night traffic
We get to the resort and its really nice with chalets etc but since we where so big a post we stayed in a double Mobile home which was still nice there was plenty of activities but just trying to stay warm and dry was a challenge while the kids from richer explorer posts had the latest in Ski clothing and fashions on We had on jeans and work boots with thermals .
But all in all we had a great time. on Saturday my friend Mike and I who I rode up with got permission to run into Connelsville to get some extra food as what was being provided by the resort was lacking not so much in taste but quantity and with the cold you needed to boost calories so we picked up some staples.
Hey while your at it get a case of beer for the leaders one said we thought they where kidding I was 17 and Mike just 16 you had to be 21 to purchase beer at a distributor . But they said do not worry its Fayette County the good ole boys will not ask for ID .
So into Connelsville we go with a $10.00 bill for the beer.
We stop at the one beer distributor in town after shopping and sure enough we pull up in station wagon and they sell us a case of beer no ID no questions we took back for the leaders .There where many places that felt you should be able to drink at 18 not 21 and we could have just have easily went over to W. Virginia and gotten a beer where it was at the time 18 .Of course after all the Drunk Driver deaths etc and crack down by the Liquor control Board and MADD members a beer distributor would be out of there mind to do it today.
I never drank the little I tasted I did not like the taste and I saw what booze did to how many people around me some who died from it so I never drank it A very small glass of wine at Christmas at my in laws was it .
In the long run it probably helped me to be able to survive Stage IV colon cancer .
Well we get back and that evening they had a nice program at lodge and some went ski lifts at near by seven springs. I even ran into my Eagle Scout Dinner sponsor last time I would ever see or speak to him again as I did not fit into the mold of the corporate eagle scout council wanted Too Bad .
That morning we woke up to heavy snow and resort driver came by in 4x4 truck with plow with chains on he said much more was coming and we should get out while we can. Knowing how it snows extremely heavy and how bad snow and wind gets up there my friends and I left , while others decided to stay for lunch etc and go to seven spring its not going to be that bad they said .
While we got out the others got stuck in with little to no food for 2 days till state could get to them with big plows .
So guess how foolish hey looked and while my friend and I took the short way home down turnpike which they work hard at to keep open the others took the other way not believing us and got caught several times taking 8 hours to get home some people never learn. I was with post couple more months till it was dissolved as leaders had quit and there was not enough on board to run it and so many of us where out on our 18th birthday .
Sunday, November 17, 2013
The Eagle Scout Luncheon where USS Chairmen David Roderick revealed how Jobs where going overseas and everyone laughed when I told them what I heard
Back in late 70's the Allegheny County Eagle Scouts Association was formed .
It was open to all Eagle scouts and they would hold luncheons down at the old Press Club that was in a down town Pittsburgh building along Wood street at 6th .Ironically the front of the building had a very large stained glass portrait of Steel worker myth and hero Joe Magerac .
We had some excellent guests who came and spoke at the luncheons which where not cheap but still affordable .Guests included . The head of the Pittsburgh FBI Branch The executive of the Beaver valley Nuclear power Plant who unfortunately lost his job and was prosecuted for theft of employee funds. and The Chancellor of Pitt University Wesley Possvar.
I got to greet and sit with some of the big names in Pittsburgh business who where also eagle scouts.
Then one afternoon the guest speaker was the chairmen of US Steel David Roderick.
Everyone was thrilled he accepted the invitation to speak but no one knew the horror he was to bring during it.
He started with the usual part how many employees ,plants etc.
Then he started talking about his journeys to the Nation of China
He described how staying at a hotel was like staying in one from Americas wild west days and how China was very willing to become the new power house when it came to manufacturing and that eventually all manufacturing would go overseas to third world country's and here in the united states we would be the brains and do the designing and research here to be shipped overseas and manufactured in china to then be sold across the world. The reason the mills where becoming obsolete and too expensive to maintain .The new way was the new mini mills with continuous casters like they where building overseas.
We all sat there kind of shocked I raised my hand and asked . What about people like my father and friends who are working in the mills now what will they then do for a living. He said they would be retrained to do high tech jobs . With that there was a laugh in the room everyone knew there was little chance of that happening maybe some of the younger workers could learn a new job but not older ones. I knew this was bad news.But everyone looked at me like how dare I even question this man and his plans . Mr. Roderick concluded his speech and myself Silver tip BSA Commissioner Bob Newcom and Curt M. a computer programmer who worked for a steel mill all talked as we left the luncheon saying this is terrible and its going to be scary times ahead all we could see was doom and gloom where we ever right.
We seemed to be the only one's effected by his words the rest all seemed to be right in lock step with Rodericks words and unfortunately for some in the room they would loose there business in bankruptcy because of the mills going down .
Yes my brother eagle scouts sat there and did nothing we had the whole plan laid out in front of us and for most part no one ever spoke of it. The organization broke up couple months after that and the press club closed a few years after that.
I tried to tell people what I heard and they all laughed and after that I said nothing no one wanted to believe what was going to happen then it did in 1981 was the death knell for the steel industry in Pittsburgh region over 120,000 jobs lost not only in steel mills but company's who supplied them and lunch counters which feed them and stores which clothed them and there family's.thousands of small business destroyed as well.
Thou the region has some what recovered with medical and technology jobs
The plentiful manufacturing jobs will never come back like they did where thousands worked in one plant. those days are over for ever and as study's have proven the lack of education in the US is very evident when knowledge wise we agree behind every other country in intelligence.
Yes the high tech jobs are here but the ability of people being able to fill them is the worst it has ever been since too man can not pass drug or criminal background checks etc.
and we have the highest level of unemployment since the depression.
Yes what happened in america in last 30 years was all planned out and laid out in the eagle luncheon all those years ago and you see the result.
It was open to all Eagle scouts and they would hold luncheons down at the old Press Club that was in a down town Pittsburgh building along Wood street at 6th .Ironically the front of the building had a very large stained glass portrait of Steel worker myth and hero Joe Magerac .
We had some excellent guests who came and spoke at the luncheons which where not cheap but still affordable .Guests included . The head of the Pittsburgh FBI Branch The executive of the Beaver valley Nuclear power Plant who unfortunately lost his job and was prosecuted for theft of employee funds. and The Chancellor of Pitt University Wesley Possvar.
I got to greet and sit with some of the big names in Pittsburgh business who where also eagle scouts.
Then one afternoon the guest speaker was the chairmen of US Steel David Roderick.
Everyone was thrilled he accepted the invitation to speak but no one knew the horror he was to bring during it.
He started with the usual part how many employees ,plants etc.
Then he started talking about his journeys to the Nation of China
He described how staying at a hotel was like staying in one from Americas wild west days and how China was very willing to become the new power house when it came to manufacturing and that eventually all manufacturing would go overseas to third world country's and here in the united states we would be the brains and do the designing and research here to be shipped overseas and manufactured in china to then be sold across the world. The reason the mills where becoming obsolete and too expensive to maintain .The new way was the new mini mills with continuous casters like they where building overseas.
We all sat there kind of shocked I raised my hand and asked . What about people like my father and friends who are working in the mills now what will they then do for a living. He said they would be retrained to do high tech jobs . With that there was a laugh in the room everyone knew there was little chance of that happening maybe some of the younger workers could learn a new job but not older ones. I knew this was bad news.But everyone looked at me like how dare I even question this man and his plans . Mr. Roderick concluded his speech and myself Silver tip BSA Commissioner Bob Newcom and Curt M. a computer programmer who worked for a steel mill all talked as we left the luncheon saying this is terrible and its going to be scary times ahead all we could see was doom and gloom where we ever right.
We seemed to be the only one's effected by his words the rest all seemed to be right in lock step with Rodericks words and unfortunately for some in the room they would loose there business in bankruptcy because of the mills going down .
Yes my brother eagle scouts sat there and did nothing we had the whole plan laid out in front of us and for most part no one ever spoke of it. The organization broke up couple months after that and the press club closed a few years after that.
I tried to tell people what I heard and they all laughed and after that I said nothing no one wanted to believe what was going to happen then it did in 1981 was the death knell for the steel industry in Pittsburgh region over 120,000 jobs lost not only in steel mills but company's who supplied them and lunch counters which feed them and stores which clothed them and there family's.thousands of small business destroyed as well.
Thou the region has some what recovered with medical and technology jobs
The plentiful manufacturing jobs will never come back like they did where thousands worked in one plant. those days are over for ever and as study's have proven the lack of education in the US is very evident when knowledge wise we agree behind every other country in intelligence.
Yes the high tech jobs are here but the ability of people being able to fill them is the worst it has ever been since too man can not pass drug or criminal background checks etc.
and we have the highest level of unemployment since the depression.
Yes what happened in america in last 30 years was all planned out and laid out in the eagle luncheon all those years ago and you see the result.
Sunday, October 27, 2013
The Eagle Scout Project I started in 1975 thats still going on to this day despite those who tried and help ruin it.
In 1975 I came up with the idea of doing research on my home town of Carrick 29th ward of the City of Pittsburgh and publishing it ..
When I started the project there was very little collected in one spot and available . Little did I know that a Carnegie library Librarian would go on to loose much of what I discovered and worse yet a gentleman by the name of Jim Ritz try years later to discredit my work and end up going to his grave a bitter man because he was shown to be wrong.
When I first went looking for info at the local Carnegie library they had a total of 2 articles on Carrick's history that tells how carrick was named for a town in Ireland Carrick On Soiur which stood for " the Rock " but Jim Ritz despite his best efforts to rewrite carricks history to say the Carrick family which lived in carrick named it was all wrong he caused major damage which took years to recover the documents he destroyed .
As part of my project I put up a series of rotating boards in local carrick business with copy's of old pictures etc . which my scout troop helped out with and wrote and had published many articles on carrick's history in the now closed South Hills News Record who I was a paper carrier for.
I spent all my free time doing research and this was pre- internet days so I had to physically visit places.
Like the Pittsburgh Press and Post gazette archives the Western Pa. Historical society etc but there was hardly anything around Even the late Stephen Lorant who wrote the book on Pittsburgh wrote me back saying he had nothing as well so I had to start talking to the older people in town who opened there doors and hearts and provided me with many old articles and pictures etc. all to be lost when the Librarian and Jim Ritz got there hands on them.
Luckily I kept some back up copy's but I got so disgusted all the effort i put into this project was all for not.
But a few years ago a new group started and my mother told me about it and I was able to help them reconstruct a lot of what had been destroyed unfortunately all those I talked to in 75-77 where dead as they where from World War 1 generation and so where many of there children as well who where WWII vets
so almost all those oral history's are now gone, except for couple of tapes I recorded from a personnel care home I visited one time . The group that's now preserving the history has there own problems as well many have left because they have not done proper acknowledging of people like my self who donated items to them. Had I not spoke up during the ceremony for John M. Phillips plaque as the one who started the effort for it all those years ago you never would have known I was involved let alone gave them the Philips Equippco hand book which helped fill in answers they needed for the application for the plaque but that's the way it goes carrick and too many of its residents are nothing more than a bunch of self centered greedy ,bitter its all about me type people . What a shame but then again one of the happiest days of my life was moving out of Carrick which has become a shit pit . Why do so many people have to be such jag offs
I will never know but it just goes to show why I have installed more camera systems in the last 5 years than I have in previous 35.
When I started the project there was very little collected in one spot and available . Little did I know that a Carnegie library Librarian would go on to loose much of what I discovered and worse yet a gentleman by the name of Jim Ritz try years later to discredit my work and end up going to his grave a bitter man because he was shown to be wrong.
When I first went looking for info at the local Carnegie library they had a total of 2 articles on Carrick's history that tells how carrick was named for a town in Ireland Carrick On Soiur which stood for " the Rock " but Jim Ritz despite his best efforts to rewrite carricks history to say the Carrick family which lived in carrick named it was all wrong he caused major damage which took years to recover the documents he destroyed .
As part of my project I put up a series of rotating boards in local carrick business with copy's of old pictures etc . which my scout troop helped out with and wrote and had published many articles on carrick's history in the now closed South Hills News Record who I was a paper carrier for.
I spent all my free time doing research and this was pre- internet days so I had to physically visit places.
Like the Pittsburgh Press and Post gazette archives the Western Pa. Historical society etc but there was hardly anything around Even the late Stephen Lorant who wrote the book on Pittsburgh wrote me back saying he had nothing as well so I had to start talking to the older people in town who opened there doors and hearts and provided me with many old articles and pictures etc. all to be lost when the Librarian and Jim Ritz got there hands on them.
Luckily I kept some back up copy's but I got so disgusted all the effort i put into this project was all for not.
But a few years ago a new group started and my mother told me about it and I was able to help them reconstruct a lot of what had been destroyed unfortunately all those I talked to in 75-77 where dead as they where from World War 1 generation and so where many of there children as well who where WWII vets
so almost all those oral history's are now gone, except for couple of tapes I recorded from a personnel care home I visited one time . The group that's now preserving the history has there own problems as well many have left because they have not done proper acknowledging of people like my self who donated items to them. Had I not spoke up during the ceremony for John M. Phillips plaque as the one who started the effort for it all those years ago you never would have known I was involved let alone gave them the Philips Equippco hand book which helped fill in answers they needed for the application for the plaque but that's the way it goes carrick and too many of its residents are nothing more than a bunch of self centered greedy ,bitter its all about me type people . What a shame but then again one of the happiest days of my life was moving out of Carrick which has become a shit pit . Why do so many people have to be such jag offs
I will never know but it just goes to show why I have installed more camera systems in the last 5 years than I have in previous 35.
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Guess who gets to attend National Jamboree's- its not your average scout its too expensive
Yes once again the national Scout jamboree will be here now at anew Scout reserve near Beckley in southern West Virginia .
and once again only about 10% of all scouts will get to participate I was at 2 of them in 1973 and 1977 and was not a participant just a day time visitor there was no way my family could afford to send me let alone my 2 brothers to it for a week and now with costs well over $1000.00 dollars to attend it is nearly impossible for a kid to work and earn that kind of money to attend and then be put in a provisional troop of other individual attending scouts .
Both times I got to be a day visitor was because it was close to our home they held it at Moraine State Park in Butler County Pa.
In 1977 I attempted to get on the jamboree staff and work all week and week before and after with set up and clean up to be able to at least attend at a discount but even those who volunteer and work all week have to pay the full fee. what kind of shit is this and to add injury to insult when a bad storm hit that week the jamboree called over to Camp Semiconon to ask if myself and other staff member and couple of fathers camping with the scouts who were electrician's come over and help get all the event areas back up and running since all the electric got knocked out.
Everyone agreed and told them to shove the request up there ASS.
They where so snide with us to begin with when we first offered to help staff things there was no way any of us where going to help them.
Its the same way with many of the High Adventure bases have gotten as well
Philmont and the Florida Seas base etc. are out of the reach of most scouts even with trying to raise funds there lucky they can even go to regular summer camp which keeps going up .
I often thought as an adult hopefully one day I would get out west and stop and see Philmont as a day visitor but my travels are east coast based and I got to see many other neat things instead.
The bad part to all of this are the scouts who rub it right in your face when they tell you they attended all these places frankly who cares If you got there if you did good for you but don't rub it in instead share the experience . Not all are like that some shared there experience and showed slides etc and answered questions and encouraged us to raise funds and go provisional All I care about is that for scouts who really want to go and are lower income do not even have a chance these days to ever be able to attend.
So you have to ask your self are they deliberately keeping prices high to keep out the Riff Raff sure sounds like it.
Thats not what is suppose to happen in scouting but it does everyday and scouting discriminates against many. Unlike in the days when Mr. Phillips personally paid to allow a couple scouts to attend national events out of his pocket. Something you just never hear about anymore.
and once again only about 10% of all scouts will get to participate I was at 2 of them in 1973 and 1977 and was not a participant just a day time visitor there was no way my family could afford to send me let alone my 2 brothers to it for a week and now with costs well over $1000.00 dollars to attend it is nearly impossible for a kid to work and earn that kind of money to attend and then be put in a provisional troop of other individual attending scouts .
Both times I got to be a day visitor was because it was close to our home they held it at Moraine State Park in Butler County Pa.
In 1977 I attempted to get on the jamboree staff and work all week and week before and after with set up and clean up to be able to at least attend at a discount but even those who volunteer and work all week have to pay the full fee. what kind of shit is this and to add injury to insult when a bad storm hit that week the jamboree called over to Camp Semiconon to ask if myself and other staff member and couple of fathers camping with the scouts who were electrician's come over and help get all the event areas back up and running since all the electric got knocked out.
Everyone agreed and told them to shove the request up there ASS.
They where so snide with us to begin with when we first offered to help staff things there was no way any of us where going to help them.
Its the same way with many of the High Adventure bases have gotten as well
Philmont and the Florida Seas base etc. are out of the reach of most scouts even with trying to raise funds there lucky they can even go to regular summer camp which keeps going up .
I often thought as an adult hopefully one day I would get out west and stop and see Philmont as a day visitor but my travels are east coast based and I got to see many other neat things instead.
The bad part to all of this are the scouts who rub it right in your face when they tell you they attended all these places frankly who cares If you got there if you did good for you but don't rub it in instead share the experience . Not all are like that some shared there experience and showed slides etc and answered questions and encouraged us to raise funds and go provisional All I care about is that for scouts who really want to go and are lower income do not even have a chance these days to ever be able to attend.
So you have to ask your self are they deliberately keeping prices high to keep out the Riff Raff sure sounds like it.
Thats not what is suppose to happen in scouting but it does everyday and scouting discriminates against many. Unlike in the days when Mr. Phillips personally paid to allow a couple scouts to attend national events out of his pocket. Something you just never hear about anymore.
Friday, June 21, 2013
A stream improvement project 40+ years ago which had hidden dangers and was a waste of time
Back in 1972 this empty field along Bull Creek near Tarentum Pa. next to the now closed Harvey Lumber Yard was the location of nearly 200 young men and there leaders from Silver Tip district spending a weekend with the purpose of improving the fishing and encouraging the growth of wildlife along the creek.
A creek with a very dangerous reputation for drowning people over the years with its very swift current and quick rising during storms. Of course no one bothered to tell us that when we had our camporee that weekend. Neither did they tell us the fact that because the fact the creek frequently floods all the so called stream improvements we did where washed out with in a month of them being installed. But this was back when scouting was changing and a big push to protect the environment was on it was called SOAR Save Our American Resources what a crock of shit .
Once again we did work in a stream which had no useful purpose and if anything just caused future problems when it flooded.
At the time I was still with troop 224 a group of too many bully's and hooligans who loved to torment other scouts myself and other 224 scouts chose to get away from them in the evenings and went over to other troops campfires and sat with them on the first night. Then Saturday morning it was down into the stream we had to walk down about half mile and where assigned to put deflection dams in the stream to hold back water and build little pools where fish would congregate . But like I said as fast as this stream runs and as high and swift as it floods it was ripped right out . 12 years later after we did the stream improvement I would be back in this same area ,while attending a Bull Creek horse back riding event with my sister in law. We parked our horse trailers in the old Harvey Lumber yard which at the time was still operating and I mentioned to the old lumber yard worker who let us in to park our trailer on a Sunday how I helped with the creek improvement all those years ago and camped in the field next to his place and he just laughed and proceeded to tell me all about the creek and how what we did was useless waste of time and how we where lucky no one got hurt or drowned due to how fast the creek runs and how fast the whole creek basin fills with even a light rain storm.He said " I know how all you boys worked hard and thought you where doing a good thing but in the end it did nothing for the stream" . While riding along the bridal path beside the stream he was right there was not one of the many projects our group had completed that weekend 12 years back still in place they had all been busted up and blown down stream. What a shame how many weekends wasted in a stream by us and other scout groups which could have been put to much better use. I would later meet a women who works at one of my customers who lived next to the creek who told me how here brother drowned in the creek one afternoon after it quickly swelled after a minor storm up in Butler county sent water cascading down the creek. She also said how many times improvements where done to be washed out with the next storm as well. Just what the hell where scout leaders thinking when they allowed this work to go on. I really have a bad taste in my mouth about that whole weekend and the fact my fellow scouts never called to tell me they had a follow up project a couple weeks later after I missed attending a troop meeting and never called or stopped by house to make sure I was OK and went camping with out me but thats the way people are in Carrick uncaring fools and not real friends too many only interested in what they can get from you instead of working together . Thats why I do not keep in touch with any of them any more.
Once again we did work in a stream which had no useful purpose and if anything just caused future problems when it flooded.
At the time I was still with troop 224 a group of too many bully's and hooligans who loved to torment other scouts myself and other 224 scouts chose to get away from them in the evenings and went over to other troops campfires and sat with them on the first night. Then Saturday morning it was down into the stream we had to walk down about half mile and where assigned to put deflection dams in the stream to hold back water and build little pools where fish would congregate . But like I said as fast as this stream runs and as high and swift as it floods it was ripped right out . 12 years later after we did the stream improvement I would be back in this same area ,while attending a Bull Creek horse back riding event with my sister in law. We parked our horse trailers in the old Harvey Lumber yard which at the time was still operating and I mentioned to the old lumber yard worker who let us in to park our trailer on a Sunday how I helped with the creek improvement all those years ago and camped in the field next to his place and he just laughed and proceeded to tell me all about the creek and how what we did was useless waste of time and how we where lucky no one got hurt or drowned due to how fast the creek runs and how fast the whole creek basin fills with even a light rain storm.He said " I know how all you boys worked hard and thought you where doing a good thing but in the end it did nothing for the stream" . While riding along the bridal path beside the stream he was right there was not one of the many projects our group had completed that weekend 12 years back still in place they had all been busted up and blown down stream. What a shame how many weekends wasted in a stream by us and other scout groups which could have been put to much better use. I would later meet a women who works at one of my customers who lived next to the creek who told me how here brother drowned in the creek one afternoon after it quickly swelled after a minor storm up in Butler county sent water cascading down the creek. She also said how many times improvements where done to be washed out with the next storm as well. Just what the hell where scout leaders thinking when they allowed this work to go on. I really have a bad taste in my mouth about that whole weekend and the fact my fellow scouts never called to tell me they had a follow up project a couple weeks later after I missed attending a troop meeting and never called or stopped by house to make sure I was OK and went camping with out me but thats the way people are in Carrick uncaring fools and not real friends too many only interested in what they can get from you instead of working together . Thats why I do not keep in touch with any of them any more.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
A Mounted Eagle Scout Troop a deliberately forgotten piece of scouting history
As you travel past the rotting structures of the once proud Allegheny County South Park Fair which was permanently cancelled in late 1960's you will come across an interesting building now called South Park Cottage but originally it was called Eagle Scout Lodge .
Why I wondered was it called Eagle Scout Lodge ? I remember as an Alter Boy at St Basil's Church in Carrick 29th ward of City of Pittsburgh Pa. that we once held our alter boys appreciation picnic there for many years till some of my fellow alter boys damaged one of the vacant buildings next to the lodge in early 70's and our group was no longer permitted there and that it was called Eagle Scout Lodge. Many in scouting I asked thought it was to honor those who earned the Eagle Scout Award one old timer told me it was to honor a group of eagle scouts who served as Calvary Scouts in WWI but the dates did not correlate as scouting had just started about that time . So I decided to find out why after never getting a satisfactory answer from any one in executive end of scouting including the worthless Allegheny Trails Council now known as Laurel Highlands Council .
Well after doing some research it seems the building was used to train the first Mounted Eagle Scout Troop in Allegheny county in 1933
when South Park first opened.
Mounted Eagle Scout Troop? Like Calvary Troop ?
no not that but close you see in that time period when scouting first started to be an Eagle Scout you had to show proficiency in Horsemanship because even up into the 30's horse's where still being used for everything from delivering milk to farm use so it was a needed skill to be able to properly handle a horse. Especially during the depression when only the rich could afford cars in many areas . You where even required at one time to earn the Horsemanship Merit Badge to get to Eagle Scout Rank and award .
Horseman Ship skills also where important if you where considering becoming a military officer which many eagle scouts did back then because the US military still had mounted Calvary units into the 40's .
So this is what this building was all about was the training and advancement of Eagle Scouts to
become excellent in there horsemanship skill and become officer material in the process. kind of like an early ROTC program. many do not know it but General George S. Patton started out as an expert horseman and Calvary Officer in his early career.
While doing my research on the eagle scout lodge I came across a couple articles on this which I have included below.
So mystery solved despite the facts scouting has hidden this excellent chapter of its history. Why it has been forgotten who knows why would a group be ashamed of this?
Why I wondered was it called Eagle Scout Lodge ? I remember as an Alter Boy at St Basil's Church in Carrick 29th ward of City of Pittsburgh Pa. that we once held our alter boys appreciation picnic there for many years till some of my fellow alter boys damaged one of the vacant buildings next to the lodge in early 70's and our group was no longer permitted there and that it was called Eagle Scout Lodge. Many in scouting I asked thought it was to honor those who earned the Eagle Scout Award one old timer told me it was to honor a group of eagle scouts who served as Calvary Scouts in WWI but the dates did not correlate as scouting had just started about that time . So I decided to find out why after never getting a satisfactory answer from any one in executive end of scouting including the worthless Allegheny Trails Council now known as Laurel Highlands Council .
 |
| entrance to Eagle scout Lodge |
Well after doing some research it seems the building was used to train the first Mounted Eagle Scout Troop in Allegheny county in 1933
when South Park first opened.
Mounted Eagle Scout Troop? Like Calvary Troop ?
no not that but close you see in that time period when scouting first started to be an Eagle Scout you had to show proficiency in Horsemanship because even up into the 30's horse's where still being used for everything from delivering milk to farm use so it was a needed skill to be able to properly handle a horse. Especially during the depression when only the rich could afford cars in many areas . You where even required at one time to earn the Horsemanship Merit Badge to get to Eagle Scout Rank and award .
Horseman Ship skills also where important if you where considering becoming a military officer which many eagle scouts did back then because the US military still had mounted Calvary units into the 40's .
So this is what this building was all about was the training and advancement of Eagle Scouts to
become excellent in there horsemanship skill and become officer material in the process. kind of like an early ROTC program. many do not know it but General George S. Patton started out as an expert horseman and Calvary Officer in his early career.
While doing my research on the eagle scout lodge I came across a couple articles on this which I have included below.
So mystery solved despite the facts scouting has hidden this excellent chapter of its history. Why it has been forgotten who knows why would a group be ashamed of this?
Sunday, April 7, 2013
What did the Kiasutha Lodge do with Chief Silver Tips ( John M. Phillips) Indian outfit where is it?
One of the honor organizations with in Boy Scouting is The Order of The Arrow also known as OA it has 3 ranks Ordeal, Brotherhood and Vigil I made it to brotherhood in the Kiasutha Lodge which no longer exists and was renamed and merged over the years.
By time I was fully able to participate my work schedule often had me working weekends which kept me from attending the weekend events ,and a certain family resented my belonging in the first place due to the fact on my mothers side of family they where deeply involved with native Americans in the late 1700's . My 7th great uncle John Heckewelder was a missionary who worked with Native American Tribes right here in Western Pa. and wrote a book about them and there customs and brought many to Christianity . He is one of our nations forgotten historical figures.
Instead of welcoming me and my contributions I was often shunned by some because I had real Indian connections and they did not. The link below is a short bio on my uncle
http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=184
By time I was fully able to participate my work schedule often had me working weekends which kept me from attending the weekend events ,and a certain family resented my belonging in the first place due to the fact on my mothers side of family they where deeply involved with native Americans in the late 1700's . My 7th great uncle John Heckewelder was a missionary who worked with Native American Tribes right here in Western Pa. and wrote a book about them and there customs and brought many to Christianity . He is one of our nations forgotten historical figures.
Instead of welcoming me and my contributions I was often shunned by some because I had real Indian connections and they did not. The link below is a short bio on my uncle
http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=184
Too bad for them and there ignorance and pettiness no in fact Shame On Them for acting the way they did..
But I also suspect they are behind the disappearance of John M. Phillips Ceremonial Chiefs Outfit.
He also worked with Indians in the late 1800's and early 1900's and was known by them as Chief Silver Tip the honorary name they gave him after rescuing a bear with silver tip of fur on its head in one of his many western adventures. A boyscout district where I grew up was named silver tip in his honor since he helped to start the scouting program but the name has since been changed.
The last time I saw his outfit was in 1977 while at Camp Guyasuta in Sharpsburg helping out during a camporee and members of the Kiasuta Lodge mostly who where with silver Tip district
found it in storage above the little store called the outpost where scouts could buy refreshments and get swimming pool passes ,for the pool. It was in a large silver colored tin box about 4 ft long and 2 foot wide. It was supposed to be restored and displayed and never was. It has never been seen from again no one knows what happened to it and people who where around with me when it was taken down have all scattered or left scouting and everyone denies or can not remember the meeting ever took place or has no idea what I am talking about because it has been 35 years since it was last seen . I personally believe it was sold off to a private collector , for a huge sum.
Thats what council does sell things then take the money and waste it. They operate like the big money no name no conscious corporations do around here . Whats that again in the Scout Oath about Honest, Trustworthy and Truthful or is that only when you where a scout growing up and now it no longer counts .
the OA and Scout Council executive could not bother to show up at his marker dedication why should I be surprised about this.
the OA and Scout Council executive could not bother to show up at his marker dedication why should I be surprised about this.
I helped get Mr. Phillips his State Marker I would really like to find his outfit have it restored and properly displayed as would his relatives.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)