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January 20, 2012 in Business
Survey shows support for selling Boy Scouts camp
A majority of people answering a Boy Scouts survey on the future of Camp Easton say they think selling it to build a new camp is a good idea.
Earlier this month the Inland Northwest Council of the Boy Scouts of America sent out email questionnaires, with the key question being: Do you back negotiating with the Discovery Land Co. and selling Camp Easton in exchange for a new Scouts camp on another undeveloped site on Lake Coeur d’Alene?
Eight hundred people replied and 61 percent said yes, according to Tim McCandless, the group’s executive.
The question was among more than 15 sent to roughly 8,000 volunteers, Scout members, families of Scouts, supporters and others involved in Scouting. The 800 responses, about 10 percent, was a strong turnout, McCandless said.
McCandless and Scout board members said last year they’re considering selling 380-acre Camp Easton, used by regional and national Scout groups since 1929, to Discovery, sparking strong opposition. Discovery said it would build a new, modern camp on 279 acres near Sunup Bay, on the west side of the lake.
Opponents say Camp Easton, in addition to offering a rich tradition, is the better location for camping and Scout activities. McCandless and some board members say Camp Easton is in need of several million dollars in building repairs and upgrades. They contend the board needs to ensure the best Scouting experience for future generations.
Another question on the survey asked whether respondents felt the original deed for Camp Easton required it to be used as a camp forever, or whether it allowed for Scout leaders to find another site. About 59 percent said they thought building a modern camp was allowed.
McCandless said the summaries of the answers, and a long list of individual comments on Scout programs and how to improve them, are posted on the Inland Northwest Council website.
The survey results will be evaluated by the council board, and don’t mean the board will automatically approve a sale, McCandless said.
The next step for the board is deciding whether to authorize a group to negotiate a specific set of terms for the camp’s sale. After that, it can review the Discovery offer to decide if it is the best choice, he said.
Toting up liquor tab 
Marconi on January 21 at 6:05 p.m.
This “Survey” was completely biased and slanted to direct you towards their desired response. For example they asked if you thought 2.5 million dollars would benefit the Boy Scouts. Duh! What would anyone answer. They failed to mention that it would be paid out over 10 yrs. divided by 3 camps and spent on whatever else the council deemed necessary (like administration costs or the new district headquarters that has been on their wish list for years.) This money would come from a to be named L.L.C. set up by Gozzer with no assets. Good luck collecting if they decide to default. McCandless states that 59% agreed that the camp could be moved according to the deed. Again the slanted question asks: 1.) Building a NEW camp on Lake Cd’A w/ New program OPPORTUNITIES and SERVING MORE boys in the area BUILDS on Mr Fitze’s legacy and FULLFILLS his desire for a camp for boys. 2.) Because of Mr. Fitze’s statement to the ex. board expressing his desire to have the property used in PERPETUITY as a camp for boys, the existing property MUST be used as a camp for boys and NO OTHER OPTIONS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. The first option is all positive and the second is all negative. This was typical of the whole “survey”
Marconi on January 21 at 6:08 p.m.
Please don’t just take my word for it. Go to the survey results website and look at the WRITTEN responses, not the ones that you were induced to make by this survey. By my estimation they are about 80% against the swap.
Marconi on January 21 at 6:28 p.m.
I wonder how many people who took this survey even knew what the word perpetuity meant. I think people want to do what is right by nature and they especially want to be right. So when in doubt, pick the the answer that SEEMS right.
guanacay on January 24 at 8:35 a.m.
Hi all, I am not sure how familiar you are with the way that Discovery Land Company acts, but in the Bahamas, where they operate Baker’s Bay Golf & Ocean Club, there is expansive evidence that they repeatedly trick the public with false promises. Just recently, locals learned that while they promised much monitoring of environmental activities, the coral reef adjacent to their golf course is dying as they have actually done no monitoring whatsoever and followed none of their own guidelines for reef protection. Often, Discovery Land Company promises donations as an incentive to support their positions, but in almost all cases, those donations were never actually paid. There is MUCH evidence of this in court documents and in various pieces online. Start with today’s news:
www.notesfromtheroad.com/sgcr