Baldy town Boarding house - The Philmont Staff Association

Transcription

PHILMONT STAFF ASSOCIATION
17 DEER RUN ROAD
CIMARRON NM 87714
www.philstaff.org
NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID CIMARRON NM PERMIT 8 high countrY
Volume 39, Number 3
June 2016
The Magazine
of the
P h i l m o n t S ta ff A s s o c i at i o n
®
Baldy Town Boarding House
High Country ▫ June 2016
®
High Country®—Volume 39, Number 3
June 2016
In This Issue
Ed Pease, Editor Emeritus
Mark Stinnett, Editor
Mark Dierker, Layout Editor
Dollie O’Neill, Associate Editor
Bill Cass, Copy Editor
Dave Kenneke, Staff Contributor
Kevin “Levi” Thomas, Cartoonist
Contributing Editors
Robert Birkby, David Caffey, Bill Cass,
Gregory Hobbs, Warren Smith,
Mary Stuever, Stephen Zimmer
Contributors to This Issue
Bobbie Hobbs, Vince Matthews
Larry Murphy, Mitch Standard
© 2016, The Philmont Staff Association, Inc.
17 Deer Run Road, Cimarron, NM 87714
All rights reserved.
E-mail: highcountry@philstaff.org
Philmont Staff Association®
Board Of Directors
John Murphy, President
Colleen Nutter, Vice President, Membership
Tim Rosseisen, Vice President, Service
Adam Fromm, Secretary
Matt Lindsey, Treasurer
National Directors
Amy Boyle, Ken Davis, Bryan Delaney
Catherine Hubbard, Lee Huckstep
Dr. Dan Miller, Steve Rick
Regional Directors
Northeast: Kathleen Seitz, Rick Touchette
Central: Mitch Standard, Phil Winegardner
Southern: Anne Marie Pinkenburg, Doug Wahl
Western: Nancy Stickelman, Michael Waggoner
Jim Lynch, Immediate Past President
Mark Anderson, Philmont Staff Advisor
Ex Officio Members
Emery Corley, Legal Advisor
Douglas Fasching, Technology Manager
Dollie O’Neill, Executive Director
PSA® FELLOWS
Bob Harvey Fellow
PAUL and MARY JANE HARVEY
Glenn A. Fowler Fellow
BRUCE BARNES
George A. Bullock Fellow
WILLIAM D. BRYCE
Joe Davis Fellow
BILL CASS
John A. Maxbauer, Jr. Fellow
ANONYMOUS
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14
17
20
26
Articles
Distinguished Alumni
How We Are Known
1960 CHQ Tornado
Building HOmE
Bound for New Mexico
Regular Features
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4
24
32
35
36
38
From the E.D.
PSA News
Ranch Roundup
Short Stuff
Good Campsite
Trail Talk
From the Editor
Other
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5
6
12
16
39
Bulletin Board
PSA Reunion
Notice of Elections
From the PSA Store
Worth Remembering
Meet the Staff
On the Cover: Architect’s rendering of the
proposed new PSA office building, part of the
new museum and education center complex.
See “Building HOmE” on p. 20.
Members Only Access
Username: NewOffice
Password: BuildingHome16
From the E.D.
My Favorite Things of 87714
What an exciting time to be a member of
the Philmont Staff Association! Another
summer kicks off at Philmont, the launching of our new “Building HOmE” capital
campaign, elections for the PSA Board of
Directors and another year of awarding
college scholarships – these are just a few
of my favorite things in this pile of rocks.
Magic! Another summer brings
longer days, warmer sunsets, the many
shades of green and more smiling faces
along with the attitude of “I am happy
to be here.” I call this the “magic of
Philmont,” and it truly is incredible to
watch the “Phil-energy” come together
in the formation of our Philmont staff. I
feel honored to be here to witness this
new energy roll in like a thunderstorm.
This energy is electrifying and motivating to say the least. I am so excited to be
selected to serve in the role as executive
director of the PSA and to be a moment in
time of this “magic of Philmont.”
Building HOmE! The PSA Office and
Museum Expansion Project capital campaign is launched! How exciting is it that
the museum is expanding into a bigger
and beautiful state of the art educational
complex? Then we add that the PSA will
be building our very own office space to
call our own. It is almost too much excitement to handle – almost. Icing on the
cake, if you ask me.
Elections! It’s not just an election year
for the president of the United States
of America, but for the PSA! We have a
full ballot of candidates running for a
three-year term (January 2017-December
2019). Get to know our candidates, read
their bios, ask questions and vote! Every
member of the PSA gets a vote and your
vote matters!
Family! “The PSA unites the Philmont
staff – past, present and future – for the
purpose of serving the adventure, heritage, and experience of Philmont and the
Boy Scouts of America.” It’s good to dust
off our mission statement every now and
then, but I also like to think that we are
more than a mission statement – we are
“family.” A family that gives back, serves,
awards scholarships, has “family” reunions, promotes Philmont and honestly
just does a lot of “good stuff” because,
well, that is what families do.
So, regardless of whether you are visiting Philmont this summer or later in another year, stay connected and reach out
to your “Phil-family.” Enjoy your summer
– I know I will! It truly is an honor to
serve this wonderful organization. Thank
you for being a member of the Philmont
Staff Association – we couldn’t do what
“we do” without you!
Dollie O’Neill
Executive Director
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PSA® News
Summer Staff On Board
Recent Phil-staffer Katie Gavin and firstyear staff member Virginia Henderson
will join Executive Director Dollie O’Neill
in staffing the PSA office this summer.
Katie served on the staff from
2013-2015 as a PC at Miners Park, head
rock at Dean Cow, and head rock at
Cimarroncito. She’s majoring in new
media marketing at UMass Amherst.
Virginia hails from the other coast, where
she attends the University of California,
Santa Barbara.
Special thanks to former staffers Jake
Koch and Lizzy Standard, who have been
working in the PSA office throughout the
spring.
PSA® Website and
E-Mail Address Changes
Friday, July 8 through Sunday, July 10
Philmont Training Center
Reminder: the PSA website has moved!
We are now a .org instead of a .com:
What to Expect:
www.philstaff.org
New PSA E-mail Addresses:
PSA Office:
psadirector@philstaff.org
High Country:
highcountry@philstaff.org
Website Manager:
admin@philstaff.org
BULLETIN BOARD
Upcoming PSA® Events
PSA Annual Reunion
July 8-10, 2016 – Philmont Training Center
Contact: Dollie O’Neill at psadirector@philstaff.org
PSA Summer Trek
July 10-16, 2016 – Philmont Scout Ranch
Contacts: Lee Huckstep at hstp1@aol.com or
Doug Latimer at latimerdk@verizon.net
• Lots of food, fun and fellowship
• PSA annual meeting
• Updates on latest developments at the ranch
• Chatauqua Performance, sponsored by New Mexico Humanities Council, by PSA member Baldwin Burr
• Backcountry trip to see new staff cabin
• Day hike to Hart Peak
• Annual PSA Silent Auction
• Silver Sage Awards presentation
• Music by fellow former Phil-staffers
• Housing at PTC Tent Cities
• Last looks at the current Philmont Museum and Seton Memorial Library before new construction starts
• Checking out the latest gear at award-winning Tooth of Time Traders
Open to all PSA® members and their families
What’s Your Cost?
Dayton Area Reunion
August 12-13, 2016 – Dayton, Ohio
Contact: Scott Tritt at trittster@sbcglobal.net
Adults (18 and over) – only $100.00
PSA Volunteer Vacation (SOLD OUT)
September 17-24, 2016 – Philmont Scout Ranch
Children 5 and under – FREE!
PSA Autumn Adventure Trek
October 9-14, 2016 – Philmont Scout Ranch
Contacts: Stephen and Cynthia Truemper at
struemper@earthlink.net or cjtruemper@earthlink.net
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JOIN US FOR THE 2016
PSA REUNION AT THE RANCH!!
Children 6-17 – only $30.00
REGISTER NOW AT WWW.PHILSTAFF.ORG
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Notice of Elections
The Philmont Staff Association will conduct elections in July 2016 for all positions on
the Board of Directors. Those elected will serve three-year terms beginning January 1,
2017, and concluding December 31, 2019.
As required by the association’s constitution and bylaws, the Nominating Committee has proposed at least one candidate for each officer position and two candidates for
each director position (listed below). Candidate bios are included in the insert in this
issue of High Country.
Per our constitution, additional nominations may be made within 30 days by
submission of the nominee’s name, biography or summary of qualifications, and valid
signatures of at least 25 currently registered members of the association. Additional
nominations meeting these requirements must be received at the PSA office by July 1.
Election Timeline
July 1
July 8
August 1
August 8
Deadline for additional nominations to be received.
Ballots mailed to membership.
Deadline for ballots to be received at PSA office.
Election results announced.
National Officer Nominees:
President: John Murphy Secretary: Kathy Seitz
Treasurer: Matt Lindsay
Vice President-Membership: Amy Boyle
Vice President-Service: Bryan Delaney
Vice President-Development: Mariah Hughes
National Director Nominees (seven to be elected):
Ray Batchelor
Doug Palmer
Sarah Burgess Anne Marie Pinkenburg
Alli DietzDave Romack
Adam Fromm Tim Rosseisen
Cathy Hubbard Nancy Coleman Stickelman Lee Huckstep David Wilson
Julie Huiras Mascitti Phil Winegardner
Regional Director Nominees (two from each region to be elected):
Northeast
Ken Davis
Fr. Don Hummel
George Segelken
Rick Touchette
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Central
Jeff Ash
Caitlyn Lowe
Mitch Standard
Scott Tritt
Southern
Charles Aldredge
Amy Hall
Dr. Dan Miller
Joy Pendley
Western
Tom Giugni
Ryan King
Piper Niehaus
Mike Waggoner
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2016 Distinguished Staff Alumni Award
by Mark Stinnett
High Country Editor
Former Phil-staffer Will Hobbs, nationally
recognized author of nineteen outdoor
adventure novels for teens and young
adults (opposite page), has been selected
as the 2016 recipient of the association’s
Distinguished Staff Alumni Award.
Presented annually by the PSA on
recommendation of the Presidents Committee and approval of the Board of
Directors, the “DSAA” recognizes “distinguished or exceptional personal success
or achievement on a state, national or
international level by a current or former
Philmont staff member in any field of
human endeavor, other than service to
Philmont, that brings honor and credit to
the legacy of the Philmont staff.”
Will is the fifth recipient of the DSAA.
He joins the ranks of the late Steve Fossett, world record aviator, sailor and
Will on his annual week-long backpacking trip in
the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado.
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Will with Freedom, a rescued bald eagle that inspired “Liberty” in his wildlife rescue/rehab novel,
Jackie’s Wild Seattle.
adventurer; Wally Berg, internationally
recognized mountaineer, explorer and
expedition leader; Rick Searfoss, former
NASA astronaut, space shuttle pilot and
shuttle mission commander, and Robert
Birkby, outdoor writer, conservationist
and author of several editions of the Boy
Scout Handbook and Fieldbook.
The son of an Air Force engineer, Will
moved around a lot as a kid, with stints in
Alaska and northern California providing
opportunities for outdoor activities and
adventure. Camping and backpacking
in the Sierras and a canoe trip with his
Explorer post to the Boundary Waters in
Minnesota made lasting impressions.
Will joined the Philmont staff in 1964
as a backcountry staff member at New
Dean. He worked as a training ranger
the following year and then spent the
summers of 1966 and 1967 as a camp
director at Rayado (starting camp) and
French Henry. After finishing college at
Stanford, he moved to Durango, Colo.,
where he taught reading and English for
seventeen years, mostly for seventh and
eighth graders.
Recognition for Will Hobbs
• Seven of his novels, Bearstone, Downriver, The Big Wander, Beardance, Far North, The
Maze, and Jason’s Gold, named as Best Books for Young Adults by the American Library
Association.
• Two of his novels, Far North and Downriver, named to the American Library Association’s list of 100 Best Books for Teens from the last half of the twentieth century.
• Recipient of the Mystery Writers of America’s prestigious Edgar Allen Poe Award
in 1998 for Best Young Adult Mystery for his novel, Ghost Canoe. The Edgar Allen Poe
Awards, commonly called the Edgars, are presented annually to honor the best in mystery fiction and nonfiction. Another of his novels, The Maze, was a finalist for the same
award in 1999. Other Edgar Award recipients include authors such as Stephen King,
Mary Higgins Clark, and Ken Follett.
Sixteen-year-old backcountry staffer Will Hobbs at New Dean Camp in 1964.
Along the way, Will became an avid
outdoorsman. Backpacking, hiking,
whitewater rafting, and fishing in the areas near his home in southwestern Colorado and beyond fueled his eventual turn
to writing outdoor adventure tales. Will
has made ten rafting trips, rowing his
own whitewater raft, down the Colorado
River through the Grand Canyon.
Will published his first book, Changes
in Latitudes, in 1988. After publication of
his second novel, Bearstone, in 1989, Will
left teaching and started writing full-time
in 1990. He has since authored seventeen additional novels and two picture
books for young readers, all with outdoor
themes and settings. All of his books are
still in print.
Will’s books take young readers to
wild places and inspire them to appreciate our natural world while experiencing
grand adventures. “About half of my
ideas for stories come from my own life
experiences, and the other half come from
reading, as I learn more about whatever
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has sparked my interest,” Will says on his
website.
His trophy shelf at home must be
sagging with the weight of recognitions
Will’s books have achieved (see page
11). Awards from the Mystery Writers
of America, Western Writers of America,
and the American Library Association
testify to the breadth of his work and the
influence he has had on young readers.
When notified of his selection, Will
said, “As I read the names and accomplishments of the previous honorees,
I was amazed I’d been selected to join
this list. It’s a wonderful honor to have
my outdoor novels for young people
recognized as having brought ‘honor
and credit to the legacy of the Philmont
staff.’”
They do, indeed. Our sincere congratulations to Will Hobbs, 2016 PSA Distinguished Staff Alumni Award recipient.
That trophy shelf will have to sag a little
more with the addition of his engraved
“distinguished staff” from the PSA!
• Recipient of the Western Writers of America’s Spur Award for Juvenile Fiction in
1996 for Far North. Considered among the most prestigious awards in American literature, the Spur Awards recognize distinguished writing about the American West. Other
Spur Award recipients include authors such as Stephen Ambrose, Larry McMurtry, and
Tony Hillerman.
• Four-time recipient of the Colorado Book Award for Beardance, Far North, Beardream,
and Ghost Canoe.
• Recipient of multiple other regional and western state book awards, including the
Mountains and Plains Booksellers Award, Heartland Award, Southwest Book Award,
and California Young Reader Medal.
• Nominations to state book awards in more than thirty states.
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Stock up this summer at the PSA® Store!
PSA Nalgene Water Bottles
Nike Polo – NEW!
Nike Dri-Fit Polo, sapphire blue. Stay cool
when things heat up. Engineered with
Dri-fit fabric which provides moisture
management technology. This comfortable micro-pique polo has an exceptionally soft hand. The design features a flat
knit collar, three-button placket, open
hem sleeves. The contrast Swoosh design
trademark is embroidered on the left
sleeve. Made of 4.4-oz, 100% polyester.
Sizes: X-Small, S, M, L, XL, XXL. $45
Stay hydrated with a PSA Nalgene water
bottle. Available in a 22-oz. flip-top or a
32-oz. wide-mouth bottle with the PSA
logo. BPA free. $12
PSA Stainless Steel Mug
NEW!
16-oz. stainless steel outer shell tumbler.
Double wall plastic inner liner insulation.
Plastic lid with spill prevention slide lock.
Debossed outer line body ring design.
Colors: black, stainless steel silver. $15
PSA Polo Shirts
Our popular PSA polo shirt is now
available in gray and green. This shortsleeved shirt is dri-wicking and protected
with Scotchgard. Available in men’s and
women’s sizes. $30
“Future Philmont Staff” Stuffed Animals
We have the perfect gift for the future Philmont
staff member in your life! Each PSA stuffed
animal has a removable hoodie with “Future
Philmont Staff” embroidered on the front.
Available in four 7”- 8” animals: Bear, T-Rex,
Horse, and Wolf. $12
87714 Performance T-Shirts
This performance, wicking t-shirt features
our 87714 logo on the upper left chest.
Graphite color. Available in men’s sizes:
S, M, L, XL, XXL. $16
SUMMER SALE! Get these items for just $8 through July 15:
All Books ● PSA Map Stationery Set ● Ansel Adams Poster
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Buckle Sale!
Bronze: $25 each
Pewter: $20 each
Visit the PSA® Store at www.philstaff.org!
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How We Are Known
Story and Photos by Bobbie Hobbs
“You wouldn’t believe all the junk in there!”
I am visiting the Chase Ranch while
attending a PSA spring meeting after
Gretchen Sammis’ death. Philmont is
cataloging and preserving her ancestral
homestead.
This young Philmont staff member’s
comments give me chills. “It is taking forever to go through their stuff.”
He touches on my greatest fear, being
defined by my possessions after I die. I
don’t want to be known or judged by
what I leave.
These two women held the wilderness at bay year after year. What
Gretchen and her long-time friend, Ruby
Gobble, gathered and enjoyed is now
layered in dust. Elegant silver filigreed
trays, a table for twelve with cracked
leather chairs, a wind-up phonograph
from a bygone era, Meissen china, walnut
furniture, and family photographs held
in gold and silver frames lit through a
sunny bay window.
Philmont’s ranch manager describes
Gretchen as “probably the most interesting woman I’ve ever met.” Companionship out here means traveling vast
distances. Relationships involve people
who can help and offer solace, as well as
accept differences. Deep friendships are
nurtured over long winters.
Gretchen was the fourth and last generation of the Chase family. They built in
the 1860s on land at the threshold of the
high sagebrush plains and the Sangres.
The Blood of Christ mountain range. Its
landscape dwarfs the ranch dwellings,
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where buff canyon walls start climbing
amid towering cottonwoods.
Gretchen and Ruby managed the
Chase Ranch together. Any time of year
they must have talked long into the night
about where to move the cattle, how to
pay the bills, who will take the truck to
town.
Where do old cowgirls go? Nothing stays in place when the wind roars
up this canyon. The earth moves and
all grapples and struggles to remain
rooted on this wind-swept plain. Ponderosa permanently bend to the wind’s
direction. Connection to the land, like
personal relationships, can’t be taken for
granted. Those in the high desert learn to
read clouds in a place where sun and rain
occur at the same time and there’s never
enough water.
The midden of the Chase Ranch is
right out the back door. What if you lived
Where do old cowgirls go?
The Chase Ranch, now operated by Philmont under a 100-year lease.
in a place where you threw whatever
you broke down a hill? And every time
you walk out the door you can see all the
dishes and the glasses you’ve loved, and
shattered, turn into lavender and blue in
the bright desert sun?
Today, on the cusp of spring, young
budding iridescent cottonwood leaves
overhang the house. I smell the dampness of last year’s grasses. The sun is
shining through blowing seed heads.
Vines seek support to grow, climb the
old adobe home, tighten their grip on the
exterior wall of what has become a museum. They knit, weave, cling, and testify
to western self-reliance. Elegant heavy
white lawn chairs rest under the cottonwoods. In an ancient metate Gretchen
and Ruby have placed an engraved rock.
It says, “You may be old, but you are not
as old as this rock.”
The brand of the Chase Ranch is a
heart. A short time after Gretchen died,
Ruby followed her, leaving no one left
to work the ranch. Gretchen’s ashes
are scattered among the graves of her
ancestors. Now, according to her will,
Philmont carries forward a great and
neighborly trust — to tell the story of her
family, her dear friend, and this great
land.
Author Bobbie Hobbs served on the PTC staff
in the 1960s.
You are not as old as this rock.
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Worth Remembering
From the inscription on the plaque to commemorate the
gift of the Philmont Ranch and the Philtower Building to
the Boy Scouts of America:
These properties
Are donated and dedicated to
The Boy Scouts of America for
Encouraging the perpetuation of
Faith – Self-Reliance – Integrity – Freedom
Principles used to build this great country by
The American Pioneer
So that
These future citizens may
Through thoughtful adult guidance
And by the inspiration of nature
Visualize and form a code of living to
Diligently maintain these high ideals and
Our proper destiny.
Waite Phillips (1946)
The tornado just after it dropped its payload on the far side of Tooth Ridge.
The 1960 CHQ Tornado
Story and photos by Vince Matthews
Several rangers left the dining hall after
finishing supper on Saturday evening,
June 25, and were expounding on world
affairs as they headed back to Ranger
City (two rows of platform/wall tents on
either side of a wooden locker building). The wind started picking up with
consequent dust in the air. Fellow ranger
Larry Gibbs said that he had to duck into
a room in the quadrangle (a stucco building with an open center) because the dust
was bothering his contact lenses. We all
stepped in with him. As we looked out
the window, the intensity of the wind and
dust built rapidly to the point where we
could see nothing but violently blowing
dust. Suddenly, almost like magic, the
wind stopped, and it was clear.
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We left the building and immediately
saw that all 300 tents in Tent City were
flattened or gone. As we looked to the
west, we saw a funnel moving away
from headquarters. Tents, sleeping bags,
camping gear and clothing were swirling
around in the funnel as it moved steadily
across the ground toward Tooth of Time.
I ran out to the ranger locker building,
which was undamaged, and got my
camera out of my locker. By the time I
was able to snap a picture, the funnel had
hit Tooth Ridge, traveled up the ridge and
dropped its payload on the far side, and
was continuing up into the clouds.
1960 was the year of the Boy Scout
National Jamboree in Colorado Springs.
A group of 155 Scouts from Santa Fe was
participating in a weekend “shakeout” at
Philmont in preparation for the jamboree
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Tent City immediately after the tornado hit. About 300 tents were lost.
in July. They were camped in the field
just east of Ranger City and were cooking
dinner on charcoal stoves when the tornado hit them. We immediately turned
our attention to helping them because
they were hard hit.
The area where the Santa Fe Scouts
were located was tragic testimony to
the tornado’s fury. Three Scouts were
hospitalized in Raton, eight were kept
overnight in the health lodge, and a score
of others with minor injuries were treated
and released. Several Scouts had sought
refuge under a vehicle which the tornado
lifted off them. One of the most seriously injured had been hiding under the
vehicle.
One Scout reported that the wind
ripped his shoes off his feet. I found a
butcher knife that the tornado buried in
the ground up to its hilt. A tent pole was
hurled into a wire fence where a strand
of wire split it lengthwise down the
middle for about a foot. Chasing down
and extinguishing the burning charcoal
briquettes became an immediate priority.
The newly finished Protestant Chapel was destroyed, but held services the next morning.
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Half of Ranger City on the morning after. The author’s tent had been on the second platform.
As you can imagine, life at headquarters was disrupted for a while. Lots of
folks were without shelter, extra clothing,
sleeping gear and accessories. For weeks,
the ranch sent wranglers with pack trains
to the other side of Tooth Ridge to recover
items carried and dropped there by the
funnel. I can’t say that Philmont was prepared for the likelihood of this unusual
natural disaster (termed a ‘freak’ by the
newspapers), but Director of Camping
Jack Rhea’s leadership provided an exemplary emergency response.
About the Author: Vince Matthews served on
the staff as a PC at Black Mountain in 1959,
ranger in 1960, ACD at Porcupine in 1961,
and CD at Cyphers Mine in 1962 and 1963.
He later taught in five institutions of higher
education, worked as an executive in four
natural resource companies, and retired as
director of the Colorado Geological Survey in
2013. He now lives in Leadville, Colo.
Editor’s Note: At least two tornados have
struck the Philmont/Cimarron area since
1938.
Photo of Santa Fe Scouts’ camping area taken by the ranch’s official photographer, Dan Sheehan, in the immediate aftermath of the tornado. Note folks with buckets of water extinguishing numerous hot spots.
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Building HOmE
The PSA® Office and Museum
Expansion Project
For more than 40 years, PSA members have
dreamed of having their own building at
Philmont – a place at the ranch that we could
call our own HOmE. Now, with help from all of
us, that dream is about to become reality.
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On these pages: Architect’s renderings of the new Philmont Museum
& Seton Memorial Library & Education Center complex, including the
proposed new PSA office (upper left). Construction is set to begin in
August on this tremendous new gateway for Philmont visitors.
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Join Us in Building Our New HOmE!
by Mitch Standard
What an exciting time to be a member
of the Philmont Staff Association! We
have been invited by the Philmont Ranch
Committee and Philmont management to
construct our own stand-alone PSA office
building as part of the Philmont museum
upgrade and
expansion.
We couldn’t
receive
a greater
stamp of
approval for
the contributions being
made by the
PSA and our
members for
Philmont
and its programs.
The museum expansion will triple
the size of the current facility and will
become a true educational center for
Philmont participants, staff, academic
researchers and community members.
Philmont’s invitation to the PSA to locate
our own office in this stunning new complex is probably the most public recognition possible for the value of the partnership we have created with the ranch.
The new PSA office will include
several offices and work areas, a reception area and a large meeting room. We’ll
have terrific views of the Tooth of Time
and the Camping Headquarters entrance
from our front entry and a full wall of
windows in the meeting room. The office
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will connect to the museum and Seton
Library via a paved brick plaza that forms
the main entry to the complex.
To make all of this happen, and to
support Philmont as well, the PSA has
launched a new “Building HOmE” capital campaign to raise $1.2 million over the
next three years. In keeping with our primary mission
of serving
Philmont, a
half million
dollars, or
more than
forty percent,
of the funds
we raise will
go directly
to Philmont
to support
the museum
expansion
project. The
balance will go to building our PSA
HOmE, furnishing it, and endowing its
future maintenance costs.
By now, members have received
brochures and pledge cards in the mail.
Pledges and gifts can also be made
through our website at www.philstaff.org.
By giving as generously as you can, you
will both help Philmont and give yourself
your own “place” at the ranch.
For a “flyover” of the overall museum
project, check out the video we’ve posted
on YouTube at:
https://youtu.be/PCO3gtzNkUQ
You’ll see what an honor it is for us to be
part of such an incredible project. Join us
as we build our permanent HOmE!
April 14, 2016
Dear Fellow Phil Staffers,
After many years of service to the ranch, we are entering a new and exciting phase
for your Philmont Staff Association. Working closely with ranch management, we
were granted permission to locate a new PSA HOmE office as part of the Seton Museum and Library Expansion project. The Seton and our PSA HOmE will be at the
center of an educational center which will serve as a central gateway for Philmont
visitors. This is a great honor for the Philmont Staff Association and it shows how
much a part of the fabric of the ranch we have become through years of talent, treasure and time being given by you—our members.
Building our HOmE: The PSA Office & Museum Expansion Project is a chance
for each of you to be a crucial part of the future of Philmont and your PSA. Construction is scheduled to begin as soon as August of this year! Construction of the
new PSA office will take approximately 18 months to complete—imagine having
our own building to serve our members and continue to pursue our mission of supporting the people, place and programs that are Philmont.
We aren’t there yet, though—in order to complete our dream, we must raise $1.2
million. What a legacy we can create with this project! It is a tough goal, but I
know our membership is up to any challenge. I hope you will join me and your
PSA board by making a multi-year pledge to make our long-held dream a reality. I
know that all of us bring different skills and gifts to the table in our association—
the testament to this is in our past successful campaigns. Together we can build
this project for the ranch, the members and future members to come.
I thank you in advance for your support. IWTGBTP!
John Murphy
President
Philmont Staff Association
23
Ranch Roundup
Baldy Boundary Settled
Philmont and the Pueblo of Sandia have
signed an agreement to resolve a century-old discrepancy in title documents
defining their property border on Baldy
Mountain and ownership of its Deep Tunnel Mine.
The Pueblo became Philmont’s neighbor when it purchased the East Moreno
Ranch some years back to provide
recreation and hunting opportunities for
its members. The ranches share a border
along the summit of Baldy Mountain.
However, a lawsuit later filed against
the Pueblo by the former ranch owner
revealed a discrepancy in old deeds
conveying property rights on both the
mountaintop and at both ends of its historic Deep Tunnel Mine, which opens on
the east side at Copper Park Camp.
On the mountain ridge tops, the original grants and deeds had conveyed title
with reference to points at which the watershed divided. However, subsequent
surveys opted for straight lines between
fixed points instead of curving boundaries along winding crests. That might
have worked if the surveyed lines had
all connected – except they didn’t. The
“gap” persisted for decades in title documents and came to light in the Pueblo’s
litigation.
Regarding the Deep Tunnel Mine,
title was a bit murky as well. Arguments
could have been made that the Pueblo
owned the mine entrance on the Philmont
side, and that Philmont had claims to
mine property at the western entry.
Rather than go to war in court,
Philmont management and the tribe’s
24
leaders began discussions to resolve
the title issue by agreement. After four
years of off-and-on again negotiations,
Philmont General Manager Kevin Dowling and Director of Program Mark Anderson met in Albuquerque in March with
the tribe’s governor and war chiefs, with
all signing off on an agreement to clearly
establish each side’s property rights and
ranch borders.
The agreement, to be filed in the
Colfax County deed records, returns to
the original intent of the Beaubien and
Miranda land grant and fixes the border
on the summit of Baldy where the watersheds divide. In addition, each party
granted the other a 300-foot easement on
either side of the boundary so that hikers
could freely roam the summit without
fear of “trespassing” on the other’s lands.
As for the Deep Tunnel Mine, the
agreement fixes the dividing line in the
middle of the mountain, with Philmont
owning all rights in the mine east of that
line, and the Sandias owning all to the
west. Each party ceded to the other any
claims to the mine or its entrances on “the
other side” of that agreed dividing line.
In short, the legal title and our border
on the mountain are now officially what
most of us always thought they were.
Personnel Update
Eric Martinez, Philmont’s chief ranger
for the past two summers, has joined the
Philmont professional staff as the new
associate director of program responsible
for seasonal staff and base camp operations.
Eric started on the seasonal staff in
2008 and worked his way up through
ranger leadership positions to the chief
ranger post in 2014. He has also worked
as the winter
adventure
coordinator at
Philmont and as
Okpik director at Northern
Tier. Eric holds
a bachelor’s deEric Martinez
gree in outdoor
leadership and resort management from
Western Colorado University.
Over the fall and winter months, he’s
been on the road all over the country
training advisors in Philmont’s PASS and
PAW programs. More than 1,200 trek
leaders and advisors have benefited from
Eric’s instruction in the highly successful
start to that program.
Clean, Dry and Shaded
Campers coming to the ranch this summer will be greeted by new facilities in
Tent City that should make a decided difference in their base camp experience.
The new tent city shower house (top
right), with individual shower and changing rooms similar to the designs previously used at PTC and Cito, opens in a
central location between trailbound and
homebound tent cities.
Perhaps most welcome will be new
roofed shelters (also pictured) that have
been constructed throughout the tent
cities for each section of six tents. With a
picnic table under each, the shelters will
provide much-needed shade and rain
protection.
Notes From All Over
Some trek slots for 2016 are still available
– check out the camping section on the
Philmont website if you can get a crew
together quickly . . . backcountry staff are
scheduled to scatter June 5-7, with first
crews arriving on 608 . . . Philmont maps
have a new boundary shape in 2016 with
the incorporation of Cimarroncita within
our borders . . . construction is slated
to start on the new museum complex
immediately after the last crews leave
on August 22 . . . the museum will move
some exhibits and re-open in temporary
quarters in the Hardesty Casa Centrale
building for crews visiting in 2017.
25
Philmont History
Bound for New Mexico
by Larry Murphy
Editor’s Note: The following stories (part of a
continuing series) originally appeared in The
Springer Tribune in a series entitled “Colfax
County Sketches,” and were later collected
and published in the book Out in God’s
Country: A History of Colfax County,
New Mexico, © 1969, Springer Publishing
Co., Inc. They are reprinted by permission.
Westward Across the Plains
Tanned buckskin-clad drivers inspected
every inch of their equipment to be sure
that no spoke would crack, no strap
break, no screw pull loose. Certain that
every possible item had been crammed
into their great wagons, packers roped
down the loads, while local merchants
stood by to fill any remaining space.
Entrepreneurs in distinctive black
attire whispered last-minute instructions
to avoid duties and make the best deals in
Santa Fe to their representatives. Mexicans who had herded in mules, horses
or oxen from outlying pastures raced to
harness their teams. Final farewells from
tearful wives and excited children increased as the men moved to their places.
Then from the front a call of “Ready?”
rang out up and down the line, and a
hundred voices soon answered, “All’s
set!” With every wagon poised, the
captain’s cry of “stretch out” blurred
the noises of barking dogs and crying
women. The Santa Fe caravan was heading west.
The sound of a departing train was
26
heard in several frontier Missouri towns.
Franklin gave birth to the trade and nurtured it for several seasons. Located just
west of Franklin, Independence became
the next point of embarkation for plains
travelers. Other towns later vied for a
role in the Mexican commerce. Westport
and Kansas City grew and prospered
during the early 1840s as traders took
advantage of their location further west.
The establishment of Forts Osage and
Leavenworth on either side of Kansas
City lent a further advantage to the area.
A few caravans which started from Little
Rock, Arkansas, followed a southerly
route through Texas to Santa Fe.
Normally the caravan left Missouri
in the spring, sold during the summer in
the southwest, and returned by late fall.
Leaving before the snows had melted on
the plains was impossible, but too late
a departure could mean encountering a
winter storm before reaching the settle-
ments on the return trip.
In reality no marked trail stretched
across the flatlands, but caravan leaders
explored their own route along the river
bottoms and across grassy prairies. The
need to find pastures for livestock frequently necessitated detours, as did the
muddy ruts of a previous caravan.
Often traveling two or even four
abreast, a single caravan covered a span
as wide as fifty yards. “One need only
compare the various records to discover
that the Santa Fe Trail was not a road or
even a trace,” the trade’s most recent historian has written, “but a series of tracks
meandering over the plains in only the
most general single course.”
For nearly every caravan, the first
important stop was Council Grove, 150
miles or ten days west of Independence.
Although beautiful to see, traders kept
busy making final preparations at the site
before entering the wilderness. Electing
one of their members as caravan leader,
the men also established regulations
regarding the plan of march, setting up
camp, assigning guards, and defending
themselves against Indian attack.
West of Council Grove travelers
entered the wilds. Only well-established
campsites marked the route, for few
landmarks broke the monotonous prairies
which stretched for hundreds of miles
in every direction. Boredom posed the
greatest psychological problem, as man
and beast alike tired of dreary scenery
and restricted company.
Nerves and tempers frequently
frayed. But here too the real adventure
began. Indians might appear at any
time. What looked like a tree against
the horizon might be a native scout, an
antelope, or buffalo – or maybe even the
mountains.
27
Perils of the Santa Fe Trail
Anywhere west of Council Grove,
traders were likely to encounter Indians,
the most dramatic and frequently recorded kind of danger. Technically at peace
after 1825, the eastern Osages seldom
disturbed merchants, but their western
neighbors, the Pawnee, Comanche and
Kiowa, continually threatened war.
Travelers seldom knew of the natives’ presence until a group of five to a
dozen suddenly appeared from a nearby
hill, riding rapidly toward the caravan.
To attack an entire train, especially one
guarded by soldiers, was risky, so the Indians normally conversed through signs
for a few minutes while they appraised
the party’s strength. But henceforth the
number of night guards doubled. No one
dared stray far from their wagons.
As early as 1822, Captain William
Becknell told of eight men he had sent to
recover some strayed horses. Two of the
company spotted some Indians, whom
they tried to outrun. The natives soon
overtook the pair, however, stripped them
naked, administered a “barbarous” whipping, and stole their mounts. Fortunately,
the naked, helpless men were luckier
than many and successfully rejoined their
party.
Four members of Captain Bennett
Riley’s military escort learned the danger
of leaving the caravan during the 1829
trek. When their enlistments were up,
they insisted on leaving the train midway
across the plains to return to Missouri.
Final destination: “View of Santa Fe Plaza in the 1850s (End of the Trail),” by Gerald Cassidy, circa
1930, oil on canvas, 47 3/4 x 60 1/4 in. Collection of the New Mexico Museum of Art. Gift of the New
Mexico Historical Society, 1977 (350.23P) Photo by Blair Clark. Used with permission.
28
Photo: The “Point of Rocks” landmark on the Cimarron branch, located in Colfax County northeast of
Springer. Photo © Annie Adkins, http://anniepics.imagekind.com. Used with permission.
Only eight or ten miles out of camp, some
thirty Indians suddenly attacked them.
An attempt to talk peace failed when one
soldier was fatally shot while trying to
shake hands. The remainder removed
their packs and prepared to defend themselves against the screaming attackers,
who by then were riding rapidly around
them. Slowly retreating toward their
group’s encampment, the survivors succeeded in killing one Indian before they
were rescued by a search party.
Their efforts thus temporarily thwarted, the natives waited until Riley had sent
part of his men in search of their dead
comrade’s body before they attacked the
entire caravan, driving off its livestock.
In all, fifty-four oxen, twenty horses, and
several mules were lost. The soldiers
never located their companion’s corpse
either, but the survivors now willingly
agreed to remain with the escort until it
returned from the Mexican border.
As they neared the Arkansas River,
the leaders of each caravan had to decide
between two possible routes. The longer
one, probably used by the first few
caravans and always the more popular,
proceeded along the Arkansas to the Bent
brothers’ famous fort near the present
town of Las Animas, Colo. From there
they headed south toward Raton Pass,
where they could follow the edge of the
Sangre de Cristos through Colfax County
toward Santa Fe. Although longer and
slower, this road offered protection from
the Indians as well as a reliable water
supply which appealed to many caravan
leaders.
The second route had been first
blazed by William Becknell years before.
Called the “Dry Cimarron branch,” it departed from the Arkansas River in Kansas
and crossed directly across the arid plains
of Texas and eastern New Mexico to
Wagon Mound, N. M., where it rejoined
the mountain route. Although many who
selected it suffered from a lack of water
or fell victim to the Comanches or Kiowas
who frequented the area, this route was
faster and easier on the wagons than the
rougher mountain one.
29
“Directions to Santa Fe” by Jim Carson. © Jim Carson Studio. Used with permission.
The Last Miles to Santa Fe
Soon after crossing Raton Pass,
caravans passed through the area which
would eventually become Colfax County.
No identity separated the area from the
hundreds of miles through which the
wagons had passed, but early travelers
were overjoyed to see the mountains, find
plentiful supplies of wood, and rest beneath the cool shade of a Rocky Mountain
stream. Frequently they recorded stops
along the Ponil, Cimarron, Rayado and
Canadian rivers.
The exact path of the road during
those early days cannot be ascertained
with any certainty, but several tracks now
visible only from the air indicate frequent use of the area fronting the Sangre
de Cristo mountains from Cimarron to
Rayado, where the area’s first permanent
settlement was eventually established.
For some, the Cimarron area marked
the point of departure from the regular
Santa Fe route. While surveying the road
30
in 1825, George Sibley noted a “gap” in
the mountains through which a “trace” or
primitive trail ran to Taos. Exactly what
the surveyor was referring to is speculative, but the Taos Trail was evidently
either the Cimarron Canyon or Moras
Canyon, just south of Rayado.
Because Sibley reported that wagons
could pass through the gap with “some
labour,” he probably did not mean the
narrow and extremely rough Cimarron Canyon, not generally used until
after prospectors discovered gold in the
1860s. A narrow dry stream bed winding to the rim of La Grulla Mesa, Moras
Canyon was on the other hand frequently
traversed by Taos travelers during the
post-Mexican era, and was more likely
the “gap” referred to.
Early trappers and traders hauled
goods via this route directly to Taos,
where they could be sold at the annual
fairs or in American-owned stores. Those
who scurried over the mountains via this
trail might even reach Santa Fe before
their fellows who continued along the
eastern side of the Rockies.
Santa Fe traders found no permanent settlements in the Colfax County
area before 1844, although there was one
notable attempt to found a ranch. In 1830
one Samuel Chambers, a veteran Santa
Fe trader and mountaineer who had been
jailed with Robert McKnight’s ill-fated
trading party in 1812, petitioned the
Mexican government for permission to
colonize the Ponil River.
Examining his request, the New
Mexico Departmental Assembly noted
that Indian hostilities in the area threatened to exterminate anyone who might
reside there. Until a sufficient military
force could be secured to provide protection, they, therefore, decreed that no such
ranches might be established along the
northern frontier.
Another week’s travel carried Santa
Fe travelers from the Canadian River
toward their destination. As they ap-
proached the capital, a sudden excitement swept through the caravan. Men
dirty from months of travel now bathed,
changed into their best clean shirts, put
on Sunday suits, and glued their hair in
place with bear grease. Wagoneers piled
as many goods as they could into each
wagon to reduce import duties as the
caravan rolled down the last hill and into
the ancient city.
An unusual bustle also characterized the normally quiet Mexican town
when the annual train arrived. Cries
of “Los Americanos,” and “los Carros”
ran through its narrow crooked streets.
Crowds of citizens flocked to stare at the
newly-arrived gringos, most of whom
stared back at the strange surroundings
with just as much interest. While their
employees spied out the loveliest senoritas and the liveliest dance halls, merchants wrangled with customs officials
who appraised goods and exacted duties.
At last the long trek was over.
“End of the Santa Fe Trail” by Jim Carson. © Jim Carson Studio. Used with permission.
31
Short Stuff
More on Mapping
Thank you for the fun article (“Missing in
Mapping,” I-Camp, April 2016 issue).
I had a lot of fun making the first
in-house Philmont GIS map. It was a
strange project to be assigned to work
with the Philmont mapping program. I
actually got into the GIS side of camp
through my degree in forestry to originally map the forestry work that had
been done on the ranch. I kind of fell into
the role as the Philmont seasonal map
guy along with Dave Allen, the full-time
pro-tech.
We did a lot of research into the maps
when we went to make Philmont’s first
in-house GIS maps. We actually went
back to the maps of Philmont from Waite
Phillips’ time, and all the maps used
after. Referencing those, we found that
Mountain Lion Canyon tends to change
locations, but we believe it is in the right
spot now.
When we went to make the vegetation layer of the property, we had the
option of buying a program for several
thousands of dollars, or making it by
hand. It took me around 80 hours to
draw the vegetation layer of Philmont
based on satellite imagery. I remember
sitting there tracing trees from space
while watching it snow outside, just
waiting for the next Kanik crew to arrive.
Dave and I made most of what became
those first Philmont GIS maps during
the off-season and I was actually a Kanik
guide with a special assignment to GIS.
Ute Gulch was misspelled for a
few years after the new maps were first
published. At one point in the draft of
32
the maps we accidentally had the tallest
mountain on earth at Philmont, with an
elevation of 100,000 feet. I forget who
found that error. We used to print a
full-size update each week and put it in
the CHQ admin building with a big red
marker so people would help us find
errors. To ensure they were looking,
intentional errors were added. I miss
Mullins Creek!
My favorite two changes to the map,
however, are to the iconic point at the
top of the ranch. If you look at the older
maps it was a point with a flat side. The
new maps are shaped differently. That
change is actually from my mapping of
the actual boundary fences of Philmont,
which were done while working the fire
rehab projects. The day I mapped that
area, I had to cut up four trees that had
fallen on the road since I had driven in
that day.
Also, the boundary on what used
to be the Atmore Ranch [now Express
Ranch] was modified. Older maps
showed the trail leaving Philmont and reentering the property. It turned out to be
an angle was wrong on the fence. When
it was fixed it added 66 acres to Philmont.
I guess the most interesting thing
about the whole Philmont GIS project to
me is that the ranch claims to be 137,000+
acres, but the actual boundary as defined
by the GIS software is more like 135,000
acres???
The reason we no longer have North,
Central, and South maps is that it was
about $7 a map to make them the size of
the old sectional maps. Changing them
to the standard print size, we ended
up using a new printer and it brought
that down to about $1.40 a map. It took
several attempts to find an ink that would
stay on the water-resistant paper. Once
we figured out how to get the maps to
stay on the paper, we eventually went to
the two-sided north and south maps.
Mic Mullins, Program Director
Heart of Virginia Council
DID YOU KNOW?
Artist Jim Carson, whose works appear on pp. 30-31, told High Country,
“I am a western artist because as a
Scout I went to Philmont and fell in
love with the western landscape.”
View his art at:
www.jimcarsonstudio.com.
‘65 Flood Issue Update
Regarding the photo of the French Henry
CD lassoing a bear featured on page 63
in your August 2015 special edition flood
issue, that is none other than Greg Hobbs,
Silver Sage Award recipient and recently
retired senior associate justice of the Colorado Supreme Court.
Ned Gold
Warren, Ohio
Olympic Memories
1965 was my first year on staff at
Philmont, though I had twice been there
as a camper. We came in a few days early
for camp director training at camping
headquarters. This was Joe Davis’ first
job at Philmont, too. I don’t think he
knew what he was getting into. With
that big smile and handshake, “Men!” he
said, many times. Many times. We would
surely overcome anything with his enthusiasm. Nothing to worry about. There
was no such thing as adversity, according
to Mr. Davis.
Olympia was just a name to me. It
was just upstream from Rayado, an old
settlement. I pictured a lazy little camp
with a meandering stream and maybe
some wildlife, a few aspen. I hadn’t
33
thought about rocks, rocks and more
rocks. Olympia sounded like a mountain top or maybe a little oasis but it was
certainly not that.
The three of us arrived, all under age
21. Situated on what seemed the top of
Rayado Creek, nothing much was happening except for the bleakness of the
water, which kept rising, and rising, and
rising. Not pretty water. Fast muddy
water with brush. Black. Very loud and
noisy at night.
It began to dawn on us that we were
in some trouble. There was electricity,
and who needs anything else if you have
electricity? At least for a while there was
electricity. And Mr. Davis knew we were
there.
We figured out how the radio worked
and were able to speak to Paul Felty, the
voice of civilization at Camping Headquarters. It was called Control Center,
though I don’t know that they were
actually in control of anything. Paul essentially said not to worry, that our flood
couldn’t amount to much.
The water kept rising. The critters
sought higher ground. We were concerned about rattlesnakes. The flood
didn’t peak for some days, and by then
we had to wait for shipments of food and
Olympia Camp, summer 2013. Photo by Brad Upton.
34
water from Rayado.
We had no campers, of course, and
after a few days it became clear that we
had a wet and smelly mess, and that
was about all. Except we had ourselves,
the three of us. Being so young, none
of us verbalized our fear, though it was
present. The pride of youth, I suppose.
Amazingly there had not been even the
slightest hint of friction, not one bit. Nor
would there be.
We were at Olympia for around ten
days. At that point Mr. Davis came out to
see us and said we were going to Miners Park, quite the contrast in western
beauty, to work with Dave Girardi. We
had a good summer, a very good summer
despite it all.
I recently discovered that campers
are going out of Olympia again. What?
Surely not. Yet there is some logic to it.
Being very close to Rayado is convenient,
and there needs to be a place to get one’s
bearings. Perhaps Olympia has some
natural beauty after all besides the little
Rayado. Good luck to you, campers,
whoever you may be, and enjoy our old
spot.
John Lester
Kansas City, Mo.
Another Good Campsite
If you ever find yourself thinking about being smack-dab in the middle of Philmont, you’d
probably end up on Deer Lake Mesa – and what better place to be than camping at Deer
Lake Camp.
Bordering a natural lake surrounded by tall Ponderosa, old growth pinon, and oak,
the camp offers breathtaking views of “Cito,” Bear, Black and Trail Peaks. First opened as
a trail camp in 1999, evidence of seasonal logging camps from the 1930s and 40s can be
found scattered across the area.
Despite its central location, Deer Lake Camp is a little way off the main trails through
the ranch. Most trekkers through the central country hit Harlan and Vaca to the east or
Devils Wash Basin or Deer Lake Mesa Camp to the west. There is sometimes confusion
between Deer Lake Mesa Camp and Deer Lake Camp. Deer Lake Mesa Camp has a
small “dirt tank” with a spring and a well as a
water source. Deer Lake is by far the larger of
the two reservoirs, and offers a back-up water
source of a large rain catchment built in 2013.
Even during drier years, the lake affords
spring nesting sites for dozens of species
of waterfowl that return every year, calling
Philmont – HOmE!
Dave Kenneke
35
Trail Talk
General David L. Goldfein (Ranger 1980) has
been nominated by President Barack
Obama to become the next U.S. Air
Force Chief of Staff. In making the announcement, Secretary of Defense Ash
Carter called Goldfein “one of the most
1980s
proven strategic thinkers across our joint
force.” General Goldfein currently serves as
the Air Force Vice Chief of Staff, a position he has held since August 2015. He
has more than 4,200 cockpit hours as a
pilot and has flown combat missions in
the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq. His
previous posts include command of two
fighter wings, Director of Operations for
Air Combat Command, and commander
of U.S. Air Forces Central Command in
southwest Asia.
High Country plans to run a profile
article on General Goldfein in the August
issue.
36
Michael Growney (Medic
1999, Phil-Doc 2013-2016)
finished medical school at the University of Kansas and then completed his
residency in obstetrics and gynecology in
Greenville, S. Car. He currently practices
as a general ob/gyn at Parkview Medical
Center in Pueblo, Colo. He has returned
as a “Phil-Doc” each of the past four
summers, and writes, “I love every bit of
it! Being a Phil-Doc is a volunteer position, but every year I say that I get more
than I give just by being able to return to
Philmont.”
Address: 4 Royal Troon Ct., Pueblo CO
81001. E-mail: mikeandmati@msn.com
1990s
Dan Johnson (CHQ Services 99) graduated from West Virginia Univ. in 2002 with
a degree in wildlife management. He
then started work in the nuisance wildlife
field and has been removing animals
from homes and repairing the damage
done for the past 14 years. He writes,
“Working at Philmont, one truly learns
the value of being nice to others. As a seasonal staff member, I constantly reminded
myself that [Philmont] is the highlight
of the participant’s Scouting career, and
should be treated as such.”
Address: 8302 Penobscot Rd., Richmond
VA 23227. E-mail: djwv@aol.com
recipient of the BSA’s Silver Beaver and
Silver Antelope awards.
Address: 4834 Smith Stewart Rd., Vienna
OH 44473. E-mail: tjames3@neo.rr.com
David Clay Pruitt (Logistics 2002) became a professional Scouter after college
and has now served fourteen years. He
writes, “After I graduated, I was wondering what I was going to do with my life
and the direction I wanted to go, and I
remembered a conversation I had while
at Philmont about interviewing for a
professional Scouting position. I then
contacted my local Scout service center,
interviewed for a position, and was hired.
A big part was the time I spent on the
staff at Philmont. I have recruited kids
now that have received their Eagle rank,
sent youth and adults to Philmont, and
started new Scout units in communities
that have changed lives. All this was due
to my time at Philmont.”
Address: 10605 Gander Grove Way #301,
Knoxville TN 37932.
E-mail: cpruitt531@yahoo.com
2010s
Robert Burton (Welcome
Center 2016) received his
On The Back Cover
The Baldy Town Boarding House,
opened last year, now serves as quarters and living area for the Baldy Town
staff. Also known as the “Baldy Majal”
or “Taj Mabaldy.” Photo courtesy
Philmont News and Photo Services.
J.D. degree in 1975 from St. Mary’s School
of Law. He remains active in Scouting as a
troop committee member.
Address: 3120 Brincrest Dr., Farmers
Branch TX 75234.
E-mail: MKT40@aol.com
Anthony Ely (Chase Ranch 2016) has
attended Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Ind. He is involved with College
Mentors for students at his school and is
still involved with Scouting. He is a Vigil
Honor member of the OA. He writes:
“Philmont has allowed me to prepare for
my next job by teaching me the importance of working well with others.”
Address: 3200 E. Shaffer Ave., Terre Haute
IN 47805.
E-mail: tonyeley67@yahoo.com
2000s
Thomas E. James, Jr.,
M.D. (PTC Faculty 2006)
is a practicing internist in Howland, Ohio.
He served as his council president in
2016, has held positions on various BSA
area and regional committees, and has
worked as a staff physician at national
jamborees since 1989. Dr. James is a
37
Meet the Staff
From the Editor
High Country is a labor of love for lots of folks who help our editor and writers. Meet
the rest of the team behind each issue:
Changes
“Nothing in this world is permanent but
change.” – Waite Phillips
And you’ve probably noticed some of
that change – hopefully for the better
– with this issue of High Country. After almost 40 years of black and white
issues, our magazine is joining the 21st
century and will now come to you, each
and every issue, in full color. Believe it or
not, we’ve actually been paying an extra
charge to convert our color layouts to
B&W for the print version!
To take advantage of that muchappreciated authorization from our board
of directors, in most issues we’re going to
use our middle-of-the-magazine doublepage spread (pp. 20-21) to display a full
cross-page “bleed” of an outstanding
Phil-photo relating to one of our articles.
Sometimes, we’ll just use it for a great
picture that we’ll all appreciate.
We’re also making some layout
changes to make our look more that of a
true magazine and less that of a hybrid
newsletter. Some of those are subtle
(you probably missed the modifications
to our page footers), while others may
have been readily noticeable (elimination
of top and bottom margin lines on each
page, for example).
These aren’t changes just for the sake
of change or to satisfy the editor’s whims.
Opening up our layout space gives us
more options to better display more of the
outstanding photography demonstrated
each year by both staff and campers. We
also get a little more room for content,
which we’ll use to avoid “scrunchiness”
– compressing space between lines of text
to make a story fit into a space that’s really too small for it.
38
What isn’t going to change is the
commitment to excellence and quality of content that our humble staff (see
opposite page) brings to each and every
issue of HC. We remain focused on keeping you in the loop on what’s happening
at your HOmE while sharing the staff
stories that form our common bond.
A little news, a little history, a little
adventure, a little fun – that’s what you
can expect every time we land in your
mailbox or inbox.
Mark Stinnett
Editor
HIGH COUNTRY SUBMISSIONS
If you have a great photo or a story
to tell, please share it with us! E-mail
submissions are preferred, but we
take hard copies, too.
Articles: Typewritten in Word format
preferred; max. 2,000-2,500 words.
Photos: Send as .jpg attachment in
high resolution (300 dpi or greater).
Trail Talk: Send us updates about
you. Include all staff positions and
years.
E-MAIL: highcountry@philstaff.org
Mark Dierker, Layout Editor
Making sure we comply with Rule No. 2 at Philmont (”always look
good”), Mark fits all the stuff we send him into our final 40-page
package. He works as manager of photo acquisitions for McGrawHill Higher Education in Dubuque, Iowa. This is his storm-chaser
selfie – all the storm chasers have one. Who knew?
Dollie O’Neill, Associate Editor
The newbie on the HC staff, our equally new executive director helps
each issue with ads, insert materials, PSA and ranch news, photo
identifications, Trail Talk submissions and proofreading. Oh, and
there’s also that small task of labeling and mailing 2,000 copies to
readers!
Bill Cass, Copy Editor
A retired advertising executive and author of three Philmont-related
books, Bill serves as our magazine’s “eye for detail.” After Mark
and Mark work through 8-9 drafts for each issue, Bill gets the “final”
proof and scours it for accuracy and style compliance before we go to
press. He resides in West Chester, Pa.
Dave Kenneke, Staff Contributor
He’s on the staff and he contributes, so that’s what we call him.
When not writing for High Country, Dave moonlights as Philmont’s
Facilities and Maintenance Superintendent. As his frequent travels across the ranch permit, Dave shares photos and stories for our
“Good Campsite” series.
Kevin Thomas, Cartoonist
Named in his cartoons only as “Levi,” his former Philmont interpretive name from back in the day when we made up our own, Kevin
has been capturing the lighter side of Phil-life for High Country since
at least 1992. In his other life, he works as a data analyst in Milwaukee, Wis.
Ed Pease, Editor Emeritus
After serving as High Country editor for seven years, Ed finally gets
a break from all those organizing, writing and editing chores that are
part and parcel of each issue. We’re keeping him the loop, though
– and hope that he will bless us with an occasional inspirational
column. Our favorite former Congressman still lives in D.C.
39
NOMINEES FOR PSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS – 2016 ELECTIONS The following nominees have been proffered by the Nominating Committee. FOR ADDITIONAL NOMINEES TO BE ADDED TO THE BALLOT, THE NOMINEE’S NAME AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH (SIMILAR TO THESE), TOGETHER WITH SUPPORTING SIGNATURES OF AT LEAST 25 ACTIVE ASSOCIATION MEMBERS, MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE PSA OFFICE NO LATER THAN JULY 1, 2016. BALLOTS WILL BE MAILED TO ALL MEMBERS ON JULY 8, 2016. NOMINEE BIOS ARE ALSO POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.PHILSTAFF.ORG NATIONAL OFFICER NOMINEES: President: John Murphy (Tyler TX). Current Position: President. Years/Positions on Staff: Ranger (1972-‐1974). “Hoping to continue my service in order to complete the PSA Building / Seton Project, and build membership to the 5,000 member level. In addition, I would like to further our relationship with ranch management to make sure the PSA of the future continues to be an active partner.” Vice President – Membership: Amy Boyle (Lander WY). Current Position: National Director. Years/Positions on Staff: PTC Asst. Group Leader (1978), PTC Group Leader (1980). “I have served on the PSA Board for six years as Regional Director. I have served on both the Service Committee and Membership Committee and coordinated the planning for the 2010 Colfax Colloquium. I believe my understanding of the PSA’s goals and programs will aid me in spearheading the membership efforts.” Vice President – Service: Bryan Delaney (Atlanta GA). Current Position: National Director. Years/Positions on Staff: Ranger (1998-‐2003), Camping Projects Mgr. (2004-‐2010). “I have served as a Southern Regional and National Director of the PSA, and have served in a leadership role for various PSA reunions and service projects. I am also the chair of the personnel committee of my church, St. Mark UMC. I believe that I will bring experience, creativity, and leadership to the role of VP-‐Service.” Vice President – Development: Mariah Hughes (Golden CO). Current Position: none. Years/Positions on Staff: Rayado Ranger (1987), CD (1989-‐90), Director of Conservation (1992), plus others. “I have extensive experience in fundraising and growing membership for both government agencies and nonprofits, as well as experience managing boards, large groups of volunteers, and coordinating events of many different sizes (from 5 to 20,000+). I have also served on boards for chambers and community organizations.” Secretary: Kathy Seitz (South Glastonbury CT). Current Position: Northeast Region Director. Years/Positions on Staff: PTC Food Service (1981), Trading Post (1982), Services (1983). “I have worked with a very large Boy Scout troop for 10 years, and have worked with the Scoutmasters and planned some big trips: Gettysburg, Washington DC, and Philmont. I have worked on the Administration Committee for longer than I have served on the Board, and would like to continue that work: publications, annual reports and website are all things we address on that committee.” Treasurer: Matt Lindsey (Nacogdoches TX). Current Position: Treasurer. Years/Positions on Staff: Wrangler (1987). “Since working at Philmont I have completed 13 treks as an adviser as well as trips to the other high adventure bases, including completing the Grand Portage at Northern Tier. I have worked as a department head in private industry and served as a department chair at SFA University with budget authority. I served on the PSA Finance Committee for 6 years and learned about PSA budget processes.” -‐1-‐ NATIONAL DIRECTOR NOMINEES (Seven to be elected – listed alphabetically): Ray Batchelor (Grand Prairie TX). Current Position: none. Years/Positions on Staff: PTC Dining Hall (1961), PTC Cub/Trek Ranger (1962), PTC Trek Director (1963), PTC Faculty (1980-‐1985), NJLIC Scoutmaster (1982), Logistics Asst. Mgr. (2013). “Eagle Scout, OA Distinguished Service Award, Engineering Manager, Project Manager, Six Sigma Certified, PSA Board of Directors 2000-‐2013, Region Director 2000-‐2007, National Director 2007-‐2013, Scholarship Committee Chair 2001-‐2013, Finance Committee 2015. I would like to contribute to the Finance Committee with a broad background in finance and development.” Sarah Burgess (Coldspring TX). Current Position: Scholarship Committee. Years/Positions on Staff: Ranger (2003-‐04), Ranger Trainer (2005), Rayado Trek Coord. (2006), Assoc. Chief Ranger (2007-‐2009), Sustainability Resource Specialist (2010-‐11), STEM Educator Coord. (2013-‐14), Assoc. Director of Conservation for Environmental Education (2015-‐16). “Most recently, I have worked for University of Wisconsin Extension as a Research Naturalist at Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center, focusing on researching grant opportunities and writing proposals for experiential education conferences about using modern mobile technology to connect today’s students to the outdoors in new and innovative ways. I have also worked with Kiwanis Club in college and in Cimarron. I have enjoyed serving on the Scholarship Committee and look forward to opportunities to expand my depth of knowledge about the PSA through serving on its other operating committees such as Membership and Development.” Alli Dietz (Denver CO). Current Position: Communications Committee Member. Years/Positions on Staff: PC Beaubien, Hunting Lodge (2010-‐11), CD Apache Springs, Baldy Town (2012-‐13), Backcountry Mgr. (2014). “My background in marketing (both digital and traditional) will undoubtedly help me succeed as a PSA board member. Throughout my career in marketing (and volunteering to do marketing for non-‐profits) I have been able to design and test different marketing campaigns which in turn informs my next campaign. Seeing the changes throughout my five summers and also working on managerial levels helped me understand how to negotiate while being a strong servant leader. I have new ideas that will help attract new members as well as serve members who have been with the PSA a long time.” Adam Fromm (Arlington VA). Current Position: Secretary. Years/Positions on Staff: Ranger, OATC Foreman (1999-‐2001). “I have served as the PSA’s secretary for the last 3 years and previously as a Northeast Regional Director. I want to continue our efforts to enhance the PSA’s brand among Philmont staff and the Scouting movement and encouraging participation in programs at the ranch and to apply for staff. I have worked with organizations in communications, branding, governance and other capacities." Cathy Hubbard (Middleton WI). Current Position: National Director. Years/Positions on Staff: PTC Dining Hall (1976), Ranger (1977), Infirmary – R.N. (2012, 2014-‐15). “I have served on the PSA Board for 8 years now, and have run the Staff Amigo Program for the last 5 years. I have hosted/ helped organize regional reunions in Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and Ohio. My passion is in finding ways to bring Philmont to our members across the country. I have missed one board weekend meeting in 8 years.” Lee Huckstep (Houston TX). Current Position: National Director. Years/Positions on Staff: CHQ Food Service (1971), Commissary Mgr. – Cimarroncito (1972), Postmaster (1974), Asst. Registrar (1976), CD Phillips Junction (1977). “I am on the altar guild at my church and assist in various capacities helping Houston’s homeless. I also devote a lot of time to the PSA promoting and organizing the PSA Trek and Volunteer Vacation, and have organized special events such as the Tulsa Reunion and the Celebration of the Lives of Waite and Genevieve Phillips in Los Angeles. Including the early treks, I have coordinated 13 PSA treks and participated in 10 PSA treks. I want to help in rejuvenating the PSA Annual Reunion and the PSA Jamboree Week Reunion.” -‐2-‐ Julie Huiras Mascitti (Madison WI). Current Position: none. Years/Positions on Staff: PTC Group Leader (1980), PTC Services Mgr. (1981), News & Info. Svcs. Mgr. (1982). “My current position as administrative assistant at Ronald McDonald House Charities in Madison includes managing some of the big and little things one might regularly do at home, such as paying bills, keeping track of children, and petting the dog. I’ve initiated fundraising and awareness events for community organizations, Scouts, school, sports, and personal occasions, including a benefit concert for a baby who needed brain surgery, and campaigns for the Wisconsin chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. As a National Director, I’m willing to take on current strategies and help innovate new ones. Promoting Philmont and the PSA comes easily thanks to treasured relationships with people, program, and of course, the land.” Doug Palmer (Arroyo Seco NM). Current Position: none. Years/Positions on Staff: Assoc. Director of Program -‐ Backcountry (1988-‐2011). “During my 40-‐year career as a professional in the service of the Boy Scouts of America, I was expected to be involved in my community. It is the professional job to “recruit, train, guide and inspire volunteers” in order to expand the program of Scouting to youth. I believe the PSA has a similar role to seek out and actively involve present and past Phil-‐staff who will then continue to serve the needs of the ranch. Betty and I continue to be involved in Casting for Recovery, an organization that provides a free weekend retreat for breast cancer survivors designed around the sport of fly fishing.” Anne Marie Pinkenburg (Fort Worth TX). Current Position: Southern Region Director. Years/Positions on Staff: Ranger (1992-‐93), Training Ranger (1994), Mountain Trek Coord. (1995, 1997), Autumn Adventure Guide (1997). “I have served on the PSA Board for the past three years, and greatly enjoyed being on the Scholarship Committee. I would like to continue serving on the board so that I can share member ideas with the PSA, and help PSA develop in a way that reflects what members want and need. Working as Mountain Trek Coordinator and as a speech language pathologist in multiple countries has helped me develop my organizational skills and I will continue to conscientiously complete all tasks related to the position.” Dave Romack (Arlington TX). Current Position: Treks Committee. Years/Positions on Staff: Commissary Warehouse (1961), Ponil Commissary Director (1962), PTC Faculty (3 years). “I enjoyed a 41-‐year career with IBM in technical sales, customer technical support, education and training, and consulting planner. I am a member of the PSA Service Committee having been a facilitator of the PSA treks for several years. I also did the planning, organization, and setup for the 2007 PSA Annual Meeting and Reunion in Dallas TX. I am currently serving as chair of the deacons and president of the church men’s group.” Tim Rosseisen (Breckenridge CO). Current Position: Vice President – Service. Years/Positions on Staff: Climbing PC (1985-‐1987), Head Rock Dean Cow (1988), CD Dean Cow, Cimarroncito (1989-‐90), CD Beaubien (1991-‐92), Health Lodge Chief of Support (1993), Health Lodge Support Staff (1995). “I am a member of my local Scout troop as an Assistant Scoutmaster and Eagle Scout counselor. I have served on the PSA as Vice President of Service, overseeing reunions, scholarships and staff scholarship committees, as well as reunions at the ranch. I also serve as Philmont’s Fly Fishing Invitational chairman, as well as the chairman for Philmont’s wounded veterans fishing program (helping wounded veterans from across the country). I would like to serve on the Service Committee to help with reunions as well as the Long Range Strategic Planning Committee I recently helped facilitate.” Nancy Coleman Stickelman (Las Vegas NV). Current Position: National Director & Amigos Committee Chair. Years/Positions on Staff: PC Head of Dean, Fish Camp (1997-‐98), CD Head of Dean, Fish Camp, French Henry, Cyphers Mine (1999-‐2002), Autumn Adventure (2001-‐02), Backcountry Mgr. (2003). “I completed my college internship with the Atlanta Area Council BSA and have volunteered for Scouting everywhere I’ve lived. 2012-‐
2013 I was President of the Las Vegas NW MOMS Club, a 501C3, and this year I am the Vice President. I would be interested in continuing to work with the membership committee. I would enjoy helping to plan events and see if we can incorporate either some child care or a family style event where it would be easy to bring kids.” -‐3-‐ David Wilson (Orem UT). Current Position: none. Years/Positions on Staff: LDS Chaplain and Chaplain Coordinator (2002-‐2014), PTC Faculty (2005-‐2009). “CEO for non-‐profit organization emphasizing energy efficiency and conservation. Active Scouter locally, regionally and nationally. Active blogger for BSA Venturing program. I actively help recruit staff each year through job fairs at the Brigham Young University and association with past staff.” Phil Winegardner (Overland Park KS). Current Position: Central Region Director. Years/Positions on Staff: Ranger (1969), Training Ranger (1970), CD Fish Camp (1971-‐72), CD Baldy Town (1973), CD Cimarroncito (1974). “I believe working for two large international firms for the past 35 years has provided me with a great ability to work and cooperate with others across a wide base – both geographically and age generations. Serving now as a Central Region Director, I have assisted on both the Administrative and Service Committees. For the Service Committee, I was a member of the Iowa PSA Fall Phestival planning team; this event was a huge success. Currently, I am serving as co-‐leader of the brand new PSA Volunteer Vacation program.” REGIONAL DIRECTOR NOMINEES (two from each region to be elected – listed alphabetically by region): NORTHEAST REGION: Ken Davis (Alexandria VA). Current Position: National Director. Years/Positions on Staff: PTC Dining Hall, Tent City, Asst. Secretary, Asst. Program Mgr. (1960-‐63, 1965-‐66). “Sixty years continuous registered service with BSA including Scoutmaster, District Commissioner, Council Training Chairman, Jamboree Chairman and Philmont Chairman. Member of the National OA Committee since 1974. I have served as PSA board member since 2005. I have managed administrative offices in the civilian government and the US Army responsible for budget, information technology, personnel, travel, training, organizational review and planning and carrying out of events and projects and managing programs over extended periods. Author of the “History of the PSA.” Fr. Don Hummel (Paramus NJ). Current Position: none. Years/Positions on Staff: Catholic Chaplain (1992-‐
2016). “I am currently serving as Chaplain at Paramus Catholic High School, the largest private high school in New Jersey. Fire Service Chaplaincy, Law Enforcement Chaplaincy, Office of Emergency Management Chaplaincy, American Cancer Society, Knights of Columbus, Guest House Board (treatment center for addictions), Council on Alcoholism & Substance Abuse. I am accustomed to conference call meetings having served on the Northeast Regional Board Membership Standards Committee for a number of years. Committee service as the board deems most appropriate but service and/or membership probably make the most sense.” George Segelken (Doylestown PA). Current Position: none. Years/Positions on Staff: Ranger (1971-‐73), Logistics (1974). “Currently I’m a Unit Commissioner (trained) for a pack, two regular troops and a special needs troop; the BSA High Adventure person for Tohickon District and a member of the Washington Crossing Council’s High Adventure Committee. I managed managers for most of my corporate career and have extensive operational auditing experience (auditing field offices and service providers). I think Philmont holds a special place in the hearts of most former staffers. I’d like to see the PSA develop that inkling to stay connected and to “give back” into increased PSA membership. Rick Touchette (Coeymans NY). Current Position: Northeast Region Director. Years/Positions on Staff: Ranger (1971), PC Cyphers, Miranda, Urraca (1972-‐75), CD Abreu, Fish Camp (1976-‐77). “Serving my first term on the Albany County Legislature representing the 37th Legislative District, which is coterminous with the Town of Coeymans. My 30 years of not-‐for-‐profit management leadership and my service on local and national boards provides broad and diverse experience for the PSA board service. I have participated in a number of PSA treks and Northern Tier exchange programs, regional reunions, the LA and Tulsa reunions, and am active in the National Catholic Committee on Scouting. I would like to continue serving on the Service Committee and Scholarship Committee.” -‐4-‐ CENTRAL REGION: Jeff Ash (Clive IA). Current Position: none. Years/Positions on Staff: PC Baldy (1974), Ranger (1975), PC Head of Dean (1976), Logistics (1977). “I've spent most of my adult military life leading, mentoring and developing individuals and teams. As I no longer have a military commitment, I am seeking another outlet to keep me involved in something that is bigger than myself. I served a couple of years as Cubmaster to the pack were my two sons belonged. Service will likely do things that are of interest to me – making our organization stronger and continuing to build on our legacy at the ranch.” Caitlin Lowe (Lincoln NE). Current Position: Service & Membership Committee Member. Years/Positions on Staff: PC (2007-‐08), NPS (2009), CD Fish Camp, Abreu, Beaubien (2010-‐12), Backcountry Mgr. (2013). “Within the past two years I have worked a variety of jobs, three of which were nonprofit organizations including the Arbor Day Foundation, Nebraska Cornhusker Council, and currently at the Nature Explore Program. In addition to immeasurable value of what I learned while on staff at Philmont, my previous job experiences have fueled my authentic passion to give, support, and care for the communities in my life. Lastly, like many, I have a healthy sense of urgency to stay actively involved in the Philmont community and provide an outlet for others to do the same. I look forward to continuing work with the PSA in a capacity that will best suit the group and its members.” Mitch Standard (Macomb IL). Current Position: Central Region Director. Years/Positions on Staff: Ranger (1984), PC Miners (1985). “I have sat on our church council in various capacities including the positions of president and vice president of our congregation. Along with my wife I am currently heading up the committee for the PSA giving campaign for the Building HOmE: The PSA Offices and Philmont Museum Expansion project. I assisted with the planning of the 2015 Iowa PSA Reunion tracing the footsteps of Waite Phillips. I’ve given many presentations to local Scout units for general information and training for their treks to Philmont.” Scott Tritt (Dayton OH). Current Position: none. Years/Positions on Staff: CHQ Services (1979). “My Scouting experience encompasses Den Leader, Cubmaster, Woodbadge training and for the past 17 years I have been an Assistant Scoutmaster. I was a council contingent leader for Florida Seabase twice and Philmont twice. I have participated in four PSA treks. I would like to serve on either the service or development committees; supporting the staff Amigos program is something I would like to expand on.” SOUTHERN REGION: Charles Aldredge (Lewisville TX). Current Position: none. Years/Positions on Staff: Ranger (1976), Training Ranger (1977), CD Cyphers Mine (1978), Asst. Chief Ranger (1979-‐80). “My professional responsibilities centered around coordinating folks with different tasks and abilities, from different companies and a wide variety of client types to achieve a common goal-‐ compromise was a must, sometimes with gentle urging into the “right” decision. I have served on and led training staff and advisory groups within my company and professionally, and have had presentation and speaking roles at conferences and marketing opportunities. Being retired, I now have free time, and more importantly, an open schedule, to spend how I wish. I don’t think I have any compelling reason to pick any one committee in which to participate -‐ hat with the free time allows me to be flexible.” Amy Hall (Edmond OK). Current Position: none. Years/Positions on Staff: PTC Small Fry Director (1996-‐97), Asst. PTC Program Director (1998, 2000-‐01), Fall Session/Tooth of Time Traders (2001), PTC Program Co-‐
Director (2003-‐04). “As an educator, I donated a great deal of my personal time serving on various committees within the school and to several events outside of the school to connect with my students. I am looking forward to my oldest child joining Cub Scouts (soon!) and being able to volunteer in some capacity with his pack. I would gladly serve on the Membership Committee if elected as a board member. I am organized, outgoing and, as a former PTC staffer, I could offer my time and energy to represent and recruit members from all parts of the ranch.” -‐5-‐ Dr. Dan Miller (New Smyrna Beach FL). Current Position: National Director. Years/Positions on Staff: Physician (2006-‐16), PTC Faculty (2005-‐16). “Practicing medicine (ophthalmology) in New Smyrna Beach FL, since 1985. Scoutmaster in 3 World Jamborees, Camp Lanoche physician 1996-‐present. Seeking District Chairman of our local BSA district, Executive Committee Central Florida Council 1996-‐present, faculty at PTC, Philmont Ambassador. I am very close to retirement. This is a chance to serve BSA and PSA.” Joy Pendley (Norman OK). Current Position: none. Years/Positions on Staff: Ranger (1985-‐86). “Most recently I served on the Norman Public School Sexual Assault Taskforce where we developed policy around curriculum and response for schools in the district. I have facilitated search conferences for the OKC Homeless Alliance, the Chickasaw Nation and the OU Center for Social Justice. This kind of planning experience gives me something to contribute the PSA and Philmont. I would be useful in developing programs under the Service Committee, such as the Amigos program or reunions or events.” WESTERN REGION: Thomas Giugni (Fairfield CA). Current Position: none. Years/Positions on Staff: NAYLE Faculty (2007-‐10), Philmont Leadership Challenge Faculty (2011-‐13), Logistics Trip Planner (2011-‐12), Logistics Mgr. (2013-‐16). “Unlike many members of our association, I did not find out about Philmont until I was an adult Scouter and did not have an opportunity to join the PSA until I began to serve as volunteer faculty at the Training Center. Presently, I serve as a Council Executive Board Member-‐at-‐large, Council Youth Protection Champion and the chair of the Leadership Development Task Force with Scouting U at the BSA National Office. I am exposed to hundreds of new seasonal staff members who are not yet members of the PSA. I will be available to personally assist in the recruiting of new seasonal staff members as members of the PSA, as well as help in PSA recruiting activities during the summer.” Ryan King (Denver CO). Current Position: none. Years/Positions on Staff: OATC Foreman (1997-‐98), Conservation Asst. Director (1999), Director of Conservation (2000-‐02), Special Projects Mgr. (2003), Assoc. Director of Program (2004-‐05). “I’ve served on several nonprofit and city boards and as an executive director. I’ve recently gone through an Executive Nonprofit Leadership Program at Harvard and understand the interworking of a nonprofit. I also just joined the Board of Directors of the American Hiking Society. As a nonprofit Executive Director, I feel I can bring a skillset, which lends to understanding the administrative side of an organization, and an understanding of what a staff goes through.” Piper Niehaus (Denver CO). Current Position: Communications Committee Member. Years/Positions on Staff: Ranger (2006-‐2008), Ranger Trainer (2009), Rayado Trek Coordinator (2010). “I have been living in Denver and working for technology companies as a product manager and web developer. My experience in web development would be an asset, since much of the communication between the PSA and its members is remote. Additionally, I’m a board member at Bikes Together, Denver’s nonprofit community bike center, giving me insight into the challenges that nonprofits face. I have also been leading backpacking trips for urban youth as a guide for Big City Mountaineers.” Michael Waggoner (Centerville UT). Current Position: Western Region Director. Years/Positions on Staff: Conservation (1994-‐95), Ranger (1998-‐2005). “I have previously served for 6 years on the PSA and will continue to be involved and help accommodate growth and change within the organization. I helped create the $19.73 club. I think it is important to always be thinking outside of the box and come up with new ways to grow the organization. I will commit to attending the conference calls, regional reunions and when possible the annual reunions.” FOR QUESTIONS OR INFORMATION ABOUT THE ELECTION SCHEDULE, CONTACT PSA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DOLLIE O’NEILL AT 575-‐376-‐1138 OR PSADIRECTOR@PHILSTAFF.ORG -‐6-‐

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