Wake: Monday 8/16 from 4-9 p.m. (broken arrow ceremony 7:30)
Hallowell & James Funeral Home
1025 West 55th Street
Countryside, IL 60525
(708) 352-6500
 
Funeral: Tuesday 8/17 at chapel at 10:45 a.m.
Then Funeral Mass at 11:15 at St. John of the Cross
5005 Wolf Rd., Western Springs, IL 60558  

Tue Aug 10 16:32:30 2010
Ron Derby - Whitehall, MI
OSA Picnic this Sunday
Just a reminder that the OSA Family Picnic is this Sunday, August 15th starting at 11:00 a.m.

The picnic is FREE fun for all ages... kids games, softball, fellowship... just pack your cooler and come on out!

The location is Arie Crown Forest Preserve (adjacent to last year's picnic grove).  The entrance is located on the west side of LaGrange Road at 67th (just north of I-55).  

Wed Jul 14 08:44:23 2010
Uncle Willie Vannerson - McHenry, IL
Owasippe Task force report - A Conservation Issue
Another issue not addressed by the task force or its report is the need to conduct prescribed burns to restore and maintain endangered habitats. The areas south of Wolverine Lake in particular are important as they are among the last remaining examples of oak savannas (http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10370_22664-70403--,00.html) and pine barrens (http://web4.msue.msu.edu/mnfi/communities/community.cfm?id=10694) in the State of Michigan. And as these habitats disappear, so do the species that rely upon the ecosystem. Most notably the endangered Karner Blue Butterfly and Massasauga Rattlesnake. Burning in these habitats is a normal part of their ecosystem that has been disrupted by man and over 100 years of fire suppression, which allows the oaks and other tree species to forest over the grass and sedges.

One potential benefit of relocating family camp and creating a buffer (zone 3) from program areas is being able to implement a habitat restoration and maintenance program that includes prescribed burns. The southern half of zone 5 would also be a good target area for this practice. Removing structures from the area reduces the risk of property damage and lessens the impact man has on the area. Prescribed burns also provide good stimulus for other wildlife as well, deer, turkey and grouse populations will grow.

As the Council reviews the task force’s report I strongly encourage them to take these points in consideration as they consider conservation buyers. Conservation is not limited to the absence of development but also must include an active plan to protect the natural integrity of the habitats. The counsel should seek out those buyers who will be willing to take on this responsibility or at least allow others, potentially including Boy Scouts, to participate in protecting our heritage. Scouting should take the lead in preserving our natural wonders and the Chicago Area Council has a unique opportunity at this point in history to make a powerful impact for generations to come.
 

Wed Jul 14 08:11:09 2010
Uncle Willie Vannerson - McHenry, IL
Reinhard's response
Reinhard responded to the issues and questions I posted last week in Ron's Scarlet Sassafras - May Blast. Reprinted here with his permission.

"1. It will have an environmental impact which will have to be carefully considered. No way to avoid those consequences. Crown was suggested as the area that might handle it the best.

2. Currently we camp 3000 in out of council. Research indicates that
will not materially change for 25 years. We could double that number
with the current foot print.

No decision has been made regarding family camp. It might stay were it
is (unlikely). It might be moved to Grey Village, it might be
reconstructed in a libation to be determined.

3. Area 4 will require a conservation easement that protects the environmental nature of the property and the specific hiking trails use by the CAC. Areas marked 5 did not rise to that same level of concern even though it would still be offered to a conservation purchaser.

4. The buffer issue was raised with respect to campsite 5 at Wolverine
South and The North end of Blackhawk with respect to staff row and the
range.

NOTE: The issues that were raised are to be specifically addressed as
the work of a 'Master Plan" goes forward. So far nothings has been
decided and the current economic climate does not bode well for fining any acceptable conservation buyers.

Please continue to submit specific concerns and suggestions.

Reinhard Plaut OSR Task Force/Board member  

Fri Jul 9 15:01:07 2010
Uncle Willie Vannerson - McHenry, IL
Owasippe Task force report
I have a few comments & questions.

1. Horse corral
I understand the desire of containing program areas within the mission critical property. It makes it easier to support, maintain and control the program. However, I have concerns from an environmental impact. If you have been on the current horse trails you can easily see how hard the animals are on the ecosystem. Erosion and changes to the ecosystem in different plants and therefore animal life. Where it’s at now the program would be considered a high impact area where the impact is restricted to a small space. The forest service employs this approach to their wilderness camp sites. But by moving it we wreck that damage upon new habitat. Granted, years of service as a scout camp has changed the area around Crown so it’s no longer pristine. But not nearly as much damage as the horses would wreck upon the land. And the old riding trails make take resources and many years to recover, unless the plan is to leave it as is (I would hope not).

I don’t have a solution as I’m not an expert in this area. But I wonder if there are steps that can be taken when constructing new trails that will reduce erosion and impact on the surrounding habitat. Or is there a way to leave the corral outside of the mission critical property and still have control over the program. This would confine the damage to the area already in use today.

2. Camp Carlin
There seems little thought that someday the demand for campsites may exceed Wolverine and Blackhawk. Current demographics may not support this concept. But we must consider changes in the next 100-200 years. At some point in the not too distant future, tracts of land like Owasippe will be rare, especially in the Midwest. And outdoor program opportunities and the groups that support them may become in vogue once again. After all, the ideals of the Scouting program have withstood the test of time and are fundamental truths of our social morality.

Or is the area where the future family camp may be relocated too?

3. What’s the distinction between area 4 and area 5?
Both are labeled “Non-critical or low priority property” and I see no differentiation in the supporting text that identifies why they are separate and distinct instead of joined together.

4. And the buffers…
I intuitively understand the concept of buffers but there’s nothing in the report in terms of guidance to the council why the exist and, more importantly, how they are to be treated. Are they areas to be sold to a conservation buyer but have different restrictions than areas 4 & 5.  

Thu Jul 8 20:48:42 2010
Herbert Dulzo - Evergreen Park, IL
Owasippe Task force report
Not splitting hairs at all. Using the word mandate is incorrect.
The correct word is recommendation, or simply findings.
Not "for Owasippe as mandated in the report to the board" I guess I spend to much time in composition class. Always correcting things when i read them.

verb (used with object)
10. to authorize or decree (a particular action), as by the enactment of law.
11. to order or require; make mandatory: to mandate sweeping changes in the election process.
 

Wed Jul 7 16:40:32 2010
Greg Brunet - Chicago Ridge, IL
Owasippe task force report
Herb,

To split hairs, the word mandate was not used in reference to the report but in the context of the Master Plan planning process.

Yes, the report consists of recommendations to the board and the board approved further study of these recommendations. Once the board approved them, they become guidelines under which to proceed. The report does mandate the first step is beginning this Master plan process I have made reference to.

I believe I have made it quite clear that "things could change" once the Master planning group reviews in depth, the merits of proposals included in the report.

The need for the Master Plan process is not optional within the report, as it is the vehicle along which ideas and and thoughts travel. This process became mandatory simply because of the need to organize detail as to how, what and where we make things happen.
This process is a mandatory and actionable exercise to insure a future for Owasippe.

Hopefully, that clarifies the use of the word "mandates".  

Wed Jul 7 12:48:02 2010
Herbert Dulzo - Evergreen Park, IL
Owasippe task force report
Greg
Your description is correct, however you used the word mandate which is certainly not the case. The report is just a recomendation.

Mon Jul 5 11:12:09 2010
Greg Brunet - Chicago Ridge, IL
Owasippe task force report
The Owasippe task force report is now posted on the CAC websibe: chicagobsa.org
It includes a map of the mission critical areas. Of special interest are the remarks in the report about "section 3" of the property.

Because of its size, it may take a few minutes to open the document when you try accesing it through the CAC website.  

Thu Jun 10 13:36:39 2010
Donald Korta Jr, - Bolingbrook, IL

Wow, thanks for the excellent and detailed response Greg, I really appreciate it.  

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