[15234] in APO-L
Re: As an Eagle must fly, so must we.
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Roger Lee Stearns Jr.)
Mon Nov 4 23:29:44 1996
Date: Mon, 4 Nov 1996 22:27:48 -0600
Reply-To: "Roger Lee Stearns Jr." <rstearns@COMP.UARK.EDU>
From: "Roger Lee Stearns Jr." <rstearns@COMP.UARK.EDU>
To: Multiple recipients of list APO-L <APO-L@VM.CC.PURDUE.EDU>
In-Reply-To: <199611050144.TAA19357@comp.uark.edu>
On Mon, 4 Nov 1996, Lee Correll wrote:
> I'll agree - it's not "just history." As for Alpha Phi Omega, we were
> "the Scouting Fraternity", but required membership in BSA was stripped
> years ago. Our principals are NOT based on it - or our principals would
> read "Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient,
> Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent."
I disagree. We are still "the Scouting Fraternity". Our principles are
the Scout Oath and Law, it's in the ritual as set forth by Frank Reed
Horton. Our Three Cradinal Priciples are LFS. If we're not the Scouting
fraternity, what was with the article in Scouting Magazine a few years
back, and the painting that hangs in the National Office..."Scouting Goes
to College."
As far as OA goes, your milage may vary depending on the quality of your
lodge, but it's not a fraternity. True it is a brotherhood. But it is
not the BSA's version of APO. IMHO the OA is a popularity contest in many
if not most lodges in the country. I do know though that there are some
exceptional lodges out there, and I appreciate their high standards.
For the record I am an Eagle Scout and a brotherhood member of the OA, and
have been actve in Scouting for the past 18 years. I do not think APO is
the Boy Scouts, nor do I think it should be. But I do not think we should
distance ourselves from our heritage, as I believe we may be doing, and
that some individuals strenuously believe we should.
In brotherhood,
Roger Stearns
Beta Rho
