... finally gets his hometown due. Kind of.
After 30 years of service to scouting Scouter Stan Lasenba has been inducted in to the Smiths Falls Recreational Hall of Fame. Stan was my cub leader in the 70's and he's still at it... now that "my ladies" are in Beaver and Cubs.... that's dedication. He has won the highest awards in Scouting and was even awarded the Canada 125 medal. Established Whispering Pines Scout Camp on Christie Lake ... Smiths Falls citizen of the year 1984.... Active legion member .... do I need to go on ??? The man is incredible.
The fact that it took 26 years to induct Stan in this Hall is completely typical of the disregard the Town has of the good works done by the 2nd Smiths Falls group. Late last year the Scouts went before both Town and Montague councils asking for $100 for each Scout living in the municipality heading to the Canadian Jamboree. Montague agreed, Smiths Falls did not.
Can someone please explain to me why hockey and figure skating are worthy of thousands of taxpayer dollars each year ( that proposed (threatened ?)lawsuit to recover the $8000 in ice time is classic) and Scouts not $1000 once ... and this was the first time they asked.
... that one has got me baffled.
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6 comments:
Another perspective:
When I saw that the scouts had asked for support, I was not in agreement. Not because I don't value them, because I certainly do. I disagree with the concept because it would open up a whole huge issue of who to support. Anyone who is involved in hockey, or soccer, or skating knows that lots and lots of money is spent by parents to get their kids to tournaments throughout the year. The fact that scouts would have expenses from time to time that are similar, is not surprising. It is one of the "ouches" of having your kids involved in an activity. I strongly believe that all activities should be supported by the communtity so all kids can participate in whatever they are interested in. So, when someone comes to your door asking for bottles for a bottle drive, or selling cookies or bread or whatever.,,,please pay up. I will. But, I do not think that this is a formal taxpayer issue. I agreed with smiths fall's decision, and was dissapointed in montague's, although the spirit of their reasoning was for all the right reasons.
I was hoping someone would comment on this ...
I actually agree with you ... taxpayers should be insulated from this type of thing ... there is the issue of where to draw the line. Whenever I think about what should be taxpayer funded I try to think of the great-grandmother down the road trying to hold on to her house on a fixed income ... what does she NEED.
To that end .. and I guess I should have been more clear about this ... Municipal taxpayers are on the hook for hundreds of thousands each year to support the two arenas... and perhaps up to 9 Million $$ should this new arena be built ... WHY ??? I could care less that it costs xx$ amount to play hockey or figure skate... if you want your child to play ... then YOU PAY. Don't ask the great-grandma to share in the expense.
Otherwise ... the kids can play hockey just the way I did ... on the street ... and on natural ice when weather permits.
Oh, BTW ... the Scouts did it largely on the own ... and learned a valuable lesson in the process.
Did you have a thought as to why it took 26 years to recoginize Stan for his good works ... and some young whipper-snaper .. who could play hockey ...gets it in a much shorter time frame.
well,,,,I soooo have to disagree with you here. Lets imagine this for a brief moment. :-)
-I don't drive a car: I shouldn't pay for roads.
-I am of a religion that does not believe in seeking medical care. I should not pay for hospitals and health care.
-I can not read and don't want to learn. I should not have to support libraries through my tax dollars.
-I do not have children and don't like them. :-) I should not have to pay for schools.
-I am not disabled and should not have to pay any tax dollars towards supporting them.
-I do not play soccer and never go to lower reach so I should not have to pay to maintain it.
-No children=no play structure.
-Hate Museums=I don't pay.
You get the picture. Of course we should pay for an arena through our tax dollars. Imagine what kind of world we would create if we only supported our own interest. I see this as totally seperate from me paying my own way to get my child on a Scouting trip or paying registration for a sport.
(***For The Record: this scenario does not even sort of describe the real me. :-)***)
How bout no curling arena and no lift locks? Don't curl and No money to buy a boat. :-)
I hope when I am a Great Grandma That I remember that someone else paid for those facilities when my kids were young or before they were born.
And, heh,,,How about Jails. Why should I have to pay for that?? LOL!
(Somebody stoooooooop me!!!!!!!!)
No, don't stop ... this is exactly what i'm after ... it's nice to see someone around with an opinion on something other than Page's incessant obsession with having the media pay attention to him (and man, is he getting desperate !).
I think you proved my point though ... all types of recreation rx government support ... to leave Scouts out was mean spirited.
Roads are more than paid for through excise taxes ... we'd be driving on gold if all of that money was used where it was generated...
I'm only aware of one religion (or cult, in that particular case)that would let children die rather than seek medical attention ...
With the internet, libraries (as far as study goes)are fast becoming redundant .. no argument here.
Schools .. well ... we do need someone to pay our CPP in due course.
Soccer, Baseball, and Lower Reach ... the expense for maintaining doesn't even come close to maintaining 2 rinks ... like 10% .. maybe.
I think the Curling/Squash club is wholly financed by members.. but i'm not sure.
Of course we should pay for an arena through our tax dollars....I see this as totally seperate from me paying my own way to get my child on a Scouting trip or paying registration for a sport
You haven't convinced me yet ... the dollars for arenas both in construction and long term maintenance are incredible ... and why does SF need 2 ?? Perth and CP (which is larger than SF now) have only one ... for the Town to spend $9Mill on a new rink now is crazy. Ironically, this is the same figure bantered around to get a light rail link to the city .. tell me .. which one is likely to attract new residents to the area ??
One more question ... what do hockey teams and the figure skating club do to "repay" some of this cash to the community....
Scouting receives no such money ... yet it is the 2nd SF group that are out every year cleaning up the trash for the pigs that leave it laying around ... every year as part of the REAL pitch in.
Jails ... I'd gladly pay 10 times than I do now ... lock 'em up for good (especially the diddlers !!)
Your move ....
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