Sale of Haliburton Samac Adventure base

From Scout Eh mailing list:

Please tell me this is not true. I heard a rumour from some very reliable sources that said they are selling the Camp Samac Adventure base up in Haliburton. From what I understand this decision was made at an emergency meeting by the Area Commissioners. They say it is not being used. They also need to get out of debt.
So instead of promoting the camp, advertising, fundraising, discussing which camp to keep such as they did in Quebec, a select few has made a hasty decision. Was everyone given all the information. Did they feel pressure to make the decision? Who made the decision? How was the research done?
Was everything done to keep this camp and find other ways to get out of debt?

Why is this not being discussed at the grass roots level? Why are scouters not given an opportunity to collectively work together to find a solution? Why is this all done quietly behind close doors?
Once this is gone it will be gone forever. Our grandchildren will never have the opportunity to enjoy this peacefully place.
I just hope this is just a nasty rumour and if it is not, I hope it is not too late to turn the ship around.
Can someone anyone give me some answers?
Thank you
Clare Ford

For those who do not know Haliburton the description from Liam Morland Scoutdocs: web page "The camp is a beautiful piece of Haliburton Highlands wilderness with half the frontage on Lake of Two Islands. This property offers outstanding opportunities for wilderness camping from a base camp. Samac Adventure Base has many developed sites on the lake that date back to the 1960's. Canoes, kayaks, sailboats, and wind boards are available with a sand beach for an exciting water program. There is a 1.5 km mountain biking trail with hills" from Liam Morland's web site scoutdocs.

Hi folks...thought I might be of some help in clarifying the questions addressed in the above post. May I draw your attention to this letter from the White Pine Council Management Team which has been posted to the White Pine Council website. This letter is being shared with all White Pine DCCs and Area Commissioners.
Hope this helps!
Susie

April 29, 2010

Dear Scouters:

As many of you are aware our membership has been declining for the past few years and our debt load has climbed as a result. As a Council Management Team it was time to sit together and strategize what we could do to revitalize Scouting in White Pine Council.

Upon reviewing the Scouting Now Action Plan and then creating our implementation plan we needed to get busy and review everything in the council including processes/servicing/membership retention/recruitment/finances/properties and program delivery. As part of those discussions it was a majority vote (1 opposed) deciding that we research and create a business case for our Council Camps. We (the Management Team, which consists of the Council Commissioner, Council Treasurer, Youth Commissioner and the Area Commissioners) have tasked our Properties Manager to do the research and to report back on progress at our May Management Committee.

Please note, there has NOT been any decision to sell Haliburton Adventure Base. We wanted to provide you with this letter of confirmation of our actions thus far which should help you if you hear or see any email traffic to the contrary.

When we have finished our revitalization plan, please rest assured there will be opportunities for dialogue through a number of “Town Hall” meetings to be held in several locations within the council. This will ensure we move forward collectively in addressing our challenges. Meeting times and dates will be posted on the White Pine website.

In order for all of us to meet our Mission for Scouting we all need to know what the plan is and where each of us in our roles fit in. We will need your help as we move forward focussing on what is really important, which means ensuring that every child and young person who has not yet experienced Scouting in White Pine Council will still have the opportunity to do so. We owe it to them and their parents! In fact, we owe it to ourselves.

Yours very sincerely,

The White Pine Council Management Team:

Dave Fletcher, Council Commissioner, Debbie Lyng, Council Treasurer and (Lakeshore Finance), David Millie, Youth Commissioner, and seven Area Commissioners including Carlos Silva, AC-Owasco, Victor Woodburne, AC Whitby, Mike Hurley, AC-Oshawa, Jim Walter, AC-Trillium Highlands, Rob Shafer, AC-Lakeshore Ridge, Everett Dalmas (proxy for Beth Cleaton), AC-Algonquinte, Sue Reinhart, AC-Kawartha Waterways.

Cc: Chief Commissioner
EC/CEO
National Youth Commissioner
EOAC Employees