Nova Scotia Council

So basically the entire Nova Scotia Council was let go and/or reorganized and/or replaced. I'd like someone from National to explain this situation, why it had to happen, why it was done the way it was and what they're going to do to improve things. The Action Plan calls for democratic reforms (section3.2) so I'd like National to explain if this is their idea of a democratic reformation.

Garth
Alberta

Here's the link to Janet Yale's message: topic306.html

December 20, 2010

Dear Fellow Scouters:
I am sure that you must be wondering what has taken place recently in Nova
Scotia Council. I know that there have been many different stories circulating
and that there has been a variety of explanations coming from our National
representatives. In the interest of clarity and truth I felt it was necessary to
assemble the following chronicle of what actually has taken place.

Apparently on December 12th a meeting was called by Janet Yale, CEO of Scouts
Canada, to meet with the Council Support Team (CST), supposedly to discuss a
specific but unrelated item. An Agenda had been circulated for this meeting and
was agreed to by all. What did take place at that meeting was that Janet Yale
took the floor as soon as the meeting began and informed those present that she
had just removed Fred Whyte as Council Commissioner for N.S. Council.

Please note that Fred Whyte was removed from his position by Scouts Canada,
i.e. National. Despite what you may have heard or even been told, Fred did not
step down for medical reasons, he was forcibly removed from his position. Chief
Commissioner Kent's comments on Friday night past that Fred stepped down for
medical reasons are simply not true. Why is this being hidden from you?

N.S. Council has always taken the position that having Outdoor Skills training
as a mandatory part of the WBI training was a wise thing to do. Fred's
predecessors in the position of Council Commissioner had also supported this
stance. When National raised this with Fred he surveyed a number of members of
the Council for their feedback. Apparently he received almost 100% support to
maintain mandatory Outdoor Skills training. However at the repeated insistence
from National that this was not allowed to do so, he did eventually acquiesce
and agree to remove the Outdoor Skills training as a mandatory item. He sent a
notice to this effect to the Area Commissioners and few other senior Council
members.

Supposedly it was this limited circulation notice that was used as the
reason/excuse to remove him from his position. Certain wording was deemed to be
not appropriate despite Fred having agreed to publish a retraction, which has
been done, to all N.S. Council members.

A key question that we all must ask is why was Fred removed in such a very
public and some might say humiliating manner just prior to Christmas? Why was
his reputation and honour dealt such a blow? As Fred's term in office was due
for renewal in late January, why not simply just wait till that time and not
simply renew his term? Why was this matter handled in such an unscouting like
manner? What were the motives behind this?

Last Sunday (12th) Janet Yale sent an email out to a number of NS Scouters, I am
sure you have heard of it, even if you haven't seen it. In that email she
advises that Fred is no longer the Council Commissioner and goes on to say "It
is a longstanding practice in Scouts Canada for the Council Commissioner to
build his/her team by appointing volunteers to the Council Leadership Team. In
keeping with Scouting practice, please be advised that the Team (CST) under Mr.
Whyte has been disbanded".

As you are likely aware, in NS Council the Commissioner's service team is
appointed and their term should end with the Commissioner's term. The Service
Team includes all Area Commissioners, Council Youth Commissioner and certain
other positions such as DCC Training, DCC Publicity, DCC Honours and Awards and
DCC Program.However the Council Support Team or CST (DCC Admin, Secretary,
Treasurer, DCC Properties, and Members at Large) is not appointed directly by
the Commissioner. In actual fact the CST is determined by an open nomination
process that is ratified by the Council members at the Annual General Meeting.
As was seen at the AGM in November, these positions can be subject to a required
vote when more than one name is nominated for a position, a truly democratic
process. Ms. Yale's email of last Sunday alludes to eventually using a
democratic process to fill these positions, to do so by anything less than a
public nomination system followed by an open voting process by which all those
16 years of age and older in Nova Scotia Council get to vote should simply be
unacceptable to Nova Scotia scouters.

However the very major question remains, why in the actions taken last Sunday
did National specifically target the Commissioner and members of the Council
Support Team while ignoring the Service Team? Was there a hidden agenda at play
here? If established protocol had been followed correctly the CST would still be
in place while all the Service team positions would need to be filled by
temporary people.

All Nova Scotia scouters need to stop and ask why these actions have been
taken. Why were democratically elected scouters removed from their positions?
What was the reason behind doing this? Assuming that this action is allowed to
stand; will Nova Scotia scouters be allowed to exercise their democratic right
to vote for replacements?

Eight years ago Nova Scotia Council was nearly bankrupt. Under the inspired
leadership of a changing number of Nova Scotia volunteers over the past several
years the Council has been brought back to a position of strength. Leadership of
Nova Scotia Council by those chosen by Nova Scotia scouters must be allowed to
continue.

Please show your support for Fred and the CST as they were chosen by NS Council
scouters through a democratic process. Don't accept these heavy handed tactics
by our National office; unite with your fellow scouters to show National that
their tactics will not work.

Yours in Scouting Concerned Scouter

PS Please share this information with as many fellow scouters as you can.

December 23, 2010


Dear Friends in Scouting:

You may be aware of an email that is being anonymously distributed by a “Concerned Scouter” regarding leadership changes which have taken place in Nova Scotia. This email raises some inaccurate and misleading information that is of concern to Scouts Canada.

The email follows Scouts Canada’s recent decision not to re-appoint Fred Whyte as Council Commissioner for another year owing to philosophical differences. Fred Whyte and I have agreed that it is in the best interests of Scouting in Nova Scotia to keep these matters confidential, and the leadership changes will have no impact on our delivery of formative adventures and experiences to over 3,200 youth throughout the Council. Most of you are aware of the very high regard in which I hold Fred and I was delighted to announce last week that he has agreed to serve as interim Area Commissioner for Cape Breton. I share Fred’s passion for Scouting, admire his commitment to the movement, and am genuinely pleased that our programs in Nova Scotia will continue to benefit from his leadership and experience.

It is a longstanding practice for Council Commissioners to build their own advisory teams. In keeping with Scouting practice, since Fred Whyte is no longer serving in the Council Commissioner role, the previous team of advisors is no longer in their roles. Scouts Canada would like to thank the outgoing Nova Scotia Council Commissioner and the Council Service Team for their commitment and important contribution to the best interests of Scouting and hope all will remain active in the Scouting movement.

Scouts Canada is committed to providing consistent challenging programs for boys, girls and youth across Canada. We apply a comprehensive set of procedures and safeguards consistently across the country that are designed to ensure that youth are able to engage in fun and challenging outdoor activities while assuring their safety and security at all times.

Scouts Canada looks forward to working with our newly appointed interim Council Commissioner, Mr. Terry Greenham. Terry will work with John DeRosenroll, Council Youth Commissioner, and Jimmy Khatri, Council Executive Director to manage the seamless operation and delivery of Scouting in Nova Scotia. As well, the following Scouters have been appointed as interim Deputy Council Commissioners to help with the transition: Mr. Sam Elsworth, Mr. Jon Noble, Mr. John Cross, Mr. Ian Travers, Mr. Gary Thurston, Mr. David Lincourt, Mr. Peter Koskolos, Father Duncan McMaster and Mr. Don Sanford.

In keeping with Scouts Canada policy, recruitment for all Council positions will be posted as part of our public appointments process, starting with the Council Commissioner. I expect this to be posted publicly within the first quarter of 2011 and all Nova Scotia Scout volunteers are welcome to apply.

If you have any questions about the leadership changes in Nova Scotia or any other Scouting matter, feel free to contact me at jyale@scouts.ca or 613-224-5134 ext. 278.

I would also encourage you to share this information with your fellow Scouters, and would like to thank you once again for your commitment to Scouting.

Yours in Scouting

Janet Yale
Executive Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer
Scouts Canada

I would appreciate if Ms. Yale could provide even a single example of where an entire council service team was replaced when the council commissioner finished their term.

Garth

Why should Ms Yale have to do that...it is, IMMHPO, not relevant to the situation.

I must be missing something: could someone please explain how a decision not to re-appoint a CC necessitates removal from the position rather than letting the CC finish their term? I also do not see the necessity of removing the entire CST, when they could easily continue in their positions until replaced (as the case may be) by the new CC.

The Concerned Scouter Letter also charged that the announcement of this decision was brought up at a meeting unrelated to the issue. Janet's response has not addressed this; could you please clarify Janet?

It's relevant Errol because she is stating that it is in keeping with Scouting practice for the council service team to be released/removed from their positions when the council commissioner's term ends. I'd like to know just where that is being practiced. I want her to explain it because I don't believe it to be the case but I'm willing to be taught regarding this if she can provide an example.

Garth

Just curious, does anyone know how old Fred Whyte is?

It's relevant Errol because she is stating that it is in keeping with Scouting practice for the council service team to be released/removed from their positions when the council commissioner's term ends. I'd like to know just where that is being practiced. I want her to explain it because I don't believe it to be the case but I'm willing to be taught regarding this if she can provide an example.
Garth

Ms. Yale said:

It is a longstanding practice for Council Commissioners to build their own advisory teams

I was under the impression thsat when a Council Commissioner was appointed, that he had the right/privledge of choosing his own team if he so desired. Correct me if I am wrong.

IF I am right, then what Ms. yale said is a logical conclusion of that fact.

Then shouldn't it be the new CC Terry Greenham announcing the new appointments of his CST?

With National making the announcement of a whole new Nova Scotia Council, sure seems like they were all hand picked as "yes men" (or women).

Then shouldn't it be the new CC Terry Greenham announcing the new appointments of his CST?
With National making the announcement of a whole new Nova Scotia Council, sure seems like they were all hand picked as "yes men" (or women).

Terry is NOT the new CC...he is the INTERIM CC, as are the rest of his Council members; Ms. Yale clearly states that the normal procedures will be followed to choose a new CC.

I doubt that you could qualify either Sam Elsworth or Jon Noble as yes men. Sam sat in Ms Yale's chair as Rob Stewart's predecessor, they called it National Commissioner back then and not E/C.

Ms. Yale said:
It is a longstanding practice for Council Commissioners to build their own advisory teams

Ms. Yale is 100% correct. In the early 1970's I was Executive Assistant to Trenton District Commissioner Sgt Tom Geogeon. When Tom Geogeon resigned unexpectantly, I should , as a member of his Service Team resigned just as quickly. I did not, I waited until my job was filled by someone else. My indecision and failure to remove my Service Team flashes from my Scout uniform( I was willing to complete my Scouting year.) ,still after 40 years has a number of former Trenton District Scouting members annoyed with me.When a Council or District Commisioner leaves his Scouting postion his or her staff are expected to follow suit immediately( even if they are not informed or disagree) and let others fill that Leadership void immediately.

An entire council service team was changed. IF this is long standing practice why have I never heard of it? Why was my own council's service team not released/changed when the current council commissioner came along?

And the biggest why...if this is long standing practice WHY is there even an issue happening because of it? The fact that the CEO saw fit to put out a letter on this forum and that the same letter is posted on the National web site, is, by its very existence, evidence that something about this change is different/amiss/wrong!!! There is simply no other reason to announce the implementation of a long standard practice, a standard process if you will, UNLESS what happened was out of the ordinary.

Garth
Alberta

The issue that I wish was being addressed more is: why do our policies and bylaws give the CEO this power?

Scouting began as a grassroots movement. You bought the book, you started a troop, you were a Scout. Now it is a top-down structure with many Commissioners, etc. at the various levels under the control of a governing body rather then the grassroots volunteers they work with and for.

I agree there is a place for National (or Scouts Canada as it can be referred to) but is a hierarchical dictatorship (as this incident suggests) within the Scouting Spirit? Do all volunteers (the vast majority of us) have a say in this structure? Nope, only a select few - and only in limited fashion.