Scouting today is with it Commission still holds power line Acton Hydro Commission is dragging its feet on raising consumer power rates but individually the commissioners admit that the time may not be too far distant when rates have to shoot up to make books balance We re operating close to the line secretary treasurer Audrey told the commission at their regular meeting last Thursday There a power bill to meet next week as well as other accounts due and not much of a bank balance News from the auditors also revealed Ontario Hydro is doing a rate study with a view to Increasing the Acton rates According to the auditors report Acton Hydro spent just per cent of its capital budget Superintendent Doug Mason estimates capital spending in 1970 of 650 Almost half is to go towards line rebuilding and over for more work to the substation on Willow St The superintendent said he planned another feeder to prevent overloading at the station which has the capacity to take care of electrical growth in the northern end of Acton from River St Overloading has been the cause of several power breaks but the possibility of this occurring again has been eliminated now that rural customers are being served by a new Nassagaweya substation Question by the vicechairman about the breakdown of ruralurban power ratios the superintendent promised to have a report for the commission Mayor Les Duby suggested the capital budget mark time until council s public works committee has a chance to go over the street lighting plans 400 club winners Lucky winners in last week s Club draw were Bert Fowler Ross Brit ton Randy Rose George Feb rich and Garnet Roszell Following is the text of an address at a recent Scouting Conference which explains the direction the Scout movement is taking today and defends it against those who dismiss it as irrelevant The following paper is in response to many comments heard recently that Scouting is outdated obsolete andor irrelevant When 1 refer to Scouting in this context 1 mean all sections Cubs Scouts Venturers and Rovers as a group even though it s a rather generalized opinion In doing so I think it should be also considered not Scouting alone but as a defence for other organizations I find that there are very few which are really alive so to speak and this is one reason why make this defence What is it that youth really needs and wants We must realize that not always do they want what they need or need what they want but surely there is a balance in these two things One thing that is undoubtedly a desire on the part of young people is their wish to do their own thing Looking at what young people endeavour trying to run the schools control the universities and the success of an organization which is a short term organization such as Junior Achievement indicates that they do want to do their own thing If you look at boys in front of a variety store they are wanting to do their own thing so to speak Even if you go to a younger age 1 think we can argue that they would rather be doing something on their own making a or something like that even than watching television sometimes for lengths of lime with which we as adults do not agree However I know from experience that boys would much rather tight a fire and cook a little meal than sit home This is the one need think that is predominant They also want and I think need to have arms or standards even though they may try to rebel against our standards I suggest they do not rebel against standards which are realistie and which are good I think the standards that they are rebelling against at the present time are really the two facedness of adults the double standard adult hypocrisy 1 think they do want aims which would be realistic and which should be exemplified by adults aims such as love and peace equality of all races Adult guidance is also wanted and of course needed by these young people Again however not the dogmatic dictatorial type of adult guidance but an encouraging one a permissive one but no permissive to the extreme because at the same time think young people ary the first to welcome a rigid hand where rigidity is essentia They want an adult who tries to understand their situation understand their desires and who helps guide them and teach them to do their own thing without burning their hands and learning well too much the hard way Although some hard knocks arc certainly a part of experience Most will agree then that these are the main things that young people want They want to do their own thing that is have responsibility or at least to experiment with responsibility and their own decision making They wjnt to stand up to realistic standards even if they arc not attainable They welcome adult guidance with understanding Now let us look at Scouting First of all it is perhaps one of the organizations in which the program does allow a young person to do his own thing in Cubbing he can make certain choices of the activities in which lie wants to take part although certainly it is nut as flexible as in the older ages In fact one of the critiques of Scouting is that it docs not let them do their own thing and this is where parents and leaders seem to be confused although the boys on the whole like It and of course Venturing and is entirely a self disciplined inter responsible group thing The second need or want is also in Scouting There are aims and standards which ate perhaps oriented toward young peoples desires of today more so in any other organization political standard that exists brotherly love understanding their fellow men to their fellow men the need to be independent Young people want these tlungs and they are in Scouting The third want is also satisfied Scouting allows for a leadership not a dictatorship but a leadership a counselling a guiding adult to work with them and not for the young people Scouting then does everything that most young people want and need If this be true why then is the percentage of young people dropping in its relationship to the Scout movement Why then do I have to defend it if it is so relevant I suggest that the following problems exist not only in the Scout Movement but in most organizations today But for the most part I am referring to Scouting here First when Scouting originated there were very few organization for young people I believe the Y M A and Boys were effect and when Scouting came along many boys went for it as it was one of the few answers to them for most of their desires and activities Today there are many more organizations including specialty organizations as minor hockey leagues and so on so it no longer has to fill he need tor as my of die young people in our population We should stop worrying about numbers and start facing the that we ate not dealing with the same overall needs Scouting is certainly not and never will be all things Co all people A second problem is that while it has the programming to suit the wants and needs of youth today it seems that the people working as leaders will not follow the program They end up little dictators or they end up doing everything opposite some cases to what is intended and boys cannot stand this not what want How many keep the main standards of Scouting even loving and serving God and their fellow men How many even try The boys see this and they will not tolerate hypocrisy A third problem and it will also go into the fourth problem is the complacency of adults I maintain that fathers and mothers are so complacent tint they don even want to take responsibility for filling the needs and wants of their own children They see problems in the world they see youth reaching out to answer them and no one even an interest in them If those who see to youth in Scouting for puents to help make Scouting a they get a very minority The excuse is cither that Scouting is obsolete or they don hive tune or si me such similar thing They will not get involved Mind you they do use Scouting is baby sitting service or as J good thing for someone else tu do An ex of this is how dun I even know who the le of their boys arc They don even investigate to see that they meet the standards that should exist in this Program if it is going be of viluc The ire not watched and this goci education about everything that exists The fourth problem which actually ties with the third one mentioned is the complacency and the disregard of the value of our program by the very people who are in charge of it The leaders the district people local associations in fact most people connected with the Scout movement These have no excuse because they should know the value of the Scout Movement yet for some reason they are failing to make it work National Headquarters are striving to keep the program oriented to today they ate trying to be with it they arc trying to understand this is indicative by most of the things that are passed down and yet so many of this is ignored I would suggest our biggest problem is in the local areas ird the so called officialdom who even encourage in any way that the new be done correctly that leaders be w itched and trained In summary I suggest that Scouting is not obsolete and irrelevant It is perhaps one of the best organ 1 it ions in the world loday winch can not only the thinking of an individtiil but could change tic world by its very standards concepts I that he while it must continually be up dated and revised is with it It is for the young iplc and I submit that the concept of Scouting is still However it is the complacency of the adult world that is fnlmg their young people by not taking like tins making them vibrant and worthwhile so that these young people Will fall in and enjoy life it the same time lc mime the things that they want to learn and to be doing the things they want to do and to be building up a peaceful atmosphere because they want a better world I challenge anyone to consider any flunking and get behind the to look fir the truths in it and then to get to work Scout and Guide Mothers By Marion Patterson As you are probably well aware by now this is Scout and Guide Week throughout Canada and Acton is not sitting by idly waiting for the week to pass The idea is to celebrate Lord Baden Powells founding of this great organization not just by his special day but a whole week set aside for special activities involving the brownies cubs scouts guides rangers and venturers So on Friday night at the hall the scouts and guides will be having a second dance and everyone is looking forward to tins evening in hopes that it will be as much fun as the Christmas dance These youngsters have such a fun time socially that it would do anyone who is currently soured on our youth of today a lot of good just to observe these kids in action The credit is mainly due to their forward thinking leaders in all the groups Saturday from I to m there will be held in the Scout Hall a rummage sale a penny sale and a touch and take table at which all he youngsters will be working will also serve tea to any adults who would like to have it So come and bring your pennies to help the Scout and Guide groups as they have many wonderful plans for the warmer weather On Sunday the groups are all to be at he scout hall at I and from there will be bussed to for a mammoth church parade of the entire district which is due to get underway at 130 This should be a most impressive sight with the color parties and the freshly pressed uniforms On Tuesday night at the Acton Legion hall he annual mother and daughter banquet for Guides and Brownies will be held at So it promises to be a very full week indeed Jim langedyk new president Seek residence for retarded Jim of Milton newly elected president of the North Association for the Mentally Retarded had a kingsized job handed to him when he took over the reins of the group in January Association members are looking Tor a site in the North Hal on area where they can build a residential home for adult retardates The main aim in is finding and a site and gelling a building started prescriptions I DISCOUNT PRICES ARE AVAILABLE IN ACTON WHY GO OUT OF TOWN AT ADDED EXPENSE We invite any md all enquiries on prescription prices HEALTH NEEDS SALE BENYLIN SIZE A A COUGH SYRUP REG 1 131 THROAT LOZENGES REG COLD CAPSULES REG We ASPIRIN 65 CEPAC0L22OZ REG MOUTH WASH 99 399 FLIN0IS9 SUPPORT HOSE ACTON PHARMACY Mr R The Acton Ninety Fifth Year No 34 ACTON ONTARIO WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY SECOND SECTION Many retarded persons live alone and others have no parents to look after tlicm and provide them with a good home life explains he new president Some arc presently living at Centennial Manor in Milton Three sites arc already considered for such a home the executive February meeting was informed The Association wants five to 10 acres of land in the Milton Georgetown or Acton area The land purchase will be subject to the approval of the Ontario Department of Welfare and Family Services The Association continues to operate the ARC Industries workshop at Hornby where retardates are provided with a job which makes hem useful to community and provides a sheltered environment Visitors arc welcomed any day Members arc also still actively involved in the progress of children Sunshine School although the operation of the school has been taken over by Halt on County Board of Education Local retardates will be preparing enter a sports Olympics for retardates from the region six area Burlington to to be held in Mississauga later this year Members were pleased to hear from Mr that lie Milton Lions Club has kindly donated an typewriter for the use of the Association It will be greatly appreciated Ralph Barton of Georgetown is past president of the Association Bin Cannon of MiKon is first vice president Jake of Acton is second vice president Mrs Joyce Barton of Georgeiown is treasurer Mrs Olive Nye of Milton is recording and Mrs Langedyk of Milton is corresponding secretary Committee chairmen arc Bill Treahy of Georgetown adult service Mr finance Syd Dance of Milton property Mrs J home care Mn Leo Close of Milton program Bin Cannon Milton residential Winter camp hike tour highlight Venturers year Venturer leader Kevin Conroy Ins submitted an annual report of the past year program for the 1st Acton Venturers for publication in the Free Press Venturers arc boys 14 and over and the meetings arc Mondays from to Anyone interested may contact Mr at Fall Season Election of officers ended up with John Van treasurer Bruce Fowler secretary and Sam Sclu nnop quartermaster Projects included canoe building aulo mechanics and aero modeling District registration proved have the Venturer Company in the District winch is mainjy due to having our own Scout Hall thanks o the Rotary Club During lie fall season the projects off due to the isolated of a few people In order to stem this decline it was decided to fix a program for a trial period which would give extra activities and still allow to carry on for those who weic interested Winter Camp Jan 16 17 and Art Brown The menu by Georgetown research Peggy of Georgetown public relations Mrs Cannon membership Mrs W I sham Milton bulletins Miss Shawru McCoy of Milton recreation Ray Banner of MiKon campaign and Mrs Dance of Milton scrap book Scouts of winter romp ACTON SCOUTS set up camp and do some outdoor cooking at a district winter weekend camp near Waierdown Saturday and Sunday Feb and Counsellors and Glen Jackson stayed overnight with the boys in the tents and scoutmaster Gord McCann and counsellor Harry Woodman joined them Sunday The Acton troop won two trophies in the competition or javelin throwing and tobogganing Scout Photos Church parade Sunday A Scout and Guide Week feature this Sunday afternoon it an Interdenominational church panda tor Scout Guides Brownies and Cubs in the Georgetown district which included Acton and district troops and packs Holy Cross Catholic Church in Georgetown is to be the scan of the service which will feature folk It was picked it is the largest church in the district The parade assemble with color parties in the basement of the church and parade upstart to the sanctuary Clergy taking part are Father Gerald Craig of Holy Cross Rev Robert Scrrvens St John United Rev Johnston St Andrews United and Rev of St Altons Anglican Mayors of The communities have also been invited Tins was held farm and budget Sam and permission to camp by Sheldon Barker Tlie barn provided excellent shelter fur sleeping and for those who could I sleep the various animal noises from below were accompaniment for the night Once the were acclimatised to the obvious aioma it wjs very comfortable in he of hay even though something did crawl over my back in the night fireplace and kitchen set among old car wrecks was comfortably furnished with various seats There was plenty of firewood and water was available at the house Although the general setting was mellowed by a covering of snow 1 don t think BadenPowell would have been too impressed Our congratulation J to John Van who passed his driving test and was able to assist in transportation However after flushing him out of snow piles or the umpteenth time this asset was somewhat doubtful Those attending the camp were John Van Bob 0 Routke Ian Strange Sam nop and Sheldon Barker Winter Hike Jan 1 Starting out from the Scout Hall at 7 a m the lads were dropped the Buffalo Pass at Rattlesnake Point John Van planned the hike which ran south along the Bruce Trail through the old calcium pits and alongside roads lo Mount Nemo The path the escarpment along the top of Mount Nemo for the full length and dropped off at No on Walker line Due to gjod snow conditions and snowmobile tracks he hike was by m and the lads had kick frozen feet until p m when they were picked up Those on he hike were John Sam and Ben Visit to Feb A party of IS which included Venturers and Rangers were conducted on a tour of the Acton plant by Mr Various stages from the raw hides the product were cove re J during the evening Refreshments were provided by the company and each person received a gift at the end of the tour The versatility required to keep abreast of modern fashions was evident by the countless finishes and patterns being productd As explained by Mr this is a continuous battle as no one really knows wh it will be fashionable next year We would like to thank and Company for heir hospitality A special thanks to Mr who sacrificed his one night off from mayoral duties to show us Forthcoming events Feb 16 7 pin Scout Hall Visit Burlington Police Headquarters arranged by local OPP Officer Bruce McArthur Feb Ranger and Venturer danec Want counsellor North Halton will soon have a full time attendance counsellor to deal with repeated absenteeism in North schools Prior to several north school board employed part time attendance officers but ceased to do this at the end of June 1969 Superintendent of special education and student services W Armstrong told the County Board Friday there was a need for a full tune man in the northern part of the county The attendance counsellor works closely with the social worker and recently the social worker has been serving as attendance counsellor as well The Board hopes to find a person with some exposure to child psychology to handle the position Remuneration will be in the 000 to bracket and the successful applicant will begin September 1970