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A6 U.S. NEWS
Saturday 23 November 2019
Boy Scouts mortgage vast New Mexico ranch as collateral

By DAVID CRARY ing "all available options"
AP National Writer to maintain its programs
The Boy Scouts of America and has not ruled out the
has mortgaged one of the possibility of filing for bank-
most spectacular proper- ruptcy.
ties it owns, the vast Philm- Seeking to ease some of
ont Scout Ranch in New the financial pressure, the
Mexico, to help secure a BSA announced in Octo-
line of credit as the finan- ber that the annual mem-
cially strapped organiza- bership fee for its 2.2. mil-
tion faces a growing wave lion youth members will
of new sex-abuse lawsuits. rise from $33 to $60, while
The BSA said Friday that the fee for adult volunteers
it has no plans to sell the will rise from $33 to $36. The
property, and that the land news dismayed numerous
is being used as collater- local scout leaders, who
al to help meet financial had already started regis-
needs that include rising tering youths for the com-
insurance costs related to ing year.
sex-abuse litigation. In this July 2001 file photo, a double rainbow is shown in the early evening in Philmont Scout According to Stinnett, the
However, the move dis- Ranch, N.M. BSA used the ranch as col-
mayed a member of Philm- Associated Press lateral to secure $446 mil-
ont's oversight committee, members, Stinnett — a Col- "But I am even more dis- 1939, more than 1 million lion of debt with J.P. Mor-
who says it violates agree- orado-based lawyer — de- tressed to learn that Waite Scouts and other adven- gan Chase.
ments made when the cried the financial maneu- Phillips' magnificent gift turers have camped and Stinnett wrote that ranch
land was donated in 1938. ver and the lack of consul- has now been put at risk," hiked on the property, committee member Julie
The BSA disputed his asser- tation with the committee. Stinnett added. which now covers more Puckett — a granddaugh-
tion. "I cannot begin to tell you Phillips was a successful oil- than 140,000 acres (56,650 ter of Waite Phillips — had
Top BSA officials signed the how sorry I am to be the man who used some of his hectares). One of its many urged BSA officials in recent
document in March, but one to break this news to fortune to develop a huge trails leads to the 12,441- weeks to recognize Philm-
members of the Philmont you," Stinnett wrote. "The ranch in northeastern New foot (3,793-meter) summit ont as a restricted asset
Ranch Committee only re- first point of the Scout Law Mexico. In 1938, and again of Baldy Mountain. based on the understand-
cently learned of the de- is 'A Scout is trustworthy.' in 1941, he donated two In a statement provided to ings of all parties when Phil-
velopment, according to I am distressed beyond large tracts of the ranch to The Associated Press, the lips donated the land.
committee member Mark words at learning that our the Boy Scouts. Boy Scouts said program- "BSA management has in-
Stinnett. leaders apparently have Since the first Boy Scout ming and operations at stead stated its position
In a memo sent to his fellow not been." camp opened there in Philmont "continue uninter- that Philmont and its en-
rupted, and we are com- dowment are free and
mitted to ensuring that clear of restrictions and
the property will continue are thus theirs to take or
to serve and benefit the encumber as they wish,"
Scouting community for Stinnett wrote, depicting
years to come. " that stance as a "betrayal"
"In the face of rising insur- of agreements made with
ance costs, it was neces- the Phillips family.
sary for the BSA to take The Boy Scouts disputed
some actions earlier this Stinnett's assertion, saying
year to address our current nothing in the agreements
financial situation," the BSA with the Phillips family pre-
said. "This included iden- vented the ranch from be-
tifying certain properties, ing used as collateral.
including Philmont Scout Philmont has been one of
Ranch, that could be used scouting's most popular
as collateral .... in order to destinations for decades.
keep in place an existing At many times of the year,
line of credit for insurance." Philmont can't accommo-
Disclosure of the mortgage date all those who want to
comes at a challenging trek there; it offers an on-
time for the BSA, which for line lottery, held about 18
years has been entangled months in advance, to give
in costly litigation with plain- everyone an equal shot.
tiffs who said they were Most activities take place
abused by scout leaders during the summer, but
in their youth. Hundreds Philmont also has autumn
of new lawsuits loom after and winter programs. In
New York, New Jersey, Ari- addition to backpacking
zona and California enact- treks, it offers horseback
ed laws making it easier for riding, burrow packing,
victims of long-ago abuse gold panning, chuckwag-
to seek damages. on dinners, rock climbing,
The BSA, headquartered in mountain biking and sport
Irving, Texas, says it's explor- shooting.q