Peter's Random Thoughts

As I said in my post, "My Introduction To Computers", the Exploring program [part of the Boy Scouts of America] played a big part in my early years with computers. My family was living in Houston and I attended Rober E. Lee High School. I was recruited by a newly forming Explorer post, sponsored by the exploration division of Exxon Company, USA. The focus of this post was on data processing [the operations of, hardware used, and programming of computers]. The adult committee of advisors were organized and lead by Hugh Hardy. There were about twenty youth in the post when it first started up. The post was Co-ed, and while the term was unknown/unused in 1973, we were all geeks, boys and girls alike.

Many of the boys were also members of Boy Scout troops. As such we brought with us an enjoyment of camping. As an Explorer post we managed to camp at least once every other month. We did paper drives to earn money for our activities, and we did volunteer work at M. D. Anderson hospital. Explorer posts themselves were very much youth lead, we elected officers who were responsible for the activities of the post. The committee of adult advisers were just there to make sure we didn't do something stupid.

By the summer of 1973 I had been elected the Post President and soon there after I was invited by the Exploring Division of the Sam Houston Area Council to help form an Explorer Presidents Association [EPA] there in the council. From July 1973 through June 1974 I served as the EPA Program Vice-Chair were I brought together and lead the council's Explorer Olympics. From there I went on to be part of the national staging staff for the 1974 National Explorer Olympics held in Ft. Collins, Colorado, where I was one of the stage managers for the main evening events.

During this same period, 1973-1974, I continued to serve as president of Explorer Post 1984. This position earned me a trip to Washington DC for the anuall National Explorer Presidents Conference [NEPC]. Attendance was open to all elected post presidents and council EPA chairs. By my estimation there were at least a 1000+ attendees.Here we elected our National, Regional and Area chairs. We also met with with our respective U.S. Congressional Representatives and our U.S. Senators. The following year I was elected the chair of the Sam Houston Council EPA which again earned me a trip to that years NEPC where I was elected South Central Area Three Chair [1974-1975]. In addition I made my first trip to the Philmont Training Center for a week long meeting of the National EPA Cabinet.

In the spring of 1975 I wound down my involvement in Exploring to better focus finishing earning my Eagle Scout [Yes, I was a "last minute" Eagle] and on my training for participation in the upcoming World Jamboree. I ended my youth involvement in Exploring on a high note. I was awarded the council level Young American Award at the annual Council Recognition Dinner.