Ive had several people jokingly (but seriously) complaining about Scout-only bocking events.
The Scout Association have seen bocking as something new and modern, to show that the Association is up-to-date, and not stuck in the past (long socks and knots!) as many people still think it is!
As part of this they have been using any Scouts with Powerbocks as often as they can, often in the media, to portray this. They also know that when they ask me to provide something it will happen, and as such keep asking me back to do further events.
Now I could just take the Essex Scouts, all my friends, and not post it on here at all. Then everyone would see it on TV and wonder why I hadnt told you all about it. But to me, limiting it to just the people in Essex isnt fair on all the Scouts across the rest of the UK, who are also entitled to take part!
I have also had several people wanting to take part who arent in Scouting. One reason against this is that the Scouting Insurance wouldnt cover you. But the other is, how can you advertise a movement you are not part of?
The Scouts offer these opportunities to its members, and its members only. Everyone is entitled to join Scouting, and give up their time and effort for the benefit of the young people that are in the movement.
The people that come to the 'Scout Only' events are all people that value Scouting enough in their lives to let people know that they are part of it, and as such make great representatives for the organisation. If they were stopped at one of these events they could all tell you about the 100s of things they have done in Scouting and what a difference it had made for their lives.
Im sorry that some of you feel upset, and possibly even excluded from these events, I dont like excluing people from anything (as any of you who have visited an EPB meet well know)
Hope that clears things up, if not please let me know and I will try to explain it better to you!