NOAC
Been to NOAC? Heading there? Chat about the Order's bi-annual gathering
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LATEST POSTS
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I think that changing the name to appease simpletons isn't a good solution, but it seems to be the way the BSA wants to go anyway. Rather than expect people to be critical thinkers and rise up to the organization's level, it will come down to meet them. We saw this with the elimination of the Bobcat badge. Simpletons were confused so the solution was to destroy a legacy rather than insist that people take time to learn and understand. To me, the BSA has been the only constant in my life. My parents divorced when I was young, so neither was in my life 100% of the time. We moved around in the Air Force, so no location was a constant either. Consequently, I feel very little devotion to anything. Haven't seen my dad in 2 years. Haven't seen my mom in about a year and a half. I haven't seen one of my sisters since 2021, the rest in about 2 years. It doesn't bother me because it was all fluid anyway. Missing a weekly Scout meeting was murder as a kid and being forced to not be at our meetings these days has made me very grumpy. Now I have to question my future involvement. If the organization is so fluid as to completely change its name and toss away over 100 years of being a solid foundation simply to appease the simpletons, is it really something I want to dedicate my time to? I'd estimate that I've spent about 1000 hours a year for the last 3 years on Scouting. I'm currently a pack committee chair, a unit commissioner, and a part-time OA Associate Advisor. Frankly, I don't know if I can continue to advocate for an organization that is willing to compromise itself essentially for "likes". While a name change may seem like a small thing, it's not. If your parents decided that they were going to change the family name it would be a pretty significant event. If this came right after they decided to toss out some item you would have inherited, the impact would be even more significant. Changing the name to me makes "Scouting America" equal to Trail Life, American Heritage Girls, and whatever the other youth orgs with a short history are. It tosses away a legacy and a history simply because people are unwilling to look beneath the surface. Makes me question the values of the people at the top. -
By Eagle94-A1 · Posted
After talking to a professional recently, the writing in the wall that the "trial" period of 8/24-7/25 will be successful and full integration will occur. Also from the discussion, if you do not go coed, the council may not be able to help you recruit. I know my troop's volunteers will be meeting about folding the troop at the end of the year. Between existing challenges, and hint that we need to go coed or we will not be supported hit hard. But as @Scoutldr said, That is the sentiment of a lot of the boys I have worked with over the years. Sadly there are fewer and fewer places for just boys. The same research GSUSA uses to support girls only places and organizations, also supports boys only places and organizations. But sadly society could care less about boys and men. Maybe that is why men are essentially checking out. -
By AwakeEnergyScouter · Posted
I lived it - actually more than what the current proposal is, because gender wasn't a consideration for patrol formation - and my experience was positive. Not just "not bad". The presence of both genders in the patrol was both a moderator of antisocial behavior in both genders as well as a key condition of real-world leadership training. I was bullied in middle school, and scouting was my refuge, too. I can relate to that. And maybe you personally did need a single-gender environment right then. I'm not you, I don't know. But your experience isn't the only possible one. I needed a mixed-gender patrol. I would not have wanted to be in a patrol with just other girls. The option to have that should be there. I see that it still isn't, but at least normal troops is a step in the right direction. It's the standard option, globally. Scouting isn't really about gender identity exploration. We're about outdoor adventure. That's our thing. At least in my patrol, we were truly brothers and sisters in scouting. The vibe was different from school in terms of sexual tension. I can't know for a fact, of course, but I'd like to think that a regular patrol would still have been a refuge for you. If not, the single-gender option remains. -
By RememberSchiff · Posted
I have found "duty to God" more of a stumbling block for potential members and their families than the name "Boy". “It (the rebranding) sends this really strong message to everyone in America that they can come to this program, they can bring their authentic self, they can be who they are and they will be welcomed here,” Krone said. Will atheists also be welcomed? Will the DRP be removed from the youth membership application (524-406)? Will the BSA Scout Oath (duty to God) and Law (A Scout is Reverent) be changed? What was learned from girls BSA membership pilot program from 5 years ago that will be applied to this pilot program? A lot of questions. Another $0.01, -
And then you join and realize 90% of BSA activities are meetings and merit badge clinics where you have to write reports while adult leaders argue if googling information for your report was sufficient or if you should have used an Encyclopedia written in 1982.
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