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The Chartering Organization is under no obligation to continue. I would think service to the CO, while not "required" seems like a good way for the scouts to maintain goodwill with an Org which provides space, support, and likely $. Also a provides a means for scouts to demonstrate living a primary value of scouting as stated in the Slogan and Oath. Lastly participation in service checks off advancement requirements.  I think this situation is ripe for the SM to sit down with the PLC and pose the question, and provide some guidance. Personally I would "seed" the conversation by spinning relevant yarns at a prior meetings using my SM minute. I would probably do at least 4 or 5 with the same theme.  

I've been told by my COR for our Troops and Cub Scout Pack that the old service Troops are no longer available and that the Troops are no longer required to help their Charter Organization. Is this True? As the 2nd Vice and District Scouting Chairman for our Legion district, I have asked our scouts to help the posts several times, and my membership is now upset with them because when we need the Scouts, they do not show up. Period. We do flags on Veterans' Graves as well as Flag retirements. We were asked to help them do Scouting for Food. They did not do it at all. I've got over 30 years as a scouter. The adult leadership seems to me to have lost its way because it will not even ask the boys about doing things. It kinda seems to me they are afraid to ask the scouts to do anything and when the Scoutmaster is asked, all replies are that the adults do not run the Troop, the Boys do. And if they do, ask  for a request for 6 months out. Also, the boys voted to wear kilts instead of Scout Pants. The colored kilts have been added to the Scout youth promotion package now, too. My membership is not happy about that either because it violates the national Policy. I've asked my Council about that, and they told me it was ok because it was a heritage thing. And our adults get offended when they are asked to be in proper uniform. Our Troop is getting big but I think they need to focus on doing things to help out their Charter, too.          

They didn't cut far enough to account for the debt. It seems like they picked backup business as usual. 

Change the word "Boys" to "Adults", and we are onto something.  

This seemed like a (mostly) thoughtful take. Aside from stating the obvious (lawsuits and recent membership changes have adversely impacted participation), he honed in on 2 other factors: 1. Civic engagement (Elks Club, Optimists, etc.) and church attendance has decreased in the US. These organizations have been major sponsors of the BSA and their parallel decline has resulted in less support for Scouting. 2. Society's definition of masculinity has widened. Fewer young men are expected to hunt, farm, fix cars, or join the military. Scouting was once viewed as an age-appropriate way to introduce self-reliance to boys. Today, those hard skills are less important in the information economy. I especially appreciate the second point. I doubt I'd meet the standard of 1970s masculinity. I'm not handy. I maintain my home to the minimum standard and hire help the second I get in over my head. However, I do make a decent living. Plus, we live in a safe neighborhood and are on track for retirement. My son also has everything he needs, including most of my attention outside of work. By the 2020s standards of masculinity, I'm probably doing just fine.