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    2. Forum Support & Announcements

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    3. New to Scouting?

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  2. Open Discussion - Program

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  3. News & Politics

    1. Issues & Politics

      In answer to many requests, we established a separate forum for these topics. Those not interested can skip this forum instead of spending time reading unwanted messages to identify content.

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  4. Unit Fundraising

    1. Unit Fundraising

      Ideas for fundraising projects and programs for your unit.

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  5. Order of the Arrow

    1. Order of the Arrow

      Discussions for OA Members and those interested in Scouting's Honor Society. Also includes a private sub-forum for OA Members only.

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  6. The Patrol Method

    1. The Patrol Method

      Lessons and questions of Scout leadership and operating troop program

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  7. Cub Scouts

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      For Cub Scout specific topics only.

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  8. Wood Badge and Adult Leader Training

    1. Wood Badge and adult leader training

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  9. Advancement Resources

    1. Advancement Resources

      Scouting ranks, merit bades, and the advancement programs

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  10. Patch Trading Central

    1. Patch Trading Central

      Have a patch or memorabilia you're looking to swap? Use this virtual patch trading blanket. (This area is intended to facilitate memorabilia swapping, not necessarily commerce.)

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  11. Working with Kids

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      Counseling, inspiring and teaching kids.

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  12. Uniforms

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      For All messages dealing with Scout Uniforms

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  13. Camping & High Adventure

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  14. Girl Scouting

    1. Girl Scouting

      Content specifically related to Girl Scouting

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  15. Summer Camp

    1. Summer Camp

      All about planning and going to Summer Camp

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  16. Scouting Around the World

    1. Scouting Around the World

      Scouting is a worldwide Movement with nearly 30 million members in 151 countries around the world.

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  17. Council Relations

    1. Council Relations

      Discuss issues relating to Scout Councils, districts and working with professionals

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  18. Venturing Program

    1. Venturing Program

      Meet people from other Venture Crews and discuss program.

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  19. Scouting History

    1. Scouting History

      Share and celebrate the history of the world's largest youth Movement

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  20. Scouting the Web

    1. Scouting the Web

      Share tips and info for Scouting webmasters and discuss Scouting resources on the web

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  21. Scoutmaster Minutes

    1. Scoutmaster Minutes

      Inspirational stories and meaningful remarks to share

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  • Latest Posts

    • Sounds about right. The IT structure was built on the assumption of a certain number of staff available to address unique cases. Keep up those calls and this will get cleared soon enough.
    • We have a Scout whose registration records are a bit messed up. His family moved here in 2024, from a different council. In getting him registered here, rather than transferring his primary membership from the other council, he was made a "Multiple" in his current Pack.  I use the passive voice there, because we have no idea who did this.  The Parents say they did not do this through my.scouting, the Pack Committee Chair says they did not do this through Scoutbook, and the Registrar says she did not do this.  Parents say they filled out a paper application here, but no one can (or will) produce a copy to figure out how it happened.  But that is minor, and will only show who took what actions.  We need to fix the registration issue at hand... When the Scouts registration became due, the parent dutifully logged into my.scouting to pay it by credit card.  But, the registration (and the parent record) was in the original council.  So, when paid, registration renewed as primary in the original council.  And the multiple membership here continued.  No one in either council caught this. Scout has finished his Arrow of Light, but we cannot transfer him to the Troop because of his "Multiple" status in the Pack.  We have been working with the Registrars for a while on resolving this... The parent has receipt and order number from my.scouting to show paid registration. Yesterday, our Registrar told me she (and the other Registrar) cannot fix this with the tools they have, and our Registrar has had to put in a help ticket to National to try to get this resolved.  I am astounded. With no transfer to Troop, parents cannot see Troop calendar in Scoutbook to help their Scout look at upcoming events and RSVP, leaders cannot help track advancement in Scoutbook, and committee cannot track financials (dues payment and trip charges) in the Scoutbook tools.  For the interim, we have told the council (and they agree) that we are going to forge ahead with this Scout in our Troop while they fix their system.  The Registrar agrees to back-date his Date Joined Scouts BSA to the date we tried to initiate the transfer.  (This is because he cannot have his Scout Rank, or any other advancements, earned before his Date Joined Scouts BSA.) We'll use his Scout Handbook to track his advancements, and have sat down with the Scout and parents to review all upcoming events for attendance and conflicts. I cannot help but see this as a symptom of a dysfunctional system between councils and National. Add this to the long list of IT-type complaints we have endured over the past years. With the tremendous burden of administration we already have to make a Scout unit function well, it'd be nice not to have friendly fire incidents like this.    
    • While this seems true, I am not convinced it is.  On the other hand, I do perceive that many have turned inward, so to speak, and are tring to find the path that will allow the real Scouting to again bloom.  But, I also am seeing far too many "giving up", or simply retreating to do what they feel will work, regardless of pressures from the outside.  Scouting is best in my worn views when shared with a broader group of youth and adults.  BP called it aa brotherhood, and it still is if we allow it.  How to allow it with the issues we face is the greater struggle.  I hope my great grand nephew, who has an Eagle father, and a Scouting believer as a GF will still experience the better possibilities.  Would I live to see him also become an Eagle, or simply like his GF, a firm believer in the Spirit of Scouting.   We have a gathering of Leaders locally at a breakfast on Saturdy coming, and the interhanges from the first two of these recently institued sharings has proven worthwhile.  The Merit Badge events, for example have been over hauled and are getting better and more focused on the actual requirements.  Also, they are nown being broken up to fewer badges, instead focusing on just a dozen or fewer.  Still a long way to go, and I am still fighting with them to recognize the need to put our history forward, as well as sevice beyond the "big" events.  Community is still silently behind the ideas of Scouting, but they too seem to be holding their brath to see if we can fight our way back.  Time will tell, and hopefully I may hold on long enough to see the larger steps.  
    • At least in my area, parents are pressuring for Eagle. Units that do try and focus on adventure, fun, personal growth, etc instead of advancement do not get new Scouts as parents look elsewhere. Even my new troop is focusing on advancement.   Yes it has.   And be told by the rules lawyers you are "gate keeping," "adding to requirements," etc. @InquisitiveScouter sadly the leadership at the top is encouraging this, and they do not care what the old boots on the ground want who want to maintain standards want. Heck there is now a majority of volunteers support for them and their decline of standards.
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