Leaderboard

Good Lord we've started quoting the Rolling Stones to help explain what the BSA executives may be up to. I did not see that coming

I'm struggling with scouts. Recently a few things have made it clear to me what that struggle is and I'm wondering if others have the same challenges. The paradox is simple. On the one hand when I see a scout that grew, or had fun, or helped another scout, or just did something that showed our goals were being met, it's great. It encourages me to go on. It's pure heart when a scout says "I get it!". On the other hand, the BSA program has become a set of trigger words that just scream bureaucratic pain because none of it seems to be really helping me or anyone else help scouts. A few exam

In the end, parents still need to provide adequate supervision, oversight, and accountability of their children. It matters not whether it is an agricultural, industrial, or digital world. The raising of kids is hard, it is a continuous test of choices, responsibility and accountability to earn new freedoms and responsibilities. Sure computers add a different dimension, so did tv, telephones and car keys. Giving kids age-appropriate responsibility and holding them accountable (meaning taking away freedoms and responsibility when they demonstrate their unreadiness) then giving them another chan

The BSA needs new professional leadership. The professional staff, above the DE level, has become insular and tone deaf, completely disengaged from the nuts and bolts of unit level scouting. And gold loop business/management/accounting/communication/human relation/budgeting skills? Atrocious. "Sell more popcorn" they tell the units. National didn't sell one tin of popcorn before they pawned Philmont.

The #1 solution is FOCUS ON YOUR SCOUTS! (emphasis ) I have been involved on district and council committees for a long time now, and I have burnt out. I had to deal with adult issues in a troop, and was slowly turning into an angry Scouter. The #1 thing that kept me going was MY SCOUTS. I could have a bad day at work, and MY SCOUTS would turn me around mentally. I could be dealing with problems, and wanting to skip the meeting, but MY SCOUTS would cheer me up and make me forget my problems for a while. Focus on who you can help directly< YOUR SCOUTS. Reminds me of one of th

When last I checked, Canada, the UK, Australia, South Africa, Mexico, the Philippines, and India recruit adults directly, and I was reprimanded for doing it in the U.S. (Contacted Eagle Scouts.). It may be possible to cure incompetence, but low IQ is tougher.

Also interesting from that article, the anecdote of a scouter and his wife who ... Moves like this could account for @Cburkhardt's noting an uptick in new units.

I apply a simple three-part test: 1. The Enumeration Test: If ordering your coffee requires the enumeration of more than one option (size), it's not coffee. An order that passes this test sounds like "I'd like a large, please." 2. The Grandfather Test: If my grandfather would recognize the beverage as coffee, it's coffee. 3. The Millennial Test: If my millennial nieces or son recognize it as coffee, there's a 99.3% chance it's not coffee. :)

Pretty easy solution, don't deal with the adults in the district or council. Anytime I've had to deal with the DE, District folks, council folks, or Council professionals it becomes painfully clear that we have vastly different perspectives and vastly different reasons for being involved with Scouting. Just say NO to roundtables, JTE targets, the wood badge cult, non specific membership drives, popcorn sales, getting worked up over district training targets, council "demands", MB universities, camp cards, Trainer's EDGE, etc etc etc For me, as you seem to note, Scouting is great way

IMHO, if the BSA goes Chapter 11, the BSA appointing an outside, "responsible person" * as CEO (CSE) will not fly. Following the Bankruptcy Code, a court will appoint an independent Chapter 11 trustee. This may explain the year-long "considering bankruptcy", BSA executives are trying to maintain control (organization destiny and their jobs) during bankruptcy. All companies want to do this, but ... You can't always get what you want. But if you try sometime you find. You get what you need. * Who is Responsible here? "Responsible Persons" in Chapter 11 Cases https://www.justic

True, the family camps are high quality with great staff. However, sign ups were extremely low this last summer (sorry I don't have exact numbers). Even with a significant increase in family sign ups, the fees would barely cover costs. Edited to add: I'm shocked--shocked--they didn't mention hocking Philmont! 🤕

My encouragement to you would be to find your fun. Don't feel pressured into the lie that you need to care about all this stuff. We are all different and have different interests. That's what makes this all so wonderful. There is a home in Scouting for all kinds of volunteers. Those who love helping a 7 year old build a Pinewood Derby Car, those who love helping a 12 year old discover that he can camp independently, those who love helping a 15 year old be a great Senior Patrol Leader, and many, many more things. We are all different and care about different things - and that's OK.

I have long thought that any organization where virtually everyone in it has been in that organization and that organization alone since they were in their twenties is going to be weaker as a result. Every organization needs folks who have seen other challenges and other solutions, been exposed to different ideas, had to design and implement different organizational schema.. The BSA model's for selection of leaders is stuck in the seventies. There's probably no organization of comparable size that uses this model.

Like you, I focus on the scouts. My father used to have a saying he would repeat to us Scouts when we asked him a question, usually permission to do something (we never caught on that he never said yes/no). I doubt this was his own invention either. Scout to SM: "Can we..." SM reply: " Is it safe? Is it fun? Is it scouting?"

Looks like y'all may be getting your wish. The new CSE is expected to come from outside the Profession.

100% agree. Language matters, especially in this context. My daughter is a member of both organizations and we certainly stress language at home. We don't accept "can't." I constantly say "you are capable." Things might be difficult but that doesn't mean that you lack the capability to do it.

It's really astounding to me how long a wikipedia article can be without really saying anything useful or enlightening.

If National or Councils want confirmation every year the least they could do is just offer a recert test. Pass the test and move on. No reason to sit through the same two hours of videos year after year after year.

Not related to committees or gavels, but honoring former Troop leaders who passed away during their time in the Troop. This is how my Troop honors them.

My committee meetings are held in bars, so no scout uniforms, oath or law. Our opening ceremony is starting a tab. That said, if committee meetings are held at other locations reciting the pledge is a good opening.