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Showing content with the highest reputation on 01/14/20 in all areas

  1. Ugh! These are awful changes. Unless you had some sort of tiny council, what can be gained by removing local, hands on support for unit leaders. Whether it's training, advancement, camping, or something else, centralizing things is only going to lead to further distance between units & councils. Units that need support will be less likely to get it. The reason we have districts is to provide local Scouting contacts to units to strengthen their programs. If districts are becoming too weak to function, then that's what we need to solve - not get rid of districts. No organizati
    3 points
  2. I think this council is saying that MB counselors can no longer limit themselves to just their own troop or district - not that you have to take on every Scout who might come your way. MBCs can change their availability in Scoutbook if they think they do not have the time to take on more Scouts.
    2 points
  3. I just finished reading The Hearts of Men by Butler. I note it as adult, as it deals with real, but more mature subjects, even as it encompasses many elements of Scouting. If you get a chance, consider reading it. Take a look at the synopsis on the web through Amazon or your favorite source. I found it to be excellent; it managed to touch on many of my personal realities in Scouting both as a youth and an adult. It does not though pull many punches in its slant and made me think a bit. Take a look.
    1 point
  4. I mean, they are like 1/2" x 1.25" in size. It's not like they are individually ostentatious, it's just that some people go overboard. But the fact of the matter is that the existence of long term, dedicated and trained scouters is where BSA varies significantly from most other youth groups and keeping those people is pretty critical to keeping things running. (Just witness the average lifespan of a girl scout troop to see the difference) And when you are trying to keep and motivate a volunteer workforce, small bits of bling and visible recognition are absolutely critical for a number
    1 point
  5. I disagree. Much of the district structure has been broken and broken for a long long time. People expect quality and it's not there. Today, you can one chance. Maybe two. Then, people move on. I often think about why I attend round table. I really do it to see my friends. Beyond that, there is no reason to attend. In fact, I have several reasons to NOT attend. One main reason is it can be a monotonous, re-hashing of the same content. ... Years ago ... 18+ years ago or so ... I did anything I could to avoid going to cub break outs. They were bad. Bad created poor attendance
    1 point
  6. Hmmm. Of course cleanliness is a virtue and one of the a points of the Law, but ya'll sound as if you've never been on a Boy Scout camp out. Barry
    1 point
  7. The LDS departure is a blip in the history of Scouting. It created a false narrative that Scouting was bigger than it really was. Yes, it's painful that we have to adjust budgets to the loss of that revenue, but that is an adjustment we have to make. There isn't another group out there like the LDS church for us to loose. So, by definition we can't really have that happen again. The lawsuits the BSA is facing is the bigger deal. This needs to be problem #1 for the BSA to deal with. Problem #2 is coming up with a path to grow traditional Scouting again. Local councils need to see
    1 point
  8. One interesting thing is that I don't know of any other non-military youth related organization where the volunteers or adult leaders ever earn and wear regalia that reflects on their own achievements, or if they do, it is a very small or subtle emblem. This is one of those things that seems very unique to scouting. I know a lot of people really like the bling but I've never been totally comfortable with it. When scouts and leaders are in a room, I want to be impressed by the scout uniforms, not the adults.
    1 point
  9. Well.. you would need to actually see the first 4 on the list. That is not likely in the real world, you know...on a camping trip, where there are actual youth. The wood badgers are harmless and humorous; just let them wear their kilts, beads, pink hankies, carry walking stick with 30 lbs of trinkets, etc and they are easy to spot and avoid. There are many who like to wear the 7 rows of knots, medals, ribbons, and cords; gives them a South American dictator look. One of my Scouts asked me what all of that stuff was on one Scouters pockets, told him I had no idea. He asked what mi
    1 point
  10. Oh, it definitely has other value. Scoutcamp will often pay you more if you are a Bugler. Bugles Across America is a clearing house for Buglers needed for ceremonies (taps over veteran's burials, for instance) where there is an honorarium paid. Local notoriety can lead to being asked to play at various ceremonies. Being able to play "open valve" leads to greater skill on your original (trumpet? cornet? trombone? baritone?) instrument. I played for my Wood Badge course , and I had folks thank me directly for playing "Tatoo" in the evening. Taps , it seems, was expected.
    1 point
  11. And that may be the end of your honeymoon, even as he goes on one. Unless the spouse is already aware of the awful schedule and constant pressure, and they can keep the family income ahead of the game, you will lose him. I have seen many divorces over the years of struggling and really potentially excellent DE's. It destroys their marriages and often destroys their love of Scouting that led them there in the first place. Some do come back, and those areas are fortunate to get them as volunteers; but many simply disappear and even if they have kids eligible, do not have them in the program.
    1 point
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