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Speaking for Scoutmasters everywhere, I am pleased to hear an ASM finally admit it. (I am watching the impeachment trial. Taking people's words out of context is apparently allowed this week.)

I certainly wouldn't phrase it as an accusation. I would simply tell them that certain questions are bound to be raised when the scout is up for eagle, and it would be better to organize the answers now, rather than putting them off until the review. Be Prepared.

Agree with others. If you qualified for the grant, you keep it. BTW - this is different than in the Girl Scouts. In the Girl Scouts, units are owned by the GSUSA - so if they say turn over the money, then you have to. In the BSA, you are simply paying the BSA a fee and agreeing to follow some basic rules in order to utilize program and name. In the BSA you are a separate entity and so money you obtain like this belongs to your unit and your chartering organization. If you ask enough council/national people - someone will tell you that soliciting funds and applying for a grant are the

First question would be, is the person who signed all 9 cards a registered MBC for each of the MBs? It is amazing at times how many registered adults do not understand that just because they are an ASM or a SM, they are not automatically authorized to sign off on what ever MB they choose.

I'll happily take a few more down votes from you, they are just internet points. You didn't answer my question. Do you care to address it? Let's first establish that as a registered leader, if the Scout's parents are not present, I am responsible for the Scout's safety and wellbeing when they are at a Scouting event. I can't compel any adult to do anything, but if I think there is a risk to a youth, I'll call out any adult out on their behavior, and I can verbally compel a Scout to do things if I think they are in danger. I'm obligated to. A couple scenarios, each of which you would say

Age Guidelines The Boy Scouts of America has established the following guidelines for its members’ participation in camping activities: Overnight camping by Lion, Tiger, Wolf, or Bear Cub Scouts as dens is prohibited. Webelos dens may participate in overnight camping. Lions, with their adult partner, may participate in child-parent excursions, pack overnighters, and council-organized family camping. Tigers, with their adult partner, may participate in child-parent excursions, day camps, pack overnighters, council-organized family camping, or resident camping. Tiger

That's nonsense. Most boys join scouting just to have fun. They neither know about or care about the details of the scouting program. It's only the most die-hard scouters (who eat, breath, and sleep scouting) who care to scrutinize and religiously adhere to every nit-picking detail of the program, making scouting activities boring and tedious for the rest of us.

Well, Park, I'm with you on the spirit of fairness, but I sure wouldn't support any "rules" that are not in crystal-clear black and white. If it's in the merit badge requirements, great, then the "no more, no less" guideline applies. If it's in the BSA's official "Guide to Advancement", great, that's the rule that should be followed. Beyond that, it's a slippery slope that really shouldn't be defended. Scoutmaster (or committee) imposed "rules" or "policies" should be thrown out. In my years of scouting, I have yet to see ANY rule proposed or stated that has actually been a good

Correct. I would also add the fact that the people giving the grant money did not intend for it to go to the council. You should use it for the purpose the grant was intended. It would be dishonest to do otherwise.

Since you're new to the role, I think you have to ask yourself - "is what the Scout did in line with how things are typically done?" DId the prior SM require signatures ahead of time? Did the prior SM question the qualifications of the counselor? Did the prior SM review the dates and progress on the MB? Did the prior SM permit family members as MB counselors? If the prior SM was the laid back type and if you have not changed the process, then you have to recognize that the Scout and family probably thought this was all fine. If the prior SM was a by the rules type, then this Scout and fa

I would first call the registrar for the council in which the merit badge was earned. They should be able to tell you if the counselor for the badges in question is actually a registered counselor.

So - just to clarify, OP noted There would need to be 4 signatures on a blue card Unit leader on the front part: Application for Merit Badge MB Counselor on the part signing off the MB (backside of the Application part) MB Counselor on the Applicant record Unit leader on the application record What part of the Blue Card did the (possible) relative sign that is causing concern? Agree that an MB counselor for 9 merit badges may raise an eyebrow As a aside, in our unit family does not serve as an MB counselor for their Scouts unless it is a troop wide se

Not Ohio! 😵

Yup, every year since 2012* I take the UK membership stats found on page 46/54 of the annual report pdf and put them in a google spreadsheet, probably takes no more than a couple of hours, and that could probably be streamlined if I was keen as the layout requires a fair bit of formulae tweaking. Usually something interesting to be pulled out of the stats. When I did the 2019 numbers I posted it to the UK equivalent of here, and it triggered 6 pages of replies, some of which may even have been related to the membership stats in the spreadsheet. * and it goes back to the late 90s thanks to

it doesn't depend on where the event is being held. It does depend on whether it is a scouting event. Every Chartering Organization agrees to "Conduct the Scouting program consistent with BSA rules, regulations, and policies." BSA has specific YPT rules, they're not onerous, they're not unreasonable, and they're not hard to follow or enforce. If you are participating in a scouting event, or any event outside your own home, you are implicitly agreeing to follow the rules of the event or to forfeit whatever right you might have to be there. You can't walk across the basketball court o

Correct. The most often confused statement in YPT and the one so many Scouters feel they know, but it's not what they think From the BSA - FAQ on YPT - https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/email/campaign/Youth-Protection-FAQ_03-07-2018.pdf Effective June 1, 2018, adults accompanying a Scouting unit who are present at the activity for 72 total hours or more must be registered as a leader, including completion of a criminal background check and Youth Protection Training. The 72 hours need not be consecutive Note that they are referring to THE activity, not ALL activities. If

I don't believe the 72 hours is cumulative over the scouting year, rather, it's per event.

Gold = Command Blue = Sciences Red = Engineering & Security. Also "first person killed on an away team mission"