Leaderboard

I always wondered about that reasoning. It's like it never occured to them that the reason kids that reached FC were more likely to stay was that they were the kids who liked the program enough to have spent 1-3 years working on requirements. It's not like being awarded FC is going to make the kid that was going to drop out after the first year more likely to stay.

Transformational...hmmm 1. Want quality local leaders? Find a way to incentivize it. The program is sufficiently complex that, to do it well requires more time and knowledge than the average group of people can devote as volunteers. Imagine a sort of professional Scoutmaster/teacher role... 2. Council and National senior position term limits. Five years as SE (etc.) and then out. Would require looking at career progression and making some sense of this. Maybe board limits, too, but probably a longer term. 3. Subsidize costs of adult training and support. (see #1) (Lea

I attended the World Scout Jamboree in 2019. I got a very small glimpse of what Scouting is like in other countries. Based on those observations, I’d suggest two areas of improvement: 1) Reduce barriers to entry. As discussed elsewhere, with registration fees are going up. There probably is not much we can do about that, but do Cub Scouts really need to spend so money on uniforms? A t-shirt and jeans/shorts are enough. 2) Other countries have very active Scouting programs for 18-25 year olds, and they leverage those 18-25 y/os to provide leadership to the younger Scouts. Colleg

Correct, they guy with the cone hat is in a suit.

The judge is trying to do everything possible to eliminate arguments at confirmation. So, this deletes "we didn't have enough time."

The research behind FIRST CLASS,FIRST YEAR, has some flaws in it. The first flaw I recognized in it as a 15 year old Life Scout was that the research has no mention of activity levels of the units in the research. Not a one. If you got an active unit, you will have retention and advancement. As Hillcourt said, "OUTING is three-fourths of ScOUTING." And if you are active they will stay. And as as Lord Baden-Powell said, " Advancement should happen as naturally as a suntan, it just happens in the outdoors." The other thing flaw was including LDS units in the research. As I discovered late

OK, some initial thoughts, but many of these would have to be fleshed out, so take them with a grain of salt... Need: No, the Scouts don't need a Chief Scout, per se, but they do need an advocate who THOROUGHLY understands the program and remembers what the adventure is all about, and looks at things through that lens. The Chief Scout is more like the nation's Scoutmaster. BSA may not need a Chief Scout, but they sure do have an image, professional reputation, and PR problem, which they have not been able to solve for decades (?) Having a Chief Scout could be a positive.

Wonderful. I could see either a good idea. But the adult should get a really cool hat. Barry

I had an epiphany this morning. I know. Scary, coming from me. Here it is. BSA is an addict. It refuses to realize it has hit rock bottom. Therefore, it does not want to get help. It’s not ready. It thinks all will be well, once the evil bankruptcy monkey is exorcised from the backpack. It does not see nor welcome the Chapter 11 process as the reorganization and restructuring intervention opportunity it is. It will not go to rehab. It will not do a “searching and fearless moral inventory” of itself. It does not want to receive input from those who care and know what ails it. It will not admit

adding to #6, except for mBs, all rank requirements must be completed "as a ____ scout".

Is the org char in the last filing? Transparency is one of the things I would change. Simplicity Self-Consistency Have all National staffers and volunteers camp in tents for summer camp and go on 4 campouts a year with troops. Reduce costs by not always being so fancy about certain things Eliminate all cufflinks (Results for cufflinks (scoutshop.org)) Move the headquarters to the Summit and Philmont. Shut down Texas.

I have also been involved in aspects of the horse industry and that is indeed a world that has changed dramatically, especially racing. However, since you bring it up, two aspects of that world that touch youth and are relevant to scouting -- 4-H and US Pony Club -- have done a much better job of adapting to change. Those youth organizations have modified many aspects of their programs, tried to make involvement more affordable, and have found ways to retain and involve graduate young adults and older alumni. I have always thought that Pony Club is a particularly interesting comparison because

I think the U.S. Trustee objected to the plan, but didn't object to the vote. His main objection was against electronic communication only (he demanded paper be mailed). I expect the U.S. Trustee has decided the plan (or at least aspects of the plan) is not acceptable and is ready to argue about it during confirmation. Now, since the judge sent the plan for vote, I expect she is ready to accept this plan (or at least the structure of it) if it gets a major yes vote even over the U.S. Trustee's objections.

Yes. My point was, if there are confirmation arguments, IMHO the U.S. Trustee will be near the front of the line.

Scoutmaster image Add to Responsibilities: IMO, frequently uploaded candid photos of Chief Scout with scouts. Maybe something online, Where is the Chief Scout? Sends out a Holiday/New Years Greeting/Challenge to Scouts.

Reminds me. IMHO, the Chief Scout is NOT a suit.

Not exactly. Voting report is 1/6, confirmation hearing still 1/24 start, various objection deadlines altered slightly. BSA spoke about reserving the right to challenge reporting requests. Sounds like they may not want to report out where the $3500 elections came from as applied to Council.

Thinking about the Chief Scout idea, I wonder if it should be a National authorization by an un-corruptible 3rd party. The scouter has to apply for it with a resume and proof of legitimacy. A national 3rd party could maintain quality control to hold the authorization's integrity. Maybe the authorization should only last while the scouter is registered. I would be interested in being part of something like that. Barry

In 1972, Skill Awards came out and were required for Tenderfoot through First Class. Skill Awards focused on all of the skills in one specific area, and were immediate recognition because you still had the tenure requirements for Tenderfoot through First Class ranks. If you finished the Skill Awards needed for rank advancement before the tenure requirement was completed, you usually worked on the next batch of Skill Awards while you waited. In August 1989, "OPERATION FIRST CLASS" came about. Skill Awards were done away with, and the requirements spread out through the Tenderfoot through F

That's the way it was back in my day...early 60s. COuld not begin working on a rank's requirements until the previous rank was awarded. I believe it was changed around the time of "First Class First Year", when they believed that once a Scout made FC, he was more likely to stay.

Right now, a Scout can complete requirements for Scout through First Class concurrently, although the ranks must be earned in order. That is, technically, one could finish all the requirements for First Class before finishing the requirements for Scout rank. But, the youth will not be awarded First Class until earning Second Class. Theoretically, a Scout could earn all these ranks at the exact same time, having saved a single Scout rank requirement as the very last one to complete. This practice produces less than desirable results...but that is another post. Hope this h

First of all, I moved this sub thread to the appropriate thread. Second, to answer your question, I'm not sure our opinions matter at this point. What will happen will happen. As an aside, I'm almost done reading War and Peace, which takes place in Russia during Napolean's invasions, and a common theme is large organizations have a mind of their own irrespective of what most leaders wish. So, as I watch the BSA, my guess is that while everyone will blame the bankruptcy and covid on whatever bad luck happens, it most likely stems from events and decisions made many decades ago. Case

I moved a sub thread that had little to do with the actaual court case to

So, Genesis 18:16 is the start of that story...and Abraham pled mercy from God to not destroy it if 50/45/40/30/20/10 righteous in the city could be found. God continually relented and agreed if ten could be found, he would not destroy it. Abraham did not plead lower than that. God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. So, I'm having a little trouble with the analogy to your situation. Do you see yourself as Abraham, pleading with God on behalf of the city? Or do you see yourself as one of the ten (or the one), on whose account the city will be saved? Not to put too fine a point o

The thing to remember is that a lot of us didn't. The fatality rate for children is about half today what it was in the mid 60s. There are a lot of reasons for that but being smarter about safety is certainly a part of it. Sure, we never wore seatbelts as kids, and we didn't die, but that's not because it wasn't foolish or dangerous. Those commercials showing what happened to unbelted crash test dummies weren't exaggerations.

Greater Hudson Valley Council is selling Camp Nooteeming. https://www.ghvbsa.org/blog/2021/12/04/bankruptcy-update-board-desicion/?fl_builder

...and they could get signed off for 3 ranks (tenderfoot, 2nd, and 1st) for completing a single activity.