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One question for the BSA Chief Diversity Officer (I'd like to see what that patch looks like) and I would really appreciate a straightforward answer. Since diversity and inclusion has become a hot topic for the BSA, then why, at a nationaln event at a national place, were there separate events for the LGBTQ folks and another event for people of color? If they had an event for straight white folks there would have been an uproar heard around the world........what's up with that?

Isn't that partially why on the backend most units have 4 digits even as we only use at most 3 digits? ie troop 123 and troop 123, unless very close geographically, can become troop 1123 and troop 2123 for paperwork purposes, but no one notices otherwise.

Not much upside for us volunteers either. One might argue the COs have more upside than us mere volunteers as they can use their "sponsorship" of BSA as a marketing tool. Others might argue that giving back to the community by being a CO is (part of) the COs mission. Part of me is smh at even stepping into this discussion as I do not view everything as transactional; I do things without expectation of something in return. I would hope that the BSA slogan and other values are not isolated to the bsa but other individuals and organizations also do good things without reward or gain. D

Oh boy, now I'm really confused. YPT, one on one contact, who can drive, joint troops, separate troops, who can or should or may or may not or where to or where not too wear the uniform, chartered organization stuff, who can run a weedeater, golf cart driver improvement, jeeeeeeezzzzzzzz. But now I'm really befuddled.......BOY Scouts let girls join so they can participate in the program, girls went to activities with the boys, boys had to accept this just because that's the way it is (inclusion and all that), if the boys of the Boy Scouts excluded the girls it's unacceptable, girls don't wa

There is a lot of failure here and many to blame. Harvard Law Review will have a very expensive case study. The more I look at this, it is hard not to ultimately blame the judge. She has the overall power of this case. She could have demanded details on why only 2 of 3 mediators were signing reports. She could have prevented this from being a mass tort trolling exercise. She could have made rulings early on in terms of fee structures. She let this go on too long with a hope that mediation would get the two sides there. If this plan is voted down, she cannot simply say return

Ok, I'm gonna say this and expect tons of backlash and criticism, but here goes: my true thoughts on this whole BSA thing and thats Cubs, Scouts, Ventures, Explorers, OA, Sea Scouts or Yogi Bear himself; use all that you have and know but break out a big dose of COMMON SENSE and make things work!

Officially this is still the case. HOWEVER in reality many boys and girls troops are so intermingled regarding supplies, Scouters, etc, they are in essence 1 troop. National has OK'd the fact that troops can do joint activities if they have the same CO. So you have joint troops' meetings, camp outs, summer camps, service projects, etc. And some troops have point blank said they will be two separate troops on paper only. They will do everything together as if they were one big troop.

I do not disagree.

This in no way incourages or builds inclusion. It shouldn't be an issue of "if you wanted to attend, you could". The simple fact that a person is a Scout is enough. A Scout is a Scout regardless of race, creed, .......it's just that simple and to have separate venues for certain people builds further exclusion. If this kind of thing is appropriate for one segment of Scouting it should be acceptable for all.

I don't think the relationship has been at all transactional for most COs. Most of them have sponsored units for various altruistic reasons -- they want to support scouts or youth or the community. Most of the small church COs around here are sponsoring units where hardly anyone in the unit even goes to that church so its been for the greater good. I think it's presumptous for anyone to think that a struggling CO will risk bankruptcy itself for the privilege of continuing to sponsor a unit for BSA. BSA is treating the CO relationship as a business relationship and not a fellowship because at i

That already has been most organizations for time immemorial. Have you never heard of affinity groups? Veterans, etc.?

Posted this elsewhere, but for gee whiz, here it is again. The topic was circling around ridiculous lawsuits that damage defendants, though there is no reasonable basis to bring suit, and plaintiff’s attorneys have no reason not to bring them. I first thought of sanctions and demanding plaintiffs of such suits pay all costs and fees of the defendant. As I say below, I know not even a thimble full about this. As my dad would tell me, “You don’t know enough about that to blow your nose.” I always thought that odd. I have only begun to study this in the last couple days, though I am somewha

How does that work? Do the scouts lug the trees from cars and the adults chip them? Also, while adults are able to handle power tools around scouts, COs around here would never let anyone other than a contracted tree service do wood chipping on their property due to liability issues. Adults do it on work days at camps and such but the COs don't necessarily know... One of the COs I'm affiliated with has a retreat camp property of its own that we have access to and they won't let anyone chip -- they get wood chips donated by tree services. Interesting how different things are depending on

Nice patrol method!

This is simply sad, but also very frustrating. The very organizations and groups that contribute so much to the betterment of our communities are now at the point of withdrawing almost all of their effort due to our misquided legal system. We are looking pretty much at the ideal of "the good samaritan" conundrum. Nobody will do what they can see needs to be done, or improved, due to fear of litigation that is rarely a direct result of their interactions. Bad people exist in society, and a few, find ways to sneak into a position to do harm. But, if we are all afraid of the very s

Regarding girls troops, initially the local girls' troop was forced to do joint activities due to lack of gear and adults. Now that they equal their brother troop, they prefer to do things on their own. In fact, this year they are doing two different summer camps the same week. This is something the girls wanted as they believe the boys are holding them back.

That's truly admirable but others realize you can't preach anything if the doors are shut. Right now BSA's business model is hinged on failing COs risking closure to sponsor a unit. Churches can meet a mission of youth ministry without being part of BSA's business model.

Far from it. Preaching the gospel is front and center. Our CO is rechartering without hesitation.

By far my favorite excerpt from any pleading in a very long time. It can be found at page 3, paragraph 4 and footnote 3. I can’t make this stuff up, but man I love my job as a beat writer. (Not beat poet, for the record, though I can do that, as well. Soul patch is long gone, but I chase rabbits.) Check this out and be prepared to laugh: “If clients request an e-ballot, AVA refers them to Einseberg Rothschild.” (If only I could vote a laugh on my own post. Would someone see to that, please?)

Thanks....sometimes it's tough to digest every piece of some of the realities. Gotta go onto Amazon and order my copy of "Late Career Change to Bankruptcy Attorney for Dummies."

Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance Once again*, National** ignored the 5 P's, wasting time and money. Even after 14 months of "wishful thinking" for "a wonderful plan" with Sidley Austin, National entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February, 2020 with a woefully incomplete Plan. After more than 5 iterations, National sent out an incomplete plan for a vote according to U.S. Trustee. Time and money well spent for maintaining control? My $0.01, *Remember when Summit was our largest money pit? **Not that all others are blameless.

In the spirit of Christmas I wanted to share something quite heart warming that I've picked up on at scouts over the last few weeks which culminated last night. It's about two girls in the troop. The first one we'll call Jane. Not her real name. Jane is a proper, grumpy, hormonal, adolescent. She is every teenage stereo type. Doesn't say much, particularly to adults. Is stubborn, mutters under her breath, can be a bit rude when she wants to be, answers back a lot. Can't remember the last time she arrived in correct uniform. Is normally burried in a hoody somewhere. Can come across as

I have trouble with the ease with which some in Scouting "wink wink" about operating a mixed gender troop already. What does that say about the first point of the Scout Law if we openly flaunt the rules and look the other way?

This AP story includes a quote from the first mediator and why he resigned. Carey refused comment. Another mediator, Paul Finn, resigned three weeks ago. Finn told The Associated Press afterward that he resigned because of “philosophical differences that have existed for some time with other parties and can no longer be reconciled.” https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/nation-world/national/article256415931.html

Give me background on who it will go to and an address and I will gladly double that.

And as I have stated before, not everyone has the financial resources to be in Scouting as prices climb. I do not know your financial situation, but we have folks who qualify as Lower Class in my unit. Right Now I have 1 definite Scout who is dropping due to the increases, and I may have more. I will be trying to figure out how to help them remain. If $50 is not a big deal to you, I would gladly accept a donation to help cover a Scout's dues.

That is not reasonable for everyone. Are parents charged for attending little league practices and games?

The time to have done this was about a year ago when the allegations were first raised. Changing the value of a vote, the uncontested settlement amount, vet the claims, or vet the method that attorneys filed claims now is not fair. I agree that it should have been done but we are now to a vote so it is not the time to change such things. Seems to me that the process is deeply flawed.

Could the $500,000 per POC fine could be used to add more money for the victims?

A more accurate understanding helps everyone. I'm not sure why it's taken so long to get to the point where this is being looked at but I'm glad it is.

I’m not sure I can top that. It’s already a classic. I might frame it in memory of my life in the BSA Chapter 13 Pit of Despair. Still, I’m only mostly dead...there’s still time, however.