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Found these on the BSA Annual Report webpage. 2023: January CEO Flash (CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF REVENUES AND EXPENSES, period ending Jan 31, 2023) 2022: December CEO Flash (CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF REVENUES AND EXPENSES, period ending Dec 31, 2022)

I used to work for General Mattis. And he had a standing order... "Maintain a bias for action." https://techinterview.coach/blog/amazons-bias-for-action-how-to-ace-this-leadership-principle/

Right? Now we find that a Council serving nearly 60,000 youth has not understood (and therefore has not been training or enforcing) an element of the GSS for the past four years. Any bets on whether they are alone, since none of us knew it either?

Ah. So they ban something as unsafe, but permit it if you buy from them.

I might have handled it differently. A family shows up, with scouts in uniform, to some event and they haven't paid. That's fine. I think the first thing I would have done was consider how much the pack will go into debt for them paying nothing. Apparently it's about $4/scout, so call it $10. Next, I'd consider the shame and embarrassment on these scouts of being turned away. About the same time I'd ask myself why they didn't pay. That's always tough to figure out. They could be just trying to get a free ride, might just be really disorganized, might be broke and too shy to ask for help,

Everyone here has some great ideas, and to try to prevent rushing or skipping, I think I want to combine a few suggestions. I think we'll have a paper in the back on something the speaker can see. Each presentation can be broken into 10 minute chunks then. Green for the first 1/3, Yellow for 2nd, red for 3rd.. Then at 4 minutes remaining, go to fingers up, then a black paper if over time. Easy enough to use a 3 ring binder with the colors in it and just flip as needed. Thank for everyone's ideas!

I have had 1 unit call references. I had another unit do a criminal background check on me, in addition to checking references. Kinda nice having a LEO as SM. The other units did not do background checks as I was a known volunteer, and in fact helped train some Scouters prior to joining the units. Or I grew up in the unit.

Preparation and practice so that the timer isn't really necessary. The last thing you need is someone rushing through the content near the end of the presentation because they went too long much earlier. But I do like @InquisitiveScouter's low-cost idea.

Have a buddy in the back of the room hold up a yellow piece of construction paper when you have two minutes left. Red with one minute left. Skull and crossbones (white chalk drawing on a black piece of construction paper) when you are overtime. Costs about $0.25? for as long as the paper lasts 😜 Lo-tech, easily portable, easily modified if you don't have construction paper, fosters teamwork between speaker and support, and makes sure at least one person is paying attention to something!!

I understand that organizations change their rules. I understand that organizations clarify their rules in ways that seem like changes to those who didn't understand the original intent. I will never understand why BSA systemically gaslights its members and volunteers by pretending a rule was always the way it was. This is an example, as is pretending AOL was always a rank and not an award presented for going above and beyond during Webelos.

What's more. Circle 10 is just down the road from National BSA.... this could have been communicated like over lunch meeting up half way between

I have never heard an exclusion. the wording in national is pretty clear. They could have easily said no overnights. 🙂 https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/gss/gss10/

But, wait! Wasn't all this asked and answered for them back in 2019 via Appendix MM in the 204 page BALOO instructor syallbus buried in the bowels of BSA's website servers? LOL You just cannot make this stuff up.

And to give an idea of how bad at this BSA is, or at least how dysfunctional the relationship between National and Councils is, read that C10 memo again: C10 did not have the heads up this was coming so they could already have that product developed and on the shelf waiting, which would have benefited both the Scouts they serve and their own bottom line. Like us, and contrary to what he have been told, C10 had no idea what any of this meant and also believes this policy to be new. Read their language (emphasis added): The Circle Ten Council has been reviewing this new informat

"" The purpose of life is the planting of trees, under whose shade one does not expect to sit." Plant some trees, TCC.... Sit ye down by our virtual campfire . You want cinnamummm in your cafe?

To be fair, the online training is pretty awful. As the cc, one thing to do might be short trainings to cover the concepts as a group in committee meetings.

We recognize the scouts that age-out without Eagle. We do it in a couple of ways. As mentioned above, we will recognize them at their last outing - often gifting them a water bottle from that location, if available, and recognize them at their last scout meeting before turning 18. For the ones that are interested, we absolutely extend an open invitation for now or in the future to continue with the unit as an adult, including participating in high adventure treks.

Welcome, and thanks in advance for all you do for our youth!

Welcome!

If you are concerned about additional responsibilities, use the Unit Scouter Reserve position. They are not ASMs nor Committee members.

This is awesome that you did it on a campout; not a Court of Honor.

That's a great idea. The only thing I'd add is a chance for memories. Either a slide show of the scouts through their scouting career or even stories from anyone. It's the best part of our ecohs.

It's not a tradition yet, but we've had 5 boys this year who will all turn 18 before April. We've made a habit of having the last outing they attend have some kind of going away party and some aspect focused on their favorite part of scouting. Like a fishing outing followed by an elaborate dinner by their Patrol and then the Scoutmasters supply a pile of cobbler and desserts and we give a later lights out that night. Leading up to their last meetings and outings, I announce it and do lead up recognition in my opening recognition segment as well.

It would behoove us to remember that some cubs/families might have dietary restrictions due to health or beliefs. One pot meals are awesome, but having only a single one-pot course makes it impossible for those with dietary restrictions. Having enough variety in meal courses will allow those to eat something.