John-in-KC

I'll just leave this little doozy from the National Council for all y'all to read here... When Do You Become An Eagle Scout?

Every example you cited is a for-profit company. Carson was in business to make money for himself. Ditto McMahon. WSJ and Time exist to add to the shareholders bottom line of Newscorp and Time-Warner, respectively. Bryan is one of the principal public faces of the Boy Scouts of America, a non-profit corporation whose purpose is "The purpose of this corporation shall be to promote, through organization and cooperation with other agencies, the ability of boys to do things for themselves and others, to train them in Scoutcraft, and to teach them patriotism, courage, self-reliance, and kindred virtues, using methods which are now in common use by the Boy Scouts." (source: http://www.scoutingbsa.org/Council_Info/Leadership/Scouting_Mission/Mission.html) Unlike firearms, museums, camping supplies, and even coca-cola, this was a sponsored post. That, to me, implies express approval of the product. In most cases, products in magazines have a caveat by the publisher that an ad does not constitute an endoresement. So ... I ask again: How does explicitly endorsing the sale of candy promote the values of the Corporation?

Advertising generally is not allowed to use the same font/typeface as editorial content. It is usually bordered and set off from same, in print or in digital. Doing what Bryan did, which was surrendering his editorial space to paid content, is what I object to.

Yes.

Effective January 1, 2016. From Bryan on Scouting, SCOUT to be a RANK. Approved Requirements: New Scout rank requirements All requirements for the Scout rank must be completed as a member of a troop. If a Scout has already completed these requirements as part of the Webelos Scouting Adventure, he must simply demonstrate his knowledge or skills to his Scoutmaster or other designated leader after joining the troop. 1a. Repeat from memory the Scout Oath, Scout Law, Scout motto, and Scout slogan. In your own words, explain their meaning. 1b. Explain what Scout spirit is. Describe some ways you have shown Scout spirit by practicing the Scout Oath, Scout Law, Scout motto, and Scout slogan. 1c. Demonstrate the Boy Scout sign, salute, and handshake. Explain when they should be used. 1d. Describe the First Class Scout badge and tell what each part stands for. Explain the significance of the First Class Scout badge. PS: Kudos to @@WAKWIB for finding this 1e. Repeat from memory the Outdoor Code. In your own words, explain what the Outdoor Code means to you. 1f. Repeat from memory the Pledge of Allegiance. In your own words, explain its meaning. 2. After attending at least one Boy Scout troop meeting, do the following: 2a. Describe how the Scouts in the troop provide its leadership. 2b. Describe the four steps of Boy Scout advancement. 2c. Describe the Boy Scout ranks and how they are earned. 2d. Describe what merit badges are and how they are earned. 3a. Explain the patrol method. Describe the types of patrols that are used in your troop. 3b. Become familiar with your patrol name, emblem, flag, and yell. Explain how these items create patrol spirit. 4a. Show how to tie a square knot, two half-hitches, and a taut-line hitch. Explain how each knot is used. 4b. Show the proper care of a rope by learning how to whip and fuse the ends of different kinds of rope. 5. Demonstrate your knowledge of pocketknife safety. 6. With your parent or guardian, complete the exercises in the pamphlet How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse: A Parent’s Guide and earn the Cyber Chip Award for your grade. 7. Since joining the troop and while working on Scout rank, participate in a Scoutmaster conference.

From the Guide to Advancement:

Sales on Salary, and low salary at that. BSA is a training ground for other non-profits, from what I see. Other NPs harvest talent from BSA with better salary, fewer hours, and more fun away from the office grind.

Moderator's Note: @@gumbymaster's comments on Professional Scouters have been given their own thread. Roles of Professional Scouters

Moderator's Note: Tools aren't quite enough to split a topic, so I quoted Gumbymaster and started a topic based on his post.

Krampus: Are you a Chartered Organization Representative? If yes, you are a voting member. If not, you're not. You're a member of a unit chartered (licensed) by the local Council. Words have meaning.

Krampus, Trail's End is something explicitly sponsored by Councils, much as cookies are by GSUSA. In this case, the marketing is a back-door. What I find untrustworthy about this is a senior professional using what has become his blog space to shill something else. For me, that's a step across the integrity door.

Moderators Note: Please stay on topic.

Moderator's Note: Moved to Council Relationships. Trailer left.

No, they don't work for you. They work for the Council Board of Directors. In turn, the BOD works for the Voting Members of the Council: That comprises the whole of all the Chartered Organization Representatives in the Council. Your local Council, as mine, is a non-profit corporation registered under the laws of your State and chartered by the Boy Scouts of America National Council. Each of the Directors has a fiduciary duty. Like most corporations, the BOD has the authority to operate in the name of the voters during any recess of a membership meeting.

A Scout is trustworthy able to sell himself to the highest bidder. Scouting Magazine, the official adult communication organ of BSA, posted this Berkshire Hathaway (See's Candy) sponsored blog post on their website. IMO, the National Council has an integrity problem. Units and chartered partners have to honor fundraising rules (no endoresements), the National Council SELLS them.

Had that happened to me, I'd have been on the phone to the Council SE, demanding a meeting with the SM, my TG and the Scribe at the Council Offices, with the SE. The Scribe has no right to do either of those. Friendly, Courteous, Kind?

With the IRS getting more stringent on charitable organization qualifications, this is probably going to the case more often, not less. As to Mr Ed T24, you need to read the Charter Agreements again. The contract is between the partner and the council.

The best answer in this case is to have a friendly cup of coffee with your Council's Finance Professional. He knows the what, why, and wherefore applicable to your local situation.

MODERATOR'S NOTE: Someone did move this from I&P to Cub Scout topics. That's where it belongs.

As @@Beavah said (my paraphrasing, since I can't speak Beavah) more than once, if you expect consistency in wording from National, you are on a fools errand.

MODERATOR'S NOTE: Moved to the Advancement Forum

Special needs requirments are addressed through the Scouting Advancement Special Needs Process. That's explained in the GTA, but I'd call your Council Advancement Adviser (the professional staff person). A counselor, from all my study of the advancement process, IS PERMITTED to apply age/intellect appropriate filters to what he decides meets the standard of the requirement. I do not expect the explanation of how someone becomes a US citizen from an 11 year old to be as complex as I would reasonably would expect it from a 17 year old. I would not expect a genius and an autistic child to have the same explanations, either. BUT: ONLY THE NATIONAL COUNCIL can actually modify a requirement. GTA clearly denies that authority to units, Counselors, District, Council, Area, and Regional Advancement Committees.

What does a British military funeral do at final honors? As stated above, the last thing which happens in a military funeral is we play Taps. I think it would be appropriate to play the British equivalent, even if it's a US Military Cemetery overseas. I'd say the same things about our major cemeteries in Belguim, Luxembourg, France, and the Netherlands, if we are talking local honors.

MODERATOR'S NOTE: With Richard B of the National Executive Staff having weighed in, I have changed the title of the thread to reflect disucssion of the training and the certification

Moderator's Note: This is rumor. What say we let the Moderator Team make a call or two to Professional Staff, and see what shaking the trees actually yields??? In the meantime, everyone relax. One of two things is going to happen: - This will be a policy, and there's no use in whining. It will be a done deal. - There won't be a policy, and everyone is getting excited over a rumor.