John-in-KC

Got this one from Texas, peeps...

http://scouter.com/index.php/topic/27127-may-2015-national-disability-services-newsletter/

From a good friend, a retired SE, who has a son with significant physical disability http://files.ctctcdn.com/137c2ed6201/817b1d14-318b-4316-80b5-bfdb3f8cfade.pdf?utm_source=Copy+of+2015+Abilites+Digest+Spring+Issue&utm_campaign=2015+Spring+Abilities+Digest&utm_medium=email

Not true. In the current system of the Boy Scouts of America, the Chartered Partner actually owns a license to provide Scouting to units it creates under its auspices. I'm not saying right or wrong (see other debates on what BSA gives us), but it's reality. Some day, some chartered partner will sue BSA over territorial rights. Mark my words.

Advancement belt loops. See also Boy Scouting in the 70s. What can possibly go wrong? http://scoutingmagazine.org/2015/04/everything-need-know-new-cub-scouting-program/

$50K doesn't even buy a single man-year of labor. $50M might get the attention of Irving...

As Beavah more than once said to me privately... DREAM ON if you expect consistency amongst BSA publications...

One other note: My banker told me "Want to avoid debit card fees?" Always say credit when swiping a debit card.

One technique: ONE physical card. Multiple authorized signatures. The Treasurer keeps the card, but can pass it to the CC, SM, camping coord as needed.

Moderator's Note: Moved to Issues and Politics. This stretches beyond the limits of just Scouting.

Here is a copy of the link just as text https://mungedwww.youtube.com/watch?v=pxBQLFLei70 Remove the word munged and you have the link. Trev: The link itself works on my box. Will check with an ipad tonight

Are we there yet?

Given where this topic has gone, I agree with moving it to I&P. It started as a heads-up in advancement, but it's, shall we say, moved along...

I could not believe this one. Do the folks in Irving not realize the paper check is going the way of the passenger pigeon? I know more than a few businesses which will no longer accept a paper check period. With that, this... http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2015/04/23/unit-owned-credit-cards/

Remember when we were all bothered about the meaning of the term "active"? Be careful of what you ask National for. You might just get it, and you might not like the answer you get...

This just popped... http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/33088.pdf Here's the blog post from Bryan on Scouting, verbatim http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2015/04/23/2015-guide-to-advancement-out-now-here-are-13-of-the-biggest-changes/ The 2015 Guide to Advancement, your official source for administering advancement in all Boy Scouts of America programs, is now available. View or download it by clicking here. The Guide to Advancement is a critical reference tool for anyone involved in advancement in Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, Venturing and Sea Scouts. It’s not meant to be read cover to cover. Instead, it’s organized and indexed so you can find answers to your advancement questions quickly. I appreciate that the sometimes-complicated topics covered in the Guide are conveyed in plain English. The Guide to Advancement is updated every two years to reflect changes to programs, requirements and policies. Changes come from a team of national-level professionals and volunteers. Many of the new sections are the result of frequently asked questions that the Advancement team is answering through new policies. You can find a complete list of significant changes to the Guide in section 1.0.3.0, beginning on Page 7. But I wanted to pick out 13 of the changes I consider the biggest: 1. Merit badge worksheets not allowed for certain requirementsSection: 4.2.0.1 What’s new: This language clarifies the official policy on something I’ve blogged about before: merit badge worksheets. Filling out a worksheet will not be allowed for requirements that use words like “show,†“demonstrate†or “discuss.†Excerpt from 2015 Guide to Advancement: “In Boy Scouting, advancement requirements must be passed as written. If, for example, a requirement uses words like ‘show,’ ‘demonstrate,’ or ‘discuss,’ then that is what Scouts must do. Filling out a worksheet, for example, would not suffice†2. Scoutmaster conferences should be face-to-face, not onlineSection: 4.2.3.5 What’s new: New language says Scoutmaster conferences should be held face-to-face and not online. That means Skype, which is great for some purposes but not as personal as a face-to-face conversation, is out. Excerpt from 2015 Guide to Advancement: “Scoutmaster conferences are meant to be face-to-face, personal experiences. They relate not only to the Scouting method of advancement, but also to that of ‘association with adults’ (see topic 2.0.0.4, ‘The Methods of Scouting’). Scoutmaster conferences should be held with a level of privacy acceptable under the BSA’s rules regarding Youth Protection. Parents and other Scouts within hearing range of the conversation may influence the Scout’s participation. For this reason, the conferences should not be held in an online setting.†3. New Cub Scout program now included in the GuideSections: Changes throughout the Cub Scout sections, including 4.1.0.0–4.1.1.5 What’s new: Lots. Language now reflects the new Cub Scout program that launches on June 1, 2015. Excerpt from 2015 Guide to Advancement: “Den leaders, Cubmasters, and their assistants conduct meetings implementing the three steps in Cub Scout advancement: preparation, qualification, and recognition. Four separate den leader guides — one each for the Tiger, Wolf, and Bear programs, and one combined for Webelos and Arrow of Light — explain the mechanics for doing so while helping to maximize advancement.†4. New Venturing awards outlinedSections: 4.3.0.0 to 4.3.4.0 What’s new: Almost everything. Last year (2014) saw the introduction of a new Venturing Awards program: Venturing, Discovery, Pathfinder and Summit. Excerpt from 2015 Guide to Advancement: “Four awards make up the Venturing advancement track: Venturing, Discovery, Pathfinder, and Summit, but others also are described below. Venturers have until their 21st birthday to complete their awards.†5. Sea Scouts aren’t VenturersSection: 4.4.0.0 What’s new: Sea Scouting, previously considered a “special-interest program carried on as part of Venturing,†is now separated. Excerpt from 2015 Guide to Advancement: “Sea Scouts are not Venturers.†Also: “The Sea Scout Bronze Award is discontinued, and Sea Scouts no longer work on Venturing awards.†6. Unit merit badge counselor lists shouldn’t be available to Scouts onlineSection: 7.0.2.3 What’s new: Units can (and maybe even should) establish a list of registered merit badge counselors. But Scouts should get those names and contact info from a Scoutmaster, not from a list made available online. Excerpt from 2015 Guide to Advancement: “Due to concerns about merit badge counselor privacy, and since Scouts should receive the names and contact information from the Scoutmaster, unit counselor lists should not be made available to Scouts online.†7. Merit badge instruction should be small in scaleSection: 7.0.3.0 What’s new: Rather than large merit badge classes reminiscent of a boy’s time in high school, the BSA encourages smaller-scale instruction. Excerpt from 2015 Guide to Advancement: “The sort of hands-on interactive experience described here, with personal coaching and guidance, is hardly ever achieved in any setting except when one counselor works directly with one Scout and his buddy, or with a very small group. Thus, this small-scale approach is the recommended best practice for merit badge instruction and requirement fulfillment. Units, districts, and councils should focus on providing the most direct merit badge experiences possible. Large group and Web-based instruction, while perhaps efficient, do not measure up in terms of the desired outcomes with regard to learning and positive association with adults.†8. Merit badge prerequisites get explainedSection: 7.0.4.11 What’s new: This whole section is new. It explains merit badges that appear to have prerequisites. Excerpt from 2015 Guide to Advancement: “Some merit badges appear to have ‘prerequisites.’ The Emergency Preparedness merit badge, for example, requires the earning of the First Aid merit badge. But since the requirement does not state that First Aid must be earned before beginning work on the other Emergency Preparedness requirements, it is not, by definition, a prerequisite. It is just another requirement. Even though ‘Earn the First Aid Merit badge’ is the first requirement, it need not be the first requirement fulfilled. It is just that the Emergency Preparedness merit badge is not finished until after the First Aid merit badge is completed.†9. Youth observers aren’t allowed at boards of reviewSection: 8.0.1.0 What’s new: No youth should sit in to “observe†a board of review. Excerpt from 2015 Guide to Advancement: “The unit leader may remain in the room, but only to observe, not to participate unless called upon. The number of ‘observers’ at a board of review should otherwise be minimized. The members of the board of review, however, have the authority to exclude the unit leader or any other observers if they believe their presence will inhibit open and forthright discussion. Youth observers are not permitted in boards of review for Boy Scouting advancement.†10. Guidance offered for boards of review conducted through videoconferencingSection: 8.0.1.6 What’s new: This whole section is new. It covers boards of review conducted through videoconferencing. Face-to-face boards of review are preferred, but sometimes that’s impossible. So this section helps explain how to run a successful board of review through this format. Excerpt from 2015 Guide to Advancement: “From time to time, however, as Scouts go off to college or the military, or live in very remote locations, for example, it may be virtually impossible to hold in-person boards of review. In those rare situations where it is unreasonable to expect a Scout to travel long distances, or to wait several months, it is permissible to use videoconferencing.†11. The official Eagle Scout Rank Application is the only one to useSection: 9.0.1.3 What’s new: A clarification explains that the official Eagle Scout Rank Application (512-728) is the only one Scouts should use. Excerpt from 2015 Guide to Advancement: “Scouts must submit the official Eagle Scout Rank Application, No. 512-728, found at www.scouting.org/advancement. No other form or application is permitted. Special worksheets or spreadsheets have been created in some councils that when filled out electronically produce a completed application. Because the official application changes from time to time, and because submitting out-of-date applications can cause confusion and delays, Scouts must not be required to use these tools. If they do use them, they still must complete and submit the official Eagle Scout Rank Application.†12. Crowdfunding for Eagle Scout projects explainedSection: 9.0.2.10 What’s new: Fundraising for Eagle Scout projects isn’t required. Plenty of awesome projects are completed without fundraising. But if a Scout needs to raise money, he may use crowdfunding to do so, provided he follows the policies outlined in this section. This is something I’ve blogged about. Excerpt from 2015 Guide to Advancement: “Typical unit fundraisers with which unit leadership is familiar, such as car washes, are the best options. Another alternative, contingent on local council approval, is the use of ‘crowdfunding’ via the Internet. If this method is used, however, then all concerned, from the Scout and his parent or guardian to the unit leader and those approving fundraising at the local council, should be aware that fees may be involved and that fundraising for something like an Eagle project may or may not comply with the website’s terms of service. There can be other issues as well, such as what to do if more — or less — than what is needed is raised. It is important that someone in a position of responsibility reads and understands the website’s ‘fine print.'†13. Request for Registration Beyond the Age of Eligibility form createdSection: 10.1.0.2 What’s new: This new form applies register a person who will remain as a youth member beyond the age of eligibility. Excerpt from 2015 Guide to Advancement: “The Request for Registration Beyond the Age of Eligibility, No. 512-935, found in the appendix and at www.scouting.org/advancement, should be used in this process.â€

I trust all your families can afford a phone and a plan then.

This just hit my FB feed. http://scoutingmagazine.org/2015/02/new-requirements-explore-duty-to-god/ Of note, for Boy Scouts... What is changing in Boy Scouting? The Scout Spirit requirement for each rank starting with Tenderfoot is expanding to have the Scout describe how he has done his duty to God. (The new requirements will be released at the National Annual Meeting in May.) When will the new Boy Scout requirements take effect? Jan. 1, 2016. Find more information about the transition plan and requirements at scouting.org/programupdates. How can I evaluate a Scout for duty to God, especially if he and I have different beliefs? Consider asking him how his family or faith group defines duty to God and how he is living up to that definition. Remember that the focus is on the Scout’s understanding of duty to God, not the leader’s. Also, keep in mind that duty to God will be only one part of the Scout Spirit requirement. Do boys have to earn the religious emblem for their faith? No. Not every youth is a member of a faith group, and not all faith groups offer religious emblems. Earning one is not a requirement. As the BSA’s Declaration of Religious Principle states, “The Boy Scouts of America maintains that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing an obligation to God and, therefore, recognizes the religious element in the training of the member, but it is absolutely nonsectarian in its attitude toward that religious training. Its policy is that the home and organization or group with which the member is connected shall give definite attention to religious life.†Have fun, Unit Serving Leaders...

Two thoughts: @ is right on the cost of education at a public university. My son graduates this spring, and the average across his undergrad education was 16K a year. Many (not all) major public universities require a classic liberal arts education as part of the undergraduate curriculum. So much English, so much history, so much science, so much fine arts. I think a well designed curriculum could be placed in the Eagle Required family. As for me, I would place FOUR merit badges as unconditional Eagle required: Camping First Aid Cooking Personal Fitness Beyond that, I would go for Citizenship group, Arts Group, Conservation Group, Outdoor Activities Group, and Skills/Occupations Group. Further, by doing that ... twenty one merit badges would all be in the Eagle required category. Subtracting my first four, that would place four merit badges in each of the groups. Funny: Citizenship has 3. Keep em. Let's keep the bar to Eagle high, folks.

I'm John, I live in Kansas City. Keith (SR540Beaver) and I keep tabs on the Scouter Forum at Facebook (it's a place where we talk, not as Scouters, but as ourselves ... and we can go waaay beyond the limits of even I&P in terms of political discussion). I'm a unit serving volunteer and IIC money finder these days. Lots of reasons why, all of which I discuss with my Council Commish. I'm a Lutheran Christian, and that will color my thoughts. Peace be with you. Enjoy Scouting.

Moved to Open Discussion -- Program. No political issue in the thread.

Moderator Note: Not an issues and politics item. Moved to General Discussion, Scouting. Yes, I'm back online here.

More important than how is WHY would you want to remove a Cubmaster from the Pack during the program year?

Mozartbrau, If you follow the training materials, the Cubmaster, as the principal program officer, is responsible to THE COMMITTEE. He presents the program requirements, the Committee, working by consensus, provides him the support needed. In a good world, the CM/CC better have each others' backs, or there will be conflict. When I was a CC, the SM and I had 1/1 working breakfasts or late evening beers at each others home. When I was a COR, if there was a disagreement between CC and SM, I usually decided in favor of the program guy!

Mozartbrau, If you follow the training materials, the Cubmaster, as the principal program officer, is responsible to THE COMMITTEE. He presents the program requirements, the Committee, working by consensus, provides him the support needed. In a good world, the CM/CC better have each others' backs, or there will be conflict. When I was a CC, the SM and I had 1/1 working breakfasts or late evening beers at each others home. When I was a COR, if there was a disagreement between CC and SM, I usually decided in favor of the program guy!