RememberSchiff

Related, but to be facilitated by a local council... Mid-Iowa Council Youth Safety Summit Nov 9, 2024 in Des Moines, IA Glen Pounder will lead panel discussion which includes Mary Wangerin from National's Special Needs Committee. Mary Wangerin co-chaired the Northern Star Special Needs and Disabilities Committee and has been very involved in neuro-diversity training for the BSA. She co-authored with Roger Tate the BSA Inclusion Toolbox for Special Needs and Disabilities. She has been a production editor of Abilities Digest and website AbleScouts.org. https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/34059(24)_WB-Inclusion-Toolbox.pdf Unknown if this Youth Safety Summit will be streamed or recorded. Source: https://scoutingiowa.org/safetysummit/ Content and Schedule: https://scoutingiowa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Youth-Safety-Summit-At-a-Glance-UPDATED.pdf

Building confidence to overcome anxiety SAVEs another ... Nine-year-old James, who struggles with anxiety, says his recent training in Boy Scouts allowed him to overcome his fear in the moment, call 911, and save his mother's life. “I wanted to join because we have been camping and fishing and doing a bunch of cart racing stuff, and it's a lot of stuff that I like.” After quitting Scouts several times, James decided to come back, and it was at the right time when he learned a life-saving technique just weeks before he would use it. “We practiced calling 911, and they would give us scenarios, and we would kind of say what we would do if that actually happened. Then, a couple of weeks later, my mom had the allergic reaction, so I kind of knew what to do.” And he did. Both James and his Mom are ok. Scout salute, More at source: https://www.cnycentral.com/news/local/nine-year-old-overcomes-anxiety-to-save-mothers-life-with-skills-learned-in-cub-scouts

Update 10/19/2024: "After discussion with the more than 800 delegates, the National Council approved the new price of membership dues at $65 for girls. Dues will remain at $25 for the next year, then rise to $45 for the 2026 membership year and to $65 in 2027, the organization said. Adult membership dues will increase from $25 to $30 in 2026. ... In 2022, GSUSA lost a trademark infringement lawsuit filed against the Boy Scouts of America, which expanded its reach in recent years to counter a decline in membership. It allows girls, openly gay boys and transgender youth to join. The change fueled concerns in the Girl Scouts that its appeal to girls would be undercut as it was forced to compete for the first time with the larger Boy Scouts for recruits." Source: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/girl-scouts-to-increase-dues-to-65-over-two-years/ar-AA1sBiqA

IMHO, this has some possibilities: 1. We will see how scouting membership is impacted by a single variable - registration dues. No pandemic, no legal/bankruptcy complications. 2. Price parity with BSA/SA might lead more girls to consider joining us. $85, should I choose GSUSA or BSA/SA? Ooops, I guess I just added a complication to analysis in 1.

On Saturday, the 900 delegates of the Girl Scouts of the USA’s National Council will vote on whether to raise dues for the first time in eight years. The GSUSA Board has proposed raising membership dues from $25 dollars a year to $85 per scout – a hike of 240%. “The proposals are directly tied to supporting our local councils and improving program delivery for current and future members,” a Girl Scouts of the USA, or GSUSA, spokesperson said in a statement to CNN. Membership dues are the Girl Scout’s largest source of revenue, generating $38 million in 2023 from its nearly 2 million total members. But the organization is losing money, projecting operating losses of $5.6 million this year, so it’s looking for cash. ... The Boy Scouts of America’s membership fee also rose to $85 in April, but that increase was just $5. More details at source: https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/18/business/girl-scouts-to-vote-to-raise-fees-to-usd85-from-usd25/index.html

CBS News Texas report with comments from Trustee Barbara Houser.

12 Simple Words by John W. Kennedy - 160 pages, release date Oct 30,2024 “This book offers my vision of the powerful personal resource these 12 words hold, and it also incorporates the input of over 50 successful people from different walks of life, including Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, adult leaders and more,” said author Kennedy. “I’m thrilled that this book has finally been compiled." Next paragraph is a review from Amazon which resonated with moderator me. I recommend Read Sample on the Amazon link below. "One of the things that drives John W. Kennedy the craziest and increases his personal cynicism is the fact that we do not communicate anymore. This sounds odd in a world full of communication devices, but 'talking at' is not 'talking with' others. We always look to find someone to blame instead of listening and trying to understand another's POV. Most of the time, blame is never the answer needed to act, but something to deal with after the solution is found. Debate and arguments have value when they do not become personal. He has changed his approach many times in life, when someone convinced him of a better solution. We must stop making broad assertions and assumptions based on factors out of one's own control. We need to decide that groups are made up of individuals that have differing life experiences. We can embrace and learn from many." Sources: https://www.tapinto.net/towns/randolph/sections/community-happenings/articles/meet-local-author-john-w-kennedy-at-county-college-of-morris-author-of-12-simple-words-to-sign-books-5c3c6f22-411b-4603-821c-bc8a392086e3 https://www.amazon.com/12-Simple-Words-Foundation/dp/B0DG7ZGD3S

Troop 12, Hollis, NH Travels to Kauai for Biennial BIG Trip Senior scouts of Hollis Troop 12 returned on August 2 from their “Big Trip” to the island of Kauai. The trip, which began on July 23, was the result of two years of research, planning and preparation. The scouts were joined by seven Troop 12 Eagle Scouts who recently “aged-out” of the program when they turned 18, but became adult leaders. The troop established a base camp at BSA Aloha Council’s Camp Alan Faye on the borders of Koke’e and Waimea Canyon State Parks. Summer camp for Kauai scouts was not in session at the time, so Troop 12 had the camp all to themselves.... (see link below) Troop 12 has been conducting a “Big Trip” every two years for almost 30 years. Scouts independently select potential destinations, research them, and formally propose them to their peers over the course of a school year. At the end of that year, the troop votes to select the next destination. Detailed planning is then conducted by participants during the next 12 months for the following year’s Big Trip. In addition to selecting appropriate camping spots and daily high adventure activities, scouts have to plan for their meals and all other logistics to support the trip, including equipment lists, emergency services, cell service coverage and dead spots, grocery store and gas station locations, parking and backcountry permits, and duty rosters. More trek details and photos at Source: https://hollisbrooklinenewsonline.com/troop-travels-to-kauai-for-biennial-big-trip-p8815-166.htm

Two troops from same town. One treks to Alaska, the other to Mt. Katahdin (Maine) In July, 11 Scouts and 5 adults from Hopkinton, MA Troop 1 spent 10 days backpacking and canoeing in southern Alaska. The troop organized the trip through the Northern Lights High Adventure Base, which is associated with the Midnight Sun Council in Fairbanks, Alaska... ...Despite the challenges, Troop 1 looks forward to its next trip. SM McDaniel says he hopes to take his Scouts to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico in 2026. “We try to do high adventure [trips] every other year." Note: Planning uncertainties which includes weather, but now add Microsoft. (~RS) In early September, Troop 4 Hopkinton hiked Maine’s highest mountain as part of a revolving series of hikes. Troop 4 runs a “six highest peaks of New England” program to give Scouts more hiking opportunities. “The program was started in 2018,” said Troop 4 assistant Scoutmaster Charusmitha Ram. “We want every Scout to have an opportunity to complete these [hikes] through their course to Eagle Scout.” For each hike the Scouts do, they receive a patch for their uniform. The other mountains included in the program are Mount Washington, Mount Mansfield in Vermont, Jerimoth Hill in Rhode Island, Bear Mountain in Connecticut and Mount Greylock.... More trek details and photos at Source: https://hopkintonindependent.com/hopkinton-boy-scout-troops-venture-to-alaska-mount-katahdin/

I suppose, as PL, you would report your patrol missing. In case of a missing Scout or a fatality, notify the council Scout executive after notifying local authorities and emergency medical services.

Update: "Heritage’s November 15 American Art Signature® Auction will include 25 landmark works from the Boy Scouts’ collection. Among the historic lot: Norman Rockwell’s Homecoming and Beyond the Easel (the latter a self-portrait placing the artist among his Scouting students); Joseph Christian Leyendecker’s Boy Scouts Signaling with Flags, a Saturday Evening Post cover from September 1911; Monte Crews’ Boys’ Life cover 1939 World’s Fair and Joseph Csatari’s 1976 Scout Handbook Eighth Edition cover. ... In total, Heritage will offer 59 of Rockwell’s most beloved Boy Scouts pieces, all of which were included in the BSA’s collection during a lengthy exhibition at The American Scouting Collection at the Medici Museum of Art in Howland, Ohio. Over the summer, those works were transferred to Heritage, which will continue offering additional artwork from the Trust in future auctions." Source with photos: https://intelligentcollector.com/auction-of-boy-scouts-art-collection-to-benefit-survivors-of-childhood-sexual-abuse/

Yes, I am not criticizing his preparation. It would not have occurred to me.

Changes... IMHO, the Outdoor Method seems to have disappeared from Hiking MB. It seems more of a Walking MB. My younger son completed his 20 mile hiker by walking round and round the high school track! He convinced it was safer (plenty of buddies, early sunset but field lighted and no cars), for a good cause (it was a Cancer walkathon), and his distance and time would be "official" . His MB counselor pre-APPROVED his hike plan. I read this article below which lead with a troop 20 mile hike to the St. Louis Arch. As a scout or scouter planning a hike, it would have never occurred to me do as their assistant scoutmaster did: “I called every police department of the neighborhoods the Scouts would walk through ahead of time and had two backup drivers in case anyone fell behind, “ Back in the day, I carried a dime to call Mom or maybe my SM. https://www.timesnewspapers.com/webster-kirkwoodtimes/local-scout-troop-marches-to-the-arch/article_5864c7cc-8713-11ef-b972-9fa6e6d82af7.html

"Adventure Point is located on 30+ acres adjacent to The DeVos Family Center for Scouting in Walker, MI – just 5 miles northwest of downtown Grand Rapids. The campus features an outdoor 35’ Climbing / Rapelling Tower, Zipline, BB, and Archery Range and a Low COPE Challenge Course. Combined with 2 miles of groomed woodland trails along Mill Creek, and 5 modern Yurts for Camping – Adventure Point offers Fun, Adventure, and Outdoor Education for all ages." I found little mention on Adventurepoint's separate website of Scouting or its parent Michigan Crossroads Council. But I did read this story regarding Adrian College with Michigan Crossroads Council/Adventurepoint offering 3 college credits upon completion of the Summit Leadership Course. Your transfer credits may vary. Is this the future for BSA/SA facilities - more mainstream, catered, compressed outreach of scouting program strengths outside of Scouting ...Mini-courses? An observation at this point, not a criticism.

..."The most frightening call police, fire and EMS can receive is a report of a school bus crash." The Mahopac Falls Fire Department (NY) and Troop 371 scouts conducted a mock school bus accident using a 65-passenger bus and a wheelchair accessible van provided by Mahopac School District. Fire personnel praised scouts as “fantastic partners, learning first-hand about safety protocols and gaining valuable experience in emergency situations. Their enthusiasm and teamwork were truly inspiring.” Source: https://midhudsonnews.com/2024/10/12/firefighters-and-scouts-team-up/