RememberSchiff

National Annual Meeting http://nam.scouting.org/Activities/Events/Sessions.aspx Strategic Initiatives Thursday, 10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. After the Business Meeting, join us for a discussion of Strategic Initiatives that will help chart the course for the movement’s future. Discussions will include an update of the Game Plan, Youth Protection efforts, and information on the progress of Family Scouting. There will also be time for questions and answers.

IMO, Mom and Dad, as members. will agree to come along at SM's request in order to meet YP and other safety requirements. At the unit level, many of us are already doing this with our special needs scouts. Another $0.02,

Looking at all the discussion of Family Scouting, adding girls may be just an intermediate step. IMO, National's long game plan is to switch from recruiting individual scouts to their whole families - all in the family would be on the books as members whether they participate or not, similar to the Y. Increased headcount and revenue. My $0.02 P.S. Our leaders may have lost their way but at the unit level, we are doing are best to faithfully delivering the program to the scouts we have.

@NCJscout welcome to scouter.com

@2Concerned welcome to scouter.com

As we were told, the BSA National Executive Board voted unaminously to approve last years membership change. Since only a quorum is needed, did LDS members abstain from attending or attend and vote in favor or...?

In July of 2016 on a 110-degree day, 12-year-old Cody Flom was hiking with his mother's boyfriend on the trail when Cody collapsed. He later died at the hospital. "We just finished installing it this morning and we're just dedicating it to Cody Flom," said Matthew Harwood, a boy scout and a friend of Cody's, teamed up with the city of Phoenix to install the warning signs. "We don't want something like that to happen again so this sign is being installed to specifically warn hikers about the dangers. It's not a static sign, it actually changes with the weather to let people know how d

@casiodave355 , welcome to scouter.com .

Just a reminder for those of us whose invitation has yet to arrive ... https://nam.scouting.org/

National Shooting Sport Conference at Summit, Sept 28-30. See link below for more info regarding conference and well as recent updates to shooting program materials. https://www.scouting.org/outdoor-programs/shooting-sports/

Thanks, post hidden and under moderator review. @NJCubScouter , @Sentinel947

I know this is I&P, but urinary aids for the disabled is not funny. I hid those two posts for moderator review. @NJCubScouter , @Sentinel947

Talking fun works better for recruitment but If asked, I will mention my boys and our medical response as they both were bit during scout outings. My wife contracted Lyme on a family vacation. Not fun. Thanks for your kind thoughts.

The white flag is dragged over brush. On the white cloth, the ticks are easier to see and remove for study. A black, furry bog might be a plan B or a faithful companion.

Agree. People may be just reporting more. That said, nearly every family in my unit has a family member who had one of these diseases. Both my sons had the Lyme bullseye and were quickly treated with antibiotics. Their doctor's wife who was also a doctor is a Lyme victim. She is now wheelchair bound. Mrs. Schiff has recurring Bell's Palsy from Lyme. IMO, the problem has been made worse by lost predator habitats - the suburban sprawl. While the predators are away, the mice will multiply. Education and bug sprays may prevent infection but they do not minimize the cause.

I have carried a neckerchief (a real, 4-sided one) in my glove compartment and in my suitcase when traveling. Maybe I should carry one in my back pocket as well.

Here's a positive step that Scouts might take - a tick drag. Scout Michael Kinsey heard of this research while considering Eagle projects. He reasoned that if Boy Scouts across the state (Texas) would incorporate a tick drag during their campouts, thousands of samples could be generated to accelerate the research. In the process, they would learn important information about protecting themselves from tick bites, and gain greater understanding of the outdoors. https://www.txlda.com/texas-teen-turns-tables-on-tragic-illness/ Maybe Scouts can help mitigate this problem.

I know Councils do sponsor/charter Venture Crews, e.g. summer camp Crew 1. Maybe the same approach will be used with girl troops?

Doubt it. If the media bugs a CO, the CO will just say talk to Council. If Council pushes, the many recalcitrant CO's around here will say "We had a Boy Scout troop, bye" and if they are also a savvy CO "oh.. and thanks for the equipment for our new youth group." There are numerous other options for former CO's. IMO, any pressure from the outside and National will be on Councils.

Any pressure will be on Councils, not existing CO's as CO's still determine their leadership and membership not the media, not the Council. I agree starting a new unit is hard here, but that is a National-made problem not the existing CO's. As I understand the UK Scout Association has no CO's, maybe they have a solution. My $0.02,

Yes.

Not much we can do about cooties, however the mice population might be another matter. I have wondered if Scouts placing or selling mouse traps might help reduce the number of infected ticks.

@cgail , welcome to scouter.com

Illnesses from mosquito, tick, and flea bites have tripled in the U.S., with more than 640,000 cases reported during the 13 years from 2004 through 2016. Nine new germs spread by mosquitoes and ticks were discovered or introduced into the United States during this time. This is impacting our troop's outdoor program more and more. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2018/p0501-vs-vector-borne.html https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/gss/gss13/

@plumchas , welcome to scouter.com