RememberSchiff

+1 BSA should stick to the knotting.

Hoky may be appropriate. Explorer posts can pick their own uniforms. As I understand, Explorer posts specialize in a civilian careers field - fire, ems, medical, aviation, engineering...and not military as scoutldr mentioned. For example, I have heard of CAP units also being Explorer Posts but only for those cadets who wanted dual membership. The Explorer Post was focused on aviation and CAP military. Is the "parent organization" of an Explorer Post the BSA or the hosting entity - the fire department, hospital, CAP, USSC,...?

It's parent organization, United States Service Corps (USSC), is also short on details. Wonder how much money the BSA sends their way?. http://www.usservicecorps.us/ http://www.usservicecorps.us/missions-and-goals Finance. The USSC is a volunteer military type organization. There is no general requirement for a budget to cover such costs as salaries, facilities, equipment, training, travel, and general and administrative expenses. While states are not required to budget for SDF type activities there are ways in which the USSC can obtain support funds or equipment: Establish a cha

Can't say that I have ever heard of a documented Learning for LIfe program in my area until now and this program is news to me too - the Army Explorer program. Looks interesting, seems more active in Southwest, parts of the South and Northeast. Anyone familiar with this program? http://www.armyexplorers.us/current The United States Army Explorers (USAE) is a registered not for profit youth career exploration program for teens both Males, and females ages 13-20. It is also the Cadet side of the United States Service Corps, a military organization that is training personnel to serve the U

Officially nobody knows. State officials say the process is going through "growing pains" - a rough translation "we didn't think this out". Here's an example http://www.dailyitem.com/news/child-...f3013cd83.html "In the audience were students as well as teachers and administrators, but also business owners who take part in job shadowing programs. Those programs are a concern to John Kurelja, Warrior Run School District superintendent. “We send our eighth-grade students out to businesses,†he said of a successful job shadowing program that gives students a look at various

PA 2014 Act 153 http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/...sInd=0&act=153 Clearances (how, where) http://www.dhs.state.pa.us/findaform/childabusehistoryclearanceforms/ Meanwhile abuse reports and background checks are going swimmingly at the Dept. of Human Services. The state had promised to process background checks within 14 days. Not happening, even with an enlarged staff, mandatory OT of up to 5hours/day, and new computer systems. http://www.pennlive.com/politics/ind...ing_child.html Feb/Mar, my unit makes our summer reservations. With moderating gas prices, our unit w

Update 2/20/2015 Herkimer County legislature passes resolution against the sale of Camp Russell. http://www.herkimertelegram.com/arti...News/150229926 The (Herkimer County) Legislature also passed a resolution opposing the sale or closure of Boy Scout Camp Russell, noting “the camp's rich history has been an asset to Herkimer County for 97 years providing traditions that carry on long after the last scout has been served.†Certified copies of the resolution are to be sent to the Boy Scouts of America office in Utica. The resolution recalls that the camp was founded i

So a PA volunteer may face this process. 1. State and Federal background checks with no required YP education 2. Charter Organization, e.g. a Catholic Diocese, requires their YP training and background check. 3. BSA requires their YP training and a LexisNexis background check (where BSA asks for Social Security Number). What if a new volunteer, says "Look I paid and cleared Step 1 which is good for 3 years., I will NOT give you my SS# nor submit to redundant background checks."? I think the silver lining may be shifting background check liability entirely to the State of PA. Th

It looks like you can transfer the background checks (which you likely paid) within an organization, which could be tricky. Say you were heavily involved with youth programs at your CO - scouts, youth ministries, CYO basketball. It seems you should get your clearances for your (employer) CO and not BSA. If you are involved heavily in Scouts with multiple units and venues - troops, district, camp then get your clearances for your (employer) BSA council. But what if your PA council is HQ'd in Maryland or New York? Might resurface the old wisdom, that council boundaries and their camp assets shou

A almost identical memo from the Mason-Dixon Council which has two districts in PA and one in MD. Their additional questions are noted in blue italics. http://www.mason-dixon-bsa.org/openr...aspx?id=146718 As we mentioned earlier, we have a very long list of questions and clarifications. Just a few of these questions include: If a volunteer has to obtain clearances for another organization, can the clearances be transferred to Scouting? Does this extend to unregistered parents who attend meetings, go on outings, or want to go to summer camp with their child? 14 year old Den

http://padutchbsa.org/memo-on-pa-act...council-key-3/ Memo on PA Act 153 from (Pennsylvania Dutch) Council Key 3 by Mike on Tuesday, February 10, 2015 To: Unit Leaders, Unit Committee Chairs, Chartered Organization Representatives, District Volunteers, and Council Board Members From: Rupert Taylor, Jim Troebliger Ed Rasmuson Council President Council Commissioner Scout Executive Re: PA Act 153 of 2014: Requiring Comprehensive Criminal and Child Abuse Background Checks Dear Scouters, As you may or may not be aware, PA Act 153 of 2014 went into effect January 1, 2015. This

Employers (school districts, scout councils, camps,...) must keep records that their employees and volunteers have successfully cleared said background checks. Failure to do so for those employers is a third degree misdemeanor - a fine or year in jail. This record keeping requires personnel and some filing/database system. Will there be inspections by the state to verify compliance or will compliance be checked after a report? Penn State scandal? These background checks would not have stopped Sandusky at Penn State as he had no record. Another new PA law, the "mandatory reporter" law, wit

Yes big question. I found no requirement that the state of PA complete the background checks within a certain time or a contingency procedure if they do not. I wouldn't be surprised if suddenly a temporary waiver could be purchased for $$ from PA. Ka-ching.

From another thread: http://www.acacamps.org/sites/default/files/images/keystone/PA_Background_Checks_Act_of_2014.pdf State of Pennsylvania Comprehensive Background Checks Updated 1/30/2015 As of December 31 2014, Pennsylvania Act 153 of 2014 requires that new employees, volunteers, and those with expired clearances who have direct contact and care for children must obtain three clearances which are then valid for 3 years. They would need to be re-attained after 3 years. This law also applies to persons over the age of 14 working paid positions, revealing informa

PA's new background check laws have other twists. It is the prospective employee/volunteer responsibility to obtain and pay for his/her background check not the employer. Depending on whether it is direct youth contact and the volunteer's length of PA residency, this could be 2 or 3 background checks: child abuse, state police, and FBI. Sure the BSA could do it's LexisNexis on top of those checks and maybe a year or two later, the volunteer is cleared. About $50 for all three PA required clearances which must be repeated every 3 years! Unclear about the age of a volunteer? Would a 15yr ol

"The Mid-Iowa Council, BSA STEM action committee is excited in your interest in this event. It is a unique opportunity for the Ankeny School District and the Boy Scouts of America to work in tande m within the community. At the event we will also have information about a potential new Ankeny STEM Club that would do STEM activities once a quarter. We hope that you and your child are planning to attend to learn more about the growth of S.T.E.M. programs and education in our community." Exporing STEM in Ankenny March 7, 2015 http://www.ankenyschools.org/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/694

"For any and all Scouting activities, all participants must complete Part A and Part B. "All participants" includes parents, guardians, siblings, youth, staff, and unit leaders. " Out in the real world, our unit's conventional wisdom is this: All members of a scout unit must supply their current Part A and Part B forms to their unit leader. Form C and High Adventure may also be needed depending on duration and venue. These forms are securely managed and carried along to all unit activities by the unit leader or alternate. So which "non-registered's" need to supply a med form. Dad

https://www.facebook.com/STEMScouts most recent post as of Feb 16, 2015 "The Vortex and the STEM Scouts team made it home with great news. The National Executive Board approved expanding the STEM Scouts test pilot into additional councils! In the coming days, we will have a great deal more information to share. Thank you all for the warm wishes"

Please take this statue discussion to its own thread.

I am sorry to hear that your Scouts' freedom of religion upset your Scoutmaster.

We still don't know the CM's "hike plan". But for a Cub Scout hike the total distance is limited to what 3 miles? So from their trailhead draw 1.5 and 3.0 mile radius circles as we also don't know if they planned to return to the starting point. What are the points of reference, points of interest, terrain, evac points, water, bathrooms, dangers.. A cursory look - Pacific ocean, cliffs with steep trails, world's largest nude beach, gliderport If the CM was using this map http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/657/fi...eserve_map.pdf the nude beach, Black's Beach, to my understanding is south o

San Diego-Imperial Council and parents' (unsigned) response in support (2 pages) http://www.utsandiego.com/documents/2015/feb/04/response-blacks-beach-cub-scout-incident/ http://media.utsandiego.com/news/doc...sBeachHike.pdf

--Are there any grade requirements to remain in good standing in the Boy Scouts? No, though but I would expect Band would have such requirements. There merit badges that may help, in particlar, Scholarship merit badge, perhaps you can become a merit badge counselor for Scholarship merit badge. There is also a Reading merit badge http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Scholarship --Would it be a good idea to take a break from Scouts, even for a week or two, to refocus other areas of life? Absolutely.As you pointed out this is a critical time. He needs to consider his future, improve his

True. They were within their council so the BSA does not require one. Does that make sense is another topic. It would be interesting to know if the Charter Organization, which I think is a Presbyterian Church, was part of the "Pack leadership" which said proper protocol had been observed, etc. If not, there may be more to come.