RememberSchiff

Something like this. I use humor to put scout at ease. I do try to be accurate regarding his name and his unit. [video=youtube;jdWO9ozir1Y]

Show me a committee with only one vote and I'll show you a one person committee.

Granted dual signatures are not perfect but it is still better than allowing the Treasurer to easily withdraw money as if it is his or her personal checking account. Another consideration, if the second signature is forged or if there is two person conspiracy, criminal intent is clear and prosecution is easier. Besides as mentioned earlier, dual signatures for unit checking accounts is BSA policy. Showing cancelled check images to your CC is another imperfect but good idea. Imperfect as the money is already gone and second those images can be edited. Both imperfect measures demonstrate the Committee's honest attempt to protect the troop's assets, which is after all the Committee's, not just the treasurer or CC, responsibility. Another $0.02,

Suppose you wrote a fraudulent check to yourself or others, without dual signatures required, how soon would this be discovered if at all? Withholding/diverting a cash deposit is another concern even with receipts, it would be helpful to post an IOU deposit transaction to bank at time of receipt. We don't use accounting software apps; we are a small unit and as noted training is a hurdle we don't need to filling the Treasurer position. Another $0.02

Mostly the only time we see cash is during fundraisers and that is documented by the sales transaction and resulting deposit. We did have a cash receipt book a long time ago. A scout paid $x for dues or campout and a receipt was generated. Maybe a practice we should bring back for the few transactions where checks are not used. Or have these methods been replaced by credit cards, PayPay, Apple Pay, BitCoin? Our unit can't handle any of those methods.

Not entirely well, some checks would sit for months in the SM's attache case. Some parents insisted that payments be deposited after meetings, so the Treasurer got in the habit of collecting payments at Troop and Committee meetings and then an after-hours deposit at the bank. This worked for most situations but fundraising which often requires change and occurs at different times and with different adults remains problematic.

Can I come? Ask about rabies and other sick animals and what scouts should do. How to be safe in the outdoors (hiking, in water, in a boat). How to stay found. Ask about non-native species (boas, piranha), invasive plants (how is DisneyWorld (and other zoos) allowed to plant bamboo?). Killer bees, fire ants. Ask about protected species (manatee) Ask about how to get a fishing license and the rules. Ask how scouts can help dept. Impact of weather and pollution on wildlife. Very cool. Recommend scouts/parents write down their questions in advance on 3x5 to make efficient use of time.

Haven't found dual signatures burdensome as checks are signed either at troop meetings or Committee meetings. The Treasurer (TC) cannot make any payments not expressly approved by TC so after a vote at Troop Committee meeting (TCM) is a good time to dual sign checks. You do need a bank that can diligently handle dual signature checks. We units are thankfully not like Council , any troop adult can raise an issue with Treasurer, see the troop budget and bank statements. The whole Troop Committee has the opportunity to look at the current bank statement at each TCM, not just the CC. Unit Treasurer responsibilities are similar to handling a home checking account - deposits, withdrawals, record keeping. Just say no to add-on responsibilities that are not part of the job, e.g., FOS, bill collecting, scout accounts are now gone (IRS). If 1 year term is too short, how about 2 years then? I have seen too many problems with Treasurers and Committees who consider the position a lifetime appointment. "I've been doing this for x years and no one has ever asked/questioned/..." Another $0.02

Our Troop Committee notified a scout that they did not "approve" his selected Eagle adviser, another adviser would need to be selected and approved Our SM quickly correctly that. You need to stand up and right the wrongs. My $0.02

Fiscal Policies and Procedures for BSA Units FAQ is a good start: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/mission/pdf/Fiscal_Policies_Procedures_BSA_Units.pdf Alot of practical, common sense information "Treasurer - Good Practices" http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Treasurer_-_Good_Practices IMO, the critical measures: 1. As with all leader positions, GET THE RIGHT PERSON - SOMEONE WHO WILL FOLLOW THE ABOVE COMMON SENSE (and IRS) POLICIES. No corporate control freaks please..And if a prima donna will not follow the policies, replace that person with the RIGHT Person. 2. Dual signatures for all checks and other account withdrawals. 3. The WHOLE Unit Committee is responsible for financial oversight so the Treasurer must bring the latest real bank statements and the unit check ledger/book to Committee meeting. No transcriptions to a spreadsheet. Real balances and transaction histories should be reviewed. 4. THRIFTY - look at all expenditures. Are you re-registering dead wood adults at recharter? I have recommended the following for every non-profit that I am involved 1. Treasurer should be a 1 year term position with a new RIGHT person each year. 2. At least 3 authorized signatories with two of those 3 required for every check or cash withdrawal. 3. Temporary cash withdrawals should have exact amount matching deposits. So say the troop needed $200 cash for change at Popcorn Show-n-Sells. Two signatories withdraw $200 cash for popcorn sale. Unit takes in $427 that day. There should be two deposits of $200 and $227 and not one deposit of $427. This makes auditing easier. 4. Periodic account reconcilation (audits). Don't assume TRUSTWORTHY where money is involved, rather Trust, but Verify. Yep been burned more than once. My accounted $0.02

Yes that is a great scouting site as is Kudu's (where is he?) website. http://inquiry.net/

Update: No information on requirements. Estimated release is now first quarter 2015,

Our unit started brainstorming about summer camp last night. The suggestion was made to try the Summit summer camp, aka National Scout Camp even though we knew there would added travel time and expenses. Went to the webpage and found the following: "25% adult leader discount for first two leaders ($299) and for additional adult leaders for every 10 additional Scouts". Yikes, deal killed even before we got to the med forms and liability paperwork. For the council camps on our list, those two adult leaders attend free and if the camps would even think of charging adult leaders - Provo or Nogo. So we will be Thrifty, no Summit summer camp for us.

Okay, so responders say 0 change in membership, no one has mentioned an increase. If this merger goes through, it will be interesting to see where the council office will be as for many, the council camps are closer than the Mohegan Council office. I believe Pine Tree Council (Maine) moved their council hq to Camp Hinds and Knox Trail (Mass) is moving to Camp Resolute. I hope that trend continues. As for brick and mortar scout stores, I think they are heading for extinction.

Is the adult leader's name in some way different on the charter doc than his YP, e.g., Bob on one, Robert on the other?

My concern is in improving boy scout membership, that is where I believe we have the greatest impact on youth character and skills development. Around here we have seen up spikes in young Cub Scout membership but that declines in Webelos through cross-over. Burn-out, sports, the usual suspects. So yes 90% of our Boy Scouts come from Cub Scouts whether we get 1 new scout or 12 each year, but more Cub Scouts has not translated into more Boy Scouts at least not around here. So my question does anyone know of a councils merger that increased the number of boy scouts in that area? This is a goal of this merger. If so, did it take a year, two, five? My gut tends to believe that mergers at the council or unit level more often reduce scout membership than increase it.

Mohegan and Nashua Vallley Council are in talks to merge. After reading the QA released, A Case to Better Serve the Youth of Central Massachusetts. http://www.mohegancouncilbsa.org/council-merger-qa/ and taking aspirin, I wondered if any Council mergers increased the number of Boy Scouts in the affected area in a year, 3 years, 5 years? Don't want to hear about Cub Scouts or Scout Reach numbers. Just wondering.

Memory disabilities are not uncommon. Ask the scout to repeat after you (short term memory) , the Pledge of Allegiance, Oath, and Law. In severe cases, you may have to speak one word at a time. After he repeats, have him explain the meaning, etc, We have had scouts who could not fully remember these oaths at their BOR but they could remember their meaning. Encourage and build confidence. From what you wrote, I see no need to file for alternative Tenderfoot requirements. Whether the scout is interested in Eagle is irrelevant.

My unit has encountered this. The older scout patrol stopped for pizza and donuts enroute and brought it to camp. They thought themselves rather clever. By Sat lunch, their mooching off the younger prepared scouts was ! So here's what we do now at departure gathering. SPL: Are all patrols ready for campout? NSP PL: Flaming Arrow patrol is ready to light the way. Leper Colony PL: ...Well, er you see our grubmaster kind of forgot... SP: Is Leper Colony Patrol ready or not? Leper Colony PL: No, we forgot food. SM: SPL is troop ready? SPL: Troop is NOT ready, one patrol, Leper Colony, is not ready. SM: SPL do you intend to proceed without that patrol, delay departure, or cancel campout? SPL: (now a decison has to be made and more questions are asked) So far no SPL has canceled a campout and no patrol has attended a campout without proper gear and food. My $0.01 for tough love,

From website http://stemscouts.org "Become a STEM Scout today and let your curiosity take flight. We’ll connect you with a nearby Lab unit for your grade level, and you’ll be on your way to meeting new people, learning new skills and inventing and discovering new things. The cost of $150 for the year provides the tee shirt, lab coat, safety glasses, backpack and some supplies." Wow, no hassle. Reasonable yearly cost stated upfront, no fundraising. Open to all kids (well in pilot program area), simple and focused. Now don't ruin it by making it expensive ("Let's have a National STEM jamboree and it will only cost $$$ each"), time-demanding, and overly-restrictive. Oh and keep it FUN. In the Volunteer area, I saw no mention of background checks and youth protection training.. IMO, our schools should be doing this, i.e.,after-school academic programs, Old Schiff was in a Chemistry Club back in the day. People will eventually correct this and STEM scouts will fade away. . My $0.02,

Red Hot Car Hop http://www.wtok.com/home/headlines/Red-Hot-Car-Hop-Raises-Money-for-Boy-Scouts-277350401.html Meridian's A&W-Long John Silvers took a step back in time today for a special occasion. The restaurant hosted a Red Hot Car Hop car show this morning to raise money for the Choctaw Council of Boy Scouts. Cars from all decades filled the parking lot. The boy scouts were out selling popcorn and racing pinewood derby cars. All the money raised will benefit the boy scouts through United Way. And those who organized the event say giving back in this community is always a two-way street. "The community gives to us through coming and buying our meals and root beers and all that," restaurant operator Bud Power says. "We just want to give back to the community. Doing things like this is just a very good way to do that." "Oh, it's just fantastic," Brandon Booker of the Boy Scouts says. "Everything we do, we try to give back to the community, and it's overwhelming to see the community come out for us." Power says organizers hope to make this car show an annual event. Sounds like a FUNdraiser. I wonder if they would let Schiff bring his old RED Radio Flyer wagon?

Good overview article: http://www.wvgazette.com/article/20140924/GZ01/140929602

So if your argument holds that the large majority are unfairly supporting limited use by a minority, then would you use the same argument towards selling the Summit, Philmont, and other high adventure bases? Just curious.

I am TIRED of hearing about stolen BOY SCOUT trailers. Go expensive with LOJACK http://www.lojack.com/Construction-a...s-and-Towables Go thrifty with an old smartphone and an app (you track the smartphone which was hidden inside your stolen trailer). https://preyproject.com/ Let's stop being victims; catch and prosecute the SOB's. Place a decal on side like WW2 pilots. My $0.02