RememberSchiff

Side effect of this article, Vermont scouts may not be permitted to sell bottled water at July 4th celebration. I wonder if Montpelier is turning down Eagle projects too? "The Montpelier, VT Scouts’ request to be a licensed vendor (selling bottled water) in the July 3 celebration, expected to be an easy approval, was taken off the council’s consent agenda Wednesday at the request of Councilor Thierry Guerlain. Guerlain said he does not want any organization that discriminates to get the city’s endorsement  even if it means banning local Boy Scouts from selling at the parade. Guerlain found fast support for his stance, which objects to the Boy Scouts’ national policy of not allowing homosexual troop leaders. However, some councilors did not agree that jeopardizing the local Scouts’ fundraising efforts for a camping trip  or whatever their fundraising goal may be  was the right way to get the message to the Washington, D.C.-based organization. In raising the issue, Guerlain distributed a USA Today article printed Tuesday, in which Attorney General Eric Holder, speaking to an advocacy group for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people’s rights, Lambda Legal, was critical of the Scouts’ refusal to drop its ban on gay adult leaders. Guerlain said he was a Boy Scout growing up. “It was the best thing that ever happened to me as a kid, far and away,†he said, calling the experience “transformative.†However, the organization’s continuing ban on gay leaders “perpetuates the worst kind of stereotypes,†said Guerlain" .... “I hope that we don’t approve (the vendor requests), and I hope that it makes national press, and I hope that the message gets to Washington (?? Irving ) that we said no,†said Guerlain. “We’re not going to let a group that openly discriminates against gays sell water at our parade. ... It’s difficult, it’s uncomfortable, but I think it’s our chance to do the right thing.†... http://www.timesargus.com/article/20...STIN/706169942

http://news.morningstar.com/all/mark...g-program.aspx "Nashua Valley Council and The SHINE Initiative, a nonprofit that works to promote mental illness in children and teens as a mainstream health issue, teamed up to create the trailblazing initiative. Nashua Valley Council scout leaders will be trained in Youth Mental Health First Aid, an international evidence-based program. The program will be made available to Boy Scout councils later this year and then offered to Girl Scout groups across Massachusetts, Ed Manzi, chairman & CEO of Fidelity Bank, said. There are an estimated 51,000 boys and 60,000 girls enrolled in Scouting programs in Massachusetts. "This program will result in Scout leaders being better able to identify, relate to, and help a young person who is living with a mental illness," he said.Paul Richard, The SHINE Initiative executive director, said the training will give Scout leaders information they need to identify signs of possible mental illness. "They're going to be able to assess and listen to someone in crisis," he said. Manzi, chairman of The SHINE Initiative, added: "This is a powerful step toward achieving the much-talked-about but seldom-achieved parity between mental health and physical health issues in a grass-roots way. It has the potential to change thousands of lives for the better over the years." The crisis in youth mental health spurred the creation of The SHINE Initiative in 2004. Manzi said 50 percent of lifetime cases of chronic mental illness begin by age 14, and more than two-thirds of young people living with mental illness are not receiving treatment."

I cannot accept the assertion that since the BSA was not legally required to do the right thing, it did no wrong. This could and should have been reported sooner than 30 years, if only we had concerned men of good character. My $0.02

Mostly adult courses but some family and kids courses http://beargryllssurvivalacademy.com/ 4 US locations: Catskill Mountains California - Yosemite Colorado Rockies and coming soon Texas.

Troop photo with a scout or two holding a ubiquitous, editable handheld sign. "SPL in center back, adults on ends." Camp Runamuck Troop 100 2014

Anyone, then or now, could report suspicious activity to the police. "Suspect a crime drop a time". The difference in times were the victim families then put their faith in the BSA, Catholic Church, Schools to follow thru with the call to the police...,hopefully we have learned from those mistakes and call direct

Disagree. The "files" should have been turned over to the authorities at the time of the incident(s), rather than wait 30 years. When reporting a suspected criminal activity, contact police first.

"Mandatory" or "forced" wouldn't be the the Scout Way, rather a camp rule such as wearing the scout uniform to camp or to dinner. One 99+deg Sunday, my scouts chose to wear their Class B's (performance shirts) for the camp picture what a commotion that caused.

“ I do not go to church anymore... I guess you might say I've come around to secular humanism, an obligation I believe all humans have to others and the world we live in." - Charles Schultz circa late 1980's Awarded the Combat Infantry Badge too. http://army.togetherweserved.com/army/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApps?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=234063

Agree 110%.

Where's The Food?

When I was a scout we often said in a Kookie-way "Heh WTF man" to any or all who hastily starting doing something or there was an urgency without a reason because everyone knew WTF was short for "Where's the Fire". I had been re-educated in recent years that definition has changed.

Too many and often it is too much work, e.g., becoming a merit badge counselor.

Around here, some troops want to say No Thanks to the customary Sunday afternoon troop summer camp photo. Those troops feel they take better, less expensive photos themselves, other concerns are that photographers only offer prints not jpg's, and then there is the time bottleneck. Camps have claimed this is mandatory due to their contract with photographer and what happens if a scout and his family change their mind and want a photo. So should troops be allowed to opt-out of the official summer camp photo and proceed directly to the next camp check-in stop?

Here's another reason why every scout and scouter should manage and secure their own medical and bring it themselves to activities and camp. Van gets stolen with medical records, could keep boy scouts from attending camp http://fox4kc.com/2014/06/09/van-get...ttending-camp/

Just say NO to whoever the CM, CC, IH, ..What happens when your sons crossover to Boy Scouts, will you be held back as a DL? Some stop-loss program? State your conditions for volunteering, i.e., that you want to help with your son's den either as a DL, ADL, or just a scout parent. You are not being selfish so don't let them lay any guilt trip on you. CM sound like a control-freak among other things. Pack should plan his retirement party yesterday. My $0.02.

Good advice here. 100 scouts, yowser, that would be 3 to 5 troops around here. Have you looked into hiring or buying a bus or two? 100 scouts + gear + adults might result in caravan longer than a local National Guard unit driving to two week training. And then there is the increasing number of adults decommitting at the last minute. Seems to spread faster than the flu, one decommits then suddenly two more. Would be nice to hire replacements, perhaps some Eagle scouts attending a local college, and bill those parents Sorry not much help.

?? Back in the 60's in the camps I attended, you brought your own medical (BTW good for 3 years and shorter) to camp. You gathered with your unit or provisional and awaited your turn for swim test, medical check, etc. When it was your turn, a friendly camp counselor escorted you to that destination. The SM/ASM was just another camper as far as the check-in went. No medical, the camp called (no cellphones back then) parents to pick you up. Late arrivals were handled last, but did not hold up their unit check-in. I remembered getting my hand stamped, no bracelet. Bottom line every camper (scout, adult) was in the same boat - responsible for their own check-in. Individual responsibility, growing boys into men, what a concept. The only time I remember a SM managing medicals was a Council trip to Philmont. If you didn't have a medical, you did not get on the bus to Cimarron. Another $0.01

Who knows what the future will bring? We hear all sorts of speculation, as I'm sure you do, too. Cooperation and friendly competition? I remain hopeful that Mr. Gates will himself reach out to all youth and not send lawyers to those viewed as competitors, e.g., Hacker Scouts. I think with program accommodations, the BSA and TLUSA troop can work together in outdoor activities and service projects. If they can't, then the future would be dim. My $0.02

I want to make this strictly a boy scout/family responsibility! Boy Scout shows up for campout/activity/summer camp and brings along a current medical. So for summer camp, I never touch his medical or his prescriptions, he hands all directly to camp nurse. No current medical, he's sent home - a life lesson taught in other youth organizations. After activity and where legally allowed, his med form is returned to him otherwise he has other copies at home for next activity. His meds, if any, are returned at last dosage. PITA is a dish best shared. My $0.01 for being grumpy P.S. I'm not going around to camp counselors and collect MB cards either. Scout responsibility.

Mark thanks for dropping in, please stick around and educate us about TLUSA. As I understand as a cost saving, the TLUSA does not plan to own/manage camps or council offices. Is that correct? Will your online registration system allow the registrant (scout or adult) to drop-out before anniversary of joining/renewal. Seems both the BSA and TLUSA could do that and then have current accurate membership and demographic data. So do TLUSA adults just register once? Recall in the BSA, adults have to register again whenever they change or add a position. When is your first Jamboree? I know a place in West Virginia looking for bookings, well as long as you remain non-profit. Thanks

Patrol method = every patrol member has a job to do and every patrol member helps finish all patrol jobs. Key characteristics: NO one is sitting on their duff watching others work. If a patrol is working smoothly, it is not readily apparent who the leaders (PL/APL) are (true for any group). Adult role: Optional, though I guess G2SS requires an adult(s). Sometimes mentoring and logistics support. SPL/ASPL - may assign patrols certain troop duties like flag ceremony, skits, latrine duty. Mentor PLs as needed, handle discipline issues, Always used patrol method: No unfortunately. Klondike Derby and patrol method summer camps are our best examples where we use patrol method. My $0.02

6% of 2.7mil is 162,000 members dropped. If all estimated 30,000 TLUSA members came from our dropouts, can we assume that 162,000 - 30,000 = 132,000 did not care for either the BSA or TLUSA?

My interest in TLUSA is learning what they are doing better than us. As far as transparency - reporting the numbers, membership and finances, they are just as bad.

You gave away your biggest bargaining chip. IMO, you should have made your acceptance of the CM conditional on some changes you want as it would increase the chances of committee and adult support. Program planning is reasonable and you will certainly need help. Preparing a budget is the Pack Committee's responsibility, though you contribute there as well. Beware the unit culture. You cannot change a unit program without a large body of support. The corollary, don't fight battles you cannot win. And third, you never actually lose, as your Plan B is to spend time with your son, your family. If the rest of pack wants to spend summer vacation with their families, that can work for you too. My $0.02,