RememberSchiff

You may find this hard to believe, the diocese current YP has taken parts of the BSA YP and made it more adult level (the online course includes recorded victim interviews, crime photos) and victim focused - trauma care and recovery, suicide prevention, helping the victim stay if not in the church with God, etc. By comparison, the BSA online course is a cartoon. The diocese may soon require photo ID's with fingerprinting, at volunteer expense, as well. Either we do better or something better will take our place. Another $0.02,

Usually with a fiasco of this size, a management shake-up soon follows as a first step towards corporate recovery. The Catholic Church reassigned Cardinals who looked the other way and were facing imminent legal action. Cardinal Bernard Law went from Boston to the Vatican, out of reach for the Boston DA and Mass AG. Penn State fired not only Paterno and (eventually) assistant coach Mike McQueary, but university president Spanier as well. Our CO is feeling the negative, some of the church elders feel sponsoring their own church youth group would be better. Better as is serving more youth and having less controversy. Two of these elders are Eagle Scouts. So locally, we SM and ASM's may get pink slips too My $0.02,

Iceland as a honeymoon destination, not just for Vikings anymore. I hope to travel there some day, maybe part of a North Pole (snow cap) good-bye tour My $0.02

As for the Gold-Silver inconsistency, I attribute it to ignorance of Professionals who often make me wonder if they were scouts or troop scouters. Look for some committee at National to change the Eagle medal from silver to gold (colored), because going for the gold is "easier to understand". Oh, Arrow points will now start first at silver and then subsequently be gold, oh-oh, better start at bronze, then silver, then gold just like the Olympics. Another example of inconsistency for no good reason is the proper size, shape, use, and wear of the neckerchief. Anyway, I share your disappointment and disapproval. The good news, the Quality Unit Award doesn't matter, help your PLC decide the troop goals and reach them. Oh a "silver" (not gold) lining to last weekend's forum virus, reminded old Schiff to get a flu virus shot. My $0.02,

Pretty cool, nine scouts and four adults from Troop 195 (Westford, MA) attended Iceland's National Jamboree at Lake lfljtsvatn which is approx. 28 miles from the capital city of Iceland, Reykjavk http://www.skatar.is/jamboree2012/default.asp?ItemGroupID=327&NewsID=3802 http://www.lowellsun.com/local/ci_21719305/westford-scouts-travel-iceland-once-life-experience As I understand, the program cost was 350 euros ($455 dollars) which included "All food during the jamboree from afternoon refreshment on Sunday until dinner on Saturday: Food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Programme, special jamboree items and lots of fun." Round-trip tickets out of Boston about $700. In total, half the sticker price we are seeing for Summit?

As part of SOAR 2012 this weekend, Boston Minuteman Council Scouts and scouters constructed a 320 ft pinewood derby track to set the Guinness World Record. (320 ft is about 20 times longer than the longest unpock-marked section of Storrow Drive ) "The track was constructed as a replica of the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge." http://boston.cbslocal.com/2012/10/07/boston-boy-scouts-break-pinewood-derby-world-record/

Next up, GTSS bans the old flaming bag of poop Halloween prank.

This hassle is why we do Family events outside of scouting. Parental responsibility what a concept.

Pentagon Papers

"PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Boy Scouts of America plan to begin doing what critics argue they should have done decades ago -- bring suspected abusers named in the organization's so-called perversion files to the attention of police departments and sheriff's offices across the country. ...Scouts spokesman Deron Smith to say the organization will go back into the files and report any offenders who may have fallen through the cracks. Smith said Mike Johnson, the group's youth protection director and a former police detective, will lead the review..." http://www.mercurynews.com/nation-world/ci_21672182/boy-scouts-tell-police-about-pedophiles-perversion-files IMO, National should just turnover ALL files to the police as at this point, Professor Warren, Mike Johnson, indeed anyone hired by the BSA, has little credibility with the victims and the public. My $0.02,

NJ, I believe General Powell stated his doctrine some 20 years in the context of conventional 20th century nation military conflicts. Today we have terrorism which may or may not be state sponsored. I thought it interesting that he did not directly mention treaty and alliance obligations and our self designated role as world policeman. By international support, maybe General Powell meant if not support at least no interference. When President Reagan ordered a bomber attack on Libya, it would have been helpful if France allowed our F-111'a to fly-over enroute from England to Libya. Ditto when Turkey denies us permission to use our bases there to attack Mideast targets. But probably more important is supply chain logistics, we don't have much of a merchant marine and foreign air carriers usually bring back our dead. Support of the American people or constitution seems missing in Washington regarding military force. My $0.01,

For the large scale, as a starting point for consideration, check out the (Colin) Powell Doctrine which states a questions/conditions checklist before military force is used. Is a vital national security interest threatened? Do we have a clear attainable objective? Have the risks and costs been fully and frankly analyzed? Have all other non-violent policy means been fully exhausted? Is there a plausible exit strategy to avoid endless entanglement? Have the consequences of our action been fully considered? Is the action supported by the American people? Do we have genuine broad international support? And I will add #1 Do we have accurate intel of the whole situation? - players, supporters, resources, threat, allies, verified by ground surveillance/penetration (e.g. the belief that WMD were in Iraq and then never found). #1a Do those proposing solutions have a conflict of interests? My $0.02

We may be seeing a "We support our scouts" (not BSA policies) attitude developing similar to "We support our troops" (not foreign policies). Northern Star Council, even with a muted inclusive policy, appears to be doing very well with corporate donations at all levels. Ironic role reversal that Corporate America may be becoming the ethical role model for Scouting. I stuck an "Intel inside" sticker on my handbook. My $0.02

Agreed. Looking at the photo jpg properties,I was unable to determine owner and note there is no CNN copyright specified. I wonder if the photo came from Council/BSA??

A question, did this scout check Yes under Talent Release Agreement, Part B, of the "idiotic" (IMO) Annual BSA Health and Medical Record? If so, I wonder if he is SOL (though I hope otherwise)?

What aid to the victim(s) - our scouts, current and past - does the BSA now provide?

According to reports, the 12 year scout's father was there at scout summer camp but did not travel along with his son on this diving excursion. I think (and hope) that any parent watching a training session from shore, seeing two adults and two 12 yr old boys scuba dive down, and then only two adults surface would sound the alarm. Common sense. Safety is everyone's job. Another $0.02

Update from Salt Lake Tribune Boy Scouts denies responsibility in Utah drowning death, file cross claim against scuba company. "The Tuvells allege in their complaint that the defendants (BSA,Bear Lake Boy Scout Aquatic Camp,Blue Water Scuba,...) failed to ensure their son was properly equipped, dressed and weighted and that he was given defective equipment. When an emergency arose, the defendants failed to provide proper aid, they claim. In its response, the Boy Scouts denied any involvement or duty with respect to "preparing and implementing" a dive plan or to "oversee, monitor, manage or supervise" the dive or provide equipment." http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/54868222-78/scouts-lake-claim-death.html.csp Good luck with that, my $0.02

Good news and bad news Hornaday: A couple of scouts from El Dorado Hills Boy Scout Troop 465 organized a conservation effort to remove invasive plants from Yosemite. Both scouts are working on the challenging Hornaday award. http://www.villagelife.com/news/scouts-weed-yosemite-valley/ Hantavirus: Those Yosemite visitors who stayed in the park tent cabins are believed to most at risk. Two have died. "Park officials said the double-walled design of the cabins that were closed Tuesday made it easy for mice to nest between the walls. The disease is carried in the feces, urine and saliva of deer mice and other rodents. The illness begins as flu-like symptoms, including including headache, fever, muscle ache, shortness of breath and cough. Initial symptoms may appear up to six weeks after exposure and can lead to severe breathing difficulties and death. The new cabins have canvas exteriors and drywall or plywood inside, with insulation in between. Park officials found this week when they tried to shore up some of the cabins that mice had built nests in the walls." For more on hantavirus outbreak in Yosemite http://vitals.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/31/13591500-cdc-10000-at-risk-of-hantavirus-in-yosemite-outbreak?lite

Regardless how old their Inclusiveness Policy is, the question remains where did it go? It was still posted last week on their website. Now it appears missing.

Anyone know if something happened to Northern Star Council's Inclusive Policy? The OP link is gone! http://www.northernstarbsa.org/AboutUs/Leadership/Inclusiveness.aspx There is still an Inclusiveness link here on the Policies page, but the page itself is gone http://www.northernstarbsa.org/Resources/Policies/ ???

IMO, pack leadership typically has younger leaders with more frequent turnover than troops - so more fertile ground for change. Also I think units and CO's are realizing families are not necessarily traditional, i.e., reject one family member and lose the whole family, reject upstanding citizens and lose the community. What happens at crossover time to Webs from these packs? Will families find a troop with a "Policy of Acceptance" and continue on the Scouting trail? Evolution from the bottom-up. Will mutations thrive or die? Will the species itself adapt and live on? My $0.01 for so many questions, hmm Question of Balance In a world of persecution That is burning in its greed Why do we never get an answer When we're knocking at the door?

Add Pack 24, Redlands, CA http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_21421165/developing-redlands-scout-pack-taking-stand-against-boy?source=rss

Good to read, Louisiana scouts filling and stacking sandbags to save homes from flood waters. http://www.nbc33tv.com/news/local-news/boy-scouts-helping-out-with-isaac-approaching

I looked last night and started thinking ... some BSA commemoration - do Jamboree on the Air at night with full moon? - do a nationwide model rocket launch next Aug 5 (his birthday) or July 20 (Apollo 11 landing)? - other ideas?? Back in the day, I had to know the names of all 7 Mercury astronauts. There was no Space Exploration merit badge. Today, it is hard to believe there is no specific requirement about astronauts. We can fix that too.