RememberSchiff

Legal mandates and DRP aside, local troops should develop cooperating partnerships with community schools as in lets join and help our community. This can be school cleanup projects, Eagle Projects, recycling measures (e.g. Crayon Initiative not sure it still exists). Our school principles have been grateful, cooperative, and inclined NOT to burden the Superintendent or School Board with details. Some BSA references which may help https://www.scouting.org/adopt-a-school/ School Access Training Module (2017 draft, I don't know if there is an update) https://scoutingwire.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/522-060_17SchoolIssuesFPO.pdf My $0.02,

1. Secure, separate firearm and ammunition storage. I do not want to read another story of firearms stolen from a camp. 2. Maybe move to lead-free ammunition and safer cleaning solvents. 3. Increasing cost of equipment, safety devices, ammunition, registration, insurance, licensing (taxes) may end BSA Firearms programs. All that said, I worry more about armed criminals entering a scouting event. My $0.01,

In my neck of woods, we have had a disconnect from Council and National over the past two years or so, some say it was covid, bankruptcy, or councils pre-occupied with merging or selling camps. In that time, my unit managed and re-evaluated what we needed from Council and even if we need a Council. I would say getting a Eagle BOR and paperwork processed was our biggest problem with Council. We ran our own summer camping. Our unit needs now are less and different. My $0.01

Alfred Ely Beach High School, Georgia, an example of a STEM Explorer Post ...twenty-five Medical Explorer Post students will participate in CRISPR (gene editing) Classroom’s Meet a Scientist program. In so doing, the Explorers will gain (1) an improved awareness of biotechnology careers, (2) a better understanding of the current possibilities and the problems in the industry, (3) a deeper appreciation for the real power of the scientific method... This group of Medical Explorers from the Memorial Health Medical Explorer Post and the A. E. Beach High School Medical Explorer Post will be the first high school students in Georgia to be introduced to CRISPR. More at source link https://www.savannahtribune.com/articles/savannah-students-first-in-georgia-to-be-introduced-to-crispr-gene-editing-technology-careers/

Well an hour a week anyway.

Exploring, which later split 3 ways, was created to reduce the loss of older scouts from Scouting. If there was not already a "Venturing Patrol" by name, there were Senior Scout Patrols. It worked with some troops which gave their senior scouts more freedom but mostly not. Dual enrollment did not fly either. Nature took hold, time to leave the nest. BSA recognized this early on when they created Senior Scouting in 1935. Senior Scouting included Sea Scouts, Air Scouts, and Explorers. As I recall, Air Scouts could not compete for membership with Civil Air Patrol (USAF supported). Similarly, Sea Scouts struggled for membership with Sea Cadets (USN) but survived even before affiliating with USCG Auxiliary (good move). Meanwhile Explorer's moved to a career focus; posts were supported by local police, fire, or hospitals. These programs were also largely unfettered by Council. So IMHO don't fix what is not broken, try new pilot Explorer programs, e.g., an outdoor recreation career program affiliated with National Park Service or REI or Appalachian Mountain Club or... My $0.01,

Video shows bear in camp and injury.

A local firefighter and his wife, both scout parents, organized the event. Emergency medical professionals from Dexter and Ann Arbor led the scouts through several emergency scenarios – complete with fake wounds for the scouts to practice bandaging skills. ... While the scouts learned first aid, their parents were shown how an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) operates. These units are often located in plain view on the walls of social gathering places. Community support from Dexter Fire Station #3: Dexter Area Fire Department, Ann Arbor Township Fire Department, Huron Valley Ambulance, and educational materials provided by the University of Michigan Burn Unit and 'Stop the Bleed' campaign. Source article with more details and photos. https://thesuntimesnews.com/g/dexter-mi/n/80398/broken-bones-and-blood-dexter-scouts-are-prepared "Be prepared."

Back to OP, Is it time for the BSA to change its top leadership model? @gpurlee A good question... HOW will the BSA best decide WHO will next lead the BSA? IMHO regarding this topic, the BSA Bylaws appear little changed in the reorganization plan presently under judicial review. I moved STEM posts to a recent STEM topic. RS

You may recall a recent post by our resident honorary Chief Scout @InquisitiveScouter Yesterday, I found this commentary https://seandietrich.com/scouts-honor/ Read the rest at at source: https://seandietrich.com/scouts-honor/ Mr. Dietrich concludes his commentary: Personally, I will never forget standing in a Methodist church, wearing a khaki uniform, showing three-finger salute, reciting an oath before my flag and my friends: “On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country, and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.” I don’t care what you’ve heard, there is no such thing as a former Boy Scout.

Maybe there is a scouting conservation service opportunity here with the Dept of Agriculture to warn of another human problem that only YOU can prevent? Say with a little help from one of their experienced employees or trademark at least, in fact he's an American Black Bear too. as it says "and wildlife". My $0.02

April, 2022 Scout troop was camped in Harriman State Park when around 1:20AM a bear wandered into camp. According to Scoutmaster, All their food, garbage and cooking gear was properly stored in bear bags hung off the ground, but that wasn't going to stop the bear from looking. The bear grabbed one sleeping bag and pulled on it. The bear then grabbed another sleeping bag, where scout was sleeping, and also grabbed his lower leg. The scout screamed and kicked the bear and it ran away. "He had some scrapes and bruises, but other than that he was fine," said scout's mother. "He did have to have rabies shots — nine shots over four days." The Scoutmaster said the bear did not go far. In fact it returned around 3:30 or 4 a.m. and was poking around in an adjacent camper's site. The adults in the Boy Scout camp made noise and chased the bear away. It was not seen again that night. The Scouts themselves were all asleep by then. In a joint statement, the DEC and State Parks Department confirmed the attack happened, then continued: "The bear's dangerous behavior demonstrated habituation to human presence, persistence seeking food near humans, and a clear threat to human safety." The statement said that according to the DEC's Black Bear Response Manual, the policy in such cases is to "immediately euthanize the bear." The statement concluded that on May 5, U.S. Department of Agriculture staff, working with state Parks and the DEC, "captured and humanely euthanized the bear following appropriate protocols." More at source: https://www.recordonline.com/story/news/local/2022/05/23/bear-attacks-boy-scout-camping-harriman-state-park/9840606002/

The above was questioned by a Kansas resident on https://www.facebook.com/PhilmontScoutRanch/ Another Facebook poster suggested, consider a donation to the Philmont Staff Association’s (PSA) fire recovery and mitigation fund. The PSA is a non-profit comprised of former staffers, which set up a similar fund in 2018. Please read more here: https://www.philstaff.org/store/donations/fire_relief/

Previously stated over the years on this forum as were other good proposals by other members. If after 2+ years, more than $100 million in legal expenses, if this is an acceptable YPC/YPE in a reorganization plan approved by 86% of claimants and if you are correct, with no concerns from the judge and maybe only one female member in a passive, non-transparent advisory YPC ... I'll stop there.

Tyler Ochoa, a professor at Santa Clara University School of Law, discusses the Boy Scouts defeating a trademark lawsuit brought by the Girl Scouts. She brought up the issue of trademark dilution and that the judge did not use the federal 6 factor test . https://www.bloomberg.com/news/audio/2022-04-18/judge-tosses-girl-scouts-suit-against-boy-scouts-podcast

Hopefully Judge Laura Silverstein will require more clarity and empowerment. My $0.01,

Has the plan furthered specified the responsibilities, composition, and transparency of the Youth Protection Committee? How many female abuse victims (Venture Crews, Explorer Posts...) will be on the YPC?

Thanks for info. This BSA motion has received little media coverage in the past month.

I don't know if I would specifically require Youtube as there is Facebook, Instagram, ...but I like the option.

In my experience with trail/historic awards, this is the largest stumbling block for scouts and maybe "writing a report" is an anachronism. What if scouts had the option to upload an informative, scoutlike 2 minute video (like college admissions)? My $0.01,

@Ojoman welcome to scouter.com

This is Colin Chase's video who summited it to the Bangor Daily News which then posted on Youtube where I saw it. https://bangordailynews.com/2022/05/14/outdoors/bobcat-killing-a-mink-caught-on-a-maine-trail-cam-joam40zk0w/ More on Colin Chase and his nature videos are reported at this link: https://bangordailynews.com/2022/05/12/outdoors/a-maine-mans-perfect-filming-spots-joam40zk0w/

How Mrs. Bobcat got her mink stole. Credit: Colin Chase and Bangor Daily News "This video highlights just how raw nature is. Animals have to eat to survive, and this very pregnant bobcat is an apex predator. (As a top predator the bobcat is at, or near, the top of the food chain. This position on the bobcat food chain is a critical one, because the bobcat exerts what is known as “top-down control” of ecosystems. Bobcats and other predators help to keep ecosystems balanced.) In this video you can see that she stalks and kills a large male mink. Mink is also a predator, yet they are a mesopredator. (A mesopredator is a mid-ranking predator in the middle of a trophic level, which typically preys on smaller animals). This is how the food chain works in nature. It's somewhat rare to observe an interaction such as this. I am very excited to have captured this. "

This request from National apparently seemingly applies to all monetary? gifts. https://donations.scouting.org/#/national And this appears

June 4 and 5, 2022: Gates open at 8:30 a.m. Show scheduled to start at 12 p.m. Show completed by approximately 4:15 p.m. * Tentative Schedule * Skydive Wissota Grant Nielsen Airshows Kent Pietsch Airshows - Jelly Belly Comedy Act Aftershock Jet Fire Truck Commemorative Air Force B-25 Jerry Conley - D.H. 115 'Vampire' Airshows Precision Exotics Kent Pietsch Airshows - Jelly Belly Comedy Act F-16 Viper Demo Team Air Combat Command Heritage Flight - P-51 Mustang Craig Gifford Power & Precision Airshows Acemaker Airshows Aftershock Jet Fire Truck / Acemaker Airshows Bill Stein Airshows Kent Pietsch Airshows - Jelly Belly Comedy Act U.S. Navy Blue Angels More at source links: https://chippewavalleyairshow.com/ https://volumeone.org/articles/2022/05/13/296456-flying-with-the-fastest-chippewa-valley-air-show