RememberSchiff

An opinion from a long time Maine scouter who caught my attention with this Facebook comment https://m.facebook.com/Friends-of-Bomazeen-689282914851606/ I search further and found this opinion piece in a local paper. by Chris Bernier My name is Chris “Montawagon“ Bernier. I am a long time scouter from Winslow here in Pine Tree Council. I joined scouting in 1983. I received my Eagle Scout in 1994. Without scouting my life would have turned out drastically different. I was lucky to have both of my parents in our home growing up, however, my father worked a million hours a week it seemed. My two brothers and I got to see him often but not nearly as much as I wished growing up. I would say more than half of my male influences growing up came from scouting leaders. The other half my father. My fondest memories in scouting were from summer camp. For me that was Camp Bomazeen. For some of the other youth in my troop it was a combination of Bomazeen and Camp Hinds. I was lucky enough to have attended Camp Hinds in 1989 for a week. I got to see both camps and participate in programs at both camps, however, my heart will always lay at Camp Bomazeen. Many other youth, have made great memories at Camp Gustin, or Camp Nutter. Many at Camp Hinds. Pine Tree council is lucky enough for the moment to have four amazing non-replaceable assets. This is in danger of changing. The council has incurred some debts and the national Scouts BSA lawsuits are requiring councils to fork over costs of damages. Yet another debt to our council. It is the responsibility of our council board to figure out how to pay those debts. Unfortunately, the executive board feels selling property (even if protected as a trust) is an option to pay those debts. I, as a Scout of 38 years and an adult leader/volunteer of 27 years feels that Pine Tree Council is about to jump off the cliff by the sale of Bomazeen, with Nutter and Gustin to follow. That is why I am contacting you today. I would like to ask everyone in the district. Every Pack, Troop, and Crew member who wants to see this stay as a camp for Scouts in perpetuity, to write a personal letter stating why you think it is a bad idea to sell Camp Bomazeen, specifically. I would like to see leaders as well as youth include letters. I would ask you to personally sign it. Then either bring it to the roundtable where I will collect them and make sure they are used in a productive way to try to preserve our camps. If you cannot make it out to the roundtable, please mail them to me or you can scan them on your computer and mail them to me via email where I will print them out. However, a signature is still strongly advised. I would like to put a deadline of getting these letters in my hand by December 15. At that time, I will take all the letters and make sure they get down to Pine Tree Council. Addressed to every board member and council employee. Think of this as a petition but with more bite as you are not just signing your name, you are explaining why you are signing your name. I would urge you to contact me about how you feel about this via email at circleofone555@hotmai.com. I would ask that you contact your chartering organizational representatives. Encourage them to become active in what council does. Every Troop’s chartering organizational representative has the obligation to vote on who Pine Tree Councils board members are annually. The council hosts a January meeting with a list of board members. If a majority “Yes” vote is passed those people are that year’s board for council. If a majority “No” vote occurs council must wipe the slate clean and start over. I encourage a “No” vote. Our council is in desperate need of a new board of directors. Most people are not aware of this. It is crucial, even vital, now more than ever, that we let council know that selling irreplaceable property potentially protected in trust is not a good use of resources. A better use of their time should be focusing on membership, “quality” program at all four camps and capital campaigns. If done properly this council could easily recover from its debts. Something the current board clearly is not focused on. You may or may not be aware of it but the attorney general’s office along with the Bomazeen Oldtimers Association 501(c)(3) is suing Pine Tree Council in an effort to protect the property. The deed of Doctor Averill, who gave the camp for use to central Maine scouts, states that the trustees of Camp Bomazeen govern it. If for any reason a Camp Bomazeen Trustee member leaves said board, the council, who has jurisdiction over Camp Bomazeen, “Shall appoint a successor from the vicinity of where the former Trustee resided.” The deed also states that the original Trustees of Bomazeen were all from the Central Maine, Waterville, Madison, Skowhegan area. The last time I heard there was a Camp Bomazeen board of trustees was more than 20 years ago. The council has failed in its duty to put in place successors. The deed states “First: Said property is to be held by said Trustees for the use and benefit for members of the Boy Scouts of America, said premises to be at all times available for camping purposes to the troops and members of the Boy Scouts of America, and especially for the troops and members of the Boy Scouts of America in the central part of the State of Maine.” If the council were to sell, it is Pine Tree Council’s obligation that the money received be held in trust for Central Maine Scouting, not to pay debts for poor money management. Any sales of this trust are to be done to further the intention of the trust. In recent years scouting has been on the decline. Covid struck and rapidly helped to disrupt scouting. The answer to debt is not selling stuff and hope membership rises. The answer to debt is increased membership and give as many opportunities to children within scouting, at as many places as possible. Without our well distributed camps, providing outstanding programs becomes that much more challenging. The current board of directors at Pine Tree Council has clearly lost its way. We the leaders of the packs, troops and crews on the ground sometimes need to remind them what they are voting on. This is one of those times as our packs, troops and crews are the larger bases of income to the council. I want to thank you for your time and I hope you will consider sending before December 15. Please, let’s band together as a council and help to protect these four great properties for every youth of scouting to enjoy for the next 100 years of scouting. Send your letter to Preserve Camp Bomazeen Letter Drive, c/o Chris “Montawagon” Bernier, P.O. Box #2444, Waterville, ME 04903.

Update 12/18/2021: Colonel (Ret.) Ralph Puckett will receive the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award on January 19, 2022 during the Columbus Rotary Meeting at 12 p.m. at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center. He was nominated by the Chattahoochee Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Colonel Puckett served 22 years of active duty as a United States Army office. He was also the National Programs Director for Outward Bound, Inc., Founder of Discovery, Inc. in Herndon, Virginia, and Discovery Director at the Westminster Schools in Atlanta, Georgia. Scout Salute https://www.wtvm.com/2021/12/17/col-ralph-puckett-receive-eagle-scout-award-2022/

Seems related to the Monday press release regarding Century Insurance $800M contribution. the Boy Scouts said in a prepared statement. “In addition to our continued negotiations with other insurers, the BSA has worked diligently to create a structure that will allow the Roman Catholic-affiliated churches and United Methodist-affiliated churches who sponsored Scouting units to contribute to the proposed settlement trust to compensate survivors.” IMHO, they really wanted to announce their two largest CO's were on board ahead of the voting deadline. This was their best spin. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/12/13/boy-scouts-bankruptcy-case-800-million-dollars-fund-victims/6504441001/ My $0.02,

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — In the wake of tragedy comes volunteers; hundreds if not thousands of them. You might not think of cooking as your typical volunteer work, but it’s necessary. “We’ve purchased 300 hot dogs!” scoutmaster Ladonna Harmon said. ... She and her husband, scoutmaster Chris Harmon, teamed up with B.G. First Church to give out food, water and whatever else they could help with. More details at source: https://spectrumnews1.com/ky/louisville/news/2021/12/13/bowling-green-scouts-church-goers-cook-lunch-for-volunteers-tornado-aftermath Scout Salute,

When I was CC, I stuck around to herd parents away from scouts and SM and towards volunteering for committee positions or tasks.

“This is an extremely important step forward in the BSA’s efforts to equitably compensate survivors, and our hope is that this will lead to further settlement agreements from other parties,” the Boy Scouts said in a prepared statement. “In addition to our continued negotiations with other insurers, the BSA has worked diligently to create a structure that will allow the Roman Catholic-affiliated churches and United Methodist-affiliated churches who sponsored Scouting units to contribute to the proposed settlement trust to compensate survivors.” Attorneys with an ad hoc group called the Coalition of Abused Scouts for Justice, which represents about 18,000 abuse claimants, said in a news release that the Century settlement is another reason for claimants to vote for the BSA’s reorganization plan. “Not only is the coalition creating the biggest possible compensation fund for survivors — it’s the only fund on the table, and it vanishes with a ‘no’ vote,” said attorney and coalition co-founder Anne Andrews. “The coalition also continues to work with the Boy Scouts of America on accountability and safety measures to ensure that no child will have to endure the horrific harm and abuse our clients have suffered.” More at sources: https://www.wkyt.com/2021/12/13/insurer-agrees-800m-settlement-boy-scouts-bankruptcy/ https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/coalition-of-abused-scouts-for-justice-increases-largest-sexual-abuse-settlement-fund-in-history-to-more-than-2-6-billion-301443521.html "The next virtual meeting will take place Tuesday, December 14, 2021, at 8:00 PM ET/5:00 PM PT. For information on the benefits of the plan, instructions on how to vote, or access to the next virtual meeting, visit scoutingabusesurvivors.com. "

Remember, the claimant number prediction was for the Plan' quick claimant submission deadline (May, 2020) and there was no definitive vetting process for those claimants. Proper? Is it 10x or 50x larger? The vetting process is still being argued.

Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance Once again*, National** ignored the 5 P's, wasting time and money. Even after 14 months of "wishful thinking" for "a wonderful plan" with Sidley Austin, National entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February, 2020 with a woefully incomplete Plan. After more than 5 iterations, National sent out an incomplete plan for a vote according to U.S. Trustee. Time and money well spent for maintaining control? My $0.01, *Remember when Summit was our largest money pit? **Not that all others are blameless.

Big winners in the Boy Scouts bankruptcy? Attorneys, who could walk away with $1 billion. https://money.yahoo.com/big-winners-boy-scouts-bankruptcy-100024259.html "Boy Scouts of America estimates the bill for their professionals, plus those hired by the official creditors’ committees, could be more than $205 million by the end of the year. That’s approaching the amount Boy Scouts said it would contribute to a trust for survivors: $219 million." The above link also has these sections: Boy Scouts’ fees higher than USA Gymnastics, Catholic dioceses cases Venue shopping one example of bankruptcy loopholes Infighting drives more activity, resulting in more billable hours

As to point (3), perhaps the TCC has information on the Survivor Working Group from the BSA and Coalition? For example, has the group met?

Bob Hansler, Eagle Scout, expert outdoor survivalist, former high school biology teacher turned professional YouTuber, who volunteers each summer at the nine-thousand-plus-acre Buffalo Trail Scout Ranch, high in the Davis Mountains needs a kidney transplant. Please read his story: https://www.texasmonthly.com/travel/survivalist-youtube-star-bob-hansler-wild-life/ Scout Salute

12/06/2021: From the Bonner Springs (KS) Police Department. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/animal-news/camel-causes-chaos-running-away-kansas-nativity-scene-rcna8061

Not "The Path Ahead" rather IMHO it should be "Follow the Lead of Volunteers".

https://www.reuters.com/legal/transactional/boy-scouts-bankruptcy-judge-ousts-mediator-questioning-impartiality-2021-12-07/

The judge just removed a mediator from the mediation, could she similarly remove a group from the mediation?

https://casedocs.omniagentsolutions.com/cmsvol2/pub_47373/d9237f32-7111-40dc-90b9-459fa7587e6b_7589.pdf

Just baffling, Kevin Carey was her former colleague. Glad to hear that Greene will not be Settlement Trustee,

Good point. Certainly other Scouting organizations have use celebrities to bring attention to their programs and become the face of their Scouting: - Scouts of Canada Chief Scout is tv's "Survivorman" Les Stroud. - I did not know that UK Chief Scout Bear Grylls recently spoke at UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow. https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2021/november/chief-scout-bear-grylls-speaks-at-the-un-climate-change-conference-cop26-in-glasgow/ - since 1974, the Chief Scout of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines has been the President of the Philippines Should we have a non-celebrity, "normal" Chief Scout where scouts are the face of our Scouting. Hmmm.

Yes. My point was, if there are confirmation arguments, IMHO the U.S. Trustee will be near the front of the line.

Scoutmaster image Add to Responsibilities: IMO, frequently uploaded candid photos of Chief Scout with scouts. Maybe something online, Where is the Chief Scout? Sends out a Holiday/New Years Greeting/Challenge to Scouts.

But wasn't the U.S. Trustee against sending this plan out for a vote and confirmation?

Reminds me. IMHO, the Chief Scout is NOT a suit.

Wow @InquisitiveScouteryou have given much thought to this. Maybe your scouter hat should be a thinking cap? Give some thought to accessibility, i.e. , local events. Not many scouts attend Jamborees or HA bases.

Yes some thought needs to be given to who selects and nominates the Chief Scout and the Chief Scout's relationship with Program Development.

@InquisitiveScouter please tell us more of your prospective tenure as Chief Scout. What input, oversight should Chief Scout have over Handbook?