RememberSchiff

@NeedleandThread welcome to our campfire which IMHO could use some wood.

Peace on Earth and Goodwill. Topic locked for holidays. Update 01/02/2024: Kind and courteous please. Topic unlocked. Thank you.

Update Dec 18, 2023: Coalition submits appeal to "Each and every part of the Order Denying Motion, dated December 5, 2023" by Judge Silverstein which soundly rejected their $20M billing. Source: https://casedocs.omniagentsolutions.com/cmsvol2/pub_47373/f40851ae-4416-4ace-9667-083fe0aba97e_11681.pdf

@SSScout so noted.

Update Dec 20, 2023 CANTON, New York (WWNY) - New York state’s sex offender registry is being challenged in court by a former Boy Scout assistant scoutmaster and convicted sex offender Michael Kelsey. “He’s challenging the constitutionality of the Sex Offenders Registry Act itself, indicating that the act as constructed deprived individuals of constitutional rights,” said St. Lawrence County Attorney Stephen Button. Kelsey, convicted in 2016 of sexually abusing Boy Scouts at Camp Massawepie in the town of Piercefield, claims the sex offender registry infringes o

"If you have suggestions for improvements of the requirements or pamphlet content, please email your comments to merit.badge@scouting.org. " Source: Page 5, A Guide to Merit Badge Counseling 2022 printing https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/512-065.pdf

Dec 19, 2023 from NBC news: I wish they had reused the name Civilian Conservation Corps and had a bipartisan Congressional committee propose it. I fear this will become another political football. "After facing setbacks in Congress, the Biden administration has unlocked funding to launch its American Climate Corps, a new federal program that looks to employ thousands of young Americans in the clean energy, conservation and climate resilience sectors.... The new corps will be led across a partnership of federal agencies: the departments of Commerce, Interior, Agriculture, Labor and E

IMHO, earning a historic trail hiking medal is part of a fun scout program. I earned the Jocky Hollow Trail Medal back in the day. Guide: https://www.ncacbsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Baden_Powell_Hike_Challenge_.pdf Related story: https://www.tapinto.net/towns/wayne/sections/arts-and-entertainment/articles/wayne-boy-scouts-earn-the-baden-powell-hike-medal-during-whirlwind-dc-tour

https://www.scout.org/news/calling-on-governments-businesses-climate-action

12/14/2023: The bankruptcy plan appeal will proceed..."the Third Circuit said, rejecting preliminary arguments from the organization and its settling insurers that transactions underlying the plan can’t be undone." https://news.bloomberglaw.com/bankruptcy-law/boy-scouts-insurers-lose-preliminary-bid-for-appeal-dismissal Order: The foregoing motions come before us while the appeal is in the midst of briefing and an outstanding motion to stay is also pending. The Appellees’ (Boy Scouts and settling insurers) arguments leave us unpersu

As mentioned in that Forbes article, it will be fundraising with a purpose The CEO emphasizes the importance of effective fundraising to retire debt and invest in BSA's core programs. And hopefully reduced membership fees? At first read, I was very concerned that his technology connect with alumni could be a repeat of the NESA/Harris Connect postcard effort some years back, i.e., asking for money from alumni who questioned the current program. I think Mr. Krone realizes that as revealed below. He (Mr. Krone) expresses a commitment to making every Boy Scout proud of their affil

Dec 12, 2023 Forbes brief interview: Roger Krone’s Vision: Transforming Boy Scouts Of America Through Technology And Innovation https://www.forbes.com/sites/heatherwishartsmith/2023/12/12/roger-krones-vision-transforming-boy-scouts-of-america-through-technology-and-innovation/?sh=123aac942ca3 Speaking of technology, I'm still waiting for that two-way fireside chat with unit volunteers in the field.

"there are ads all over the internet for some very small system.($100 to 200) " Even less than that. "...a foreign exchange student and aspiring actress ...alleges that while staying in a West Virginia home and still a child she was surreptitiously recorded in the bathroom using a camera disguised as a clothes hook, which she says was purchased on Amazon. The man alleged to have been responsible is facing trial." Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-67652317 Additionally, the victim is suing the seller Amazon and manufacturer "John Doe". There is som

[Sixty years ago] "I thrived in the woods. I loved being there so I wanted to hike, I wanted to cook, I wanted to canoe. I wanted to learn how to do it in a really good, professional way. I loved the swimming. I wanted the lifesaving. I wanted to do whatever it took to retain a high proficiency in the woods. Scouting gave me an opportunity to do all of that but more. I wanted to learn how to live in the woods. And so I kept after every merit badge that took one to the woods. I acquired the rank of Eagle Scout, but the organization wanted a different prototype for their first Eagle Sc

New Holiday Greeting from our new President and CEO Roger Krone.

Our previous CEO Roger Mosby claimed membership would double. I am unable to verify that the new BSA CEO, Roger Krone also stated this. Mr. Krone did say that he planned to "reverse the trend of declining membership". What that plan will be remains to be seen. Reorganization? At the National level, that remains to be seen too. Will Mr. Krone shake-up the National Executive Council? There has been a downsizing of the Executive Board from 72 or 73 members to 48 (still too large) but not many new young faces. Some staff layoffs. Bylaws and org chart are more convoluted than ever (recall Jud

Update Dec 4, 2023: "WAYNESBORO- On behalf the Washington Township Supervisors, Chairman Stewart McCleaf presented a certificate of appreciation to Boy Scout members who constructed the Owls Habitat in Antietam Meadows Park earlier this fall. Scouts who were able to attend the presentation answered questions about owls they’ve seen in the area, when they expect it to be occupied and how they would periodically clean it out each year. They said they would share the award with other members of their troop who participated in building and installation." More at source

Microsleeping... For sleepy scouters, nodding off can be inconvenient—say, during a scoutmaster conference—or even downright dangerous, say while sitting around a campfire. ... "But for Antarctica’s nesting chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarcticus), these seconds long bits of shuteye known as “microsleeps” may help them survive. These mininaps net the birds about 11 hours of sleep per day, potentially offering them a way to rest while remaining vigilant over their eggs and chicks, researchers report today in Science. The work could shine a light on how different animals adap

North Dakota: Jackson Sperry's Eagle Scout project will provide safe nests for mallard ducks. Sperry and fellow scouts are using 14-gauge mesh wire rolled into circles, and clipper together with an insulating straw wall to produce a nest. (When completed)... “We’re going to wait until the water freezes over so we can walk on top of the ice, and then drill a hole. And then use the pole driver and drive it into the ground. And then connect the T-pole on top with the nest portion already in,” said Jackson Sperry with Troop 123. More at source including photo: https://www.

@EagleScout95 welcome to scouter.com

@Armymutt Did your scouts have fun with the other, closer pack this weekend? Did you have fun? RS

Perhaps instead of problematic trailers, how about Scouts helping (exercising animals!) at a designated emergency network of existing brick and mortar animal boarders, shelters, and vet clinics? Somewhat related, a pet food pantry challenged Scout troops to collect donations. On Nov. 18, Golden Wings Mobile Pet Food Pantry launched its first pet food drive that continues through Dec. 8. In typical Tony Blount fashion, he decided to make it fun and use the drive to help an additional cause – Boy Scouts. Scout troops from Cheney, Rosalia and Spokane’s South Hill are competing to

11/27/2023: The Maryland Forest Service and the John S. Ayton State Forest Tree Nursery have completed a successful seed collection to grow the next generation of native trees and shrubs in the state. The collection brought in thousands of pounds of seeds, berries and nuts, from white oak to witch hazel, for planting in the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ state nursery in Preston, Caroline County. The nursery grows those seeds into bare-root tree seedlings, which are then used in tree plantings across the state. Volunteers collected large hauls of seeds and berries fr

A new inspection team will check if local UK Scout groups are following national policies, while an independent panel of abuse survivors will make sure victims get the right support and counseling. The Scout Association says the £2 membership fee increase will help pay for what it calls a new UK assurance function. While half of the money raised will be used to invest in the new safeguarding measures, the other half will cover rising operating costs. It comes after the survivors' campaign Yours in Scouting was highlighted by a BBC investigation. More at source: https://www.

Found this from March, 2023. Perhaps needed repairs were funded by county grant. The Ashtabula County Board of Commissioners approved the distribution of just under $400,000 in funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to a trio of entities around the county. The county will provide a $325,000 grant to the Boy Scouts of America's Lake Erie Council for improvements to the Beaumont Scout Reservation. Commissioner Kathryn Whittington said the funds will be used to improve the bathhouse at the camp. "Their bathhouse currently does not fit COVID guidelines, new guidelines," she sa