RememberSchiff

There is still no official posting of a revision to the ill-considered 9/30/2019 https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/se-packet/2019-09-30/Additional-Disclosures-And-Background-Check-Authorization-NOT-CALIFORNIA.pdf @Eagle1993 found a document referenced on FB in a zip file in an unofficial dropbox. A poster on another scouter forum gave a link to another new form on an unofficial website. Neither form has a BSA document number, addresses all the member concerns, or states it supersedes the above form if that form was already signed. Our recharter is scheduled for the end of the week. We stand to lose several adult leaders over privacy concerns.

After creating bird-enrichment toys, the Scouts met Juneau Raptor Center education ambassador birds Phil and Justice, a "very social" gyrfalcon and fish-head-loving bald eagle, on Nov. 22. The toys give Phil and Justice something to do with their idle time, explained JRC manager Kathy Benner. Unlike in the wild, there's not a lot preoccupy the birds while in captivity. (Neither bird can be released due to injuries.) The toys were essentially shish kebobs made of rope and repurposed materials such as egg cartons, scrap wood and Popsicle sticks. "Even having a radio playing is considered enrichment," Benner said. "It's just something different in the birds' environment that gives them something to focus on besides just sitting there on a perch like this all day." Den Leader Shannon Seifert leads the Lions (kindergarten) and Bears (third grade). The dens will have completed two different adventure studies on wildlife with the toy-making project. More at source including photos of scouts, toys, birds: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/education/article/Juneau-Cub-Scouts-make-toys-for-education-birds-14872304.php#photo-18687872

Well there is the Boot Monument to Benedict Arnold . "Benedict Arnold is not mentioned by name on the Boot Monument; the monument thus serves as a form of damnatio memoriae."

With today's BSA, it seems the following historical references are to be avoided? - Native Americans - historical figures and events after War of 1812 with exception of Lincoln No Alvin York Council, No Eisenhower Council, No Neil Armstrong Council, ... dullsville only please. My $0..02,

Why? We cannot help if the line of communication is cut. From your profile, you have worn many hats in Scouting. Which hat brought you joy?

To answer my own question, from the 2017 Annual Report page 19 Assets page 4 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements($ stated in thousands) Note 5. Land, Buildings, and Equipment At December 31, 2017, land, buildings, and equipment comprised the following: National office, less accumulated depreciation of $19,212 9,301 High-adventure bases, less accumulated depreciation of $30,383 60,300 National Distribution Center, less accumulated depreciation of $6,948 3,409 Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve, less accumulated depreciation of $39,273 370,994 Furniture, equipment, and software, less accumulated depreciation and amortization of $79,066 39,375 Total land, buildings,and equipment, less accumulated depreciation and amortization of $174,882 483,379 Depreciation and amortization expense was $21,634 in 2017. High-adventure bases include Philmont Scout Ranch, Florida Sea Base, and Northern Tier If I read the financial statement correctly, it appears a $446 million line of credit mortgage would be the full value of Philmont and then some . Going for broke?

Soon to be a Sea Scout ship... The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 8-11, District 5 Southern Region, is sponsoring the creation of a new Sea Scout unit in Smith Mountain Lake (VA). The Flotilla will serve as the chartering organization and in partnership with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). More at source: http://www.smithmountaineagle.com/boating_fishing_and_outdoors/article_5feed788-107d-11ea-83af-1bbd7c515077.html

It did not work for me.... The link you followed may be broken, or the page may have been removed. www.facebook.com/groups/Talk.about.Scouting/ - An unfiltered, unofficial, private forum in which the participants can talk about current events, topics, trends and news stories dealing with the AMERICAN Boy Scout program or its options.

@Eagle1993 I will wait for a verifiable source. A zip file in an unknown dropbox is a little risky for me. Try copying FB link to Word (etc.), remove hyperlink in Word so it is just text, copy text to scouter.com post.

@Eagle1993 or anyone else, FB source link please?

I like this idea. IMO, it should not require a SM give up more free time . Just as public school teachers allocate school days to professional training maybe so should scouters with their troop meetings and activities... No troop meeting this week, I'm at training. Service project instead of campout this month as I will be patrol camping with other SM's (patrol camping? ).

The council was named after Confederate General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson in the late 1920s. The new name, Virginia Headwaters Council, represents the fact that the James, York, Rappahannock, and Potomac Rivers all begin in the area covered by the council. Pete Fenlon, president of the executive council, said the connection to nature is fundamental to the scouting organization. https://www.whsv.com/content/news/Local-scouting-council-changes-name-from-Stonewall-Jackson-Area-Council-to-Virginia-Headwaters-Council-565449041.html

How many mortgages on Philmont and how much equity does the BSA have left in Philmont? What are the "agreements" the BSA made with the Phillips family for ownership transfer? So far I have found these two sources OA history website (text in black) and http://www.sccovington.com/philmont/trek_info/philmont_overview.htm (in blue) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waite_Phillips In 1937 (1938?) Phillips made one of the most magnanimous gestures in philanthropy – the family donated 35,857 acres of their UU Ranch – much of what Philmonters call “the South Country” to the Boy Scouts of America. That generous donation included the Villa de Philmonte, cattle, horses, hunting cabins and more ($50,000 to develop). His only requirement was that it be used "for the benefit of the members of the Boy Scout organization." This was named "Philturn Rockymountain Scoutcamp" and was developed as a "he-man" wilderness camp. The headquarters for the camp was at the current Ponil camp. Scouts first visited Philturn in March 1939. That summer, ninety-nine boys from Texas, Kansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma stayed for a full twelve days, taking part in such varied activities as gold panning and wildlife study. Ninety additional Scouts camped at Philturn for shorter periods. In all, 1,863 camper days were spent at the property that season. There were just three stipulations: --that it remains a working cattle ranch, which it is. --that his favorite horse “Gus” be allowed to roam freely and live out his life on the ranch. He did. --And that the Phillips family be allowed to visit whenever they please. They have. The first couple of years were limited operations, but seeing the potential and the enthusiastic response in 1941 Phillips added another 91,520 acres bringing the total to 127,395. The gift included the best of Phillips’ camp lands, as well as the ranching headquarters and the Villa de Phimonte – the family’s mountainside home with its majestic view of the Tooth of Time. To help the BSA finance the annual operations of the ranch he added the Philtower Building* in Tulsa. In 1962, the National Council of the BSA purchased 10,098 acres in the Baldy area to expand Philmont to over 137,000 acres. This also preserved the mining relics around Baldy Town so Scouts could experience what life was like during this period of history. * A group of Tulsa investors purchased The Philtower from the Boy Scouts in 1977, and a Partnership known as Philtower, LLC. became the owner of record. Source http://www.philtower.com/about/history/

Sure. Thanks.

@Onslow, please answer the above questions as to your scouting position and what help you need with that position. Thanks.

@TAHAWK , please confirm you followed the link in that FB post to the correct Susan Blanchard profile. There are several Susan Blanchard's on FB. Thanks.

If I thought the post was disingenuous I would have. The OP is in a unfamiliar environment and in need of skills to succeed or reconsideration of his involvement. IMO. the instructive, scoutlike discussion by multiple members which followed was a better solution to the insensitivity and prejudice expressed by OP. This does not always work but we try to help first. @desertrat77 , @MattR

Still, you must be all the more proud of your scout.

A grandmother driving her two Cub grandsons to a state conservation area, a railroad crossing without gates or flashing lights or stop sign... https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/20191124/amtrak-crash-boy-scout-trip-ends-in-tragedy-at-gate-less-rail-crossing Scout salute and farewell,

Thanks for checking as I don't FB. If National did not inform Mr. Stinnett while he served in either position, I can understand his quitting and if he does take legal action, the BSA would likely revoke his membership anyway. Given his Scouting history, I suspect he still cares deeply about Scouting and Philmont plus he is an attorney. IMHO, sending him an email thanking him for his service to Scouting and asking him to save Philmont for future generations is worth our time and effort. Mark Stinnett 1975-1978: Camp Director and Ranger (Philmont) (from FB https://www.facebook.com/mark.stinnett.587) 2009: first recipient Distinguished Service Award, Philmont Staff Association (from lawfirm profile ) 2011: This year, Silver Sage Awards were presented to David Caffey, Edward Pease and Mark Stinnett. Mark Stinnett worked at Philmont four years in the 1970s and has served as a former PSA President and the longest-tenured editor of High Country. He has also served on the Philmont Ranch Committee, the Program and Risk Management Task Force and the Health Lodge Task Force. Stinnett has also chaired the BSA Outdoor Programs Committee, the Fieldbook Task Force and the Biannual National Outdoor Conference. from PhilNews, August 11, 2011 Civic Involvement (from lawfirm profile ) Boy Scouts of America – National Council Chairman, National Outdoor Programs Support Committee Chairman, Fieldbook Task Force Chairman, National Outdoor Conference Chairman, Camping & Properties Implementation Task Force, National Membership Standards Study Initiative Member, National Camp Accreditation Committee Member, Outdoor Adventures Committee Member, Philmont Ranch Committee Boy Scouts of America – Philmont Scout Ranch Chairman, Program Task Force, Philmont Ranch Committee Chairman, Strategic Planning Task Force Member, Philmont Health Lodge Task Force Instructor, Risk Management Training for Camp Directors Boy Scouts of America – Pikes Peak Council Member, Troop 78 Committee Challenger Learning Center of Colorado Former Advisor, Aerospace Explorer Post 1986 National Eagle Scout Association Outdoor Organization Memberships: American Camp Association American Hiking Society Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics Philmont Staff Association President, 1994-1997 National Director, 1990-1993 Editor, High Country Magazine, 1998-2008 Chairman, Presidents Committee, 2005-present Contributing Editor, High Country Magazine, 2009-present My $0.02,

In 1921 two hand-picked Scouts, James Marr and Norman Mooney, accompanied Sir Ernest Shackleton on his Rowett Expedition to Antarctica. In 2021 Kent Scouts plan to commemorate the 1921 expedition by sending a team of ten scouts - ReQuest2021 to crew Bark Europa on a journey similar to the original while undertaking research projects. Follow the Ship satellite track. I believe the USCG Eagle is also a Bark, likely @mashmaster knows. https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeenshire/1894433/kemnay-scouts-selected-for-antarctic-expedition-100-years-since-shackleton/

Good idea,

We are not at bankruptcy yet, there is no court involvement, no Chapter 11 trustee overseeing and reorganizing us, the debtor. Seven months ago, National secretly extended their credit line by $446 million to spend as they wish, though presumably for liability insurance. Not legally necessary? to discuss this action before or after with the Philmont Ranch Committee or the Waite Phillips family and maybe not the Executive Board, and certainly not the members. I doubt former BSA President Rex Tillerson was informed. As Philmont Scout Ranch Committee Member and attorney Mr. Stinnett wrote. “The first point of the Scout Law is ‘A Scout is trustworthy.’ I am distressed beyond words at learning that our leaders apparently have not been.” So $446 million more for National to spend as they wish and faced with the loss of that control and executive job loss when bankruptcy reorganization arrives, will the money be used for insurance or/and pay raises, pensions, severance packages, and golden parachutes? Merry Christmas. “...Waite Philips magnificent gift has now been put at risk.” Save Philmont for future generations. Please contact Mark Stinnett and ask him to take legal measures to reverse this “betrayal” of agreements made with the Phillips family. mstinnett@stmmlaw.com My $0.02,

The AP picked up the story ...the move dismayed a member of Philmont’s oversight committee, who says it violates agreements made when the land was donated in 1938. The BSA disputed his assertion. Top BSA officials signed the document in March, but members of the Philmont Ranch Committee only recently learned of the development, according to committee member Mark Stinnett. In a memo sent to his fellow members, Stinnett — a Colorado-based lawyer — decried the financial maneuver and the lack of consultation with the committee. “I cannot begin to tell you how sorry I am to be the one to break this news to you,” Stinnett wrote. “The first point of the Scout Law is ‘A Scout is trustworthy.’ I am distressed beyond words at learning that our leaders apparently have not been.” “But I am even more distressed to learn that Waite Phillips’ magnificent gift has now been put at risk,” Stinnett added. … Stinnett wrote that ranch committee member Julie Puckett — a granddaughter of Waite Phillips — had urged BSA officials in recent weeks to recognize Philmont as a restricted asset based on the understandings of all parties when Phillips donated the land. “BSA management has instead stated its position that Philmont and its endowment are free and clear of restrictions and are thus theirs to take or encumber as they wish,” Stinnett wrote, depicting that stance as a “betrayal” of agreements made with the Phillips family. The Boy Scouts disputed Stinnett’s assertion, saying nothing in the agreements with the Phillips family prevented the ranch from being used as collateral. more at source: https://apnews.com/277936941c824110ab626b9f3a1e68de https://www-1.kansas.com/news/business/article237678609.html