RememberSchiff

The headline follows from story lead. The story is about Grand Teton Council's membership loss (Titanic disaster ) and their response (care for the survivors) - retention. IMHO, the cost of retention is less than the cost of recruitment. The Titanic analogy is a good one in terms of the number lost due to arrogance and stupidity of the big wigs. I too wish Grand Teton Council and every Council the best. Keep as many as you can. In my memory, never has National upset so many members for so many different reasons in so short a time. My $0.02,

“We’ve got up to 20 percent of our membership that are not members of the LDS Church. The assumption is they are going to want to continue their Scouting,” Farrer said. “We know that not all of the LDS families or boys are going to leave Scouting.” Farrer, himself a Latter-day Saint, says there are “legacy Scouting families” that have been involved for generations and want to continue with the tradition. IMHO, Retention (survival) is a priority for Grand Teton Council.

From our East Idaho field office: https://www.eastidahonews.com/2019/11/the-future-of-scouting-in-eastern-idaho-looks-bleak-but-leader-say-it-is-not-doomed/

Yes! It followed a Klondike Derby. Weebs with Dads had about a mile night backpack thru dark woods to cabins. Their packs contained sleeping bag, clothes, personal gear. The sled they pulled over snow contained water, cooking gear, and food. Council sent out a guy beforehand to see if cabins had smoke detectors as each cabin had a wood stove. Next morning, a hardy breakfast, clean up, and backpack to cars. A lot of fun and a great adventure.

We have used cardboard box ovens to roast turkeys and bake pies. At the troop meeting before outing, patrols cover boxes with foil. Temperature control and coordination are key in preparing outdoor feast.

Eternal vigilance is the price we pay to provide youth protection. How often do we see adults yacking with their backs turned away from youth they are supervising? Playgrounds, malls. scout activities... How often do we see a mandatory reporter fined for failing to report? Should reporter laws be changed from "if knew" to "should have known"? How often has an "abuse report" resulted in a visit from Council which changed or retrained troop leadership? My $0.02,

In New England, our eastern hemlocks (IMHO, our most important tree) are turning to skeletons due to the woolly adelgid. The browntail moth is attacking oaks and cherry twice during growth season. Good news, the winter moth has just about been eradicated. Eastern white pines cannot withstand the wind gusts we are seeing from climate change. Sugar maples are in decline from acid rain and warmer winters. Plant zones are shifting north at a faster rate. I was zone 5, soon to be zone 6, so plant forward with a rotating biodiversity. My eastern white pine and eastern hemlock woods will become Norway spruce and ??? and ???

??? Why is it harder (as in not worth the effort) than ever (paperwork, finances) to start units and attract/keep volunteers? Competent leaders know that building a great program is the key to Scouting longevity in their community. My $0.02,

Interesting discussion for Environmental Science merit badge, etc. IMHO, planting less susceptible species in a stressed ecosystem will be preferred over replanting current threatened species. Montana Council, Boy Scouts of America, is underway with a woodland transformation project on Melita Island after devastating stress on trees due to root rot and dwarf mistletoe, in combination with defoliation by Tussock moth and mortality by bark beetle. The biggest issue is safety to the more than 1,000 youth and staff who make the island their home throughout the summer. Recent winds have toppled large trees due to the weak and diseased root systems. Safety to the youth served continues to be Montana Council’s top concern. Rehabilitating the island to a healthy and natural ecosystem is the goal while eliminating the potential spread of issues to neighboring properties....Primary tree species on the island are Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir with a minimal, scattered population of Western Juniper and various hardwoods. The Douglas fir Tussock moth infestation, now in its third year, has resulted in severe defoliation of the stressed trees with significant mortality from bark beetles. Issues besides the mortality include excessive lean, shallow roots with minimal to no taproot and root rot, creating a hazardous environment. Douglas fir will be the majority of the trees removed. Old-growth Ponderosa pine, a signature tree for the island, will be conserved. An aggressive replanting process begins immediately and includes an impressive reforestation of mostly deciduous trees and sufficient shrubs, including chokecherry. Tree removal started the last week of October. The burning of slash piles is expected to begin in early November with visual smoke. Please be advised that smoke from Melita Island is planned with the controlled burn. Scouting programs at Melita Island are heavily water-based with courses including sailing, kayaking, canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding, boating, swimming, snorkeling, fishing, shooting sports, nature, camping, first aid and more. .... Sources: https://www.montanabsa.org/melita-island-woodland-rehabilitation-project/ http://www.valleyjournal.net/Article/22352/Boy-Scouts-rehabilitate-Melita-Island-woodland

I own only one council patch of which I am not or was not a member.

Some clarifications and easing of the rules above. I thought this contest would be a fun diversion, but it seems more like the campout where only 3 or 4 scouts sign up. ~ RS

I suspect some content is about family member addiction and what to do.

Recognizing the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy’s (SOP) ability and desire to serve the public, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) requested a partnership initiative to address the growing epidemic of opioid abuse among adolescents. “There are national resources available to educate youth on the dangers of prescription and over-the-counter abuse, but many agencies and organizations are at a loss as to how to address the issues,” Herndon said. “This program incorporates activities for troop leaders to discuss with their scouts, and has the potential to educate thousands of scouts and troop leaders.” The training modules will take approximately 1.5 hours to complete in total at different times and will be coordinated with BSA den meetings. A facilitator’s handbook is available for den leaders, parents or pharmacy students to lead den meetings and provide the education to the scouts. Facilitators will learn how to create an atmosphere in the meeting to promote discussion about social/legal consequences of drug abuse. They will engage in a game to help further the discussion in a face-to-face manner. ... more details at source: https://www.siue.edu/news/2019/10/SIUE-School-of-Pharmacy-and-Boy-Scouts-Seek-Solutions-to-Combat-Opioid-Abuse.shtml

We define cold weather camping by the extra gear brought to stay dry (layers), warm (bag liner) , and sometimes mobile (crampons, snowshoes). Good exercise for QM's and PL's to extend 3-season gear into winter and keep scouts safe.

Election Day, please remember to vote (Like) early and often.

Yes I bolded the author's content. Interesting how recent forum topics are calling for a return to focusing on the outdoors, character building, community service, leadership ...

Update: 10/19 Sea Scout Ship 198 is back afloat. On Oct. 18, the Sea Scouts took to the water once again with a trip to Cape May, N.J., capping off their trips for the 2019 year. This October, four members of the troop qualified for the William I. Koch International Sea Scout Cup at the Northeast Regional Race. Sarah Krajewski and Ellie Cerchio placed first in the competition, while Carson Watts and Chris Dean placed third, beating out Sea Scout groups from all over the East Coast. More details at source: https://www.capegazette.com/article/lewes-sea-scouts-return-water-after-boat-fire/191364

Another well-considered article about the importance of character building for future "elites" (leaders)...the importance of aṣabiyyah The American Interest : How Do America's Elites Stack Up? by Seth D. Kaplan. lecturer at John Hopkins University ... "As a start, the (educational) institutions that select and groom elites need to prepare them for stewardship, as Weber argued. The overemphasis on merit and achievement (and wealth) has reduced the importance of character and virtue among elites, undermining the values and norms that once predominated across society, with a clear impact on everything from the political arena to the financial markets to the dating scene. This requires transforming how young adults are trained and evaluated. Schools should bolster civic education and character-building programs (for example, the Boy Scouts, at least in its original form), and evaluate students on moral behavior as well as through test scores. Universities and graduate schools should prioritize personal character in applicants. Essay questions today probe for volunteerism and a commitment to helping society, but schools interpret these as another form of achievement. Curriculum should encourage cooperating with stakeholders, responding to the public good, and being invested in a particular place instead of pursuing individual ambition alone. For example, MBA students are often taught that profit-making is the primary—or only—objective of a business in the United States; in other countries (such as Germany, Japan), education, culture, and government policy make the needs of employees, the location of operation, and the broader society just as important. (American politicians who bully companies, such as President Trump, have a point, even if their method is crude and comes late in the game.) Student and business leaders need a renewed focus on the moral sentiments—what we owe others—that Adam Smith saw as the essential underpinning to capitalism. How do we better understand our duties to others? A national service program would give elites experiential knowledge and greater connectivity with other Americans. Higher incentives for living, working, and opening social capital building organizations in less well-off neighborhoods might encourage more people not just to signal their concern but actually to make a personal sacrifice for the benefit of the country. Encouraging elite undergraduate and graduate schools to instill a code of conduct and to mandate or at least strongly encourage service in an impoverished area, similar to Teach for America, would help change values. Instead of just promoting semesters abroad, they could also promote semesters of service at home. Tuition could even be reduced or forgiven for commitments to serve in a rural or inner urban city job for a minimum of five years." ... "The problem is how the culture currently frames this (social) contribution (by elites) . What is valued is not what is needed." https://www.the-american-interest.com/2019/10/30/how-do-americas-elites-stack-up/

Psychology Today Nov 1, 2019: I've had a ritual with my son for a number of years now. It started when he went off to college, 3,000 miles away from home. Whenever he was going to parties or out with friends or on a date, I would simply text him an eagle emoji to remind him that he is an Eagle Scout and that he should always behave like one. He’d always reply with the response, “Always!” The character education and life skills taught in scouting are invaluable and perhaps needed now more than ever in our very challenged society. Good article: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/do-the-right-thing/201911/are-the-boy-scouts-still-relevant-and-worthwhile-today

Boy Scouts in Virginia helped the Frederick County Sheriff’s office convert a van into an incident response vehicle, they also helped put together a new command post that has satellite service. Boy Scout, Jonathan Williams says this project is part of his path to becoming an Eagle Scout. “It’s really hard getting up to a Life Scout, service hours are the hardest part, but I figured this one would be good because this will help save lives”, Williams said. Sergeant Dave Ellinger helped make the project possible. He says the idea came from their 1033 program which transfers excess military equipment to civilian law enforcement agencies. “They said they had a command bus they were trying to convert over but was too much of a project but they wanted it to go to someplace that would use it. Jonathan was looking for an Eagle Scouts project it would take six or eight weekends to get it done it would have an impact for a long time,” Ellinger said. Both vehicles were fixed from top to bottom with new interior design, computers, radios and more. the boy scouts had the ultimate hands on experience.... Video and more details at source. https://www.localdvm.com/news/virginia/boy-scouts-in-virginia-work-on-a-community-project-with-law-enforcement/ Mod note" This Frederick County Sheriff's office has a solid history of working with scouts and Explorers. Scout Salute.

To paraphrase Captain Ramius . Give him a thumb. One thumb only, please.

Mod note: Please remember this is a Contest not a Survey, your input matters and your vote counts! Thanks, RS P.S. And there will be a SurPrise.

I am looking at other non-profit organizations (4-H, Boys & Girls, Y, Red Cross) for better ideas. It strikes me as odd that the Executive Committee controls and not serves the Executive Board. No oversight. IMO, a see Chapter 11 addressing this, should be interesting. Initial ideas: 1. Fix the inconsistent and confusing nomenclature used in By-Laws! 2. The CSE should be the only member of the Executive Committee serving on Executive Board . CSE may not be Chairman of Executive Board. 3. Big Three downsized to a CSE (business) and Chief Scout (program, PR). 4. Reduce size of Executive Board but raise their meeting quorum to 50% or better (phone, txt, email). 5. Advisory Council should be member-elected (us) , selects Executive Board Members , and presents action items to Executive Committee. My $0.01.

P.S. My understanding from the 2017 Annual Report, (2018 Annual Report did not have this information) please correct me if wrong . Note the Annual Report and By-Laws use different names for committees. Quorums were finally specified in the 2019 By-Laws. National Executive Committee ( called National Council in By-laws) is comprised of 16 National Officers which includes the Big Three. According to By-Laws, quorum is 50%, 8 members. National Executive Board ( called Executive Board in By-laws) is comprised of "no more than 64 regular members", currently around 76 individuals. By-Laws specify members shall include Executive Board (16), Members of Regional Executive Committees and Area Commissioners, Local Council Representatives, Members at Large, Special Members. According to By-Laws, quorum is just 5%, so only 4 members needed. A lot of red flags here. Advisory Council is comprised of about 66 individuals chosen by Executive Board and are mostly from local councils. The Chairman of the Advisory Council serves as a Special Member of above Executive Board.

Hmm, I was not aware of this. Interesting idea.