scoutldr

When my financial advisor found out I was a scout leader and taking other people's kids in my car and out camping, he recommended I carry umbrella liability insurance.  I have done so for 30 years now.  It is very reasonable in cost.  You can be perfectly innocent and not at fault, but if you get sued or accused, it can cost you everything to defend yourself.  Such is today's litigious society that feels if my kid gets hurt, SOMEONE has to pay, no matter the reason.

 This was the BSA version I am familiar with.  

I was a Cubmaster during that period and am not familiar with this.  Looks like a local Unit-specific thing, not official BSA.  

We are in a high military concentration area.  While the Scouts were gathering on the parking lot for our weekly meeting one summer evening, a young man stopped in, saying he was a Eagle Scout in the Navy and wanted to get back to Scouting.  Seemed nice enough.  I tried contacting his home Council (Caddo) SE and never got a response to verify his creds.  I had given him an app and explained that he couldn't participate until the background checks were done and he had council approval.  Never saw him after that.  I will always wonder if we dodged a bullet, or did we miss an opportunity.

As stated above, your District is where the physical address of the CO is located.  We had a situation where we got a new CO, which was physically in a different city and district, by about 100 feet.  The SE made an exception for us, since the IH lived within our old district.

2 hours ago, ToKindle96 said:

A Scout is Trustworthy. Full stop. That's my agenda--I'm not being secretive about it. I love the tortured logic to arrive at your conclusion though. 

And which part of the Scout Oath and Law makes it OK to make up your own rules when you don't like the ones you agreed to follow when you signed your membership application?

20 hours ago, Eagledad said:

Seems some folks are willing to push hostility to a new level to get what they want.

Such is the culture we find ourselves in.  "Either you agree with me, or you will be neutralized and canceled."  There is no longer room for civil discourse.  I attribute it to the way those younger than us have been raised...never having been told "no" and rewarded for anything they do, noteworthy or not.  Temper tantrums worked growing up...why not continue into adulthood?

Just remove the BSA strip from old shirts and sew them on this one.  Legal and cheap.  The shirt itself is not "trademarkable" since it is simply a khaki shirt with epaulettes.

1 hour ago, OaklandAndy said:

There's a mole among us...

I know at least one member who is on the National Staff.  IF they are smart, they would be regular lurkers here, and heed what we have to say.  For some of us, our Scouting experience goes back to the early 60s.

Er muss mein Hut sein.

2 minutes ago, InquisitiveScouter said:

You do not need an app.  Just transfer through my.scouting

So, you no longer need a parental signature?  (I'm old)

You are correct, as soon as he submits a properly signed transfer app, his Cub Scout career is over and he is a Boy Scout, with all that goes with it.  

OA has always been an "optional" Scouting program and is an individual decision.  You don't want to do OA, then DON'T.  If you take the obligation that goes with the honor, then do it with good intentions and fulfill it to the best of your ability.  If you don't want to participate after the Ordeal, then remove the lodge flap and carry on.  And don't show up at your EBOR sporting the flap and sash, because I WILL ask you questions about your OA experience.  

Few Carhartt products are still made in the USA.  Most is outsourced to Mexico and China.  That's a NO from me.

Just a word to the wise...make SURE you will pass the medical/physical requirements for Philmont before putting down any money and making plans.  THere were horror stories here a few years ago, when Scouters showed up for check in and failed the medical check for being overweight (they do check).  Not sure what the policy is for CPAP machines but I would be surprised if they don't have one.  I have OSA too, and would never think of doing a Philmont trek.  

12 hours ago, AwakeEnergyScouter said:

A spokesperson for Girl Scouts of the USA said that its policies state that Girl Scouts and volunteers are not allowed to fundraise "for purposes other than Girl Scouting."

Sounds clear to me.  But in all fairness,  BSA has similar fundraising rules.  The name and trademarks of the BSA is not to be used in fundraising for other organizations, regardless of how righteous the cause.

33066_Section_1_WEB.pdf (scouting.org)

Page 11.

I can't help but think this is a societal problem.  I have work I need done and cash in hand for some handyman work.  Think I can get anyone to show any interest?  My neighbor did have someone working on his house, so I went over and talked to him to do some floor repair.  He actually came over and looked at the job, acted interested and promised to email me an estimate the next day.  I didn't really need an estimate at this point, I was ready to pay whatever he said, since in two years, it's the first time anyone has bothered to look at it.  Well, it's been 2 weeks.  Nothing.  I realize it's not a big job, but it's beyond my physical capabilities now.  Facebook is full of complaints of the same nature.  People won't return your calls.  If they do call, they don't show up when they say they will.  I don't know what the solution is.

Just announced by the Council I was affiliated with.  No further details at this time.  

This is where the CO/COR has power.  Spin them up and send them over to Council to DEMAND action...or else they will consider the Charter agreement null and void.  When 75% of the council's units threaten to walk, along with any associated FOS pledges, it might get their attention.  If the Pros' goals are Members, Units and Money, YOU control all of that.

A famed NYC museum is closing 2 Native American halls, and others have taken similar steps - CBS News

2 hours ago, OaklandAndy said:

Our SE has a good head on his shoulders, it's more the DE's that continue to drop the ball more than anything. 

When a team keeps losing, the first one to go is usually the Head Coach.  A good leader would make sure his subordinates are not "dropping the ball".

12 hours ago, skeptic said:

Sadly, the SE has finagled the board to his control more or less, and getting COR's to actually do their job is very hard.

In my experience, the Executive Board members are hand-picked by the SE and consist of mainly large donors or those with influence and connections in the community.  And National limits who the EB can hire from a list of eligible Professionals looking for a transfer or promotion.  It is not a transparent, independent process.