scoutldr

Soliciting cash donations is also a prohibited activity.

My Council has started charging a facility fee for camps...1.50 per person/per day. Many of us veteran Scouts and Scouters spent countless hours and our own funds on maintaining those camps over the years. One of our old-timers and Executive Board member (now residing with the Great Master of all Scouts) once told me he never donated cash. He would ask the Ranger what he needed for the camp, and he would procure it and take it up there. That way the SE couldn't "divert" the funds to other purposes.

Fortunately, I've never needed a spell-checker. Grammar and spelling errors jump out at me, so I edit my work before hitting "send". I guess you might say I was blessed (or cursed?) with an "editor's eye."

Any unit fundraising must be approved by the Scout Executive, using the Fund Raising application form. Our Pack was even forced to quit our baked goods raffle because it was a "game of chance."

Or, in medical terms, "circling the drain."

I am not a lawyer, but I did spend 40 years in Occupational Health. The problem with asbestos exposure is the latency period of 40 years or more for mesothelioma. Statutes of limitation were grossly unfair when a disease did not manifest for 20-40 years post-exposure. People being diagnosed today may have been exposed as long ago as 1980, and then, even briefly, since there is no known "safe" level of exposure. Did we know better...of course....but workers are still being exposed today...either through ignorance or blatant disregard for the hazard, either by the employer or employee. The "we don't need no stinking masks" syndrome is something I have fought since the 70s....it is nothing new. How is this related to the topic??? We still have units blatantly disregarding the BSA YP rules....and operating units as Co-Ed in blatant disregard for the BSA's intent to have male and female units operating independently. We are only as safe as our weakest link...

First, let me say that the guilty should be severely punished. My fear is that, in the absence of evidence, many good, innocent people will be named because those are the names they can remember, and details of facts fade over time. To "out" them as guilty by association would be criminal slander.

As a Scout in the 60s and 70s, my leaders are long dead. I suspect in many cases, the only recourse is to go after the institution. I would be interested to know how they go about proving the validity of a claim.

Right before the holidays. Perfect.

As you pointed out the obvious, those values were already in the Scout Law. Was it suddenly not adequate after 110 years? Perhaps we should fix that, rather than force-feeding a new required merit badge. I have been in Scouting since 1963. I have seen a lot of change, and not all good. Some was change for the sake of change ... solutions in search of problems, like Urban Scouting of the late 70s. Society changes, and Scouting needs to decide what it wants to be. It is not all things for all people, nor should we try to be. We once had a SS Ship that was all Muslim. Were they forced to be inclusive and welcoming? No. That would be politically incorrect. I remember when the only job a female volunteer could hold was Den Mother. That changed as society changed. Now women can be Boy Scouts and Brotherhood Arrowmen. I was a member of an Explorer Post that welcomed the first female Explorers. Did it work? Sure...but what went on after Taps would have given the YP police a stroke. I just completed a 40+ year career in the federal government. I can't tell you how many times we were all herded into the auditorium for "mandatory training" because someone hurt someone's feelings, or dared to tell the truth and rate someone honestly on the quality of their work. An honest appraisal was considered "insensitive". I was even called a racist because the lowest graded individual in the Command was a minority. The fact that he had a low IQ, refused to take training offered to improve his skills, refused to even apply for higher graded positions with greater responsibility, was immaterial...it was OBVIOUSLY racial discrimination. You can't provide "equity" if someone refuses to accept it. Likewise, if someone wants to partake of Scouting and all it has to offer, they are welcomed with open arms, in my experience. BUT...we should not be forced to alter our program because it doesn't appeal to all equally, just as the Muslim unit was not required to change theirs.

The beatings will continue until morale improves.

I, too have decided to not re-register this year, although my Scouting has diminished to serving on a Council Committee. I have been registered in the same Council since 1963. Eagle, 1970. When I was the District Training Chair, I taught many YPT classes and when I got to the slide that instructed us to "call the SE directly and disclose the details to NO ONE else, not even the Council Office Staff, Commissioners, or DE...the SE will know who to call and what to do." Well, little did we know that the SE would probably call no one...he would quietly remove the alleged offender from BSA membership and enter his/her name into the "perversion files" without due process. My spidey sense was tingling...and I knew that was wrong on a basic level. Fortunately, I never had to make that call, and i pray none of those I taught had to. Scouting was an integral part of my youth, and it defined who and what I am today. I grieve along with you and wish you all well.

Back in my day, If I had come home with a broken arm from falling off the monkey bridge, my Dad would have said, "that was dumb...maybe you'll be more careful next time." Today's parents view it as an invitation to litigate and get a nice settlement, because, "someone must pay."

Well, I guess I've bought my last box of cookies. Sad.

If the unit is being dissolved, it's a moot point. Get your scout transferred to a new unit and move on. Whether the new MBC will accept the work already done is up to him/her and the unit leaders have no say, as mentioned above.

As I watch the barrage of TV commercials soliciting claims, it has occurred to me that some of the conditions described were de rigeur back in my day (1960s)...being herded into gang showers totally naked with 20 other boys and men...multi-hole latrines with no privacy...I didn't like it at the time, but it's what we did. The custom continued all through high school as we were all required to strip and shower communally after PE. (the last time I visited my kids' high school, the showers were being used for storage). I was just thankful we didn't have to swim totally naked at the swimming hole or YMCA pool like my Dad did in the 20s. Even as late as a few years ago, there were no partitions in the adult male showers like the female side has. Wonder how much that's worth ?

The bottom line is, the BSA has licensed your CO to use the BSA materials, name and program and the CO "owns" the unit. As they have chosen you and approved your membership, you are their representative. They can require additional membership standards, such as only admit members of their church or faith, or only males, or only females, etc.

First of all, the "Advancement Chair" is just a member of the Committee. He/she does not get to be the gatekeeper to decide who advances and who doesn't. Their job is to handle the paperwork. Approving advancement is the Scoutmaster's job, and then the Board of Review consisting of 3 committee members. A BOR is NOT a retest of requirements. If it's signed off, it's considered completed. Period. Sounds to me like everyone needs refresher training. Now, to the more serious point....what you have described to us in your original post is the definition of bulllying. This requires a mandatory report to the Scout Executive or to the YP hotline. IF it is as you described...

I am also not a lawyer...but consider: your Unit is chartered by YOUR council, and the charter agreement is between your CO and your council...not the other council. IF your council tells you not to camp, you are in violation of the charter agreement if you do.

As one who spent a career writing and interpreting safety and health laws and regulations, these BSA rules clearly smack of "CYA" on the part of the BSA. They are there in case anything happens, then the BSA can say, "well, we told them not to do it." The BSA has NO authority over me and my interactions with my own family.

All good advice above and spot on. Alert your District Commissioner and District Executive that this is coming. 99% of us are just volunteer parents with no special training or ability in handling special needs scouts. We all are willing to do the best we can, but that obligation applies to ALL the scouts in the unit, who also expect a good program. If it gets ugly or she just doesn't get the message, they can be removed from your unit at the unit's discretion.

You should be fine. Just submit the application and if the CC and COR approve it, it will be submitted to BSA for the routine background investigation. I sincerely doubt that the investigation would come back negative, since there were no charges filed and the case was "unfounded." Welcome and let us know how it turns out.

Eagle 1970 here, before the era of the red beret and skill awards. I agree, things have been watered down much over the decades. In addition to what @John-in-KCsaid, rank requirements had to be earned in sequence. NO working on Second Class requirements until the Tenderfoot badge was awarded, etc. FCFY put an end to all that.

If Council sent the letter to the SM, I would say that was improper, as well. Should have gone to the IH/COR who owns the unit and approves all adult memberships. Just my opinion...

I would give your Council DE/SE/Registrar the courtesy of a phone call just to let them know what's going on...hope you recover soon.