scoutldr

I have always expected youth to address adults as "Mr Lastname" or "Mrs Lastname".  My boys are 40 and still address their former SM as "Mr."  .  And I hate when friends tell their kids to address me as "Mr Firstname".  Guess I'm just old school and was taught to show respect to my elders.

https://www.scouting.org/coronavirus/?utm_source=scoutingwire&utm_campaign=swvolunteer1202021&utm_medium=email&utm_content=

I am only 66 years old but have seen much technology come and go...my Mom's 78s, 33s, 45s, cassettes, 8-tracks, LaserDisks, CDs, DVDs, iPod, slide rules, adding machines, Burroughs calculators, desktop calculators, My first "pocket calculator" was a Royal with a corded stylus, 8 digit capacity (but only 4 at a time) with Nixie tube displays..  Thought we were rich when we could plunk down $129.99 for the TI SR-10 that would do exponents and square roots.  Can't even get a CD player in a new car anymore.  And the first Pulsar digital watch with red LED display.   I hate progress.  

Lots of old names in this thread, back when Scouter.com was a lot more "interesting"...I know Old Grey Eagle is now with the Great Master of all Scouts.  I miss the old days.  

I'm sure she and Old Grey Eagle are enjoying a cuppa Joe while chewing the fat around the campfire.  Every life lost leaves us all diminished.  May God's Peace comfort her family and friends.

I served many years on EBORs as the District rep.  I think if your project write-up clearly stated how the project was to be funded, and it didn't violate any BSA policy for fundraising, you should be good to go.  The funds were donated by family members.  It doesn't matter what the source was, as long as it didn't infringe on the Council's FOS campaign for business contributions.  Good luck, and congratulations in advance!

46 minutes ago, CynicalScouter said:

Merit badges from development to implementation I understand take YEARS. This was rammed and jammed in 4 months.

Moreover, the same source that kicked me that also told me that the requirements I posted earlier will now be sent to both social justice/MLB groups AND law enforcement groups for them to vet.

Major League Baseball??

12 minutes ago, PACAN said:

One girl was 13 with a sash of at least 50 MBs.

And I saw one with square knots I didn't recognize...and I am retired Uniform Police.

3 hours ago, TAHAWK said:

We have had female "Explorer Scouts" since 1968 - 52 years of "sitting on their alleged rights" precludes success.

I was in an Explorer post when the first girls joined.  We were "Explorers", and the organization was "Exploring"...which is all it said on our uniform shirts IIRC.  Our leaders were "Advisors" and I remember would be quick to correct anyone who called them "Scoutmaster."

Reminds me as if Burger King were to sue ChickFilA because people like ChickFilA better.  Both have a product called "chicken sandwich and fries".  If Burger King is losing market share, it's up to them to figure out why and improve their product and marketing.  

They've already done that.  All a boy has to say is he thinks he's a girl and he can join.

Not sure what "fake news" means...but there are laws against slander and libel.  Seldom does gossip rise to that level, however.  As some mentioned above, all those that are the "victims" of this should take your scouts, and form or move to another troop, and let your SE  and the chartered organization head know why in no uncertain terms.  

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."

7 hours ago, TAHAWK said:

The asbestos cases were just getting rolling when I graduated law school  in 1973.  They are still advertising for clients this evening., forty-seven years later  Politicians, effectively, eliminated statures of limitations for such claims.  They now run 2-4 years after you know or reasonable should know a given exposure allegedly caused your disease, even if generations ago.  Expert witnesses are for hire to testify that the date of "discovery" occurred 2 -4 years before you sued. 

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...

1 hour ago, ThenNow said:

The only element of accountability being discussed is public disclosure of the names of abusers. I think that's the only thing the Court could order as part of the settlement. I know some survivor claimants and/or attorneys have that goal. As I mentioned, I don't like it for two reasons: (1) if my state creates a look back window by enacting the Victims Rights Act, I want to be able to surprise my abusers with a lawsuit and criminal prosecution; and (2) it doesn't seem right to accuse people publicly after anything less than a proper legal investigation of the allegations. As I mention elsewhere, this is claim validation and corroboration process is unlikely to involve anything close. For survivors or especially attorneys who are seeking public humiliation of these men and, more likely than not additional clients, they can use the Court to effectively defame and publicly convict people with impunity. That has bad public policy and immorality written all over it, in my view. 

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.  

6 hours ago, DuctTape said:

The bankruptcy and related civil litigation does not preclude any victim from filing against the individual perpetrator. They just don't have as deep of a pocket to go after.

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.

Just now, carebear3895 said:

I have just learned another 54 employees have been terminated from the National Office. 

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.