skeptic

Locally, our Scouts participated in a number of Veterana' Day programs or recognitions. One of them was at our local county government center where Scouts acted as honor guards for Vets being recognized from each of the services, including Coast Guard. They even note the Space Force, though not sure that is ever going to be large in the short term. For our area, we actually have Vandenburg fairly close, ust up the coast. Anway, at the event we had one Gold Star family recognized, and we had two WWII Vets, one 98, and one 102. We have a photo of one of my own unit scouts shaking hand

Rather than sell it, rework the concept so that it is open broadly to youth other than Scouts, but also keeps the Scouting connection. It very well could bridge the BSA with the larger society in a positive way, and also stop the financial drain. We need to "again" be an integral part of society, rather than some kind of paria or afterthought. But the focus needs to revert strongly to the actual youth, and ways to push the foundational concepts to the larger society. What made the BSA so successful in its peak acceptance? It was the image that these young people, not the adults, were livi

I thought I had shared this, but it does not seem to be here. Some hopeful thoughts, though breath holding may be dangerous. https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2023/11/06/five-things-you-need-to-know-about-roger-krone-the-bsas-incoming-president-and-ceo/

https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2023/11/06/five-things-you-need-to-know-about-roger-krone-the-bsas-incoming-president-and-ceo/

Yet, the damage done by the media hype is still smearing BSA. Not sure it will ever be overcome in some parts of the public view. And sadly, the loudest voices against BSA are still pushing it. Vigilance and awareness will still not make it fail safe. It is just not possible.

Actually, in a few instance, the tool allowed removing something embedded in wood or a hard surface. But generally just use if for my hidden wine, or maybe some good olive oil.🙃

While we are well beyond "Follow Me Boys" today, and in this incident, IF there is a way to try to guide the youth, while restricting his Scouting interactions, that might be a good course. In our unit long ago we had two youth get into serious trouble with the police on the edge. As it happened both were in POR, one the SPL, the other his assistant. It was at an OA function and I got phone calls in the early morning. One parent had to go to the camp to take them home. I spent a number of hours on the phone with committee people and the council reps for clarity. The boys were removed fro

https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2023/10/18/getting-to-know-glen-pounder-the-bsas-youth-protection-executive/ This is a step away from the accusatory material too often showing up, IMHO. Most importantly, Mr. Pounder, while noting huge mistakes and the need for the BSA committee, which he addresses, but he also notes the failures of the larger protection communities in the past. Take a look and please note that I am not saying what occurred in the past is okay, only that our approaches today are in need of breadth across society. And this seems a step in that direction, especially the

I like that phrase "Be Prepared". Seems I have seen it before.😉

He has made it very clear and blasted this opinion every chance he has gotten. And likely others have agreed, but we simply do not see them. Not a good example, as he has been censured if I recollect. Still, it is just an opinion.

Perspective is in the eye of the observer, but also their mind. Blinders often appear due to previous personal bias. https://lawliberty.org/an-elegy-for-the-boy-scouts/

Here again we see the result of the concept that what goes up must go down being proven to be wrong it appears. It is just another element of our messed up culture. Everybody wants more income, and everybody expects nothing to cost more. The two do not work together. I continually have asked, for decades now, how high is up? We might ask too how low can we find ourselves falling? And that can be applied to more things than those monetary.

Reflection of our current society. Overscheduled and overwrought.

A bit late to the game, but maybe not. One of the things that was changed in the past decade or less was the required filing of an actual tour permit, which included approval, in theory, of the local council. Part of that was an endorsement validating that all drivers had the insurance needed, based on GSS and also the state in which they resided or were to go through or to. That was something that I still feel should have stayed in the mix, as it made the events be considered for that safety factor, along with guaranteeing, again in theory, the leaders were trained. I do not know why it w

My maternal grandparents lived in Oklahoma in the twenties and thirties, and my GF's first wife, who passed in 1907 from medical issues after an operation, was a photographer in Walters, Oklahoma. She had begun doing local work on photos of Native Americans in the area at the time of her death. Looking back, I realize I may have missed an opportunity to shed a bit of light on the era by discussing with my GF that period, though we kids were really not aware of Mae for the most part, as it was so long past, and he chose to not talk about it for many years it seems. Now we have a good deal of

You can interpret anything as your own mind chooses. Fred is right in that was common language in the forties and fifties still, and certainly in material written earlier than that. Some people may also be drinking bitterroot tea perhaps. Me thinks your dark glasses are perhaps a little too tinted towards the dark side.

While the initial connections to Native Americans was in theory the Delaware, and all the early language is in that language, it was also common for local tribes to be connected in some way in the mid century. In the fifties and sixties, the NA image and regalia was part of the mystique that drew many youths' interest. Also, as I have noted before, at one time the entry was restricted in number, not like today when pretty much any first class member can be elected, or really just named due to no numerical barriers. I would be interested to know what the current Delaware tribe may say in reg

While your perspective has merit, again it was a different society. I do though wonder how you did not see that similar respect and as you call it, bowing almost to the SM etc. in other youth leaders. We were expected to do what those adults said, often with little expectation other than jump and follow. Also, families were still more likely to enforce the absolute concept of do not disrespect elders and so on. But, it is really not comparing the proverbial fruits, and surely not comparative in the flow of time and societal evolution. At least they BSA had a petard on which to be impaled

May I ask, what were the adults angry about? At the time it was in relation to the Dale mess, but later, it was in relation to the current issues. But, as already noted, it was totally wrong, period, especially with the kids present. My real point of course is that the vast majority of encounters are positive and reflective of the larger truth of the success of the program over time. Scouting is part of the larger society, and it will always unfortunately have its bad members and detractors. But it is their very base tenets that also put us in the headlights when things go wron

Again, the truth of Scouting over time. This is the real image of the program, and representative of I would suggest over 99% of those that experience it. When our unit was regularly pushing popcorn and I was one of the adults in support, I often had past unit members visit and reminisce, or simply former scouts. Many were proud of being Eagles, but just as many admitted that they just had it as a great youthful experience and learned many beneficial things. Sadly, in a few instances, someone attacked the program, and worse the youth that were there. Twice I was forced to step in and ask

If we are to make a comment, can we use the right spelling please. Naught is another word for zero, pronounced not, or knot. Still, I suggest this is not a good reason to knot up our emotiona, as it really really a naught sum discussion. I suppose though we might at times be naughty and make waves. Perhaps we need to have our backsides smacked with a knotty pine paddle.

Actually the sad thing is that you are unable to find any peace or relief from your trauma. And no amount of money will ever cure that, nor accusing others of not caring or having any empathy. I pray that you may somehow find that relief and peace in the next journey.

The more legally informed might cast some light, but it surely does not appear so in this issue. If it did, we would not be watching the levels of skewing we are seeing. That would include NOT changing SOL's so that a lawyer can shop for the "right" court and state. Add consistency to my chant of "balance" and sensible and logical responses and not overly wrought emotion base on hyperbole and vague information.

I have no issue with legitimate suits, only frivolous or over the top ones that want more than is rational just because someone may feel sorry or it is the insurance company paying, or they see someone as having money. Suing for more than actual expenses, and somehow feeling you are owed an outlandish amount for "pain and suffering" or similar wording is simply dishonest from my view. IF the injury was truly due to someone being careless or ignoring common precautions, something might be rational. But the amounts are what the issue is, especially in cases where it is not clear that it was a

And that is our problem in our particular litigious society and messed up legal system. Little logic in too many cases, only a view of dollar signs. Who cares if it is petty and selfish as long as someone can get money?