mashmaster

Congrats

My friend who used to work for BSA until today posted this. My heart goes to those affected by this. Today, the BSA permanently laid off a large number of employees (I am told it is about 40% of the national office staff) as it tries to survive a number of unplanned events that affect the organization more severely than many can even imagine.

Well every unit in my council goes by the national form so all checks are done by lifeguards or similarly qualified individuals. Having take SSD and SA multiple times online, it scares me to think that would be the minimum for evaluating swimming abilities.

Maybe it is council based, our council only accepts the BSA form which clearly conflicts with the NCABSA form.

Are you sure? per the form : https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/outdoor program/aquatics/pdf/430-122.pdf when I look at the form it wants much more than just an adult with SSD ADMINISTRATION OF SWIM CLASSIFICATION TEST (THE LOCAL COUNCIL CHOOSES ONE OF THESE OPTIONS): OPTION A (at camp): The swim classification test is completed the first day by camp aquatics personnel. OPTION B (Council conducted/council controlled): The council controls the swim classification process by predetermined dates, locations, and approved personnel to serve as test administrators. When the unit

We happen to have a lifeguard and master swim coach in my family, so yearly we conduct the test in a 25 yard pool. We are not looking for how fast they swim other than the fact that some of them we don't pass and tell them to get some more lessons or practice because they stuggle to maintain a reasonable forward pace and are a danger of drowning if they got in a potential distress situation. Same rule works for adults and children. We don't mark off because they did a flip turn because frankly, once they are doing that they can usually swim forever anyway. It is completely subjective, and

Scoutmaster can't sign off I believe it is someone that has the proper aquatics certification. Most lifeguards at public pools can conduct and sign off on swim tests.

Glad it worked out! Sounds like y'all took the correct precautions

I know two people on the committee. Both of them are extremely active. One of which is involved as an ASM in a female troop. He is also active in venturing and OA. Both of them still work with scouts on a regular basis and spend a ton of time weekly with scouts including camping and treks. Have seen them both helping on Eagle projects currently along with working with the youth leadership for Venturing and Sea Scouts. They both use digital tools with our unit and others. So yes very currently aware.

It is just 1 hour a week..... In all seriousness, I don't know if the Churchill group does or not. The committees that are formed to review and recommend the way forward from this report is made up of Scouting volunteers that have been donating their time for a long time so they are aware.

I also agree on the lightweight synthetic shami style towels can't be beat for the lightness and compact size. After a few snaps they dry pretty quickly. I can't imagine taking a real towel backpacking, they take forever to dry.

I'll ask when I see him next. I believe the number is in the high 3000's for registrations. Still a small number. I don't know the answers to everything else. He did explain to me how Sea Scouts were part of Exploring for many years and advancement worked the same. So that isn't an issue in my mind anymore.

reply to all the points

You can email pr@scouting.org, that is what I did

How exactly is it backpedaling? The received a proposal and have formed committees to review the proposal.

Note that "End all youth programs at age 18" has become "Evaluate program methods and age parameters to provide an engaging option that enables youth members to transition to adult leadership roles and remain active in Scouting with an ongoing commitment to safety." in this version

I happened to have a discussion in the backyard of the commodore the day after the leaked document went live. It is a real document but it is only accepted as received. That is where the confusion is I think. They had already started the formation of a couple of committees at the national level to discuss all the options. So this isn't a backpedal just a communications problem. He stated that someone at National really botched the communication. You are counting only the primary units for the scouts. There are more Sea Scouts than 2000, but it is the lowest number for sure. Sea Scout

FYI; the National Sea Scout Commodore posted this today. Hello all - I wanted to give you an update on what I know about the Churchill proposal progress. I am told that the National Key 3 are preparing a statement that will list all of the Churchill proposals along with a description of the process going forward. That will be going out on Scouting Wire, and probably in Bryan on Scouting, so keep an eye there, but we'll post a link here as soon as we see it. That was supposed to have gone out earlier this week, but consensus is hard and is taking some time to get right. Hopefully we

I have been looking forward for 3 years to experience this with my son. He has been fundraising for it delivering a lot of mulch. It is really a depressing time. I am so very happy he got to experience World Jamboree last year.

crud

I don't think they can force the unit to sell popcorn and camp cards. I don't know how much FOS is given, but the council needs funds to operate and maybe there needs to be a better fundraiser that the units help in to raise money for the council. Councils provide benefit to the youth in the units but that requires money. The employees at the district level don't make a ton of money. I don't think much of the rechartering fees goes to council. So it is a chicken and egg problem. I know our council is healthy financially and we provide money to other councils that are in need.

Just posted: Dear Shipmates, This has been a stressful 48 hours since an unsigned “press release” was made public appearing to announce that all BSA programs would end at 18 and Sea Scouts BSA would be made part of Exploring as a maritime career program. These are NOT enacted policies. National Commodore TW Cook spent the weekend on the calls with Jenn Hancock, National Program Chair, and Dan Ownby, National Chairman. Other members of the National Sea Scout Support Committee contacted members of the BSA National Executive Board and BSA National Executive Committee over this press releas

This is the petition to sign, BTW http://chng.it/gXpbggYCf7

I have taken and staffed Sea Badge as Officer On Deck.... Let me know if you need help.

OK, this morning I happened to talk to the National Sea Scout Commodore. He has been asked to be on the two committees to interpret the results of the report and help in the planning for moving forward. He says the acceptance is just an acceptance that BSA received the report, not an acceptance to follow the recommendations. He said the BSA top leadership is aware of the petitions going around and that they are a good thing to sign. So it appears this is the recommendation from the Churchill group but not from BSA and there is a lot to still be discussed and decisions to be decided