DuctTape

I don't think it says that at all. Says nothing about" they are there to help if needed". In fact it says to call the mB first. You may be misinterpreting the written process to coincide with your current thinking.

Perhaps a good place to start would be to implement a better process? Oh, and welcome to the forum!

You are correct the pamphlet doesn't have these. That is because those should be part of the mB counselor meetings (yes plural) with the scout. Remember they are a mB "Counselor" not a mB "signeroffer". A mB Counselor should be counseling the scout in these matters with the aims in mind.

I can tell your heart is in the right place. And you are correct that the books and pamphlets are also used the same way, albeit not as good. The problem is the order in the process, including in your "ideal". Going to a leader (whether it is a PL or mB counselor) to get signed off should not be the first and last time the scout speaks with said leader. The scout should NOT be doing all the research, learning etc... on their own and then going to the leader to get signed off. The process should be more like: 1. Scout goes to PL (or mB counselor) first to discuss the requirement(s), what is expected and how to achieve it. (as opposed to the scout "figure out what the reqs are asking".) 2. The Leader then actively engages with the scout to learn, understand and be able to do the skills. The leader will also include his/her experiences with the topic and model integrity and ethical decision making in furtherance of the aims. (as opposed to "decide if the scout learned enough" on his own.) 3. If the requirement(s) are many, or the skill is complex, or there is an activity to now complete, the leader may ask the scout to take the new information or skills and practice/complete activity. 4. Then the scout meets again with the leader to "be tested" on the requirement. The process above might be cycled through multiple times for more extensive mBs A single rank requirement might be accomplished in a single cycle

Personally not a fan. Allow me explain... advancement is a method, not the goal. All of the methods work with each other in furtherance of the aims. As an example, mBs as advancement in concert with adult association provide both the motivation and the medium for the scout to progress towards the aims. Advancement with mBs in absence of true adult association denies the scout the opportunity as promised by scouting. While I applaud your initiative, I do see this as a replacement for a real adult association opportunity. Scouts will simply go to a mB counselor (likely not even qualified in the mB, but approved by council anyway) and get "signed off" without gaining anything from the mB counselor except for a signature. If this resource is needed by the mB counselor, then he/she does not have the requisite knowledge or experience to be the mB counselor.

While it is true the CO decides on the person for leadership position, the CO agreed in Chartering Agreement to follow the BSA rules including the Guide to Advancement. One of the duties of the Troop Committee is ensuring this occurs. Theoretically a CO which willfully disregards the GTA et al is in breach of the Chartering Agreement and could potentially lose their charter. In reality this never happens b/c the council would lose membership numbers and that is the metric used to evaluate.

When I taught woods tools it was immediately before the firebuilding station. I had the participants bring the wood, kindling, etc... they processed from my area to the next.

Moving forward post bankruptcy I can envision all remaining camps being moved into "corporations" , separate from councils legally and functionally.

You bring up some good points. The culminating activity could be a huge benefit as it would provide focus for the patrol. Something which currently is lacking. Not sure if the yearly planning would need to be a part. This could be done as I said by patrol in the first week of the season. As far as how much could the scouts do? I was imagining the scouts meeting significantly more to accomplish their goals. Idea being is hypercompresses a year into a season. They could meet every week day like they do for practice during sports' seasons. I also imagine that the scouts would likely do this for multiple years. The patrol could almost remain "intact" over the years. An entire unit could function under this option. The biggest obstacle I see is getting adults to invest this much time as it requires significantly more than 1hr/week (we all laugh at that now). I don't know if we could get volunteers to give up this much time. Though it could be possible to share the load amongst many adult volunteers.

I would put the 1st edition Fieldbook (1948) alongside any current Handbook. And the 1959 Handbook for Patrol Leaders.

My wandering mind... One of the difficulties over the last decades has been the increase in other options; whether it be youth sports, theater, clubs, etc... Scouts has pretty much said "we understand your other things, so show up when you can". I wonder if this has had a cascading effect over time. Regardless, what if... and I am just spitballing an idea here... what if the structure of scouting was changed from " once/week meeting and 1 weekend/month campout for the whole year" to "a single season; meetings 3x/week, 1 day every weekend for "day activity" and 1 long weekend campout/month". Initially thinking is that a scout signs up and commits to the season just like they do for soccer or the school play. Scouts becomes an equal choice to commit to like their sports, etc... and doesn't take the entire year. Imagine a kid doing scouts in the fall, the school play in winter, baseball in the spring. Over the summer he goes to baseball camp and summer camp. Imagine the intense experience he could have focusing on scouts for the season. Add to this, the scout can still "show up when he can" during his off-season. An older scout can help as an instructor, or just go on a campout. Some scouts would choose multiple seasons (like they do for soccer). I am not suggesting this structure replace all of scouting just pondering if this type of structure could benefit some scouts if they choose. I can see serious difficulties in organizing, volunteers, etc... but if this structure as an option has enough appeal the difficulties can be solved with even more creative thinking beyond just the initial thought.

I think one of the major issues for BSA today and in recent past is/was primarily the focus on quantity. Growth and membership numbers do not equate with quality program and often the strategies implemented for the former are at odds with the latter. This is true for bsa and other businesses. One needs to choose whether they will be making Rolex or Casio.

"and that quality is limited to only "how much" and no more" -Duct Tape 😉

Quantity is often used as a measure of success ignoring and at the expense of quality. Quantity is cheap and easy to measure, however as a surrogate for quality it fails miserably.

The adventure of the trip IS the program.

The intelligence community monitored and assessed intentions, capabilities and actions of foreign actors. While it did find significant intent and actions by Moscow to use cyber tools and media campaigns to influence public opinion, it did not analyze U.S. processes or public opinion. The report made no assessment on the impact the activities had on the outcome. Either in agreement or disagreement. https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/3719492/Read-the-declassified-report-on-Russian.pdf

I am with John on this. Our role as scouters should not be to "give the scouts a break from planning..." Not sure what role the PLC would have since the planning, etc... IS their role. After that, it is the Patrol itself executing. Comparison to summer camp only highlights the issues with many summer camps. As a recent transition from scout to scouter I would recommend reflection of your experience in the troop from top to bottom with the guiding question of "What were adults doing that could have been done by scouts?" I say this not to be critical, but as a means for constant improvement. I recommend this reflection to scouters often. Oh, welcome to the forum!

I apologize for my miscommunication, the recent vandalism has not been repaired yet AFAIK. Apparently it was targeted back in 2018 as well.

If you have evidence of the perpetrators I am certain law enforcement would like that information. But as of now the identity and the motive are unknown. Just as some have speculated it is as you describe, others have speculated it is a retaliation to the taking down of confederate statues. It is also possible that it is motive non-specific just plain vandalism. Point is we don't know. And as additional information this statue was replaced in 2018 as it was damaged by vandals two years ago.

I disagree with your characterization of liberals. Almost all of them I know do defend the right for others to have contrary opinions. The idea that they all want these banned or criminalized , no. Regardless of ones right to express their opinion, however does not insulate them from others expressing their disagreement including protesting that opinion, or boycotting a place of business for example. Also to claim that they seek socialism, as defined in your terms is disingenuous. Most advocate for specific policies which their opponents then label as "socialism" as it invokes a fear response. Our current system is not socialism vs capitalism but a complex system of policies, etc... which have components of free enterprise, governmental services and regulations. We can disagree on policy and even specifics components within a policy, but the labeling of a policy as "socialism" for the sole purpose of then equating it with [your] definition does not promote dialogue to find solutions to complex problems faced by our society. Regarding AOC, I believe you have mis-characterized her response. At no point did she suggest hunger was the cause of folks killing each other. In fact she was explicit in stating the of crime of shoplifting. I may not agree with her, but IMO it is not right to state something she suggested when in fact she did not. Lastly, I have spent the last few weeks listening to my Black friends about their experiences. I have always known racism still exists, but thought it was relegated to the few extreme nut jobs. I am learning that there still exist residual effects of the overt racism which still are an obstacle to my Black friends; obstacles and other situations to which I am immune due to my pigmentation. At its core, BLM first asks that we just listen and not get so defensive. I ask everyone, is listening too much to ask?

The best SM I had as a scout was older. His son had aged out many many years before. When he eventually stepped down, my dad became SM. He was good, but not like Mr. Smith. My point is just because your kids aren't in the troop doesn't mean anything. You can always take some time off and enjoy the empty nest for a spell and then return.

I have always looked at this alternative as a way to accomplish two things: 1. Provide the Scout with an opportunity to show leadership in a different position of responsibility than listed. 2. Help the adults step out of the way to have a scout do what the adults have been doing for them. Two examples come to mind: a. High Adventure trips (like Philmont) often are completely planned and coordinated by an adult with input from the scouts. A scout could take on that responsibility. As a senior scout he should already have planned multiple campouts, and dealt with the logistics so this is a natural step in the progression. b. Unit fundraiser. Many troops do popcorn sales, the "kernel" is almost always an adult. Have a scout be the "popcorn kernel", of course the troop treasurer should be involved very closely. Even if the troop does a different fundraiser like "christmas tree sales", have a scout in charge. Both of these are limited in scope which define the "project". Both involve significant responsibility in leadership, coordination, decision making which put them on par with other named PORs. It may not mean the scout does everything the adults usually do, as per the GTA, the SM and committee should develop the standards the scout must assume. I do not see service type projects as fitting within this alternative.

The main problems with the "local option" argument are: 1.That is exactly what allowed segregation to exist in BSA troops until the 1970s. 2. Hypocritically, it was some outside COs, troops, councils,... who pushed the "no gay scouts & leaders" doctrine to disallow gay scouts and scouters in troops which were not theirs. The Dale case was the result. We know the rest. I understand some have significant personal objections regarding those who are gay. There were those who had significant objections to mixed race troops too. It took 50 years and we are mostly past the latter. Hopefully it won't take 50 more years to be mostly past the former too.

I would not refer to Frogg Toggs as "semi-durable". They are slightly better than disposable, but not by much. Tje material will catch on any twig or branch and shred rather easily. Poncho vs Rain jacket + pants? My personal preference is the latter. I have found that doing almost everything with a poncho is miserable. The only thing it may be better at is squatting over a cat hole and even that is questionable. A poncho does make for a good emergency shelter. But a small tarp is better. With jacket + pants, one can use one or both as needed. Being more snug to the body, you can do things while wearing them without them getting in the way. They also work great at keeping you warm. Almost too well. Backpacking with them will get you wet from sweat, but you will be warm. Breathable is generally a myth. As far as cost, like all things there is a continuum. Cheap, light, quality... pick two.

While BSA has had Black scouts since its founding; as an organization it also allowed COs to continue racist membership policies such as segregation as recently as the 1970s. Residual racism still exists even if it is not overt.