WisconsinMomma

This is not necessarily true, either. You can be sure she doesn't have formal BSA experience, but... take my friend, the daughter of a Montana forester, grew up in the outdoors, whose younger brother was in Scouts and she was always around. Now, does she know everything? No. Does she know some things? Absolutely. Nobody knows everything. I mean, if someone does know everything, they might be unteachable. My friend certainly has a lot to offer.

I know a family where the mom and dad had a horrific breakup. The dad and son had worked on an incredible car the year before, and the boy ran it twice. I don't know if he had any chance to do another car the next year. Sometimes it's good to put kindness first and not get to picky about the circumstances.

It's "teachable female" that I'm taking issue with, as if, that's a rare combo. Perhaps I misunderstood the intent, but I've noted here that moms often get complained about, and --- they're part of the program too! Yes, I am nitpicking, but, I really don't want moms in general to have a bad rap in the BSA.

There are plenty of teachable females out there! Let's not let a few difficult parents dissuade anyone from making new Scouting friends. And I should take issue with the word "teachable" too -- how about -- females who are new to Scouting and interested in the program?? We really need to be careful just because some moms (and dads) are difficult, we don't generalize that all moms (or dads) who ever ask a question, want to participate, or haven't learned the ways of Scouting yet are terrible people.

Did the person ask you directly? In email? Face to face? Through someone else? I think that short and vague is the way to go, if you choose to reply at all. Something like, "My family has had X great years with Troop XYZ. Recently we've had struggles with campouts and other activities. (or other brief but not-too-specific or accusatory phrase of your choice) It was a difficult decision, especially with our long history and many friends in the troop, but it was the right time for us to move on and we are satisfied with that decision. We wish everyone in Troop XYZ all the best.

I'm going to pray for you and your whole Pack. I hope it gets better. Big hugs.

That is a big council!

I am still so sorry. A pushy person can push their way into an organization, and it sounds like this method is working for this guy. It sounds like the commissioners want you to have a CM, any CM, and this one seems to have a lot of energy, and they want you to work it out so you have your Key 3 and then it's less work to try to recruit another CM. Now, do you go along with it, fight it, or move to a different group? From what I am reading, the council can decide to allow a person with a criminal history to volunteer if they decide the person has cleaned up and is on a better pat

The students' school is closed today for security reasons, as threats have been made against the school and individual students. A person cannot be pro-life and wear a MAGA hat in DC, be on camera and remain safe.

Really, I feel like there should be a person in each District who runs around and tells all the volunteers, THANK YOU regularly. So many Scouters are underappreciated.

I'm just curious. Thank you!

Yes and no. The issue that can happen is if these young people are identified and demonized for life, college acceptances revoked, etc. There is a trend towards judging and punishing people because of social media, and that is dangerous territory. Hopefully nothing like that will come of this situation, but it is a real risk.

First of all, THANK YOU for all of the things you do to support Cub Scouting in your area. Second, I am SO SORRY that you have all this drama coming from this man and his "friends". Now, let's get practical. 1. You have a lot going on in your life. This guy is a pain in the rear. Are you willing to push forward and take care of this problem, or do you prefer to go join another Pack? Either answer is OK. 2. Jerk is not the Cubmaster. It is crazy that he buys a uniform, shows up and assumes the role and starts taking over the meetings and conversations. YOU are

WELCOME GIRLS to the BSA! WELCOME families! I wish you an amazing Scouting experience!!!

I want my kids to learn how to handle guns safely and responsibly. We live where hunting is common and shooting skills are still basic life skills to me.

That's a good question. I would not expect that the council is seeking people to, you know, rewrite their training materials. But I think they would be open to creativity in presentation. And of course, after you volunteer for about a year and the relationship is established, they might ask you to start running whole programs! I think there is probably a bit of relationship-building involved while you work out what you want to do and where you think you fit the best.

I was asked by a guy I met at BALOO (who is our council training director) for names of folks who might want to be on the council training committee. I gave him the names of everybody I know. (Not really, but I gave him a lot of names of people I know from Wood Badge and then I gave him the names of all the "old-time" scouters from our Troop (basically people whose kids have graduated from scouting a few yeas ago.) I told him to "butter them up", meaning, appreciate the scouters! Here's my question for you, Scouters -- if you were asked to participate on your Council training com

The problem is that old guard members don't let in any new blood. It's all ego and know-it-all-ism.

Old guard adults are such a pain in the patootie. Tell them that since they have no kids raising funds, they should listen to the people who have kids actually in the troop. If they aren't raising the money, they need to take some freaking input. Email them, call them, complain to them. Complain up the chain. I can't stand old guard leaders who don't serve the membership. Back in the day, in 1980, we did it like this, and my son, who's now 45, did that for his eagle project, yadda, yadda, yadda. Ugh!!!

When I was a den leader and frustrated with some of the committe, I focused my energy on the den and just did what I could to get through the Pack and committee meetings. Put your energy into your den.

Write a letter back. Come to camp. Here are the rules. No interference, and if you interfere, you will be asked to leave the troop. Make sure you have enough drivers w/o the troublemakers.

OK, comrade.

No worries!

That was a very classy letter from national.

Not all DEs are men, nor will they be going forward.