acema606

Our Troop Calendar was for 12 months and the PLC developed it with consideration for fun as well as Journey to Excellence standards, and incorporating merit badge components (bike ride to campout for Camping MB for example.  If a unit finds itself one activity short for a Journey to Excellence standard, due to this short notice cancellation, I truly hope the Council acknowledges its role in that and finds a way to rectify the situation.  

3 hours ago, Armymutt said:

For us, the government leaders are all around.  We have military officers and NCOs in pretty much every unit around Ft. Bragg.  May not be in the exact spirit of whoever wrote the requirement, but we get it done to the letter.

I respect the name change to Fort Liberty, but it's gonna take a while before I consistently call the Center of the Universe by its new name.  AATW!

When I was a SM Council said Scouts choosing to not participate in Council fundraising activities (popcorn, camp cards) could adversely affect their ability to receive a campership/ financial aid from the Council.  Furthermore, the Council campership application had a spot that specifically asked about individual participation in those fundraising activities.  We didn't want to hinder a Scout being able to pursue those things, so we facilitated Scouts participating in Council fundraising, but did not require it.  We also did our own fundraising activities and provided our own unit level financial aid/ scholarships for Scouts.  Summer camp assistance, paid NYLT fees, etc..  We were told we needed to complete fundraising applications so we weren't competing with the Council for the same dollars and to ensure that the activities were not prohibited in some way by GTSS or some other BSA rule.

Ironically I sent out the link with the updates, but haven't taken a look at any of the new ceremonies myself yet   I watch plenty of ceremonies but my assignments in the Lodge have been have been related to Inductions and Service.  I'll try to give them a look myself.  Guessing from commentary above I'm guessing that we have all seen the ceremonies so many times we notice each and every little change and detail.  To the starry eyed and somewhat sleep deprived candidates the finer elements are generally lost on them.  It really takes years of hearing the words, reciting them, living them to get to the point that many of us are at.  I've been married almost 25 years.  Each time I go to a wedding it reminds me of my own vows, what I promised to do all those years ago, and what it's all about and means even more.  Going to Induction weekends is the same.  Those who just go through Ordeal, or get Brotherhood and then aren't active etc..  never really get to experience and understand that.  It takes me back to my first time around the fire and the words that were spoken.  Like most things in life, it's what you put into it that determines what you get out of it.  

23 hours ago, mrjohns2 said:

Do they still make hard copies?

I don’t know if you can still get them from Section or National but you can still print them.  

This link should help you out https://oa-bsa.org/article/ordeal-ceremony-revision-announcement

There is a link within it that will take you to the password protected latest Ordeal ceremony.  Additionally, your Lodge Ceremonies Chair and/or Advisor may already have a hard copy.  If you are still at a loss, they can reach up the organizational ladder within the OA.  

6 minutes ago, 100thEagleScout said:

Third Party releases.  Also, I don’t think this was mentioned but there’s speculation Omni either switched the master ballot or there’s been massive voter manipulation by the Coalition because this eBallot should have been tabulated as a master ballot unless a survivor requested his own physical ballot.

Currently, my group is speculating what had gone wrong.

 

On another note, Tim Kosnoff just declared a Reject movement victory on Twitter.

The 80% he is referencing appears to be the Class 8 Summary (p. 10 of 92) the Direct Abuse Claim section and referencing those who submitted a master ballot.  There seems to be a very strong message being sent by that group that utilized the master ballot.  Interesting days ahead.  We shall see what the Judge reads in her tea leaves.  

I got an email from National today.  Just an FYI I am not a victim.  Goes to the following link to BSA restructuring page, containing what I’m assuming is updated info.  https://www.bsarestructuring.org/survivors/
 

On 9/30/2021 at 10:03 PM, mrjohns2 said:

I am going with my daughter. I am debating on being on staff vs the contingent. I’m not currently an advisor, I only provide the lodge executive committee with their safety moment. I attended 2 as a youth. 
 

So - attend as a staff or with the contingent? Thoughts?

I went as an advisor with a contingent and ended up doing some staff work as well.  They both are enjoyable.  To be honest my favorite memory of NOAC is getting my trail crew certification and working on rehabbing trail.  Was trained by and worked with some top notch folks who are/ were OAHA foreman and staff.  It was great to leave a lasting legacy and perform service on the scale that we did.  

I feel inclined to mention that I am in no way a legal expert, nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.  I very well could be wrong and welcome both dissenting and concurring opinions.  

24 minutes ago, CynicalScouter said:

So, what would you propose on the subject of voting: review all 82,500 claims NOW and those with a valid claim not prohibited by a statute of limitations gets to vote?

I certainly feel for the victims who are sadly outside of the statute of limitations and I wish there was an avenue for them to get some relief.  That being said, if the SOL has passed I don’t feel they should be permitted a vote or relief through this particular process.  That’s what statutes of limitations are about.  There is not an endless timeline for one to pursue righting most wrongs. I don’t say this because I am callous or to favor either side.  I say it because that is the standard currently as I understand it and it should be that way in principle until such time as something changes it.  I think there can be lively discussion on if that is good or not but we should operate under that.  I also don’t think doing what is right whether it be to BSA’s benefit or the victims has a timeline.  Some standard of validation is accepted and ordered by the court and it is used. Some of the things BSA is trying to do within this bankruptcy appear to be previously untested (lumping in the LC’s for example when they are legally separate in their eyes.). If one is in territory that is not completely known to them I think they have to leverage as much of what is established as precedent as much as possible and not throw out what is commonly accepted.  Just my personal rambling thoughts.  

3 hours ago, CynicalScouter said:

Nothing new that I can see: plan is wonderful, blah, blah save your objections for Confirmation, but this is new (or maybe I missed it)

The Best Interests Test Does Not Apply to Non-Profit Debtors and, Even If It Does, It Cannot Be Determined at the Disclosure Statement Stage

And BSA is making the case for why all claimants, even those in SoL states, should get a vote.

The Temporary Allowance of Abuse Claims at $1.00 Solely for Voting Purposes Is Proper

BSA is arguing, in effect, that giving $1 to EVERY claimant now is find since the settlement trustee can figure out the SoL issues later, and oh by the way, this is the best and only way to do this, otherwise we'll spend forever and a day deciding who gets to vote.

So, it is futility argument: we are letting everyone vote NOW because the alternative (trying to parse out 82,500 claims values including statute of limitations issues) is "unworkable".

It seems to me from the outside looking in that it is largely "unworkable" and many of the problems BSA is up against is because they are trying to use the Bankruptcy Court in ways and for purposes it was never designed for.  Color me unsympathetic to BSA's impatience to the daunting tasks of due diligence and taking care of the victims.    

The longer the bankruptcy drags on, and COVID drags on, as well as the other forces working against BSA the less I'm certain that BSA will be able to survive in any sort of long term.  I don't know that any promised future funds will come to to fruition at all, or at least to the level they think it will.  BSA is hemorrhaging and is using their rainy day funds.  The problem is the storm doesn't seem to be ending soon.   

I'm guessing the meter will still be ticking as far as BSA burning through money on legal fees while all this unfolds?  Perhaps they will run out of money before this is all said and done.   That wouldn't make Mr. Kosnoff unhappy one bit if they have to convert to Chap. 7 and go under.  

I have direct first hand knowledge of an individual who received a letter (a certified letter was sent and a copy was hand delivered to the Scout and one of his parents) terminating the youth's membership in Scouting.  The former Scout struck a teacher with a large, heavy object.  The teacher was aware of the youth's involvement with Scouting and contacted National.  The SE delivered the letter to them at school.   I witnessed the letter being hand delivered.  The letter mentioned no means of appealing the decision and it was effective immediately.  

1 minute ago, MYCVAStory said:

There is no recording.  Your question should go to your Council Exec with the request that he share the TCC's analysis of your Council.

Thank you.  I will draft that email today.  I expect it to be met with silence like my previous inquiries.  

Is there a recording or transcript of the presentation or a log of who participated?  I would be interested to determine what my local Council's value is listed as  and if they participated.   Our Council has not provided any information beyond the company line quite some time ago that everyone else got... Counicls are separate, money stays local, etc....  

Just now, ThenNow said:

1 hour. 

Thank you!

@MYCVAStory  How long do these Town Hall Meetings generally last?  I'm hoping to be able to listen in. 

In IL the foster care system has funds available to cover things like sports fees, summer camp fees, youth membership fees, etc.. and Scouting associated costs  is something that they can try to pursue funds for.  

Our Lodge seemed to have a strong camp staff bias for nominations.  While folks who were serving in a program like NYLT and are working all year to make that a success often didn't seem to get as much love.  Also youth who staffed national events such as NAYLE went largely unrecognized.  Being a member of the LEC, an Adult Advisor, a camp staff, etc are not the only things to be considered as evidenced by the information pasted below.  

The Vigil Honor is a high mark of distinction and recognition reserved for those Arrowmen who, by reason of exceptional service, personal effort, and unselfish interest, have made distinguished contributions beyond the immediate responsibilities of their position of office to one or more of the following:

• Lodge
• Order of the Arrow
• Scouting community
• Scout Camp

 Listen carefully to the election team's words.  Who would you want to camp with, who will take on the pack of a tired younger Scout?  Who stays late to help get gear stowed in the trailer.  Who sees to it the regalia is always ready even though they aren't in a ceremony?  Guys preparing ceremonial sites even though they aren't ceremonialists?  For me it is one of those things that I kind of know it if I see it.  Even when no one appears to notice or they don't know someone is around.   Lastly,  I have no concerns about the Lodge not using all of its slots for any given year.  I don't say that as someone who is some sort of gate keeper.  Leadership in this COVID era looks a lot different than in a non COVID era.  Kids with technology skills are stepping up and helping the Lodge be creative and move along in a virtual way.  Kids that may not have been well known during traditional Scouting.  They are leveraging their skills when they are needed.  That' s the view from my foxhole as a Vigil member and current Lodge Advisor and the father of an adult son who came up in the OA and is also Vigil.   

I had a fellow or two in my Wood Badge Patrol that hailed from that Council.  At least one of them came up in that Council and got his Eagle there.  Let me see if I can find his contact information.  If I can't dig that up, I'll reach out to some folks in our OA Section that hail from there and see what they can find out.  

1 hour ago, mashmaster said:

The cost for the First Aid/CPR/AED is cheap.  It is the Wilderness First Aid that is expensive.  I'd be interested in knowing how much the WFA cert cards cost.

I can only speak to the American Red Cross as that is who I have my instructor certification through.   My employer is an authorized provider with the Red Cross and I teach BBP, First Aid, and CPR for my employer for our employees.  I also teach my Scouts these skills and am a WFA Instructor.  Wilderness First Aid is $23 as far as the Red Cross fee for the course in 2020.  The instructor may have you purchase materials as well, but they can actually be printed from the ARC website by the participants.  There are supplies the instructor may need to get for the course that can't easily be reused like components of a moulage kit or bandages.  I tack a small fee on for each participant to help keep the supplies stocked.  Other providers do charge more to put on the course.  

Chartered Organizations feeling additionally vulnerable right before the recharter season is yet another strong surge in the perfect storm of issues working against BSA at present.      

Just making sure folks go the email from BSA regarding the National Scouts BSA Committee Zoom Meeting on August 6.  I received it this morning.  They are inviting all adult leaders and SPL's to participate.  You have to preregister and submit questions by August 4th.  Topics include COVID-19 Eagle Extension request, Diversity and Inclusion Advancement changes, Virtual Recruiting ideas, and Female Troops support.