robert12

More information, including a FAW, https://www.scoutsforequality.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Adult-Leadership-Standards-Update-and-Resources-for-Key-3.pdf A few key points **The vote at the national meeting a couple of years ago in regard to the youth membership standard was not needed, per the Rule and Regulations, and the By-Laws the Executive Board is empowered to do basically what ever they want to. The purpose of the National Council(the voting members at the national annual meeting) meeting at the national annual meeting is to elect members at large and honorary members of the National Council, and regular members of the Executive Board.

From http://scoutingnewsroom.org/blog/update-on-adult-leadership-standards/

According to THIS the resolution that proposed splitting Sea Scouting from Venturing was brought before the National BSA Council and was sent to the Operations Committee for further study, all resolutions presended were sent back to committees for further study. Also mentioned on that link is there will be a pilot program for younger participants in Sea Scouts and Venturing that will be rolling out soon.

Not many details, there must be more to this story. http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/schaumburg-hoffman-estates/news/ct-autism-boy-scouts-lawsuit-met-20150601-story.html

Has anyone heard any update out of the annual meeting on this?

You hit the nail on the head, I believe with the 2013 change the BSA lost its assertion that "that homosexual conduct is inconsistent with the values it seeks to instill", without this assertion the Dale case would have been lost. Below is a quote from the majority opinion in BSA v. Dale: Dale’s presence in the Boy Scouts would, at the very least, force the organization to send a message, both to the youth members and the world, that the Boy Scouts accepts homosexual conduct as a legitimate form of behavior This troubles me on so many levels and as a Southern Baptist I am really confounded on what to think, sorry for the ramblings, just so much going through my head. --- Here is the Voice of the Scout survey that was conduced in 2013("current policy" stated below was the pre 2014 policy) Respondents support the current policy by a 61 percent to 34 percent margin. Support for the current policy is higher at different program and volunteer levels in the organization: —50 percent of Cub Scout parents support it; 45 percent of Cub Scout parents oppose. —61 percent of Boy Scout parents support it. —62 percent of unit leaders support it. —64 percent of council and district volunteers support it. —72 percent of chartered organizations support it. 72% of the chartered organizations supported the previous policy, 72% of the BSAs "customers" were happy with the previous policy and they change it. --- I have realized that this is driven by the almighty dollar. --- After reviewing of the Bylaws and the Rules and Regulations of the BSA it appears to me that changes of the membership standards do not appear have to be voted on at the national meeting. --- I am not sure what I will do if they change the standards of membership. What keeps running through my head is that the BSA will be open to everyone, just like almost every organization. But then again, is the reason I support the BSA is its beliefs? -- While my beliefs are clear on homosexuality, there is even some varying beliefs among Baptists. My morally straight, might not be your mortally straight. But do I want my children exposed to your morally straight?? --- I believe change is imminent, the only way to keep this from happening is from a push by the chartered organizations. They would have to push to elect council presidents, commissioners and local council representatives against the change, and they would have to elect a national president and board members who are against a change. Short of that, it will happen.

With the newly released 2015 revision of the Guide to Advancement(G2A), there are some major changes coming to Sea Scouts, pending a vote at the National Annual Meeting next month.(http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2015/04/23/2015-guide-to-advancement-out-now-here-are-13-of-the-biggest-changes/ states these changes are "pending a vote in May", I assume this is at the National Annual Meeting). The changes are listed under "1.0.3.0 Significant Changes": 11. 4.4.0.0: Sea Scouts are not Venturers. 12. 4.4.1.6: Topic number changed from 4.4.1.7. The Sea Scout Bronze Award is discontinued, and Sea Scouts no longer work on Venturing awards Below shows the changes in the G2A from the 2013 revision and the 2015 revision: 4.4.0.0 Mechanics of Advancement: In Sea Scouts 2013 Revision: Although a special-interest program carried on as part of Venturing, Sea Scouts has its own distinct language, customs, and advancement track.... 2015 Revision: Sea Scouts has its own distinct language, customs, and advancement track. 4.4.1.7 Other Sea Scout Awards 2013 Revision: Other awards Sea Scouts may earn include the Small-Boat Handler bar, the Qualified Seaman bar, and the Long Cruise badge and arcs. The requirements are detailed in the Sea Scout Manual, No. 33239. All Venturing awards are also available, as are any BSA recognitions that are not limited to Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, or Varsity Scouts.... 4.4.1.6 Other Sea Scout Awards 2015 Revision: Other awards Sea Scouts may earn include the Small-Boat Handler bar, the Qualified Seaman bar, and the Long Cruise badge and arcs. The requirements are detailed in the Sea Scout Manual, No. 33239. Also available are any BSA recognitions that are not limited to Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, or Venturers. I should have seen this coming. The National Boatswain is no longer a member of the Venturing National Youth Cabinet and the removal of Sea Scouts from all material related to Council, Area and Regional VOAs were just stepping stones to this proposed change. With these changes that have already been made, the officially removing Sea Scouts from Venturing will not be that big of a change, but removing the opportunity to earn Venturing Awards will be. I assume the vote in May will be to change the BSA's Rules and Regulation, Section 2, Clause 2(b), "Sea Scouts, BSA—A special-interest program carried on as a part of Venturing"

Does anyone else think there is a bit of a double standard between 4.2.3.5 that prohibits video conferences for Scoutmasters Conference and 8.0.1.6 that allows it for Boards of Review. I do undersand the YPT aspect of video conferencing a Scoutmasters Conference, but I see many ways around it.

From :http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2015/04/23/2015-guide-to-advancement-out-now-here-are-13-of-the-biggest-changes/ 5. Sea Scouts aren’t Venturers* *Updated: This change is pending a vote in May.

Mozartbrau, This was just announced last week. They still have to get the staff in place, and if they do it like they did in the Great Smoky Mountain Council they will have to build out a "Vortex", a mobile lab, though I believe national is going to help with that. IMHO they still have months before the program will be up an running in these new councils. https://stemscouts.org/stem-mobile-lab/

Rick, The way things have been presented here in the first pilot council, this is a BSA program, not LFL. Thing may have changed, but I heard of such. Membership will count towards the traditional numbers, and all membership standards of the BSA apply. As Vol stated, this has no bearing on the OA as this is not part of the Boy Scout program. As of right now there is no advancement program, but I understand this is something they are working on.

A bit more info. http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2015/04/15/stem-scouts/

With the new forums I could not log into my account, click23, so I have a new one. "An after-school STEM education program, piloted in East Tennessee by the Great Smoky Mountain Council of the Boy Scouts of America, will now be offered in other parts of the country. STEM Scouts, which encourages interest in science, technology, engineering and math through fun hands-on learning and interaction with STEM professionals, will be expanding to 12 other Boy Scouts of America councils starting this fall." Crossroads American Council (Indianapolis, IN) Circle Ten Council (Dallas, TX) Sam Houston Area Council (Houston, TX) Greater St. Louis Area Council (St. Louis, MO) Denver Area Council (Denver, CO) Connecticut Rivers Council (East Hartford, CT) Middle Tennessee Council (Nashville, TN) Austin, Capitol Area Council (Austin, TX) Garden State Council (Wetampton, NJ) Pathway to Adventure Council (Chicago, IL) Catalina Council (Tucson, AZ) Samoset Council (Weston, WI) http://bsa-gsmc.doubleknot.com/document/stem-press-release-april-15-2015/149169