Col. Flagg

Same. They didn't give much detail. Very vague. The mantra of "family camping" was used by council like they were encoding Ghandi or something. In our council facilities are a big issue and they clearly overlooked (and underestimated) the knowledge of the unit level folks. The vast majority felt they were being VERY condescending and dismissive. After all we live the program. Most of council staff merely work at it.

Cubs is close now. The way some units run their programs I'd say they're on the path to Girl Scouts now. Only a matter of time.

I saw that yesterday just before I went to another "special" meeting of the Key 3 in my council where the topic was, wait for it, "Girls in Scoutng!" The council folks were expecting a reasonable discussion. Instead they got an ear full from about half the attendees who were ticked off at how "secretly" BSA was pushing this agenda. The most vocal? A female Venturing advisor of an all girl unit. Go figure.

If only you were this believing in other seemingly logical issues. There's not coincidence between the coed topic and this? As Bill Cosby used to say, "Riiiiiiiight".

Maybe you might want to read what I wrote and use the source I cited. Go to Facebook. Look for Scoutstuff. Find the picture of the girl in the shirt. Read the caption "Calling all Cub Scout sisters who are a Scouts at heart." Oh, and the shirt can be had in the boy-popular colors of pink, purple and Sky blue. You're right. It was clearly designed for boys and not girls. How silly of me.

Nope. It's a BSA shirt. Never seen one like that for girls before. It's through scoutstuff.org! And look at Scouting Magazine's topic? Coincidence? https://scoutingmagazine.org/2017/08/first-timers-guide-camping-whole-family/

Anyone else see the BSA Facebook post selling girls tshirts that say "Scout at heart"? Very subtle. 🤔

For my money an ASM that needs the SM to direct him is not worth much. An ASM should take his training and then dive in to the program to see where he can help. He can and should ask the SM where help is needed but shouldn't wait around to be directed. For example, if I am a canoeing expert I might ask the SM when the canoe trip is. I might take the time to put together a proposal for the PLC (through the SM of course) for a cool trip, with plans to teach canoeing skills during troop meetings. I might work with the Instructors to train them first, then have them train the troop. I'd look

The workbook was simplified? You mean how BSA "simplifies" or "improves" stuff normally? There's about 5 pages of needless dung I'd delete from that workbook and no one would miss it...except for two-hour long, ego stroking TC Chairs.

Good Lord!!! Two freakn hours!!!! Our Eagle coach makes sure everything is square with the candidate before he meets with the SM. The SM reviews proposal and plan BEFORE the meeting with the candidate, then takes 30 mins or so to review and sign. TC Chair take 5-10 mins. District guys does 15 min sessions. Maybe an hour for all three signatures TOTAL. I'd want to quite too after that two hour ego fest.

Actually, Barry, we agree here too. My position is that the SM meets with all stakeholders to get their feedback and ideas. He may have a vision and that's great. But no successful coach or CEO enters a new role without checking out the pulse of the organization from all angles. It clears up preconceived notions and may actually shed some light or provide BETTER ideas.

BSA posted a lot on Twitter and FB as far back as April. Follow those pages and you'll see stuff like this.

I would argue a good SM meets with his PLC and his ASMs first, to see if his idealism matches the direction the boys want to go AND what may have been tried before and what hasn't worked. Walking in with ideas is fine. Walking in and not testing your ideas against what the experts want, or have experienced, can put the program at a disadvantage in the name of getting the SM his "experience". I think there's a way to do both if the incoming SM can put his ego aside and seek advice from those who know better.

The difference between mixing teen boys with teen boys, versus mixing teen girls and boys is UNTESTED? Over a century of public education and more than a century of single sex education says otherwise.

...and our kids are in school.

Close. It's about use of trademarked and non trademarked graphics AT classb.com ON future Class B uniform shirts.

The HUGE difference being we are talking about mixing BOYS of any age versus GIRLS with boys. That's night and day.

In my experience the boys learn faster in mixed patrols. And you don't burn out the poor Guide having to deal with more than 2-3 11 year olds. That's been the chief reason for most troops locally dropping NSPs.

In theory. In practice where I live an ASM runs the patrol like a Weblos den.

We could also have kept our old membership policy without penalty but looked what happened there.

Scouts that steal should be kicked out. Sorry but that's a deal breaker. Everyone knows it's wrong ESPEICALLY a Scout.

If these kids are asked to track their own homework and due dates in school, interact with teachers, arrange appointments with them or track after school activities, respond to teacher inquiries, why should Scouts be any different. Sometimes parents protect these kids too much. I do think limiting contact modes is a bit much.

Agree there's a fine line. Think it's worth asking him and having a discussion with him. Few folks offer or ask for help for whatever reason. Defining with him where and how he wants you to intervene is important. I wouldn't advocate waiting for him to ask you where you want to work.

I'll find you the interview. Gates made a statement about opening Scouting to everyone and reversing the downward trend in membership. That's paraphrasing but pretty darn close to what he said.

Fred I agree with this. But for the sake of an opposing view, isn't there a difference between being proactive, offering ideas and helping the SM instead of being a constant back seat driver? I suspect when you noted the points above you are advocating helping in this manner and not the latter? Since the SM coming in is new, I'd expect him to welcome input and ideas. If not they have the wrong man.