Col. Flagg

Exactly! But since this is a virtual beauty parlor, we have nothing else to do than sit here with dryers on our heads and gossip about Scouting. EDIT: From my daughter...who is in our Venturing Crew..."Why don't they just lower the Venturing age? Who wants to be in the same unit as their BROTHER?!?!?" If only BSA listened to their members and their potential members, they might actually meet people's expectations and needs.

@fredjohnon, then why call them Eagle Palms? Just call the MB Palms and be one with it.

@@NJCubScouter, could "accessible" be code for reaching out to those impacted by the new membership changes? And no, the only letter we have received was the change to online membership applications noted in the other thread. Though I would not put it past my council to have a clandestine meeting on something so important. Bur remember, I *am* Col. Flagg.

Good article I tend to circulate to Scouters and parents.

+1000 Worth the money!!!

@@qwazse, the BOR is documented in the GTA, so that's the source. Can you have them elsewhere? I guess. But for my money that's an SM job and how you use the SMC.

In Boy Scouts we do three types of SMCs: 1) for rank, 2) for status or advice, 3) for disciplinary issues. BORs or "boards" are only for rank and I think that is correct, though I would argue that having one for Scout should be required now. I'd favor the continuation of boards for palms too. As someone said on the other thread, the board is where the TC can get their own independent status check on the state of the troop, the advancement process and other issues of concern or interest. I like the Venturing model as it is. It is informal but still provides structure. It works for that program but would never work in Boy Scouts IMHO.

Event doing ultralight backpacking it is tough getting 6 guys and their packs in a Sequoia, but I manage. However, half our parents have sedans and can fit maybe 3 packs in their trunk. They don't have luggage racks, so those other packs need to go somewhere. Usually we can manage with a few of these but that's an investment the parents have to make and they have their own draw backs. We've found hauling the trailer as a base station has been the cheapest, most convenient option for 50+ ultralight backpackers.

Yeah I saw that. It's simply ridiculous that they do not have the ability to 1) re-register adults online, and 2) do online background checks. In this day and age it is simply unacceptable for an organization to THIS antiquated!!

I received this note from my council yesterday. FINALLY we have online registration. I hope this means we can CHANGE applications (e.g., SM to ASM, ASM to TC). Is this just my council that is rolling this out? Scouting families and prospective Scouting families have asked for it, and now it is here! Beginning this fall, the traditional paper registration method will not be the only way to join Scouting. This is a giant leap forward in allowing prospective members and leaders to register in a way that's convenient for them, and it creates a more efficient and user-friendly registration experience for units, districts, and councils. In an effort to assist our units with this new registration tool, we will be sending an email each Thursday which will focus on an individual aspect of the tool. These bite-sized chunks of information should ease the transition our units will be making to utilize this online tool. The online registration system is designed to make it easy for families to join Scouting. They can find a unit, if they do not already have one in mind, or apply to the unit of their choice. The system walks them through the entire application and payment process. If there is an application or lead to be processed, the unit Key 3 will receive a notification in their My.Scouting inbox once a day letting them know they have actions to take. WHAT DOES THE REGISTRATION TOOL DO?There are three parts to the tool: 1.Digital Application:* Electronic application that collects all of the data needed to register in a unit Allows the applicant (if over 18) or the applicant’s parent to provide a digital signature Includes online credit card payment 2. The Application Manager: Collects completed applications from new youth and adults;* Allows the unit leader/Key 3 to review the youth application and either accept the application with an electronic signature or send the application to the district so that they can place the youth in a different unit; Allows the committee chair to review the adult application and make recommendations for adult positions; and Allows the chartered organization representative (CR) to review and accept or reject the application with their electronic signature, or refer the application to the district for placement in a different unit. 3. Invitation Manager: Collects information from potential new Scouts for your unit from BeAScout.org Helps you manage leads from joining nights and from individual referrals Allows you to send invitations directly to interested families with a link to the application that is specific to your unit * Youth and adults who use this system should be new to Scouting or be currently registered in a unit and applying to multiple in a different unit than the one in which they are currently registered. This system is not designed to register non-paying adult positions, position changes in the same unit, or youth or adult renewals.

@@Stosh, I challenge you to execute your plan in the greater DFW area. It looks good on paper. Reality sets in and you realize time, space and dimension would need to be warped in order to make your model work here. Just sayin' location will dictate logistics.

Not at a Scout camp, but tragic nonetheless. http://www.foxnews.com/health/2017/07/13/11-year-old-dies-at-sleep-away-camp-after-complaining-stomach-issues.html

Because that 24 hours a month is actually another 48 hours for the two (deep) adults that have to help the kid haul gear in and out of storage. Then add a few more hours (and gas, plus lost time) for the adults to go back and forth to the rental center each time to rent the trailers. Then the admin time to complete the paperwork, etc. Then the receipts and auditing required to track and report those expenses, plus gas. There's are costs not being accounted for in your model, @@Stosh. I won't argue it's not cheaper, but I will argue not all those costs are accounted for. A true CBA would need all costs for both models to be compared, then the benefit can be realized by looking at the delta and determining if the convenience is worth that difference.

I would argue that the need for a trailer depends on the size of your troop. For my unit we average 40-50 guys per camp out. Even if we are backpacking we need space to haul those packs. Not everyone has an SUV or luggage rack like I do. I can take 6 guys and packs in my set up, but many guys still have sedans. So unless we require Scouters to have large SUVs -- or we do like my troop did when I was a kid and buy a school bus, rennovate it and get all the Scouters to get their Class C license -- the trailer is the next best thing to support our outdoor program.

The incessant need for parental contact with Scouts away from home bothers me. Other than making sure the kids take their medication, I don't think it is incumbent upon adults to make sure a Scout showers, changes underwear or cuts his fingernails (all recent requests, BTW). I am not sure how I would confirm this for the bulldozer parents anyway without violating youth protection. We've always just told the parents, "Kiss them and wave good bye. You will see them in a week. Want to see them during camp? Sign up to be a Scoutmaster. Otherwise, you'll see and hear them when we return."

Actually, they do that with the old rules. If I make Eagle today and am eligible for five palms I have to wait 15 months to get them all, so I will be attending all COHs between now and then. Under the NEW program, if I make Eagle 8/2/17 and am eligible for five palms I get them ALL at the August COH. You may never see me again at a COH after that unless I get more palms or something else. I'd argue we are LESS likely to see these Eagles again after this change.

$13k is likely more than the trailer costs. Bad idea. Two snips and a thud and that trailer is open. Any troop (with a trailer) knows you don't leave a trailer anywhere overnight unless the entire thing is secure.

We pay our own way as well. Nearly 85% or more of what we do is funded by fundraising in advance of events. This is especially true for Philmont and other such trips. For that 15%, these are opportunities that present themselves with immediate payment required to secure locations. This is where the cash reserves come in. Other parts of the reserve are ear-marked for trailer maintenance, gear replacement/refurbishment, troop operational budget and other things.

@@Stosh, since when is saving = hoarding? Let's get a few things straight: Cash reserves should be based on need. Larger troops may need more than smaller troops. Yes, at some point even larger troops should cap cash reserves. There's nothing wrong with the Scouts using cash reserves for opportunities that arise. They (the boys) have even set up guidelines for when they can/can't apply for reserve use. All payments from the reserve has to 1) be paid in full within 6 months, and 2) must include a fundraising project and not be parents paying the bill. While we love our CO and have been here since our founding, the do not see us as an extension of their ministry. They see us as a tenant, so the trailer is seen as "our problem", not theirs. Having cash on hand (in the bank and not stored in some booth at the county fair, or under someone's mattress) is helpful and useful. ANY amount of cash reserves, as well as any fundraising programs, should have a complete audit trail. If not you are just setting yourself up for failure. It is beginning to sound like you have an ax to grind against units that either have cash reserves or that are large and financially prosperous. I cannot believe any Scouter would have a problem with a group of boys that have learned at 14 to manage, not only their own finances, but those of the their organization. I mean, we ARE supposed to be teaching these guys responsibility, right? What better way than to plan and manage not only the program, but the finances as well? You are the big "boy led" advocate. I'd expect more support from you on this...unless you have something against rich troops.

Thanks for the info. I don't think we can assume away that this wasn't done for the LDS units either, given that they are the largest single CO group. What baffles me is why the "FC in 1 year" is such an issue. Big deal. Take 18 months. There is simply no reason to change back.

Oh...you caught that did you. Seriously though, people don't realize that even in the Trinity River system in North Texas that we have alligators. A good ten footer was sunning himself last summer in the middle of the Trinity sand bar in Dallas proper. Others have been taken out of Lake Lewisville and Lake Levon, so they are there. And those are our popular skiing lakes up here (among others).

In Texas we would have deposited the cash...flanked by a few armed, non-Scouting parents, on the way to the bank.

This!! In over ten years in my role I have never had a Scout worried about palms BEFORE Eagle. They focus on the rank. After Eagle a few have engaged in palm discussions but most (99%) have not. On the other hand, I would say nearly 90% of all PARENTS of guys near Eagle have pushed, prodded, cajoled and down-right bulldozed the way for the kid to get palms.

I suspect the lack of discussion around the increase in nights is because -- I suspect -- the majority of us would prefer more camping, not less. Truth be told, I'd like the "old, old" requirements that required even more camping. My unit camps Jan-June (2 nights x 6 months), July summer camp (6 nights), August (HA usually 6-10 nights), Sept-Nov (2 nights x 3 months), Dec is a lock in. So without summer camp and HA that's 18 nights. Not sure why units can't get any kid to FC in 12-14 months unless they simply are not camping.

...or alligator gar. We had a pack of 9 footers take a swimmer in a lake last week. And yes, everything *is* bigger down here.