Hawkwin

Point of clarification. While it might be an issue of integrity to some/many, it should not be considered an issue of either safety or questionable activities inside the business. While the feds can't seem to make up their mind on this topic, the state has deemed it legal and is heavily regulating it. There is no reason to assume that the customers that visit that store are any more dangerous or have a desire to be any more questionable than the person that goes to the local grocery store (where they are likely selling GS cookies) to buy a bottle whiskey.

There was an outstanding program on NPR about this very topic a few days ago: https://www.thisamericanlife.org/637/words-you-cant-say

I emailed my SDE shortly after the announcement offering my support and volunteering to help make it a success. Will have to wait and see if I am called on my offer as implementation gets closer. In the meantime, I might volunteer for an early adopter pack.

The same draw that exists now for boys and girls, yet more existing boy scout girls will have an awareness of it? I don't assume to know what will happen but my hypothesis is that having more girls in BSA is probably better for girls in Venturing than having no girls in BSA.

I can agree with that.

That isn't my contention. They can do as much as they like together, and probably will, but per the graphic put out by Nationals, they will be a separate program. For example, the boys will elect their own SPL and the girls will elect their own SPL. Now Nationals may indeed change from what was initially put out but until they do, it doesn't benefit any of us to operate on rumor or assumption.

Let's not jump to conclusions by calling people liars. Their intent may indeed be and have been to keep them completely separate but upon further examination of the plans for implementation, they may end up determining that the final result has to be different. That doesn't make them liars. I often tell my kids we are going to do this or the other but sometimes life happens and we have to change our plans.

and... As I understand, and assuming the final product for Boy Scouts is the same as has been previously published, none of the above can happen. Boy Scouts and (Girl) Boy Scouts will be two entirely different programs. Even if they meet together and do joint activities, the boys should have their own separate leadership channel.

Cheapen the whole process? A bit of hyperbole? I don't know how long that knot has been in existence but prior to you knowing about it, did you feel as though what you accomplished was somehow less significant? I think you are giving that simple knot way too much weight. I would bet 95% of all scouts and adult volunteers don't even have an awareness of it. And personally, I would never let the accomplishments, swag, or little pieces of cloth others wear or even "buy" make me feel anything less about what I accomplish on my own. It is not in any way a reflection on who or what I am as

“Give me enough medals and I’ll win you any war” If giving people a $0.50 piece of cloth inspires them to financially support a critical organization, who am I to judge either party.

Recognition for charitable donations is extremely common in non-religious charitable organizations. I've personally never seen one that did not provide some form of recognition based on donations. It could be as simple as printing your name in their magazine, free (paid for) swag, or naming something after you. Many also give recognition for naming the charitable org in your will.

Understood, but you didn't put that section under scouts, you put it under families. Might want to clarify who and what you mean.

You might consider revisiting or clarifying this. I know many parents that travel with their coffee mug glued to their palm. My son's den/pack would often meet in a cafeteria at their local school and us parents would gather at a table in the far corner. It was common for many of us to have a drink in hand.

Uh oh, she is really going to get it for this: Started selling before the official start of the sale. What does BSA do when they catch someone selling popcorn before the official start date?

See! Now we finally learned why membership dropped off so much in the 70s. Atlanta killed the Playboy Patrol. This was the start of the death of boy-led!

There are early adopters, then there are EARLY adopters. There was probably some coordination between BSA National or the local council and the tv show. It isn't like the tv show producers could easily call around to find a pack that is an early adopter. The council or Nationals obviously would want to put their best face forward so it isn't overly surprising that some uniform coordination was likely involved. And let's be honest, if this was completely staged and choreographed, there is NO WAY they would have used that first boy to comment on what he thinks about girls in scouts. Ev

Could also be just the opposite. Opening BSA to girls could help fuel their eventual recruitment to Venturing. My guess is that Venturing pulls very few girls from Girl Scouts and instead gets most who are not members of either (for now at least). A stereotyped opinion follows but I would guess that girls, in general, are less interested in the various swag of membership and advancement and are more interested in the experiences of such. Venturing would seem to fit that well.

I hypothesize that it was the dreary times that we lived in. I bet if one were to look up membership numbers of many similar organizations that existed that that time, that we would see similar numbers. I think fraternal organizations experienced something similar as well. This was the decade of stagflation, gas lines, Watergate, hostage crises, austerity, to name a few. This was when "latchkey kids" became a household term. I was one. As one study put it, " [this generation] went through its all-important, formative years as one of the least parented, least nurtured generations in U

For those of us that don't do Facebook or that cannot access such through work computers, mind a simple copy and paste?

Update: No early adopters in my district There is one early adopter in a neighbor district and we are in communication with them to join their pack. About a 20-25 minute one-way drive so not too bad but not too great either.

Hah! Sounds like my household as of late. My wife recently sent me an 8 page google doc link with plans for our next vacation.

Perhaps it really is that what BSA offers, "the skills and knowledge [kids] need to become strong, intelligent, honorable [adults], is also greatly desired by girls (and their parents) in this modern age and they don't think they can get the same experience from Girl Scouts. I think of the so-called "masculine skills" as things that adults of both genders need in our society. One hundred years ago, those skills were neither needed nor really desired by girls. Now with girls/women being active in all aspects of our society and economy, they are looking for the same (or very similar) experience.

Very true!

The book is not necessarily the best utility for documenting or tracking progress. It is a good reference but not as good of a tracking tool. My son's is already starting to have damaged pages. It works fairly well for rank tracking but IMO it doesn't do a good job at all as it pertains to merit badges - and it really can't since there are so many. If we tried to print and list all the requirements for all merit badges on paper, it would easily run 1000 pages. He already has to use the computer every time he wants to research a merit badge and print off the requirements. The book simply c

While they are different, and their needs are different, we should not treat their opportunities differently. Under the proposed rule, if no female volunteer is present, then girls may be disadvantaged - they may not be able to participate. Additionally, this rule is so "2000 and late." There is nothing about someone's gender that protects a scout of the same gender from being assaulted. Two-deep is the best solution regardless of gender. Anything beyond that isn't likely to make someone more safe from a real predator. Lastly, this rule assumes two more negatives, that the other male