MikeS72

Most of our council's linked troops sort of share a number.  When I say sort of share all of our Cub packs begin with a 3, as in 3100; all of our male troops begin with a zero and would wear 100; all of our female troops begin with a 4 and a troop flag would say 4100 (some of those troops choose to just wear the 3 digit number, some the 4 digit, wish they would all do the same thing); ships all have a 5 prefix that makes them 5100.

16 hours ago, InquisitiveScouter said:

I know a Camp Director who also asked for clarification from National on this issue... and got no response.  So he used "training" versus "certification" to meet NCAP requirements.

I am sure that there are councils that use training rather than certification; mine is not one of them.  I must have copies of the certification cards for all my staff, since NCAP Standards SQ-405 states what we can accept, depending on the time for EMS to get to our locations.

SQ-405 also states the following under verification:

Documentation of age (health officer must be at least 18 years of age)

Description of camp program and camp health officer qualification requirements

Statement from EMS provider as to response time OR Google Maps or Map Quest printout showing response time to nearest EMS

Relevant certificates on file

As long as they realize that there are situations where BSA does require a copy of the certification card, such as meeting health officer requirements for day camps, etc. and that just having NO6 in their training on my.scouting will not suffice; I would rather they know what to do in case of an emergency than having a piece of paper in their wallet.

2 minutes ago, RememberSchiff said:

I modified the title as it appears ranges are closed only at Summit where accident occurred.  Still looking for a BSA announcement.

This letter went out to all Council Key 3 and was passed down to District Key 3.  It could have been worded better, but all range and target activities are to stand down until further notice.

Saw this earlier this morning!

All Merit Badges A-Z | Boy Scouts of America

From the current online version of the Guide to Safe Scouting:  (bold print is mine for emphasis)

Cub Scout Programs – Overnight Exception:   Cub Scout parents or legal guardians taking part in an overnight Cub Scout program with their own child or legal ward are not required to register as leaders. All adults must review the “How to Protect your Children from Child Abuse: A Parent’s Guide” that can be found in the front of each Cub Scout Handbook. In addition, the parent or legal guardian must be accompanied by a registered leader at any time they are with youth members other than their own child/ward.  All other overnight adults must be currently registered in an adult fee required position.

This is unambiguous.  If the grandparent is the legal guardian, they can camp with the pack.  That does not mean "with the permission of the parents" or "The Pack Committee is fine with it".  Parents and actual legal guardians are ok to camp, all others must be registered.

4 hours ago, RememberSchiff said:

Back in day, I received both my Eagle certificate and medal long after my Troop Court of Honor but that's another story.  Anyway, when I finally received my certificate signed by President Nixon, I groaned to my Dad that I rather it had been signed by Stan Lee. 

My Dad was not amused.

Also have a Nixon certificate.  Sad to admit that at that point in my life I doubt I even knew who Stan Lee was! 😁

As both committee chair of one of my 3 units, and a signer on the unit checking account I had no trouble renewing individuals and rechartering the unit online.

I am a key 3 delegate with the other 2 units, but not a signer on their checking accounts.  Even with the treasurer sitting with me and inputting her information at the payment screen we were unable to get anything to process.  According to our council registrar this appears to be fairly common, and we were told to put money in our council account and let her know who it was for and she would process the renewals. 

For the unit charter there is an option ton the first screen to pay at council.   We chose that option, printed and signed the PDF that popped up, and sent it, along with the annual charter agreement to council with a check for $100 attached.

Lot of them currently listed on ebay

5 hours ago, RememberSchiff said:

Back in the day, I carried a dime to call Mom or maybe my SM. 

Good luck doing anything with that dime in today's world! 🤣

18 minutes ago, BetterWithCheddar said:

In defense of those parents, I don't think the BSA (SA?) has done a particularly good job of branding itself in the public sphere, considering those of us closer to the program still struggle.

I still do not know how to refer to the classic Scouting program formerly for boys ages 11-18. We used to distinguish between "Cub Scouts" and "Boy Scouts." Then it was "Cub Scouts" and "Scouts BSA." Now, I guess it would be "Cub Scouts" and just "Scouts?" That's confusing because Cub Scouts are also Scouts, are they not?

Cut and pasted from the front page of scouting.org

58 minutes ago, BetterWithCheddar said:

Are we really talking about trading a 1,300-acre camp for 8 shower houses?

No, not trading the entire camp.

Earlier post stated 450 acres of a 1,300 acre property.

Sandhill hosted this year's OA Section Conference.  Without seeing a map of which portion is on the block it is hard to assess, but my thoughts having been there would be that they are talking the front part of the camp which is mostly open, unused land that is right on a major multi lane highway (It took me less than 5 minutes to go from the parking area to Dick's Sporting Goods).

   I will also state that if that is what it takes to upgrade the showers/restrooms it is a small price to pay.  They are old, cramped, and do not offer any means of giving privacy when either adults or scouts of different genders are in the campsites.  We had several times when people did not realize someone was already using the facilities and ended up with either mixed genders present at the same time or adult/youth at the same time.  We looked at them as a youth protection nightmare sorely in need of upgrading.

15 hours ago, BuffaloAnnie said:

Update, please! It's been a few months. Is this happening the way everyone expected? I have unit leaders asking a lot of questions that I can't answer.

What notifications do Adult Leaders and Scouts receive when their memberships are about to auto renew?

What will happen to a registered leader with "Opted Out" on the roster under Renewal Status?

I'm concerned about the number of active youth members we're randomly finding with no parent/guardian connection. Will their memberships renew smoothly or will they just expire?

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience, everyone!

 

I got an email on Friday titled Monthly Renewal Information with a list of everyone whose is scheduled to expire on August 31.  Those parents should have also received notification on Friday, and I will be contacting them individually to be sure they did receive it and to confirm their status for the upcoming pack year.

48 minutes ago, Eagle1993 said:

Most of the minorities in my area are part of "scout reach" units who's numbers are suspect.  They never appear at summer camp, camporees, etc.  There is history of BSA inflating their minority stats by counting kids in scout reach that are never active.

Most but not all of the Scout Reach programs in our area are school based programs rather than traditional units.

4 hours ago, T2Eagle said:

If your ASM thinks there should be a form ask him to show it to you.  But unless your council has something weird there isn’t one.

Actually there is a form in the project workbook.

Eagle_Scout_Service_Project_Fundraising_Application.pdf

1 minute ago, qwazse said:

No clue why we can’t be Scouts USA

Just a guess.... GSUSA may well be ok with seeing us rebrand as Scouting America but would consider it a bridge too far if all we do is drop the word girl from their name.

21 hours ago, InquisitiveScouter said:

Yeah, and think of all the churn, time, and money it will take to transition EVERY piece of literature the BSA (sorry... the SA... wait that doesn't sound right... "the Scouting America"  hmmm... ) has currently published to bring in the new name.

And programming/editing time for websites, web pages, posting new logos and name changes...

Printing of business cards... new clothing... design/production/procurement/of new gear... and disposition of old unsold BSA items in the supply warehouses...

Criminy... talk about waste...

We are talking millions of dollars here.

Sometimes, taking no action is the best course of action.

Scout shops were given a limited number of the newest uniform shirt that has a QR code sticker put on the receipt asking for feedback before committing to a full roll out.  It makes sense to me that if we are going to incorporate the name change on uniforms going forward that it will cost nothing more to have the new version branded accordingly. (by the way, I have one of those new shirts; better fit and much more comfortable than the last revision)

I would also expect that they will do as they have with every other revision to uniforms or literature and continue to sell current stock before putting anything new out, the exception being the new Cub handbooks, since that is a major overhaul to the program and requires pulling any remaining stock off of the shelf.

16 hours ago, Eagle1993 said:

Most of my Eagle Scouts have said Wilderness Survival should be Eagle Required

One of our most popular weekend events is an annual wilderness survival weekend.  This despite the fact that most of our scouts have already earned the MB.

4 minutes ago, scoutldr said:

I was a Cubmaster during that period and am not familiar with this.  Looks like a local Unit-specific thing, not official BSA.  

While I was not involved in Cub Scouts at the time, a quick Google search brought up an article from the September-October 2008 edition of Scouting Magazine detailing how to use those beads, along with the white diamond that held the lanyards for them as a part of Tiger Cub advancement and immediate recognition.

How to use beads to encourage Tiger Cub advancement - Scouting magazine

1 hour ago, Navybone said:

The OP provided evidence that there were affinity group meetings at NOAC (5 March) He did not specifically state why they were detrimental other than they exist.  He never states exactly why.  He then provided examples at a national level that had no actual connection or identified applicability to BSA.

His apprehension on a white male affinity group is his perception -  or did someone tell him he cannot form one?

1 hour ago, Navybone said:

The OP provided evidence that there were affinity group meetings at NOAC (5 March) He did not specifically state why they were detrimental other than they exist.  He never states exactly why. 

Go back to late July/early August of 2020 and you will see more explicit examples of why the OP was angry about one specific affinity group at the last NOAC.

While the only affinity group I attended that week was a NESA group I knew exactly what and whom he was angry about, as a very crowded dining hall found me at an empty space at a table with the person he described in detail several times.  In the 20 or so minutes I was there I found the young man personable and polite.  If anyone remembers the conversations right after NOAC there is no doubt what the OP was referring to at that time or what he is referring to in this thread.

1 hour ago, mrjohns2 said:

I first heard it when Citizenship in Society came out in draft form.

Had I not spent 2/3 of my life in the public school system CiS may well have been the first I heard it used as well.  Due to many years in elementary, middle school, and high schools it is a term that I am very familiar with and use often.

3 hours ago, InquisitiveScouter said:

mmm... recent changes to my.scouting.org?  In-Council Transfer Application not accessible directly from the page...

On the roster page for the current Pack or Troop you click the check box by the name of the Scout.  That will change 'transfer' at the top of the page to a clickable link.  Click on it and it will ask you for the unit type and number, that will allow you to select the correct unit.  Once you click to complete the transfer it will let you know that the registration has been created.  The new unit accepts via my.scouting and it is done.  (Just did one today for an outgoing AOL)

3 hours ago, Navybone said:

I would disagree that it is a made up woke term.  I have heard it over the last decade plus while int he military to stop/reduce Blue on Blue sexual assaults (committed on sailors by other sailors): do not be a bystander - see something, say something, do something.  What is woke about that?

The term upstander versus bystander has been used in anti-bullying programs for probably 15 - 20 years in many school systems.  Exactly what we would hope a Scout would be if he or she witnessed bullying.

4 hours ago, scoutldr said:

So, you no longer need a parental signature?  (I'm old)

Either the parent or a key 3 member of the pack can initiate the transfer in my.scouting, which will then require a key 3 member of the troop to accept him.