Jameson76

No, it is an attitude issue. Sadly I have seen too many pros over the years who could give a flip about the program and volunteers, they just want FOS dollars and membership increases. Fixed it for you

Well - the notation that Scouts did not change 1970 - 2000 is incorrect. The Improved Scouting Program in 1973 took out a chunk of participants, then the pivot back, then the endless monkeying with the program is the start of the slide. Also the BOY POWER MANPOWER program / effort (early 70's) wherein the plan was to have 33% of boys signed up led to massive membership scandals. While the abuse trials starting in 2000 were a challenge, but the program was already down by half or more at that time

Sooo, maybe good points, lack of specifics. If he had laid out they were reducing councils would have felt better. Glad he didn't start with "your kids are safer with us", that does not need to be the lead in and Go To Market slogan we must make volunteering easier and more rewarding. That means giving volunteers the support, tools and resources they need to succeed. I wonder what the plan actually is, sounds correct, but lacks specifics We need to improve both our internal infrastructure and the technology families interact with directly. Parents and volunteers should be able to use their phones and online tools easily to manage registrations, communication and unit activities. I wonder what the plan actually is, sounds correct, but lacks specifics Another critical area is branding and marketing. During the pandemic and bankruptcy, we did very little marketing. Now we’re reinvesting in campaigns that better communicate the value of Scouting to parents and families. I wonder what the plan actually is, sounds correct, but lacks specifics One challenge we face is that we have significantly fewer district executives and unit-serving professionals than we did several years ago. Those positions are critical because they support units, recruit members and help volunteers succeed. That means some councils may need to rethink how resources are allocated. In some cases, councils may have more property than they currently need, while needing more investment in frontline staff and membership growth. So sell assets to hire even more professionals (DE's) who do little to nothing to serve the units, feed the professional commissioned scouter animal Last fall, Scouting America recruited approximately 260,000 new youth members. The problem is that we are still losing more members than we recruit. Agree, finally that's been said out loud They need opportunities to spend time with other young people, to be part of a patrol and a community, and to experience the outdoors. Scouting teaches youth how to succeed — but also how to fail and recover from failure. That’s one of the most important lessons young people can learn. Agree on that point

See, that is OF COURSE, the real root of membership issues and the decline. Not costs, not program, not movement to a family program, not the literal 1 to 1 adult to youth to be registered to participate; it's timing of renewals. Glad we have that cleared up

Insert a "jump the shark" meme, this has the organization certainly heading in a new direction Originally we only had Scouts, then Cubs came 20 years later, which was for 8-10 years olds. In the 60's when I was in Cubs we did basic things but longed to be Scouts to able to do all the cool stuff. Now it is veering heavily to a Family Program, the original idea to help youth develop and grow into independent individuals equipped to take on the real world and make decisions on their own seems have (or is) being cast aside. SA (sorry I know we're not supposed to abbreviate the name of the organization that lives on abbreviations) is definitely moving heavily to family, moving away from the Scout led program and conceding that the program will be basically (now) 4 year olds to maybe 7th graders

A lot of these issues are caused by councils not planning MB events far enough out in advance using MB classes / events as profit centers Fixed it for you

You don't mean that spending almost $1,000,000,000 (yes BILLION) dollars on a property / facility that really has no purpose, did not meet an unfilled need, and has no road to profitability may have a negative impact on the organization that dumped all that money into it?? I am shocked.

As we are well into April now (quick check of the calendar). Wonder what the numbers are now? My intuition tells me that an organization based and financed by membership and units that does not in fact publicly publish the figures about member and units likely has a growth issue with member and units. Call me crazy

How many recall the feedback a few years back from many of the council leadership and national that what was needed was to edge out the old guard of the BSA and make room for the new leaders, that is what was holding the scouting movement in America back. What the brain trust did not fully take into account was that many of the "old guard" did not really see Scouts as just an activity, but more as a calling and a mission. They were in it for the long haul. Those leaders have in fact moved on and nobody is stepping into the gap. Especially at district and council levels, and obviously the unit level. Getting new leaders is really tough, many families (parents) view Scouting as purely transactional, they pay and the "Unit" provides the program. Not realizing (I feel) that they are in fact the unit. They look around and wonder if they are really getting the bang for their buck. It does not take a detailed accounting to realize if you want to go camping, hiking, build a birdhouse, all of that can be done waay faster and cheaper on your own. Invite kids friends and go to out and do. Scouts needs to fully figure out what value they actually bring

Wonder if there will be secret files and private exclusion lists. What's old is suddenly new again

The current group of professionals and key volunteers know how (in some cases) to raise money. Grow program, not so much. Sad part is they are raising money on the nostalgia of the BSA, not the current BSA No real effort being made to add units or expand the program. Lots of excuses as to why membership decline, just no real honest effort to make updates so people (families) may want to buy what is being sold

In 1973 the Scouts saw the issue with the change in requirements and the Improved Scouting Program, were you an old Eagle or a New Eagle. Those who all the various policy changes and enhancements handed down from on high over the years have impacted clearly see through the fog. The Scouts saw CIS for what is was, corporate foolishness. Never underestimate what the youth see and understand. Do not assume that since they were earning the MB they did not see the fallacy in the CIS MB

If you are a front line leader we talk to Scouts all the time. About many many items, some intentionally and some as casual conversation. Reminder we are all volunteers. The Cit is Society was a knee jerk reaction to a societal event. We can talk with Scouts about these particular issues, but again, we all have a variety of biases and experiences. There are in fact no right answers to any of the CIS requirements, what is covered is all based on some MB counselors life experiences which may or may not dovetail with the Scouts and their families experiences and beliefs. That could be good or bad. The issue with CIS is it was ill conceived, a trendy MB to satisfy elements in society who don't like Scouting anyway, and honestly would be instructed solely based on the MB counselors beliefs. No objective criteria no objective evaluation, no real requirements. Best this is a MB be put aside and the organization moves on.

The main issue was that this was another classroom badge, do it in at Merit Badge U in a few hours. Overall it was an empty suit. While nothing egregious against basic goals, it was not challenging and was a check the box. Nothing to accomplish, no measurable items, just feel good writing. It was smoke and mirrors to say "Hey, look how progressive we are". Remember the requirements: 1. Before beginning work on other requirements for this merit badge, research the following terms and explain to your counselor how you feel they relate to the Scout Oath and Scout Law: identities, diversity, equality, equity, inclusion, discrimination, ethical leadership, and upstander. Lot of buzz words here, no real meat or challenge, no actual answers, and if challenged one might be cast as racist or worse (not sure there is worse) 2. Document and discuss with your counselor what leadership means to you. Share what it means to make ethical decisions. (a) Research and share with your counselor an individual you feel has demonstrated positive leadership while having to make an ethical decision. (It could be someone in history, a family member, a teacher, a coach, a counselor, a clergy member, a Scoutmaster, etc.) (b) Explain what decision and/or options that leader had, why you believe they chose their final course of action, and the outcome of that action More here, but lot of feel and again, no real challenge here, it is basic writing and rote answers 3. Consider ethical decision-making. (a) Think about a time you faced an ethical decision. Discuss the situation, what you did, and how it made you feel. Share if you would do anything differently in the future and if so, what that would be. (b) List three examples of ethical decisions you might have to make in the future at school, at home, in the workplace, or in your community, and what you would do. Share how your actions represent alignment with the Scout Oath and Scout Law. (c) Explain to your counselor how you plan to use what you have learned to assist you when that time comes, and what action(s) you can take to serve as an upstander and help other people at all times. Again, lots of touchy feely - feel good stuff , but as with all the requirements, no real challenge here, it is basic writing and rote answers. I am sure the ChatGPT answers were great 4. Repeat the Scout Oath and Scout Law for your counselor. Choose TWO of the following scenarios and discuss what you could do as a Scout to demonstrate leadership and your understanding of what it means to help others who may seem different from you: (a) Scenario 1: While at camp, a youth accidentally spills food on another camper. The camper who gets spilled on gets angry and says something that is offensive to people with disabilities; their friends laugh. What could/should you do? (b) Scenario 2: Your friend confides in you that some students in school are making insulting comments about one of their identities, and that those same students created a fake social media account to impersonate your friend online and post messages. What could/should you do? (c) Scenario 3: A new student in your class was born in another country (or has a parent who was born in another country). Your friends make rude comments to the student about their speech or clothes and tell the student to "go back home where you came from." What could/should you do? This is a basic HR opinion test recycled or really bad training video out take, not overtly terrible, but if this is our core mission, these items could be included in other existing merit badges 5. Document and discuss: (a) Ideas on what you personally can do to create a welcoming environment in your Scouting unit. (b) An experience you had in which you went out of your way to include another Scout(s) and what you did to make them feel included and welcomed. (c) Things you can do to help ensure all Scouts in your unit are given an opportunity to be heard and included in decision-making and planning. Not a terrible requirement, but again, could be included in other existing merit badges 6. With your parent or guardian's approval, connect with another Scout or youth your own age who has an identity that's different from yours. (This means a trait, belief, or characteristic different from you.) (a) Share with each other what makes the different aspects of your identity meaningful/special to you (b) Share with each other ONE of the following options: (1) Option 1—A time you felt excluded from a group: What was the situation? How did it make you feel? What did you do? Did anyone stand up for you? What did you learn? Would you do anything differently today? (2) Option 2—This imaginary situation: You're attending a new school and don't know anyone there yet. You notice they dress very differently than you do. At lunchtime, you decide you'll try to sit with a group to get to know other students. People at two tables tell you there is someone sitting at the currently empty seat at their table, so you end up eating by yourself. Discuss: How would that make you feel? What could the students have done? If that happened at your school, what would you do? (c) Discuss with your counselor what you learned from the discussion with the other Scout or youth. The weakest requirement, as if used in the broad definition "who has an identity that's different from yours", basically that is anyone that is not in fact you. We each have a unique identity. The MB writers could not bring themselves to actually challenge Scouts to find someone of different gender, race, or nationality. 7. Identify and interview an individual in your community, school, and/or Scouting who has had a significant positive impact in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. If you feel your community, school, or local Scouting group does not have such an individual, then research a historical figure who meets these criteria, and discuss that person with your counselor. (a) Discover what inspired the individual, learn about the challenges they faced, and share what you feel attributed to their success (b) Discuss with your counselor what you learned and how you can apply it in your life. Self promotion and shameless support of the DEI cycle, let's applaud the program we are stoking 8. With the help of your parent or guardian, study an event that had a positive outcome on how society viewed a group of people and made them feel more welcome. Describe to your counselor the event and what you learned. Not a terrible requirement, but again, could be included in other existing merit badges 9. Document and discuss with your counselor three or more areas in your life outside of Scouting where you feel you can actively provide stronger leadership in: (a) Making others feel included. (b) Practicing active listening. (c) Creating an environment where others feel comfortable to share their ideas and perspectives. (d) Helping others feel valued for their input and suggestions. (e) Standing up for others. A feel good requirement, no actual measurements, just self promotion and support of the DEI cycle 10. Discuss with your counselor how stereotyping people can be harmful, and how stereotypes can lead to prejudice and discrimination. Share ideas you have for challenging assumptions and celebrating individuality. A feel good requirement, no actual measurements or documented achievements, just self promotion and support of the DEI cycle 11. Scouting strives to develop young people to be future leaders in their workplaces, schools, and community environments. As you look at your current involvement in school, your family, Scouting, your job, and/or community, think about how you can have a positive impact in diversity, equity, and inclusion. (a) Describe your ideas on how you can and will support others with different identities to feel included and heard at your school, workplace, and/or social settings in your community. (b) Explain how including diverse thoughts and opinions from others with different identities can: Make your interactions more positive. Help everyone benefit by considering different opinions. (c) Give three examples of how limiting diverse input can be harmful. d) Give three examples of how considering diverse opinions can lead to innovation and success. As with Req 7, basic self promotion and shameless support of the DEI cycle, let's applaud the program we are stoking

Would like to know Year over Year for Georgia and also Atlanta Area Council