Jameson76

When National raised the rates last time (by $12) our annual dues had always included BL for all Scouts. Moving forward we kept the dues the same and let the Scouts choose Y or N for an additional $12 if they wanted BL. Not sure if any of the Scouts take BL any longer

But but...we've been told that Scouts Canada is the success story that Scouts BSA is following?? Was the entire story not revealed?

Also BSA may have issues with these activities Firebuilding - which contributes to global warming Citizenship in the Nation - which continues to support the capitalistic dogma the country was founded on Knife basics - which promotes use of (yikes) a knife Fingerprinting - Which supports the overreaching police state Swimming - which promotes class separation as not everyone has equal access to a pool Automotive Maintenance - which also promotes class separation as not everyone has equal access to a car

I would take it one step further in why the ethical decision making will be tossed onto the scrap heap, and @Eagledad nailed it with the note of "challenging a scout". If we as leaders (adults, youth troop, youth patrol) challenge a youth on his decisions; not only ethical but practical ones on an outing; are we not potentially bullying the Scout into our way of thinking. The concept of bullying has evolved into one being made uncomfortable by someone else. I would also say that this statement while optimistic, is rose colored glasses. As BSA morphs from what is was to what it may become, it will be vastly different. The family camping aspect and recruiting of the family will be the end of traditional Boy Scouts Scouts BSA. As the expectation of the families that they will be all part of campouts moves into Scouts BSA the Webelos 3 concept will become less an anomaly and more of commonplace I would respectfully disagree with this. Membership is down and is about to be 20% down. Camps are being sold, staff is being laid off, fees are looking to double or treble, councils are adding fees on top of fees, marketing is non-existent, the main focus is on many things and NOT the core If you reference back to the October 2017 announcements, when they talk about adding Girls to the traditional programs Surbaugh basically states that BSA needs to expand and they are out of ideas, that the move is the hail Mary. Sadly I feel he is way out of touch with what successful units are doing to be successful, and is trying to be the socially aware organization that literally will not satisfy anyone. We have lost focus of the outdoor classroom concept, let youth work as a group and explore how to succeed, and possibly fail in relatively safe environment

Oh yeah. But with a CEO SE that makes close to $500 grand and a Deputy SE, other various directors, multiple development directors. multiple field directors, it is pretty obvious who calls the shots. Council President changes every 2 - 3 years, so the continuity lays with the pros.

But, make no mistake - volunteers and senior paid staff largely make the big decisions in a council.  Fixed your last part

Popcorn sales...more popcorn sales. That stuff isn't shilling itself. It takes a well trained professional to actually believe and convince others that the Chocolate Lovers Collection is worth $60 and a Large Bag of White Cheddar Cheese popcorn is a GREAT value @ $20. Let's not forget the 18 pack of microwave popcorn for $20 (which is $1.11 per pack) while a Pop Secret package for a box of 30 can be had for $13.50 (which is $0.45 per pack). The salesmanship lessons led by the dedicated DE are something to behold

The challenge may not be stay or quit, but get started. For current Scouts, if it gets North of $50 many will reconsider. For NEW members, especially Cubs, you need to sign up little youth PLUS yourself. Fee is $50, to sign up you, your kid is $100, plus uniforms, books, possible pack dues; you could be looking at $250 - $300 to get involved

Agree that Scout Me In was not great. Seemed to be more focused on younger youth, not really resonating with the older youth. Though honestly BSA seems hell bent on being a Cub Scout group, I guess they feel that is where the members may come from. Not sure the "Family" focus will get what they want either. Year Cubs Scouts V / Exp Members 1960 49% 44% 7% 3,783,000 1970 52% 41% 7% 4,683,000 1980 53% 33% 14% 3,207,000 1990 55% 26% 19% 3,933,000 2000 63% 30% 7% 3,351,914 2010 58% 33% 9% 2,739,692 2018 59% 38% 3% 2,076,716

Well - as many do recharter in NOV and DEC, gonna have to have a fee at some point.

Honestly the challenge is, or the question is, that at a National and Council level, NOT the unit level, have we lost our focus as an organization? The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. The Vision is The Boy Scouts of America will prepare every eligible youth in America to become a responsible, participating citizen and leader who is guided by the Scout Oath and Law. At the UNIT level we do this with campouts, fun activities, community service, projects, letting Scouts run things etc etc. From my experience, the vast majority of the units do a good job of this and continue to execute that mission and vision. Focusing on outdoor activities and doing stuff that other youth based groups (and it is a crowded marketplace) are not doing. The CHALLENGE is that at the National and Council level the focus seems to be less on actions and more on fund raising (can you say popcorn) and the social issues that BSA feels they need to focus on. I am not saying that the societal issues are not important. These would be child abuse, bullying, etc. But should that be our our front focus? These efforts should be PART of who we are, not the REASON that we are. The question is, does the current PAID Executive leadership, and make no mistake they drive the ship, really fully understand the program and what works at the grass roots level? IMHO I would say no. BSA has a unique offering that can truly benefit the youth we serve. If we continue to focus on non core initiatives, then many of those youth will not even come through the door.

Nail....coffin

There is another hurdle (beyond the impending fee increase) tagged for recharter this year. Another update from National BSA is that all registered adult leaders must review the Background Check Disclosure and complete the BSA’s new Background Check Authorization. These authorization forms must be submitted with each unit’s recharter this December. No recharters will be able to be processed without this signed form from all registered adult leaders that are being renewed for the 2020 calendar year. Input is that units do not have access to the form right now. Hopefully they will be available soon. Each registered leader is expected to receive the form directly. Wonder how that will work. Possibly the councils will have copies of the form available before and during the recharter process. The form will be required to recharter any adult.

Noted that Travelers has mentioned the NY State statute of limitations change in their 10Q. Also understand that the issue and costs is less about the predatory sexual assault lawsuits (which is bad) and more about the accident and injury claims. These seem to be more numerous than prior years and consequently more costly than prior. This of course drives up rates. Concern is that the increase may not be in the $10 range but could be substantially higher, possibly north of $20 range. That would / could be an issue if it ends up being the case

Did you have any Cubs or Webelos there? They can be doing some activity to draw in the interest Rather than a poster maybe a video running on a laptop, motion trumps static display

The COH should be planned, developed, and executed by the Scouts. They run it, depending on the unit, CM's, ASM's and SM may hand out ranks and merit badges. Not sure what was covered under citations. If there was / is a concern with the COH, the TLC (formerly known as Greenbar) should address The separate ice cream social as a unit, that happened unbeknownst to the SM is a concern. Actually sort of rude. If there is a challenge with the SM and his actions (and he has been SM for what...6 months??) address with the COR and the committee, and the SM. Don't start a troop within a troop. It will not end well

Ours Council letter came out, points to National as the holder of the details and why it's late, also they had this ever so helpful suggestion - In addition, we have been working with our partners at Trail's End to ensure we have enough popcorn available for any unit interested in additional sales to raise the funds necessary to recharter in December. You cannot make this stuff up, fees are going up?? Hey, sell MORE popcorn!!

Lame - BSA National has know impending costs for months. They have know impending membership numbers for months. A Scout is Trustworthy, unless your are BSA National apparently

When I was in my 20's and working on a second degree I worked with my home troop, was an Eagle Scout there, was my home church, so parents saw the connection. Did not get any awkward questions. My son is now a Senior in College and 4 years removed from the troop I have been working with 10+ years. He worked at our council camp, so even those Scouts that did not know him from the troop days, met him there, etc. We are a smaller community in a large urban area, so I have actual Scouts that live on my street. I suspect as a few more years roll by, that connection will get more faint. Then I'll just be the old Scout guy who hangs around. Dad was Eagle and a long-term council Scouter, my brother is an Eagle, long-term council Scouter, so I guess I have Scout street cred. That being said, with all the press about past issues, we need to have the elevator speech about why we still are involved at the ready.

Typically Astral Imprisonment, hypnosis, memory manipulation, psychic persuasion. If they have been to WB and have 5 beads then they are granted powers over the time pace continuum, with approval of the Council Commissioner In all seriousness this seems like a systemic issue?? Have you looped in the council service center to assist?

They are spinning the big money wheel in Dallas to decide, gotta make up for the 20% impending drop in revenue (LDS departure) while protecting the National Scout Professionals salaries.

Easy way is to donate to the CO (assuming the are a 501c3) FBO (for the benefit of) the troop for a period etc. Depending on how much may be good to get a board to oversee.

We have built one for the troop (not the backpacking one) and started with the Philmont recommendations. Then we have added many items; band aids, additional wipes, etc. Mainly things for small injuries. Also added more of the large band aids. Good to keep some antiseptic cremes, ant-acids, on hand. While some do not, we do keep ibuprofen, some benadryl, and other pain relievers in the kit. Also there are some splints, chemical ice packs, some other more severe care items. This is in a large kit. We were fortunate to have a parent donate an AED, that is kept in the kit. The top of the one we have has a smaller section that opens and we keep small wound care items there. Due to the AED (concerned about the heat and the battery) we keep the kit at a leaders house, bring it to meetings and then outings. For backpacking we carry the standard PSR load out.

As others have noted, reminder that while WB does pass along some management techniques, it is not the end all be all of the BSA nor does it make anyone who completes their ticket an expert at running a unit. The training is more management and less specific to actually running a unit. The nuts and bolts come from position specific training. The kool aid comment is the reminder to take the course for what it is, and recognize it for what it is not. For actual training on how to run a unit I would suggest position specific training, also reviewing some of the older (for now Scouts BSA) SM handbooks, and some of the older Fieldbooks that show woodcraft and outdoor items. Remember that successful units have fun. There is the mission of the Boy Scout - The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. It is hard to prepare young people for all of that if you do not in fact have young people in your unit. Main effort should be to have an engaging program as the first priority, then the mission etc comes as a by product.

Local council is gonna want it's cut....