an_old_DC

50 minutes ago, WisconsinMomma said:

They're leaving it to the locals to work out the specifics, and,  I expect there will be some trial and error.

Not really. Look at the girls in Cub Scouts soft launch: there is an intentionally vague framework that encourages pack leadership to do “what they think is best”

55 minutes ago, RememberSchiff said:

IMO the rush was/is the World Jamboree at Summit 2019.

And the need for money/membership

2 minutes ago, WisconsinMomma said:

 I was born in 1970, and I'm on the older side of parents in Scouting.  The culture is today's culture, not 1970's culture.  

I am talking about BSA and troop culture not whatever you think I meant. 

35 minutes ago, WisconsinMomma said:

2)  Most parents today were not in BSA leadership in the 1970s and do not relate to that period of Scouting.  Only a few remember whatever it was that happened.

This just makes me sad and also illustrates why it is so difficult for some troops to run effectively--parents don't know the culture and wont learn it because they are too busy trying to change it to what they want.

We are being told by Council folks, using materials from National, that it is up to the pack's leaders to decide if girl dens and boy dens can meet at the same time and place to work on the same activity—and share the same DL. Isn’t that essentially a co-ed Den? Oh no, that’s just two dens who happen to share a meeting place.

I have a hunch a girl troop and a boy troop will eventually be able to meet at the same time and place, and share the same adult leaders as well.

3 hours ago, Tampa Turtle said:

.....

What I think what some scouters get frustrated by are the folks who blow by the den meeting in some expensive car, are heavily involved in their social thing (around here it is some social climbing Gasparilla crewe that demands a lot of time and money), and never return any communications if we leaders had a question. I had a few parents that seemed to feel either (1) BSA somehow payed me or (2) I was a real dope and if I was willing to be their baby sitter by all means they would take advantage of it --in other words I was "the hired help". I had more than one parent who used the den meeting time for extra-martial hooking up time but you find that out later after things have blown up.

Those parents were frustrating because they often seemed to ignore their boys and I would feel I really had a duty to work with them. 

And there are some parents who just seem clueless that things just magically happen.

Sounds like you were at my pack and den meetings, but your forgot drop off the son and go to a coffee bar or wine bar.

I'm not too sure about Venturing. On the one hand, I am afraid BSA4G is going to kill Venturing because what few girls are interested will move over to troops to work on advancement. Then again, the few girls I have seen in our crew over the years were not interested in Venturing advancement at all.

I am happy at least the age for Venturing was not lowered. The whole point has been for older boys and girls to do things without younger kids around. No 16-20 year old is going to want to be on the trail with an 11 or 12 year old. And besides, the crew couldn't go to Philmont, shoot pistols, etc. with 12 year olds, unless BSA changed that rule...and  there is no way National would lower the age for high adventure.

$600 is crazy.

How about a $50 gift card to a local restaurant for him and his wife to go to dinner, and then get a Scouting book of some kind and have everybody sign it at a pack meeting or the B&G.

@Hawkwin, you forgot to add that she is a habitual rule breaker who deliberately and consistently flaunts that she is breaking the rules. Oh, and that she has been enabled since she was 5 or whatever by adult leaders who deliberately and consistently ignored BSA bylaws, and then had the sheer audacity to submit membership and advancement paperwork for her to their council, which they knew would be rejected.

I found it interesting there can be all-girl packs with all female leaders. Isn't that called Girl Scouts?

27 minutes ago, MattR said:

Related story: My council is changing FOS to some other acronym. Not only that but next year each unit will be sent a bill for $200/scout. They can donate the money or sell popcorn or any of the other council fundraising. 

That's nuts. My Venture Crew of 12 would probably fold if our Council pulled that.

3 hours ago, Jameson76 said:

Insurance that Summit Bechtel will keep getting all the money it needs....

LOL. 

But I thought OP's council is charging the insurance fee, in which case National wont get any of that extra $12.

53 minutes ago, Jameson76 said:

She may need to be cognizant of that and realize that contrary to PT Barnum's input "There's no such thing as bad publicity" is not always true.

 

 

She is learning from her father (Gary) as evidenced by the continuous interview photo op cycle.

In the end, she's just a kid. The SM, ASMs and committee members in her "unofficial" troop in NY are the folks who deserve blame for continuing this nonsense of "unofficially" earning MB and ranks. They should be ashamed of themselves. 

Congratulations from one Legacy Family to another (my dad, me and both of my sons are Eagle Scouts).

On 1/24/2018 at 7:38 PM, The Latin Scot said:

Mine too, I just barely got it - looks like they will be adding a $12 "insurance fee" to the $33 registration fee. I think that's much smarter - still regrettable that we have to charge more, but sports groups and SAT prep classes charge FAR more than Scouting does, and we deliver just as much content to the kids in our programs. It's much better than punishing our top achievers with a pointless fee, that's for sure.

What is the “$12 insurance fee”? Insurance is already in the fees National charges (and is why annual dues went up yet again). Is this a Council insurance policy, and if so, what does it cover?

11 hours ago, Eagle94-A1 said:

 In regards to coed troops with segregated PATROLS ( emphasis, sorry about the confusion earlier) that is from Mike Walton. I can't find the quote, but it is on Facebook. And considering how well connected he is, he tends to know more than the average Scouter. He is one of the top volunteers who attend the annual meetings.

 

Single gender programs are definitely the way to go....unless it’s inconvenient or National can’t figure out which way the wind is blowing on this today, or National realizes volunteers and a few councils will just do whatever they want anyway.

When I was SM I would not count cabin camping nights for Camping MB or OA eligibility, and I made sure the Scouts all understood well in advance. 

Cowboy is a step up from Coyote camping. Although I am too old for either anymore, and need a foam pad.

1 minute ago, NJCubScouter said:

 Patrols are for boys.  However, I have never said anything about it.  I try to pick my battles, and that one has never seemed worth the effort.

In my experience, those folks will argue the point all day and say "the Insignia Guide doesn't say we "can't" wear it."

9 minutes ago, Thunderbird said:

@Tampa Turtle What is "cowboy camping"? 

I am guessing the same as "coyote camping." That's where you are on the trail all day or building trail all day, drop your pack, lie down and sleep. No tent, no tarp, no sleeping bag: just sleep on the ground. That's how OA Ordeals were back in the day as well--lie down in your clothes and go to sleep. Maybe use your boots for a pillow.

Speaking of wise-guys, I hate it when some adults are wearing the "Old Goat" or "Rocking chair" patrol patch. Adult patrols? Please, that's called being an ASM or Committee Member.

13 hours ago, Back Pack said:

You guys are thinking like adults. Remember what it was like to be a boy? OA was special because of the Native American stuff. Take that away and you have yet another service organization but one that wants you to travel hours from home to help. Good luck getting teenagers interested. 

You are spot on.

Yes, I remember what it was like to be a boy in OA, and I am old enough to remember wearing tasteful warpaint and also old enough to remember when it was a true honor to be inducted because only one Scout could be nominated from each troop (as opposed to every Scout who is eligible). And yes, being on the ceremonies team was a real honor and we had tons of fun. We try to make it fun for the Arrowmen in my chapter, and ceremonies in full regalia is part of that.

Fellowship weekends in my Lodge and conclaves are very well attended. Straight up work weekends or service projects? Not so much.

I have not heard any of this news and there is no way I would ever ask about it. My chapter will keep performing ceremonies with full regalia until we are told otherwise.

3 hours ago, Eagle94-A1 said:

 

IMHO that's part of the problem. We went from a SM in failing health to an SM whose job keeps him on call a lot. He doesn't have the time to commit. The troop is actually being run by an ASM with a history of having siblings or grandkids camp with the troop in order to have enough adult go.

Is there any possibility that the SM can be replaced? That can be troublesome enough, and the new SM instituting a culture change would have a constant uphill battle, so recruiting a new SM would be challenging too.

18 hours ago, Col. Flagg said:

That's just it, I don't think the families want to join. Most parents now a days want to drop their kids off at one spot and pick them up later. This is where I think Scouting is making a huge mistake. For every one family that joins en masse, I think you will get 4-5 that just sign all their kids up and drop them off like it's day care.

We already see enough of that now. Parents park their kids at Cubs or Boy Scouts and drive off, only to come back (late) to the meeting to pick them up.

I am hearing lots of concern from CMs that parents will think BSA stands for “baby sitters anonymous” and Mom and dad will drop off all the kids and go on date night. It already happens to some extent but the concern is it will get much worse and all the kids will get dumped. Then pack and den meetings will be disasters, nobody enjoys it, and boys, girls and adult leaders will quit.