sri_oa161

Blue Ridge Mountains Council just sent out word that they are cancelling all Summer Camp sessions at their two base camps and Claytor Lake.  However, they said they have made arrangements for any unit currently signed up for camp to instead go to The Summit for a week at the same cost as council camp.  Or the unit can move their fees to 2021 and go to regular camp in 2021, but at the cost for 2020. 

I understand the cost savings from ending the printing, however there are many volunteers in our council that do not have good or perhaps any access to on-line services.  They will be left out.

Then there has been the decline in the quality of the publication over the years.  Not to justify the cost when the material is not there.

Unfortunately, we are seeing the demise of any printed material in many areas.  It is always touted that with the change you will see a better quality, more timely content, etc.  It's been my experience, with several publications, that they are usually not nearly as good on-line as they were in print.  This has included magazines, newspapers, etc.  The on-line versions lack a lot of the content that the printed version provided.  It seemed that it was just thrown together with cut and paste.  Quickly lost interest in even accessing it.

Can hope for an improvement!?

Our council was put on Conditional Charter in January, which they said gave us two years to improve.  If not then it would go to Transitional Charter, which would be making plans for breakup or merger.

Just saw this article on changes in ceremonies regarding regalia.

https://oa-bsa.org/article/oa-ceremonial-update

What they seek is not justice for their clients.  It's money for themselves.

There are many plans floating around from many groups.  No one can be sure what will happen until July with the vote.

The move to change the UMC is coming from some in the USA, while the rest of the world, especially Africa, wants no changes.

One of the proposals mentioned would let each conference decide.  If that happens, then you will see a split in the UMC.  That could get messy.   

The ones I've been in, the fan was below.

We had a DE once, who came to our camporee to visit.  He was not on the books yet until Monday morning.  He went to the office that Monday for a staff meeting.  He and the other DEs went to lunch.  He left and was never heard from again.

Should have been - That kind of thinking is what is making changes to the OA and is causing many to say "No" when selected.

Welcome to the New OA.  The Call-Out only has one Youth who speaks.  None of the actual principals are present and of course their names are not mentioned.  Candidates will hear those, maybe, at the actual Ordeal ceremony.

And while the ceremonies are open to any who desire to observe, some still consider them "secret".

Of course, no one can fail their Ordeal, no matter what they do or not do.  If they can come to the weekend and sit around and get their sash, that's so much better than having to work and earn it like the many before them.  If they are not willing to complete the requirements than they do not deserve the award.  But then how many youth are getting merit badges by only showing up for a class.

The OA has lost almost all of it's luster, but there is still some shining in places.  What has been good for over a hundred years is no longer good, according to many at National and now also many in the local Lodges.

We used to have a Lodge Advisor who stated that he felt that once a Scout reached First Class, then he should automatically be a member of the OA.

That time of thinking is what is making changes to the OA and that is causing many to say "No" when selected.

As a counselor for Citizenship, I would not count an HOA meeting as public.  A public meeting is where the public is involved or informed.  This could be City, Town, County meetings or some type of community informational meeting.

An HOA meeting does not really involve the public.  Notices are sent to members, but rarely is the general public notified.  Decisions there do not affect the public, only the members.

My Lodge will be having an Ordeal/Brotherhood weekend this weekend also.

For us, those seeking Brotherhood show up on Friday evening and gather as a group.  Then on Saturday morning they work together as a clan.  Later in the day, they are given a break to study certain things they need to know for Brotherhood.  These can be found in your OA Handbook.  

You also need to have written a letter to the Lodge Secretary expressing why you deserve the honor of Brotherhood.

If you satisfy the Brotherhood Master with your letter and needed knowledge, then you would be taken later on Saturday evening for the ceremony.

If your Lodge has a website, you might find the info on process there.  You should be able to locate contact info for the officers either Lodge or Chapter who can answer your questions.

While there are a lot of trails still out there, many councils no longer provide patches/medals for them (cost cutting).

Used to be that councils promoted any trails in their area, but don't see much of that now.

Had a couple of Scouts who did not want a ECOH.  More disappointment to the parents than the Scout.

However, when I was a Scout (in the dark ages of the 1958-1969) there were no ECOHs.  Eagle presentations were held at the District COH where all advancements were recognized.  Everything from all ranks along with Merit Badges, etc.

At one DCOH there were 10 Eagles presented, with 7 coming from one troop.

Many years ago our trailer was parked at the church, where we were chartered.  It was not stolen, but was broken into.  Lots of equipment taken and the thieves had a party complete with cheap wine bottles.  Police took prints from the bottles and pictures of muddy boot prints in the trailer, but never caught anyone, even though they said they thought they knew who might have done it.  We found some of the equipment at a flea market about 30 miles away over the next couple of weeks and were able to get it back.

The church assumed we were on their policy so turned in a claim for us.  It ended up in court.  The judge ruled against us because the church did not have a key to the trailer locks, only Scout leaders.  There were no youth at the church so no  youth in the troop.  The IH and COR really had no interest in the troop and rarely met with us.  They did not want a key.

We moved the trailer to the land of one of the committee members and set about fund raising to replace the equipment.

The real problem is that the work was not done while she was a member of Scouts BSA.  Since she could not have joined the troop before Feb. 1, then any work that was done does not count.  It would not count for anyone, male or female, as the rank requirements state "Since joining Scouts BSA".

To allow her to count work done elsewhere and while not a member is a disservice to any youth who has joined since Feb. 1.

Those are the rules and everyone should abide by them.  They are there to ensure that everyone is on the same level.  If National allows it to be bypassed by one then they will have to allow it for all.  Lessens the award, no matter the rank.

Actually, the picture does tell you that things were altered.  The Life rank could only be earned as a member of a Troop and at the time of the picture, girls were not allowed to join Troops so how could she have earned the Life rank?

As I understand it, her family is involved in Scouting, with parents being leaders.  She apparently spent a lot of time with the family Scouting and was rewarded for that time with ranks, etc. that could not have been earned properly.

Happy no one was hurt.  Good suggestions.

A few years ago, district next door had a camporee and a couple of Scouts played with fire.  They set the field on fire along with a small shed filled with hay and a small tractor.  No one was hurt, but there was property loss. Never did hear the full extent of the results beyond apologies and some restitution.

Several years ago we were in the process of changing DEs.  The new one was in the area, but did not start until Monday morning.  The district had a camporee the weekend before he started.  He came by early on Saturday and then left.  The local fire department had a truck on hand for a demo in the morning events, but they left at lunch.  A couple of young Scouts from one unit were told to dispose of ashes and they did - right onto broom straw which flared up and spread up a hill, headed toward the port-a-pottys.  Quite a sight with half the adults trying to hold the Scouts back, the other half trying to put out the fire and move the port-a-pottys.  Someone made a call and the fire truck that had left and was almost back to the station turned around.  The fire was out when they got there.  The local Fire Marshall came.  He had a chat with the Scouts and had each write an essay about what had happened.  Great way for a DE to start and he wasn't even there.

I am a member of Tutelo Lodge. 

You will need to contact the Lodge Advisor.  I can give you that contact info if you want to contact me off-line.

Since the lodge had to cancel it's most recent function, I suspect there could be an accommodation made because of that.

The next Ordeal function will be June 1-3.

If the name does change to Scouts, what happens to the Congressional Charter for Boy Scouts of America?