CommishJulian

Update: The Council just North of us always had great camps that my son really enjoyed. After attending two of them, I emailed their Scout Executive and we began a pen-pal thing. This week I asked if I could help with anything, and he connected me to a NYLT camp that really needed some help. I drove up, worked hard, and slept like a brick last night. -I'm helping them for two more days. I've concluded that you can't fix bad Councils. They're the Adult Scouts of America. -There's no way to even slow down their destruction. For me to achieve happiness, I defected. Not ideal, doesn'

Again, I would pay money to be part of that environment for a year. Right here, I'm trying to practice democracy in Moscow.

I tried my best. I took the best stuff from others and passed it along. I loved my job. Kids happy, parents beaming, God is in his Heaven and all is well with the World. After thinking about it. If I could, I would pay the Council up to $1,000 a year if I could just help Packs go. Not to be someone important, just to be available to help deer-in-headlights parents get back on their feet. Ya, I'd pay a grand to be part of the solution. -The wife would be pissed as hell though. She hates all of it.

When I said "wholesome classic Cub Scout experience", I meant make it about the kids, and not power-tripping old farts. elitts All good ideas. Thanks for taking the time to share all that with us and all who find it via Google search. You're gonna do a lot of good with that.

I love this site because everybody has their own challenges, successes, issues, etc. What's killing my area, doesn't exist 10 miles North of me. I think it is very good that everybody who posts here has their own influencers acting on their District / Council. My burning question still is: If we gave elementary school families a wholesome classic Cub Scout experience, would they keep attending? Said another way, have kids changed so much in only 10 years that they don't want "fun with a purpose" any more? I can't believe that an iPad took away so much desire to camp, hike, and ru

So sorry man. Same here. I feel your pain. Maybe you can answer something for me? I believe in my area, rich angry white people cause the environment to turn toxic and that drove away families. I believe that cub scouting done right, even by noob parents attracts and keeps families coming. I don't know if the decline of Scouting is just a sign of the times. I'd value anybody's opinions on this.

Re 1: They once had them, but they hated it when outsiders came, so the meeting disappeared. Re 2: None. All powers that be are wealthy locals. Re 3: None. Last time I saw minutes, all were has-beens, and appointees.

All good posts. Thank you for this site. I re-read my post above, and thought I nailed it rather well. What broke my heart is that I have a Masters in Commissioner Service, 3 PWD tracks, 92" Delta band saw, balloon launcher, space derby rig, sewing machine (with embroidery function), and so much more all ready to go... and I can't help any parents in my district or council because I won't ever support the ruling adults version of scouting. -I know I need to get on with my life, but I can't. The logic part on my brain knows it is time to go, but the kid inside refuses to budge. I'

People (you, me, parents, just about everybody on this site) still want the BSA org to go back to what it once was. I concluded that ain't gonna happen, maybe a year ago. Not trying to be my usual negative self here, just going to share what I've done to keep moving forward. I'm still the Cub Scout enthusiast, but now I'm a Unit Commissioner for anybody who wants me. I've helped a group of students in a homeschooling pod two doors down, gave my neighbor's kids wood to assemble a toolbox, lent out my PWD tracks several times, along with my balloon launcher. I'm also making how-to video

While I seem to be super negative all the time, let me say that I truly appreciate this site and all your inputs. This is the only truly free forum about Scouting I've ever seen. Thank you for that. All the best friends. Julian

In a year or two, scouting may be a thing of the past. For me, I've given up and adapted. I bring all my old Cub Scout equipment to pods of regular kids doing group home-schooling. Kids are kids, weather they're in Scouting or not. I get to bring magic into their lives (one of three PWD tracks, space derby rig, balloon launcher, activities, etc), and I'll never have to deal with another belligerent "I was an EAGLE SCOUT!" dad ever again. -Their jedi mind tricks don't work any more. Ya I copped out, but now that I don't ever have to deal with a little monster ever again, there's

Noble of you. Some thoughts of my own, if you don't mind. 1) In society, even in modern more-secular society, we sometimes call a few people "angels" or "saints" due to their exceptional grace and kindness. That said, the universe needs to balance itself by building humans void of those qualities. Those unholy spawn tend to end up being the Den Leader's brat, or the son of a large donor to the Council. 2) My mother was a child psychologist. She literally went where angels feared to tread, and saved many children from a life of darkness and limited expectations. Even knowing tha

Eagle. I never thought in a million years I would have ever heard that said from a BSA Pro, current or former. I commend you for having the courage to lay it out here for all of us. I also commend the exceptional environment Scouter.com gives us in order to share, support and learn from each other's experiences in BSA's many micro climates and pockets of alternate realities. David CO, I do agree with you about executives only really caring about their livelihoods as an employee of Scouts BSA. Luckily, I been able to work with a handful of exceptional (now laid off) Scout Professionals

Well said.

Multiple letters to CEO, Area who sent it to Regional, a certified 14 page report to Irving TX. Three responses by my attorney to shut down lies that came from the district. Whistle Blower policy not applicaple to volunteers. No retaliation prevention policy in play. The Council Commissioner knows and he's trying to help from his side. "Your actions sound as if they are possibly illegal." What the heck? Nothing I've done is illegal or outside of Scouts BSA guidelines. They have. I have submitted emails, screen shots, letters. "Or did you just decide to go your own way?"

I already did. Your right. But they did. So the question I have to ask now is this? People with money buy power and use it for their own personal emotional enjoyment, all at the cost of average youth. This is nothing new in the history of mankind. So, in a light heated way here, can you articulate why my saying so is bad. The civil rights movement is all about calling thing like they are, not by how we want to see them. BTW I am a middle aged white guy, who's technically upper middle class. If I can't call it, who else can?

I realized about 6 years ago that district functionally is a product of volunteer effort. So when a small, and shrinking, group of angry white folks ignore the units in the district, expect their for their own, there is plenty of opportunity to help packs go. So yes CS, I fully know the legals about district and council relationships. What I found is that kindness, and supportive aspects of scouting can, in theory, be provided by a group of caring, currently youth protection trained, adults, outside of the district. The nut I haven't been able to crack is the look of legitimacy.

It happened to us a few years back. My birth council was dog droppings, and the other was Swiss watch good. -They were funded by Boeing who left for TX and they had no revenue all of a sudden. Long story short, our messed up council had more people (most of them were messed up) and within 3 years the, crap folks drove all the excellent people out. But kept their camps, which they sold, and now laid-off everyone else.... At times I think my dog can do a better job running a council. Sorry, I digress. There are great councils, but National dictates their terms to every one and e

At least in your Council they ask if someone wants to be chairman. In our communistic horror show, it's only through private appointment, and only to wealthy POS. My efforts to build a private district, is having little success. With no units being supported, there's no idea who's still participating, much less how to reach them and offer them any help.

So, in 2016 our Council merged with another to save money. That Council sold Campmasters, and the quality was worlds better. Trail's End tasted stale. The other council also had better organization, and discipline. Long story short is that BSA popcorn is a very hot topic, and two years later, went back to Trail's End, which my family won't eat (they love Kirkland movie popcorn). I hoped someone from this decade had experience with the two, and if they could agree with my opinions on taste, or not. Bottom line is that people won't buy Trail"s End. I have to sell to strangers outs

That's so harsh, but there's so much truth to it. I'm sad a hell, but I have to agree with you David CO. -I'm kinda positioning myself to be in that space when the walls come tumbling down. Now that I'm thinking about it, it would be the same about of work as I'm doing now, just without the lies and slander. And the stress. And the kids would have as good of a time because they don't know or care about any district/council structure.

I like to give my cubs the chance to make any sized PWD car they want. You're only 7 once my friend. *it's actually the length of the blade, so maybe an 8" depth. -but don't tell the kids that 😉

Maybe this thread has gotten off topic and I feel I'm partially to blame. Retaliation is a very important topic and may need to be expanded on even more if visitors have their own questions or experiences to share. However, here's some feelings to some earlier comments Thank you for the kind words. -Those never get old when you're a volunteer. Pay-To-Rule (where wealthy Type A, or Karens, or their employers, make donations to a council and buy top leadership positions) sucks. Royally. I've always invited the District and Council to join my events and advertise camps or sell

That is possibly the nicest thing a fellow scouter has ever said to me. Forgive me if I print that and hang it on my wall. The DIY district thing is holding steady. I'm in the midst of sending out emails to the last known Packs and asking them if they need some positive energy. I've got one totally new interactive/virtual/distance/Zoom activity figured out. If I can some up with three more I can host my very own carnival. And host it for FREE. I am almost done working out the bugs of a virtual, open invitation, pinewood derby event. Basically, if you've ever made a car, we can