mrjohns2

I agree 100%.

I don't know if that is fully true. "Scouting is a game with a purpose." So, you have the first part, it is a game, but isn't all about having fun. If was all about having fun, there would be many things done very differently.

I see this allowing councils to do a program that isn't a national program or pilot program. So, for example, let's say STEM Scouts stops. If a council wanted to do Engineering Scouts, right now, there is no mechanism for that to happen. It is innovation and program from national or nothing. This would be a mechanism to allow that to happen.

I have no doubt that is what they want. They have also said that we shouldn’t have girls at all. What they want, and what trade mark law will require the BSA to do are very different.

I would be surprised by that. I think when they said re-branding them meant "what does the BSA it's programs mean to the world", not "renaming". That is just speculation on my part. I assume the Girl Scout lawsuit will end up being nothing other than "don't ever call them girl scouts", but then again, speculation.

The plan I have with our unit this year is to invite the AOL year Webelos on all of our campouts but the Polar Bears and PLC planning weekend. That will be 5 campouts (of the 8 months) for the Webelos to really see what the camping is like. We have 10 Scouts in our troop and there will be 3 Webelos AOL girls this year. My ASM and I are both BALOO trained and the 3 girls are very independent. I hope they see that Scouting is patrol cooking and camping. This move might be our ticket to 2 patrols come March.

I was very active in OA from ‘89 to ‘94. For a few years I did over 20 elections in my chapter each year. I’m back now as Scoutmaster of a girl troop. #1 I was surprised when told about elections happening, I asked when the election team would visit my troop. The advisor laughed that there is no election team. It was up to us to find a buddy troop to swap doing elections with. All of this planning and communication came from adults. #2 I had to read the requirements 10x to make sure I understood it right that everyone eligible could be elected in the same year. I then read of mem

I’m starved for details. Does anyone else know what was covered by the key3 meeting or Friday’s meeting? I love how they planned to open up, but shut down The key3 at the last minute. Where I come from they call that “organizational snap-back”. Where the culture tried to change, but the old culture clawed back the old ways.

I think that is pretty good advice. Scouts are never supposed to be punished for the failings of adults. I had to do that this last summer since our camp did not complete our blue cards.

This is one area the GSUSA is simpler. You get a reminder to renew members for your unit for the next year. If you do it early, you get a patch (no discount). The unit leader checks boxes or chooses drop downs next to the Scouts and leaders renewing. It calculates the total (with local and national fees) and then you pay. Granted there is no “charter”, but one could picture that being a separate step to get your Institutional Head to sign a form or go online and check a box. If YPT isn’t up to date, the adult can’t be carried forward and they are marked inactive. If there aren’t the

From what I know about things like United Way, they often don’t want to give “Scouts” money. These programs are the types that are easier to get grants for. So, the councils that continue them, probably get money just for them. I assumed when they said “a structure for council programs” or what ever, they meant that a council could start, or continue, a program that wasn’t offered nationally. I believe, right now, they can’t have a council specific ScoutReach or STEM program. It has to be from the menu of national programs. There is no mechanism for a homebrew style setup.

It was surreal. I called in, listened to their awards section, and then that was over, then Zoom was like meeting ended. I was wondering when we were going to get to how we are going to turn around membership numbers or what to say/do during the dark media times ahead. Nope. Regional OA chief open, says nothing as one of the 2 youth on the call, Venturing President (don’t know the title) gives an oath of office, and that is it. No discussion of who is doing what or whatever to right the ship. Lots of accolades for the nominating committee for the next slate of officers. NO ACTION nothing to t

I have always assumed we could easily be “BSA” dba “What Ever Inc”. Businesses do it all the time.

I too don’t want Scouts to devolve into “Family Camping”. I am working on a “white paper” on what I view Family Scouting as; it is NOT family camping. I think National didn’t really describe it other than “now girls can join, so that means the whole family.” Read or ignore our approach to Family Scouting below. -------------------------------------------------- I give full credit to our COR who has had the vision. I have been working on “documenting” it. Chartered Org charters at least: Family Pack (boys and girls), Boy Troop, and Girl Troop. Need to try to have Lions den, as th

Based on what cburkhardt posted before, I called in (you also did a good job summarizing). I wonder about the OA going to 21 if the other groups don’t. Not that OA is a stand alone group. One could say that National is sized for an organization that no longer exists. As part of this downsizing, I would be ruthless and cut most things that don’t pay their own way with dues and donations. Areas to look at would be Exploring and STEMScouts. Does Sea Scouting need to be rolled back into Venturing? The Regional and Area structure do seem over sized as well. You left

Cburkhardt - Thank you so much for the time you took to type this all up. It is very helpful. I believe that transparency would help so much. Transparency doesn't mean giving "control" to the masses, but it would help explain direction and choices. They could always use a open / closed session concept and only take "public comment" when they choose to. I think it would help with buy in and even allow those that can, to help. It boggles my mind that committees such as the one you list aren't on a webpage, nor are all of the other committees (advancement, what ever camping is called, etc). If on

It hasn’t been mandated. The whole point of the IA2 was to allow units like yours to keep doing what was worked for them. Scoutbook works well for us, but if something is working well for you, no reason to stop.

Is there any point going to this type of meeting if one isn’t on one of the national committees? Are these really just for people who are “in the know” or on a committee?

I think this is what people are looking for when they ask for a syllabus. Like for a college course. 2-3 pages, maybe double sided, with an outline. A syllabus is not a staff manual or even student book. If too much is given away by a syllabus, I would question the depth of the training. For the cost and the time investment, it is funny that they don’t have a bit more than a glossy brochure and a “trust is, it is good” approach.

There was a faq or a Brian on Scouting asking about adirondack trail shelters being accommodations and not using the tent rule. I would consider a yurt being more cabin like than an adirondack.

It is crazy how opaque both councils are and national. They know how many LDS units and Scouts they had. They could easily release for a few years adjusted and unadjusted numbers so that we could know the LDS impact and the girl impact. They are so afraid, they try to keep everyone in the dark. I work for a large fortune 50 multinational. It is night and day about transparency. For example, our council is on a conditional charter. What were the issues? What is the plan? They are not saying anything beyond they need more funds and more scouts. The Scout executive decided to “pursue other intere

Less than 5 isn’t much of a patrol either.

I subscribed just for the article. It is clear now why they secured the loan with Philmont. It is considered an encumbered asset and not eligible for disbursement during bankruptcy. It is their strategy to protect it. The summit was already encumbered. :-)

I like the idea of ditching off non-core, non-productive efforts. STEM Scouts, maybe Explorer groups for those less than 13, and learning for life. If those groups aren’t “more than paying for themselves”, stop them. Is NESA or alumni groups paying for themselves? If not, stop them. Focus on the core.

Why would it replace DOT forms? It would be crazy to think otherwise. What I am saying is that it is a stand lone form. No replacements, and as the form says, all participants require the form. Other activities may require other forms. DOT forms don't provide the hold harmless statements, media release statements, BMI max, and other parts of the BSA forms. The DOT forms don't have this. Your camp health officers must much less rigorous than ours. From the form "All participants in all Scouting activities complete Part A and Part B. Give the completed forms to your unit leader. This appl