mrjohns2

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

Our camps and other events require the BSA medical form. You can't provide another in place of it.

Procter & Gamble, a 185 year plus Fortune 50 company, has always promoted from within. Still does. Some say it is outdated, and some don't.

I’ve even seen the girls in Scouts BSA do projects!

I’ve seen articles; I can’t say I have seen 12 in the last year, let alone more than one per month as you indicate. I can very little in a scout trailer that could be sold for ready cash (cash in days) beyond the trailer itself. That may be what thieves are after. I bet you wouldn’t get much if you sold the contents of a trailer at a garage sale, even less if it was know to be stolen and you wanted it sold fast. I’m not at all saying they aren’t stolen, what I am saying is that I think as good of an argument can be made for decorating your trailer as not.

Sure, plenty of pawn shops want our junk. Dirty tents and cook gear over welders, wrenches, and power tools. Hummmm.... I think a troop is better off labeling it “camping junk” and the criminals move on.

Really? I think troop decals lesson the chance of theft. What criminal can turn troop gear into cash vs construction tools?

You had me until point 3. Why do you think it is ok to not follow the mandated rules?

Is is true that truthful isn’t listed since Scouts were used as spies during the African campaign and good spies aren’t truthful?

Scouts BSA's welcoming of girls has brought me back into the fold after 24 years out. This eagle scout was required to have a fire bucket on each side of a tent in addition to the stenciled "no flames in tents!" on the rain fly. Should we buy / obtain from recycling small 1/2 gallon buckets for this purpose and make the stencils? Or is this not done any longer? Do people still do this? I see no mention of this in the handbook.

I think you letter is fine. You focus on examples of letting youth leaders lead. I do think you place a heavy emphasis on this “CAN DO” concept be “have done”. I do not believe that language or focus is part of the official program. If so, can you point to a reference?

Thanks, but no, that is from a particular council. The one I am looking for was from national. It was the source document for the link you provided.

I am looking for a Scouts BSA FAQ posted on the scouting.org website dated 9/14/18. It was called "Scouts BSA Program Information FAQ document dated September 14, 2018". I am trying to pull together the national information, and I can't find this one. Can anyone help me out? Thanks, Matt