Mrjeff

First of all to A Long Walk, never imply that I am trashing the Bill of Rights. I have defended the Constitution, literally and physically, all of my life, so since you know nothing about me, I would suggest you refrain from personal comments. To everyone else, I completely understand the branding, approval, and other issues about patches, posters, prints, stickers and jackets. I agree with the other comments and understand your opinions. But, to me, the Boy Scouts of America has compromised the concrete foundation on which it was built, but the people in the High Tower still have time to review patches and disapprove designs because it contains a turtle with feathers. The BSA chooses to control little things like that, but gives in to any whim or idea expressed by anyone with a voice. The best recent example that I can think of is the building collapse in Miami. If the foundation and supporting iron cracks, rusts, or otherwise rots away, the whole thing crashes down. No amount of paint, putty, or shine can stop it from happening, and this is the sad reality.

The Boy Scouts of America. At one time this was the premiere youth organization in the country and possibly the world. It was affordable, active, and welcoming. It was based on the dictates of the Scout Oath and Law, the Scout Slogan and Motto, and the Outdoor Code. I know that everything is dynamic and is in a constant state of change, but when is "enough enough?" I won't waste time in rehashing old issues and concerns, opinions or worries, but for me enough is enough. The BSA has a lot going on and has reduced their national staff, raised the fees to make membership unaffordable for many, and apply additional rules and redundant regulations that are either unobtainable or simply ignored. Now, they really do have patch sensors who arbitrarily approve or reject designs that are created by local artists. Well, if that isn't infringing on the constitutional rights of freedom of speech and freedom of expression, I don't know what else is. The BSA is absolutely grinding itself out of existence. Well, for me, enough is enough and after 50 years of membership, support, providing explanations and excuses, I've had enough.

I just wish that the people at the national BSA level would be truthful, direct, and transparent to every volunteer that attended a Scout meeting. I don't mean pages and pages of documents, just plain fact and truth. If the money is needed to help cover insurance, let us know! If the new training requirements are based on new insurance issues, let us know! At this point even loyal and dedicated volunteers are walking away, this could be prevented if we just knew what was going on!

Well, that's the real issue. Information at the national level is convoluted, double talk with a lot of "they and we and not yet available " phrases. Never ever not one time have I gotten a straight answer, which leads to rumor and speculation. It may be that the fee increase is being used for the BSA National Staff retreat in Hawaii. Who knows?

So, membership including complete units are disappearing. Participation in national events is dropping off, local camps are closing and being sold, and the National High Adventure Properties have been mortgaged. So in order to raise funds let's charge whatever members that are left a higher membership fee. Then, let's recruit new members and charge them a new member fee and tell them that they still have to pay for everything they do. In addition, let's build a super sized white elephant in West Virginia with all kinds of cool stuff that the majority of the members will never get to use, including modern learning centers. Let's put this place hours away from the nearest airport and say it's the jamboree site! Really? It's no wonder that a lot of people are no longer interested in being part of this mushroom farm (kept in the dark and fed manure. This is just how I see it and I've quit asking our national leaders because every one I have ever spoken to have mastered the art of "much talk with no meaning. "

Sure, please do. Thanks!

I know, here we go again! I have one old scout shirt that has nearly every knot that I ever received, bearing 13 knots. This includes everything from my Eagle Scout knot, to my old "Tiger Cub Group Coach" (anyone remember that?) to the Spurgeon Award. I look at this collection as a record of my time of my youth in Scouting and the trails that I took with my 5 children and 1 grandson as they journeyed through Scouting. I seldom wear this shirt, but I recently had it on during a meeting. One adult asked me about the current limit and seemed offended that I wasn't complying with the current directive. As I understand things, "once official, always official" and during the time that was presented with these knots there wasn't even a recommended limit. Also, I believe, it is specified that members of the Old Goat patrol are not required to peal knots off of their respective shirts if they are already on there. I know that this is a sensitive topic for many but I don't care one little bit how many knots someone wears, as long as they are all legitimate. Anyway, God bless those who don't wear any knots, those who wear one or two knots, or those who wear 15 or 16, and thank you for your service to youth! Goat patrol are not required to peal knots off of their respective shirts if they are already on there. I know that this is a sensitive topic for many but I don't care one little bit how many knots someone wears, as long as they are all legitimate. Anyway, God bless those who don't wear any knots, those who wear one or two knots, or those who wear 15 or 16, and thank you for your service to youth! I know, here we go again! I have one old scout shirt that has nearly every knot that I ever received, bearing 13 knots. This includes everything from my Eagle Scout knot, to my old "Tiger Cub Group Coach" (anyone remember that?) to the Spurgeon Award. I look at this collection as a record of my time of my youth in Scouting and the trails that I took with my 5 children and 1 grandson as they journeyed through Scouting. I seldom wear this shirt, but I recently had it on during a meeting. One adult asked me about the current limit and seemed offended that I wasn't complying with the current directive. As I understand things, "once official, always official" and during the time that was presented with these knots there wasn't even a recommended limit. Also, I believe, it is specified that members of the Old Goat patrol are not required to peal knots off of their respective shirts if they are already on there. I know that this is a sensitive topic for many but I don't care one little bit how many knots someone wears, as long as they are all legitimate. Anyway, God bless those who don't wear any knots, those who wear one or two knots, or those who wear 15 or 16, and thank you for your service to youth!

Wow, this whole ball of wax is heartbreaking for those of us who love Scouting. Regardless of the changes, alleged impropriety, regardless of personal opinions, there are those who will work through this crisis and do whatever needs to be done to survive. I certenly don't want anyone who has falsely accused the BSA to receive one red cent from anyone. On the other hand there are some who were abused years ago and that have been negitively effected throughout their lives as a result of that abuse and, in my opinion, deserve compensation. I think these claims should be scrutinized and perhaps the claimant should be deposed to ensure the validity of their acuzation. No matter the outcome, BSA looses and it will take a lot of dedication and work if the BSA will survive to serve new generations of young Americans!

Anything concerning the bankruptcy and its end result belongs right here. Apparently there are some military people here as well as the lawyers, the sea lawyers, and those with ideas. There's an old saying that does something like this: plan for the worst and be pleased when it doesn't get that bad. Well, it could get that bad and the lawyers in the group know that when a case goes to court nobody knows what's going to be the outcome until the Judge's gavel falls. And then the appeal process starts. So as I said, prepare for the worst possible outcome and be pleased if it's not that bad.

Every time I suggest moving on and focusing on what we can do to save what we have I'm either ignored or advised that I can always start another group. Clearly the point of my comments have been misunderstood. I think that even if the BSA is completly destroyed no one will be able to stop the true spirit of Scouting. We may have to return to the days where a couple of dads or moms load up their cars or vans and go camp out or take a hike. It just depends on those Scouters who are willing to pick up whatever shreds are left, and just keep going. This whole pile of $#!+ doesn't matter one bit to the kids as long as they are having positive fun.

I admire all of our paid Scouters. Our SE is involved and engaged with our Scouts and enjoys spending time with them. Our DEs are exceptional and work tirelessly to assist our units to be successful. Thay are worth every penny they're paid. When I retired I was asked to take on the responsibilities of a DE and I declined the offer as I am well aware of the work they do and the sacrifices they make. If they were paid by the hour they would all be wealthy. Scouting needs those professionals and I am thankful for them.

You can bet your sweet campfire that there is nothing we can do about the current situation and if we continue to focus on what cant be done the business is finished. None of this at all has any effect on unit operations. If we can't use anything "BSA" then so be it. To use the example of Eagle Scouts would indicate that the BSA is just a means to an end where everyone who participates will earn Eagle. Thats not how it should be. If the fees go up the fees go up. If they close the doors on the BSA then the door is closed and there will be a lot of independent groups popping up. If the focus is all about what could happen and not on the youth and individual units the BSA is through. If there is no youth program there will be no youth. If there aren't any youth there is no Scouting. High adventure? Most young people can't afford Philmont, but they can afford a week in a national forrest as long as someone will take them. The bankruptcy and all of the fall out does not have to devastate the entire organization if people can adapt to the changes. You can make up theoretical links to the kids but most of them don't know or care about this issue. And believe it or not, that's what this is all about. The bankruptcy and all of the negativity generated by it is just another attempt to destroy the BSA. But, in spite of it all Troops, Packs, Crews, Ships, and Posts are still meeting, camping, racing wooden cars and sitting around campfires. This is because the kids are enjoying themselves and that doesn't take a national office, Chief Scout Executive, or a national committee.

I still don't see the connection between law suits, trusts, bankruptcy, victims compensation and all the legal deagle verbiage and kids participating in Scouting. This does not have to impact how Troop 123 delivers the program to it's members. If we want Scouting to survive it will. There may not be grand high adventure bases, national committees or even a national office. But this debacle can't keep kids from camping, hiking, building fires and having fun unless we loose focus on the real purpose of Scouting. A lot of people like to quote Baden Powell but few acknowledge his statement warning against Scouting being run by a corps of professionals. I think it's imperative that we examine the methods that we as Scouters can use to keep going because there isn't much that can be done about the bankruptcy, what caused it, and how it will all turn out. I believe that it's time that we accept the inevitable and take a positive look to the future and see what can be done with whatever is left.

I have been around the "legal system" for over 40 years and the only conclusion that I can make is that no one will know what will happen until it happens. Until this whole convoluted mess is adjudicated we just won't know. The only positive recourse, as I see it, is to keep our local units alive, support our districts and councils, and work hard to give the kids the best Scouting experience we can. This takes a lot of work and dedication in lieu of uncertainty. I am committed to helping do what is necessary to provide Scouting to every single young person who wants to be a part of this thing. It's sad that the Boy Scouts of America will probably never be the same great organization that it once was but I for one remain optimistic and will not "throw in the towel". In the event that the doors are locked I will be there until someone kicks me in the a$$ and makes me leave. God bless all of the dedicated Scouters who just won't quit and live by the motto "SCOUT ON".

I don't think that anyone objects to having an educational system for safeguarding the young people who are involved in scouting. Thank you for providing an expert opinion on the motivs of the BSA. I am certenly no professor of law but I did work in the system for 40 years and did pick up a few things along the way. I agree that the motives of the "Most Hign snd Roya1 Scourers" need to realise that the peasant class are not stupid and can indeed think for themselves. BSA is not transparent on any level and is really a business that is failing miserably. Many of the experienced and dedicated scouters were forced to accept charges rhat they did not agree with based on decisions made by some committee. So rather then conform thew simply walked away and took their kids with them. There weren't enough other people to make up that loss which should have sent up red flags, but was apparently ignored and signaled the begining of a major decline. Ina an attempt so slow the descent they enacted a whole bunch of rules and requirements 5hat are ineffective or unrealistic. YPT is just one example. Aside from not being effective it just makes people mad when "it just don't work". I don't hate YPT but if it's going to be required then fix it and quit hiding behind malarkey, bolderdash, and b@]] $&[+.

I for one have no idea what the truth is. People who serve on the national level of the BSA are omniscient, omnipresent, and omnirediculous. Try to have a conversation with one and immediately you realise that you will not get a straight answer that isn't cloaked in double talk. I for one am fed up with this b%[! $÷!+. I have invested a couple of years and a few dollars in support of this thing just to find out that it really is a disorganized circus that doesn't even know what it's various areas are doing. I really don't care what happens to "National" because there will always be kids gathering up and hiking in the woods, camping out, swimming in ponds and going fishing. My word, they actually have a training for those who want to go fishing! The relationship between scouting and their sponsors is changing, the chartering organizations are supposed to pay the BSA for the privilege of sponsoring a boy scout troop that according to the BSA, they don't own anyway. Really, what's going on? Why is this information so secret? What exactly is the relationship between the "National Kingdom of the Boy Scouts of America" and the kid who just wants to go camping? It would be grand if the CEO would arrange one of the famous webinars and let people know the truth. Has anyone in the "surf or peasant class" tried to make contact with the Texas Palace recently? Give it a try and see what happens. But on the same note the ruling class keeps demanding that the peasants pay greater and greater amounts of silver to remain under in the kingdom. Hmmmm.......just like EbenezerScrooge and Tom Wilkins?

The BSA can come up with more rules and requirements then one person can keep track of and I guess those people think that the volunteers are stupid, lack common sense, or just have trouble thinking. YPT is a requirement but there should be a system in place that will allow for the timely completion of that requirement. It would not surprise me if they started charging a fee for YPT. I wish they would just stop adding things and fix what they have.

This thing looks like the BSA is again trying to kill itself. What sponsor is going to agree to this mess? It would be easier to shut down the BSA program and start a youth group.

Oh, this whole idea of having every volunteer complete Youth Protection Training and if you don't you can't register. Fine and dandy, good idea, way to go.........well, rather then impose more rules, restrictions, and training classes, how about fixing the YPT training so that it records the completion of the course. I'm quite sure that many will reply "Well, I didn't have any trouble" but there are many that willing to just forget about it because they have much trouble with it, have completed it more then once, and still can't print a certificate or get their ticket punched. Congratulations to the BSA for encouraging membership, training and growth. It's broke and needs fixing.

Wow, I had a feeling that my post would stir the pot and I guess that I was right. Cynical Scouter appeared to do disagree and then jumped right back into the area of liability, which in itself has little to do with the safety and well being of children. There's an old saying that statistics lie and liars use statistics. I'm just not a believer in the accuracy of statistics. Does anyone really think that an online YPT course is going to stop child molestation, or that taking a virtual class is going to safeguard kids at camp? The whole thing smells to me that the BSA is throwing the volunteers to the wolves. Mr. Scrooge touches Tiny Tim inappropriately while on a scout trip. Oh no, who can we blame so that the BSA is free from liability. Well we know that Scoutmaster Cratchett has been trained in youth protection and can PROVE IT because he has passed a test on the subject. Soooo sue Mr. CRATCHETT because he has been trained in youth protection. Or my dear child Perfect was hit by a falling tree limb while on a scout trip. Who can we blame? Let's blame Mr. Badguy who is the volunteer camp administrator because he inspected the camp and signed a piece of paper saying that the camping area was a safe and secure place for Perfect to go camping, soooooo.....it must be his fault so we can sue Mr. Badguy. Wow thats great because the BSA is shielded from responsibility. As for the Order of the Arrow pushing virtual activities as a temporary fix, well thats hogwash because outside activities are still considered safe if you follow a few simple rules. To say this is only temporary is a misnomer because once something is removed it is very difficult to restart. I reiterat that it appears that the BSA is trying to put a volunteer between anything that could go wrong and the BSA, and it has more to do with responsibility, liability and legality then the safety and welfare of the children. I would just like the truth.

I'm sure that there are many examples of justification to support the changes in the BSA. I really would like to know the real reason for these changes, and I don't mean the rhetoric about the welfare and safety of the children. Membership in all areas is way down so the registration fees for a new youth member is now nearly $100.00. The position specific training requirements should grant you a masters degree. Youth protection is mandatory but the system in place to complete the training doesn't always work and may not record it's completion. The new requirement to have a camp administrator for all council or district camping events is unrealistic and requires a nine hour virtual class that costs the participant $75.00. The Order of the Arrow is pushing for virtual inductions and summer camp can be done on line. Scouting was a fun, outdoor activity that was affordable for most and didn't require a masters degree in sociology to conduct. I can't see how raising the cost and inventing all kinds of requirements is helping to preserve the Boy Scouts, BSA or any other organization that is run by volunteers. If all of these requirements are mandatory then perhaps they rewrite Wood Badge again and include school room classes in these subjects. "Outing" is being removed from the program and has been replaced by leadership and developmental theory. Perhaps a better title would be "Young People's Leadership and Development Society" and simply do away with outside activities. It looks to me as the BSA is systematically insulating the professional staff by placing a bunch of requirements on volunteers that can be verified in case of trouble. This clearly removes any responsibility for anything away from the BSA and places it squarely on the shoulders of the volunteer. I just want to know the truth.

I just don't know what's going to happen. Every person who is involved, no matter where they fit in, have their own reasons for doing so. It may greed, recourse, retribution or revenge, I don't know. What I do know is this whole bucket of $h!t has cast a huge black shadow over the Boy Scouts of America. To say that the Boy Scouts "ain't what it used to be" is an understatement, but very little is. One thing that hasn't changed is the fact that Scouting is still a fine organization that can benefit young people for years to come. I look forward to the day when campfire talks no longer include bankruptcy, child abuse, tort law, lawyers and victims. I long for the days of talking about summer camps, canoe trips, wood badge, and how to splice a rope. One day this whole thing will be behind us and it will be up to us to pick up whatever pieces are left, and Scout On!

I can guarantee that with a few phone calls I could get 2-3 parents and 20 kids together and go camping right now. I am also quite sure that there are those in every community that could do the same thing. In my neck of the woods there are several Scouters who are active, skilled, and trustworthy and their units are plugging along. It's tragic that the BSA has suffered through this, but I still think we can survive. We must work very hard to restore this broken trust and to restore confidence in the unit leaders. Parents don't give two spits who the District Executive or the National Commisdioner is. They do care who the Scoutmaster, Cubmaster, or Den Leaders are. This is where we need to focus within our communities. Once 5 or 6 units are on solid ground we can worry about districts or councils and the units are run in communities by members of those communities.

I'm with the folks who believe we can carry on! Nobody knows what is going to come out of this but Scouting can survive. The national office may lock their doors, large and valuable pieces of property may be sold, the entire professional staff may be abolished and there is not one little thing that I can do about it. What I can do is get a couple of adults together and take a bunch of kids camping. I can teach lashing, firebuilding, cooking, and other grand "outdorsey" things. I can teach and demonstrate good citizenship, leadership and honesty. That sounds like Scouting to me. I may not be able to get to New Mexico or West Viirginia but I bet farmer Jones will let us camp out in his field! It just depends on how hard the dedicated grass root Scouters are willing to work in order to survive. And I do believe it will be up to us and not a corps of professionals who will be standing when this whole situation fades away.

This dialog provides a lot of food for thought: People are required to take youth protection and the "good guys" who wouldn't abuse a child will follow the rules. The "bad guys" who are abusers won't follow the rules will still be abusers; the BSA is in a very serious situation and is trying to survive so they raise the registration fees and tack on an additional fee for new members who have just joined; the grand white elephant, Summitt Bechtel" was developed as a jamboree site and the jamborees have been canceled; membership across Scouting is very low; some training requirements" are unrealistic and expensive, but are required to function; BSA doesn't own or control local councils but if you don't pay the National fees or fo)ow their rules they have the ability to cancel a council's charter; and on and on and on. If any shadow of Scouting is going to survive we may just have to go back to the early days where good folks take kids out to have a good time. This is just food for thought without conclusions, arguments, "fix it's ", or controversy, just food for thought.