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InquisitiveScouter
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Posts posted by InquisitiveScouter
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1 hour ago, fred8033 said:I wish everyone the best. Change can be very, very painful. Personally, I enjoyed the OA events and ceremonies. Using AIA folklore added character. For long-time OA members, it's core to OA.
I also cringe and won't defend the OA AIA ceremonies when asked by others. I personally don't want to be associated with it. For new scouts and their families, it's an obstacle to overcome.
Yes, I was an avid Ceremonies Team member in my youth, until turning 21 (back in 1987!). Meteu was my favorite part, although I played each part at one time or another. We had really bad outfits, with really bad headdresses. We also used facepaint without regard to meaning. We "played" Indian... I was ignorant to the issue of this being offensive, in a religious-sort-of-way. (Although, I do think that card is played is little too much. It is the default when someone wants to stop you from doing something they do not like.) Now that my ignorance is gone, I do not support the use of most Native American elements in the Order of the Arrow. Best to part ways with the practice and move on....
When I learned more about the roots of the OA, I found that there were no AIA elements in the beginning. I would happily return to that, or, incorporate significant elements from American history. I believe that could be easily done while maintaining the spirit of brotherhood, cheerfulness, and service.
Place names, including camps and campsites, should be fine, as long as they have local significance.
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16 hours ago, AwakeEnergyScouter said:
I think you guys are way too pessimistic about whether BSA can turn it's membership trends, hostile lawyer notwithstanding. (Haven't found the link, but assuming worst case.)
It's easy for me to say since many of these societal changes that the article (and many other posts here talk about) have already gone to completion in Sweden, and scouting is doing just fine and we have more social capital in society than the US. (See https://solability.com/the-global-sustainable-competitiveness-index/the-index/social-capital) Other phenomena the article and posts here talk about were never present in Swedish scouting and Swedish scouting is still just fine. It's just not so that changes in US and only US culture is dooming all scouting. It's not all hopeless.
I'm hoping that some of you who are feeling down about the BSA's future could raise some good mental energy by really noticing this. Scouting has endured for so long in so many places exactly because it's not so susceptible to fads and trends and even genuine societal change. Every society changes - and yet scouting persists in 200 (WOSM)/ 152 (WAGGGS) countries and territories. (So 199/151 that aren't the US.) Scouts advise and address the UN. We deliver humanitarian aid in Ukraine and floods in Libya. Both US scouting organizations do have membership problems, but US scouting isn't fatefully doomed.
Not pessimistic about Scouting... just ambivalent about BSA's survival. BSA does not equal Scouting. It is but one organization that engages in what it calls Scouting.
If it goes the way of the Dodo, there will still be other Scouting organizations around...
There are several other Scouting organizations in the USA, and you can drill down to find them here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_non-aligned_Scouting_organizations
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10 minutes ago, AwakeEnergyScouter said:
Then why did you chime in with this opinion on this thread, two months after the last person said something?
If there's no need the debate "the issue", which is (at least) four issues as per your statement above, then why bring up "the" issue?
I see two possible answers.
Three possible? Maybe he did not see that the thread was two months old... it was probably in his Unread queue.
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1 hour ago, skeptic said:
Perspective is in the eye of the observer, but also their mind. Blinders often appear due to previous personal bias. https://lawliberty.org/an-elegy-for-the-boy-scouts/
An excellent article.
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On 10/14/2023 at 7:03 PM, Elizabeth0610 said:
Our committee chair has not been seen or heard from in months and does not reply to messages. The SM has been less than helpful. Who can call a committee meeting so that we can appoint a new committee chair and begin to operate efficiently once again?
Your COR.
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26 minutes ago, DuctTape said:
The rear-view mirror has been for a while now the only place where National and Council fees provided any real value to a member or unit. IFF BSA is going to continue into the future, tbe entire business plan needs to be reformulated. IMO, HQ and Councils need to almost eliminated.
The entire structure needs to be reversed (as does most units).
Patrol/Den is at the Top. All other bureaucratic groups sole purpose is to support the patrol/den.
All revisions of handbooks and mB pamphlets can be handled by volunteers. Many of us have been willing to do thus for decades, but have been shut out.
HQ needs to be the Volunteer Board and have near-zero staff. There should be no national fee. HQ should exist to leverage decreased costs to members and units for insurance, etc... These costs get paid directly to insurer. (Snark comment... If HQ needs funding, they can sell popcorn).
Councils should exist solely as a "gathering" of units. No need for Professionals.
End of rambling thoughts.
@DuctTapefor National Commissioner!!
29 minutes ago, BetterWithCheddar said:I find marking up popcorn by 300% to be immoral. I'd prefer to teach my son salesmanship with a box of $2 candy bars.
At the very least, unethical...
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2 hours ago, Eagle_Chris said:
Has the BSA focused on obtaining more Corp sponsors and private donors? This could offset expenses for those in need.
They would never do that... the more corporate sponsors they get, the more they will raise their own salaries...
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16 hours ago, jcousino said:
Not undertaking Council level fundraisers most make your unit not very popular with the DE. what do you do with friends of scouting?
These fees are in lieu of a FOS. It is why councils started charging them in the first place.
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21 minutes ago, mrjohns2 said:
They have?
From the article, but I do not agree... the article says the skirts caused them to be swept away by flood waters.
Flood waters don't care what you are wearing... you will be swept away in the nude, just as easily.
There's a reason you have to remove clothing for Lifesaving MB...
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First principle: Please encourage her to attend and participate, dressing according to the dictates of her faith and conscience. Wherever BSA uniforms are inadequate to meet these, she has the liberty to dress as she wishes without regard to any BSA uniform "standards."
Ask if the women's long sleeved shirt is acceptable. Here is a link:
I am assuming (based on my limited knowledge of a wide range of dress codes in various countries which are predominantly Muslim) that pants are not acceptable, and I'm certain the BSA Skort is out...
So, be the avant garde! Craft a skirt or dress of BSA green material that might be suitable, floor length presumably. I'm happy to advocate with BSA National uniforming to revise uniform guidelines and products to accommodate religious attire.
Here is an example of the women's uniform from Indonesia:
https://pngtree.com/freepng/illustration-of-indonesian-scout-members_6537910.html
Although they received some negative press for the long skirts:
If you need, we can get the color codes for BSA garb.
Or, just get a commercially made product that is close enough...
She can even get custom made (including custom length) on Etsy for a reasonable price:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1468778709/custom-size-cotton-linen-wrap-skirt-wrap
Happy Scouting!
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49 minutes ago, ChristineErtz said:
Yes, I am aware that Council has and will continue to use Scoutbook to record his advancements, merit badges, etc. As his Lone Scout Counselor, the only means I would have access to his records in Scoutbook is to go through our Council. I know I will need to have Council record everything in Scoutbook, I simply want to utilize TroopMaster in addition to Council using Scoutbook. To date his scouting journey is in both. I know TM and I would like to continue using it. I know I would not be able to upload his information to Council. - At least thats what I understand!? So I'm just trying to find out if TM would allow me to set up a account for him as a Lone Scout. Then I could transfer him from the Troop to his Lone Scout account within TM.
And a point of clarification. Council does not use Scoutbook to track your Scout. They use a system called Internet Advancement 2.0
Scoutbook is a User Interface that pulls all of its data from IA. (as I understand it.)
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45 minutes ago, ChristineErtz said:
Yes, I am aware that Council has and will continue to use Scoutbook to record his advancements, merit badges, etc. As his Lone Scout Counselor, the only means I would have access to his records in Scoutbook is to go through our Council. I know I will need to have Council record everything in Scoutbook, I simply want to utilize TroopMaster in addition to Council using Scoutbook. To date his scouting journey is in both. I know TM and I would like to continue using it. I know I would not be able to upload his information to Council. - At least thats what I understand!? So I'm just trying to find out if TM would allow me to set up a account for him as a Lone Scout. Then I could transfer him from the Troop to his Lone Scout account within TM.
Just got off the phone with Troopmaster.
There are no lower limits to the amount of Scouts you can track. So, yes, you can track a Lone Scout in Troopmaster.
If you have any additional questions. Please call their number : 434-589-6788
https://www.troopmaster.com/index.html
They answered the phone (no automated menus) and the tech was very helpful when I called them. They are awaiting your call with any further questions. They are going to be your very best resource for any questions related to TM.
You can purchase and download the software from their website.
I recommend you ask them that if it does not work according to your questions, would you get a full refund.
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On 10/9/2023 at 7:33 PM, mrjohns2 said:
I am a number one fan of Scoutbook. The issue is, that Scoutbook does not support Lone Scouts. Don't ask about it in the forums, that is the answer you will get. Why not? I don't know. It seems like it would be simple. Make the adult guide "everything" and a troop of 1. I don't know.
Yes, it would be too easy. But then, everyone would sign up to be a Lone Scout, and units would die.
Do not look for them to change this policy any time soon. Although, IMO, it would increase membership.
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And we may also see an impact soon, due to this...
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It is a cost, nonetheless.
And, unfortunately, parents often do not see value for the cost, depending on the dedication of unit-level volunteers.
And make no mistake... it is we volunteers who create the great majority of any value realized.
So, I ask myself often, why do I work so hard to create a great program for Scouts and families, when others literally get wealthy off of my efforts, while providing little to no value-added to the equation??
It is a bitter pill to swallow.
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1 hour ago, Tron said:
The price is nothing.
OK, then please DM me for my Venmo info and send me the registration fees for our 55 Scouts @ $155 each.
That's $8525. Now, that does not include all the adult registrations. So, if it really is nothing, please send along the fees for our 35 adults @ $65 per, for $2275.
Approx total for our unit (it will be a bit more...) is $10,800.
And, if you choose not to send it to me, I'll give you my council info and you can mail them a check for deposit into our unit account.
Since, after all, it is nothing.
P.S. https://www.bankrate.com/finance/credit-cards/living-paycheck-to-paycheck-statistics/
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Welcome @ChristineErtz!
Sorry, I have no experience with Troopmaster.
But, I have lots of experience with Lone Scouting. My son was a Cub Scout while we were overseas. We tracked everything manually, and emailed in scanned, completed advancement reports to our servicing council registrar.
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Welcome @VinceABQ!
Spent lots of time at Kirtland AFB, and also skied Sandia quite a bit.
15 hours ago, VinceABQ said:I'm looking for a way to meet the rqmt that doesn't rely of the county govt, got any suggestions?
You do not have to rely on local government to come up with something. For the purposes of the MB (I am a counselor), whether the Scout is homeschooled or not, I would first ask the Scout for some ideas on how to complete this requirement. (It does not say who has to come up with the "emergency service project".)
We had a similar situation with a Scout. While completing requirement 6.c. the Scout learned that our disaster prep folks had about 500 emergency preparedness brochures sitting in boxes (for years). They had no one to distribute them. The Scout asked if he could do this as a volunteer community service and for the MB. The disaster prep folks loved the idea. That was taxpayer money sitting there going to waste.
So, the Scout organized a hike through several neighborhoods with his Patrol, and canvassed 500 homes handing out brochures (or leaving them on doorsteps, as it is illegal to put stuff in mailboxes.) They had some great conversations with people about emergency preparedness.
And our neighborhood folks were quite pleased with seeing Scouts out in uniform, engaging with the public. (YMMV)
Can you imagine how long (distance-wise) that took? In hindsight, the Scouts could have logged a 10-mile hike for Hiking MB. 😜
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12 minutes ago, 1980Scouter said:
One LC by me is even charging a late fee if the charter is late or incomplete.
You've got room for one more straw, right?
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Welcome!
And thanks for taking on Advancement Chair!
Does your unit use Scoutbook?
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45 minutes ago, AwakeEnergyScouter said:
only if you can "back it up" with skills. And worn gear.
Usedta kinda be that way here. But we have lost our way...
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2 minutes ago, AwakeEnergyScouter said:
Whoa! I thought you made that up as a facetious example! 😱
LOL, no... I have had the same request in our unit...
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8 minutes ago, AwakeEnergyScouter said:
I can do better than that, here's my scout's never-used official scout bow. Well, ok, there was that first meeting during which they discovered that these giant bows always slide out of your hair very quickly and just turn into a hassle.
I knew it was a waste of money when I agreed to buy it, but I really wanted them to be excited about scouting, so I bought a bunch of useless stuff like this bow and scout socks just to build the energy. The socks are always declined also.
Pfffttt...
It does look like this item is discontinued...
https://www.bsacac.org/shop/cub-scout-hairbow-tents/
And the item number (647705) cannot be found on scoutshop.org
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1 minute ago, yknot said:
If we're talking biggest impact on migratory songbird species overall, it's habitat loss, degradation, and human intrusion up and down their flyways, migration routes, and at breeding and wintering sites. Migration as a species survival mechanism is struggling to navigate the modern world. All these things play into that. Don't get me started on turbines...
Down with humans!!
Boy in trouble
in Working with Kids
Posted · Edited by InquisitiveScouter
Even if there is law enforcement involvement and a conviction, you should not "kick him out" without addressing the behavior and giving him a chance to mend his ways.
Have a Scoutmaster Conference with the Scout. Focus on the behavior, rather than the person. Explain that his behavior is un-Scout-like, and violates his Scout Oath and Scout Law. Explain that his behavior has consequences outside of family and school, and will extend to the Troop.
Tell him if he is involved in future incidents, then he will be removed from the Troop.
Recommend the SPL remove him from his current role in a Position of Responsibility (POR), for a defined length of time, say, 3 months. If, at the end of that time, without further incident, he may be restored to a POR
Any further incidents, and his Troop membership is terminated (depending on the infraction). You might also tell him that you will recommend that the council terminate his membership in BSA, as well.
Give him a chance with discipline.