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InquisitiveScouter

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Everything posted by InquisitiveScouter

  1. https://www.forbes.com/sites/georgebradt/2017/12/01/why-focusing-on-your-core-is-almost-always-the-right-choice/?sh=4b2e451e21b5 Especially #2
  2. Fair enough... but that isn't the case around here. Scouting is really struggling in these parts, with many issues at cause. If they were really an "independently formed non-profit organization", why don't they just focus on those money-making programs and just ditch all that cumbersome Scouting and "moral and ethical" stuff??
  3. Whoa, Trigger! You know not of what you speak. I put in well over 40 hours a week as a volunteer in our Scouting community. And I am that "squeaky wheel," not just "venting" here. You ought to ask a little more before casting those aspersions...
  4. Because in the Scouting programs, we are still using the Aims of Scouting, which include instilling ideals of the Scout Oath and Law. The STEM program of Scouting is one of the hooks we use to provide youth a program, while we work through the Aims to provide a "moral and ethical" context.
  5. Thanks, but isn't that "mission creep"?? What you describe seems to go outside the stated mission of the BSA: "The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law."
  6. Would you elaborate, please? To what services "outside of Scouts", what kinds of "significant programs", and what "non-Scout programs" are you referring?
  7. I think the were referring to Learning for Life and ScoutReach programs, if they are still going??
  8. From the income by zip code finder https://www.incomebyzipcode.com/ By any stats you look at for our zip code (and surrounding) our SE is way overpaid... top 20% of households!, not just single income earners. Our SE salary is double the median for individual income. Again, when people ask me if they should donate to council, I point these numbers out, so they can make an informed decision. If they ask for advice, I suggest they give it directly to a unit, or put their money elsewhere to do good in our community. P.S. Just checked... our SE makes 50% more than the CEO of our local land preservation trust. This land trust has twice the employees, outright owns over 1500 acres throughout 50 properties, many with historic buildings in preservation. They recruit a small army of volunteers to help maintain these properties. They manage conservation easements on 16,000 more acres, and put on many more events during the year than our council does, including day camps for kids (focusing on environmental education) throughout the summer. (They do not do an overnight camp, though.) Council total assets is $6.6M, with revenue of $939K. Land preservation trust assets are $27.4M, with revenue of $7.4M. Might be apples to oranges, but I think it is a near-comparison.
  9. Talk with the Committee Chair (CC) first, privately. If that doesn't soothe things over, ask someone else who has clashed with them to speak with them privately. The message might begin to get through. Do not double-team or call them out in public. It will only make matters worse. If the behavior is destroying the Pack, take the other person/persons who have clashed with the CC, and go have a tactful conversation with the Chartered Organization Representative (COR). Before you do this, have a plan for what to do next. Who is going to be the next Committee Chair? If you cannot answer that question, then all you are doing is pulling the pin on the hand grenade and tossing it in the COR's lap. (Be a part of the solution rather than part of the problem.) When you have the next person wo is willing to take on the role of CC, and a group of like-minded people to talk with the COR, ask the COR to speak with the CC to either modify behavior or step down. Adults ruin Scouting. Best wishes...
  10. Much of the land was donated. And often, much of the infrastructure. Many of these properties were given in perpetuity for use of Scouts or with some other type of restrictions or directed donation. I have heard anecdotes from Scouters across the country relating instances where councils have sold properties under such restrictions, after waiting a few decades until people forget or donors have passed away, but I have never seen such restrictions in writing on a deed in order to verify those claims. Can anyone here provide concrete examples of that practice? This type of restriction is also said to be on the deeds to Philmont. Again, I have never seen them, and the OA site mentions only some minor stipulations... https://oa-bsa.org/history/waite-phillips The Waite and Genevieve Phillips Foundation did file with the bankruptcy court to be given all documents in the bankruptcy, ostensibly to protect their interests in Philmont: https://casedocs.omniagentsolutions.com/cmsvol2/pub_47373/839320_1093.pdf
  11. Training... done by volunteers Programs (except Summer Camp)... planned and done by volunteers Supervise units??... Unit supervision is done by unit volunteers Support units??... done by Commissioners, when they exist. Council support to units comes in the form of Registrar functions, and local Scout Shop... both of which could be done at the national level by adopting technology. Additional fees are tacked on to Training courses, to help fund council employees Additional fees are tacked on to programs (camporees, merit badge colleges, University of Scouting, etc.), to help fund council Guess who did the legwork for each of the last seven years to get our Annual Charter Agreement finished and turned in? I did. Most of that time, we have had no DE. Many units are operating with no charter agreement for several months after recharter, until someone at council gets around to correcting the deficiency, and back-dates the Charter Agreements. I call that playing with fire, liability-wise.
  12. @Nate_m, when you look at the list of Dens in Scoutbook, each should have a green check mark by it. It looks like this: I suspect the missing Den does not have that check mark. If this is the case, then open that Den and look at the list of options below the name list. Find "Edit Den" Open that and "Approve Den" and save. That might fix the issue.
  13. Also, to be clear... we do not set up actual individual accounts for Scouts. It is simply money in the Troop account that is earmarked for use by the Scout. Money does not go from Troop account #12345 to Scout account #67890. All money stays in and is paid from Troop account #12345.
  14. https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2014/12/03/individual-scout-accounts/
  15. @Nate_m, you are missing the fundamental premise. ALL, repeat ALL, monies fundraised belong to the Chartering Organization. Period. Those monies NEVER belong to the Scout, nor to the Unit!! Now, that said, a CO is allowed to use SOME, repeat SOME, of the monies fundraised for the benefit of individual Scouts, and SOLELY for Scouting purposes. The IRS sets the rules for this. In a nutshell, a Scout may not receive a substantial benefit, although the IRS has never defined exactly what a "substantial benefit" is. It is a gray area. We can go deep down that rabbit hole if you like... The Unit Committee is acting on behalf of the CO when developing financial policies for sharing fundraised monies. The CO (if they care to) has final say over the disposition of all fundraised monies. 99.99% of them let the unit figure that out. Rarely will you hear of a CO interjecting into a Unit's business, but it has happened. Our unit uses a 70-30 split. So, if a Scout raises $100, $70 goes to the unit general fund, and $30 is kept for use on behalf of the Scout. If a Cub Scout never uses the $30, then that money may transfer over to the Troop, but only into the Scout's individual account, and not the Troop general fund. If the Scout never uses these funds, and ceases to be a member of the unit, then, and only then, do we transfer it back to the general fund. Fundraised monies may never be given to the individual or used to pay for items not furthering the purposes of Scouting. In the IRS's eyes, this becomes taxable income. If your Pack Committee has a policy in place to transfer these monies to the Troop, then you should adhere to that. It would be best if that was in writing in some kind of by-laws or policies book the Pack keeps. Good luck finding one 😜 Final note... it is illegal for you to transfer monies from a Pack under one CO to a Troop under another CO, without the knowledge of both CO's. This is tantamount to theft, so please tread carefully. This would be a donation from CO#1 to CO#2, and the financial powers that be may want some paper trail for accounting/tax purposes.
  16. I absolutely guarantee your local council camp is in desperate need of help this summer. Do you have a free week during the camp season? Volunteer to work at the camp. They will likely give you a tent and meals gratis, for your effort. Even if you volunteer to be the lookout in the tower at the waterfront all week, it will be a great help. Or, if you are handy, ride with the Camp Ranger for the week (or work in the shop). There is always something that needs fixing at camp! Summer Camp is a great place to get "visibility" with many of your local troop leaders, district, and council folks. If you are looking to forge relationships, this is the most "bang for your buck." If you work for a major corporation, most have a "Dollars for Doers" program, where you volunteer X amount of hours, and they donate Y amount of dollars to the charity you work for. If you have this, volunteer at camp (knocks out the hours quickly), and have corporate send the donation to the council. There are a million ways to do this. Also, I totally get the reaction of others, but also totally disagree with it. We have built a system of Youth Protection that, if followed, should help remove some of that groundless mistrust. But, you must follow the YPT rules and Scouter Code of Conduct strictly. Do not give anyone reason to suspect, and gradually, that wall will come down. You will need to fill out an application for Camp Staff, and depending on your state, do background checks and some training, but that is all do-able. Again, what state are you in?
  17. LOL, that's just downright dishonest... What state are you in, please?? We need some help 😜
  18. Because sexual mores are very different here in the US. I remember my time in Sweden, when I had discussions with many Swedes about views on sex. Very different. Still....
  19. Because of the exorbitant cost (IMO) of most providers, I took a trip to Philmont and became a Wilderness First Aid Instructor for Emergency Care and Safety Institute, through the course at the Philmont Training Center. Took the family with (four of us, total), and it was a great "vacation." (Highly recommend that to everyone. PTC has some great courses.) Now, I am certified to teach WFA, FA, and CPR/AED. I did have to lay out an investment in course materials and training aids... several thousand, in fact. I charge less than half of what any provider charges, and, over the years, the course fees have more than paid for the CPR manikins, AED trainer and supplies, and approved course materials. I teach about one class every two months. (Have to teach two classes per year to remain current.) For each class, I say the training (my time) is free, but the digital certificate you have to pay for 😜 Lots of Scouts just opt for the training, to fulfill requirements for badges. As they get older and land jobs, many pay the nominal fee to get the certificate. Adults all get the certificates...
  20. I hear this, too, and it baffles me. Realistically, 21 MB's is not difficult over a seven year span, if starting from cross-over. When BSA allowed young ladies to join and pursue Eagle, my daughter took the challenge. She asked me for advice on how to map out the program. We sat down and did that, looking at a timeline to complete it in the 19 months minimum required. She earned exactly 21 MB's, and completed the program in about 21 months, and still felt "rushed" in her words. (Of course, she had to wait for the Inaugural Class to be recognized at the 24 month mark after joining Scouts, BSA.) She never attended Summer Camp in BSA as a camper. She did work one summer as staff. Went to four years of Summer Camp as a Girl Scout. Overall, though, she enjoyed the process (especially doing Automotive Maintenance MB with dear old Dad!) Dear Eagle Scout son will turn 18 this month. Has 45 MB's, and has done seven years of Summer Camp. He only did three "Eagle-requireds" at Summer Camp: First Aid (which I had to go over with him again because he didn't really do the requirements at camp), Swimming, and Environmental Science. These last three years of camp were his favorite. Going to camp, hanging out with friends, having free time to chill in Hammock Hollow (that's what they called their Patrol's hammock encampment 😜), taking only one or two badges each summer. (of things that he really wanted to do... SCUBA, Shotgun Shooting, Wilderness Survival, Small-boat Sailing, etc.) He said these last few years have been the best. Too many people focus on the destination, rather than the journey to get there. https://mindfulambition.net/journey-over-destination/
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