InquisitiveScouter

I talked with the pastor (Institution Head) of our Chartered Organization two days ago about this.  If BSA tanks, the pastor fully supports us continuing a Scouting youth group, as long as we secure our own insurance policy.

Because we need to keep the gravy train rolling!  Someone has to spend all that money coming in!  What do you want to do...give it all to lawyers? (wait...uh...nvm that) Might as well create a slew of non-value added jobs to dole that money out

And after an SE is pushed out of a council for incompetence (if only that would happen), where else will we put them to continue to collect towards their retirement?

Nope, gotta have those Regional/Service Territory jobs (what do they do again?) and positions at National to absorb them somewhere.

"Don't let it become a salaried organization: keep it a voluntary movement of patriotic service."  BP  https://www.boyscouttrail.com/library/lordbadenpowell.asp

And our council has announced its fees for next year...

Raised again;

"The Local Council Service Fee will be prorated at the 2022 level until December 31, 2022. Effective January 1, 2023, the Local Council Fee will be raised to $72 per youth for the whole year for registrations that go in 2023."

So now we are at $147 for returning Scouts... $172 for first time Scouts.

Oh, and tack on $15 for Scout Life, if you want it.

(We used to be a 100% Boy's Life Unit... used to be.)

32 minutes ago, curious_scouter said:

I feel like we might be in the same council.  Either that or this is a VERY familiar story.

Last year my scouts got ONE lunch at a Camporee free for this fee.  A single turkey and cheese sandwich and a small box of milk.  No joke.

Not the same council, because at least your Scouts got something!  

Welcome!  and Welcome Back!

2 hours ago, RememberSchiff said:

Update  7/13/2022

"The future of Deer Lake in Killingworth, Connecticut, is still unclear two months after a May deadline for bids for the property."

- Connecticut Yankee Council (CYC) still in negotiation with two buyers - a developer (CYC Executive Board member) and a non-profit conservation group.

- ongoing lawsuit "whether there is a public trust in a dedicated bird sanctuary at Deer Lake"...“They were looking into the propriety of the charitable organization selling the property to a board member, an insider,” he said. “There’s a public aspect to [a charitably deductible, tax-deductible organization] operation, and private benefit to an insider is something that the [state] Attorney General’s office enforces.”

- "Connecticut AG office has an open investigation into the legality of the sale."

Source link:

https://www.wshu.org/connecticut-news/2022-07-13/months-later-deer-lake-sale-still-in-limbo

5 hours ago, HashTagScouts said:

the dirtier and grungier the sash is

LOL, how true...  I was once approached by a professional and he remarked that I should get a new sash because mine (Vigil) was looking quite used.  I said, "No , thanks.  I love my sash the way it is, and it has great sentimental value to me.  Actually, you might consider that yours is too clean."  👹

Make the private inquiries first, as you have outlined.  If they are not given to someone in need, then make them Troop "loaners".  Loan them out with the stipulation that they be returned when the youth leaves the Troop or decides not to backpack any more.

We have bicycles in our Troop that are done this way.  Good bicycles are expensive, and Scouts outgrow them.  So, parents have often donated bikes to the Troop, and we hand them back out as needed.  Keep the bike for as long as it fits you, maintain it, and give it back when you are done using it, so another Scout can use it.

And we don't keep track...leave it up to the Scout.  

Our fees for 2022 were $72 National and $66 Council, total $138.  $163 for new Scouts.

Council has not yet announced 2023 fees.

What have we seen from our fees locally?  Nothing.  Our DE (who is stretched way too thin) did not have the bandwidth to visit our IH to get our 2022 Charter Agreement.  We did the legwork for him and got all signatures, then delivered it to him.

Shouldn't be that way.

But, hey! There is a Council Golf Tournament and a Trap Shooting Fund Raiser on the Council's books! 

Why do we pay fees for things/services that are not available, or we don't use?

Meanwhile, our camp facilities are a C... maybe C+ And we have only the one camp...

I am for more council mergers, and transition to national-level IT solutions for most of the membership functions councils do...

What are the functions of council left? 

- Run a camp (volunteers plan and execute all other program... with council tacking on extra fees to help pay salaries)

- Unit service for, primarily, YPT or safety infractions.  Understand and agree on the need for this...

- Fund development needs would be greatly reduced by cutting staff positions. How many of your council employees exist primarily to support fundraising?

Our unit runs well because of dedicated volunteers, not because of any support our council provides.

We even do (out of necessity due to scarcity of opportunities in-council) most of our leader and youth training out-of-council.

Merge, baby, merge...

Congress has been sitting for a long time on legislation introduced to reform bankruptcy law.  I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that lobbyists have been hard at work to have this die without a vote.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/4777

3 minutes ago, DuctTape said:

A go-to resource for the scouts for information, mB cards, recommendations, etc is a worthwhile ASM duty for a very large troop.

If a troop does have an ASM dedicated/focused on advancement, that person should be acutely aware of the slipperiness of advancement as a method to advancement as an aim. The ASM should be careful to ensure advancement is the scout's journey and not push, prod, nor carry the scout along for the ride. Good are gentle reminders posed as questions such as "hey bobby, how is the archery mB going? You got a partial at camp last summer right?" As stated this role can slide a troop into advancement as an Aim and worse not belong to the Scout. 

Hey, wait...isn't the purpose of a Troop to produce as many Eagle Scouts as possible in as short a time as possible?

40 minutes ago, Tron said:

The advancement chairs responsibility is primarily to ensure everything gets recorded properly. It is a functionary position of responsibility with little to no authority. In my role as an advancement chair I simply cite the GTA and tell the direct leaders to fix the documentation or I will.

And to arrange Boards of Review when requested!

1 hour ago, Trabucchi said:

Can anyone point me to some guidance on how to communicate with my troop to address the recent publication of this program or the others that will likely follow?  While it's easy to share good news, it's honest to share the bad news as well so it can be openly discussed.

Bob

Just stick with facts you know.

You are not (I think) a spokesperson for BSA, so be up front about that.  Any ideas you communicate are your own and not the position of BSA or your council on the matter.

If you want to have something to relay regarding BSA's position, reach out to your DE and SE for your council's talking points.

Then, please be so kind as to share them here.

Very poorly worded....

I would read this to say you must determine whether you can adjust sights before you begin shooting for score...

If you can adjust, then do requirement l) and show that you can shoot 15 shots (five groups of three) that can be covered by a quarter. (It doesn't matter where that grouping is on the target.)  Then, m) make the adjustment and then shoot 25 shots (five of five) for score (which aims for bullseye)  In this scenario, Scouts must shoot a minimum of 40 rounds. 

If you cannot adjust, you must shoot 25 shots (five groups of five) that can be covered by a quarter.  Again, these groupings can be anywhere on the target.  Then explain how to adjust.  In this scenario, Scouts could complete the requirement with a minimum of 25 rounds.

1 hour ago, malraux said:

I believe you can dodge the registration fees the first year by first registering as a MBC and then submitting a multiple registration application to register as an ASM. That said, for the future, the unit level registration will be considered primary, and the district/council level registration (like MBC, commissioner, district committee) will be considered the multiple registration.

No, you can't.  The registrars will not allow this.  MBC is a "no fee" position.  All unit positions are "fee" positions.  Registrars can see this.  (The only "no fee" unit position is Institution Head (IH) )

If you are in a "no fee" position, and register for a "fee" position, the registrar will charge you.

Once you have a paid "fee" position in a primary unit, you can then multiple into other fee positions in other units at no charge.

13 hours ago, Wondering said:

I am wondering...

What happens when a merit badge counselor (who didn't have to pay registration fees) wants to become an ASM as well?  MBC is a district/council position so how does that work if the MBC is a parent in a troop--would this MBC have to then pay fees to be dual-registered as an ASM for the troop?  Can this MBC serve as a Troop Committee Member and vote?

How about a currently registered ASM signing on to also become a MBC so that he/she no longer has to pay registration fees at recharter?  Can that be done?

Am I right to assume that adults who register for free as MBCs will not show up on the troop roster on Scoutbook?

This used to be a work-around to avoid registration fees... but no longer.

1. What happens when a merit badge counselor (who didn't have to pay registration fees) wants to become an ASM as well? 

- They must fill out an application and pay the fees to become a registered unit leader/unit member.

2. MBC is a district/council position so how does that work if the MBC is a parent in a troop--would this MBC have to then pay fees to be dual-registered as an ASM for the troop? 

- Yes.  Note:  MBC's are not registered with your unit.  They have not been approved by the COR as a unit leader.  This COR approval is done through the signed application.  MBCs do not count for two-deep leader requirements on unit outings.  They can count for two-deep only in MB counseling sessions, where the other adult must be a parent/guardian of the Scout, our a registered unit leader (for the Scout's unit).

3. Can this MBC serve as a Troop Committee Member and vote? Can that be done?

- Yes, but only by registering as a Committee Member.  Note:  SM/ASM's are NOT members of the Troop Committee.  The Scoutmaster Corps does not have a vote in Committee Meetings.  They are there to advise and report.  However, I have been a part of many units that just allow anyone who shows up for a meeting to vote.  It should not be that way, but many do it.  The SM/ASM's work for the Committee!  The feedback on their performance comes through the Boards of Review that Committee Members do.

4.  How about a currently registered ASM signing on to also become a MBC so that he/she no longer has to pay registration fees at recharter?

- It doesn't work that way.  If the person wants to stay as an ASM, the unit must pay the fee at recharter.  See note under #2.  

5. Am I right to assume that adults who register for free as MBCs will not show up on the troop roster on Scoutbook?

- Correct.  MBCs (if that is their only position) will not show up on your Troop roster.  They are not members of your unit.

When Scoutbook was first out, you could put people on your roster there without having them pay registration fees.  So, that's what we did: register them as MBCs, and internally have them be COR approved.  It saved a lot of money on recharter.  We followed the letter of the law, but not the spirit of it.  Basically, it comes down to this, the BSA wants its money!  Yes MBCs have to do YPT and get a background check done.  So, administratively, other than the COR-approved unit application, there is no substantial difference between an MBC and a Unit Scouter Reserve.  We actually kept our leader roster at the minimum of five (to recharter the unit), and put in the other positions in Scoutbook.  (It saved us hundreds of dollars) Someone at National got wise to this scheme (maybe), and now that the Scoutbook roster is tied to your official unit roster, you cannot do this any more.

Does that help answer?

51 minutes ago, MattR said:

But isn't the problem of no ownership what caused this mess in the first place? If COs weren't doing their jobs overseeing units then how will making councils responsible for oversight solve that problem. Now, DEs have the added responsibility of unit oversight? This seems to me like a bandaid.

Bingo!  We have a winner!

Well, we can hire someone for oversight, but then, your council service fees increase.  On the bright side, you may actually get some service then!

9 hours ago, 5thGenTexan said:

I don't want to derail the other threads... I am looking for more how it works than anything.

Obviously I am not new to Scouting, but I am new to having to get a new CO.  We have been chartered by the local Methodist Church for decades, so this doesnt come up often.  

 

Are there any requirements for an organization to be CO other than a willingness?  

We don't need a meeting place.

We don't need a place to store equipment. 

 

We will need an organization to fill the role though.  The group we are thinking about knows all about the Units as many of the members are with or have been involved in Scouting in the community.  

I just need to know what all the ducks are and get them in their rows.  And fairly quickly I guess.

 

 

 

They have to agree to recognize your COR (you have to have one for chartering) and sign the Charter Agreement

http://www.scouting.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Annual-Charter-Agreement-Charter-Organizations-.pdf

Normal. 

Being a bit of a worry-wart tells me you want to do a good job as SM, and that the Scouts are in good hands. 

You are responsible for all things health and safety related, so it is normal to have anxiety over those things.  It keeps you sharp and frosty!

Just finished the film with my lovely bride, and my daughter [inaugural Eagle Scout who is a rising college junior).  Although wifey has heard all points from film from me before, they were never delineated, condensed, and connected by me in such a good way as the documentary does.

She thinks (and so does DD) I should leave the organization.

Dear Daughter said, "It makes me ashamed to be associated with Scouts."  I haven't processed that yet.

One question that popped into my head: Does the Congressionally sanctioned BSA "monopoly", and the revenue stream generated from that unique position, contribute to the cultural intransigence within BSA we have discussed in this forum?

7 minutes ago, PACAN said:

This will be interesting to see how this is executed.   BSA National pushing more workload on the LCs without any resources.   Will they hire more staff and spread the cost to all units via "we need more FOS"?   LC will now "own" units and will they have to have LC approval to spend a nickel? 

I wonder if this  was "you take the UMC units or we will LDS you" ?  

One UMC church stopped sponsoring their troop and pack and they got an new sponsor with the American Legion.

Lots of issues.. Just my thoughts.  

We will probably experience the same amount of neglect as do we currently 😜

4 hours ago, yknot said:

They do love food but a lot of places will not allow you to have food. We can't have food items in any of our meeting locations -- we use a couple churches and a couple schools -- except a park campfire ring. Also, trying to do snacks in units with a lot of food issues is getting difficult. 

 

Yeah, we have multiple Scouts with nut allergies, one with a shellfish allergy, and even one allergic to...get this...bananas, strawberries and citrus fruits!  Poor kid 🙁

One of our guys just finished National Camp School at Ten Mile River.  He said they announced they will be selling approximately 8,000 acres (of 12,000) .  No price mentioned...

Will be sold to State of New York??

Anyone got words on this??

Our Chief Scout ought to be someone who deeply benefitted from the program... an Eagle Scout whose course in life was changed by their experiences in Scouting...someone who realized the "American Dream" and has continued in Scouting because of their success and a desire to give back.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Dream

If we tell their story like that, and make them the "face of Scouting," imagine the appeal...

Demographics of the individual shouldn't matter, but the Chief Scout story would be more appealing if they were a minority, "underprivileged", immigrant, or etc.  It hasn't been long enough to have the Chief Scout be a female Eagle Scout...

However, IMHO, there are way too many other corporate obstacles to overcome for the installation of a Chief Scout to be a panacea.

As @Cambridgeskippoints out, the Chief Scout won't be the be-all the end-all of a "turn around"

Although I am weathering the storm as best I can in my little corner of the world, I get the feeling we are on a sinking ship, and there is not likely to be a "turn around" for BSA.  I don't have confidence in the crew or captain running the ship, and my life jacket is on...😞

I'll be looking for the film on the 16th, and interested to see if that story gains any further traction in detriment to BSA.

The condition is fair.  I'd give between $25 and $50.  But, I have been out of the collecting game for about 10 years.

You may want the owner to contact someone else for a valuation:

https://boyscoutpatchtrader.com/contact-us/