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Everything posted by InquisitiveScouter
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At the Troop, we cancelled one camping trip, and did about 4 meetings and two PLCs on Zoom. As soon as it was warm enough, we had all meetings outside, and did one-per-tent camping trips. Even designed and did our own Summer Camp.
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The life of all Scout units is bound up more in the adult volunteers and parents than in the youth... I'm not sure BSA really gets this... That is, it seems the marketing is to try to appeal to youth primarily. They see all the adventure advertising and say, "Hey, I'd like to do that!" Parents sign them up and are then told, "Hey, you have to help plan, organize, train, and support that!" Classic bait and switch? With our prospective parents/youth who visit our unit, we tell them we recruit parents first. We expect parents to participate on some level in the program.
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Any Insights to on Council Fundraising Report?
InquisitiveScouter replied to InquisitiveScouter's topic in Council Relations
So, if I read all the other Form 990's right, from 2016 to 2019, those events lost a combined $92,779... -
Any Insights to on Council Fundraising Report?
InquisitiveScouter replied to InquisitiveScouter's topic in Council Relations
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It's going around... Our council lost eleven units at recharter. Don't know the mix of Packs/Troops/Crews, but it isn't good, in any case.
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Ok, so, for kicks I ran through the last five IRS Form 990's available for our council (from the IRS website) (latest posted is 2019), Schedule G, Part II, Fundraising Events. Net Income? 2019: -$10,617 (5 total events...golf outings, skeet shoots, etc.) 2018: -$7,550 (7 total events) 2017: -$6,261 (7 total events) 2016: -$68,351 (8 total events) 2015: $41,735 (7 total events, and hey! In the black) So, for those five years, the net income for 34 events was -$51,044 Does this mean the other revenues in our council have gone to subsidize these? Or, is there some accounting nuance I might be missing here?
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And second youth staffer from my unit just confirmed....during the storm, adult staff did leave the dining hall to check on the NYLT patrols. (I'm fine with that...adults can assume their own risk...) But, the adult staff also had the youth staff go out in the storm to visit and check on NYLT patrols, with active lightning/thunder. I had the Scout on speaker phone with his Dad... I told him to please never do that again. Adults should not be directing them to take that risk. And, if they do, politely refuse. If they press, excuse yourself, get your phone and call your parent for help. Dad wholeheartedly concurred. That Scout is 14.
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So, I just spoke with the Camp Director/Training Advisor... During Summer Camp, there is simply not enough space to provide safe haven for all campers inside recommended structures. Summer Camp "procedures" are to watch storm cells on radar, and only pull people into the robust structures if the cells get within 10 miles or if there is "significant effect" to camp, in the eyes of Camp Director and Program Director. (His explanation, not mine...) My observation of this practice is that it is based on an underlying assumption is that lightning is predictable. I do appreciate the dilemma based on building capacities. Of course, the follow on question is, well what do you do when there is a "significant effect" or the cells are within 10, with those that don't fit in the buildings? At this NYLT weekend event, he had advised Course Directors to use those Summer Camp procedures. Camp Director concurs with me that this is not acceptable, and that, if space is available, it must be used. He agreed (from under his Training Advisor hat) that they should not have applied the Summer Camp practices to this event. We will talk again soon after I digest this...and I will ask what course of action he intends to implement. Holding on to the Near Miss report until next conversation tomorrow... ------------------------------------ At the out-of-council Summer Camp we attended year before last, this was pretty much the same story. (I didn't give a flying leap.) When there was visible lightning/audible thunder, I happened to be near the Scoutmaster lounge, so informed the camp leadership. One (remaining nameless & title-less) looked at his phone and said "That storm isn't going to affect us." I told him I was pulling all my Scouts into the dining hall. As if it would change my mind he said, "Well, they are going to get partials for the classes they miss." I walked away to gather our Scouts into the dining hall. While we were in there, Scouts were out in the pouring rain, changing classes. Lightning struck and downed a tree less than 100 feet from dining hall. The flash and bang were spectacular 😜 In about 45 seconds, we had 200 new friends in there with us . One of those times you hate being right... Now anytime I tell our Scouts we are getting to cover, they skedaddle!
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Lol, thanks... But, I know my opinions are not valued by our SE. And, I really do not expect them to change a thing... Of course, I do not recommend our parents have Scouts go to any council functions here. OA functions are laughable, and summer camp is much the same. Our neighboring council runs a much better NYLT program. I usually vector them there...this incident just confirms that course... Yes, 1x4's. and many of the lean-to's shake and shift (do you like those cement blocks?) They have been improving them over the years... Know of a tactful way to say I'm keeping a record of the incident and report, should a future injury be reported?
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I have been drafting the Incident Report / Near Miss this morning. Trying to avoid emotion, conjecture, opinion and conclusions....just trying to stick to facts known from interviewing my three Scouts who were on the course. Here's one of the lean-to's at our our camp Better than a tent, or no cover at all, but not when there is a dining hall within a short walk. Staff also knew strong storms were coming well in advance, and should have wickered program to move indoors. BSA safety notes are clear and unambiguous that these structures are not safe during thunderstorms. Yet, staff, including professional staff (full-time position Camp Director) are telling people they are. Unsat.
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Chapter 11 Announced - Part 9 - Confirmation Hearing
InquisitiveScouter replied to Eagle1993's topic in Issues & Politics
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Who can know it? -
OMG, you will not believe this... So, during said storm, the adult staff told the 35 youth participants to stay in their lean-to shelters, which they did. Guess where the adult and youth staff were???...in the dining hall!!!! And there was plenty of room for all!! Guide to Safe Scouting: Camping: Lightning Risk Reduction? Well, I guess it is just a "guide"... Hazardous Weather Training?? meh... BSA Safety Incident Review: Lightning? That's for others, not me 😈😈 😈😈😈
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nvm...googled "bripe"...gotcha
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Dining flys, canopies, and three-sided lean-to's in the campsite immediately adjacent to dining hall. During the afternoon/evening and into the night... Talking with one more Scout this evening to corroborate before I submit a report to council. Thanks @qwazse for vector on the Near Miss. Spot on. They were literally 200-250 feet from a dining hall that accommodates 500 people... More to follow...
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At our Scout meeting, I talked with parents of our newest NYLT grad. During the NYLT session last weekend, there was a strong thunderstorm. (We live about 12 miles, as the crow flies, from the camp, and it was pretty intense here.) The parents told me their Scout was terrified...Scout reports that NYLT adult leaders told them to stay outdoors during the storm with visible lightning/audible thunder. Dining hall was about 250 feet away. The parents asked me about lightning safety precautions and why they weren't followed. I told them I'd look into it and report. I will seek some additional input from our other NYLTers to corroborate, and report this to our SE in the morning. Any advice or experiences to share?? These things, if true, really chap my hide, as they border on criminal...