InquisitiveScouter

There you go trying to inject common sense and practicality into things again! Will you never learn? Maddening isn't it??

Sounds like things are on a good track... except for one thing... The Committee and adults should not have put you in the position of having to figure out what to do with the girl troop/patrol. They are supposed to be entirely separate, and choose and run their own program. But, as you have found, the reality can be quite different.

Fingerprints can change due to physical injury (burns) or intentional disfigurement, as well. https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/US/crooks-erase-past-erasing-fingerprints/story?id=11236512

Yes, you will see more biometrics use in the future, I'm sure of it.

Ahhh...because they are checking for that fingerprint being matched to criminal records for other names, aliases, false identities, etc.

In PA, it isn't just the fingerprints...they must fingerprint you and run those through the FBI database. Costs about $25, and must be done every five years, until you reach 10 years of PA residency. At that point, you may file an Affidavit stating such, and that you have not committed certain offenses (these offenses would appear on your PA State Police Criminal Check, which is also required.) https://www.dhs.pa.gov/KeepKidsSafe/Resources/Documents/Disclosure Statement for Volunteers.pdf

Welcome! Here's a plan for your next meeting: Opening - Scout Oath and Law -SPL Patrol Meetings - Run by PLs, their choice on activities (have ASPL, SM and ASMs assist and instruct if needed) Game - SPL Scoutmasters Minute Closing - Scoutmaster's Benediction- delegate this to your ASPL So, really, all you have to do is open and find a good game to play. https://troopresources.scouting.org/patrol-activities/ Have fun and learn!

Sounds like similar growing pains we went through in Pennsylvania.

So, BSA Adult Application should be revised to, "Do you use illegal substances, have a dependence on or abuse alcohol or have substance abuse disorder?" Or some other legalese text, but if, and only if, there was statistical evidence that this significantly contributed to child abuse cases. Otherwise, this should be covered by the BSA Scouter Code of Conduct: "7. I confirm that I have fully disclosed and will disclose in the future any of the following: Any criminal suspicion, charges, or convictions of a crime or offense involving abuse, violence, sexual misconduct, or any mi

We were at our camp for a district event, and one of our Scouts found a bag of marijuana on the ground in a high traffic area. We gave it to the Ranger and reported it to the SE. I asked the SE if he wanted me to contact authorities. He said, "No, they would handle it." Ranger had friends in LE, and he said he would give it to them for destruction. Ranger also said they would not have police respond, as nothing would result from an investigation, and the local LE was overburdened anyway. Sounded fishy to me, so I asked my lawyer. He said, as long as I did not know it was anyone in our u

I'm not a clinician, but I see there is a difference between abuse and dependence. https://www.hazeldenbettyford.org/articles/what-is-the-difference-between-alcohol-abuse-and-dependence https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/alcohol-abuse-vs-alcohol-dependence https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK44358/ The BSA Adult Application screens for "abuse" not "dependence". Question 6b on the right side. https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/524-501.pdf Sounds like you might advocate to change the verbiage from "abuse" to "dependence", but I think, un

The VIPER is coming!!!

I do not cut corners. If you violate the rules, there is stern correction and a warning. Second offense, you lose your knife and access to tools for the duration of the camping trip. Third offense is a loss of Totin Rights until you can demonstrate verbal knowledge of safety practices and rules, and demonstrate practical safe use handling and care again, of all tools (basically, repeating requirements for Totin Chip.) We've had multiple first offenses (mostly from younger Scouts who forget the rules or haven't handled the tools much), rare second offenses, and no third offenses in all

Remember, these were people who had these attitudes, made these decisions, and took these actions. They are hidden from us, mostly, and most will never face consequences from us for what they did. And people like them populate every institution we create: families, churches, schools, governments... From one Eagle Scout to another, please display your certificate and medal proudly. They are a mark of your achievement and dedication to an ideal, and who you should strive to be. If it helps, make a color copy of it and mark through "Boy Scouts of America" as a personal act of defianc

It would say, "Well, done! Strive to follow the truth you have learned in all your days, and do what you know in your heart to be right. You will carry a burden of pain until you are done with this life. If you seek to bear it alone, it will grow. Find those who lift you up, and help you along your way. You must do this daily. Have faith that, in the life to come, perfect Justice will be done on those who have harmed you."

Loved your post, but don't quite get what you mean with this. Elaborate, please?

We are not your average unit. We try very hard to have women in the program. After about five years of cultivating this culture, we have only two moms who camp with us (ever). One is great in the outdoors and really gets the program...when Scouts run to her with problems, she asks the most important question an adult can …"Did you ask your patrol leader?" The other is not so great in the outdoors. After about three days at Summer Camp, she left. Hot meals prepared for you, daily hot showers available, and flush toilets (yes, even in the campsite), were not enough. She really did not lik

Officially licensed, even 😜 https://tradingpost.classb.com/official-licensed-cat-herder-patrol-patch/

Whoopie Ti Yi Yo, Git Along, Little Kitties!

Understood...and I wrestle with this daily. My wife wishes I would just leave Scouting and start beekeeping and gardening...and start a cat rescue, too (she's a cat-lady‐in-the-making). Things haven't gotten so bad that I'm ready to go so far as the cat rescue thing yet.

OK, I unquit...see how easy that is? Merry Christmas! And WOW, way to kick them while they are down, brother... I regularly talk with Scouters who are carrying loads and loads of straw. Often, since they have dedicated much of their lives to Scouting in one geographical area, they are attached to the local program in meaningful and sentimental ways. And often, they have witnessed decades of poor decision making and mismanagement which has affected them on a personal level. It's not like they are "waiting for a reason to step away." It's just that, finally, one day, there is

You're right. I quit. Goodbye.

We have a 'Trail to Eagle' board with all the Scouts names on it. When they advance in rank, we chant "Change the Board" while they move their name up. Maybe we should change it to 'Trail to First Class.' And let the rest be icing on the cake 😜

SO, do you think the BSA will take any suggestions from these young people? I don't.

^^^^^This From G2SS: "Parents and youth are strongly encouraged to use these safeguards outside the Scouting program. Registered leaders must follow these guidelines with all Scouting youth outside of Scouting activities." What I do outside of Scouting is none of BSA's business. If my son wishes to have a friend over (with his parents' consent), and my wife is not at home for an hour or so because she is running to the grocery store, we'll be just fine, BSA, thanks... And can you imagine this conversation? "Dad, is it OK if Jimmy comes over after school? We would like to