InquisitiveScouter

Follow up: So, it all depends... Grants can be tricky, depending on the IRS reporting. In order to apply for this grant, the grantor wanted an EIN to verify we were a bona fide non-profit. Depending on nature of the grant, grantors and grantees may incur some IRS reporting requirements as well. https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/private-foundations/grant-defined https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/private-foundations/grants-to-noncharitable-organizations https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/private-foundations/reports-from-grantees In this case, we asked our CO if we could use their EIN. They gave enthusiastic permission! However, the grantor in this case rolls up all grants to Scout units in their program. The question was, what will they do for reporting? If they used a single EIN, and it was either a council or national EIN, then we would need permission to accept the grant from the EIN holder. So I corresponded with their corporate finance office, and they assured me that their reporting did not use our CO, any BSA council, or BSA national info for their filing. When I relayed all of this to our council finance and SE, they understood they had no dog in the fight. You do not need council permission, UNLESS the council is your CO! Scout on!!! btw, @qwazse I only sought their input because of a certain animosity on our council's part towards our unit and the way we do business. Council does not appreciate it when we know and apply the rules to our advantage....which we repeatedly do 😜 But you have to know the rules!!! Especially when it comes to money. P.S. Reveling in, rather than regretting this one

We live near a big pharma corporation. Several parents work for them. When the parents donate volunteer time to our Troop, the company will also make a $500 donation to the non-profit who sponsors you. We asked our chartering organization if they were fine with us using their EIN for IRS reporting purposes. They gave us enthusiastic approval. The first year we did this, the corporation sent the check, payable to our unit, to our local council. Fortunately, someone in accounting caught it, instead of trying to deposit it for the council. The council Director of Development was livid, and tried to pressure us into giving them the money. Not only NO, but "H" "E" double-toothpicks NO. I picked up the check from the council office with a big smile. Scout on!

Welcome @MattySchnides! Zero percent!!!!!!!! And the DE response is laughable.🤣 Units do not exist to provide a cash cow for the council. Give them zero and ignore any other correspondence on the matter.

It is bad...no need for any of that. It's just a scheme to generate revenue.

A Scout is thrifty!!!

Yeah, all around bad idea, IMO. Agree with @Sentinel947 Call them and ask for your Silver Buffalo medal, certificate, and knot! At around $25 per, and time to produce the certificates...if 10K survivors asked, you're looking at $250K min and a good amount of man-hours. Anyone willing to call and find out the phone number/contact info for the process??

Used to be a neighbor, Barry! Lived in Enid from 89 to 93. Great Salt Plains Council it was back then...

Welcome back @physics32 I wish I just made this!

It was a discussion forum, not a forum to engage with BSA employees. When someone put forth a wrong idea, others invariably stepped in to correct it. I think they shut it down because the discussions pointed out so many flaws in the way BSA publishes and promulgates information, that they just wanted to eliminate the embarrassment.

Was not meant as any insult to survivors... Please be careful, if you look for offense, you will always find it Any castigation of BSA is deserved given the track record. Ton of bricks, bad juju, heavy hand, iron rod, righteous sentence...choose any phrase you wish.

OK, then find another adult to go camping and offer it up. Even if you only get two Scouts, go hang out in the woods!

Have you complete the Youth Protection Training online??

They cannot unload Summit...half a billion dollars in debt 😜

Are you willing to be an adult leader to take them camping?

A second in-depth look at this... BSA is about to face the next excrement wave just as they see the light at the end of the tunnel on bankruptcy proceedings.

Yes, all at once, unless specifically required to be sequential, like the fitness stuff. So, you can help your Scout by 1) asking him if he would like to earn ranks (try not to impose your own sense of performance, accomplishment, and achievement); if he wants to earn, then he has to learn. That is absolutely the best when self-motivated, not imposed by others (you, Troop leadership, etc.) 2) if #1 is a "yes", then just review the Scout requirements with him, and let him pick one that he wants to do and learn first. Show him that the page numbers for those things are listed and that he can find lots of info in the book. After a brief review of the requirement, DO!!!! (according to the book) If you don't understand something, come here and ask 😛 [Wanna be an awesome Scouter Dad? Get your own copy of the Scout Handbook and read/go through the requirements yourself!!! Learn what they must learn!!!] 2A) Once he learns and does a skill, review it with him, then challenge him to find someone at the Troop to whom he can show what he knows and get the requirement approved in his Scout Handbook (signed off) 2B) Once he gets one signed off, wash, rinse, repeat. The skills and knowledge become more difficult to master as you go along. 3) if #1 is a "not yet", then relax and enjoy all the other bits of Scouting. Don't worry...if they are playing games, they are still learning. Remember, "The Battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton."

Maybe...there is a physical fitness requirement for Tenderfoot (T), Second Class (2C), and First Class (1C), which requires, among other things: (T) An initial fitness assessment, (T) a plan to improve, tracking activity for 30 days, (T) a final assessment to measure improvement, (2C) 4 weeks of tracking 30 mins per day for 5 days per week (2C) fitness discussion and continuation plan, (1C) another 4 weeks of tracking 30 mins per day for 5 days per week (1C) fitness discussion and continuation plan So, all the fitness stuff takes a minimum of three months. I find that this is the biggest hold up for Scouts advancing to First Class. It seems the unit may be spoon feeding this program in order to have Scouts advance quickly. I personally disagree with the approach, but each Troop gets to set their own program. Our PLC has not chosen to undertake this model.

Welcome!

Welcome WilliamC! Much to talk about here! And, if you wish, a bit easier to retain your anonymity. Fleshing out ideas sometimes get peoples' feathers ruffled a bit, but that it the way it must be.

Here's another head-scratcher... https://discussions.scouting.org/t/please-ask-your-council-to-request-to-national-to-reinstate-the-program-forums/290465

I think you should crossover to your Troop as soon as you finish AOL. Start Scouting now, go back to the Pack for the ceremony later...

@fred8033 You and your council were following the rules. Most do not. Here, buy whatever you want in the store and hand it out like candy. It's about the money (you have any idea what the markup is on stuff in a Scout store?), not the program. Advancement report schmadvancement report....

Dunno how to do the programming, but the Scoutbook folks cracked the code... https://discussions.scouting.org/t/citizenship-in-society-clarification-for-star-and-life/270099

Just one rule...do not photoshop your results: (Not a cobbler of mine, but I wish it was 😜)

This is certainly one piece of the puzzle. A Scout should make first class when it darn well pleases him, and he has the motivation to do the requirements. In most Troop programs I see, everything is repeatedly spoonfed to them, or outright pencil-whipped. I love the idea of ILST and NYLT being required. An implementation plan might need a bit of work, but I think this is doable. Meaningful leadership roles? Now there's a failure I've been trying to crack the code on for a while. Librarian and Historian (and Bugler and Assistant Patrol Leader, for that matter) can be meaningful leadership positions. This depends on the Scout having a session to set meaningful goals (SMART goals a la NYLT), and having to be accountable for them. This leadership development takes a lot of time and follow up, but merit badges and rank accumulation tend to get in the way. I say make the writing and accomplishment of SMART goals part of the requirement for these leadership positions. BTW, "No" to requiring they must be a PL or SPL. You can be a great leader as a Den Chief or a Chaplain Aide, or Chief-Cook-and-Bottle-Washer. Trained adults who follow the program are the most critical element of successful Scouting. You are doing it well when you follow the standards set, and only deviate when good judgment dictates. (And be ready to have your judgment questioned.) Bingo.