InquisitiveScouter

28 minutes ago, curious_scouter said:

Main thing we did that would be a no-no today was cramming EVERYONE into a single shelter when winter camping.  It was a great way to stay warm, but having done it for many years as a youth I thoroughly understand the logic behind the "within 2 years" rule of YPT.  The information sharing was unfiltered. 

I learned a lot of new words and ideas 😛😜😜 

Citizenship in the Community

(not Nation)

-------------------------------------------------------

4. Choose an issue that is important to the citizens of your community; then do the following:

(a) Find out which branch of local government is responsible for this issue.

(b) With your counselor's and a parent or guardian's approval, interview one person from the branch of government you identified in requirement 4a. Ask what is being done about this issue and how young people can help.

(c) Share what you have learned with your counselor.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Not hard for us in our community... we have had lots of folks...

Any person paid for by local government could fit this requirement.

- Public Works could talk about roads, sewers, water, or any other items they deal with

- Animal Control could talk about the importance of proper pet care and how to work with your pet while out in public

- Police Officer could talk about crime prevention

- County Health could talk about how vaccinations are important for controlling communicable diseases (see recent news articles about measles and polio outbreaks)

- Emergency Management could talk about the importance of being prepared for natural disasters

etc, etc, etc

Many of these overlap with other Merit Badges.

And a phone conversation is fine...

10 minutes ago, scoutldr said:

After our troop folded (all Eagled/aged out), and no parents willing to step up, I took on district and council roles (Training and Camping Committees).  Then the fee increases started and health began to decline, so I threw in the towel right before COVID hit.  After being almost continuously registered in the same Council since 1964 (Eagle 1970), I called to let them know I wasn't going to recharter, the only response I got was "OK, thanks."  That told me I had made the right decision...no one cared.

 

Thank you for all those dedicated years of service!

I care, brother!

YIS

I am commiserating with you in most things.  Our Troop is still good at the moment, but I have seen a decline over the past two-three years that is now what I would call a trend towards an end, unless something changes.

All good things must come to an end.

Here's another one...

In the early 80's there was a US Army Ranger program for youth at Mt Yonah in Dahlonega, GA. (It is still going, but much different today... https://www.nega-bsa.org/Ranger)

We had a few of our older Scouts attend.  Of course, they became immediate "experts" in climbing and rappelling 😜 

They wanted to showcase their new-found coolness, and the venue our Troop selected was our annual Scout Show.  We worked with the fairground managers and our local power company, and sank four telephone poles into the ground there.  Then we got the lumber, hammer and nails, and built a 30 foot rappelling tower.

It was the hit of the Scout Show.  We had an assembly line of Scouts helping people tie a Swiss seat harness. (A requirement only recently removed from Climbing Merit Badge.  And, no, there was no Climbing MB back then.) Visitors would then climb up ladders to the top, and rappell down a doubled-up Army-issue twisted nylon rope, with a single carabiner.  No helmets.

A few of us demonstrated Australian rappell.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAnxYKUVNVI&ab_channel=SkillsforClimbing

(That's not a video of us, of course.)

Again, thank the good Lord, no one got hurt.  But, knowing what I know now about safe climbing practices... we were dangerous, and put a lot of folks at risk.

22 minutes ago, Maboot38 said:

OH I totally wouldn't put it that way to the scouts. It just means I have to amend my previous statements. I told them "if you come up with a fundraiser you want to do, let me know and I'll get the committee to help." Now I need to amend it somewhat.

In fact, anything that the PLC wants to do first needs to pass through me anyway as I wouldn't allow them to break rules or do something that goes against G2SS or YPT, so they know they can't do anything they want....but as it sounds...if the scouts said to me "We'd like to do a car wash in July", I'd have to tell them "no you're not allowed." Was hoping to avoid doing that.

If you submit the form for a carwash in July, and get declined by your council, I recommend you do it anyways. (I would be absolutely shocked if they declined.)

Just inform parents that you are doing it on behalf of your CO, to benefit your unit through them, and that the BSA insurance does not apply in that case.

BTW, do your unit parents know that BSA insurance is supplemental only? (There are some exceptions where it is primary...)  That is, it only covers the copays for things.  There are a few other benefits, but I would not rate them as significant enough for you to cancel your car wash.

Again, inform them and let the Scouts and parents decide.

I would not view that as a violation of the "Obedient" point of the Scout Law, in this case.  You attempt to get it done under their guidelines.  If they refuse, their own policy says your fundraiser is not covered under the insurance of BSA.  Fine, do it as a CO group.

One last caveat.  Make sure your COR knows and approves.  The CO CAN ABSOLUTELY SAY NO.

17 minutes ago, Maboot38 said:

Great feedback everyone! The root of my question comes from the fact that I told the scouts "this is YOUR troop, and YOU get to decide what you do, it's up to us adults to remove roadblocks and make your plans achievable."

However, now I have to backtrack and say...actually, you have no say in how you do fundraisers....grownups are going to tell you what to do.....again.

Was hoping to avoid that.

Please don't portray it that way to your Scouts.

We live in a society of rules (and laws).  No, Scouts do not get to make up ALL their own rules and laws.  (Inmates running the asylum?)  It's a good lesson that, any time you are dealing with money, you must be careful and know what you can and cannot do.

It can also be a safety issue.

Back in the 1980's, we youth leaders wanted to earn some money.  We had adult leaders with chainsaws who agreed to teach us how to use them.  And we had an old beat up '73 Ford farm truck with a trailer to haul away the wood.  We then went out and cut down trees as a fundraiser.  As long as it wasn't near power lines or structures, we would do them.  And back then, you only had to have one adult present for a Scout function.  It is only by the grace of God none of us ever got hurt...

We made a heck of a lot of money, but it was foolishly done.

It is a good thing there are rules made by adults, in many cases 😜 

1 hour ago, scoutldr said:

And no asking for direct donations

Always good to point out, though... units may accept unsolicited donations.

That is, let's say you are selling popcorn, and your potential customer looks over the popcorn offerings (at their outrageous prices) and declines, but offers you $5 for your Troop.

May you accept?  Of course!  And your unit keeps 100% of that.

If the donor asks for a receipt... well, that is worthy of a separate post, and only if you want to know...

17 hours ago, Eagle94-A1 said:

You can only teach them if they are allowed, and they can only do it right if they are encouraged to do so. Sadly I have met too many Pros who have not cared how stuff is done as long as they meet goals. Does anyone remember the Greater Alabama Council anyone?

https://www.parentadvocates.org/nicecontent/dsp_printable.cfm?articleID=6970

12 hours ago, RememberSchiff said:

I believe you are in Katahdin Council and if so here are their unit fundraising rules on their website. I found no mention of "Absolutely no other troop fundraising other than popcorn sales during popcorn season."

https://www.katahdinareabsa.org/files/18266/KAC-Unit-Fundraising-Guidelines-pdf

In my experience, if a statement sounds doubtful ask to be shown where it is written policy.

@Maboot38, consider the source...  I think in your other posts, you indicate this policy information came from a Unit Commissioner.

Great, but the UC isn't the authority on this.  What @RememberSchiffposted is...  That is, the council can set additonal fundraising policies above and beyond what national lays out.

I read through the link he posted. (If that is your council, I recommend it... it is well done 😜 )

The policy statement mentions a few key points:

- Units can conduct all kinds of fundraisers

- Units must apply for permission from the council to conduct a fundraiser (see the form)

- "Do not schedule a project that conflicts with established dates of money-earning in the chartered organization, council, or community. "  This is a deconfliction standard, so that units aren't all doing different fundraisers which impact each other, and cause "donor fatigue" in the community.  Basically, it looks like that council is saying "We will most likely not approve unit fundraisers while our council popcorn sale is ongoing."

- If you elect to go rogue, you will not be covered by our insurance.

If you want to do a fundraiser, submit the form and see what happens.  You never get what you don't ask for.

1 hour ago, swilliams said:

Hopefully this doesn't veer into the negative, but...  I don't know who our DE is.  I don't know who our Unit Commissioner is.  I don't know what they do.  I've never seen them outside of maybe once when one came to give a FOS presentation, though that could have been anyone.  I used to know who the SE was, but that was only because I worked in the scout shop for a while, which was housed where Council's office is.  It's hard to even try to tell you what volunteers want to see, when we see nothing to begin with.

You bring up a great point!  You have to "know what right looks like" before you can imitate it...

This is why good leaders create a vision of success for their teams.  The leader sets what "right looks like", and then has to communicate that vision to the team, and lead them toward it.

If your council organization is floundering (and it sounds like it is) you don't really have a good model of what "right looks like" 

And, I have met many a professional who does not know what right looks like... we can teach them, too (if they are teachable, but that is another post.)

That is one of the great uses of this forum.  There are folks here who have seen the magic of what right looks like...  And it is a beautiful thing to behold.

BUT, it takes WORK to keep it right!!  There is no vehicle on land, no ship at sea, no plane in the air, nor craft in space that doesn't require constant vigilance, checking, and maintenance by her crew.  The same is true for our organizations.  When an organization reaches a "somewhat" state of excellence, its decline is inevitable if the leaders  "rest on their laurels" or people in the organization just want to rest on the work of others.

This is one big contributing factor to why organizations fail.  There must be an attitude of constant improvement through training, accountability, humility, sharing of leadership and followership, and transparency...

An Air Force pilot gave a great TED talk on this...  see link below for an approx. 10 minute video.  [I would have an idea correction for him... change "perfectionism" to "excellence". ] (And, btw, this culture is prevalent in ALL Air Force flying squadrons, not just the fighter squadrons 😜 )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YErxkPyPP8M&ab_channel=TEDxTalks

50 minutes ago, Maboot38 said:

Patrols don't plan together, don't shop together, don't cook together....and rarely really learn from each other. This troop has been very much adult led, with adults telling them what events they have coming up, leaving only the small details to the PLC to sort out. I'm trying to take all the adult cooks out of the kitchen and let the kids have a turn to make decisions. This is no easy chore. Some of our adults go so far as to strain pasta for their kids who are scouts on campouts, and pack their tents and sleeping bags.

You, my friend, are experiencing Webelos 3!! 

11 hours ago, AmberG said:

My mother was SIX when my scout master grandfather sniped her.  He left her in the woods in the DARK with no flashlight with a bag and told her to catch the big white bird.  She wasn't scared at first, but after about 15 minutes she was terrified.  She knew her way back to the camp, but not in the dark.  He got in trouble with the wife for that, and the wife told my mother to get him back.  So one day she jumped out and scared him.  He dropped the trash bag, and remained angry the rest of the day at her.  My mother never, I repeat, she never did it again to him.  Isn't that so hypocritical?  Sad a baby girl can't trust her father even for a small joke. 

Welcome, @AmberG!  Thanks for the post, and for reviving an old thread.

Trust is extremely important.  It is earned, and can be easily lost through inconsiderate acts.

Welcome!

15 minutes ago, SSScout said:

*sigh*

So much philosophical water under the metaphoric bridge. 

Way back when I was working on my Stegasaurus Husbandry Merit Badge,  my Troop was a very active outdoors Troop. Like I am sure many of you, our adult leaders/parents were veterans of the Great Depression, WW2, Korean war....   I remember one winter campout, snow on the ground, we were going to the back woods of one of our leaders.  And just before, we were told we would have a "guest Troop" camping with us.  A GIRL SCOUT TROOP.   Who'd a guessed?   All the Girl Scouts I knew back then sold cookies and held fashion parties (Not that I knew too many Girl scouts).  So it seemed some lady parents of my acquaintance (really!) were outdoor people !  So a dozen BOY Scouts and about a dozen GIRL Scouts set up camp , in a foot or 18"  of snow, back in the woods.  I remember a certain division of labor.  BSA chopped wood, hauled water, GSUSA set up the campfire and such.  There was an amazing cooperation present thru out, but....  They brought  chili/stew frozen in used milk cartons, which thawed out and cooked over the fire very nicely. Suitably impressed, we BSA fried eggs and sausage and biscuits for breakfast.   Hikes for nature study,  we each went home that weekend, I think, with a new appreciation for at least some of our schoolmates.   I am sorry to say, that was a one time event,  I can not say why, but it did not happen again. 

Earning Eagle is another thing entirely.  I worked and earned the ranks, figured out what Merit Badges were, and earned some at summer camp.  Woodworking (woggles)  , made a woven seat stool.  Found some MBcs (had to call Council for phone numbers), did Surveying, Aviation,,,,  Then a new Scout joined the Troop.  His dad was a Naval Officer who came to Troop meetings in full uni,  scrambled eggs  on the cap.  The kid announced (!) that he had done the math and would be Eagle in  X months on  Y day !   Well, us older Scouts got together and discussed this.  After many years of just enjoying the camping, hiking etc.  we realized this new kid could end up being the First Eagle of this Troop !  We decided that wasn't going to happen, so we started to work.  The new kid became the third Eagle, about a year behind his schedule.  Competition can be a motivator.

So, did you get your Stegosaurus Husbandry Merit Badge??  😜 

3 minutes ago, qwazse said:

But that’s the flaw of an ecological hypothesis, you or I may not have seen sufficiently refined ideals in any 12 year old that we’ve met. But ours is at best a sample of maybe a thousand. If generalizable, that gives us an upper limit of 0.1%. Multiply that by the tens of thousands of crossovers that have transpired during our scouting careers, and we shouldn’t be surprised that one or two made the cut a year and a half later.

P.S. - Thanks for sharing your story. I did not intend for what I said to be an ad homenim. My point was that it is incumbent on recipients of grace to be just as charitable towards those scouts who the media has chosen to highlight along with their leaders. We’re in no position to second-guess your EBoR (or the BoR’s of the ranks leading up to it); and, therefore, are obligated to support the scout and leaders in the OP.

Agreed.

15 minutes ago, qwazse said:

In general, when someone asks me to decide between strangers on the internet and a scout with her leaders, I’m siding with the latter.

Totally agree... and I did not ask anyone to decide between anyone or anything.  I merely noted observations and experiences... and I agree that all these decisions are local.  However, that was not the deeper point...  I'll endeavor to make the point here, after answering a few more of your charges 😜

17 minutes ago, qwazse said:

Again, thanks for asking. Yes I can imagine that. I’ve met some extremely ambitious 10 year-old scouts. Most of those, however, tend to accumulate numerous distractions in a year. However, it is a big country, and therefore if complete advancement in 1.58 years is possible, then at least one 11.58 year-old who earns Eagle somewhere in Scouts BSA is probable.

Sure, concur... but ambition (and enthusiasm) must never be confused with ability nor achievement. And I never remarked on probability of the event.  I merely noted the timeline, and asked the question...

21 minutes ago, qwazse said:

… therefore, we can assume that you’ve mailed your sash and certificates back to national (given that you went on to discuss your honor).

No, I sought to head it off long before that.  Since you are ignorant to my circumstances, I'll enlighten you...  I submitted my Eagle Scout application 11 days before my eighteenth birthday, but only at the urging of my Scouter mentors, Council Exec, and Council President.

I had decided not to submit it.  For a variety of reasons, including some of those I mentioned, but also, from a religious perspective.  You see, during my journey as a Scout (started at 13), I became a Christian (at 17), and I was learning quite a bit in my new faith.  I had reached a personal conviction that I did not deserve the Eagle rank...

But, when a group of my adult mentors (including the Council Exec and the Council President) found out about this, they staged an "intervention" (if you will).  They sat me down and explained that, that of the Scouts they knew, I was among the top in their regards.  And that, if anyone had attained what they thought was an Eagle Scout, I had.  My most treasured mentor spoke to me about law and grace...  In my thinking, by the law, I was not deserving of the rank.  But he asked me to see it more through a perspective of grace...  in that, no matter how hard we try, we can never fully live up to the Scout Oath and the Scout Law... none of us...  and if that is the case (which I know that it is), then who among us ever deserves to be afforded the honor?  This is where the grace (if you will) comes in... in that we must trust in the adult leaders around us that we have reached a level (or measure) of character, citizenship, and fitness that marks an Eagle Scout.  

I trusted in their words and judgement, and submitted the application.

I even said this in my Board of Review... and told them all about being caught "trading" merit badges as a camp staffer, and how I had seen this as disqualifying.  My Board of Review chose to see it in the way my mentors did... and they awarded me Eagle rank...

50 minutes ago, qwazse said:

And you don’t assume that when you see an 18 year old with Eagle rank? It would seem to me that older scouts have more astute skills in deception. (E.g., the older scouts in our troop have mastered Capture the Flag.) Therefore, it is rational to infer a higher probably that any 17-year-old’s ECoH might be a reflection of a series of consecutive frauds than that any given 11-year-old has mastered flying below minimum standards.

Now, if 10 percent of all 12 year-old scouts were awarded Eagle, I would begin to suspect that rank advancement isn’t the lofty teen-appropriate challenge it was meant to be. But what we have here is news of the latest exception who proves the rule.

To me the only fraud being perpetrated here is ageism driven by an ecological fallacy that goes something like “Most 12 year-olds couldn’t pull this off; therefore, no 12 year-old can.”

You read way too much into the post...

Yes, I assume the same with anyone who wears an Eagle Scout rank (or any person at all, to be frank)... but I reserve any judgement until I get to know the person.  You must get to know them, and see their character (and this takes time).  The real measure of a Eagle Scout is not in the achievement of any requirements... it is in the realization that asking perfection of anyone (including yourself) is impossible.  The real merit is in the continued striving to do so, and having the conviction to take up that mantle every day, through every failure and triumph...  to keep those lofty ideals ahead of you as an aimpoint; to recognize and admit your weakness in attaining them, yet continuing to strive for the mark...

I've not found that awareness or conviction in any 12 year-olds I have ever met...  and in only a few 22, 32, 42, 52, 62, 72, etc .... year-olds.

Some wandering thoughts on @PACAN's question, "How does this happen?"...

Well, as you know (but for the edification of others), the requirements can be completed in 19 months, with the following being the "limiting" factors...

- 30 days for Tenderfoot fitness requirements

- 28 days (four weeks) for Second Class fitness

- 28 days (four weeks) for First Class fitness

- 4 months to Star ("be active" requirement)

- 6 months to Life ("be active" requirement)

- 6 months to Eagle ("be active" requirement)

So, give or take a day or two, 1 year and 7 months to complete in minimum time since joining.

And what is the earliest one can join Scouts, BSA?

"Youth can join a Scout troop who have earned the Arrow of Light rank and are at least 10 years old, or have completed the fifth grade and are at least 10, or who are 11, but not yet 18 years old."

Parse that out, and a youth can join Scouts (begin working on requirements) on their 10th birthday (with either Arrow of Light or 5th grade complete.)

So, the earliest a youth can be awarded Eagle Scout rank is at 11 years and 7 months of age.  (Can you imagine that??)

The difficult part in accepting this is that we have in our minds what an Eagle Scout "ought to be."  And it is highly unlikely that most under the age of around 13 or 14 are "there."  (In my experience, they aren't "there" until about 15 or 16.)  But there is no objective way to measure that...

To quote an old mentor of mine:

"If the minimums weren't good enough, they wouldn't be the minimums."

The real issues in most of these cases lie in two areas:  leadership and merit badges 

From my observations, we (collectively, the adult volunteers in Scouts, BSA) do a horrible job in teaching/crediting leadership, and in holding to the requirements for merit badges as counselors.

Many Scouts hold a position of responsibility in a unit, but do little to nothing to fulfill the leadership requirement, because no one sets standards, expectations, and goals, and then holds their feet to the fire to meet those standards, expectations, and goals.

From the Guide to Advancement 2021, "4.2.3.4.3 Meeting Unit Expectations. If a unit has established expectations for positions of responsibility, and if, within reason (see the note under “Rank Requirements Overview,” 4.2.3.0), based on the Scout’s personal skill set, these expectations have been met, the Scout has fulfilled the requirement. When a Scout assumes a position, something related to the desired results must happen. It is a disservice to the Scout and to the unit to reward work that has not been done. Holding a position and doing nothing, producing no results, is unacceptable. Some degree of responsibility must be practiced, taken, or accepted."

Secondly, most Scouts (including me, when I was a youth) do not "earn" the merit badges.  That is, Scouts commonly do not complete the requirements AS STATED (nothing more, and nothing less.)  This is especially true at summer camp.  There is a whole lot of pencil-whipping going on.

G2A 2021: "7.0.0.3 ...Universal to all the merit badges, however, are the methods of advancement, personal growth, and adult association. Here we will focus on adult association, which is furthered through experiences involving discussion, counseling, and learning that are facilitated not only by a merit badge counselor, but also by the unit leader."

How many of your Scouts were awarded merit badges from a 15 year old at summer camp, without ever having the "adult association" that is supposed to be "universal to all the merit badges" ??  And how many sat around a picnic table for four or five days and were given a badge, without having completed the requirements AS STATED???

So, like you, when I see a really young Eagle Scout, or someone with all the merit badges, I know there is an extremely high probability they did not "earn" it.

If we want "better" Eagle Scouts, then we adults need to be better people to set the example for them, and hold them accountable for the requirements as stated.

Is there any one of us who consistently aligns our actions with our words in the Scout Oath and Scout Law?  No.  But I am only responsible for my own actions, decisions, and integrity.  I will try to keep my honor bright, and when I wake up tomorrow, I will try to be better than I was today.

I do find that my uncompromising attitude on requirements drives a lot of adults and youth away, to find the easier path that is out there.  As I tell many parents, it is easy to lie, cheat, and steal your way to getting an Eagle Scout patch.  But having the patch doesn't make you a good Scout. 

There are a handful that become true disciples of the Scout Oath and Law... and these become really capable Scouts and leaders.  Some even have Eagle Scout rank.

Your thoughts??

Happy New Year

@SSScout,

Hope I catch you before you fire off a note (pun intended) to BSA...

Please check your notes (pun #2), and you'll note (pun #3) that 14 of the 15  bugle calls required, indeed, only four notes.  Only Call to Quarters requires five (the fifth being the single low C, see link)  

http://www.usscouts.org/mb/bugle_calls.asp

Now, it is a travesty that they dropped the requirements to play 10 of the 15.  Just more signs of the times, I guess...

1 minute ago, yknot said:

When I'm discussing this issue I prefer to frame it as habitat loss. Climate change can be endlessly debatable. What is a much more concrete and obvious threat is that with 8 billion of us on the planet and at least three billion more to come before things supposedly level out, we are not facing a survivable future without behavioral changes. Even if climate change didn't exist, our destruction of livable habitat around the globe is turning many species into token fringe survival groups. People crow success when there are 30,000 of a species that used to number in the hundreds of thousands, if not millions. At those population levels, they are already functionally extinct. It doesn't take debatable climate change to destroy them; one bad weather event can wipe them out. Surely we can be more thoughtful than this. 

With this, I am in complete agreement.  Thanks for finding some good common ground.

On 12/17/2023 at 8:08 PM, InquisitiveScouter said:

What is the right amount of global heat?

What is the goal of this effort?  Is it to create some kind of climate stasis?

What is an "acceptable amount" of climate change?  (Because, it has changed across the eons...)

Whom are we to believe?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6GS2HjCg-M&ab_channel=MallenBaker

https://www.lobservateur.com/2023/08/20/experts-say-climate-change-is-a-hoax/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/markhendrickson/2012/09/16/climate-change-hoax-or-crime-of-the-century/?sh=4e2a06df76d3

https://www.prageru.com/video/is-there-really-a-climate-emergency

https://www.wsj.com/articles/climate-activists-disasters-fire-storms-deaths-change-cop26-glasgow-global-warming-11635973538

I'd rather have questions that can't be answered than answers that can't be questioned. - Richard Feynman

LOL, who downvotes the asking of serious questions?

And that, by the way, is a rhetorical question 😜 

7 minutes ago, AwakeEnergyScouter said:

WAGGS, WOSM is the only pathway for the BSA to be part of the scouting movement.

WAGGS and WOSM are not the only organizations in the Scouting movement.

What is the right amount of global heat?

What is the goal of this effort?  Is it to create some kind of climate stasis?

What is an "acceptable amount" of climate change?  (Because, it has changed across the eons...)

Whom are we to believe?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6GS2HjCg-M&ab_channel=MallenBaker

https://www.lobservateur.com/2023/08/20/experts-say-climate-change-is-a-hoax/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/markhendrickson/2012/09/16/climate-change-hoax-or-crime-of-the-century/?sh=4e2a06df76d3

https://www.prageru.com/video/is-there-really-a-climate-emergency

https://www.wsj.com/articles/climate-activists-disasters-fire-storms-deaths-change-cop26-glasgow-global-warming-11635973538

I'd rather have questions that can't be answered than answers that can't be questioned. - Richard Feynman

14 minutes ago, fred8033 said:

Person confessed he was guilty.  District attorney decided to not pursue charges.  

...mind-boggling and enraging.

Isn't "corroboration" up to the police investigators? 

And the decision on whether to press charges and pursue the case is on the DA?

Victims or families do not get to decide whether to press charges.  That is up to the DA.  At least in our state.

Not the job of BSA professionals to determine if there is "enough to go on"...

Defamation (with libel and slander) involves making statements which are not true, or can be proven not true.

"Truth is widely accepted as a complete defense to all defamation claims."  https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/defamation