InquisitiveScouter

I wish I could say the same...

How much would any of you think this is worth?? My guess...starting bid $5 million https://trademarkangel.com/can-i-buy-someone-elses-trademark/ https://trademarkangel.com/why-is-a-trademark-watch-important/ http://licensingbsa.org/trademarks/

Hmmmm... https://nycscouting.org/townhall/ https://www.syracuse.com/state/2020/05/sex-abuse-lawsuits-filed-against-3-boy-scouts-of-america-councils-in-upstate-ny.html

How so?

DuctTape for National Commissioner!!

Our Troop was just cutting the apron strings from a Family model when I joined (my son crossed over). The Scoutmaster who was leading that effort at the time recruited me... After about a year of transition from Advanced Cub Scouts to youth led/patrol method, the old guard of the committee stopped supporting his efforts and he left. One of the old guard stepped in to be SM, and tried to return to the old ways. It was a disaster. I appealed to our Commissioner and DE. The Commissioner tried to help educate the parents and Committee on what Scouting is, but it fell on deaf ears. We lost a third of the Scouts. I was close to leaving. The SM had family issues that pulled him away, so I agreed to step in as SM with the understanding that we would do the Scouting program...not Family Scouts. I preach the Scout gospel to our committee monthly...they all agree, and trust, to get out of the way. It is working, and in two years (this June) we have made great progress. Troop has more than doubled in size. Parents are happy with the results. I cannot go back to a Family model. I will go with you Eagle94. Where will we go? Ditto...I have made the mental leap of separating Scouting from the BSA. You do not need the BSA to have Scouting. So I live in a world of Scouting while wearing a BSA uniform to facilitate the movement. But BSA currently has the market share, and the crown jewel...Eagle Scout. Ha! I was just thinking that!

I got the survey. But I remember nothing about Family camping...my responses were primarily in favor of opening the program to girls, and to keep it separate-gendered so as not to be a distraction for youth. I have participated in co-ed Scouting in Sweden, and boy-girl issues were always at the forefront. I have friends in Scouting organizations in Germany, Luxembourg, Canada, and Namibia...same story...intermingling the genders has some advantages for "socialization" and learning to interact, but relationships/love spats/breakups tend to be always rearing their ugly heads. I have seen the same in two Venturing crews. Scouting can be difficult when there are several elephants in the room. And yes, most of my issues as a unit leader come from new parents who do not understand that Scouts is not an extension of Cub Scouts.

Thunderbird, I have it on good non-arrogant authority from Eagledad that "They are doing it wrong." Would you be so kind as to relay?...lol

Not really... "Published" is the key word here. When councils or national "publish" more stringent rules, we are bound to follow them, and do. (helmets, life jackets, Safe Swim Defense, etc.) Our council has not published anything for units...only district and council events. If you read the FAQ, the inference is that councils must give you a green light before you meet again. And I do not go around enforcing our council's interpretations on other councils' programs...I only speak up when that council might be going against "published" National prescriptions.

Not so fast!! https://www.cbsnews.com/video/hats-off-to-the-beret/

Yup

Agreed. But we should all be careful to differentiate between what is printed in "official" publications (G2SS, Scouter Code of Conduct, Safe Swim Defense, Safety Afloat, Climb on Safely, etc.) versus a posting to an FAQ on their website. I, for one, do not take website postings as official policy or procedure. My adult application says "I have read and affirm that I accept the Declaration of Religious Principle. I agree to comply with the rules and regulations of the BSA and the local council, including the Scouter Code of Conduct." Nothing mentioned there about BSA website FAQ's.

You are making many conclusions from such a short post. And please notice, I didn't say "our unit." Yes, "babysitting." 14-17 year olds want to hang out with their buddies, not teach the basics to 10.5 to 12 year olds. The Scouts who enjoy this part of leading are few. "The unit leaders are doing it wrong." Maybe...but I think it is more the parents who are pushing their girls to earn Eagle for the college resume. Where the rest of your rant is going, it's hard to see...maybe your horse is a bit too high?

And also... "When units with different chartered organizations do activities together, this becomes a district or council event and requires council approval." Our DE is going to get tired my future requests for approval. We occasionally do co-unit camping together. Last summer, we did a co-unit canoe trek...guess that was then a district/council event....should I ask for forgiveness?? We do inter-unit campfires, when possible, on trips to non-Scout properties...this is an "activity"...do we have to get approval? On our Pioneering camping trip, when we build a Monkey Bridge (no higher than 6 feet!) and the other unit camping near us wants to have a go..."Wait! I have to get my council's approval!" Notices will follow the lines of my usual emails..."We intend to do X unless you advise otherwise." Most of them go unanswered...

From the BSA's COVID-19 FAQ "Councils make the determination, working closely with their council health supervisor and local health department, about when units can conduct in-person meetings and activities again. If the unit’s local council is allowing in-person activities but has restrictions in place (e.g., no more than 10, social distancing of 6 ft. etc.), the unit must meet and abide by those restrictions – even if the unit is traveling out of council/state." I was gonna ignore this one, but now that it has been emailed out to our council, I will engage. Unless your council has already published guidance for "back to normal", you need your council's permission/blessing to conduct unit meetings even when your state/county/municipality may have lifted restrictions? smh And if your Summer Camp is out of council/state, you must abide by your home restrictions when more stringent than your destination's? When in Rome...?

My daughter and her friends were in Venturing primarily for the outdoor program. They have that now in Troops. Most young men I have spoken with were in Venturing for the outdoor program, to get away from "babysitting" in Troops, to leave the advancement program behind, and for girls 😜 With the young women leaving for Troops, many young men are bailing out.

Oh, Lord, no! Not the berets 😰 Campaign or Expedition Hats!!

"Unexplained extreme fatigue or muscle aches" Wouldn't being a unit leader and an old fart always explain extreme fatigue and muscle aches??

In case you haven't seen this...National Model Pre-Event Medical Screening Checklist https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/HealthSafety/pdf/680-057.pdf

Yeah, 7+30 drive time from Philly area, plus stops for meals/restrooms and gas? 35 Scouts? No, thanks 😵

+1 How many times have we done this over the years?

mashmaster, you missed my intent. I was answering the OP. At the end, I quoted you to agree that these situations are a fact of life...

Gradually, our culture has begun to value Eagle Scout (or just "Scout" in general) less and less. Someone previously mentioned, a Scout's rank was supposed to reflect what he can DO. Those days seem gone. I absolutely hate this "one and done" program. It fosters an extremely poor attitude towards learning and retaining skills, and encourages taking "the path of least resistance". They follow the lead of adults, because that is what their parents and our current culture have conditioned them to do. They (and parents) just want to have you teach the skill, let the Scout demo it once, get the req signed off, RAM dump it, and get the badge. This mentality will continue to erode the "brand", and eventually, our nation (seriously). Most Scouts I see now have no initiative. I seek to train young people to look for, on their own, what to do it, and without prompting, to do it. Maybe I am just an old fart, but this seems to be a more rare commodity. I perceived this in the military, too...as the years went by, the youngers seemed more reticent to take chances. However, it was awesome to empower them to make decisions, and then BACK THEM UP, even when they made mistakes. Then self-reliant, yet interdependent, leaders emerged. These are exactly the things BP saw over 100 years ago, and part of the reason he started Scouting...so I guess it is cyclical in societies. Are we at, or approaching, a low point now? Adults make great Senior Patrol Leaders...but that is not our job. An outdoor, skills-oriented program is a pied piper for boys...they love it. Have you seen the look on a young man's (or, yes, woman's) face when he chops down a tree? Or swims a mile? Or actually completes a TRUE orienteering course? Or when he gets up in the morning after spending the night under the stars at 25 Fahrenheit? Or finishes 20 miles hiking in a day? (And how do you feel when you still do these things?) Magic

"The Good Idea Fairy" (TGIF) TGIF: "We really oughta do this idea I have!" Me: "That's a great idea! Get started, and let us know if you need any help or funds to make it happen!" TGIF: "Oh, I don't really have time to do that. I was just suggesting it for the Troop to do. But it would be easy, and a great thing to do!" Me: 👿

First, be kind. Every person you know is fighting a great battle. Including you. What is their battle? Present them with facts and ask them to follow through. Offer to help only if you can (don't put another rock in your own rucksack). Focus on behavior, not the individual. "You said you would do X by the end of March. It isn't done. How can I help you complete the task?" A word of caution...make sure your own house is in order first... I am constantly managing our Committee Chair, but events in his personal life are understandably distracting him. We have no functioning COR. So, I am de facto COR and CC while being SM. Ain't nobody got time for that