SiouxRanger

So, what is a council's budget that has 1,000 scouts? At $1 million, that's $1,000 per scout for a year's program. Hmm. Even at a council budget level of $500,000, that is $500 per scout. If every scout attended 2 camporees at $25 each, and summer camp at $350, total council revenue from those sources is only $400,000, falling $100,000 short of breakeven. A Fortune 100 company I noted the other day had revenue of a little over $500,000 PER EMPLOYEE, and over 100,000 employees. So, a 1,000 scout council has perhaps 6 to 8 employees, and a revenue stream per employee of $62

National, despite its best efforts, has killed itself. Kodak.

I know of many events where patches to cover budgeted attendance were not ordered, with attendance reaching twice budgeted attendance. And so the "FAILURES TO DELIVER THE PROMISE," continue.

You obviously were not on the mailing list of the Bureau Of Pointless Name Changes. Had you been, all would be clear. Just contact Charlie…, no, Bill…-never mind, the name changes at random… Junior Leader Training is now "NYLT," or some such? Cub Outdoor Leader training is "Baloo," or some such? The fundamental principle of communication is that if you are the communicator, it is your responsibility to get you message across to your audience. If you can't do that, YOU have failed-not your audience. So, what does "NYLT" mean to a cub or scout parent? "Baloo?" That

So, we apparently have a system (and I may be incorrect in my understanding of the sequencing of events, dates, etc., so please correct me), where a volunteer's YPT (Youth Protection Training) Certificate expires 2 years to and after THE DATE of completing the YPT training. So, you complete your YPT on dd/mm/yyyy, and it expires 2 years later on dd/mm/yyy+2. So, just doing the "date math," there are 365 or 366 days in the year and thereby 365 or 366 YPT Certificate expiration dates, depending on the date of completion of the YPT training. Well, how convenient? Not only does this syst

I know many folks who have turned to making their contributions to the Movement by making gifts in kind, instead of cash, and one person who changed their entire estate plan to the tune of about a million, and another of $750,000. Councils do not see the folks whose contributions are changed from Boy Scouts to other charities. The councils never knew of the potential bequests, and never hear that the BSA has been dropped as a beneficiary. Immeasurable Phantom Losses.

Nice sentiment, but when was the last district or council event that a professional was the "Face Of The Event?" In my experience, never. (My impression is "Let the volunteers take the heat.") Volunteers names are slathered all over the lead-up flyers, web pages, Roundtable announcements…everywhere. A professional may be listed but as an advisor, but their role is limited by design, in my opinion. ("Hey, I'm not in charge, call the lead volunteer.") Plausible Deniability? And what does it mean that it will "be in their laps?" The event is over. The professionals were lik

I think that was an episode on "As The Stomach Turns." Sorry to hear that it has been syndicated and now in reruns. Experienced it once myself to embarrassing effect. (Breakfast for 20 purchased when 160 attended. Professional solution was to double the lunch food. Lovely. We should adopt a guiding principle, like, "Be Prepared," or some such.) Know many others who paid for many things, budget approved things, who weren't reimbursed by the council.

Yes sir. 4 years on Philmont staff, though in the 1970's, A long time ago, but I do not think that the model has changed. If you demonstrate the maturity and skills needed, and are of the right age, you may be asked to join the Philmont staff.

I have seen the Council President sign off on removing volunteers. Scout Executive agreement was presumed, but the volunteer Council President signed the letters and took the heat. The checks for the refund of the volunteers' chartering fees was signed by a subordinate professional. Ultimately cost both of them, the Council President and the Scout Executive, their jobs and reputations. At the end of the day, Council operations are governed by the rules of M.A.S.H.'s "Double Cranko." "Rules? There are no rules." --Hawkeye

Criminal Background Check

The conundrum is how does one tell what is inside and outside one's purview, the consequences of getting it wrong being so dire? Catch 22.

I agree. Good advice.

I personally would not start at the District level as the volunteers at the District level have little connection with Council level matters as part of their official duties as District officers. The DE might be able to obtain a copy for you, but most DE's I've dealt with are not interested in any task that puts them on the radar of senior professionals that might reflect poorly on their jobs. And, such a request puts junior staff in a difficult position. "Disdain." I have heard directly from a second in command professional who asked for a head count at cub day camps and was met with t

Again the questions were: (Speaking regarding the practices of my council.) Who is allowed to attend the Executive Board meetings for a council? Typically, only the members of the Executive Board, Scout Executive, other senior professional staff as directed by the SE, invited guests, and administrative professional staff. Can I as an Assistant Scoutmaster, OA Chapter Advisor, District Committee member, and Unit Commissioner sit in and listen to an Executive Board meeting? Yes or No? Typically, No, though you could ask. Try the Board President, or Scout Executive.

The direct answer is Yes-overrule the bankruptcy court's order (in whole or in part). To go to the Dept. of Justice's website on the issue a district court's scope of review of a bankruptcy court order, go to: https://www.justice.gov/jm/civil-resource-manual-97-standard-review-mootness-etc For background and an overview: The American legal system of trials and appeals is generally structured along the following lines: TRIAL COURT The first level is the trial court. This is where evidence is presented to the court, testimony and documents. The judge at this

They are "service centers," so I am told.

This weekend last, a cub from my pack presented the Council's popcorn wares. I purchased a 6 ounce bag of kettle corn for $25.00 USD. My first CAR (Granted, a Rambler American) was $400. (But it did get me through college-the kettle corn barely made a snack).

For what anecdotal value it is worth (zero), our Pack has 3 Lions, 4 Tigers, 1 Wolf, 1 Bear, 0 Webelos 4 and 4 Webelos 5. When I was the Pack committee chair person, we had about 65 registered and 45 attended each Pack meeting. Pack registration is now lower than pre-covid. This is the only Pack that feeds our Troop, so maybe 4 crossovers into a Troop of 16 registered and 12 to 14 active. We usually get half to 2/3rds to cross over, and half of those stay one year. We have seen worse, but we have seen much better. And so it goes.

My understanding is that Executive Board Meetings and Executive Committee Meetings are generally limited to Board and Committee Members. In my Council, Executive Board Meetings are generally dinner events. 25+ years ago, Executive Board Meetings in my Council were held monthly, THEN meetings were reduced to quarterly by a change in the Council By-Laws which appeared to be generated by National. My Council's Executive Board was about 50 to 60. Why changed, I do not know, BUT, the control of the Council shifted to the Executive Committee, a group of about 6 or 8 who met monthly.

Well, get the "math" of a "no. 10 can" (quantity), and a "no. 101 can" into your youth head. Maybe a no. 101 can is larger in volume than a no. 10. can-101 is larger than 10. Still not sure I have it right. (101 Is greater than 1, yet the 101 can is smaller...) Well, I have made many failures, but I learned from them, and it made me a better person. Scouting let me fail, yet learn from my failures, in Scouting one can fail without horrific consequences. Just with some measure of youthful embarrassment. Failure is a bit of a "comeuppance" giving notice to those who are paying at

I have long believed that Scouting was in the "entertainment" business. Firebuilding (probably no. 1), knives, campfires, swimming, canoeing, camping (and the sheltered independence of being away from home), having fun learning new skills... "You can earn rank, patches...advance, build self-esteem...by earning rank..." And along with the entertainment, us adults have presented it all in the framework structured to foster a sense of leadership, character building, responsibility. These things are not learned by a scout as "THIS is a leadership learning moment-Ah Ha." Th

My recollection is that the Scoutmaster's signature represents the SM's acknowledgment that the Scout is mature enough(and has the required rank) to work the selected merit badge.

The TCC, among all the players in this drama, having NO apparent financial interest, should be last on the list for opprobrium.