TheRealDK

I would like to personally thank everyone who has participated in all the discussions in this forum and others.  As I sat in Court today reflecting on the three-year journey we have all been through I thought about all of the passion that has been displayed.  Regardless of whether I agreed with any opinion it helped to inform my thinking by understanding the views of others, and recognizing the amount of education the TCC needed to undertake.  The nine of us on the TCC sought to do what was best for ALL Survivors and be agnostic about the BSA.  We recognized that Survivors fell into three camps; abolish the BSA, preserve the BSA, and disinterested in its future.  Because all three of these groups agreed on keeping youth safe that became an important goal of the TCC as well as the Survivors Working Group from the Coalition.  Now, we will see the product of a hard-fought battle to get the second agreement approved as it revolved around Trust governance issues.  I was fortunate to spend time with Judge Houser in Wilmington and left extremely confident that she will be an excellent manager of OUR Trust.  The Plan going effective does signal the end of the TCC by bankruptcy code but we will have a Town Hall or video that will discuss the transition to the Trust.  I imagine it will also be heavy on asking for patience as the Trust gets operating.  Everyone wants an award and everyone wants valid claims to receive them.  Those two forces aren't opposing each other but the latter will take time to ensure the former occurs correctly.  Be patient and stay strong.  It has been an absolute honor to serve on this committee and the other eight Survivors served tirelessly during hundreds of meetings, often making decisions that ran counter to their individual benefit.  Covid prevented the TCC from ever meeting in-person and I regret deeply that I can't give each member a long overdue hug and the most sincerest of thank-yous.

There will be more to share as time passes but for now I just want to repeat my thanks for everyone's participation in this and other avenues.  Our Country is regrettably harmed right now by people who are quick to stake out a side based upon false information, unwilling to listen to opinions other than their own, and prevent the kind of growth and resolution that will take us to a better place.  The battle has been long and hard, sometimes ugly, but didn't lack for a minute in passion and all of you have played a part. 

For those who are going to be deeply involved with the BSA moving forward, I just want to remind you of a favorite quote of mine by the philosopher George Santayana:

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”
—Life of Reason, Reason in Common Sense, Scribner’s, 1905, p. 284.

Whatever else happens, PLEASE work hard to understand how the abuse happened, don't let anyone forget that it did, and by doing so we will all move toward a future where it isn't repeated.  If all we do is "move on", it will happen all over again.  For many, the end of this process resolves one thing for Survivors, their status as bankruptcy claimants.  It doesn't make the hurt go away but there still can optimism that the hurt we suffered won't be suffered by others.

Thanks for reading.  Been a long 24 hours of court and driving so I needed to vent.  The bankruptcy attorneys are all at an annual Bankruptcy conference in DC for a few days but I suspect we'll have a TCC Town Hall announced soon and the Trust Website live so you can start hitting "refresh" on a new bookmark!

Doug Kennedy

FORMER TCC Co-Chair

2 minutes ago, MYCVAStory said:

In case you haven't taken a look, while a bit dated and not reflective of recent property sales, here's a link to the extensive Local Council financial analyses the TCC had its financial professionals BRG Group complete: https://www.tccbsa.com/local-council-analysis

They're educational.

Thanks for mentioning that.  Probably a good time for me to pop back up.  I just want to say thanks to everyone who participates on this and other forums (Fora?).  I take my role on the TCC seriously and try to take in opinions on all sides.  Like you, the TCC is waiting on the Judge's ruling and anything I'd say about that, or anyone else would say, is pure speculation.  As well, while this is ongoing the handcuffs of "Mediation Confidentiality" prohibit my saying too much about the process.  I'm grateful to have participated in the confirmation hearing at the beginning and offer some final words to the Court on the last day.  It almost made 13 hours of deposition before hand worth it 😉   When this is all over and the handcuffs are off I'll have a LOT more to say.   In the meantime, if you're a Survivor please know that the TCC is actively engaged even during this wait and single-focused on advocating for the best possible interests of Survivors.  If your focus is on the future or the BSA then know that from the beginning the TCC has been "agnostic" about that  since it's the BSA's responsibility.   I'm happy that this forum and others exists so my thanks to the mods.   Well....back into my cave....  STAY STRONG EVERYONE.

Doug Kennedy

Co-Chair, TCC

This is Doug Kennedy, a member of the TCC.  First, I want to thank all of you for your comments over the past 18 months.  Your comments and those in other forums, whether I disagree with them or not, have helped inform me as I work to represent all Survivors.  As many of you know, the Coalition has made some statements both in the hearing yesterday and in a press release this morning.  I find them horrible and the rest of the TCC does as well.  Tonight is a TCC Town Hall and I invite you to attend so that you can hear directly how we feel about several issues.  As well, we are going to hold more frequent Town Halls so that Survivors are informed of the process as a plan goes to a vote.  The meeting is at 8PM via  https://pszjlaw.zoom.us/j/82272826295 (no registration required) and 888-788-0099 (toll free), webinar ID: 822 7282 6295.  It will be recorded and made available afterward on the TCCBSA.COM site.

Let me also say that I wish I could participate in many of these discussions.  Unfortunately my hands are often tied because of mediation confidentiality.  Trust me, when this is over and I can speak freely I will.  As well, I was asked to jump onto this forum and do a bit of an "Ask Me Anything" at some point and I will, promise.  It's an issue of timing and right now I fear that a lot of my responses would be "I can't talk about that yet" so I don't want to frustrate more people.  Please be patient while I go back into stealth mode until a later date!

Lastly, let me repeat something the TCC has said from the beginning.  The future of the BSA is NOT of any concern to the TCC.  That's the BSA's issue.  The only focus we have is in securing the LARGEST possible settlement for Survivors in a reasonable amount of time, and seeing significant changes and transparency in the BSA's youth protection practices and reporting so that the abuse of the past stops and the public knows how safe their children are now and in the future without the secrets of the past continuing.  The nine members of the TCC are all Survivors and have spent hundreds of hours and meetings solely focused on the well-being of all survivors, not on law practices, and we are fighting for all those we call our brothers and sisters first and foremost.

Thanks for the passion all of you show.  The personal toll this has taken on so many is something I think about every day, has impacted my own personal life and career, and I just hope if you read this and are a Survivor you can do one thing today and every day...Stay Strong.

Doug