Spatulate

44 minutes ago, DuctTape said:

The "approval" as I have always believed is solely whether the Committee is able to provide the necessary logistical and financial support. ie, two-deep leadership, transportation, permits, etc. The only reason for "disapproval" IMO is b/c the troop committee is unable to facilitate providing e.g. enough drivers for the activity. The primary purpose of the Comm is to support the Scouts plan, not approve/disapprove their plan.

Yes, this is what I remember from when I was TC Secretary for three years prior to being CC...plan is presented to TC for approval staffing-and-budget-and-safety-wise. I will ask the SM to prepare the plan in a readable format to have SPLs present at the next TC meeting.

THANK YOU. I think part of the issue is we have two brand new SM, so they are learning the ropes, as I am. 
AM

(I am a new CC as of March '22.)

Our units had their annual program planning weekend this last weekend. Sounds like they did a great job!

I am trying to learn what is my role and the Troop Committee (TC) role as to approving the program plan? I guess I need your advice as to "what comes next?" The leaders and Scouts planned out the entire year, so do they create a document for TC approval or is there more TC input required?

Thanks for helping out a newbie who is also doing re-charter for the first time - that's a story for another post!

AM

One of our adult leaders was by told by Council via letter in February to step away from scouting activities pending an investigation of "bullying" and "behavior not in keeping with the Scout Oath and Law." (Yes, vague) Four months later, this leader received a second letter stating, basically, 'no longer welcome in BSA." Never received details of complaints. Council never interviewed anyone in our unit or on our committee, except for the two toxic families I have written about elsewhere who likely filed complaints. 

This leader is appealing the decision, which brings me here to ask advice from the Scouter Forum hivemind...suggestions, feedback, if you have every been in this situation, what worked/didn't work for you, etc. 

This leader did receive over 30 letters of support from Scouts, parents, community members, leaders, which will be included in the appeal paperwork. 

I would appreciate your wisdom to pass along...

Thanks!

Over 30 letters sent in.

Council CEO asked this person about things from 2015 & 2016 but was never specific with complaints or allegations, they were general and vague. no documentation at any level was provided.

No one from our Unit/Committee was interviewed. 

Even if  an appeal is successful,  I am not sure this person would want to be affiliated or volunteer with BSA. It’s been both a hot mess and a farce…more Importantly, extremely hard on our troop.

On 6/16/2022 at 8:39 PM, Tron said:

So a leader got removed from BSA totally? Not asked to leave a Troop, not asked to step down into a non leading position, totally removed from BSA?

Sorry for my delayed reply.

YES - appeal in process, but terribly handled by local council. More of a witch hunt/vendetta than anything else. The person never received details about so-called investigation, allegations, process, etc. Got one letter saying "you are on hiatus," got another letter months later saying "you are out." 

We just TODAY got our new charter with the local YMCA - I would look into them as CO option. 

On 6/10/2022 at 10:41 AM, Tron said:

@SpatulateThere are 2 issues, the first is you have to identify if the "family in question" is the problem or is it something else. The other issue (sort of pointed out in OP) is the repercussions; are you afraid because your unit is not doing things correctly and the ejected family might report you? 

These issues always come down to, if the unit is following the rules, and doing things to the best of its ability, removing someone from the unit for bad behavior should not be a threat to the unit. 

Toxic negative critical families. Tearing down leadership nonstop. Made allegations against a leader that got that person removed from BSA. 

Reading back over old posts and found this thread. It was useful for me as I find myself in a similar situation. It’s hard.

2 minutes ago, InquisitiveScouter said:

It would be a bit of a pain, but you could just form a "youth group" with the Y, use the program without uniforms and badges, get some insurance, and have fun Scouting!

I think the Y would definitely be open to such as they are all about positive opps for youth. 

Thanks

This did give me pause...

That is what I am reading. Sigh. 

The path forward in some form of scouting is narrowing.

22 minutes ago, skeptic said:

The obduracy of the local executive seems to us to be foolish, as getting the young people into the program should be a priority, and discouraging them is not good optics, at least from my view. 

I won't be much help, but wanted to say OBDURACY is such a great adjective and sadly, so apt for many council/district interactions. 

3 minutes ago, qwazse said:

Some conversations, including replies from a member, may be found here … 

 

Thanks - I had not seen that one yet. 

Wondering about others' experiences with Outdoor Service Guides as an alternative to BSA?

Thanks-

17 minutes ago, InquisitiveScouter said:

Ask fifty different unit leaders this question, and you'll get fifty different opinions and ways of doing it 😜

We do one big fundraiser a year. 
————————————————

Our fundraisers are many: Christmas tree recycling, spaghetti dinner and auction, lawn aeration, fruit sales…

We are on a journey to streamline and simplify the finance side of things while maintaining IRS compliance, yay! 

19 hours ago, SSScout said:

InquisitiveScouter is spot on.  Scout Accounts were a bad idea from the get go. Complicates things. Integrity. A Scout is Trustworthy.  

Scout stuff only, never personal stuff,  The moneys can never be viewed as a "COMMISSION" for raising funds for the Unit. The money is the units, and thereby the CO's . Period. 

Scout leaves Scouting? Money is the units. Scout transfers to another unit?  The money is the "original" unit's. They could send it to the new unit, but I have often seen them not. 

One Scout I am aware of saved up all his SA, and when he Eagled out.... He bought the Troop a new custom painted trailer.  

WOW and kudos to that Eagle Scout's generosity!

Does it matter that all funds in their accounts were raised under prior CO (with whom we had a charter for eight years until February of this year)? We have a temporary charter now with Council, but I am working on a new charter with our local YMCA. When we lost our former charter, the CO signed an agreement to retain all funds (and we hope to get back to chartering with them one day).

A related comment:

I respect what is being said about integrity, Scout Accounts being a bad idea, Scouts not being able to learn about the value of money earned, etc, etc. Does that mean most units do not have SA and all fundraising simply goes into the unit's general fund? Or is divided evenly somehow amongst all of the unit Scouts? I am trying to figure out the relationship between fundraised income and scouts using funds (from where) for scout-related purchases. As in, how to other units manage the money side of things when it comes to designating money for individal scouts?

Thanks for bearing with my many questions!

Y'all are the best, many thanks. 

It seems our options are:

1) have families determine which is their primary unit 

2-a) If the other unit is the primary unit, send checks to that unit treasurer for these scouts  OR 2-b) Keep balance of what is currently in their Scout accounts with our unit. 

Have I distilled it down correctly

😀

2 minutes ago, InquisitiveScouter said:

If there are any monies left over when a Scout leaves the unit, we let the Scout determine the disposition.

Most of the time, they ask to transfer it to another Scout in need, or make it a "donation" to the general Troop fund.

BTW, these monies can be used to support funding for Eagle Projects!

Yes, different units will just blow this kind of nitnoid stuff off...

Again, for me, it's an integrity issue.

Yes, which hits on my OP. The two families in question have a foot in two units, but I have just asked them to determine which unit is their primary. (Not sure I will get a reply). The three involved Scouts have $2100 between them. As CC, I simply want to do the right thing with these funds...transfer to the new unit IF that is their primary unit and with approval of former COR under whom the funds were raised, or maintain funds in our unit to be used __?__. I do not want to cause more drama here. 

Appreciate everyone's helpfulness.

2 minutes ago, InquisitiveScouter said:

Not quite, @Spatulate, see above.  If it is the parents' money, then it is the parents' money...

Got it, thanks! Wish the money issue was less complex! I also wonder if different units have varying policies on this topic (?) 

In our units, no parents/grandparents add to Scout accounts, so it is moot. We have been having funds raised from events go into individual Scout accounts to be used only for scout-related purchases, but as mentioned, we are phasing those out to be in better compliance with IRS.

My understanding is that one cannot cash out a scout account because that would be considered income by the IRS. IOW, no refunds.

What a helpful reply - many thanks!

I will ask the parents which will be there primary unit and also share the rest of your message with our treasurer.

If a scout is dual-enrolled, what happens to funds in their individual Scout Account from the first troop they joined?

We are phasing out individual Scout Accounts by the end of this year, but we have two scout unit members who have also just joined another unit in a different District and plan to hold simultaneous membership. They will be doing their meetings and advancement with the other troop.

We are temporarily chartered with Council, having lost our Elks charter, but hope to charter elsewhere soon.

Do we send checks to the new unit to transfer their money Do we keep funds in our unit accounts? Don’t funds belong to the CO?

Help and info are much appreciated!

p.s I had not heard of Scouts belonging to two units simultaneously…

This is my first question for the forum and I’m sorry if I put it in the wrong place. Please advise if I need to move it

 I am hoping for far less of banging my head

🤪 Is it that obvious? 🤣

I’ve got questions and need answers which seem hard to come by elsewhere.. 👍🏻