walk in the woods

@ParkMan The structure of your argument makes sense, but, I wonder if it isn't incomplete. Another analysis goes something like this: Current costs for Susie Cub Scout, $200, Tommy Tenderfoot $500, Parent Leader $300 (let's say) for a total of $1000. Assuming a $33/person increase that becomes effectively $1100. The question isn't whether a family can absorb the 10% relative increase, rather, the question being prompted is if the BSA is providing $1100/year worth of value.

My son was non-verbal due to his autism until he was almost 4. We used sign language to help him communicate, but, it wasn't standard ASL. Rather, we used word-order. I'm not an expert but, as I understand it, when you see the signers along side a presentation they aren't signing a word-for-word translation. Rather the signing has a different structure. Word-order is basically learning the signs for "Be" and "Prepared" and using them in that order. Anyway, I think this is the book we used. It was 20 years ago now so the memory is foggy.

Language is but a social construct having no intrinsic meaning. 😎

I'm also rural. When folks look at the cost scouting I'd argue they aren't comparing it to other youth programs, but rather a cart of groceries or tanks of gas to heat the house.

Golfing, I'll probably go golfing. Or maybe camping with friends just for fun. Maybe guitar lessons.

I for one would very much like the G2SS be a one-pager that says, use common sense, talk to your parents, follow the oath and law. But, it doesn't. It's however many hundred pages with inclusions by reference, appendicies, and pictures with circles and arrows. Since that's what we have to work with, we'd like them to be clear and consistent. Here on this board you have what I'm going to assume is an honest question asked by a typical scouter. The responses to that question are showing some confusion with the wording of the various documents and web pages and local practices. Nobody wants

This is our experience as well. People were going to buy the Christmas wreaths anyway, and now they get to support scouting along the way. Everybody wins.

That's fine, but how many potential members are walking away as a result? I don't know the answer but it's >0.

Dodge balls, water balloons, and sticks, but only if sharp or if the scouts might point them at other scouts while saying pew pew.

Maybe the BSA is playing 4 dimensional chess. See, if they get the rumor mill started that annual dues are going to $100, then announce an increase from $33 to $67, everybody will be relieved even though the dues doubled! Brilliant!

Who could have predicted this? Interesting trick bag to be in. We have the best possible safety rules according to experts. Our rules are inconvenient to this family. So we're going to bend our rules. Is that because we don't care about the child's safety or are our rules NOT the best possible? What happens if that pack fails to recruit female leaders? Does the exception become the rule? Do we ignore the experts or kick the girl out or have dad lie about her sexuality? The other thing I found interesting was the fathers unwillingness to pursue other options. I understan

Yep. It's never been about gays or girls or atheists. It's a postmodern requirement to "deconstruct" everything that contributes to what they perceive as immoral power hierarchies. The BSA, by kowtowing, has signed it's own death warrant. They will drive traditionalists from the program and pin their hopes on people who would rather see it dismantled.

I should add BSA has a relationship with the NRA BSA teaches scouts to murder and butcher fish BSA promotes scout Sunday thereby disenfranchising their open/closeted atheist members to my second list of bullets above. The list is almost endless...

While I appreciate your optimism I think this is simply naive. First, no matter what settlement comes out of the bankruptcy, it will be belittled in the MSM and progressive media as insufficient. The BSA will be portrayed as a greedy organization trying to short-change the victims by declaring bankruptcy. Second, I can think of at least 4 additional membership fights to come (in no particular order): Local option for fully co-ed packs and troops because separate but equal isn't working Mandatory fully co-ed packs and troops because nobody should be allowed to discrimina

Public vs private institutions. If the organization burns taxpayer dollars it's a public meeting

part of the big deal is the authorization is open ended as long as you are a volunteer, and, it gives the BSA permission to share any info they gather. Sam Houston has a link to the form at http://www.samhoustonbsa.org/national-recharter-update-2019-09-19. If I sign this form in December, then leave the BSA, the odds that they'll quit running background checks on me and destroy the information they gather on me are largely indistinguishable from zero.

@karunamom3, since this popped back up I'm wondering what you heard from the Masonic Lodge district and what you decided to do?

In my council the school night fliers had already been printed the last time. To their credit the council ate the extra costs. Our school nights signed kids up for 16 months in previous years. Should have suspected something was up when this year we only signed kids up for 4 months.

With all due respect to National I call BS. The increased insurance cost isn't a surprise nor is the departure of LDS. This decision should have been made and announced months ago so units could plan and be honest with their parents. Instead they wait until after fall recruiting is done?

Sea scouts wear what are effectively Navy E6 and below dress whites. What's to object to? I think these boys look damn sharp.

Many people would use the same words to describe doctors that perform elective abortions. In either case one is making a moral judgement about another persons character. So questions. Why would you consider allowing the spouse but not the doctor? Even if the spouse didn't do the procedure how do you know they don't support the practice? How likely is the doctor or the spouse to make a run to the press with a BSA discriminates story? Is your CO willing to endure the s***storm that would surround? Are there other parents/scouts in your pack of similar religious/ethinic

I'd not be so sure of that. Here are a couple relevant Q&As from the Youth Protection FAQ (the second is directly relevant and characteristically vague): Q. The Barriers to Abuse states “One-on-one contact between adult leaders and youth members is prohibited both inside and outside of Scouting.” What does ‘inside and outside of Scouting’ mean? A. The BSA has adopted its youth protection policies for the safety and well-being of its members. These policies primarily protect youth members; however, they also serve to protect adult leaders. All parents and caregivers should unders

There will be a lot fewer pros, or at least staff, in the Western Region...:( Back of the envelope calculations. I know the church had their own structure but just play along. Dues: Net loss of 300,000 scouts (400,000 LDS boys - 100,000 new girls) is approximately $10.5M ($33 dues plus $2 insurance) Units: 37000 plus LDS units - 2000 new girl units is approximately $1.4M at $40/unit So if membership stays around 2MM scouts/scouters that's $5 or $6 increase just to stay even for dues/insurance. LDS units are about 1/3 of all units (might be more based on the 2018 report to

You'll get a lot of opinions here, so here's mine. My pack is about the same size as yours, 20-ish. We don't bother with the Den/Pack meeting structure. We have all the Dens meet on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays in the same place. After the opening the Dens break out to do their own thing then come back together for closing. The Webelos often meet separately but not necessarily. We do pack activities once a month or so. Sometimes they are separate from the regular meetings, sometimes they are the regular meetings. I'd worry less about what the books says is the appropriate structure and f

I think it was fall the last time fees were increased. Doesn't the executive board/committee meet about this time of year?