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I have a similar situation, but am in an even worse position to help. It's very frustrating. The Scout turns 18 in mid-June. I talked to him for about 20 minutes at a meeting in early March. He still has to do Personal Management and Personal Fitness. He had time, but seemed disheartened. I told him that it will be a difficult journey, but well worth the sense of accomplishment in the end. He kept saying that there are other things to put on a college application. I tried to discourage that point of view, but for some reason, these kids are fixated on that. The other adults have been trying to help as best they can. I didn't get much of an update this past weekend on our camp out. It's rough caring for these kids. I try not to fall back on my veterinarian survival mantra of "you can't care more than the client" because they are kids.

That last bit might be a way, if it is true. His/her last child left for college 3 years ago.

The last few years of our scout camp operation, the camp is now gone, they had developed a flag retirement as part of the campfire program. When it came time for Taps, they had a real bugler, though his back up was a trumpet or coronet; but the interesting part was the response from afar on a trombone, repeating the notes like an echo. It always moved me. We lost our troop bugler to age out, and right now none of the few scouts care to learn. But our official bugle is almost a hundred years old, and we also have number of others that are newer. The hardest thing as I understand with the bugle is that most of the work is done with the mouth, though it appears there is a small slide of some sort on the instrument. We also have locally the what seems now requisite playing of taps with the bagpipes.

Here's one of my "kickers"... The regulation Bugle has about five feet of brass tubing..... Take your old garden hose, cut off five feet of hose, smooth one end with some fine sandpaper, jam a kitchen funnel of appropriate size in the other end and PLAY it.

April 1, 2025: IMO, this opens the door to the use of unsafe kazoo's.

Oh, the tangled webs we weave.... I have a local reputation, being a Bugling MBCounselor. I get called and travel some... "Can I use my guitar"? Yes, I have had Scouts ask about the "other" wind instruments. Saxophone? mmmmm nope. Trombone? Maybe, let's hear you.... Baritone? Sousapohone? mmmm rather not, transferring the technique to a Bugle isn't too hard, but you are starting over. I knew I would never be a professional musician (Trombone!) but played thru high school and college marching band and orchestra. Went places, did things I would NEVER have done without that musical stuff. I always encourage the Scouts to "srick with it"....... Bugle in Scouts was fun. I liked some old TV shows where the Bugle was used.... "Boots And Saddles" calvary cowboys.... " Captain Gallant of the French Foreign Legion".... wow, French Bugle calls... I have gone to Merit Badge Colleges (!) and had Scouts show up LITERALLY exoecting a sit and git session. Two brothers showed up, with new "Cavalry" Bugles (those little one loop things) still in the plastic bags, never even tried to make a buzz before. We talked, and "discussed". When they left, they could at least make noise. Many times I have given a "Partial", they always leave with all my contact info. RARELY have I ever had a Scout contact me to complete things. The biggest stumbling block, the one thing that seems to be the hardest, is that high G, the highest of the five (or six!) notes for the Bugle repertroire Then, the occasional young Wynton Marsalis.... . Trumpet? Open valve? one and three down? Make the scale.... Last time, I had a nascent Eagle Scout, he had I think 70 some Merit Badges, wanted to earn all 138... He played piano, never a brass instrument. Bugle was his goal today, new Bugle, He made the buzz, he followed my directions, when he left, I was pleased to give him a partial, he knew he needed to practice, I knew he would do it. Two months later, I have not heard from him....

When I was in the UK, they still had Scout and Guide variety show.

Just to follow up to this, we ended up transferring the scouts over to our pack. District eventually agreed (kind of) but we had full support of the District Executive and mixed (acceptance) support from others. We lost a large majority of the scouts due to them hitting the limits of not being what they were looking for, but we kept about 7 of the 15 going. We since piked up 2 more from that school, so there's signs of hope, and 2 transferred to Troops as they ended Cubs. I think everyone waited too long debating vs just merging, but I also think it was too late by the time they even approached us with a Merger discussion. They have integrated into the pack well, and our pack is stronger together with them, but I still have their old colors and equipment in hopes of seeing them restart someday maybe. our District Executive was truly amazing as discussions got serious and he was who pushed the rest the district to realize this was the best option for the scouts. His only concern was the future of recruitment in that school, which we have demonstrated we will meet that expectation. We have started holding half our events at the other school as well so to demonstrate an equal-school concept. Their left-over funds have been transferred into the Pack and we will earmark that money for a "as needed for support or growth of that school". Our District Executive has my respect for his commitment to doing what's in the interest of those scouts before even considering district or other. He just took on that role shortly after the discussions started and he listened to all the parties involved before forming his opinion. Thank you everyone for what was very stressful, not much fun, and was hard to keep focused on the important things during those ~6 months of discussions.

Opening up this very old conversation. For Bugling Merit Badge (requirements current to 4/1/25 and not a April fools joke question): Do all the requirements have to be with a Bugle (or other brass) or can it be any instrument. I've added notes in italics and bold to highlight specific wording. Note this is currently the lowest earned merit badge and we need to find ways to make it more accessible to encourage the art of bugling. Full disclosure, I'm a fan of the bugle. I earned Bugling as a youth on an actual bugle, i own a 1962 chrome BSA Bugle, i play trumpet and also own a cornet. I played trombone, baritone, and flugelhorn as well as mellophone. That said, I'm discouraged that so few scouts want to earn it, and there are others that do but want to stick to their current instrument (like flute). 1. Give a brief history of the bugle. no instrument required, this is a history discussion 2. Do the following: (a) Explain and demonstrate how the bugle makes sound, and explain how the bugle is related to other brass wind instruments. (b) Compose a bugle call for your troop or patrol to signal a common group activity, such as assembling for mealtime or striking a campsite. Play the call that you have composed before your unit or patrol. 3. Sound 10 of the following bugle calls: "First Call," "Reveille," "Assembly," "Mess," "Drill," "Fatigue," "Officers," "Recall," "Church," "Swimming," "Fire," "Retreat," "To the Colors," "Call to Quarters," "Taps." doesn't say a bugle is required. Noting the requirements don't call out any other brass instruments. The key to this requirement is learning the calls and their purpose. 4. Explain when each of the calls in requirement 3 is used no instrument required, discussion only 5. Explain how to care for, clean, and maintain a bugle. need access for a bugle, but doesn't require playing one 6. Serve as bugler in your troop for three months. * * NOTE: A bugle, trumpet, or cornet may be used to meet these requirements. the use of MAY instead of SHALL makes this a recommendation in legal terms, thus any instrument could be used.

https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2025/04/01/breaking-scouting-musical-to-premiere-at-jamboree-2026-then-move-to-the-sphere-in-las-vegas/

At the CST 6 commissioner college last weekend, the national commissioner did a zoom call. He said YPT training refreshed content and 1 year renewal required over the next few months.

Programs like this are indeed legit. Do not contact anyone at council until you thoroughly understand all the info below. OK, going through your post item by item... "We have a scenario right now where a registered parent of a scout has donated money (say $500) through a company's Charitable Matching program they have. It's a big banking company and the program is legit. They expected the money to be matched, then when the company matched it and sent a check through our chartered church to our troop as a $1000 (for example)." Let's verify who the actual donees are first. To whom did the parents write their check? Was the check made out to Troop X or some other recipient? To whom did the Company make out their portion, AND, to which Employer Identification Number (EIN) did they credit the donation? (This info should be on their check or the check stub (or some accompanying letter.) These company programs may only make the donations to a legitimate 501 c (3) charity, and each charity has an IRS assigned EIN. You can try to find the EIN / Charitable Organization using this tool: https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/ Make sure the EIN matches the CO name. Now, if the Bank put in the EIN for your local council, or the National council, then you have a problem. The money then technically belongs to the council, or whoever is listed by EIN on the check. [Your Troop is most likely not registered as a 501 c(3). It could be.] Let's assume for a second that everything is as it should be... that is, 1) Your unit is not a separate charitable org. 2) the parent check was written to Troop X, and 3) the bank check indicates the EIN for your CO. If these are true, then that money technically belongs to the CO. Did you or anyone inform/coordinate this donation with the CO? Does the Treasurer for the CO understand that this donation is to be used for the Troop? There are other details involved with this, but let's leave it at that for the moment. What the parent proposes, giving the donation money solely for the use of their Scout, is ILLEGAL!!! Do not, under any circumstances do this. As @Tron points out, there is a principal the IRS looks at called Inurement (or private benefit) https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/inurement-private-benefit-charitable-organizations If your unit gives any of this donated money (either the check from the parent's or the matched bank donation, as the two amounts are "tied" together) to only that Scout, then you violate federal law, specifically the Internal Revenue Code passed by Congress. In doing so you also would place your CO's charitable organization status in jeopardy! One way you could use the money is to give each and every Scout an equal share of the total sum, and credit those in Scoutbook. But, even that could present problems if the amounts are large. The IRS has given NO specific guidance on this. So, if the equal share for each Scout was $25, no one would blink an eye at that. If the equal share for each Scout is $2500, then you are in troubled waters... Here are some related threads you might read to gain a more fulsome understanding. If you need more specificity on this, and you are not comfortable posting information here, you may DM me... Regards

For Tron, you do reference local policies. The lodge advisor term and dues paying parent is local. One dangerous situation is when the lodge chief and advisor are in the same household. It can be friction whether the conversation is from parent/youth or chief/advisor. You are correct on the 1year term on district/council positions, but no term limits by national. From a commissioner standpoint, a couple awards require 3yrs of a 5yr periods.

Your Council has firm policies on fundraising and donations. Consult your Scout Executive. What's being proposed is NOT acceptable, unless your unit is registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

Finally seeing some YPT updates that were talked about in the 2024 NAM. I was told today that Emails went out to commissioners to spread the word that Scouting America is now asking all adult volunteers to load a headshot photo to their scoutbook/scoutbook+/my.scouting accouts. Last summer at the '24 NAM Glen Pounder said that he was going to mandate it because UK Scouting mandates it, and then it didn't happen until now. No sign of any of the other mandates that were talked about last year (annual YPT, YPT directly tied to registration status). Has anyone seen anything that was talked about at last years NAM rolled out other than this photo thing that is supposedly happening as of today?

At the unit level this is hard to address. At the district or council level (so say, chapter or lodge) it is easier to push these people out. I am not 100% familiar with OA rules; however, most volunteer roles outside of unit roles are 1 year terms that are renewed by district or council, anything really important such as chairs etc ... typically have a 2-3 year max type restriction somewhere in the books. For example a district or council chair is not supposed to hold the position for more than 2 years consecutively to keep people from becoming the king of the castle so to speak. I bet the OA has rules like this somewhere. I know that my local lodge has some sort of rule about not being able to be an adviser unless the person is the parent of a dues paying youth member; I don't know if that is a local rule or an OA rule, might be worth checking out. Good luck.

This is not correct. Once money is donated to a unit is technically property of the unit. There are a lot of IRS rules that dance around scout accounts and if you give money back to the parent, even as a sub account/scout account line item in this nature you risk your charter organizations non-profit status due to the personal inurement regulations of the IRS.

I am all for Scout accounts and even fund raising proceeds going into a scout account based on what they sold. What this family is saying? No, not ok. It is "over the line" for me.

Off to a Troop meeting, but will chime in on this later. Tread carefully... And no, the money does not go to the Scout... yikes

Worst case, the supreme chief of the fire (council executive) could give the nudge. The lodge advisor would be the one to address this with a chapter advisor. Yup, I've been both. If the lodge has an upcoming lodge leader development, it would be a good time for associate lodge advisor(s) and adults to address this in an adult forum. I'd give a mentor or friend of the individual a chance to talk sense. Maybe with a long tenure, it is time for new roles or new blood into that area.

@YinYan75 welcome to scouter.com

That's the whole point. No one else can take over as the Chapter Advisor while he/she won't relinquish the reigns. That's why he/she needs to be nudged out. I tried that as the ceremonies advisor, but was always stifled with the "youth lead" mantra. That's my goal if I can get the power shifting away from the stagnant program and on a focused project that provides service to Scouting. There are so many service opportunities at our local camp.

I would be asking questions of the youth leaders, such as, "how does this activity further the ideals of the Order?" How are we providing "cheerful service" to the Lodge, District, Council and our Units? What are we doing to promote camping? WWW

Rather than nudging out the person who arranges the meeting place... from your description the more important task is to have a better Chapter Advisor. There seems to be void that he/she is filling, but not well.

I thought about posting this in the OA section, but the principles apply in all areas of the program. Our Chapter has an adult volunteer who has been there a long time. He/she is no longer an advisor at the chapter level, and I believe is at the Lodge level. However, he/she has the keys to the meeting location, being a member of that location. I have been forced to be on the peripheral of the chapter due to work. I'm still in the chats, so I see what they are, and more importantly, aren't doing. They are still doing EC meetings remotely, which were mostly long periods of silence and black screens when I was actively involved. The chapter meetings seem to be little different than an average teenager outing with friends - bowling, climbing, and skating seem to be the major things. The adult in question claims to wan to be in a different position, but won't relinquish influence. Other adults have tried to step in, but were sidelined by this individual. I have dealt with this same person in my pack. He/she was the COR, but was committee chair and CM at some point in the past. He/she was routinely interfering. Probably well-meaning, but very wrong and causing confusion among parents. He/she didn't attend committee meetings for months and then sent out emails directing the opposite action of what was agreed on. Anyway, I was able to talk to a couple of Scouts this weekend from a troop that used to make up the largest percentage of the chapter. They said it just wasn't fun or exciting. I mentioned my idea for having the OA develop and run a district Pioneer Derby. They seemed receptive, but raised the issue of what I'm calling inertia. We have adults with pretty strong personalities, but they reign them in when dealing with other adults. However, I'm seeing the inertia of one adult causing the destruction of the chapter. While I hate to call it a coup, I think that's what it's going to take. Anyone have a different idea than getting the youth to ask an adult advisor to find another place to be on meeting nights?