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I think we're going to find out who's correct. I totally see your argument, and in the past that line of thinking has been 100% accurate; however, the way charters, membership agreements, council charters, bylaws, etc ... are structured versus before has compartmentalized the risk away from national. They are getting horrible PR right now, the damage is done [in regards to image].

When you go somewhere with limited or no power. I know a scouting family that has an off the grid(ish) cabin and they don't allow their kids on electronics while there; I am not exactly sure what the source of power is but they don't let the kids drain it with their phones/tablets/whatever. Last year they borrowed pamphlets from me since their kids wouldn't have enough power to read the whole thing(s) digitally.

I really wonder why anyone would still go to the Scout Shop and buy the printed versions when they are available to download at no cost.

Okay. I just saw the following. New requirements online and QR codes to access/ Scout shops to get new MB pamphlet inventory. I always think about the carrying cost. Ouch. https://www.scouting.org/program-updates/important-update-merit-badge-requirements-moving-online/

Maybe, but Hawai'i is just one example of multiple fatal or serious incidents in recent years that have been settled out of court and public view. Higher profile ones make national press, but we all know of local ones that don't. I'm not exactly sure what point you are trying to make, but if it is that you think National will hang local volunteers and councils out to dry in public, then what I am saying is that that is unlikely... ... And this is why I think it's unlikely. This is exactly the kind of thing the scouting organization does not want examined publicly in a court room and to become part of the public record: That despite claims of comprehensive safety programs, a child was nearly beaten to death with multiple adults in the room, including both parents. Scouting repeatedly touts its much vaunted safety programs but this happened to a child playing in a building in sight of adults while participating in scouting. In the face of that, it's almost irrelevant what the cub master was doing or where he or she was.

More than likely, National is getting rid of existing physical inventory. The requirements may or may not be current, but that has been an issue since I was a Scout.

QUESTION ... What is the change? I see physical MB pamphlets can still be purchased. Is it only to emphasize online MB first and then paper second? Or is national stopping the distribution to scout shops and people need to go online to purchase? I'm just curious.

"No, it's a little Slack." https://www.amazon.com/Ministry-Beautiful-Henry-James-1818-1896/dp/1372843256

As a Merit Badge Counselor (Bugling, if you want to know), I have maybe three objectives. Certify the fulfilling of the requirements, help the Scout MEET those requirements and have some "Scouty" conversation with the Scout about their life and adventures.... So I have been both surprised and gratified in how diverse and advanced some of these Scouts are. For instance, there is a Russian Philosopher named Ivan Goudinov (you can look him up). How is it these young kids know of his writings? Like, when the Scout, in my instance, plays one of the calls and then asks "Mister SSScout, is that Goudinov? " Indeed.....

Allowing cell phones when your trading post sells MBPs sounds like a losing strategy. That said, our trading post doesn’t sell MBPs.

No. Our phone policy has always been to use it in accordance with the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Same with earbuds, headphones, computers, handheld video games, radios, televisions, air defense systems, etc, etc, etc. A Scout's handheld computer is an awesome tool, and we should not restrict their using it to acquire or track information as long as it is appropriate to the occasion (like plant identification, or for a merit badge like Photography/Astronomy/Bird Study/ etc.) If I went to a camp and they tried to limit my use of a phone as an adult, I'd politely tell them to pound sand. But I hold myself to the same standards... must be done in accordance with the Scout Oath and Law. For example, during a class, meal, or campfire, I have my phone set to vibrate. If a parent tries to contact me, I excuse myself from the campfire and take/return the call. Parents are instructed to contact adult leaders only in emergencies, btw. We police ourselves, thank you. We do tell parents that these mega-expensive items are best left at home, and that the Scout bears responsibility for the security of the device while on the trip. If we have to take the device because as Scout is not using it in accordance with Scout Oath and Law, we safeguard and return it to the parent at the end of the trip. When in doubt, ask... How else are they going to learn?

But Hawaii was different; it exposed that the NCAP process isn't as good as they thought. This doesn't touch national directly so would they get involved? I see this as compartmentalized to the council level at the highest, probably going to be pushed down to the unit level. Also looks like the details are developing. It appears that the leader being sued is being sued because the parents viewed him stepping out as a catalyst for control of the scouts to leave even though they admit there were at least 2 other adult leaders in the room at the time. The parents are also admitting that many other adults were in the room but somehow no one saw what happened actually take place. I know someone saw somewhere that the council was the CO but I can't find that; I did see in these articles that the pack meeting was taking place at the council headquarters. I think either way the council is going to be exposed to risk because the altercation took place on their property and wasn't reported in a timely manner. https://www.wtol.com/article/news/local/family-speaks-out-lawsuit-against-scouting-america-cub-scouts-leader-alleged-attack-on-son/512-9aff2dfd-6234-4126-a5c0-20c91ef3dd1c https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/boy-5-left-hospitalized-after-brutal-beating-at-boy-scouts-meeting-lawsuit-says/ar-AA1XR6Lm?apiversion=v2&domshim=1&noservercache=1&noservertelemetry=1&batchservertelemetry=1&renderwebcomponents=1&wcseo=1 This is also going to cause Erie Shores to take a big hit on their Quality Council incident reporting scoring.

Just curious if any troops are easing up on phone usage policies during meetings/outings in light of the new digital-only merit badge pamphlet announcement. One of our local summer camps is extremely restrictive when it comes to phones in camp, even for adults. I wonder if now they'll have to ease off that a bit and at least allow MBCs to have a device so they can reference merit badge materials. Anyone altering their troop policies?

That's the more likely scenario. Look what happened with the Hawai'i scout shooting incident. There is no way National wants to risk any kind of public court case where all these highly touted safety policies are shown to be mostly words that are not backed by functional processes.

No it will all be huss huss we must keep the good name of Scouting pay the settlement ban the leadership. All under a non disclosure agreement like all B S settlements. Only public record if criminal charges

99%

That will be a whole different can of worms then won't it? Everyone will get hit with negligence, including the parents of the victim. We have packs that have been doing this as well. I am just saying that the new program is designed around facilitating this and it's now part of the program literature. If this is the case council and national are going to hang that leader out to dry SO hard. Again every council is probably watching this.

Didn't I already?

Perhaps you can hazard a guess why...

Interesting the CO throught the COR there maybe an other layer of fault. If the adults leadership has a repeating problem. Sad it happen even sadder it likely will be settled with a non disclosure agreement. So no one learn from bad judgement.

My non attorney guess is that the defendent is the issue of one of the leaders. They all share the last same initial. Could be a coincidence, but it's not unusual to hear stories about leaders' kids who never seem to be at fault or or made to deal with any real consequences.

So if that is true, it is a known repeating abuse. There should already be a police report for the first event involving a scout. All leadership are required reporters. Looks like multiple failures to protect and follow state law. Reporting to the Scout office is required under BS youth protection. So, the council may already be aware of the problem from prior events. And they took no action. May non-attorney guess it will be settled for at least 7+ figures or more. Should be a child protective service investigation against all parties involved with charges as needed.

With my long beard (not reaally, it will not grow long), I have the imagined perspective of a seasoned adult. And that is the point. How many of the issues we see posted here would simply solve themselves if we, you know, "act" like adults? Hmmmm!

What I describe has been going on in my area for over 25 years. This is nothing new here. But it definitely shocked me when I first got here.