Gone

Here are a few offered as Historic Trail patches. Some are backed by a council, others not. Here are several trails listed here as "official" historic trails linked with BSA. If I recall correctly, several have either the battle flag or reference to other "no-no" Confederate regalia.

@@qwazse I'm sure the NESA has all your answers. Given the focus of Scouting for Boys I'd be really surprised if B-P gave much lip service to adults in scouting other than reminding them to stay out of the way.

LOL, are we talking personal use? Well then I'll take my standard issue Daniel Winkler thank you.

@@mashmaster a Swiss army type knife is what I'd recommend. Multi-function and compact.

You jest, but our one patrol (the Rebels, and yes their patch is what you think it is, and yes we have two black and two Native Americans in the patrol) asked the PLC if they had to change their name. The PLC said they could keep the name if the patrol wanted. The patrol took a vote and name and patch were unanimously kept. If we ever have a UC visit I'm sure he'll have a cow, right after he confiscates the super soakers

Few trainers I know advocate poop, pack and carry. You're right, it goes somewhere why not disposed of properly in the back country?

I'm aware of that award but I was talking about Life scouts that may die before Eagle. I get giving a FC or Star scout the Spirit of the Eagle, as they were a bit removed from actually making the rank. But it won't kill BSA to give a Life scout who has succumbed prior to making Eagle an actual posthumous Eagle rank. I'd favor that over any adult getting it.

This is a boys' program. Let's keep it that way. If we are supposed to be pushing the patrol method and getting adults out of the way, let's not put a reason for more adults to get in the way. Would B-P want adults earning a boys' program's top honor? Left for war and could not finish Eagle? Sure. Died premature before finishing Eagle? Absolutely!

Exactly. But this is all solvable with a simple online database. Folks register each year online, but in their contact email, an alias is created, MBCs can update their record if things change but keeps the same contact alias, if someone does not re-register they are sent reminders and then put in the archive, can re-activate if registered through BSA, all ties back to your BSA record and background check. Annual checks are run against the data based on those registered. Once approved, MBCs are contacted through their alias (which is tied to the region/local area) they are in. Scouts can contact the MBCs using the alias and then a neutral site meeting can take place. The contact sheet can even be set up to copy the parent/guardian of the scout requesting the meeting (or a BSA drop box) so that "virtual two deep" is met. Schools and sports programs use such a system to validate and manage their volunteers so this should be a slam dunk for BSA. It just takes time, some money and some smart semi-technical people to define the business requirements and processes. After that, the subcontractor building the system does the work. Easy-peasy.

@@NJCubScouter one would think the order itself would raise a few eyebrows within BSA. This cannot be normal. Not saying BSA is to blame here, this is squarely on the guy who placed the order. He's an adult and can read, he should know how to handle this. Common sense seemed to have been misplaced.

I would assume one would only get rid of the popcorn if it has been compromised somehow, or if state/local law required it to be thrown away for some reason. It is odd that they guy would not say who the buyer was. It cost him his role in Scouting.

This is not really "stolen" money, but here's a leader who, I suspect, figured he'd order the popcorn and try to sell it BEFORE he had the money.

Great points! This was part of the set of recommendations given to BSA by a focus group of volunteers back in 2010-11. It was a three month project. As you can see, few, if any of these recommendations have been implemented. But we *do* have my.scouting.org AND myscouting.org.

@@Incorrigible careful with the training. To do the interesting outdoor stuff you need specialized training (e.g. WRFA, first aid, CPR/AED, shooting sports, etc). If you don't have it you're not covered by the insurance if something happens. Much of the training and paperwork is to cover your bum, not so much district and council. Get the training for the activities your group plans to do. Don't let anyone short cut you.

Very true. I bet exit interview from adults leaving BSA for whatever reason would likely show that one of the top 5 reasons adults found Scouting a pain in the rump was the incessant paperwork. A small subscription to SurveyMonkey and BSA could get that data no problem. I have to think council knows paperwork is a problem. Our service center folks make jokes about it and hate it as much as volunteers do. They have to know this is an issue. I guess someone likes the paperwork OR is too scared to speak up.

Covered under "Courteous", no?

Day Camp $75 for 4 days. Resident Camp $135 for 65 days/nights. Our pricing seems pretty reasonable. High number of volunteers drive this, few paid staff. Many donations of gear, time, equipment, etc.

I know guys from Pittsburgh that use "Jag-off" as a term of endearment and as a vulgarity. Do they know not to use that around kids? Absolutely. My "southie" friends curse an Irish blue streak, but when working with kids they are almost comical how they alter their speech to make sure the vulgarities don't slip out. I will concede that there are socio-economic, cultural and even perhaps regional uses for vulgarities that have slipped in to their popular speech and nomenclature, but these same people know that using these words/phrases in front of kids is wrong. Well, those with brains realize that. Some just don't care or could not be bothered.

@@StillLoomans I sometimes listen to the scoutmaster podcast from scoutmastercg. He had one recently where he spent a few minutes talking about the differences in myscouting.org and my.scouting.org. It was amusing to listen to because it is two different interfaces to the same back-end system with only a few different feature enhancements; none of which solve any of the problems you correctly outline above.

BSA is not to blame for the paperwork nightmare? They could streamline if they wanted to. Make the form easier to fill out? Allow a person to fill out once and update online? Allow for electronic submission and background verification? I can apply for loans, credit cards, etc., online these days, have background checks and get approval in no time. I did essentially the same process signing up to volunteer at my kids' school...and they have FAR less money than BSA. Why does BSA stay with paper if it's obvious it's a more costly, labor intensive process which both staff and volunteers hate? Of course this is BSA's fault. They are the only ones who can fix it.

Exactly! And your point about would you say/do it in front your mom/sister, religious leader, teacher, mentor, etc., would it be appropriate is spot on. Regardless of where you were raised, people should apply the Scout Law. Where I grew up we used a few choice words everywhere, and everyone in my town (except pastor) uses them...does not give us the excuse to use them in front of scouts. Adults should have that filter and know better.

I mention it at review time in the "areas for improvement". That get's their attention too.

Donation Fund Philmont has set up a donation fund for the Scout who lost his life last week. More information here.

Thanks @@mattman578. My guys found this system and it seems both low cost and effective. We normally don't have sediment issues where we do back country stuff. Here in Europe right now just about everything is clear. In the MT-CO-WY-UT-ID area where we normally go the water is the same. Sounds like the AT has more sediment. Thanks for the feedback, I will pass along to the boys.

Crew at Gardsee today. A bit of semi-technical climbing. The one thing about doing things in Europe, there's network access everywhere.