RememberSchiff

IMHO every issue should be reviewed to confirm that. I do not think we should take comfort by saying, to paraphrase, "We have the best YP...". I would rather hear We are constantly reviewing our YP procedures policies and procedures by examining incident reports with YP experts. Here is a link to our YP Committee reports on actions for those incidents, including legal actions, and legislation lobbying. My $0.02,

National Executive Board - photo page https://www.scouting.org/about/governance/national-executive-board/ I have not found a National Executive Council photo page. Some members serve on both.

‘Scouting is back,’ going strong teaching life skills to youths in Archdiocese of Baltimore ...Archdiocesan Scouting officials hope to glimpse the future of the programs at an April 19-21 retreat at Walkersville Watershed in Frederick. It’s the first since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Father Jim Bors, appointed last year as chaplain of the Archdiocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting Leadership, hopes it will show “that Scouting is back.” In addition to camping and outdoor activities, there will be talks on the rosary as well as eucharistic adoration and the sacrament of reconciliation. To draw as many Scouts as possible, there’s a Saturday-only option, and it’s also open to all Catholic youths in Scouts BSA, Venturing, Sea Scouts, Exploring, Cub Scouts, Troops of St. George, Trail Life, American Heritage Girls, Girl Scouts and Camp Fire. For Father Bors, a Naval Academy graduate who is associate pastor of Our Lady of the Chesapeake in Lake Shore and St. Jane Frances de Chantal in Riviera Beach, the retreat will be an opportunity to assess Scouting as an extension of youth ministry.... More at source: https://catholicreview.org/scouting-is-back-going-strong-teaching-life-skills-to-youths-in-archdiocese-of-baltimore/

04/03/2024 Online registration still appears to be active.

4/2/2024 Update and more: "Killingworth Deer Lake is now free of debt and protected from development pressure thanks to a nonprofit and leagues of donors focused on its preservation." "In 2022, the Pathfinders bought the property for $4.75 million from the Connecticut Yankee Council, which is the local chapter of the Boy Scouts. Pathfinder's purchase was largely due to Connecticut Attorney General Tong conferring with the CYC to extend their March 31 deadline set for the property’s sale to May 1. AG Tong intervened immediately after the CYC rejected a Pathfinders’ offer of $4.3 million on March 30, thus allowing Pathfinders another month to raise $475,000. Ted Langevin, the president of Pathfinders, said it took more than $3 million in donations (from over 1,300 people spanning 87 Connecticut towns and 34 states, as well as donors from foreign countries) and $1.8 million in loans. Now, those loans are paid off thanks to an Eagle Scout who would later fight to make the Scouts more inclusive. “At the age of 67 he was kicked out because he was gay,” Senator Blumenthal said. In his will, David Knapp left the Pathfinders $750,000, which is what they needed to pay off the last of the loans. “This is just a great way for him to be an activist once more,” Langevin said." “We welcome the public, to come and use our hiking trails, walk on the property,” Pathfinders President and Chairman Ted Langevin said. He added the space will be inclusive and welcoming to all. It will also offer rentable space for weddings, corporate events and ceremonies. There are plans for future programing and camps to ensure the property has a long life protected from development, and close to nature. “To welcome people onto our land and get them interested in coming more often, enjoy nature and all the things we have to offer,” Langevin said of goals for the site. Sources: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/killingworths-deer-lake-is-debt-free-as-leaders-look-toward-its-future/ar-BB1kXYbJ https://www.wtnh.com/news/connecticut/middlesex/killingworths-deer-lake-saved-from-developers/ https://hk-now.com/a-day-of-thank-yous-at-deer-lake/ P.S. Real estate developer Margaret Streicker is still listed on the Executive Board of Connecticut Yankee Council

Being a Girl in Boys scouts | Mable Bradshaw | TEDx

BSA President & CEO Roger Krone Shares a Message About Child Abuse Prevention Month | April 2024

Grand Rapids, MI: "What started as a group of less than 10 girls is, today, the second largest all-girls troop in the state with 43 in total.", Scoutmaster Kim Mast. Source: https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/local/grand-rapids-north/scoutmaster-leads-second-largest-all-girls-boy-scout-troop-in-state/69-997dd2c6-906a-4b6b-bf31-7a81665691e1

The effect of off-shore wind turbines on bird and bat flight paths "Dominion Energy agreed to install a wildlife-tracking system called Motus on both turbines at the end of the required monitoring period. Motus uses antennas to detect signals from birds and bats tagged with tiny radio transmitters. Since the Motus network launched in 2015, more than 30,000 birds, bats and butterflies(?) have been tagged, but the majority of the 1,500 antennas are on land. Meanwhile, many species migrate over the ocean. Extending the Motus network offshore can help managers identify migration paths as well as stopover habitat on land, where birds fuel up before long flights over open water. Conserving those areas is critical, as migration is the most perilous time in a bird’s life cycle, due to the physical demands. " And some results with photos (including flight paths) are at sources: https://www.fws.gov/story/2024-03/where-do-birds-go-offshore-answers-may-be-blowing-wind https://www.fws.gov/story/wind-farm-beneath-their-wings

Content? Hard to know. I have not attended one. From outside the closed doors, I sense it is more like a Blue and Gold - announcements , awards, food - more social than business. From my experience when a company annual meeting is more social than business, it means business continues as usual. I keep hoping for more transparency and open, thoughtful discussions - that online fireside chat with Mr. Krone with questions sent in from the field would be a good start. And we have questions. My $0.02,

I would like to know progress towards YP provisions of the settlement plan, which as I understand were specified as follows: also I like to know more about the meeting with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)

March, 2024: Some news releases this week that X "has been named to serve on the newly reorganized National Executive Board for Boy Scouts of America." only 1. The newly reorganized National Executive Board was announced back in Oct 19, 2023 on scoutingnewsroom and reported here 2. These recent news releases are not about new people. I guess it is a new Executive Board in a sense it is smaller but new younger blood? "The new BSA National Executive Board has been reduced from 72 to 47 members, and includes a mix of experienced board members, newly elected members, as well as eight members nominated by local BSA Councils in order to bring a better balance of historical knowledge and new perspectives. The new National Executive Board also reflects BSA efforts toward diversification, and includes 13% women and 23% racially diverse members, with plans to expand those numbers in the future." Examples: Ellie Morrison: https://thekatynews.com/2024/03/28/morrison-named-to-boy-scouts-of-america-national-executive-board/ Daniel Van Horn: https://www.elizabethton.com/2024/03/27/van-horn-named-to-boy-scouts-of-america-national-executive-board/ Thear Suzuki: https://thekatynews.com/2024/03/28/suzuki-named-to-boy-scouts-of-america-national-executive-board/

National has had some Jambo used equipment sales, for example https://scoutingwire.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Jamboree-Equipment-Sales-Flyer.pdf

Maybe his attendance is one of "a few surprises" he mentioned. I hope Glen Pounder will also attend and speak of problems and progress with YP since he came on board a year ago.

3/28/2024: Tomorrow last day to register. No word of online videos for forthcoming meeting.

@H2Ocaveman welcome to scouter.com

"Lou Whittaker, a legendary American mountaineer who helped lead ascents of Mount Everest, K2 and Denali, and who taught generations of climbers during his more than 250 trips up Mount Rainier, the tallest peak in Washington state, has died at age 95." Lou and his twin brother Jim Whittaker who was the first American to summit Mt. Everest began climbing in the !940's with the Boy Scouts (their Scoutmaster was a mountaineer ); both Eagle Scouts. https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/obituaries/lou-whittaker-legendary-mountaineer-of-mt-rainier-dead-at-95/ https://mynorthwest.com/3955899/lou-whittaker-among-most-famous-american-mountaineers-died-age-95/ https://www.seattlemet.com/travel-and-outdoors/2012/07/jim-and-lou-whittaker-august-2012 Scout Salute and Farewell,

@Newschoolscoutdad welcome to scouter.com

Bear spray? Air horn? Trek poles? Hiking staff?

03/25/2024: Taylen Robert Claude Brooks, 21, and Wyatt Jay Charles Brooks, 18, of Mount Aukum, California, were the victims in the (mountain lion) attack, the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Monday. Taylen Brooks’ death was the first by a mountain lion in California in two decades; there have been only three verified killings by a mountain lion in the state since 1986, according to California Department of Fish and Wildlife records. ... According to the sheriff’s office, the pair were antler shed hunting along Skid Road, a rural part of the county about 30 minutes north of Placerville. While walking, they noticed a mountain lion alongside them. “Both Taylen and Wyatt did what they had always learned,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. “They raised their hands in the air to appear larger, yelled at the lion and Wyatt even threw his backpack at the lion, all in an attempt to scare the lion away.” ... Taylor worked as a house painter with his father, loved the outdoors and was “an extremely talented guitar player,” his family said in a statement. Wyatt is enrolled at the Mt. Adams fire academy and hopes to someday work for Cal Fire. A fund has been set up to support the family, and a memorial will be held at a later date. “A brother is a friend given by nature,” his family said. “These two brothers were driven by nature.” Source: https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/california-brothers-mountain-lion-attack-19367715.php

I was curious what relevant material the CyberChip Award might have. In the Scout Cyber Chip Contract which is modelled after Scout Law Brave: If I witness any instances of cyberbullying, illegal activities, or suicidal threats, I will go directly to my parents. However from Advancement Updates 2024 "The Cyberchip has been phased out. Scouts should use the Personal Safety Awareness training at https://www.scouting.org/training/youth-protection/scouts-bsa/ for both Scout and Star ranks." From there a video link https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/YPSAT/bullying/story.html which basically says to contact an adult and here is a government link with more links StopBullying.gov From there more passive information. What Is Cyberbullying | StopBullying.gov All states have laws requiring schools to respond to bullying. As cyberbullying has become more prevalent with the use of technology, many states now include cyberbullying, or mention cyberbullying offenses, under these laws. Schools may take action either as required by law, or with local or school policies that allow them to discipline or take other action. Some states also have provisions to address bullying if it affects school performance. You can learn about the laws and policies in each state, including if they cover cyberbullying. Laws, Policies & Regulations | StopBullying.gov <- start here. State Anti-Bullying Laws & Policies has an interactive map and list of state laws. Federal Law There is no federal law that specifically applies to bullying. In some cases, when bullying is based on race or ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, disability, or religion, bullying overlaps with harassment and schools are legally obligated to address it. Read more about when bullying overlaps with harassment and how to report it to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division. So...from this brief glance, state cyberbully laws appear school/student centric? If so, maybe the BSA (Glen Pounder), scouters, and other groups can lobby to change that. To help other people at all times.

"The National Cryptologic Museum Scout Day was open to scouts and their families all over Maryland and beyond, with some even traveling more than two hours to take part in the festivities. Activity stations ranged from fingerprinting and robotics, to invisible ink and a scavenger hunt. With activities set up throughout the museum, kids and their parents had the opportunity to take in all kinds of lessons. In addition to cipher wheels and decoding encrypted messages, they learned about language, cryptology and the history of coding during slavery." "The National Cryptologic Museum is the only fully public museum in the Intelligence Community ". So much for that secret. More at source including photos: https://www.nsa.gov/Press-Room/News-Highlights/Article/Article/3703024/scouts-honored-at-national-cryptologic-museums-annual-scout-day/

I am not a lawyer. From your OP, I thought the YP issue was bullying. As I understand, harassment is a more serious crime requiring more judication beyond removal from social media or BSA. Again not a lawyer so my phrasing may be off.

IMHO, we are having a scoutlike, rational discussion here. There is more to discuss such as the ways to respond to misinformation and hate. Membership policy being set - what discretion do units and CO's currently have? Can a CO say only our congregation can be members? Can a troop still be single gender? If a policy is set, can a member can speak out against the policy without detriment to individuals. Censor and/or respond factually to online comments what is the BSA online policing policy on various platforms? I would very much like to hear Glen Pounder, BSA YP Executive, address the internet YP issues you mentioned. "Enough is enough. Stand up for our scouts, BSA. When John hops in the chat to voice his opinions on LGBTQ+ youth, that's the point where someone should have stepped in and immediately shut that down, in the clearest terms possible, and stated that such statements do not align with the membership policies of the BSA. " I can understand that visceral response but was there an opportunity lost here? Worth discussing? Teach scouts how to safely to react to discrimination and hatred in a rational way attempt to defuse the situation, report. This CBS news interview with renowned birder Christian Cooper specifically 3:30 on speaks of a rational response. https://www.cbsnews.com/video/christian-cooper-the-extraordinary-birder/ Another $0.02

Yes. A scoutlike and rational discussion please on all topics otherwise how will BSA policies and implementations improve and kids benefit. If there is a YP problem, it will not be tolerated. Settled? IMHO, membership policy is still evolving.