RememberSchiff

On an near-empty beach with a troop of Boy Scouts nearby. DANA POINT, Calif. (KABC) -- A small plane made an emergency landing on a beach in Dana Point Saturday, startling some beachgoers on the sand. The pilot told authorities he had just taken off for what was supposed to be a leisurely flight from John Wayne Airport when the plane lost power. The lucky pilot landed on an empty stretch of sand. The plane came to a stop at the edge of the surf and close to a troop of Boy Scouts. "He climbed out on his own, the greeting of throngs of Boy Scouts there -- they were very excited -- and they pushed the plane onto the sand," a beachgoer added. https://abc7.com/small-plane-makes-emergency-landing-on-beach-in-dana-point/4906282/

IMHO, these Council letters raise more questions about how much and where local money goes.

@Neckerchief welcome to scouter.com

Scouting Ireland has similar problems

...Scouting Ireland now faces similar problems identifying past insurance records required to help indemnify the organisation against the cost of future legal cases....“At the moment there is only one insurer who is willing to insure Scouting Ireland in this country,” Aisling Kelly told the private meeting. The historic documentation for the CBSI was in “much better shape” than records from the SAI, she said. ...The organisation does not have substantial financial reserves. Twice this year its State funding was suspended by Minister for Children Katherine Zappone, due to governance concerns following controversy over the flawed handling of the 2016 rape allegation. An ongoing review by Scouting Ireland has identified 317 alleged child sex abuse victims, and 212 alleged abusers. Evidence from the review details abuse that occurred at “all levels within the organisation”, cases where information was “covered up” and alleged perpetrators were permitted to “move from group to group”, Scouting Ireland’s new chairperson Aisling Kelly told a stunned meeting of senior scout leaders on Monday. The organisation has taken a hit in relation to the public, but the national scandal has not eroded the trust between parents and local leaders in Dundalk, he said..... In mid-November the organisation announced the review had identified 108 alleged abuse victims, and 71 alleged perpetrators. Three weeks on and both figures have nearly tripled, as more abuse survivors continue to come forward. The ongoing review found the majority of the alleged abuse occurred between the 1960s and 1990s. Historic abuse scandals have shaken scouting organisations in the United States, Australia and the UK in recent years. If Scouting Ireland is forced to bear the entire cost of lawsuits from past abuse in the SAI itself, the cost is “going to be huge,” McClenaghan said. Scouting Ireland’s approach to the abuse revelations has been to set up a victim- support scheme to provide counselling services to survivors. There is a recognition inside the organisation that if large numbers of alleged abuse victims pursue civil cases against Scouting Ireland, the costs could collapse the organisation. More details at source: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/scouting-ireland-faces-uncertain-future-in-wake-of-child-sex-abuse-scandal-1.3731670

Agree, now how the troop sets the policy can vary. Some paths, I have seen. Parent(s) mention concern(s) to a receptive SM or ASM. Say I have read about this Method of Scouting called Adult Association and I think we could do better. SM and his ASM's have a cup of coffee and figure it out. There is also another issue of a scout-run troop. IMO, PL's and the SPL should be teaching, testing, and "signing-off" requirements. SM hears the above after fortunate son (sorry 60's flashback) has a BOR . BOR members noticed scout's father signed-off most of his requirements. Fortunate Son 's PL (patrol leader) notices and talks to Senior Patroil Leader who talks with SM. "There are three adult leaders in our son's troop." Get trained as a ASM and you could be #4. And then there is the Troop Committee path... With two-deep leadership, getting another adult leader signature should not be a problem. My $0.02, Hold the phone as other scouter.com members will have advice.

@MTroop welcome to scouter.com .

The Boy Scouts of America is on the verge of bankruptcy because its insurance companies are balking at paying settlements to almost a dozen men who claim they were sexually abused as boys by a notorious scoutmaster, a spokeswoman confirmed Friday. Since August, the venerable organization has been battling insurers INA, which is now part of Chubb, and National Surety, which is an Allianz company, and the Hartford Accident and Indemnity Co., court records show. “We remain in disputes with some carriers and look forward to a resolution that benefits victims and helps them on their journey towards healing,” BSA spokeswoman Effie Delimarkos said in a statement to NBC News. That statement was seconded by Christopher Hurley, the lawyer for 11 former scouts who accused disgraced scoutmaster Thomas Hacker of sexually abusing them — and sued the BSA for damages. Hurley said that if the scouting organization does seek Chapter 11 protection it won’t be the fault of the victims. “We know how much coverage they have and we know their insurers are refusing to pay,” he told NBC News. The insurance companies declined to comment on the ongoing legal battle. More details at source: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/boy-scouts-america-pushed-brink-bankruptcy-battles-insurers-n948181

Sorry my reply was meant to be funny. Maybe @JoeBob is right about humor.

Honorable discharge?

Well the article concludes The national organization’s position is that a bankruptcy wouldn’t affect the holdings of the local councils, such as campgrounds. Which reminds me of my past employers re-orgs and mergers, where upper management stated without blinking "There are no planned layoffs" and weeks later ...oh you've heard this one.

Updated WSJ article : The group has been clear about the financial threats posed by more than 250 legal challenges brought by former members who allege inappropriate conduct by leaders and volunteers going back to the 1960s. In its 2017 annual report, the Boy Scouts of America said it was aware of “threatened and expanding litigation of a similar nature,” and that it was possible that payments to resolve claims could “have a significant impact on the financial position” of the national organization. Last year, some Scout leaders at local levels cited increasing legal liability as a reason annual dues for youth members and leaders were rising, in some cases to $33 from $24. The group’s financial health also will depend on how much of the litigation costs will be covered by its insurance policies. The organization has sued its insurers at least twice since 2013, accusing them of failing to cover costs related to previous sexual-abuse-related lawsuits. A bankruptcy would raise the question of whether regionally held assets for the national organization could be sold off or otherwise used to compensate victims. The association’s most recent annual report didn’t put a value on the assets held by its local councils or other affiliates. More details at source: https://www.wsj.com/articles/boy-scouts-look-for-paths-to-stay-viable-11544747082

Ok then, 16 hours later and the discussion has since moved forward. Lets keep it heading in that direction. Thanks, RS @MattR @desertrat77 @NJCubScouter @LeCastor

Thanks...now to find my glasses.

2018 what a year, probably not a complete list Lost revenue - LDS scouts leaving - Membership drop from other factors - Philmont shutdown from fires Added Expenses - Abuse and safety lawsuits - Girl Scout lawsuit - Bond payments for Bechtel? (not sure of dates) - 2019 World Jamboree preparation. What's ahead - new bond issue? victim compensation/legislation? Federal bailout (Scout's honor on paying it back)? reorganization? National Meeting at a scout camp? President Trump tweeting "A sad situation." ? My $0.01

Ok then, let's move the discussion forward. Thanks, RS

@Eaglein87 welcome to scouter.com

So a greater incentive to get Eagle sooner rather than later? Hardly seems a business letter. Date? Salutation? The news links seem serious. I wonder how quick xxx will make an offer to buy Philmont? My $0.01

Hmmm, has the gender composition of Venturing or Sea Scouts been disclosed?

Update: A year later, a changed life and more... “That (day) was a huge turning point in my life … I felt like it was an arrow pointing me in the direction where I want to go,” Konzelman said. Konzelman was born and raised in Puyallup, growing alongside four brothers and one sister. Konzelman and his brothers were all Boy Scouts who earned their Eagle Scout ranks. Growing up, he jumped to help those who needed it. On more than one occasion, he responded to car crashes on the road outside his home in Puyallup. “I think just the way that I’m wired: If I see something that needs to be done and I don’t see somebody doing it immediately or doing it well, I just tend to jump in and do it,” he said. But when it came to choosing a career, he planned to become an accountant. He graduated from Northwest University in 2017 with his bachelor’s degree in finance and again in 2018 with his master’s in business management. He got a job in accounting while going to school. After the derailment, all that changed. “I wanted to do something that helped people, that made a difference,” he said. “Firefighter kept coming up at the top of the list. I said, ‘You know what — why not at least give it a try?’” He started working part time, which allowed him to land a volunteer firefighter position with the Buckley Fire Department. He’s currently working through EMT school and will start fire academy in January. By June, he’ll graduate and be eligible to go on calls. He hopes to land a paid position soon. More details in great article: http://www.thedailyworld.com/news/a-year-after-deadly-train-crash-puyallup-man-says-helping-the-injured-changed-his-life/

Much legal bluster back in 2014 about camps and finances , ditto 2018 but about names? IMO, their outdoor learning is becoming STEM-focused as opposed to recreational, adventure,... http://www.news9.com/story/39556995/girl-scouts-working-on-building-a-new-camp-ground

@IBleedGreen welcome to scouter.com, perhaps you can introduce yourself and tell why you gather. As for myself, I enjoy the outdoors and showing scouts why. It is hard for me to imagine being with one without the other.

...as he embarks on his latest adventure as the new chief ambassador for the global scout movement, Bear Grylls now wants to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing society - including gang violence and extremism. After being appointed the UK’s youngest ever Chief Scout nearly a decade ago, the father-of-three has set his sights on mobilising the Scouts into some of Britain’s hardest to reach areas. With scout numbers having swelled by an unprecedented 43 per cent to 638,000 under his leadership, Grylls believes growing demand from Muslim communities could help in the fight against radicalisation. “We have hundreds of mosques every week, reaching out, asking, 'Can we start up groups?' “MI5 is spending resources to stem the blood but we’re saying, ‘Don’t create the wound’. That’s why we have the mosques coming to us. They’re saying: ‘Hold on, we can see that you’re providing hope, purpose, pride, British values, sense of discipline. All the things that ISIS give people, but for good, not bad. Come and speak to our youths.” Insisting the Scouts are providing “a positive alternative to kids joining gangs”, he adds: “It’s what I was saying about the young, Muslim kids in this country. If you don’t give them something good, they go to the bad.” Grylls is convinced he can persuade any teenager to join the Scouts, even those on crime-ridden estates. ... it is probably no surprise the 44-year-old, who has sons aged nine, 12 and 15, thinks parents are too risk averse. “No one is equipping kids with the life skills they need. School isn’t. And I do think we have a culture where everyone is always nervous of risk. When you strip risk out of kids lives, you do them a disservice. Life is full of risks. Lack of risk leads to a lack of independence which explains why anxiety is such a big problem among young people.” Very hopeful and interesting report at source link: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/12/08/scouts-can-save-children-extremism-gangs-says-bear-grylls/

CBS Sunday Morning, two former boy scouts who shared the same pup tent. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/alan-simpson-norman-mineta-friendship-born-out-of-japanese-american-internment-camp/

All Star Comic Con to the rescue All Star Comic Con will dedicate the their upcoming Holiday Party Dec 12, to Star Wars Days, the Star Wars-themed weekend organized annually by Boy Scout Troop 501 that was forced to cancel two days prior to its opening due to scheduling conflicts with its host facility. All Star Con co-founder Kevin Bednarz said 10 percent of all food sales throughout the day at the Ashburn Pub will be donated to Star Wars Days to help Troops 501 replace the lost revenue due to the cancellation. The food sale special is available the entire day to include anyone who wants to give and cannot attend the party that evening. The party also will feature raffle prizes, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the event. Raffle items include gift cards, artwork, collectibles, toys, and more to raffle. Brandon Pyle of the newly formed Capitol Cosplay League has donated signed Washington Capital hockey pucks, Washington Wizards jerseys and four suite tickets to the Feb. 5 Capitals game versus the Vancouver Canucks in support of this effort. “I’ve attended every Star Wars Days,” All Star Con co-founder Michael McNutt said. “It was a great event that my children loved attending and looked forward to. Justin (Youtz, the event organizer) has been a great supporter of All Star Con, and when we heard about the cancellation, we immediately felt that we needed to do something to show him and his scouts that we’re here for them.” https://www.loudountribune.com/all-star-comic-con-plans-holiday-party-to-help-boy-scout-troop/