RememberSchiff

There appears to be a STEM partnership between SIU and BSA. SIU announced before BSA?

Pack 77 Den Leader and Southern Illinois University (SIU) associate math professor Wesley Calvert has created a new Nova award based on the mathematics of symmetry, Fearful Symmetry . A few years ago, SIU began playing host to an annual STEM University event, which gave scouts the chance to earn Nova and other merit awards. During the 2016 event, Calvert met Lisa Balbes, who serves on a national committee charged with reviewing proposals for such awards. “We talked about the need for additional math awards within the program, and after continued conversations with her and another member of this committee, that summer I started to develop the Fearful Symmetry.” ... The activities require scouts to watch, read and discuss ideas related to symmetry in everyday life, as well as its history and uses. It also guides them through various hands-on activities such as folding and rolling paper to make a lantern, drawing traditional Indian kolam art patterns using chalk on a sidewalk, or making Native American rugs and patchworks using paper. Kolam is a form of drawing using rice flour, chalk or rock powder of various colors. It is popular in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and some parts of Goa, Maharashtra, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and a few other Asian countries. “The kolam activity was one of the first ones I knew I wanted to include,” Calvert said. “I learned about this art form during my time as a Fulbright-Nehru scholar in India, and that was also how I met Sunita Vatuk, of the City College of New York, who has used this art form to teach mathematical ideas both to children and to school teachers. ... more at link. Very cool. http://news.siu.edu/2018/04/041018-siu-faculty-member-creates-new-award-for-boy-scouts.php

@LeschFamily welcome to scouter.com

If it ain't broke...I'd say you are delivering the Promise of Scouting. Well done.

@NJCubScouter . Yes back in the 60's, the 11 year old age requirement made the crossover a bridge to nowhere for some. Our crossovers were at the Feb, Blue and Gold. Since I would not be 11 for months, my destination troop was not there. My SM told me to stop in at the first meeting in Sept as the troop shut down for the summer baseball.

@Cyclone welcome to scouter.com

@Antelope16-2 welcome to scouter.com.

The Blythe family has withdrawn their lawsuit against BSA. During the meeting, the group “offered us resources that are available to help Logan earn the Eagle Scout award in a way that is possible for him,” according to a news release from the law firm. “Since Logan now has a path to the Eagle Scout rank, there is no reason to pursue legal action,” the release states. https://www.sltrib.com/news/2018/04/04/utah-family-of-boy-with-down-syndrome-drops-discrimination-lawsuit-against-boy-scouts/ I have been puzzled that reports stated a merit badge issue impacted Council approving an Eagle Scout project or that his already awarded merit badges would be rescinded both plain wrong. At first I thought the reports were wrong, his parents misunderstood, or Council miscommunicated but this seems to have been a bigger snafu.

@TMSM welcome to scouter.com

Both logos bother me. Why do you need a compass if you have the North Star?

Sorry, I should have quoted @CalicoPenn regarding the fleur-de-lis. I just wanted to clarify that the fleur-de-lis in those logos are not BSA brand property; they are public domain.

Their old logo has "Boy Scout of America" , a brand name. Their new logo on right has no BSA branding on it. A BSA fleur-de-lis requires further embellishment - an eagle, two stars,..as detailed in link below. https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/310-0231.pdf Reading North Star links which OP posted, the words “Northern Star Scouting” will become our tradename for everyday use, although we will still be Northern Star Council Boy Scouts of America for legal purposes. http://www.northernstarbsa.org/refreshing-our-brand-for-scouting-today http://www.northernstarbsa.org/our-logos-and-standards

Hmm, no BSA branding used, no BSA licensed patch and shirt shops needed,...I see National scrambling over this. It would not be the first time North Star bumped heads with National. All scouting is local and so their branding?

If the BSA is content that patrols may no longer independently hike or camp as they once did with SM approval, then yes stand aside and allow the state to punish any parent, teacher, SM who would allow their kids into the woods, playground, bicycle, or front yard unsupervised. My $0.02

In Utah, by state law, it will not be a crime for parents to let their children play unsupervised in a park or walk home from school alone. Utah is the first state in the nation to pass such a law. A law to fill a void in common sense? “The fact that we need legislation for what was once considered common sense parenting a generation ago and is considered normal in every other country in the world is what surprises me,” said Danielle Meitiv, the Silver Spring, Md., mother who made national headlines three years ago after she and her husband were charged with child neglect for letting their two children, ages 6 and 10, walk home from a park by themselves. “I’m glad Utah has put these protections in place after what I discovered when I tried to parent the way I was parented.” https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/29/well/family/utah-passes-free-range-parenting-law.html Should the BSA be a proponent of a similar law in the other 49 states? Thank you Ms. Meitiv.

Our troop culture has been the SM asks the SPL whether the troop is ready to go? If the SPL was on his toes, he already told the patrols to line up and the PL's or himself performed a gear check. If not, then the SPL had a "teaching moment" check of his gear by the SM or ASM in front of the troop before proceeding with troop inspection. Parents know not to leave until the gear check is completed as some "sneakered" scouts are going home. Less latitude in cold, bad weather outings. My $0.02,

@Pete52 welcome to scouter.com

Maybe if I just leave out the fun, adventurous parts of the old days, I will be okay?

A scout told me not to worry as the "statue of imitations" has expired. Now back in the day, we challenged other troops to play Buck-Buck...

"Oh he is/ I am such a Boy Scout." When I hear this, my mental reflex is to ask , "Oh so he/you were in scouts?" Often the answer is a disappointing no, make that annoying too. So this morning, I read New York Mayor Bill de Blasio is answering questions about his campaign fundraising. His wife used the Boy Scout defense. The revelations in Central Islip federal court came hours after First Lady Chirlane McCray tried to blunt Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, Harendra Singh Singh’s earlier, damning testimony by insisting that her hubby was “such a Boy Scout” that he’d never break the law. “I am fortunate in that I married a Boy Scout,” McCray said with a laugh on the Gotham Gazette’s “Max & Murphy” podcast. “He is such a Boy Scout. He didn’t do anything wrong. I know he didn’t do anything wrong. He knows he didn’t do anything wrong.” A de Blasio spokesman Tuesday said the mayor was never an actual member of the Boy Scouts of America, but Hizzoner did call on the youth group to lift its ban on gay adult leaders shortly before it did so in 2015. Now, I think the BSA needs to respond forthwith and hereto and... I see two options. Get Legal involved and obtain a cease and desist order on Ms. McCray from misrepresenting her husband as a Boy Scout. Or, call a press conference (sure add some Girl Cub Scouts) with the Mayor, award him a Bobcat badge and then spin him.

Meanwhile other outdoor teen adventure groups, e.g. AMC, Outward Bound fill their summer trek slots with waiting lists. Why? IMO, because those groups provide adult supervision as needed and even allow solo experiences. Back in the day, each patrol needed only one adult who could take off 2-3 weeks for a bus trip to Philmont. We had a bus with 3 patrols and 4 adult leaders (one was a backup). We have been hard pressed to get 3 adults per patrol to take a quick week off for a plane trip to Philmont and when we do ...What I have to pay to volunteer! And now family Philmont treks? My $0.02

Facebook? Is that still around?

@ScottishNaomi , welcome to scouter.com .

@RebekahTN , welcome to scouter.com