RememberSchiff

Possibilities...BSA Troop 713 photo at link: (sorry no spoilers) https://bsatroop713.com/about-us/ "Troop 713 is a scout led troop. The Senior Patrol Leader and their Patrol Leaders Council set the events calendar for the year, plan the troop meetings, and run all of the events. Adults are present for health and safety concerns, to assist the scouts in developing their leadership skills, and to perform duties that require an adult in order to accomplish the task for legal or contractual reasons. The scouts occasionally stumble, but scouting is a a safe environment to learn from our mistakes." Recent news article regarding their adventures: "The group of very high adventure kids hiked volcanos and went white water rafting, zip lining, rappelling, rock climbing and drove ATVs. A total of 13 Scouts, both..." "The trip took over a year to plan and West said it was frequently changing as a committee of scouts came up with different things they wanted to do. Most of the things they requested they were able to do, including the rafting, rappelling, climbing mountains, zip lining, and celebrating New Year’s as a big family. The only thing they were unable to do was connect with local scouts from Chile." https://www.delmartimes.net/lifestyle/story/2024-02-13/adventures-in-scouting-local-troop-713-explores-patagonia-chile Scout Salute,

Similar experiences here, so I gave up waiting and I am renovating our first floor bath slooowly myself amid other sudden home repair interruptions.

02/17/2024: Short summary to date with embedded reference links: https://www.jurist.org/news/2024/02/us-supreme-court-pauses-bankruptcy-settlement-in-boy-scouts-of-america-sexual-abuse-cases/ Monday Feb 19, 2024 will mark the 4th Anniversary of BSA Bankruptcy.

Scrambled eggs on their faces? I wonder the reaction of the DOJ/US Trustee Office, in particular trial attorney David Buchbinder, who I believe is now retired.

If "all operations of Scout Settlement Trust are suspended" will Trust staff take an unpaid leave?

2/15/2024 update: BSA responded to the Supreme Court that blocking the settlement would "throw the Scouting program into chaos" and "potentially destroy BSA’s ability to carry out its 114-year-old charitable mission." "The Purdue case is "starkly different" because that company’s bankruptcy plan has not yet gone into effect, the Boy Scouts argued. The organization emerged from bankruptcy in April 2023 and its settlement has already paid more than $7 million to nearly 3,000 survivors of sexual abuse." More at source: https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/boy-scouts-org-urges-supreme-court-not-stop-24-bln-abuse-settlement-2024-02-15/

Star Trek speculates that scouting will still exist in the 22nd century.

2/13/2024: ‘Lost on a Mountain in Maine’ film will finally hit cinemas this summer “Lost on a Mountain in Maine, filmed in 2022, was produced by Sylvester Stallone’s Balboa Productions, and this week was picked up by Blue Fox Entertainment for distribution. " The movie was shot in New York rather than Maine. Source: https://www.bangordailynews.com/2024/02/13/state/state-culture/lost-on-a-mountain-in-maine-film-will-finally-hit-cinemas-this-summer/ https://www.dailyfreeman.com/2022/06/23/film-lost-on-a-mountain-in-maine-casting-call-out-for-july-shooting-in-ulster-county/

02/12/2024 Scouting Settlement Trust to Advance Partial Payments to Survivors while Litigation is Pending "We have been asked repeatedly by Survivors if we can distribute some money while the claims process is under way and we have found a way," said Hon. Barbara J. Houser (Ret.), the Trustee overseeing the administration and distribution of the compensation fund. "A confluence of factors, mostly related to ongoing litigation, currently limits the amount of money we're able to distribute, so we have developed this program to put some money into the hands of Survivors who have been waiting for a long time for some measure of justice." Under the Advance Payment Program ("APP"), eligible claimants will be able to receive payments of $1,000 before their allowed claim amount is finally determined. Eligibility to participate in the APP will be determined based upon a rigorous application of criteria to the information provided to the Scouting Settlement Trust (the "Trust") by individual claimants. ... To date, approximately 2,914 payments totaling more than $7.3 million have been issued by the Trust to Claimants. An additional 252 payments totaling about $650,000 are scheduled to be sent Feb, 13. Judge Houser said the Advance Payment Program allows claimants to receive some money while their claim determination is being finalized. "As I have shared previously, the Trust is constrained from paying claims until various key issues are resolved," said Judge Houser. "The APP allows us to get some money to more Claimants, rather than getting an initial distribution to the smaller number of Claimants whose claims have been fully evaluated." ... Judge Houser has set a deadline of May 31 for all the remaining Matrix claims. Much more on factors affecting payments and APP at sources: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/scouting-settlement-trust-to-advance-partial-payments-to-survivors-while-litigation-is-pending-302058886.html https://www.scoutingsettlementtrust.com/s/

Dan Beard at red dot top center of CalTopo map, approximate Rayado red dot at bottom right corner.

Other patrol competition ideas: Sasquatch sightings during the day, Bear bag station from recent Klondike article To build a fire , nice photos https://cdapress.com/news/2024/feb/11/to-build-a-fire/ “This is a really good way to put their scout skills to the test. They’re having fun and they don’t realize they’re even learning stuff. They adapt to change and overcome while having fun in the outdoors,” Jason Charland, program executive for the Inland Northwest Council

Feb 9, 2024 Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA-02) and Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA-15), co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Scouting Caucus, this week introduced a resolution celebrating the founding of the Boy Scouts of America. “For 114 years the Boy Scouts of America has provided the nation's premier program for character development and values-based leadership training for more than 130 million young men and women,” said Boy Scouts of America CEO and President Roger Krone. “As a Congressionally chartered organization with longstanding relationships on both sides of the aisle, we want to thank Representatives Thompson and Bishop for their continued bipartisan leadership of the Congressional Scouting Caucus, unwavering support for advancing the mission of Scouting, and introduction of this important resolution.” “Having spent more than 50 years in Scouting, including as a proud Eagle Scout and scoutmaster, I’ve witnessed firsthand the pivotal role Boy Scouts of America has in shaping the next generation of leaders,” Rep. Thompson said. “The invaluable skills, principles, and lessons taught in Scouting last a lifetime. I am proud to commemorate the 114th anniversary of the organization with this bipartisan resolution.” “I am proud to introduce this bipartisan resolution celebrating the Boy Scouts of America with my fellow Eagle Scout and colleague in Congress, “GT” Thompson,” Rep. Bishop said. “Scouting has been an integral part of my life, helping shape it and through scouting I have built relationships that have lasted a lifetime. It is a community that has engaged millions of youths across the world for over a century and instills the crucial principles of moral character, self-reliance, responsibility, leadership, human dignity, and service to others which are so important to our country's well-being.” Sources: https://thompson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/thompson-bishop-introduce-boy-scouts-america-day-resolution-0 https://bishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressmembers-bishop-and-thompson-introduce-bipartisan-boy-scouts-of-america-day-resolution

Happy 114th Anniversary video from Key 3 and Scouts.

Wildlife photographer "Daniel Dencescu spent hours following the starlings around the city and suburbs of Rome, Italy. Finally, on the cloudless winter's day, the murmuration, swirled into the shape of a giant bird." (Perhaps communicating to photographer to stop following them? ) He was a finalist in Wildlife Photographer of the Year People's Choice Award competition. More on "The Secrets and Science Behind Starling Murmurations". https://animals.howstuffworks.com/birds/starling-murmurations.htm An interesting read on the study of murmurations and application to animations (bats in Batman Returns) and swarm robotics (drones).

2/7/2024 New York: With the merger of Iroquois Trail Council and the Greater Niagara Frontier Council into the Western New York Council, Camp Dittmer closed in 2023 and is for sale through Timberland Realty - 317 acres with private 110 acre Remick Lake for $3.7M. "Camp Babock-Hovey on Seneca Lake in Ovid is being sold by the Rochester-based Seneca Waterways Council. The 284-acre site is listed for $9 million. The state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation may be interested in purchasing the property, as are private developers. The Seneca County Board of Supervisors voted to form a local development corporation to manage the property if the state buys it. Additionally, Camp Barton on Cayuga Lake in the town of Covert, Seneca County, has been sold by Baden-Powell Council in Binghamton to State Parks. It will be managed by Three Falls LDC, consisting of the towns of Covert and Ulysses, along with the village of Trumansburg. The latter two municipalities are in Tompkins County." Source https://www.fltimes.com/news/former-boy-scout-camp-dittmer-for-sale-for-3-7-million/article_687694d6-c447-11ee-8fd3-83c0be0eecc3.html

@ThreeFiresEagle welcome to scouter.com

@niagarafalls welcome to scouter.com

We were, but gave it away. In the 80's the BSA did just that when we worked with the Bureau of Land Management to formulate Leave No Trace (LNT). The BSA had the opportunity to lead LNT but did not. In the 90's, NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) took over LNT with the US Forest Service. Other government partners joined. Government funding of these education programs was always a problem. which lead to the creation in 1994 of LNT, a non-profit educational program which marketed courses to many groups including the BSA. More details at this link https://lnt.org/sites/default/files/Leave_No_Trace_History_Paper.pdf

Long time. Citizenship and classroom merit badges are often catalysts.

Not to be confused with the Rovers (age 18+) scouting program of the Outdoor Service Guides ? Outdoor Service Guides (OSG), was formed in the U.S. in 2006 as an independent scouting association, Baden Powell Service Association, BPSA. The name was officially changed in 2021 to Outdoor Service Guides. Rovers are the adult section of Outdoor Service Guides, intended for adults (18+) of all genders. There is no upper age limit for scouting with us, and adults can have fun scouting together and earning badges, too. Rovers are organized into self-governing crews as part of an overall scout group. Most Rovers serve as scout leaders for the younger sections and manage the functioning of the larger group, but not all. Scouting for adults does not have to be about taking care of kids in the woods. The Rover motto is simply “Service,” and it is put into practice both in the group and the community. Rovers commit to following the Scout Law which is our guide to being a good Rover and a good member of our community. The Scout Law A scout’s honor is to be trusted. A scout is loyal. A scout’s duty is to be useful and help others. A scout is a friend to all and a sibling to every other scout, no matter to what class, country, or creed the other may belong. A scout is courteous. A scout is kind to animals. A scout obeys orders. A scout smiles and whistles under all difficulties. A scout is thrifty. A scout is clean in thought, word and deed.

@Val welcome to scouter.com

Carthage, MO Troop 9 Scouts provide 71 noise-canceling headphones for patients undergoing cancer treatment. Scout Salute.

"Chris Mehaffey, CEO and SE of the Mid-America Council of the Boy Scouts of America, said he was unaware the statue still existed." Omaha, NE "Omaha’s Little Sister of Liberty was among at least 15 placed in Nebraska to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Boy Scouts of America. Omaha’s statue stood in Turner Park for several decades, during which it received some rough treatment. For the past 30 years, it’s been tucked away in storage in sculptor John Lajba’s downtown Omaha studio. " To put Omaha’s Little Liberty back in place would take work. The arm with the torch is missing, he said, as is her crown, and her right leg is crushed. “It’s important that she be restored using the original methods used to create her.” ... Much more history including photo at source: https://flatwaterfreepress.org/mini-statues-of-liberty-brought-patriotism-to-nebraska-towns-then-omahas-disappeared/

Jan 25, 2024: A former Boy Scout volunteer, David Lee Nelson, 41, of Redmond, Washington, admitted hiding two cameras in a S Bar F Scout Ranch bathroom in July of 2021. "Nelson hid the cameras in paper towel dispensers and positioned them so they would capture the interior of the bathroom, including a shower stall. One camera was discovered when a scout leader and scouts were cleaning out one of the restroom stalls. A search uncovered another camera, and leaders then called the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department. Later in the day, a scout leader spotted Nelson holding his cell phone near the bathrooms. The St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Drake is prosecuting the case." Nelson is facing a "mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, followed by a term of supervised release of up to life". More details at source: https://www.tampafp.com/boy-scout-volunteer-from-washington-state-admits-hiding-cameras-in-missouri-camp-bathrooms/

Ten years ago when Weston Rock was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer at the age of 10 months, his Greencastle-Antrim community rallied as he was treated at Penn State Health Children's Hospital in Hershey. "Weston died of cancer in February 2016, less than a month before his third birthday, but he is remembered with Greencastle Cub Pack 13's annual pajama drive. Just before Christmas, Cub Scout Pack 13 topped 10,000 pairs of pajamas collected for the children’s hospital since the fall of 2016, according to Cubmaster Patrick Jansen." "Some 1,500 pairs of pajamas were donated last year, which was especially poignant since Weston’s father David died of cancer in April at the age of 43." Weston’s mother Becky explained, “The pajama drive meant a whole lot to my husband, David. So that made the collection even more meaningful for our family this year. I just want to extend my deepest gratitude to the Cub Scouts, their leaders and their families for keeping this event thriving for so many years. It would not happen without their hard work. " "Weston probably spent more days of his life at Hershey Medical Center than in our home, so we always looked for ways to make him feel like a child and not a patient while he was there. One way that we did that was by keeping him in pajamas and avoiding hospital gowns as much as we could." “I think that the success of the pajama drive is such a reflection of how loved Weston was and the impact that his short life had on so many people. It is especially meaningful that it is a group of children and their leaders who do such hard work every year to honor Weston's memory and to bring comfort to other children who are fighting for their lives.” Godspeed to the Rock family and Scout Salute to Greencastle Cub Pack 13, More details including photos at source : https://www.echo-pilot.com/story/news/2024/01/25/penn-state-childrens-hospital-hershey-donation-honors-weston-rock-greencastle-cub-scouts-cancer/72326744007/ Related: Penn State THON is a student-run philanthropy committed to enhancing the lives of children and families impacted by childhood cancer. Their online 46 hour dance marathon is Feb 16-18.