RememberSchiff

But those customs are communicated, do we do as well? Take the scout handshake, I have often heard Dads make comments like "Why not shake like a man. Aren't you teaching them to be men." They were unaware of the tradition and its reason.

Please stay on topic, which is issues with touching scouts in the course of the program.

Since you mentioned snow and football, how about Army using those camoflaged, 10th Mountain Division jerseys! Go Navy, next year.

Ok then, less bickering please. So far, our more thoughtful replies have mentioned trust, mutual respect, traditions, stricter CO policies, communication, cultural issues, instructional needs, and a change in parental concerns/fears. In the special case of a handshake; it seems a simple act of respect but the person "on the other hand" may not agree. From Bryan's Tuesday Talkback Feb 11, 2014 ...there may be some parents (and even Scouts and Scouters) who because of their culture are not willing to shake using the left hand. There are some cultures, too, that don’t like to shake hands at all. We should respect their wishes. Some units, meanwhile, have a policy to only use the Scout handshake while in Scout uniform. I can find no argument against that practice and would leave that decision to the unit’s leaders (adult leaders in Cub Scouts and youth leaders in Boy Scouts and Venturers). https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2014/02/11/tuesday-talkback-who-should-use-the-scout-handshake/ Outside, the snow is clean and peaceful.

@clemlaw, thanks that is great work-around.

Welcome to scouter.com. Has your SM given you any specific tasks as a new ASM?

Given the situation, could one bring a friend (two legged or four-legged) along to a training course, who would not be taking the course?

IMHO, somewhere in the first lesson of adult leader training there should be a rule. Thieves steal from scouts anytime, anyplace. It's so easy. Be vigilant, protect your scouts, protect your assets. This story from Portland, OR is another example but with a local contractor coming to the rescue, a fundraiser - "This is how our troop pays for the entire program throughout the year. Our boys don't pay for summer camp they have to earn their way to summer camp", Troop 351 Scoutmaster Mike Benson the Governor stops by, the community responds and sales pick up and perhaps a girl Boy Scout interviewed. She was working the fundraiser and appeared to be wearing scout pants. http://www.kgw.com/life/holidays/samaritan-steps-in-after-grinch-steals-from-portland-boy-scouts/498150606

Hmmm, @MattR now there's a thought. Back in the day, before the internet and cellphones, I knew the adults in my neighborhood as I played over at friends' houses and at Little League long before I joined the troop where some of those same adults volunteered. Trust had already been established.

Maybe we scouters now need to ask permission first. I found this teaching objective in my diocese Touching Safety Program for teens They should honor and respect the wishes of others who don’t want to be touched, even when it feels like rejection and hurts their feelings. Learning that others have the right to say “no” and to have their “no” respected is a fundamental part of our character development as we grow into young adults. It empowers us to maintain our own boundaries and to respect and support the boundaries of those around us.

@Amynh welcome to scouter.com

Local Diocese has "Maintaining Boundaries" policies, mostly for coaches. Hugs and handshakes still okay for coaches, scouters less so.

Point taken, CO's touching policies as applied to scout units are on topic. Regarding those policies, I have found church CO's to be stricter with their scout units than the church school was with their sports team.

Let's keep on topic, adult touching in Scouting. I have touched Scouts during skills instruction for swimming (swim stroke mechanics), knots, shooting (postitioning, hold), and First Aid. Oh I have grabbed and pulled some scouts away from a dangerous situation. Is there a problem? Touching other the that, nope. No hugs, no slaps, Scouts can play in the NFL for that.

Kind or not kind?

http://www.3newsnow.com/news/local-news/businesses-worried-after-canfields-annoucement Their Going Out of Business sale starts today. 70+ years! "The Mid-America Council, Boy Scouts of America and many of its families have had a close, long-standing relationship with Canfield's Sporting Goods. We continually encouraged Scouting families to shop at this store and are saddened to learn of its closing," said Chris Mehaffey, CEO/Scout Executive, Mid-America Council, Boy Scouts of America. No word of number of employees who will lose their jobs before Christmas. Other local merchants are worried of a ripple effect with the loss of a major store. Teaching moment for Scouts? 1. Do the following: a. Explain four features of the free enterprise system in the United States. Tell its benefits and responsibilities. Describe the difference between freedom and license. Tell how the Scout Oath and Law apply to business and free enterprise from American Business merit badge or 8. Discuss with your counselor the different goals that may motivate the owners of a business, its stockholders, its customers, its employees, the employees' representatives, the community, and public officials. Explain why agreements and compromises are made and how they affect each group in achieving its goals. from American Labor merit badge

All sides, less bickering please. Thank you.

Good point with scouts in the middle. Maybe these arguments should come from some well-spoken scouts? My $0.02

Descartes Multiple choice tests are easy to correct, but IMHO are poor for learning evaluation.

Some confusion here, the topic here is Quality Control in Scouting. I split off some responses to a new touchy topic , and deleted some confused replies, for lack of a better description.

Owner Scott Marble, who worked at Canfield’s for 10 years before taking over as owner in 2014, cited common challenges in the retail industry as the reason for closing: expanding competition from online retailers, the decline of “big box” stores and — bad news for a store that sells lots of winter-sports goods and apparel — increasingly warm winters. The store also once was a one-stop shop for Boy Scouts looking for vests, books and badges, which the store sewed on in-house. But in 2015, the Boy Scouts of America pulled its distributorship, which accounted for about 15 percent of the business’s sales, Marble said. The Scout business also drew traffic to the store — Boy Scouts would often pick up a new pair of boots or camping gear while they were there. “That really was the beginning of the end,” Marble said. The local Boy Scouts office didn’t return a call for comment. Sad, I prefer shopping at the smaller, local outdoor stores. More at source link below, including video. http://www.omaha.com/money/canfield-s-sporting-goods-to-close-after-years-in-business/article_24f5e53c-daa0-11e7-868b-d3258181146a.html

Around here, we were still spinning Bobcats about 10-15 years ago. No QC issues, heads stayed attached.

My impression with the BSA is, "We have much in common and we will work together for the common good, respect one another, and not allow our differences to divide us." And when our scouts become adults, hopefully they will restore those values to the USA. My $0.02,

Loops are like in-laws, when I didn't have them my life was easier.

Do you have a link to the official vote, i.e., which members in attendance and voting? We have heard the vote was unanimous but, my understanding, all that means is those in the quorum (whatever percentage that is) of the Executive Board who voted, approved.