RememberSchiff

Ugh. I remember being blindsided by that 1988 decision. The BSA had won in the courts (1986, 1987) and it seemed the BSA was going to continue as a male-only program. But fewer men, particularly former scouts, were stepping up and instead of determining the problem(s) and fixing them, the BSA sought female adult leaders.

Was this business as usual for the BSA or was this an exception? Were you previously given prior notice of other membership changes?

Yes, that brings it back on topic. My understanding, the Executive Board "approved" the decision. I do not know if Council reps at the National meeting or CO's locally had any voice or were even notified.

Getting off topic... I am not sure what matters our council CO's may decide, nor do I know their procedural rules.

All FOS donations may go to Council but how it is spent from there can be a point of contention. Don't want yet another "study" commissioned and funded regarding merging with another council? Might as well whistle in the wind. How Council represents us and our scouts with National is definitely another point of contention. Mine has been close-mouthed about National meetings. We had no "town meeting" regarding membership change or any subsequent local announcement . What little I know about the upcoming membership change, I learned here (scouter.com ). I wonder how much value National sees in Councils. My impression is that National wants fewer. My scouting is local. My $0.02,

I no longer donate money without maintaining some control. Humbug. Your money, you select (no first come) who you think would most benefit from training and help your troop. If there are none, be thrifty and save your money. I would also keep your generosity on the down low. Only you, recipient, and maybe IRS need know. Another $0.02

Reasonable or passive? No one stood up to A when A was CC and running the troop. The SM/ASM handle scouts and the program, not the CC. No one stood up to A when A retired to Treasurer and continued to run troop. I wonder if A is following the BSA financial policies and procedures? and using past to predict the future... No one will stand up to A if A remains in troop. No amount of training will change that unless adults demand change. I sense no fire in the belllies. If A leaves everything will change? Probably not. The troop culture, in this case a CC lead troop, will likely continue and a new A will appear. And when the future retiree speaks as if he's the expert on everything forever, some people find it hard to resist. No fire in the bellies. I could ask where is your Commissioner in this drama, but unless more involved adults step up to deliver a scout-run troop, the troop culture will remain unchanged. My $0.02

As I recall, Stosh was among the first on this forum advising fellow scouters carry their own $1M personal liability insurance. Very good advice.

So at recharter next month, will packs be designated "Boys", "Family", or "Girls" ahead of January recruitment?

I think these links were posted before Oct 11, The BSA Expands Programs to Welcome Girls from Cub Scouts to Highest Rank of Eagle Scout Starting in 2018, families can choose to sign up their sons and daughters for Cub Scouts. Existing packs may choose to establish a new girl pack, establish a pack that consists of girl dens and boy dens or remain an all-boy pack. Cub Scout dens will be single-gender — all boys or all girls. Using the same curriculum as the Boy Scouts program, the organization will also deliver a program for older girls, which will be announced in 2018 and projected to be available in 2019, that will enable them to earn the Eagle Scout rank. This unique approach allows the organization to maintain the integrity of the single gender model while also meeting the needs of today’s families. http://www.scoutingnewsroom.org/press-releases/bsa-expands-programs-welcome-girls-cub-scouts-highest-rank-eagle-scout/ Family Scouting http://www.scoutingnewsroom.org/family-scouting/ updated FAQ (including OA ,Arrow of LIfe) https://www.scoutingnewsroom.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Updated-Family-Program-FAQ-10-26-17-547pm.pdf

What if the YMCA, who spun off the BSA in 1910, hosts a "coed" or "family" scouting group? I believe Sweden's YMCA does this and yes I am available for a non-virtual, fact-finding mission.

Time to lock topic NJ?

Update: Blind Eagle Scout triplets wear Aira glasses allowing them to see through other's eyes. As Nick Cantos slid on a sleek pair of glasses, a voice spoke out to him through his iPhone. I see the George Mason statue, a woman voice said. It looks like a bronze statue, standing tall, with a scroll in his left hand. Nearby, Nicks brothers, Leo and Steven, were also busy putting on their glasses, making adjustments here and there. The three of them, aged 18, are triplets from Arlington, Virginia, who are completely blind. And the glasses they have on are no ordinary spectacles. They are glasses from Aira, a San Diego-based company that has developed smart glasses to help the blind and visually impaired with everyday tasks. The glasses are equipped with a camera, which feeds a video stream to a remote agent who then narrates what they see in real time over the phone for the user. The woman speaking to Nick was Erin Cater, one of Aira network of about 100 agents across the United States. From about 2,700 miles away in San Diego, she served as Nicks eyes, describing for him everything that came within the camera field of vision. It is like an audio description of life, Nick said. ... On a recent warm fall morning, Nick, Leo, and Steven took a tour of George Mason University with their father, Ollie Cantos, and the university assistant director of admissions, Lauren Wagner. The brothers, who were born blind, last month became the first blind triplets to make the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America. For now, they got a taste of the college campus experience in all its sensory glory. They smelled the autumn leaves, heard the leaf blowers in the distance, felt the energizing bustle of students. And with the Aira glasses, they experienced a slice of daily life at a level of detail that they never had before. ... Suman Kanuganti was playing around with a pair of Google Glass in 2013 when an idea hit him: What if his friend Matt Brock, who had lost his vision several years before, could put these glasses on, stream video captured through its built-in camera, and use it to see with the help of a seeing person - himself? Kanuganti dove in, experimenting with the technology. He co-founded Aira in January 2015, began large-scale trials in mid-2016, and officially launched the service in April. Aira has hundreds of users, said Kanuganti, 37, who also serves as the company chief executive. The service works on a subscription model, with a basic plan costing $89 per month for 100 minutes with a trained agent. The agents, who are mostly contractors, work on an on-demand model like that of Uber, logging on to take user calls and being paid for the hours that they work. They have to learn how to think like eyes, not brains, said Kanuganti. The magic in all of this is in the simplicity of the solution, he added: A missing sensory input, sight, is replaced with someone else - the agent. They become one, Kanuganti said. He shared stories of how the glasses have helped a mother read bedtime stories to her child every night; a user who wanted to assemble Ikea furniture; and a woman who went grocery shopping. She literally cried when she picked out her own produce, he said. Chris Danielsen, the director of public relations for the National Federation of the Blind, which is an investor in Aira, said that the new glasses have the potential to enhance the lives of blind people and to increase their independence, but added that it is important to be realistic in our expectations of how the new technology will address challenges faced by the blind community. We are very cautious with saying that technology like this is going to transform peoples lives, said Danielsen. But what it does is it provides another layer of information to which we did not have easy access before.†more here http://www.houmatoday.com/zz/shareable/20171116/surprisingly-simple-technology-is-helping-these-blind-eagle-scouts-see-through-other-peoples-eyes

Welcome to scouter.com

If only there was a Guide to Safe Family Scouting....

Why we are always friendly to the new guy who immediately volunteers to plan our scouter.com Patrol Method Camporee ....

I like the idea of a usage/enforcement agreement between the town and camp. $10K for a survey? I would have settled for a $2K usage fee to the camp. I believe state law allows passage by foot to an inland waterway but not vehicle access over an owner's road. IMO this boat ramp has become a "thrifty" alternative to public boat ramps for a fee at nearby state parks.

@ welcome to scouter.com

With increased vandalism and public use almost to the point of squatting, should the common policy of allowing public access when the camp is not being used by scouts be reconsidered ? Three years ago, Nobscot Scout Reservation was vandalized causing an estimated $20K damage . A press release from Council stated, “The Knox Trail Council, Boy Scouts of America provides public access to hiking trails at the facility,†... “This is an outstanding community resource and should be treated with respect.“ The ownership of a lTreasure Valleys boat ramp is now disputed. After Council allowed "public access" for years, the local town believes it owns the ramp. The town is now funding a $10K land survey to clarify ownership.

Okay then. Let's get back on topic.

Okay then.

I issued the "Okay then" to move on, but you and only you ignored the warning. Your post was deleted.

IMHO, this is powerful commercial to attract volunteers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm-ZMB3kzaw

Less bickering , thank you.