RememberSchiff

Update Dec 20, 2023 CANTON, New York (WWNY) - New York state’s sex offender registry is being challenged in court by a former Boy Scout assistant scoutmaster and convicted sex offender Michael Kelsey. “He’s challenging the constitutionality of the Sex Offenders Registry Act itself, indicating that the act as constructed deprived individuals of constitutional rights,” said St. Lawrence County Attorney Stephen Button. Kelsey, convicted in 2016 of sexually abusing Boy Scouts at Camp Massawepie in the town of Piercefield, claims the sex offender registry infringes on his First Amendment rights, including his right to assembly and freedom of religion... According to the state registry, Kelsey is a Level 2 sex offender, meaning the state thinks there’s a moderate risk of repeat offense. The registry also designated him as a sexually violent offender. Kelsey is currently in the Dutchess County Jail. Officials there say Kelsey was brought in on December 5 on an alleged parole violation. More at source: https://www.wwnytv.com/2023/12/19/convicted-sex-offender-suing-slc-state-over-registry/

"If you have suggestions for improvements of the requirements or pamphlet content, please email your comments to merit.badge@scouting.org. " Source: Page 5, A Guide to Merit Badge Counseling 2022 printing https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/512-065.pdf

Dec 19, 2023 from NBC news: I wish they had reused the name Civilian Conservation Corps and had a bipartisan Congressional committee propose it. I fear this will become another political football. "After facing setbacks in Congress, the Biden administration has unlocked funding to launch its American Climate Corps, a new federal program that looks to employ thousands of young Americans in the clean energy, conservation and climate resilience sectors.... The new corps will be led across a partnership of federal agencies: the departments of Commerce, Interior, Agriculture, Labor and Energy, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency and AmeriCorps. ... According to the White House, nearly 50,000 people from every state and territory, including Puerto Rico, have signed up to learn more about joining the ACC since it was first announced, and a portal to apply will be launched next spring.... Five states — California, Colorado, Maine, Michigan and Washington*— have already launched climate corps programs, and the federal program will lean on them as implementing partners." More at source: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/white-house-new-steps-american-climate-corps-young-jobs-rcna130254 *Note existing state climate programs: California Climate Action Corps - "The impacts to our environment and health are worsening as we experience longer and more frequent droughts, devastating wildfires, and more. Each of us has a role to play. You can take meaningful action today to help communities across our state." https://www.californiavolunteers.ca.gov/climateactioncorps/ Colorado Climate Corps https://servecolorado.colorado.gov/colorado-climate-corps Maine Climate Corps - "The Maine Climate Corps is a strategy to meet the ambitious goals in Maine Won't Wait (Maine's Climate Plan). Volunteering and service is a defining characteristic of Maine communities, and climate action to date has been championed by countless volunteers. " https://volunteermaine.gov/serve-in-maine/climate-corps https://www.maine.gov/climateplan/ Michigan Healthy Climate Corps https://www.mihealthyclimatecorps.org/ Washington Climate Core Network https://servewashington.wa.gov/programs/washington-climate-corps-network

IMHO, earning a historic trail hiking medal is part of a fun scout program. I earned the Jocky Hollow Trail Medal back in the day. Guide: https://www.ncacbsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Baden_Powell_Hike_Challenge_.pdf Related story: https://www.tapinto.net/towns/wayne/sections/arts-and-entertainment/articles/wayne-boy-scouts-earn-the-baden-powell-hike-medal-during-whirlwind-dc-tour

https://www.scout.org/news/calling-on-governments-businesses-climate-action

12/14/2023: The bankruptcy plan appeal will proceed..."the Third Circuit said, rejecting preliminary arguments from the organization and its settling insurers that transactions underlying the plan can’t be undone." https://news.bloomberglaw.com/bankruptcy-law/boy-scouts-insurers-lose-preliminary-bid-for-appeal-dismissal Order: The foregoing motions come before us while the appeal is in the midst of briefing and an outstanding motion to stay is also pending. The Appellees’ (Boy Scouts and settling insurers) arguments leave us unpersuaded at this preliminary stage that equitable or statutory mootness apply in the particular circumstances of this case. Therefore, the motion to dismiss is hereby referred to the merits panel in accordance with 3d Cir. I.O.P 10.3.5. D&V (Dumas & Vaughn) Claimants’ Motion to Permit an Overlength Consolidated Response is granted." Judge Kent A. Jordan of the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit sources: https://aboutblaw.com/bbVh

As mentioned in that Forbes article, it will be fundraising with a purpose The CEO emphasizes the importance of effective fundraising to retire debt and invest in BSA's core programs. And hopefully reduced membership fees? At first read, I was very concerned that his technology connect with alumni could be a repeat of the NESA/Harris Connect postcard effort some years back, i.e., asking for money from alumni who questioned the current program. I think Mr. Krone realizes that as revealed below. He (Mr. Krone) expresses a commitment to making every Boy Scout proud of their affiliation. “Part of my job is to make people proud that they were a Scout. I’ve told many people, ‘I think it’s great that you were a Scout. If I sent you a bumper sticker, would you put it on your car?’” he says. As BSA went through bankruptcy, there was less enthusiasm to affiliate with the organization, and Krone has made it his mission to raise BSA’s profile to the point where all Scouting alumni feel proud to advocate for the shared values of Scouting, such that they’d be proud to put a BSA bumper sticker on their car. Imagine if Mr. Krone could bring back (on the NEB?) Bill Gates, Michael Bloomberg, Stephen Spielberg,... in ads holding their bumper stickers and then talking about today's scouting program with tech integration. my $0.02,

Dec 12, 2023 Forbes brief interview: Roger Krone’s Vision: Transforming Boy Scouts Of America Through Technology And Innovation https://www.forbes.com/sites/heatherwishartsmith/2023/12/12/roger-krones-vision-transforming-boy-scouts-of-america-through-technology-and-innovation/?sh=123aac942ca3 Speaking of technology, I'm still waiting for that two-way fireside chat with unit volunteers in the field.

"there are ads all over the internet for some very small system.($100 to 200) " Even less than that. "...a foreign exchange student and aspiring actress ...alleges that while staying in a West Virginia home and still a child she was surreptitiously recorded in the bathroom using a camera disguised as a clothes hook, which she says was purchased on Amazon. The man alleged to have been responsible is facing trial." Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-67652317 Additionally, the victim is suing the seller Amazon and manufacturer "John Doe". There is some description of the Amazon process towards becoming an Amazon Prime item - Product Safety Team, Dangerous Goods Team, Amazon Fulfillment Centers,... https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.wvsd.235914/gov.uscourts.wvsd.235914.10.0.pdf Amazon's failed dismissal attempt. https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/west-virginia/wvsdce/3:2023cv00046/235914/24/

[Sixty years ago] "I thrived in the woods. I loved being there so I wanted to hike, I wanted to cook, I wanted to canoe. I wanted to learn how to do it in a really good, professional way. I loved the swimming. I wanted the lifesaving. I wanted to do whatever it took to retain a high proficiency in the woods. Scouting gave me an opportunity to do all of that but more. I wanted to learn how to live in the woods. And so I kept after every merit badge that took one to the woods. I acquired the rank of Eagle Scout, but the organization wanted a different prototype for their first Eagle Scout, and I was the first one for Troop 147 in Rochester. They wanted to have someone who had a family that was a father and mother and children. That wasn’t my family, nor was it the prototype family of those who lived in the projects. So emotionally I shut down on the notion that I had made Eagle, because in my mind what they were asking for was a family that we weren’t in." Read the rest of I'm a Lutheran Samuel L. Jone's Eagle story at source: https://www.livinglutheran.org/2023/12/im-a-lutheran-samuel-l-jones/ Scout Salute Commander Jones.

New Holiday Greeting from our new President and CEO Roger Krone.

Our previous CEO Roger Mosby claimed membership would double. I am unable to verify that the new BSA CEO, Roger Krone also stated this. Mr. Krone did say that he planned to "reverse the trend of declining membership". What that plan will be remains to be seen. Reorganization? At the National level, that remains to be seen too. Will Mr. Krone shake-up the National Executive Council? There has been a downsizing of the Executive Board from 72 or 73 members to 48 (still too large) but not many new young faces. Some staff layoffs. Bylaws and org chart are more convoluted than ever (recall Judge Silverstein just shook her head). We have had a new YP Executive Director for 7+ months but whether he has a staff or established a YP Committee ...well remains to be seen.

Update Dec 4, 2023: "WAYNESBORO- On behalf the Washington Township Supervisors, Chairman Stewart McCleaf presented a certificate of appreciation to Boy Scout members who constructed the Owls Habitat in Antietam Meadows Park earlier this fall. Scouts who were able to attend the presentation answered questions about owls they’ve seen in the area, when they expect it to be occupied and how they would periodically clean it out each year. They said they would share the award with other members of their troop who participated in building and installation." More at source including photo and comments by Washington Township Supervisors Chairman Stewart McCleaf and Supervisor Dan DeDona: https://localnews1.org/2023/12/04/boy-scouts-receive-certificate-of-appreciation/

Microsleeping... For sleepy scouters, nodding off can be inconvenient—say, during a scoutmaster conference—or even downright dangerous, say while sitting around a campfire. ... "But for Antarctica’s nesting chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarcticus), these seconds long bits of shuteye known as “microsleeps” may help them survive. These mininaps net the birds about 11 hours of sleep per day, potentially offering them a way to rest while remaining vigilant over their eggs and chicks, researchers report today in Science. The work could shine a light on how different animals adapt their dozing to cope with stressful circumstances." "Penguins live in a high-stress environment. They breed in crowded colonies, and all their predators are there at the same time," said Daniel Paranhos Zitterbart, who studies penguins at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts and was not involved in the study. Microsleeping is "an amazing adaptation" to enable near constant vigilance, he said. Sources: https://www.science.org/content/article/antarctic-penguin-sleeps-11-hours-day-few-seconds-time https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/national/penguin-parents-sleep-for-just-a-few-seconds-at-a-time-to-guard-newborns-study/article_94cbd4c6-9092-11ee-ac98-4343b405b629.html

North Dakota: Jackson Sperry's Eagle Scout project will provide safe nests for mallard ducks. Sperry and fellow scouts are using 14-gauge mesh wire rolled into circles, and clipper together with an insulating straw wall to produce a nest. (When completed)... “We’re going to wait until the water freezes over so we can walk on top of the ice, and then drill a hole. And then use the pole driver and drive it into the ground. And then connect the T-pole on top with the nest portion already in,” said Jackson Sperry with Troop 123. More at source including photo: https://www.kfyrtv.com/2023/12/03/bismarck-scout-troop-working-project-mallard-birds/

@EagleScout95 welcome to scouter.com

@Armymutt Did your scouts have fun with the other, closer pack this weekend? Did you have fun? RS

Perhaps instead of problematic trailers, how about Scouts helping (exercising animals!) at a designated emergency network of existing brick and mortar animal boarders, shelters, and vet clinics? Somewhat related, a pet food pantry challenged Scout troops to collect donations. On Nov. 18, Golden Wings Mobile Pet Food Pantry launched its first pet food drive that continues through Dec. 8. In typical Tony Blount fashion, he decided to make it fun and use the drive to help an additional cause – Boy Scouts. Scout troops from Cheney, Rosalia and Spokane’s South Hill are competing to see which troop can bring in the most pet food by weight. At a fundraiser at the Harvester Restaurant on Dec. 9, the winner will be announced with $1,000 going to first place, $500 to second and $300 awarded to third. Justin Fuchs, scoutmaster of Troop 588 in Rosalia, is delighted to have his troop participate. He said the mission of the pet food pantry aligns with the values of Boy Scouts with the added perk of a cash incentive. “Anything to help our scouts get to camp this summer,” he said. https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/nov/30/call-for-help-gives-nonprofit-a-new-direction/ My $0.02

11/27/2023: The Maryland Forest Service and the John S. Ayton State Forest Tree Nursery have completed a successful seed collection to grow the next generation of native trees and shrubs in the state. The collection brought in thousands of pounds of seeds, berries and nuts, from white oak to witch hazel, for planting in the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ state nursery in Preston, Caroline County. The nursery grows those seeds into bare-root tree seedlings, which are then used in tree plantings across the state. Volunteers collected large hauls of seeds and berries from across the state. Residents, Boy Scout Troop 945, and staff from Forest Service and the Frederick County Division of Energy and Environment harvested more than 250 pounds of plum in one day in New Market. Frederick County Girl Scout Troop 37025 collected, cleaned and sorted more than 50 pounds of chestnut oak acorns. More at source: https://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2023/11/27/maryland-forest-service-wraps-up-successful-seed-collection/

A new inspection team will check if local UK Scout groups are following national policies, while an independent panel of abuse survivors will make sure victims get the right support and counseling. The Scout Association says the £2 membership fee increase will help pay for what it calls a new UK assurance function. While half of the money raised will be used to invest in the new safeguarding measures, the other half will cover rising operating costs. It comes after the survivors' campaign Yours in Scouting was highlighted by a BBC investigation. More at source: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-67496727

Found this from March, 2023. Perhaps needed repairs were funded by county grant. The Ashtabula County Board of Commissioners approved the distribution of just under $400,000 in funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to a trio of entities around the county. The county will provide a $325,000 grant to the Boy Scouts of America's Lake Erie Council for improvements to the Beaumont Scout Reservation. Commissioner Kathryn Whittington said the funds will be used to improve the bathhouse at the camp. "Their bathhouse currently does not fit COVID guidelines, new guidelines," she said. ... Source: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/commissioners-distribute-arpa-money-132100582.html

"We needed to upgrade one of our ovens," said Susquehanna Council SE Dennis Dugan. "There was an opportunity to use matching funds received from other foundations combined with the $20,000 from Union County to purchase a $38,800 Combination Oven. It can do many things: bake, broil, and air fry, which allowed us to remove our deep fryer, making our food healthier for the young scouts and the leaders we serve. It also could be used to keep food warm if there was a delay in scouts getting to meals on time." "The committed American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds will be used to enhance the Camp Karoondinha experience as well as improve overall operations now and in the future," said Commissioner Chair Jeff Reber. "Identifying projects like this one that embodied a long-term benefit to the community was a primary goal of the allocation process. With one purchase, the camp replaced several outdated, and/or unable to be repaired appliances, while producing healthier food options and lowering utility and maintenance costs. It is a much needed upgrade to the camp that serves thousands of meals each year and I am thrilled that we can support the Boy Scouts in this effort." In addition to the Susquehanna Council, the local Girl Scouts use the camp for one week during the summer and the Mifflinburg-based Camp Koala hosts a weekend for youth who have suffered the loss of a loved one. Union County has received $9 million of the $6.15 billion federal funds allocated to Pennsylvania. Since Oct, 2022 the county has awarded approximately $8 million to 26 local municipalities, organizations and projects; $905,000 remains. More at source: https://www.dailyitem.com/news/boy-scouts-upgrade-kitchen-with-arpa-funds-from-union-county/article_63d8cb6c-88b8-11ee-be67-9b7bbf66b69d.html

Nov 21, 2023: Arkansas It was announced Quapaw (3400 scouts in 39 counties) and Westark (2800 scouts, 17 counties) Area Boy Scout Councils will merge to form the Natural State Council. Sources: https://nwa.pressreader.com/article/281827173508349 https://www.kark.com/news/local-news/quapaw-westark-area-boy-scout-councils-announce-merger/

2023 BSA Roger Krone Thanksgiving Message Nicely done. Thank you.

Update Nov 20, 2023: In a superseding indictment handed down last week, Shores now faces seven total felony charges: Three counts of attempted child enticement, three counts of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of distributing child pornography. The indictment alleges the offenses took place between July 2020 and August 2023. ... The Boy Scouts cut all ties with Shores upon his arrest. Anyone with information about Shores, or who believes their child or another child was a victim of Shores, is encouraged to contact the FBI at 402-493-8688 or submit information online at forms.fbi.gov/johnc-shores. More at source: https://omaha.com/news/local/crime-courts/former-omaha-boy-scout-leader-faces-five-new-felonies-related-to-child-enticement-pornography/article_4771fe28-87c6-11ee-b232-279ca4840a08.html