RememberSchiff

@dangale welcome to scouter.com

At a Court of Honor gathering held Monday, Aug. 21, at Eden Prairie United Methodist Church (MN), Troop 342’s flags were ceremoniously retired (after 57 years). The proceedings had the look and feel of a funeral. “They’ll be stored in dignity and honor,” says John Klutchka, former scoutmaster. “When it comes time for these flags to meet again, they’ll be ready.” ... The answer wasn’t to shut it down and let the Scouting experience fade away, but to merge with another local troop, Eden Prairie Troop 695. “Combined, the two troops will have about 40 Scouts,” says Scoutmaster Brad Knorr. “That number is better for the scouts and better for our volunteers.” This merger isn’t unique, not for Eden Prairie and not for troops across the country. At one time, Eden Prairie was home to five Boy Scout troops. It now has two. More at Source including COH photos and reminisces : https://www.eplocalnews.org/2023/08/26/ep-boy-scout-troop-342-retires-merges-forward/

If the purpose of the event is 1. show community members that bikes can be safe, economical, green alternative transportation (show pollution reduction) and/or 2. bike trail maintenance (erosion control) I could see approving conservation hours.

The “Strengthen the Arm of Liberty” campaign coincided with the 40th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America in 1949. At that time, J.P. “Jack” Whitaker was president of his automobile battery cable company, as well as commissioner of the Scouts’ Kansas City Area Council and was considering the best way both to mark the BSA’s anniversary and to demonstrate the better values of the nation. ...Whitaker chose to seed the land with replicas of the Statue of Liberty. The Friedley-Voshardt Co. of Chicago, a manufacturer of metal ceiling sheathing, supplied the 290 pounds of sheet copper statue parts. It also created a method for assembling the 42 sheets of stamped copper around interior braces to support the facsimiles of Frederic Auguste Bartholdi’s “Liberty Enlightening the World,” aka the Statue of Liberty. The copper was about the thickness of a half-dollar. The statues were installed from 1949 to 1952 in 39 states, as well as in several U.S. possessions and territories. George P. Freeman, who was executive director of the Robert E. Lee Boy Scouts Council (VA) in 1951, recalled for a 1978 newspaper article that the downtown clothier Berry-Burk underwrote the approximately $1,000 cost of shipping the $350 Liberty kit to Richmond, VA. The cost of the packaged materials was defrayed by a penny donated by every member of the Richmond Scouts.  The kit included instructions for constructing a scaled-down version of the New York City pedestal and the 11-pointed island base, which was the responsibility of the Scouts. Richmond’s Liberty stands on a base made of city street paving stones. .. More at source, including photos and the maintenance efforts over the years by local citizens. https://richmondmagazine.com/news/richmond-history/chimborazo-park-statue-of-liberty/

While we worry about attracting MBC's to commit $25, a competitor attracts corporations who commit $1M. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230823647701/en/DHL-Supply-Chain-and-Girl-Scouts-of-the-USA-Partner-to-Create-New-Logistics-Patch-Curriculum-Aimed-at-Inspiring-Female-Supply-Chain-Leaders-of-Tomorrow

"Free" and "partnered (approved) with BSA" caught my attention though I don't know what restrictions, if any, apply.

Morgan credits his father, David, a retired minister and seminary professor, with taking him fishing, hunting, and on nature hikes all his life. “I think my interest in conservation came from my dad taking me out into nature at a young age. I think otherwise I would have loved just playing video games and staying in my room. But he always pulled me outside to fish, and at first, I didn't like it. Now, I've really come to love fishing as a time for fellowship and having fun and friends.” During his Scouting journey, Morgan has earned 66 merit badges, 9 palms, 7 medals, 5 knots, and 10 Boy Scouts of America (BSA) outdoor and environmental awards, including BSA’s most prestigious conservation award — The BSA Distinguished Conservation Service Award with Silver Honors. Only 178 Scouts in the Boy Scouts’ 112-year history earned this award, which required four research and conservation service projects from four different environmental categories. Morgan will be an incoming freshman at SMU Lyle School of Engineering and dreams of a career in water conservation. More at source including his projects: https://www.smu.edu/Lyle/Latest-at-Lyle/2023/Morgan-Jones-Student-Spotlight

@AnotherScouterwelcome to scouter.com .

New free explorer program to give hands-on firefighting experience   "SAVANNAH (Aug. 16, 2023) – Savannah Fire in partnership with Boy Scouts of America have come together to create an explorer program aimed at giving young adults interested in a firefighting career an invaluable experience. Explorers will take part in real-life training with plenty of hands-on Fire and EMS experiences. They will engage in practical exercises and simulations to develop essential firefighting and lifesaving skills. The program will meet the first and third Tuesday of each month and is open to anyone, ages 14 to 20. Applications are now open. ... Savannah Fire is covering the cost of the explorer program making it free to those who apply. " More at Source: https://www.savannahga.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2818

"According to a spokeswoman for the FBI, John C. Shores Jr.,54, of Omaha, was charged via federal complaint with attempted sexual exploitation of a minor and attempted enticement of a minor. John C. Shores Jr. was an active Boy Scout Scoutmaster and Commissioner for the Mid-America Council for Boy Scouts of America. The charges are the result of a Douglas County Sheriff’s investigation involving the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force. On August 21, 2023, Shores was indicted on those charges. The FBI Omaha field office is seeking the public’s help in identifying potential victims. If you have information on this ongoing investigation or believe your child or other children may have been victimized by John Shores, please go to this FBI contact link or call the FBI Omaha field office at 402-493-8688." More at source: https://www.3newsnow.com/news/local-news/fbi-omaha-seeks-help-identifying-victims-of-former-scout-leader

"This video was presented at the 2022 Distinguished Citizens Dinner honoring First Responders, Emergency Room Doctors and Nurses and Hospitals. David King, a Scout from Aloha Council, and his mom were completing a Hiking Merit Badge 15 mile hike when they came across lost couple and their dog. David saved the couple and their dog by using the tools he learned in Scouting, like making a stretcher. "

@pbcheesehead welcome to scouter.com

I am seeing fewer volunteer MBC's and more commercial (museums, farms, colleges, camps, canoe outfitters, etc.) MBP's. I call them Merit Badge Programs as who knows who the MBC is. Sometimes it is the host instructor, sometimes it is a proxy. Host instructor collects fees (scout/parent paid), the proxy (a registered scouter) handles bureaucracy and together they fulfill YP, sort of. More often, these MBP's are rushed one meeting and nearly devoid of the Adult Association Method. Just have parent register scout online with a credit card. Oh don't forget to fill out online workbook with online answers before first class. What is the Total Cost of Advancement these days for a scout, scouter, unit? My $0.01, time for coffee.

"As America has transformed, so, too, has the A.T. — changes that have inspired resistance, ridicule and relief. Originally 2,050 miles, it is now almost 2,200 miles. And it continues to get longer." Yes longer...but that seems true of all old trails I hike these days ...longer and uphill. "Some have proposed extending the A.T. from Maine into Canada by adding New Brunswick and Quebec — a path already known as the “International Appalachian Trail” — and perhaps going even farther." In the link below, there is a cool northward scrolling trail map starting at the southern terminus and ending at the northern terminus. Showing current trail and previous routes. Explanations for route changes - real estate development, greener spaces/better trails, moonshiners, smell (chickens), Superfund sites() https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/interactive/2023/appalachian-trail-length-route-changes/

Agree, our new YP Executive has been onboard for 4 months and we have yet to hear from him.

Great story about helping others. "Troop 129 (Las Vegas) started by donating the money they had raised from popcorn sales. It escalated to having all the troops in the valley working together. They raised more than $8,000 in monetary and material supplies in under 72 hours. And they are not stopping anytime soon as they are accepting donations through Sunday, September 10." More at source, including the scout bringing the idea to his troop, their plan, and Council support. Scout Salute, https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/las-vegas-boy-scouts-raising-thousands-for-maui-wildfire-victims/

EIN Presswire 8/16/2023 Scouts Honor: The Secret Files of the Boy Scouts of America, the feature-length film scheduled for Netflix release, was directed by Brian Knappenberger. The documentary includes exclusive interviews with survivors, whistleblowers, and former employees, and prominently features Zero Abuse Project Board of Directors member, Detective Michael Johnson. As The Boy Scouts' former Youth Protection Director turned whistleblower, Johnson provides crucial insight into the inner workings of The Boy Scouts and speaks to the internal decisions the organization made leading to decades of failed leadership. “One of the things that they had in their marketing messages is, 'The Boys Scouts has a rigorous application and screening process,' and that's not true, and it's never been true," says Michael Johnson in the film's trailer. "I'm here to tell you that the organization is still not safe for boys and girls.” My question, will there be a response to above statement from the current BSA Youth Protection Executive, Glen Pounder? More at source: https://www.rochesterfirst.com/business/press-releases/ein-presswire/650253106/zero-abuse-project-recognizes-the-new-documentary-scouts-honor-the-secret-files-of-the-boy-scouts-of-america/ https://www.einpresswire.com/article/650253106/zero-abuse-project-recognizes-the-new-documentary-scouts-honor-the-secret-files-of-the-boy-scouts-of-america

My gray matter seems to recall, they delivered a shrubbery to the sayers of Nay?

Good point. In my experience, "bounce-back" or failed to deliver messages are only displayed in opened Message app, i.e., it is not elevated to app bubble* notification or phone notification? IMO, Message App Icon should have a red failure bubble for failed sends.

Wilderness connectivity, sea connectivity, and everywhere else ...I have been waiting and waiting for the 5G Tesla Pi phone, the collaborative project among Tesla, Starlink, and T-Mobile. Thinking Pi in the sky, but more likely buy a JitterBug for the old scouters home. But for now, I will mind my signal strength.

@qwazse welcome home. Hot water on stove, Hario drippers, some ground medium roast. @SSScout just baked some cobbler.

Yeah been there.

Recommended Practices (RP) 551 - Mental, Emotional, and Social Health (MESH) Support (Revised January 1, 2023) on page 61 of source https://www.scouting.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2023-NCAP-Replacement-pages-to-convert-2022-NCAP-Standards-to-2023-NCAP-Standards-v2.pdf American Camp Association (ACA) Mental Health Resources - Tips for Camps (Recommended, many course, podcast, article, and professional links) https://www.acacamps.org/resources/mental-health-resources-tips-camps

Narragansett Council has partnered with Eleanor Slater Hospital to provide mental health services for Camp Yawgoog campers and young adult staff members this summer. "Six clinical psychologists from Slater have agreed to be available to offer support for any time of the day for one week each while the overnight camp is in session, which runs from late June to late August. 👍 The National Camp Accreditation Program introduced new standards in 2023 that included a recommendation for all Boy Scouts of America organizations to provide mental, emotional and social health support. Members of the Narragansett Council and Slater say they have been discussing since January how to meet these standards. ... The idea for the collaboration initially came from Eleanor Slater staff members, some of whom are former Scouts. The partnership was then created after hospital team members pitched their idea to the Narragansett Council." More at Source: https://pbn.com/slater-hospital-partners-with-boy-scouts-to-offer-campers-staff-mental-health-support-at-camp-yawgoog/ Scout Salute,

The reality - conflict of interests. There should be no business transactions between Board Members and Council. One example from a year ago. "To preserve the open space (Deer Lake), Pathfinders had to top an offer that looked for a time like it would carry the day. In the spring, the Scouts’ Connecticut Yankee Council announced it was selling the land for $4.62 million to a major real estate developer, Margaret Streicker, who is also a board member of the council." https://www.courant.com/2022/08/13/deal-near-to-preserve-deer-lake-in-killingworth-as-open-space/