RememberSchiff

Well supposedly a Snowshoeing Option was added to Snow Sports MB this year but I can find no info online. National Merit Badge Maintenance Task Force, General Quarters

Needs an Executive or Blue Ribbon adjective to be taken seriously. It amazes me that rank and mb requirements are in such a constant flux. They are like Adobe software, in that you have to download an update before you can start. Local scout store still has a dozen 2015 Requirements booklets on the shelf.

Might as well put the whole merit badge booklet too. Have you seen how thin the pamphlets for Citizenship in the Community and Nation now are? A Girl Scout Thin Mint is thicker,

http://www.vicksburghistory.org/battle-of-sunset-lake Between 200 to 300 volunteer reenactors from the North West Territory Alliance (NWTA) will kick off the event with a Fue de Joie on Friday evening at dusk, when all of the reenactors will fire their guns into the air to signal the opening of the two-day event. A Fue de Joie is a rifle salute fired by soldiers on a ceremonial occasion, each soldier firing in succession along the ranks to make a continuous sound. The feu de joie - literally, 'the firing of joy' - began with companies discharging their muskets one soldier at a time, going from right to left and back to front, hundreds of years ago. ...(more details in source links) Joining in will be an estimated 400 to 500 Boy Scouts from Southwest Michigan who will be helping out during the weekend activities and will camp out at a nearby church, Moore said. They will be "runners" providing water, ice and assistance to the re-enactors and their families. They will be led by the Vicksburg Boy Scouts of Troop 251 who got the village thinking about the Battle of Sunset Lake when re-enactors from the 84th Scottish Highlanders regiment of the NWTA attended a Vicksburg scouts' 75th anniversary camporee last April at the Historic Village. ... The idea for such an undertaking began with the 75th anniversary camporee that the Boy Scouts in Troop 251 celebrated in April in the Historic Village. Stefan Sekula (co-commander of 84th Scottish Highlanders re-enactors) was invited by Troy Smith, a Boy Scout volunteer, to come in costume and help educate the campers about the Revolutionary War. He brought two other members of his unit, Ric Hansen, and Larry Hengesbach. The scouts were enthralled with the gear, the clothing, and the historic aspect of the Scottish Highlanders Sekula was representing. He was asked if they would come back again with lots more of his compatriots. Thus the idea was hatched for a full scale re-enactment. Sekula and his larger unit of the 84th Scottish Highlanders regiment have volunteered to be the host unit from the NWTA. This means he and his helpers will make decisions about staging the mock battles, recruit the re-enactors, and plan for their participation. The sponsors of the event will help with the expenses, promote the two days of activities, and provide the venues. http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2016/01/vicksburg_to_host_revolutionar.html http://southcountynews.org/2015/08/05/battle-on-sunset-lake/

Unfortunately in this book, he makes no statements of his experiences as BSA president, but perhaps we can infer from his stated experiences as president of A&M University. When interviewed for A&M, he made it clear he was not a maintenance guy but rather an agent of change to make the institution better while preserving core values and traditions. I suspect when he was interviewed for the position of BSA president, he stated the same to the Executive Committee and expected their support for his changes if they selected him. My guess anyway. As democracies go, the BSA is not one of them but it is definitely a bureaucracy and Mr. Gates did change it.

I should have given Mr. Gates quote its context from Chapter 1 where Mr. Gates talks about the problems of bureaucracy (with examples). He states bureaucracies are everywhere, getting worse, and how a leader can change it. He is particularly concerned that as government and industry become more bureaucratic, more young smart people turn away from serving government and working for those companies. IMO, his advice applies to changing a troop to scout-run, changing a summer camp away from being a merit badge factory, ... Another quote that he cites from President John Adams to his son Thomas "Public business my son, must always be done by somebody -- it will be done by somebody or other --If wise men decline it others will not: If honest men refuse it others will not." So when we say (pick an organization) is too hard or too much hassle to change, then we allow the fools or crooks to win there. Which yes is true, but there is also wisdom in picking your battles for the time and resources available, e.g., maybe it is better to join another troop than try to change your current troop. Thought provoking.

p24 "To be successful agents of change -- of reform -- leaders not only must be able to envision a new way forward but also must be practical, with the skill to build broad support for and implement their vision."

A sign or law doesn't make a "gun-free zone". Logan Airport probably has a couple hundred local, state, TSA police while our local multi-town, multi-school district cannot afford ONE cop ("resource officer"). So IMO, to establish a "gun free zone", the government assumes responsibility to add fences, screening devices, and police just like the airport and if that can't be done then do not prohibit conceal carry by law-abiding citizens. My $0.02

I look forward to reading his new book. I hope there is a chapter or two about the BSA.

I will take the old Cold War Duck and Cover over today's War on Terror Shelter in Place. Duck and Cover were luckily just silly drills. Shelter in Place is ... saved by the dinner bell.

The world is more dangerous. "...Camp Strake (outside Houston, Texas) closed down in December 2014 after serving the Boy Scouts of America for 70 years. According to the representatives at the luncheon, the sale of the land was due to urban development and gang activity becoming a concern for its existence." http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/humble/news/construction-set-to-begin-soon-on-new-camp-strake/article_35a890b7-d4c6-5c59-9993-2a0ff5a2b50b.html

Mighty big 10mm cannons to carry concealed, congrats to those who do.

Legally, the BSA can restrict on their property beyond that probably not. So there is no confusion, we have "non-scouting", family shooting at the local gun club. The club has it's own safety rules and they work well.

I reread the Adult Application background check information The consumer reports may contain information bearing on your character, general reputation, personal characteristics, and mode of living. The types of information that may be obtained include but are not limited to Social Security number verification, sex offender registry checks, criminal records checks, inmate records searches, and court records checks. The information contained in these consumer reports may be obtained by LexisNexis from public record sources. The consumer reports will not include credit record checks or motor vehicle record checks(?) This does not seem to be working for us, just Google and see arrests (abuse, porn, drugs). Assuming all the above is being done, what else could be done? Add checks of family members (including arrests)? Check social media accounts? (BSA would terminate RS and some others here ) Check browser history, email via volunteer's internet service provider ( put NSA to work) OR punt. leave the background checks and liability up to the CO and respective local governments? Are teachers screened better than us?

Good points.

No sash, no official problem 8.0.0.4 Wearing the Uniform—or Neat in Appearance It is preferred a Scout be in full field uniform for any board of review. He should wear as much of it as he owns, and it should be as correct as possible, with the badges worn properly. It may be the uniform as the members of his troop, team, crew, or ship wear it. If wearing all or part of the uniform is impractical for whatever reason, the candidate should be clean and neat in his appearance and dressed appropriately, according to his means, for the milestone marked by the occasion. Regardless of unit, district, or council expectations or rules, boards of review shall not reject candidates solely for reasons related to uniforming or attire, as long as they are dressed to the above description. Candidates shall not be required to purchase uniforming or clothing such as coats and ties to participate in a board of review. http://www.scouting.org/Home/GuideToAdvancement/BoardsofReview.aspx

That would be just a criminal record check. Background checks do that and often more - credit history check (debt), police calls to your house, memberships, family criminal background, social media check, reference interviews ...

As OP, this thread topic was the selling of drugs by a scouter on scout property, the apparent unawareness of the troop over two years, and concerns about background checks. Concealed carry discussion is encouraged to go another thread. The moving this thread to Issues & Politics seems to have encouraged the straying. This is a BSA issue. While researching the original topic, I found more arrests for recent activity of scouters than I expected. I am becoming skeptical of our background checks. I would like to see an after conviction review of our background check. Why didn't it filter these criminals out of our program? Maybe for this individual this was new criminal activity(no previous record), maybe we failed to check Facebook or known associates,.. the former is understandable, the latter not so much. My $0.02

So a council with no camp, no hq/service center, and no scout shop?

Nov, 2015 Outside Philadelphia, a Cub Scout leader and her son (adult) were charged with multiple counts of manufacturing, delivery or possession, conspiracy, endangering the welfare of children, and related crimes. Joann Badey did not post bail and was remanded to the Delaware County Jail. George Badey IV was released on bail, according to court records. George Badey was listed as a leader for Radnor Cub Scout Pack 371 on the group's website. Upon hearing the news, Scout leader David Bryan said she was no longer affiliated with the pack. The drugs were being sold to Villanova University students, according to sources. Police are continuing the investigation to see if any drugs were sold to students in area high schools, said William Colarulo, superintendent of police. http://articles.philly.com/2015-11-18/news/68356938_1_drugs-main-line-william-colarulo Background checks come into question here, particularly since this occurred in Pennsylvania. Her son has several drug arrests in both Maryland and Pennsylvania, I would think this would be noted in the PA State Police and FBI checks of her known associates. What I like about talking to myself is that I stay on topic.

Ha good point. Had x's on my mind from Algebra tutoring. I hope that Council is interviewing everyone in Troop ###, inspecting facilities, etc. I wonder who the CO is?

From: http://www.reporternews.com/news/crime/alleged-drug-dealing-scout-volunteer-terminated-after-arrest-29101687-cc59-21e9-e053-0100007ff048-364921971.html Mark Conrad, Texas Trails Council Scout Executive, said Monday that the organization has cut ties with a Scout volunteer reportedly connected with drug distribution in Clyde. The Callahan County Sheriff's Office arrested and charged Bill Cedergren, 52, and charged him with manufacturing/delivery of a controlled substance, following execution of an warrant in the 300 block of Forrest Street on Dec. 30. Deputies discovered about 1.88 grams of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia including needles, baggies and a scale when they searched Cedergren and inside his pickup parked by the Boy Scout Hut, where he volunteered, which is also across the street from Clyde Elementary School. "Of course the behavior included in these allegations runs counter to everything for which the BSA stands," Conrad, Scout Executive/CEO of the Texas Trails Council of BSA, said in an email. "Upon learning of these reports, we immediately removed this individual and precluded him from any further participation in our programs." He added the BSA is cooperating fully with law enforcement in regards to the allegations against Cedergren who Conrad said was a volunteer and not a hired leader. "While I cannot comment on findings about specific volunteers, I can tell you that if the criminal background check indicated any previous history of inappropriate behavior, that person would not be allowed to participate in scouting," he said. "Also, it is important to note that these actions are unrelated to scouting. I have reached out to the leaders of the troop and will continue to help them through this matter." Leroy Foley, the lead investigator on the case, said Cedergren has been on the CCSO's radar for a while. "Mr. Cedergren is someone I've had in my scope for quite a long time," he said. "During my investigations, I would get his name dropped here and there. And after, four or five of those accounts, it becomes more credible. So we began to surveil and watch him." According to Foley, Cedergren's operation had been up for about two years. "During those surveillance times, we'd find him with known drug users and known drug dealers, so that gives more credibility to it," he said. "In truth, if it hadn't been for the situation that Cedergren was in, being so close to an elementary school, it was my belief and the Sheriff's belief that we would let him lead us on and taken him down further down the line, along with some other people." The CCSO has been using an ongoing undercover operation to track Cedergren and others. ... CCSO found nothing drug-related inside the building but the search yielded pornographic material in a safe, as well as in the shop . "The porn thing is a surprise to us, we had no idea about any of that," Foley said. "And I don't know if it goes any further than just his personal fetish. I have no facts that children were involved in that or anything at all." So drug distribution and porn at Boy Scout Troop's xxx Scout Hut...

He was selling out a troop (not council) building "Scout Hut" across the street from an elementary school therefore faces a first degree felony charge. What alarmed me was the duration of this activity - two years. A troop had an adult leader distributing meth from their troop building/scout hut (btw named for a former scoutmaster) for two years (at least two charter renewals) ...and no one in the troop knew? Our local public schools have random drug sweeps and surveillance cameras, maybe CO's should too? But If you would rather talk about the unrelated topic of concealed carry, that seems okay here.

9/11 changed that. https://leb.fbi.gov/2011/january/off-duty-officers-and-firearms Federal law, Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act 2004 (amended twice ) has changed off-duty carry policies. In the past year, states are now allowing off-duty officers to carry on school ("gun free zones") grounds (I don't think they have much choice legally or from a PR perspective). The BSA will probably update their GSS or be ignored by off-duty officers. But what does this have to do with a scouter making and selling meth?

Hmm, this be something Cochise to see.