RememberSchiff

--Are there any grade requirements to remain in good standing in the Boy Scouts? No, though but I would expect Band would have such requirements. There merit badges that may help, in particlar, Scholarship merit badge, perhaps you can become a merit badge counselor for Scholarship merit badge. There is also a Reading merit badge http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Scholarship --Would it be a good idea to take a break from Scouts, even for a week or two, to refocus other areas of life? Absolutely.As you pointed out this is a critical time. He needs to consider his future, improve his grades, SAT/ACT, college visits, develop good relations with teachers for recommendations, etc. I would not set the break based on time but rather on goals, otherwise he will just run out the clock on you. 'We will take a break from scouting until we have completed these academic goals - grades, test scores, college visits'... and maybe earn Scholarship merit. My older son missed several weekend scout outings to SAT/ACT test prep classes. I wish we had done it sooner. --Is every single weekend camping trip mandatory? I'm sure they'll have more in the spring, which is when he will need every bit of time he can get for finals and standardized tests. No. His troop may have set attendance requirements, e.g., 'you need to go on these to attend the summer trek'. In my household, the expectation was firmly set - school came before scouts. Homework not done, no scouts. Homework got done. I also had some talks with the the scoutmaster to get him with our son's overall life program. He's a good kid but is going through some trying times, academically and elsewhere, and I'd like to approach the parents in the right way if I make the recommendation to scale back on activities. Any advice/answers to my questions? Determine his personal goals, responsibilities, and interests. Prioritize and balance! From what you described his scouting experience seems a fun escape from schoolwork which is a shame as his scouting experience should be much more. It should be teaching him the same life skills you are teaching him now - map out a destination for yourself, learn new skills, develop solid relationships with adults (teachers). This has not happened for whatever reason and time is ticking...childhood's end. Good luck and thanks for helping a scout. My $0.02

True. They were within their council so the BSA does not require one. Does that make sense is another topic. It would be interesting to know if the Charter Organization, which I think is a Presbyterian Church, was part of the "Pack leadership" which said proper protocol had been observed, etc. If not, there may be more to come.

Somehow I think the cover-up spin, "Nothing to see here, let's move along." will only lead to further exposure of leadership problems. Another $0.02

Where do we draw the line in the sand? Cub Scout outing at a nudist beach!! What next, boy scouts giving breast exams? And who will judge in California? If the soul is darkened By a fear it cannot name, If the mind is baffled When the rules don't fit the game, Who will answer? Who will answer? Who will answer? Alleluyah! Alleluyah! Alleluyah! Jimmy Fallon or Jon Stewart?

“During a planned hiking trip at Torrey Pines State Beach, a local Cub Scout Pack encountered some individuals who were inappropriately dressed. This outing, involving both parents and adult volunteer leaders, was quickly rerouted to protect the youth. Following the trip, both San Diego-Imperial Council and Pack leadership met with parents to discuss the events and determine if further action was needed. Together we concluded that proper protocol had been observed and appropriate steps were taken in this matter.†Karl Shelton, San Diego Imperial Council spokesman So did the Cubmaster have an approved Tour Permit? Isn't this "covered" in YP training? http://www.cbs8.com/story/28006852/p...o-blacks-beach And I wonder why National doesn't trust the judgment of unit leaders...

Same state, Massachusetts, and another council, Annawon, is currently being pressured to merge. There is less transparency in this case, e.g., is National denying a charter to Annawon Council due to ...? Anyone have more info? Annawon does have a symbiotic relationship with Narragansett Council regarding summer camps. Annawon runs a resident Cub Scout Camp Norse for both councils while Narragansett runs a boy scout camp for both. Seems practical but some pro's see it as a reason to merge. I don't necessarily agree. Boston Minuteman gets into similar resource and activity relationships with neighboring councils and then a year or two later there are merger talks, e.g., Yankee Clipper Council. In my experience, merger talks seem an irresistible force that rarely meets any object (transparency and informed, engaged CO's), sort of like an IRS audit. Suddenly everything is about merger, resistance is futile, you will be absorbed. Meanwhile the program is sidelined and we have MBA-bobblehead talk - "establish a dialog with stakeholders to establish best practices..." http://www.annawonbsa.org/annawon-co...ansition/57228 The Annawon Council finds itself facing an unforeseen situation, having been told by BSA National that we must merge with a nearby council. So far, the Annawon Council's Study Committee has met with both of our neighboring councils -- Narragansett Council to our south and Old Colony Council to our north. Each council presents a variety of opportunities for our scouts, staff, and volunteers. Both councils provide rich programs and training for youth and adults. Both councils have excellent facilities. Both councils have great leadership to continue the Scouting experience that we know and love. And we have much to offer them too.

I remember a swine flu outbreak at summer camp. http://www.scouter.com/forum/summer-camp/15517-swine-flue-at-summer-camp

This merger study lasted 18 months - time and money! After this stunning merger rejection, some "spinning" is going on- "Well hrrrump, this study did identify areas where... and was hence worthwhile", but 90% of these issues were already known before the study. May the pro's with just MERGER on the mind leave both councils. For those pro's remaining, this paradox, Recruiting does not increase membership, program does. If we build it, they will come - quality units (not Excellence nonsense) and local camps both with cool scout adventure programs. Another $0.02

A scout is CLEAN, in part meaning he does not spread disease. Communicate this year round and before food handling. Quarantine the infected. If a person is sick - coughing, running nose, nauseous, achy, running a temp - the early stages of just about everything. SICK? STAY HOME. Don't go to work, school, scouts, travel, or Disneyland. Common sense but not money sense, as there may be no one or way for a parent to stay home with a sick child. Got hotel and plane reservations to Disneyworld and sick kids, they're going. My $0.01

NASHUA VALLEY TURNED DOWN THE MERGER! Mohegan Council had been pushing for a merger, which many in Nashua Valley Council saw as having zero or negative benefit. It was not stated (very disingenuous) which Council office and store would close but it was likely NVC. http://www.mohegancouncilbsa.org/201...wn-the-merger/ "Well, got some surprising news last night from the Nashua Valley Council. At their Council meeting by a vote of 31 to 26 the merger resolution was defeated." Great getting the COR's out to vote as unit leaders or committee chairs had NO vote in this.Though their input on a new Council name was welcomed! The Nashua Valley Council executive board had voted previously 20-8 in favor of the recommendation. Q: What is the total number of active members, and what is the quorum requirement? What type of vote is required? A: The total number of active members as of January 9, 2015 is 118. The council bylaws specify that a quorum for all special meetings of the council shall be 10% so the quorum for the meeting on the 28th will be 12 people. A simple majority is required for all votes at meetings of the council. The above came from a FAQ from Nashual Valley, very revealing (meaning it may disappear) http://www.nashuavalleybsa.org/cm/in...swers#finances Hooray! Now both councils can focus on program which as they are suppose to do and not the following %$#& nonsense: [TABLE] [TR] [TD]February - March 2015[/TD] [TD]Nominating Committee recommends new board of directors and officers Implementation committee develops new bylaws Selection committee interviews and hires new Scout Executive Recommendations accepted for new council name[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Early April 2015[/TD] [TD]Council members approve new name, bylaws, board of directors and officers[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]April - August 2015[/TD] [TD]Committee chairs appointed and committee integration work begins[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]September 1, 2015[/TD] [TD]New council formally launched[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE]

Ed Whelan in the National Review writes http://www.nationalreview.com/bench-memos/397444/california-supreme-court-versus-boy-scouts-ed-whelan "I wonder how long it will be before the California supreme court prohibits judges from allowing their sons to belong to the Boy Scouts, from taking part as non-members in Boy Scout events, or from providing any material support to the Boy Scouts."

Boy Scouts donate new wheelchair to 5-year-old student on Scoutmaster's bus route "...the scoutmaster ... suggested that his scouts use part of their Christmas tree stand proceeds to buy Ayden a new, larger wheelchair. The scouts have been selling Christmas trees outside of the Forest Grove Safeway as a troop fundraiser for about 30 years, said Jef Dalin, an adult leader with the troop (and mayor of Cornelius.) Each year, 10 percent of the proceeds are reserved for a community donation. In prior years, the money has gone to breast cancer research or the local animal shelter. This was a chance for the boys to see the direct impact their donation could make..." Full story at this link http://www.oregonlive.com/forest-gro..._wheelcha.html Good job.

Agreed. Add Den Chief cords too if the scout is no longer a den chief.

Honor guard is a temporary,as in one day, duty assignment, so if this is needed, it should be a removable armband or perhaps some Velcro attachment. I understand this was a scout suggestion and will leave it at that.

Frederick Burnham rarely gets credit either.

The fault is not in our wiki but in ourselves. Didn't we have a scouting museum somewhere in the US that made no mention of the contributions to scouting of Bill "Green Bar" Hillcourt?

http://www.threeharborscamps.org/#!about1/c6wa "The task force found that each of the four properties is in need of significant capital investments at a time when camping participation is declining, leading to excess capacity at northern Wisconsin Boy Scout camps. “The need to maintain a dedicated council-run camp in the Northwoods of Wisconsin is minimized due to the heavy concentration of well-funded, well-run camps in the area with excess capacity,†the task force reported. “To offer a summer camp experience of similar quality would require more capital than can be justified.†In addition to $1 million in deferred maintenance that would be required for accredited camp programs at the northern camps, another $12 million would need be to be invested to achieve a “Blue Ribbon†status based on new national standards for Scout camps." ?? Not all camps need to be "upgraded" , why not leave them primitive and limit program to scoutcraft. Never hear of a "Blue Ribbon" status is that a 4-H cow camp with heated barns?

Some California judges are not happy about this. http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-0125-boy-scouts-judges-20150125-story.html#page=1 San Joaquin County Superior Court Barbara Kronlund, said the policy would violate her religious rights under the First Amendment. Riverside County Superior Court Judge John Vineyard stated that being an Eagle Scout and Scoutmaster was in no way incompatible with serving on the bench.

I looked at the Canons of Ethics for US Judges, in particular,Canon 4 http://www.uscourts.gov/RulesAndPoli...tesJudges.aspx "Complete separation of a judge from extrajudicial activities is neither possible nor wise; a judge should not become isolated from the society in which the judge lives. As a judicial officer and a person specially learned in the law, a judge is in a unique position to contribute to the law, the legal system, and the administration of justice, including revising substantive and procedural law and improving criminal and juvenile justice. " Food for thought? Maybe judges should have a mixed social association, a little less PC isolation and more community involvement. Another $0.02

Discrimination against women in the military remains an issue, so IMO the military exemption is still needed for judges to serve at least according to the intent here. Before a judge joins a group must membership be pre-approved by a judicial committee? I take it judges are appointed in CA?

In my internet travels, I read this disturbing story about a recruited Colorado woman who had a Scouting background. "Colorado teenager, Shannon Conley, was sentenced Friday to four years in federal prison for conspiring to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist group, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The 19-year-old who now uses the name, Amatullah, which means “Female Servant of God,†was apprehended by federal authorities at Denver International Airport on April 8, 2014, after her father alerted the FBI to her plans. She was arrested as she was boarding a flight to Frankfurt, Germany where she planned to make connections to Istanbul and then on to Syria where she intended to marry a Tunisian jihadist she had “met†on the internet. ... Over the next five months, federal agents conducted a series of open and candid interviews with Conley and her parents during which the teenager told them about her plans saying she believed “jihad must be waged to protect Muslim nations.†She revealed that she had joined the U.S. Army Explorers, a career exploration program under the auspices of the Boy Scouts, to gain first-hand knowledge and experience in military skills, such as field first aid and marksmanship, and intended to use the firearm experience to wage jihad with ISIS. Conley, a certified nurse’s aide, said she also hoped to help the ISIS cause as a camp nurse in Syria." http://natmonitor.com/2015/01/24/teenaged-would-be-jihadist-sentenced-to-four-years-in-federal-prison/

Thanks for including the link Merlyn. The strikeout areas clearly stated the previous reason for exemption, as quoted below These exemptions are necessary because membership in United States military organizations is subject to current valid military regulations, and religious beliefs are constitutionally protected. Membership in nonprofit youth organizations is not barred to accommodate individual rights of intimate association and free expression. Both are gone despite the stated constitutiional reasons! However the religious exemption is still in effect. A California judge could still be a member of a religious group that preached/practiced discrimination! ??So is there a judge and common sense shortage in California?? Are they looking to hire foreign judges from the Middle East via a H1-B program?

Same way THEY know for the Don't Fly List ...what's good for the goose is good for the gander As you mentioned, the answer was suppose to be biometric data.