RememberSchiff

Agreed. Looking at the photo jpg properties,I was unable to determine owner and note there is no CNN copyright specified. I wonder if the photo came from Council/BSA??

A question, did this scout check Yes under Talent Release Agreement, Part B, of the "idiotic" (IMO) Annual BSA Health and Medical Record? If so, I wonder if he is SOL (though I hope otherwise)?

What aid to the victim(s) - our scouts, current and past - does the BSA now provide?

According to reports, the 12 year scout's father was there at scout summer camp but did not travel along with his son on this diving excursion. I think (and hope) that any parent watching a training session from shore, seeing two adults and two 12 yr old boys scuba dive down, and then only two adults surface would sound the alarm. Common sense. Safety is everyone's job. Another $0.02

Update from Salt Lake Tribune Boy Scouts denies responsibility in Utah drowning death, file cross claim against scuba company. "The Tuvells allege in their complaint that the defendants (BSA,Bear Lake Boy Scout Aquatic Camp,Blue Water Scuba,...) failed to ensure their son was properly equipped, dressed and weighted and that he was given defective equipment. When an emergency arose, the defendants failed to provide proper aid, they claim. In its response, the Boy Scouts denied any involvement or duty with respect to "preparing and implementing" a dive plan or to "oversee, monitor, manage or supervise" the dive or provide equipment." http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/54868222-78/scouts-lake-claim-death.html.csp Good luck with that, my $0.02

Good news and bad news Hornaday: A couple of scouts from El Dorado Hills Boy Scout Troop 465 organized a conservation effort to remove invasive plants from Yosemite. Both scouts are working on the challenging Hornaday award. http://www.villagelife.com/news/scouts-weed-yosemite-valley/ Hantavirus: Those Yosemite visitors who stayed in the park tent cabins are believed to most at risk. Two have died. "Park officials said the double-walled design of the cabins that were closed Tuesday made it easy for mice to nest between the walls. The disease is carried in the feces, urine and saliva of deer mice and other rodents. The illness begins as flu-like symptoms, including including headache, fever, muscle ache, shortness of breath and cough. Initial symptoms may appear up to six weeks after exposure and can lead to severe breathing difficulties and death. The new cabins have canvas exteriors and drywall or plywood inside, with insulation in between. Park officials found this week when they tried to shore up some of the cabins that mice had built nests in the walls." For more on hantavirus outbreak in Yosemite http://vitals.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/31/13591500-cdc-10000-at-risk-of-hantavirus-in-yosemite-outbreak?lite

Regardless how old their Inclusiveness Policy is, the question remains where did it go? It was still posted last week on their website. Now it appears missing.

Anyone know if something happened to Northern Star Council's Inclusive Policy? The OP link is gone! http://www.northernstarbsa.org/AboutUs/Leadership/Inclusiveness.aspx There is still an Inclusiveness link here on the Policies page, but the page itself is gone http://www.northernstarbsa.org/Resources/Policies/ ???

IMO, pack leadership typically has younger leaders with more frequent turnover than troops - so more fertile ground for change. Also I think units and CO's are realizing families are not necessarily traditional, i.e., reject one family member and lose the whole family, reject upstanding citizens and lose the community. What happens at crossover time to Webs from these packs? Will families find a troop with a "Policy of Acceptance" and continue on the Scouting trail? Evolution from the bottom-up. Will mutations thrive or die? Will the species itself adapt and live on? My $0.01 for so many questions, hmm Question of Balance In a world of persecution That is burning in its greed Why do we never get an answer When we're knocking at the door?

Add Pack 24, Redlands, CA http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_21421165/developing-redlands-scout-pack-taking-stand-against-boy?source=rss

Good to read, Louisiana scouts filling and stacking sandbags to save homes from flood waters. http://www.nbc33tv.com/news/local-news/boy-scouts-helping-out-with-isaac-approaching

I looked last night and started thinking ... some BSA commemoration - do Jamboree on the Air at night with full moon? - do a nationwide model rocket launch next Aug 5 (his birthday) or July 20 (Apollo 11 landing)? - other ideas?? Back in the day, I had to know the names of all 7 Mercury astronauts. There was no Space Exploration merit badge. Today, it is hard to believe there is no specific requirement about astronauts. We can fix that too.

Scout salute and farewell....

"Marblehead (Mass) Pack 79 has created its own policy in response to the Boy Scouts of Americas announcement that it will continue to not allow openly gay people to participate." From their website http://pack79mhd.scoutlander.com/publicsite/unitcustom.aspx?UID=5990&CUSTOMID=55066 "Pack 79 recognizes the benefits of scouting for all boys and their families. We openly reject the national policy put forth by Boy Scouts of America barring gay boys from membership and gay or lesbian adults from serving as leaders. We believe that Scouting builds character and enforces important values including citizenship, compassion, cooperation, courage, faith, health and fitness, honesty, perseverance, positive attitude, resourcefulness, respect, responsibility, tolerance and acceptance. As an organization, Pack 79 will provide membership to all boys and parents in the Marblehead community without regard to sexual orientation. Were realistic in that the actions were taking may not have any real impact on the national BSA policy, said Jack Schecter, Pack 79 cub master. But whats important to us is that our community knows we dont stand behind that (BSA) policy and that we wont implement it. news link http://www.wickedlocal.com/marblehead/topstories/x1789229316/Separating-from-the-pack-Marblehead-Scouts-take-stand-against-discrimination#axzz24WPh7ZIp(This message has been edited by RememberSchiff)

January 1, 2010. New form No. 34605, which replaced the Class 1,2,3 forms, required a yearly physical for everyone. Yep used to be 3 years.

No, we take responsibility here. This is our screw-up complete with the diminished BSA brand. Where this new merit badge did not interest my scouts in SAR, this recent gripping story of a volunteer search and rescue did. "A group of Colorado mountain climbers rescued a German Shepard named Missy from 13,000 feet, where the dog's owner abandoned her. Missy was stranded for eight days before two hikers found her close to death and bloodied. In a strange twist of fate, the owner wants custody of Missy again - a privilege the animal-loving hikers think the man lost when he left the canine to die." ... "Official search and rescue teams couldn't assist since they only respond to calls to help humans." Tell the story in parts and discuss what went wrong, how was the internet used, when is too late, what would you need for a rescue, how would you plan a rescue..., what of Missy and her owner or new owners? Scout salute to 8 rescuers, links: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdDTMHZdU8Y http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/german-shepard-custody-battle-colorado-couple-rallies-fellow-climbers-save-abandoned-dog-top-a-mountain-owner-left-dog-dead-back-rescued-dog-subject-custody-battle-article-1.1138690?localLinksEnabled=false (This message has been edited by RememberSchiff)

http://www.scouting.org/sitecore/content/Home/BoyScouts/AdvancementandAwards/MeritBadges/snr.aspx

http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2012/08/20/at-last-search-and-rescue-merit-badge-requirements-released/

http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2012/08/20/at-last-search-and-rescue-merit-badge-requirements-released/ What a disappointment, another dumbed-down, classroom merit badge. Explain, discuss, hypothetical scenario, talk to some people... Left hand salute

I will erase the Espanol sections and use that space to insert a copy of both sides of my insurance card.

Fixed link - sorry about that.

As always, careful planning went into the development of the updated version, with input coming from councils, volunteers, and the Health and Safety Team." Gee I don't remember being asked. Have NO use for bilingual on the same form - now even smaller fonts. A preview copy of the record can be found at: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/680-001_preview.pdf (This message has been edited by RememberSchiff)

Probably this was BSA's mistake too, i.e., assuming laws and statutes in West Virginia would be like other places. Apparently this goes back to a 1944 West Virginia Supreme Court case. From Findlaw real estate is not exempt where owned by a [charitable] organization and is leased for private purposes, notwithstanding the application of the income from rentals to charitable and benevolent purposes and upkeep of the premises.  Central Realty Co. v. Martin, 126 W.Va. 915, 923, 30 S.E.2d 720, 725 (1944).   See also State v. McDowell Lodge, No. 112, 96 W.Va. 611, 123 S.E. 561 (1924) (holding that property of a charitable and benevolent organization, leased for profit, is not exempt even though rents are used to retire debt, for maintenance of property, and for charitable and benevolent purposes). IRS not the issue here, but everything to do with West Virginia real estate taxes. And as we know, all towns are hurting for money with non profits looking like the next frontier but that's another topic. My understanding, a favorable vote in both W.V. houses is required to bring a state constitutional amendment to the necessary public vote in Nov, 2014??? Another $0.02(This message has been edited by RememberSchiff)

"Minneapolis (August 15, 2012) - Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE: PII), the leading manufacturer of off-road vehicles, today announced the company has donated a total of 28 Polaris all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and safety gear to the Boy Scouts of America's Northern Star Council's Tomahawk Scout Reservation, the second largest Boy Scout camp in the nation, and the Northwoods Camp, run by The Salvation Army, the world-wide leader of social, youth and rehabilitative services. The donation, valued at $100,000, is part of Polaris' long-term partnerships with the two organizations, focused on youth ATV safety practices and outdoor sports. "Our partnerships with Boy Scouts of America and The Salvation Army offer outstanding opportunities to demonstrate how ATVs can be a positive educational tool for youth," said Scott Wine, Polaris CEO. "By introducing young people to the sport in a manner that emphasizes the importance of safety and responsible ATV ownership, Polaris can entice a new generation into the powersports community while providing a great experience for thousands of young people." The Boy Scouts of America's Northern Star Council's Tomahawk Scout Reservation, located in Birchwood, Wis., is the destination for approximately 6,500 Boy Scouts, Webelos and adult leaders every summer. The new ATV program at the camp encompasses all aspects of safe ATV operation and ATV maintenance. Boy Scouts enrolled in the program also have the opportunity to earn merit badges for their participation. " http://www.4-traders.com/POLARIS-INDUSTRIES-INC-14008/news/Polaris-Industries-Inc-POLARIS-INDUSTRIES-DONATES-0-000-IN-ALL-TERRAIN-VEHICLES-TO-LOCAL-YOUTH-14463520/ I still have my doubts but have not seen this program in action.

Following from http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/article/W-Va-Boy-Scout-reserve-seeking-property-measure-3790767.php "The Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve cannot lease its facilities to anyone but charities without jeopardizing its tax-exempt status." "The proposed amendment would open the Summit to some of its corporate sponsors, McGowan (BSA lawyer) said. AT&T, for instance, has pledged $50 million and will put its name on a grass amphitheater that will accommodate up to 80,000 people, he said. That company wishes to host events there, McGowan told lawmakers." "McGowan said these facilities can draw both from the area community and beyond the state's borders, for anything from a music concert or a board of directors' meeting to a wedding." "We have the dilemma of not being able to allow other organizations to use it," McGowan said. Maybe change the name as well - The Resort at Summit. Who would they book for music concerts - John Tesch? A fine kettle of fish. My $0.02,