RememberSchiff

Very prudent move. IMHO we should NOT be self-certifying ourselves as competent in skills where we are at risk for liability. We only make ourselves more liable, use third party certification! ACA for camps, YMCA for swimming, Red Cross or American Heart Association for CPR/First Aid, NRA or USA Shooting for firearm safety. My $0.02,

Good memory @yknot.

IMHO, this is unlikely, as even if a club had a rimfire-only range, semi-auto's like this BSA prohibited Ruger 10-22 would be in use by club members. Most outdoor rifle ranges around here are more inclusive: 22, 30-06, 5.56, 380, 270,... all on same firing line at the same time. BTW, when you shoot at a non-BSA range, read and understand that range's rules and procedures and obey the RSO instructions. Reserving the whole range for Scouts might be a possibility. During hunting season less so. My $0.02

Update 9/3/2024: The parents of 10 year camper Jack Gear who died in this jet ski accident are bringing a wrongful death lawsuit against Middle Tennessee Council and the BSA. They claim their son's death was the result of Middle Tennessee Council’s Boy Scouts of America’s “negligence and reckless conduct.” Sources: https://www.wsmv.com/2024/09/03/family-boy-killed-jet-ski-suing-middle-tennessee-boy-scouts-group/ https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/2024/09/03/family-10-year-old-boy-killed-jet-ski-crash-suing-boy-scouts-america-10-million-lawsuit-says/ Their filed complaint below appears well researched regarding Tennessee law and BSA safety guidelines (page 5, Guide to Safe Scouting and Personal Watercraft Safety Course). https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/2c/e2/06517d304288b8e197e6069629b0/gear-lawsuit.pdf

Above link has an aerial map of existing 1300 acre camp outlined in red and proposed 500 acre subsection proposed to be sold for commercial and residential development. Camp appears to be bounded by a highway and spreading real estate development.

"Some of the biggest needs for modernization (Camp Sand Hill) are new bathrooms and showers at campsites, Porter said. The current facilities are huts, some 50 years old, with little privacy for boys and girls. Outdoor showers have panels where passersby can peer in from above or below the user. Scout Executive Mike Butler said enclosed buildings with private toilets and showers will cost up to $600,000 each — eight are needed across three camp locations. The council is seeking to build a new dining hall at Camp Brorein in Hillsborough County, which will cost $7 million. Other projects at Sand Hill include a BB gun range for Cub Scouts, upgrades to the existing shooting facility and a new ropes course. If the 50-acre portion is developed by the electric cooperative, the council will have to build a new ranger home and maintenance barns that are currently on that site at an estimated cost of $800,000." Sand Hill operated this summer, so it presumably passed the NCAP Assessment Team inspection. Let's see the NCAP report. for their observations and recommendations. "The council has a $21.7 million endowment as of July 31, but $11.7 million of that is restricted and unable to be used for construction projects, records provided by Butler show. " Well now. Not a lawyer, but if Circuit Court Judge Donald Eugene Scaglione ruled DiePolder's donation restrictions are void perhaps he will rule that the Council endowment restrictions are void as well? Source: https://www.tampabay.com/news/hernando/2024/08/30/boy-scouts-explore-sale-500-acres-sand-hill-camp-brooksville/ My $0.01,

Hold the presses, not 50 acres! Tampa Bay Council is considering selling another 450 acres of Sand Hill Scout Reservation for "residential and commercial developement". With diminished membership and a need for millions of dollars worth of camp upgrades, the Greater Tampa Bay Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America is exploring the sale of 500 acres of its 1,300-acre camp in Hernando County that has drawn Scouts from across Florida for decades. ... Now on Sept. 19, the council’s 70-member executive board will vote on whether to begin marketing another 450 wooded acres of Sand Hill on the northeast section for commercial and residential development, Scout executive Mike Butler confirmed. The board will also vote on the sale of the 50 acres to the electric cooperative if the purchase agreement is ready by then, Butler said. ... Butler said enclosed buildings with private toilets and showers will cost up to $600,000 each — eight are needed across three camp locations. (Military reserve units on training exercises might help here.) More details including photos and map at source: https://www.tampabay.com/news/hernando/2024/08/30/boy-scouts-explore-sale-500-acres-sand-hill-camp-brooksville/ Poor Larry DiePolder must be spinning in his grave.

Previously, as part of its bankruptcy plan of reorganization, BSA’s artwork was transferred to the BSA Settlement Trust. Hon. Barbara J. Houser (Ret.), the Trustee overseeing the administration and distribution of the funds to survivors, ordered the start of the liquidation process last week, picked Heritage Auctions to handle the sale, and remarked “These Survivors have waited decades to be heard and acknowledged, and the sale of these works will aid us in providing a measure of justice to them. Buyers should be proud that they will be contributing to rebuilding lives and helping to right past wrongs.” “Heritage is deeply grateful to have been entrusted with what is undoubtedly one of the most significant collections of Golden Age illustrations to emerge on the market in recent years,” said Aviva Lehmann, Heritage’s Senior Vice President of American Art. “We are honored to present this museum-caliber collection, which not only celebrates the artistry of Norman Rockwell and other luminaries of the Golden Age but also embodies the rich cultural heritage at the core of our mission as America’s largest auction house. Equally important to us is the privilege of supporting the Survivors, underscoring our commitment to both the arts and social responsibility.” ..."At confirmation of the plan, the Trust’s compensation fund was valued at approximately $2.5 billion. Other causes of action against third parties may increase the fund further. To date, the Trust has paid more than $25 million to over 6,800 Survivors." The art collection itself has been valued at $130 million. Reminder, the collection is on view at the Medici Museum of Art until this Sunday September 1. Sources 8/28-29/2024: https://www.tribtoday.com/news/local-news/2024/08/medici-scouting-for-a-new-collection/ https://www.ha.com/heritage-auctions-press-releases-and-news/heritage-to-auction-boy-scouts-of-america-masterpieces-to-compensate-survivors-of-childhood-sexual-abuse.s?releaseId=5034

Twenty five pieces of the BSA 321 piece art collection will be auctioned by Heritage Auctions in November. Heritage Auctions recently sold Babe Ruth's 1932 "Called Shot" jersey for north of $24M. Not sure if any of these 25 art pieces are Rockwell. Source (mostly behind a paywall): https://www.wsj.com/articles/boy-scouts-to-auction-norman-rockwell-paintings-other-art-to-fund-sex-abuse-settlement-b97441fd Interested in comic books? https://comics.ha.com/c/search/results.zx?dept=1938&mode=live&auction_name=7379&ic=hero-Comics-viewLots-7379-082124

Thanks. I'm a couple thousand miles from the western US and Canadian wildfires and am still affected by the smoke. The climate change effects: increased wildfires, heat waves, flooding, wind, high bacteria counts at beaches, ...are definitely negatively impacting scOUTING, my $0.02,

The annual late summer-fall HawkWatch (viewing and counting hawk migration) has begun. Combined with a hike , it is good scout activity, e.g., Pack Monadnock Raptor Observatiory . There are about 34 species of diurnal raptors in North America, some sites have more, some less. About 15 species migrate through Maine and only 3 were counted last year in Acadia, Source (good read about identification and Acadia Hawk Watch) https://www.bangordailynews.com/2024/08/23/outdoors/outdoors-contributors/annual-hawk-watch-cadillac-mountain-acadia-joam40zk0w/ References: HawkWatch daily counts by location https://www.hawkcount.org/ Interactive US map to find hawkwatch sites and respective data https://www.hawkcount.org/sitesel.php https://www.nhaudubon.org/conservation/raptor-migration/

08/23/2024: NYSE News covered Troop 331 ringing the closing bell to kick off Scouting America's Fall Recruitment. [10:15-12:20] Director of Media Relation and Government Affairs Scott Armstrong explains name rebranding ( count me in his words "a little bit wrinkled") [15:00-16:30] there appears to be a new National ad. [22:26-25:15] Director of Media Relation and Government Affairs Scott Armstrong states Scouting is open to everybody. Did DRP go away? [28:00-30:00] Troop 331 SM Pete Asch speaks of his family Scouting experience and that his troop is in the pilot coed troop program. [30:15] Eagle Scout Harrison Gray rings Closing Bell as "stocks surge" on August 23rd, 2024 @ 3:56 PM - 4:00 PM Fed's Powell says 'time has come' to cut interest rates Small caps, regional banks surge Workday jumps after Q2 revenue beat, $1 bln share buyback plan Indexes up: Dow 1.14%, S&P 500 1.15%, Nasdaq 1.47% https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/futures-firm-powell-set-take-center-stage-jackson-hole-2024-08-23/

For both BSA and GSUSA, nicely done.

Last summer I wore my covid N95 mask while hiking in the Northeast which was often engulfed by Canadian wildfire smoke. I actually preferred hiking in air-cleansing rain. I haven't used a mask yet hiking this season but still pack one. Note story of Pacific Crest Trail hikers. Already this year, 26 wildfires have burned along the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), which travels along the spine of California, Oregon and Washington and has long been considered one of America’s spectacular thru-hikes. The blazes have forced 16 parts of the trail to close, leaving hikers hastily arranging rides around them. ... a 2022 thru-hiker, was forced off the trail near Stehekin, Washington, after she developed a hacking cough, headache and sore throat from three days of hiking through smoke. “My lungs felt full of liquid,” she said. This year, she returned to complete her missing miles and ended up hiking 17 miles in an N95 respirator. Then, a new fire left her 30 miles short of completion and yearning for closure. The source below notes climate changes along PCT which travels through the Mojave Desert, the Sierra Nevada and the Cascade Range. Source (research and writing 👍😞 Wildfires keep hitting the iconic Pacific Crest Trail, forcing closures and evacuations https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/wildfires-pacific-crest-trail-closures-evacuations-rcna167863 BSA Hiking - 10 Essentials: https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/safety-moments/hiking/

Update 8/23/2024: Judge Robert F. Rossiter sentenced former Omaha SM John Shores to 20 years in federal prison and after release, an additional 20 years of supervision. There is no parole in the federal prison system. He also has to pay $7,600 in special assessments. Shores' attorney argued for a lesser sentence as he had no previous criminal record and would not be a threat to society after his release due to his age. The prosecution argued Shores acted as a "wolf in sheep's clothing" who used his position in the community to gain trust while seeking out minors for sex. Judge Rossiter described Shores' actions as "unfathomable - “I don’t discount what you’ve done with the community in the light, but what you’ve done here was in the dark." Sources: https://www.ketv.com/article/ex-nebraska-boy-scout-leader-sentenced-prison-sexual-exploitation-child/61960300 https://omaha.com/news/local/crime-courts/former-omaha-boy-scout-leader-sentenced-for-child-enticement/article_d8e5bce6-617d-11ef-9d2a-4b759016ece4.html

8/21/2024 "The Midnight Sun Boy Scout Council has launched a fundraiser to replace guns and ammunition stolen this past week from a storage room and gun safe at Lost Lake Boy Scout Camp." Source: https://www.newsminer.com/news/local_news/boys-scouts-launch-fundraiser-to-replace-stolen-guns-ammo/article_52c3e5b6-5f39-11ef-81be-eb01a6eee89c.html

Case in point: Greater Tampa Bay Area Council selling 50 acre parcel of Sand Hill Scout Reservation. When businessman Larry DiePolder died in 1978, he left about 1,300 natural acres in Hernando County (Sand Hill Scout Reservation) to the Boy Scouts with explicit instructions - the land must never be sold “in any way shape or form” or be used for any commercial purposes, according to his will. DiePolder stated the acreage should serve only for the Boy Scouts to “enjoy the great outdoors and the beauties and benefits of nature.” ... Despite the wishes outlined by its benefactor, the Greater Tampa Bay Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America is currently in talks to sell a 50-acre portion of the Sand Hill reservation along SR 50 to the Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative for it to build an administrative office, Scout executive Mike Butler confirmed on Tuesday. In January, after the Boy Scouts sought a court order to clarify the title on the land, a Hernando County Circuit Court judge ruled the council was not bound to the terms outlined by DiePolder. The ruling states that when his family conveyed the 1,300 acres to the Boy Scouts 45 years ago, the deeds did not include any of the usage restrictions cited in the will. Those deeds conveyed the Sand Hill property to the Boy Scouts without the restrictions DiePolder outlined in his will. After the Boy Scouts sought the court order clarifying the title, Circuit Court Judge Donald Eugene Scaglione ruled in January that the deeds issued by DiePolder’s son superseded the will and conveyed the land “free and clear of the use restrictions.” DiePolder wrote in his will that if the Boy Scouts ever failed to use the property as he wished, then the land should be given to Hernando County “to be used as a recreational area and park.” But Hernando County filed a motion consenting to the Boy Scouts clarifying the title. Scaglione ruled that any rights the county had to the land in the will are null and void. More at source: https://www.tampabay.com/news/hernando/2024/08/21/boy-scouts-talks-sell-50-acre-slice-brooksville-reservation/

This caught my attention as I am faced with TTHM and HAA5 in our drinking water here. I believe these are present due my town water dept using chloramine as a disinfectant, seemingly preferred over chlorine. https://www.mass.gov/doc/factsheet-haloacetic-acids-and-total-trihalomethane-in-drinking-water-information-for-consumers/download

Source NM Daniel ProKop 08/09/2024 The 138 letters sent on July 29 by the New Mexico Environment Department declare that those drinking water systems responsible for sending water to at least 100,000 New Mexicans still haven’t fixed current outstanding water quality violations. Once they receive the letter, the parties have 15-days to send their plans to resolve their issues with the state. Failing to submit a plan means the water system could be fined $1,000 per day, the maximum penalty under state law. ... We’re not going to be the outlier’ At least one small system operator said he’s planning his response. Jason Smallwood, who operates water for the Philmont Boy Scout Ranch said the base camp is investing in a new treatment system that he said should eliminate water quality issues caused from byproducts of treatment chemicals called TTHM-1 and HAA5-1. “The letter is what it is – it’s not that big of deal,” Smallwood said. “We’re going to address it and tell the state what we’re planning on doing to deal with it.” “Hopefully, sending it out can help other people,” Smallwood added. Beyond the base camp, which has had three drinking water violations, according to enforcement records and the drinking water watch records. Smallwood, who’s held the position for two years, said Philmont is complicated, because it has 35 separate “systems” which can often just mean one sink and several spigots fed by a tank. He said the state’s map shows that the systems have 92 violations in total, but added that most of them are not about the water quality, but inspection and paperwork issues regarding the far-flung water tanks. Recently, he’s attended further trainings, and pointed to a record of decreased violations at the base camp’s water system. Smallwood said Philmont is spending money to put in new systems and working to address the contamination problems. He predicts a reckoning for water systems across the state. “We’re not going to be the outlier,” he said. “We may look like it because of the state’s website, but there’s tons of water systems that are in way worse shape than ours.” More at sources: https://sourcenm.com/2024/08/09/drinking-water-issues-nm/ https://www.env.nm.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Environment-Department-cracks-down-on-over-100-drinking-water-systems-for-jeopardizing-the-health-of-their-customers-FINAL.pdf embedded map came from this source: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/b4bb9933e2a7418f86b7ceac6371411e

The login Forgot Password feature has been reported as not sending a password recovery email to the affected member @BinTharDunThat . Over the last two+ days, he created two new accounts Eagle-EagleDad and TryingToGetAccess to get our attention, which it did. He has since found his old password and can login as BinTharDoneThat but Forgot Password never sent him email or directed him to a password recovery webpage. Does Forgot Password require any browser permissions? Seems risky to test with my moderator account. @SCOUTER-Terry

IMHO, "high adventure" is venturing unconnected into the unknown. Scouts are in charge and on their own. Rare these days. My $0.02

Some digging on RealResponse website regarding Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and some random, pre-coffee thoughts, Source https://www.realresponse.com/terms-of-use/ ELIGIBILITY TO USE REALRESPONSE To access or use RealResponse, you must be 14 years or older and have the requisite power and authority to enter into these Terms. You may not access or use RealResponse if you are a competitor of ours or if we have previously banned you from RealResponse or closed your account. For Visitors or Members that are schools, colleges, academic institutions, or athletic teams or organizations (“Institutional Users”), RealResponse is for your use in accordance with your written license agreement with us. YOUR REALRESPONSE ACCOUNT In order to become a Member, we require you to register an account (“Account”) by setting up a Member name and password. Other registration requirements (such as the requirement to submit information including, but not limited to: location, age, alma mater, favorite collegiate athletic teams) may also apply. You are entirely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your password. You agree not to use the account or password of another Member at any time.... Source: https://www.realresponse.com/privacy-policy/ 10. CHILDREN Anyone under 14 years of age is expressly prohibited from using RealResponse or providing any personal information. If you become aware that anyone under 14 years of age has provided us with personal information without parental consent, please contact us at info@RealResponse.com. If we become aware that a minor under 14 has provided us with personal information without parental consent, we will remove such information and terminate the account. Will RealResponse integrate into the existing 1-844-Scouts1 hot inline? The BSA/SA response via RealResponse is the same as 1-844-Scouts hotline, RealResponse adds anonymity? So far, I have not found middle/high school or other youth organizations (under 18) which are using RealResponse. Stating the obvious, a detailed video demo (not a 45sec marketing blip) explaining creating account, sending text, response, and resolution would be helpful. A lot of questions. Another $0.02

Agreed. IMO, this sales pitch to parents has an embedded justification for the usual parents' followup question "How much does this cost?" Not that they will necessarily get an dollars answer to that question. My $0.02,

BSA/PRNnewswire Aug 14, 2024: New research reveals that post-pandemic parents are worried their kids' childhood is slipping away. IRVING, Texas, Aug. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- While most of us would like to forget the impact of COVID-19, its effect on parents and children is impossible to ignore. New research shows that post-pandemic parents are worried that their kids' childhood is slipping away. For their part, kids are increasingly focused on things like friendship and the future, being trusted and respected, and being capable of solving problems on their own. Fortunately, Scouting America has been evolving to meet the needs of both groups, easing parent concerns and helping kids thrive. Research company Human-ology assessed more than 100 human values and emotional priorities of parents ages 19-60 and children ages 6-12 over the course of five years. Unsurprisingly, when COVID-19 hit in 2020, parents were focused on safety and control, especially when asked about their children. By huge margins, parents traded the stated desire of "letting my kids be kids" for "avoiding sickness and disease." However, in the third quarter of 2020, there was an "aha moment." The delta between these two desires closed, and the opposite is now true. In fact, "letting my kids be kids" ranks 18% higher on parents' priorities lists than it did pre-pandemic while "avoiding sickness and disease" ranks 6% lower. Other priority shifts include: Preparing my child for real life (+22% in 2024 vs. 2019) Teaching my child to be resilient (+15% in 2024 vs. 2019) My child discovering their world (+15% in 2024 vs. 2019) The global pandemic made parents realize that they will never be able to fully protect their kids from harm, and therefore made them more enthusiastic about equipping their kids with traditional skills more associated with older generations, such as preparedness, resilience and ingenuity, to help their kids lead vibrant, resilient lives. "Scouting America can be a big part of the solution for these understandable concerns," said Roger A. Krone, president and chief executive officer of Scouting America. "Especially when introduced at a young age, Scouting can help kids develop relevant skills and promote the resilience, critical thinking and leadership their parents seek that are vital for them to become well-rounded individuals, ready for success in today's world." Similarly, COVID-19 made life chaotic for kids, and as worry took over, childhood took a back seat. Kids traded the stated desire of "just being a kid" for "feeling safe and content in my home," and while "feeling safe and content in my home" remains a priority, "just being a kid" is up 22% from its pandemic low, reflecting kids' desire to grow in a supportive, structured way. Across the board, kids are increasingly focused on things like competency, friendship and the future, such as: Having fun with my friends (+27% increase in three years) Being good at something I like to do (+21% increase in three years) Being trusted and respected (+14% increase in three years) Having the freedom to make my own choices (+9% increase in three years) Being capable of doing things and solving problems on my own (+12% increase in three years) A pandemic that created chaos and a sense of lost control seems to have made kids increasingly interested in having a say in their lives. "Based on our analysis, there is a growing demand from both parents and kids for opportunities that unlock the full experiences of childhood." said Nico Turk, senior strategist at Human-ology. "Scouting can play a pivotal role in addressing these needs. Their programs provide structure to kids so they can accomplish things they haven't yet imagined." Scouting America is uniquely positioned to meet the needs of both kids and parents. For parents, it can help their kids navigate a world that can be unkind. For kids, it provides a shot at childhood for a generation who has only known chaos. Parents who are unfamiliar with – or have misperceptions about – modern Scouting might assume that it's all camping, fishing and hiking. Make no mistake, many Scouts love their boots and tackle, but they also take advantage of Scouting's modern-day skills that range from essentials in self-sufficiency and kindness learned early on in Cub Scouts to advanced skills like rocketry, robotics, coding and combating cyberbullying. "At Scouting America, we pride ourselves in delivering the skills we know youth seek in fun and exciting ways," says Angie Minett, Scouts BSA Chairperson. "For example, engineering and creativity are taught as early as Cub Scouts with the iconic Pinewood Derby, offering Scouts hands-on problem-solving experience that remains relevant in today's environment. While kids may think they're just building and racing cars, we know they're accomplishing so much more." As parents navigate the complexities of preparing their children for adulthood, Scouting America stands out as a trusted partner, teaching young people the life skills needed to navigate 2024 and beyond. To learn more, visit www.BeAScout.org. About Scouting America Scouting America provides the nation's foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training, which helps young people be "Prepared. For Life.®" Scouting America welcomes all of America's youth into its programs. Our goal is to give them fantastic experiences in the outdoors, and elsewhere, where they can grow with us in a safe environment. More than 130 million Americans have been through our programs since our founding, and currently more than 1 million youth are served by 477,000 dedicated adult volunteers in local councils throughout the country. To learn more about Scouting America's mission, or to sign your child up for Scouting, visit www.BeAScout.org. SOURCE Boy Scouts of America https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/parents-of-america-if-your-child-isnt-a-scout-theyre-missing-out-302222697.html

As I understand, RealResponse (RR) is an encrypted communications conduit between anonymous reporters and a customer (USA Fencing, USA Gymnastics, NFL, colleges,...,BSA/SA). There appears to be custom data tools on the customer end - data logging (time line), data organization/analysis, dispatch, automated responses/response bot ("Could you provide more information?"), etc. I doubt RealResponse would have access to customer data. I question RR claim that this is "real-time" as it is up to customer whether they staff 24x7. It is not a Hot-Line? I have read positive reviews by customers but I have not found any reviews on the effectiveness from anonymous student/athlete/employee reporters or mention of any tracking tools on their end. What is the reporter's experience? I found this video and it appears a reporter would just have a text message history (1:10/1:54) Anyway if RR proves effective in "communicating safety concerns", perhaps it can be expanded to communicate other concerns with National.