RememberSchiff

Why not subpoena the person common to all?

... Mr. J. Maurice Hopkins and Mr. William Roane each joined the Ebenezer program as Cub Scouts in the mid-1950s. Together, they soared through the ranks. By the time the two reached high school, they were covered in merit badges — more than 50 between them — all earned under Mr. Ross, and far more than the 21 badges needed to qualify for a shot at the pinnacle of scouting. ... Yet the era, the segregated South of the 1950s and ’60s, held them back. As Eagle Scout candidates, the young men were required to clear one last critical hurdle — earning their life-saving swimming merit badges. Mr. Hopkins said he and Mr. Roane were prepared to advance, but the era was not. In the Frederick Douglass District, the district under which Black scouting troops operated, there were no swimming facilities sanctioned as approved testing sites. “We swam. We took it every summer at camp where we had to pass courses with the lifeguards,” Mr. Hopkins recalled. “All we needed was access.” The Boy Scouts’ Robert E. Lee Council, the governing body over all scout troops — Black and white — at the time, barred Black scouts from swimming in whites-only facilities. ... Shortly after Mr. Roane died, Mr. Hopkins went a step beyond remembering. He wrote a letter to the Capital District director of the renamed Boy Scouts Heart of Virginia Council pleading for posthumous Eagle Scout recognition to be presented to the Roane family. To his disappointment, the request was denied. The only formal reply was mailed to Mr. Roane’s widow, Mary. In a 2013 letter, a Heart of Virginia Council executive acknowledged that the men “came very close to earning and receiving the Eagle Scout Award,” and also, somewhat indirectly, that they’d likely also been victims of social injustice. ... Mr. Hopkins, 74, is the last living member of Richmond’s Black Eagle Scout “should-have-beens”. Source: http://richmondfreepress.com/news/2021/sep/23/denied-their-chance/

IMHO, BSA National will reach an inflection point where their legal expenses* exceed their victims' trust contribution before they run out of money. My $0.02, *legal expenses starting back in 2018 when BSA hired Sidley Austin

https://www.scouter.com/topic/31928-chapter-11-announced/page/24/ 6/9/2020 a post by Eagle1993 Mediator team now set. Kevin J. Carey … Timothy Gallagher and Paul Finn on the mediation panel, with Judge Silverstein ruling out one of the Boy Scouts' choices to serve on the panel as a group of insurers raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest involving his selection. "What we are looking for is true neutrality," Judge Silverstein said. ... The Boy Scouts have 275 sex abuse claims pending against the parent organization as well as more than 1,000 additional claims against nondebtor local scouting councils and individual charter organizations that are in various stages of review, according to the Boy Scouts' first-day declaration Read more at: https://www.law360.com/articles/1280789/ex-del-bankruptcy-judge-to-join-boy-scouts-mediation-panel?copied=1

Update 9/17/2021: "On Thursday, Judge James Isaacson sentenced Stender to three years in prison and three years of extended supervision after a three hour hearing in Chippewa County court. Stender had previously been found guilty for harboring and aiding a felon for helping Treu hide the truck on the day of the crash." "Authorities say the crash happened while both men were high after huffing aerosol inhalants they had purchased at Walmart. They drove into the girl scout troop, hid the truck and carried on with their day. In handing down his sentencing, Judge James Isaacson said it was notable that Stender waited several hours before telling police what happened. About a dozen family members of the victims spoke about the massive impact the crash has had on their lives and the tragic way they lost their loved ones." “He should spend some time thinking about and regretting his actions. I have to think about losing my beautiful, amazing daughter every day,” said Robin Kelley, Jayna’s mom. She was one of the several family members calling on Judge Isaacson to hand down the maximum sentence of five years in prison and five years of extended supervision. “About the time these two were hiding the truck that crashed into my daughter, I was desperately trying to do CPR on Jayna, screaming for paramedics to help,” said Brian Kelley. .... After listening to the families of the victims, Stender offered a tearful apology. “I know the victims’ families want justice from me and I’m sure they are all sick and angry inside having to say goodbye to their family and friends. I can’t imagine. There’s not a day that goes by that I wish I could trade places with them. The children were too young to have this happen,” he said. Since the crash, Stender said he has turned his life around, sought out counseling, held a job and got married. The other side of the courtroom was packed with his friends and family including his pregnant wife. ... "He pleaded no contest to charges of harboring or aiding a felon back in April. Police say he helped Colten Treu cover-up the wreck that killed three girls and one of their mothers. Stender said they were both high at the time. Colten Treu is currently serving a 54-year sentence" for killing all four. More details at sources: https://www.weau.com/2021/09/17/passenger-girl-scout-hit-run-is-sentenced-families-continue-calls-justice/ https://715newsroom.com/2021/09/17/judge-sentences-stender/ https://www.seehafernews.com/2021/09/17/passenger-in-truck-that-killed-3-girl-scouts-will-spend-three-years-in-prison/

Update 9/19/21: Another death, Industry Oversight, Enforcement, Power Line Safety Initiative The William Thomas Heath Power Line Safety Act (WTH Act) was passed, yet two years later on June 3, 2021 another teen in a sailboat is a electrocuted in a West Texas lake. The police report: *Clyde Lake Incident* Last night Clyde PD Officers responded to an incident at Clyde Lake involving a boat that had struck a power line going out over the water. Preliminary details indicated that one individual was in the water pulling a sail boat back to shore that had become disabled, while other individuals were inside the boat. The boat struck a power line, which caused the line to contact the water. The individual in the water, Trevor Cate (age 18), was struck by the electric current, and became submerged under water. Clyde Lake officials cut power at the lake, and officers responded to the scene. Officers were able to locate Trevor Cate and pulled him to shore. Citizens EMS began working on the victim and he was transported to Hendricks MC. Trevor is a 2021 graduate of Clyde High School, we ask that you keep Trevor and his family in your prayers and thoughts. Clyde Lake is temporarily closed. https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/18-year-old-dies-after-being-electrocuted-in-west-texas-lake/2648670/ ... In memory of their son William, Stan and Michelle Brannon are fighting “ to prevent public injuries and fatalities due to unsafe power lines, to enhance legislative action, get active industry oversight and to continue public education,” said Michelle Brannon. “So far, this year, we have tracked over 100 bills during the recent session and we testified on two of those bills. We met with the authors of the bills to advise on how these bills could be amended and strengthened on public safety and enforcement. We have attended every Public Utility Commission (TX) meeting and have met with the new PUC commissioners concerning the enforcement of the WTH Act.” Additionally, they have expanded their public education efforts by developing a website and logo and partnering with the National Safe Boating Council. “Unfortunately, we realize our work may never be done,” said Brannon, noting their recent discovery of another fatal sailboat-power line incident involving the death of a teen in West Texas. More details at sources: https://www.marshallnewsmessenger.com/news/after-boy-scouts-deaths-hallsville-mother-works-to-promote-power-line-safety/article_99a1cc98-181d-11ec-ab3d-234996646ab9.html https://powerlinesaredangerous.com/ Eternal vigilance.

A question for our legal team. There have been multiple local news reports of their councils financial contributions to the settlement. The articles are all similarly phrased with a finality tone as to the amount they will contribute. I can appreciate the Debtor trying to push "a final offer" but with Chapter 11 mediation ongoing is this permissible? https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2021/09/17/boy-scouts-settlement-2021-mid-iowa-council-pay-victims-child-sex-abuse/8377326002/ https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/sep/16/inland-boy-scouts-council-contributes-to-national-/

In part, but my understanding a higher percentage of US Gymnast victims directly reported to law enforcement to no avail. The BSA failed scouts, but Olympian Simone Biles stated in a recent Congressional hearing, "an entire system that allowed his abuse" - USA Gymnastics, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and the FBI. ... Advocates for the women say as many as 120 athletes may have been abused by Nassar after the FBI first heard of the charges against him. The Justice Department has not brought charges against either of the former FBI agents most closely involved in the case. The FBI fired Special Agent Michael Langeman in the last two weeks, FBI Director Christopher Wray later told the panel. Langeman's supervisor, Jay Abbott, previously resigned... I have previously stated, many times in more blunt, unscoutlike language, that all the BSA had to do was turnover all information (files) to law enforcement and let them investigate. Maybe, I was wrong. https://www.npr.org/2021/09/15/1036968966/gymnasts-nassar-fbi-senate-hearing-simone-biles-aly-raisman-wray

"The purpose of National Camping School (NCS) is to provide adults with a learning experience and training related to the operation of council camp. The key staff members will, in turn, train and supervise other staff personnel in your council camping program. Training is offered for staff members who will serve as Short-Term Camp Administrators, Day Camp Administrators, Long-term (Resident) Camp Directors, Long-term (Resident) Program Directors, Aquatics Directors, Climbing Directors, Project COPE Directors, COPE and Climbing Program Trainers, Ecology Directors, Outdoor Skills Directors, Trek Directors, and Shooting Sports Directors. " https://www.scouting.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/NCS-2022-dates-9-16-21.pdf https://www.scouting.org/outdoor-programs/national-camping-school/

Scouts: - fewer resources and opportunities, e.g., Chemistry MB might only be available every other year at another Council. Parents: - more turned off by registration pressure and time demands Scouters: - a new rare breed Units: - scouting as usual but with higher fees to above and covid issues. - more drop popcorn - some experience confusion and stress over Family Scouting. CO's: - save on utility bills as they close their doors and turn off their lights to scout units. Communities: - more community service projects. I think scout units will increase visibility. Councils: - panic mode - focus on asset management, merging, fund-raising, acting as CO's - Executive Board will recruit lawyers, finance experts, and realtors. - offloading to volunteers ( recruiting, program, training, all activity planning and execution) National: - focus on bankruptcy, legal issues, and public relations and not program or training (except YP) - offloading to volunteers - the next CEO/President/Chief Scout will be a lawyer, the second coming of James West. My $0.01

Washington state: The Inland Northwest Council’s $164,963 contribution is one of the lowest of the 250 local councils in the nation. Many contributed $2 million, and some up to $10 million. The Chief Seattle council in the Puget Sound, for example, agreed to pay $7.5 million as part of the complex settlement scheduled to be approved by creditors and the bankruptcy court sometime in October.+ ... “Our contribution to the settlement will not result in the divestiture of any of our camps or other properties being used as part of the program, and the future is bright for our council and the program,” said Steve Anderson, incoming president who is currently vice president of the council. ... Anderson is also vice president of legal affairs and risk management for the council. He has been the council’s representative during the settlement negotiations. The amounts for each council were based on assets and number of valid claims. Anderson said he could not release the number of claims they had but they were low compared to the other regions of the country. ... The council’s assets have been legally protected for years from liability claims. They are held in endowments and leases that the council doesn’t directly control. More details, an interesting read. https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/sep/16/inland-boy-scouts-council-contributes-to-national-/

I thought yours was a Sea Scout unit. Is a USCG Auxiliary unit a possibility as a CO?

Let's stay on the legal topic, some excellent information and commentary here. The rest can go in a new topic or Thanks, RS @MattR @elitts @Eagle1993 @gpurlee @T2Eagle

I fully agree with Scout Canada's vaccination decision for Canada. Canadians if not agreeable to restrictions and mandates are somewhat acclimated to months of work restrictions, travel restrictions, curfews, lockdowns at a level not approached here. It could work there, even the part where scout parents must be vaccinated. In the USA? We cannot agree to require vaccination of school children. Other than echoing government policy, what more can the BSA do? Some thoughts I think the BSA could implement a Scout Canada's policy at all their camps. If not, could 100% (confirmed) vaccinated units receive camp reservation preference? With the continuing world pandemic, Public Health merit badge will be required for Eagle.... Does President Biden's statement requiring private companies with 100+ workers to vaccinate or test weekly apply to BSA? I would think so. As I understand, the legality is connected with OSHA requirements. My $0.01,

Jersey Shore Council sells service center and Hugh C. Clayton Scout Shop building site (4 acres) to town Toms Rivers for $1M https://brick.shorebeat.com/2021/09/boy-scouts-jersey-shore-council-to-sell-4-acres-of-property-to-toms-river-for-1m/ Update 9/29/2021: Town approves purchase “I’d hate to see hundreds of additional houses if the Boy Scouts decided to sell this to a private developer,” Councilman Dan Rodrick said. https://tomsriver.shorebeat.com/2021/09/toms-river-approves-1m-purchase-of-boy-scout-property/

As I recall, the Judge commented on the size of the 72 member National Executive Board. IMHO the National Executive Council (15 member?) and National Executive Board (72 member) should be merged into 16-24 (new) member Board with clear responsibilities and powers defined in new bylaws, e.g., as USA Gymnastics has done. IMHO, National's goal going into bankruptcy was to maintain control during and after and they have - kept their executives and their camps (HA). So have as many review committees and independent experts as you want and National will see you back in court.

I hope Judge Silverstein is also reviewing USA Gymnastics settlement and reorganization. IMHO I see little real organizational change in the BSA. New boss is the old boss.

Scouting Magazine 2006 article (~ 400 consecutive months) The success of Troop 709's outdoor program is due to good planning, much of it done by the boys. And the Scouts are not averse to altering their schedule at the last minute, as they did last winter when the troop learned about an opportunity for rock climbing and cancelled the planned camp-out in favor of the new activity.... "The patrol leaders' council comes up with program ideas for the year," says former Scoutmaster Paul Newton. "They then go to their patrol members to find out what they want to do. The adults add direction to the program, [but] we try not to tell boys what to do." Each monthly event is assigned to one of the troop's 24 assistant Scoutmasters; that person has overall responsibility for the activity weekend. During the outing, even the Scoutmaster reports to the designated Scouter in charge. https://scoutingmagazine.org/issues/0610/a-wego.html

Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021 "10:30 a.m. - U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein will hold a telephonic oral argument on the Boy Scouts of America's attempt to end a trademark case brought by the Girl Scouts of the United States of America. The Girl Scouts alleged in Manhattan federal court that the Boy Scouts' rebranding as "Scouts BSA" following its decision to allow girls infringes its trademarks. The Boy Scouts moved for summary judgment last year, arguing among other things that it hasn't caused and won't cause consumer confusion, and accusing the Girl Scouts of bringing the lawsuit as part of a "ground war" over its decision to include girls. The case is Girl Scouts of the United States of America v. Boy Scouts of America, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, No. 1:18-cv-10287. For the Girl Scouts: Bruce Ewing of Dorsey & Whitney. For the Boy Scouts: Rachel Kassabian of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan." https://www.reuters.com/legal/transactional/week-ahead-intellectual-property-sept-13-2021-2021-09-10/

How has the Boy Scouts allowing girls into their organization affected the Girl Scouts, if at all? It hasn’t significantly affected us. Girls enjoy being in a girl-only organization. Our model is centered on being girl-led, learning-by-doing and cooperative learning, which resonates strongly with today’s girls. Girl Scouts remains focused on building courage, confidence and character. Marie Gieringer, CFO of Girl Scouts-Diamonds of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas https://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/137157/girl-scout-cfo-marie-gieringer-opens-doors-to-opportunities

Okay. I repeated your steps. In Snip and Sketch, I did ctrl-A, ctrl-C. Then in the body of the post I was trying to make, I did ctrl-V. (the Upload file gauge uploaded without error.

What is the file extension? jpg?

Oops, must have been counting with my toes after a hike.

Deer Lake Scout Reservation (CT), a 255 acre wooded camp with a mile-long spring-fed lake and trails which link to Chatfield Hollow and Cockaponset State Forests is up for sale. The private Save Deer Lake Facebook group was created just two days after an announcement was made informally last week that Connecticut Yankee Council Boy Scouts of America wanted to sell the camp., according to Ted Langevin, a scout leader, chairman of Pack 491 in Madison and member of the Quinnipiac district committee... The parcel was appraised between $3.7 million to $4.2 million. Some $2.6 million will go to the Boy Scouts of America, Langevin said, to help pay the local council’s assessed share of the $850 million sex abuse settlement signed off on by a judge in August to pay the tens of thousands of abuse victims, according to claimsjournal.com. https://www.ctinsider.com/shoreline/article/Boy-Scouts-sex-abuse-settlement-prompts-sale-of-16448346.php

The judge has approved stay removals on a case by case basis. IMHO, the judge should stand firm on the October deadline unless ...hmmm ...say a plan goes out for vote before Oct 28. If voted down then.... More of the same is self-perpetuating. My $0.02,