RememberSchiff

With a good program, a scout builds self-esteem in a low pressure environment. Safety is everyone's job, opportunities are us, and failures are allowed to achieve goals . Not everyone can be a 4.0 student (show me a 4.0 student who explored a course where less than an A was very likely) or quarterback or even on the team, not so in scouting. Not about being perfect, about being happier with your better self. My $0.02,

Here's the cake version for those lacking time to read Troop 709's story... Peter, who came from the farthest away (Charlotte, N.C.) cut the cake at perfect time… 7:09 p.m.

Let's calm down and forego the insults and ad hominem attacks. We can exchange information, experiences, opinions, and ideas in a scoutlike way. Thanks, RS

As an old fart, I have a rule regarding volunteering for committees - if the committee does not have a funded budget and I do not have a vote on its spending, I do not serve on that committee. I find it saves my time. @CynicalScouter Agree. If only the BSA did not allow any secret organizations as part ot its program and its organization. Another $0.02,

My hope in BSA restructuring is that the NEC (12 member) and NEB (72 members) will be replaced with a single real Executive Board (I like REB for an abbreviation, ) of 16-24 new members who will oversee BSA Corporate Officers and Directors. Anyone have a current list of the Corporate Officers and Directors? My $0.02,

...seems confusing to me. The National Executive Committee (NEC) is composed of salaried employee(s) of the BSA and volunteers. https://casedocs.omniagentsolutions.com/cmsvol2/pub_47373/7fa16e42-d9c3-4214-84ce-569e998048f9_5763.pdf Declaration of Devang Desai … ...I am a volunteer member of the National Executive Board (the “NEB”) and the National Executive Committee (the “NEC”) of Boy Scouts of America (the “BSA”). I have served as a member of the NEB and the NEC since May 2018 and May 2020, respectively. (in my experience, serving on both an Executive Committee and its overseeing Executive Board would not be permitted.) ... NEC. Pursuant to the BSA’s bylaws, subject to certain specified exceptions, the NEC, a twelve-member delegation of the NEB, has the duty and authority to manage the affairs of the BSA. The NEC is comprised of the National Chair, National Chair-elect, National Commissioner, Immediate Past National Chair, Standing Committee Chairs, Chief Executive Officer, and two members-at-large recommended by the National Chair or National Chair-elect. Pursuant to the BSA bylaws, as of May 2020, no member of the NEC was permitted to simultaneously serve as a member of any local council executive board. I (Devang Desai) am a member of the NEC. A current list of the members of the NEC is attached as Exhibit E. 10. The NEC includes, among others, the National “Key 3,” who are responsible for guiding the BSA organization as a whole: the National Chair (Daniel G. Ownby), National Commissioner (Scott Sorrels), and Chief Executive Officer and President (Roger Mosby). The National Chair and National Commissioner are volunteer positions. Exhibit E (page 24 of case pdf) BSA National Executive Committee Members 1.Dan Ownby (also on NEB) 2. Scott Sorrels (also on NEB) 3. Roger Mosby (employee, also on NEB) 4. Jim Turley (also on NEB) 5. Michael Sears (also on NEB) 6. Nathan Rosenberg (also on NEB) 7. Skip Oppenheimer (also on NEB) 8. Devang Desai (also on NEB) 9. Alison Schuler (also on NEB) 10. Thear Suzuki (also on NEB) 11. Jack Furst (also on NEB) 12. Brad Tilden (also on NEB) The 72-member Executive Board (NEB) is listed in Appendix B of https://casedocs.omniagentsolutions.com/cmsvol2/pub_47373/7fa16e42-d9c3-4214-84ce-569e998048f9_5763.pdf From wiki https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Executive_Board_of_the_Boy_Scouts_of_America#Executive_committee

Visit a National Park for free! Adventure, outdoor education, and volunteer opportunities. https://www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/public-lands-day.htm

This differs from other organizations which I have experienced where the Board specifies their president/CEO (SE) job requirements and expectations, interviews candidates and hires, and evaluates performance. The executive officers (executive committee) may recommend or be considered candidates, but do not hire or evaluate their boss, the president/CEO (SE).

For 2019, Li Li Leung's salary was reported as $376,724 with $11,125 as other compensation. https://usagym.org/PDFs/Forms/Special forms/IRS990-2019.pdf

Feb, 2019 ...Li Li Leung has been appointed president and chief executive officer following an extensive search conducted by the Board of Directors, which included surveying a wide range of members in the gymnastics community on the best qualifications and attributes for a candidate to be successful. “Li Li’s unique combination of business skills, management experience and passion for gymnastics make her perfectly suited to lead our organization at this important time in our history,” said Kathryn Carson, USA Gymnastics Board chair. “She brings strong leadership, organizational and communication skills from her over two-decade professional career in sports business and management. She also has deep roots in gymnastics, having competed at a high level before moving to collegiate gymnastics. We are thrilled to have Li Li as our next president and CEO, and the Board looks forward to supporting Li Li as she delivers her vision to transform and strengthen our organization and culture.” Leung most recently served as a vice president at the National Basketball Association (NBA), where ... more at https://www.usagym.org/pages/post.html?PostID=23308

US Gymnastics President and CEO Position Specification https://www.usagym.org/PDFs/About USA Gymnastics/ceospecs.pdf (5 pages)

From Rachel Denhollander's full victim impact statement to Judge Aquiliana. ...Look around the courtroom, remember what you have witnessed these past seven days. This is what it looks like when someone chooses to put their selfish desires above the safety and love for those around them and let it be a warning to us all and moving forward as a society, This is what it looks like when the adults in authority do not respond properly to disclosures of sexual assault. This is what it looks like when institutions create a culture where a predator can flourish unafraid and unabated and this is what it looks like when people in authority refuse to listen, put friendships in front of the truth, fail to create or enforce proper policy and fail to hold enablers accountable. ... Other comments in a recent Michigan Public Radio interview from Rachel Denhollander, an attorney and former gymnast. https://www.npr.org/2021/08/09/1026114066/gymnastics-larry-nassar-survivor-rachael-denhollander On whether Nassar's conviction meant the end of widespread abuse in U.S. gymnastics: "Oh, absolutely not. You know, actually, yesterday was five years to the day from the first Indy Star article coming out about the corruption in [USA Gymnastics], and it had nothing to do with Larry. Because what's been going on in [USA Gymnastics] is an entire system of abuse, a system of covering up sexual abuse, not just by Larry, but by its member coaches, a system of covering up physical abuse and abusive framework that allowed our athletes to be systematically and routinely starved and isolated from their parents. Larry was not the problem. Larry was a symptom of the problem." On whether there are still sexual abusers within the gymnastics industry who haven't been brought to justice yet: "I know for a fact that there are, because I know the victims. Added to that, we've been in bankruptcy proceedings with [USA Gymnastics] for the last three years. Two years ago, we had a hearing where I had the opportunity to ask the chief financial officer of [USA Gymnastics] some specific questions. And I asked him, has anybody taken those 50 files that the Indy Star reported on? Has anybody taken those files and looked to see if any of those coaches are still coaching? Not only had they not done that, they didn't even know what I meant."

From the 118 page USA Gymnastics Board of Directors Handbook which by the way, not only lists members names but provides their bios and photos. USA Gymnastics is a mission-driven organization that exists to build a community and culture of health, safety, and excellence, where athletes can thrive in sport and in life. We put what is best for our community at the heart of everything we do and every decision we make. With all of our actions, we are guided by a collective and unwavering commitment to ethical conduct and our core values of: SAFETY – We promote a safe and inclusive environment for our athletes and our community. ACCOUNTABILITY – We hold ourselves responsible and accountable for all of our actions. INTEGRITY – We act with absolute integrity through values-based actions. TRANSPARENCY – We operate and communicate with transparency. LISTENING – We treat our community with the utmost respect, and listen to their challenges and perspectives. These principles guide our engagement with our community, and our engagement within our broader USA Gymnastics team. Together, grounded in our values, we know we can thoughtfully approach rebuilding our organization, while setting and leading a sustainable strategic vision for the future. Their Board Minutes are posted online.

Supposedly the BSA Executive Board will downsize to 40. IMHO, 40 is still too large. Compare to 4-H and Y. Again IMHO, no members of the Executive Committee should chair, serve, or vote on the Board. Simplify. https://www.scouting.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Charter_Bylaws_Sept20.pdf The Executive Board of the Corporation shall consist of: Regular Members Clause 1. Not to exceed 64 regular members who shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Corporation for 1-year terms. The number of board members comprising the Executive Committee shall not be included in the regular member total. Effective the later of May 2021, or the first National Annual Meeting following the Corporation’s emergence from Chapter 11, the Executive Board shall be comprised of not more than 40 regular members, including members of the Executive Committee, who shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Corporation for 1- year terms. Ex officio members shall not be included in the regular member total.

Thanks! I like the size and composition of their restructured Board 2. USAG’s Non-Monetary Commitments And Reforms. (page 22 of 100 in pdf above) Before the Petition Date, the Debtor implemented a streamlined Board structure, reducing the number of directors from 21 to 15 and requiring a majority of the Board to be independent directors. In November 2020, the Debtor adopted Amended and Restated Bylaws, which further changed the Board structure. The Board continues to have 15 members, now comprised of 8 independent directors, 5 athlete representatives, 1 national membership director, and 1 affiliated organizations Director. At least 1 of USAG’s directors will be a survivor. At least 1 member of USAG’s Safe Sport Committee and at least 1 member of USAG’s Athlete Health and Wellness Council will be a survivor. The Survivors’ Committee is working on a proposed process to nominate and/or select the survivors to fill these positions. Any complaints about individuals holding positions on the USAG board or standing committee member over whom the USAG board has oversight or removal capabilities will be addressed by the USAG board at the next board meeting following the complaint, or within 30 days, whichever is earlier. The Debtor hired a new President and CEO, who has met nearly one thousand stakeholders, including survivors, to hear their perspectives on how to improve athlete safety and the organization overall. The Debtor updated its bylaws and policies to strengthen Safe Sport provisions and complaint processing. These updates include: creating a permanent Safe Sport Committee; increasing the number of independent directors to eight; removing the President from a role in the processing of complaints; easing complaint filing requirements; delineating responsibilities of the Board and president more clearly; and providing for the publication of the names of members who have been suspended or placed on the permanently ineligible list as part of the disciplinary process. ...

...maybe if the BSA had equivalent insurers and coverage. A quick search result https://usagym.org/pages/membership/pages/insurance_update.html Personally, I am more interested in a comparison of the non-monetary provisions between USA Gymnastics and BSA plans.

May, 2018 Michigan State University agrees to pay $500 million to more than 300 women and girls who said they were sexually abused by Larry Nassar who worked there. Dec, 2018 - USA Gymnastics files for Chapter 11. BSA hires Sidley Austin LLP for assistance with possible chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. Feb, 2020 - Plan 1 by USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee , a $215M settlement was rejected as too low. BSA files for Chapter 11. https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2020-03-02/simone-biles-aly-raisman-decry-settlement-in-larry-nassar-scandal Sept 1, 2021 - Plan 2, a $425M settlement, submitted jointly to U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana by U.S.A. Gymnastics and a court appointed Survivors Committee. For approval, "the bankruptcy court would also have to certify the plan, and the individual victims and other creditors will vote on it. A majority of the claimants would have to accept the plan, and that majority must account for at least two-thirds of the monetary settlement.", and insurers would have to agree to fund settlement. "Votes must be in by November 8, with any written objections to the proposal due by Nov. 19. A confirmation hearing is scheduled for Dec. 8-9." “I will say that the survivors deserve help with their medical care, and therapy is not cheap, so I do think they deserve compensation,” she said. “But it would also be in the best interest of everyone to see actual change and reform to take place in the organization. That’s what we were hoping for. Change was our goal.” “The non-monetary provisions of this plan are absolutely key,” Rachel Denhollander said. “It is reform and change for the next generation. If U.S.A.G. does indeed work with survivors to see these provisions through, it would be groundbreaking.” Note: approximately 500 victims https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/01/sports/olympics/usa-gymnastics-payout-sexual-abuse.html https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/usa-gymnastics-eyes-425-million-settlement-survivors-79756955

Re-imagining a new or restoring the old scouting are recurring themes on this forum. One member @Kuducreated a website http://inquiry.net/ There you will find online scout handbooks in the Traditional Scouting section. All public. My $0.02,

To repeat @MikeS72 post and https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/yp-faqs/

From the DEI draft: 9. Think how diversity, equity, inclusion, and being an upstander (ugh) relate to the Scout Oath and Law. Then do the following: ... b. For EACH of the following scenarios, tell your counselor what you can do to be an upstander (ugh) and not a bystander. Scenario I: In the school cafeteria, a friend accidentally knocks over a bowl of food. The student next to her gets angry and yells a slur offensive to people with disabilities. Another friend at the table has a sibling with a disability, but everyone else just laughs and goes on with their meal. Scenario I (revised): A nineteen year old visits a friend's house, where the friend shows him a newly acquired handgun . The friend accidentally discharges the firearm which he had "made safe". The bullet enters the 19 year old's neck. Instead of calling 911, the friend drives him to the ER and "blames the shooting on a masked intruder". The bullet severs the spinal cord; a young man is paralyzed from the neck down. Now forever wheelchair bound, the formerly outgoing young man faces isolation. One answer of what you can do : https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2021/08/29/woburn-boy-scouts-build-ramp-for-former-member/ I believe they call themselves scouts.

And for me.

Perhaps show the diversity in the US Olympics Shooting Team, Paralympics Team, Adaptive Shooting Program. Matt Stutzman

Ok seemingly not much concern until now, perhaps because insurance fraud is commonplace. From the FBI: The insurance industry consists of more than 7,000 companies that collect over $1 trillion in premiums each year. The massive size of the industry contributes significantly to the cost of insurance fraud by providing more opportunities and bigger incentives for committing illegal activities. The total cost of insurance fraud (non-health insurance) is estimated to be more than $40 billion per year. (4.0% fraudulent) Of the $80 billion in government funding appropriated for (Katrina) reconstruction, it is estimated that Insurance Fraud may have accounted for as much as $6 billion. (7.5% fraudulent) https://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/insurance-fraud I like @Eagle1993 suggestion of vetting a random sample and if fraud is less than x%, move on. Insurers can still go after fraudulent claims after they are paid. My $0.02,

This forum has discussed vetting claims at least twice - last summer as a unexpected higher number of claims were filed and again as the bar date was repeatedly moved forward to insure claimants had time to submit their claims following a BSA-paid advertising campaign to remind them. The finalized bar date was Nov 16, 2020. Some questions, since that deadline nine months ago: 1. Has a court-approved vetting procedure been established? (IMHO, the court and all sides should have done this BEFORE claims were taken!) 2. If so, what percentage of the 80+ thousand claims have been vetted and declared legit so far?

Perhaps scouter Chris Vogel should review content and requirements for this proposed merit badge. If not, then perhaps his experience at Camp Squanto and after will be a case study that MBC will use? During the summer 2018, Mr. Vogel, an Eagle Scout, was the only black adult staff member or volunteer at Camp Squanto, a scout camp south of Boston. After alleged events at that camp which included an "Evil Monkey" award, Mr. Vogel filed a discrimination complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination but it was dismissed since he was a volunteer and not an employee. He has now filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against Mayflower Council. Links are unfortunately behind paywalls: https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2019/03/07/boyscouts/wqFyQUPoS8SKIucGr7dfPM/story.html https://www.patriotledger.com/story/news/2021/08/27/boy-scout-volunteer-sues-organization-alleging-racial-discrimination-camp/5598459001/