RememberSchiff

The Los Angeles County Fire Department's Lifeguard Division said the scout and his father were kayaking when their boat was bumped by what's believed to be a shark. The scout reached into the water and was bitten on the hand, the department said. https://abcnews.go.com/US/kayaker-bitten-shark-catalina-island/story?id=78587211 "Our thoughts are with this young man and his family, and we will continue to support them in any way we can," the Boy Scouts said. So say we all.

There is ongoing litigation between GSUSA and two of its 111 local chapters, Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee (GSMT) and Girl Scouts Farthest North Council (GSFN) as both refused to implement a nationwide technology platform. While GSMT did not object to utilizing the technology platform, they disagreed with the terms. Apart from the operational fees—with web platform fees starting at $15,000– GSMT stated there were unknown costs that would come from the new operating system. GSMT is responsible for their own governance, finances, operations and expenses, which includes purchasing Girl Scout Cookies at wholesale prices. Since the GSUSA has no responsibility overseeing Middle Tennessee’s operation or property, they should not be asking them to foot the bill, local officials added. “GSMT is unwilling to give GSUSA a perpetual blank check to pass on to GSMT costs that GSUSA decides to incur,” according to the lawsuit. Disputes between the two also extended to membership fees, with GSMT refusing to pay the new membership fee increase from $12 to $25. GSMT cited a 2019 ruling by the Alaska Supreme Court in favor of the state Girl Scout council (GSFN, Farthest North Council) in a lawsuit over annual fees, which stated that the GSUSA national council did not have exclusive authority over fee increases. https://tennesseelookout.com/2021/06/09/lawsuit-between-girl-scouts-of-middle-tennessee-and-national-organization-imperils-cookie-sales/ April 20, 2021, GSUSA filed a lawsuit in New York Southern District Court to terminate the charter of GSFN. The suit, filed by Venable, accuses the Fairbanks-based council, Farthest North Girl Scout Council, of refusing to implement a required technology platform and comply with other charter obligations. Counsel have not yet appeared for the defendant. The case is 1:21-cv-03496, Girl Scouts of the USA v. Farthest North Girl Scout Council. https://www.law.com/radar/card/girl-scouts-of-the-usa-v-farthest-north-girl-scout-council-39898137-0/ https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/39898137/Girl_Scouts_of_the_USA_v_Farthest_North_Girl_Scout_Council

At New England Base Camp in Milton, a summer camp run by the Boy Scouts of America, youth councilors are being trained on how to deal with extreme heat. Camp starts Monday, and as many as 800 kids will dissent [sic ] on Milton to swim, rock climb, canoe, kayak and play sports outside. The youth staff and councilors in training, usually between 14 and 18 years old, have been trained on how to make drinking water fun for kids, how to tell when they've had enough time outside and how to tell signs of dehydration or a more serious problem. "When kids are running around their faces get red, they get sweaty they don't really realize what's going on with their own bodies, so we work to stop them, slow them down and have them check in with themselves," Ricky Savage, the camp's aquatics director, said. The camp's adult staff used this week's heat wave to demonstrate to councilors what they should be on the lookout for. "Something very important for them is to understand how their own bodies operate, when they need to drink themselves and what signs they see — then they can watch for those signs in campers," Nick Kerpan, program director, said. https://www.patriotledger.com/story/news/2021/06/29/june-nears-record-breaking-heat-experts-worry-human-pet-health-south-shore/7796233002/

And now for something completely different https://www.today.com/news/2-boy-scouts-rescue-drowning-woman-missouri-floodwaters-t224158

Some thoughts and questions As we are seeing here, multiple council properties will be cast into the real estate market to meet the council's non-disclosed bankruptcy levy. The prime properties will likely go first to developers. Local towns like Stony Point and camp alumni will be SOL. Will more council properties (all three camps in this case) be sold over the levy amount but used for other purposes than the bankruptcy. i.e., mergers, endowments, rainy-day funds? We will not know. "We, the Council Key 4 were required to sign an NDA (non-disclosure agreement) regarding the bankruptcy..." Key 4? I wonder if their Executive Council increased 33%? Could eminent domain come into the picture, say the local town wanted water rights? My $0.01,

June 24, 2021: Greater Hudson Valley Council GHV Statement on National Bankruptcy Greater Hudson Valley Scouting Community: We would like to take a moment to update you on the National Bankruptcy and how it will affect our Council. We, the Council Key 4 were required to sign an NDA (non-disclosure agreement) regarding the bankruptcy, so there are some details (numbers) that we cannot share at this point. However, we can say that our Council has been assigned to pay a non-negotiable multi-million-dollar payment. The Council Board, which is made up of volunteers representing communities and districts from around the Council is discussing ways to satisfy this amount. As the Council faces a multi-million-dollar payment, please understand that as a non-profit organization most of our worth is in our assets, which is our property. It is difficult to foresee a way of making this payment without selling a property. The Council Board will look at every option and will vote on the solution that will pay our debt and point us all toward the brightest outcome. The decision to sell a camp is heart wrenching. To an outsider it is just acres of dirt, but to us it is so much more. Each of our camps hold generations of memories molded by time, sweat, laughter, gifts, and a passion for Scouting that will never end. We each have a camp in our heart that has been life changing and priceless. These are the reasons why selling a camping property is so difficult. We understand your commitment and passion because Scouting is a part of our families as well. However, it is the Board’s commitment to you, to ensure that Scouting survives in the Hudson Valley for todays and tomorrow’s Scouts. Scouting is a movement fueled by passion and a desire to serve the community. Together, we will grow Scouting in the Hudson Valley after the National Bankruptcy is behind us. We will update you, our Scouting community, with details as soon as we are able. Thank you for your understanding and patience. Yours in Scouting, Paxton Louis, Council Board Chair Gregg Dick, Council Commissioner Ben Mills, Executive Vice Board Chair Richard Stockton, Scout Executive Related news story link Below is a statement from the Greater Hudson Valley Council, Boy Scouts of America: Regarding the Need for Camp Property Sales: To ensure we are best positioned to continue serving local youth, families and communities for years to come, the Boy Scouts of America Greater Hudson Valley Council has made the difficult decision to list some camp properties for sale. While this has the potential to impact operations at one or more properties including Camp Bullowa, Durland Scout Reservation and Camp Nooteeming, we have not yet finalized any sales and will continue operations as planned in these locations for the summer 2021 season. We hope to retain at least one of these properties depending on the market value needed to fund our council’s contribution to the survivor’s compensation Trust as part of the national organization’s bankruptcy process. Additionally, our Curtis S. Read Scout Reservation property is not for sale and will continue to serve local youth this summer and beyond. The national organization of the BSA and all local councils are working together to achieve two key imperatives: equitably compensate survivors of past abuse in Scouting and ensure that Scouting continues in our communities and across the country for generations to come. This was a difficult decision, and we understand the concerns that this may raise with our local Scouting families, but this a necessary step as we work toward these shared imperatives. While all of the Greater Hudson Valley Council’s camp properties have been valued parts of our operations over the years, we are confident that this decision is the right course of action to ensure the future of Scouting in our communities. As a reminder, our council has not filed for bankruptcy. The Greater Hudson Valley Council remains as dedicated as ever to delivering our nation’s foremost program for character development and values-based leadership training in the Hudson Valley region. The Greater Hudson Valley Council serves about 10,000 young people on an annual basis. We are looking forward to an enriching summer of programming including STEM workshops, merit badge workshops, family nights, and other summer adventures.

Hard to believe these camps need yet another appraisal to be sold. ...In part, a possible purchase is complicated by the fact that there is no price tag. Camp Bullowa is being marketed along with two other Hudson Valley camps, to liquidate assets to pay for the settlements but brokers Cushman & Wakefield have not included an asking price. “If the town purchased the land, a portion would continue to house the scouts and would be used for recreation while the rest would be preserved as open space,” said the (town) supervisor (Jim Monaghan). “But here’s the problem. The municipality can only pay for the land’s appraised value, or a 10 percent increase over that value, and we don’t have an appraisal.” The (town) supervisor said he would initiate an independent appraisal for the land. Council CEO Richard Stockton said the 501C3 is looking for the highest bidder. “The Town of Stony Point can make a bid like any other buyer, but the Attorney General’s office will not let us sell for anything less than the appraised value,” Stockton said. Nonprofit organizations must seek approval from the New York State Attorney General’s Office or the court when it sells an asset to prove the sale is fair market value. Stockton, clearly upset over the prospect of losing one or more of these three camps, also said the Council is going to seek to get as much as it can on one or more of the assets to satisfy its legal obligations. “We hope to retain at least one of these properties depending on the market value needed to fund our council’s contribution to the survivor’s compensation Trust as part of the national organization’s bankruptcy process,” he said. Stockton would not say how much the Council needs to raise but he did explain that if it could salvage one or even two of the camps by selling a third at a high enough price, his organization would do so because the organization wants to preserve any camp that can be saved... More at source: https://rcbizjournal.com/2021/06/23/stony-point-supervisor-explores-options-to-purchase-camp-bullowa/

Update June 18, 2021. The lawsuit filed by the Maine state AG’s office earlier this year : 1. alleges the council’s efforts to sell the camp to raise funds to help get out of debt violate the terms of the deed to the Great Pond property in place since the spot was donated by Dr. George Averill in the 1940s as a place where Scouts could camp. 2. seeks to prevent the council from using proceeds from the proposed sale of Camp Bomazeen to pay the council’s operating expenses, creditors or debt. The suit also declares that any proceeds from that potential sale be held in trust “for the purposes of directly supporting camping activities for Boy Scouts in the Pine Tree Council Region, with a preference for Boy Scouts from central Maine.” More at source link: https://www.centralmaine.com/2021/06/18/attorney-general-camp-bomazeen-supporters-sue-pine-tree-council-of-boy-scouts/

Descriptions of Camp Bullowa, Durland Scout Reservation, and Camp Nooteeming. https://patch.com/new-york/newcity/3-hudson-valley-boy-scout-campgrounds-put-market

No word from our LC high-ups, not even at camp. Perhaps after the decision deadline and summer camp? The prospect of losing a local camp which serves more of our local council scouts in a year than all 4 HA combined do in 5 or more years is hard to accept. My $0.02,

On behalf of the moderators of scouter.com, welcome.

On behalf of the moderators of scouter.com, welcome.

While in Maine, I have been using https://www.mainetrailfinder.com It is free, as in free - no registration, no fees, simple-get-you-started, accurate directions/parking and fees (if any). Map quality is limited, i,e, topography, so you will likely need another map source. Current weather is linked but not necessarily trail conditions. It has a "earn a badge section" for those so motivated. Below is the Virtuous Volunteer patch, alas poor Pacman, ...a fellow of infinite jest... Other sites that I have used New England Trail (NET, mostly CT and MA) information. Note MA has 3 major North-South trails: Appalachian Trail (AT), New England Trail (NET), and Mid-State Trail (some sections too urban). https://newenglandtrail.org https://newenglandtrailconditions.com Plenty more resources out there, please post yours. How many trail miles will Scouts maintain and hike this summer? My $0.02,

Back June 11, 2008 - we lost scouts Josh, Sam, Ben, and Aaron. 48 others were injured as an EF-3 tornado hit the Little Sioux Boy Scout Camp Remembrance story with photos. https://www.kpvi.com/news/national_news/back-in-the-day-june-11-2008-4-killed-48-injured-as-tornado-hits-little/article_5c26943e-f9f5-56f6-ae54-4aa1610d1099.html#4

I dunno. Some see insolence towards the court, I see some smuck trying to sell his old broken fridge to a client. My $0.02,

Dallas,TX: Above his environmental journey started in 2019, now 2000 work hours and 4 conservation projects later, after installing the trash cans, organizing a battery drive, tracking and releasing quail at Lake Lewisville, and "installing beehives and introducing native plants to the former concrete dumping site that’s now Bonton Farms" all that remains is the paperwork. “I (Scout Baxter Perry-Miller) never saw this award and said, ‘I’m getting the award for the award,’” Perry-Miller said. “I worked on this award so that I could help the world and make an impact. I love being able to leave a place better than I found it.” He’s said selflessness is addicting because once you make an investment in the outdoors, it’s bound to grow on you. https://www.wfaa.com/article/features/dallas-teen-set-to-earn-boy-scouts-rarest-award/287-139f54fa-6d14-4b9e-9e81-d2ec119b8a57

Virginia: Three generations of Koehr family men earn 22 Eagle Scout honors https://www.fauquier.com/lifestyles/three-generations-of-koehr-family-men-earn-22-eagle-scout-honors/article_86c7e9a0-c86c-11eb-b3ef-e3180905ae18.html related topic

Recent sightings of new OA Camping Guides are rare. Today, I found this one 2021 Where to Go Camping Guide from the Catawba Lodge (NC). https://sites.google.com/a/catawba459.org/catawbalodge/information/where-to-go-camping-guide

For those* who like org charts and job descriptions: https://www.scouting.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Full-Position-Descriptions.pdf * and before you click, please guess how many times the word "strengthen" is used in this 21 page document.

Good Lord, Territory 2 stretches from the Mexican border to the Canadian border.

This?

No systemic changes just cosmetic changes?

IMHO, sharper, enthused, younger people heading an outdoor youth organization would haven take their 4G/5G laptop/phone outdoors for their report. Their audio and video likely would have been in sync too. As to content, well it resembled a performance review prefaced by a BTW we cannot be fired. My $0.02 and a Scout Salute to Scouting Ireland,

Same here, well except the other half sounds like the bad advice I gave them.

Maybe for BSA version 2.0 forget the PR firm and seek leadership help, i.e., a new leadership team and Executive Board from an experienced, successful youth organization as William Boyce did in 1910. During the years 1908 and 1909, Scout troops were starting almost spontaneously in locations across the United States, before the BSA existed, but following the publication of Scouting for Boys by Sir Robert Baden-Powell. A handful of YMCA centers were hosting troops, so Edgar Robinson, a Chicago-area YMCA administrator, had an interest in helping the BSA get off the ground so that his organization and others would have American-based resources for troop leaders. In April 1910, Edgar Robinson persuaded William D. Boyce to appoint him managing director of the BSA for a limited time period, during which time Robinson secured a number of leading citizens to join together to form the Executive Board of the BSA. He then relinquished his role in BSA affairs, with the executive role eventually going to the newly recruited James E. West.[3] Robinson was recognized for his work in establishing the BSA with the Silver Buffalo Award in 1926. Robinson remained "the preeminent figure in YMCA boys' work until his retirement in 1927."[4] In 2000 he was inducted into the YMCA Hall of Fame at Springfield College.[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_M._Robinson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YMCA