RememberSchiff

New Hampshire Daniel Webster Council will not open summer camps for 2020 season. Notably this would include popular Griswold Scout Reservation (Hidden Valley Scout Camp and Camp Bell) and Camp Carpenter (Cub Scout resident camp). https://www.unionleader.com/news/nh-boy-scout-camps-will-not-open-this-summer/article_f65731ed-7e14-540e-966f-f39d14494d0b.html No update yet regarding Camp Wanocksett which is also in NH but run by The Heart of New England Council in Massachusetts.

Well for one, those systems can tell you the number of current members.

From that video, Dan Ownby, the new Chair?, stated that last July 2019, the National Executive Committee commissioned executive teams (10 members each) to deliberate on one of "six key areas" to "secure the future" that effort was called "Project Churchill" addressed. Time 50:00 "the six key areas" 1. How do we keep young people safe? 2. Are the BSA programs aligned with today's youth people? 3. Is the National Council effectively identifying and communicating with their stakeholders? 4. Do we have the most effective organizational structure? 5. Are there changes that will make the National Council more effective? 6. How do we build a solid financial path for the future? Each executive committee was to fact-find and deliver recommendations by June, 2020. "We did not do this in a bubble." Interviewed the Key 3 of 50 councils, all Regions, and half of the Areas,as well as members of the National Cabinet and half of the Executive Board members , also another online survey was done of 1000 or more volunteers and professionals... "and you know what we all have very similar thoughts on change. Some approach it differently, but we are more aligned than opposed." The Executive Committee is all aligned with the set of changes. Time 56:00 The Changes: (previously revealed on forum)

IMHO, if Judge Silverstein disqualifies Sidley Austin*, the corporate law firm which the BSA retained in Dec, 2018 to "explore" bankruptcy, there would be a pause in the bankruptcy case - time for a smaller, specialized outside corporate leadership team to come in and see us thru bankruptcy which would include recommending their replacements once the bankruptcy settled. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2020/05/06/boy-scouts-bankruptcy-lawsuits-hit-local-councils/5175146002/ ...the case hit another potential snag. In federal court in Delaware, Judge Laurie Silverstein held a hearing to review Century Indemnity Company’s objection to work being done on the case by Sidley Austin, a corporate law firm retained by Boy Scouts. The insurance company argued that it is a conflict of interest since it previously worked with Sidley Austin in a dispute over insurance payouts involving Boy Scout sexual abuse claims. Sidley represented Century in a dispute with Lloyd’s of London over reinsurance Century purchased from Lloyd’s to help cover major claims events. Lloyd’s refused to reimburse Century for settlements in Boy Scout sexual abuse cases, leading to a lengthy legal dispute. In recent years, the Boy Scouts have battled with insurance carriers who refused to pay out claims, saying the Scouts failed to take effective measures to prevent continued abuse. In 2018, Boy Scouts sued six of its carriers including Century. Experts include insurers’ refusal to pay out claims as one of the driving factors leading Boy Scouts to file for bankruptcy.

Hopefully NEW people!

So, we walk away from our Congressional Charter?

Many here who never saw or participated in these "surveys" are eager to know more about them - who conducted, how many participated , demographics, questions asked, results,...

While scouts will not be placing flags... May 19, 2020 A Scout Salute of Fallen Heroes We are calling on Scouts across the country to build on the tradition of honoring our nation’s fallen heroes this Memorial Day by posting public tributes to our veterans in partnership with the National Cemetery Administration and by participating in the National Moment of Remembrance with a special Scout salute. Follow the five steps at link below to participate in this important effort. https://www.scouting.org/scoutsalute/ From Veterans' Administration: Scouts nationwide to give special attention to those who have not yet received customary funeral honors due to the COVID-19 pandemic IRVING, TX and WASHINGTON (May 19, 2020) - Scouts across the country will build on the tradition of honoring our nation's fallen heroes this Memorial Day by posting public tributes to our veterans in partnership with the National Cemetery Administration, an agency within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. This effort will take place through the Veterans Legacy Memorial – a digital memorial that houses a profile for each of the 3.7 million veterans interred in one of more than 140 national cemeteries. Among those fallen heroes are veterans who have passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic – at a time when customary services and funeral honors cannot safely be performed. The names of those veterans are listed on the Veterans Affairs Roll of Honor webpage, which is updated daily and includes their branch of service and location of burial. "Our Scouts learn the importance of duty to country and of honoring the people who served it through the values outlined in the Scout Oath and Law," said Boy Scouts of America CEO Roger Mosby, a U.S. Navy veteran. "It is our privilege to work with the Department of Veterans Affairs to show our gratitude to fallen service members who otherwise may not receive the attention they deserve during this trying time for our country." Scouts will also participate in the National Moment of Remembrance at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day, during which they will salute the American flag at their home in full Scouting uniform and say the name of a fallen service member as they would if placing a flag at the veteran's grave. At 3:01 p.m., Scouting buglers and horn players nationwide will then perform "Taps," the melody traditionally played at U.S. military funerals. Leading up to Memorial Day, Scouts may also place flags at headstones, as individuals or with members of their family, where regulations allow. "This collaboration between the Boy Scouts of America and the National Cemetery Administration represents a significant effort to honor and express gratitude to our nation's Veterans on this Memorial Day and every day," said Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Randy Reeves. Members of the public are encouraged to participate in this collective tribute for our fallen heroes by leaving a message for at least one veteran by Memorial Day on the Veterans Legacy Memorial webpage and by joining Scouts and the country in the National Moment of Remembrance. About the National Cemetery Administration VA operates 142 national cemeteries and 33 soldiers' lots and monument sites in 41 states and Puerto Rico. Nearly 5 million Americans, including Veterans of every war and conflict, are buried in VA's national cemeteries. For Veterans not buried in a VA national cemetery, VA provides headstones, markers or medallions to commemorate their service. Information on VA burial benefits is available from local VA national cemetery offices, online at www.va.gov/burials-memorials/or by calling VA regional offices toll-free at 800-827-1000. https://www.cem.va.gov/pressreleases/Boy_Scouts_of_America_and_NCA_Join_Together_this_Memorial_Day.asp

Chow Hall at 50% capacity? Why not eat outside? Masked PL's stand in line 6' apart get pre-package meals and take outside to socially-distanced patrol members?

The deadline for child sex abuse victims to file claims has been moved from this month to Nov 16. The BSA obtained an injunction halting lawsuits against the organization's 261 local councils as "related parties." The local councils, which run day-to-day operations for local troops, are not listed as debtors in the bankruptcy and are considered by the Boy Scouts to be legally separate entities. Attorneys for abuse victims have nevertheless made clear that they will try to go after campsites and other properties owned by the local councils to contribute to the fund for victims. The injunction does not prevent litigation going forward against individual alleged abusers. It also does not prevent the filing of complaints against BSA-related parties while the stay is in place. The injunction had been set to expire Monday, but Judge Laurie Selber Silverstein agreed to extend it to June 8, which coincides with a scheduled court hearing. Discussions continue on changes to victim's claims forms, particularly in the amount of detail requested. https://casedocs.omniagentsolutions.com/cmsvol2/pub_47373/819594_667.pdf More details at source links: https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2020/05/19/bankruptcy-claims-date-set-boy-scouts-child-sex-victims/5218894002/ https://www.abc27.com/news/us-world/national/boy-scouts-of-america-abuse-claims-lawsuit-injunction-extended/ https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2020/05/18/us/ap-us-boy-scouts-bankruptcy.html

Medici Art Museum - Norman Rockwell : American Scouting Collection Some art mystery at time 3:10 in video?

NEWTOWN, CT: — Scout started a GoFundMe with a $50,000 goal to purchase gift cards from local restaurants and donate them to Danbury Hospital and Newtown first responders on the front lines fighting the coronavirus. “I knew restaurants would be suffering from this and Danbury Hospital and first responders would need a little more love and attention,” he said. He brought up the idea at one of his virtual Boy Scout meetings, and the rest of Troop 70 jumped on board, spreading the word about the fundraiser. The online campaign has already collected about $20,000 in donations since it started two months ago. The gift cards are purchased in $25 increments from 40 or so restaurants throughout Newtown and Sandy Hook. Many of the recipients use the gift cards to buy meals for the crews during their shifts. “One part of the Scout oath is you should help people at all times and this is the best time to help others,” Quinn said, adding he appreciates how others feel the same and have donated. “It feels good to know we have a good community that’s willing to help people.” Read response of front line heroes and local restaurants at source link: https://www.ctinsider.com/local/newstimes/article/Boy-Scout-s-fundraiser-a-morale-booster-15276162.php

I'm not a fan of family camping in Scouting but it may be a solution for this summer as mentioned in thread Summer Camps and the Coronavirus by new member @ScouterStL Instead, we will open many of our summer camp facilities to individual families to enjoy the great outdoors safely with self-guided family camping and day trip activities. and senior member @fred8033 I'd contribute a lot of our summer camp funds to allow my son and I to camp in our traditional camp spot even if just for one or two nights overnight. Absolutely great idea. Heck, I'd make it a family camp for those in my house. What a great idea. We wouldn't even need to leave the camp site much because it's big enough. Consider a patrol safely (mask, distance) gathering in a park to plan a family scouting campout. QM provides tents for those families who need. APL demonstrates how to setup tent. PL goes over safety guidelines. Meals are planned, etc. Family assumes liability, meals, transportation, and campsite reservation at hopefully an open scout camp. Scout sets up tent, cooks meals, and whatever else the patrol planned for family campout. Anyway you get the idea - the Patrol Method with family camping. My $0.02,

Not just separation but cleaning becomes the larger issue with shooting. IMHO, handgun shooting should be doable, just clean handgun. Rifle shooting with cheek weld on stock, bench rest setup, prone mats...a lot of National and regional matches have been canceled.

Sorry you are having a bad day. My unit and I will continue our work to deliver the Promise, with or without help from up the chain in spite of Chapter 11, GSUSA trademark suit, covid-19, ticks (bumper year), weather, ... Never said they were "evil". If I could get Council to do their part with EBOR and paperwork for our end of year, even answering our email beyond replying with a donation form...something. My $0.02,

The virus and its victims seem to get the bad press. Biogen the "superspreader" of the corona virus in Boston and then elsewhere did not get the bad press I would have expected whereas some of their employees did. Personal responsibility of those who failed to notice or report symptoms?

Scouting will continue with or without National, Councils, or the BSA. While National became an uncommunicative legal and financial burden, local units remained trustworthy and thrifty. While Councils responded to covid by closing offices and camps before the CDC and state health guidelines were released and attempting virtual quick delivery of the advancement and the outdoors, dedicated volunteers waited for those health guidelines and planned smaller, safer summer adventures. Smaller as in patrol or family hiking and camping - perhaps part of our new normal. Virtual did not deliver the program nor will it sustain membership come September for those units which have had no adventurous outdoor program for the past five months. Rapid, easy advancement is no substitute for awesome, challenging adventure. My advice to National, get your backpack together .

...an earlier draft of the one-page document on camps obtained by the AP asked organizers if their program would limit attendance to people who live nearby. If the answer was no, the camp was advised not to reopen. That local attendance limitation was dropped and was not in the version posted Thursday (5/14/2020). https://time.com/5837094/cdc-decision-tool-coronavirus/ https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/05/14/856483424/cdc-issues-decision-tools-to-guide-reopening-of-schools-businesses-transit Today 5/14/2020, the CDC released some of their long-delayed guidance that schools, businesses and other organizations can use as states reopen from coronavirus shutdowns. The CDC also posted six one-page “decision tool” documents that use traffic signs and other graphics to tell organizations what they should consider before reopening. Decision tool for Youth Programs and Camps During the Covid-19 Pandemic*: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/Camps-Decision-Tree.pdf * The purpose of this tool is to assist directors or administrators in making (re)opening decisions regarding youth programs and camps during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important to check with state and local health officials and other partners to determine the most appropriate actions while adjusting to meet the unique needs and circumstances of the local community.

Amend Charter and Bylaws of BSA such that quorums are the same for any group - a majority of serving (not attending) members will constitute a quorum. In these days of email, txting, virtual meeting there is no need to limit number to only those attending in person. And yes, we do this with our own Troop Committee! All voting requires a quorum and any meeting where voting takes place requires a published meeting report describing date, measures votes and attendees present. So for example, page 8 of Charter and Bylaws of BSA Clause 4. Five percent of the members of the National Council present in person shall constitute a quorum for all purposes. Clause 4. Fifty percent or greater of the members of the National Council shall constitute a quorum for all purposes. page 9 of Charter and Bylaws of BSA Clause 5. One-half of the members of the Executive Board, present in person, shall constitute a quorum https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/Charter_and_Bylaws_June_2019.pdf

05/13/20: Roundtable which was broadcast live via Facebook. "Narrangansett Council (RI, southern MA, eastern CT) announced summer camps, including famed Camp Yawgoog*, will be virtual only. https://turnto10.com/news/local/boys-scouts-cancel-summer-camps-plan-to-go-virtual One hopeful note in above announcement: "We will continue to evaluate options for small groups to come to camps later in the summer if we can do so in a safe manner. We are also planning to offer a variety of fall weekend programs at Camp Yawgoog and at Adventure Base Camp if the situation at that time allows it. " Tim McCandless, Scout Executive & CEO *"Yawgoog Scout Reservation, founded in 1916 as “A Scout Adventureland Forever,” is situated on over 1,800 acres of beautiful wilderness in Rockville, Rhode Island. Yawgoog is divided into three separate Camps: Camp Three Point, Camp Medicine Bow, and Camp Sandy Beach."

I wonder if they will tell us, like they told us about mortgaging Philmont and other assets last year. But whether they do or not, being in Chapter 11 will likely require court approval of any "significant structural change" though I suppose they could nominate a CSE to be in compliance with the current Bylaws. That was the year that was. My $0.02,

Schedule: "Personal invitations will be sent via email for any meetings that will be held but are not listed below." https://nam.scouting.org/schedule/

Nearly all summer camps are awaiting the release (May 15?) of CDC and state guidelines. I say nearly as some have already canceled. Boston: I have not heard any news or informed rumors about Spirit of Adventure (Boston area) summer camp. Connecticut update 5/11: day camps only? Beth Bye, the commissioner of the CT state Office of Early Childhood, said Monday that summer camps could open on June 29 with strict public health guidelines in place. The governor’s office later clarified that would not include overnight camps. Camps will be limited of 30 campers per program; campers would be required to have temperature checks before entering; and all camps would need to abide by strict cleaning guidelines, Bye said during a roundtable discussion of the states Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group that focused on education. Larger camps that can demonstrate they have the space for more children can apply for a waiver from her office, Bye said. Parents working on the front lines during the pandemic can receive a subsidy to cover up to three weeks of camp or other child care.

Considering the economic and mental health need, states' re-opening plans (coming May 15?) should include rapid covid-19 field test sites to support summer camp opening? Camp weeks might start on different days to shorten lines. My $0.02,

I hear ya, in my experience, "blood circle" is attention-grabbing with scouts while "safety circle" is more assuring with parents. Know your audience, I guess. Cough circle vs Social circle vs Gather circle vs....? At arms length seems about a foot short of 6ft. , need an air gap the width of a bread box (a unit of measurement from back in the day). My $0.02,