RememberSchiff

Various mediator candidates are now coming forward or being recommended by one or more parties for consideration. All certainly have experience and strengths, but yesterday Kenneth Feinberg threw his hat in the ring. You may recall that he was special master of the Sept 11 Victim Compensation Fund! https://casedocs.omniagentsolutions.com/cmsvol2/pub_47373/823120_773.pdf https://casedocs.omniagentsolutions.com/cmsvol2/pub_47373/823118_772.pdf

June 2, Grand Teton Council (Idaho) Executive Board voted to suspend all resident camps and Cub Scout day camp operations. The three camps that are closed are Krupp Scout Hollow, Island Park Scout Camp and Camp Little Lemhi. However, the camps will be available for individual Scout unit and family use. The council will still be offering a Trail to Eagle merit badge program on a day-camp basis at Krupp Scout Hollow and whitewater high adventure programs at the Howard H. Dougherty Salmon River High Adventure Base. https://www.idahostatejournal.com/community/local-boy-scout-council-suspends-camp-operations-due-to-covid-19/article_e23ba319-252e-51bd-8c2b-055561cb239f.html

June 1, 2020 from and about Orange County Council (CA) Update #8 on COVID-19 and its Impact on Program Delivery ...Summer Adventures Begin July 6th We are thrilled to finally announce that enrollment for summer programs at Newport Sea Base and the Irvine Ranch Outdoor Education Center will be opening this week. It has been a challenging few months for all, and without a doubt there will be tough times for the foreseeable future. That is why we have worked hard to prepare programs and redesign curriculum in order to offer the opportunity for youth to regain some normalcy in their lives, like camp, even if it is a bit different this summer. We are preparing these properties and staff to deliver an outstanding summer program. It will however look very different than past summers. Newport Sea Base and the Irvine Ranch Outdoor Education Center will reopen to the public on Monday, July 6 with summer day programs specially created for elementary age (Cub Scouts) and middle and high school age (Scouts BSA and Venturing) campers. The programs running Monday through Friday or consecutive Saturdays and/or Sundays will follow a strict set of enhanced safety protocols developed with guidance from the CDC, ACA, health departments, and the Boy Scouts of America. A major change in this summer program, besides maximum class sizes of ten or less, is the number of classes/tracks a participant can take per week. In order to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19 in our camp setting, we must limit interactions. This means participants can take only one class/track per week. We have done our best to create half-day or full-day programs that are attractive to our general community youth as well as Scouting youth. These program tracks are predesignated and cannot be changed. If there are multiple tracks that you would love to take, it will happen over multiple weeks. We hope you understand. Further information on these exciting programs including virtual camps will be released later this week with enrollment opening for all programs no later than Monday June 8. Overnight programs at the Irvine Ranch Outdoor Education Center remain closed and we hope to resume these in late August. The first programs at Oso Lake Scout Camp to reopen will likely be a family-based camping supported by our volunteer Campmaster Corps. Enrollment for this program should open in the coming weeks. Schoepe Scout Reservation at Lost Valley, including Scouts BSA summer camp, remains closed through July 15. This pains us as much as it does you. If your unit was scheduled to attend Lost Valley in a cancelled week you have several options. Troops will have the option to transfer to a later week at Lost Valley, transfer funds on an individual basis to Newport Sea Base or Irvine Ranch Outdoor Education Center summer programs , transfer their unit deposits to Lost Valley 2021, or receive a full refund for all monies not transferred. The Lost Valley staff will reach out to each unit to coordinate this process... More at source link: https://www.ocbsa.org/news/coronavirus/

And we are back on topic! Nicely done @dkurtenbach among others.

Scout plans to build a 1700s -1800s era blacksmith shop on Ramsey House Plantation. It will be built completely of logs, timber framing for the roof, cedar shingles, a brick forge, and it’s all going to be original... video, drawing (above), and more at source: https://www.wvlt.tv/content/news/Knox-Co-Boy-Scout-building-blacksmith-shop-for-Ramsey-House-570857581.html

@CynicalScouter on behalf of scouter.com moderators, welcome.

Covered in another topic

@Angus on behalf of scouter.com moderators, welcome.

Did you enlarge your font or zoom your page in (CTRL +) such that page does not fit your browser window? My guess, click inside your browser window, then CTRL - repeatedly to zoom your page out such that it fits browser window.

The 2021 National Jamboree video is now posted: https://nam.scouting.org/

The 2021 National Jamboree video is now posted: https://nam.scouting.org/

Today, Judge Silverstein concluded "that Sidley may continue to represent BSA generally in this bankruptcy case... Haynes and Boone (another BSA attorney) must handle all matters adverse to Century that address the substantive treatment of BSA’s insurance policies with Century, claims there under, proceeds there from or that otherwise implicate insurance coverage." https://casedocs.omniagentsolutions.com/cmsvol2/pub_47373/821723_728.pdf

Digitizing public records less our history is lost. In this example WW1 burial records Particularly now with the pandemic, there are a lot of younger people looking for service hours for groups like Boy Scouts, National Honor Society or JROTC,” he said. “I think it’s an ideal opportunity to safely do some service work and help this project - creating a searchable database of soldiers’ burial cards, some of which will be linked to a digital map showing where those soldiers are buried. https://triblive.com/news/world/north-huntingdon-historian-seeks-volunteers-to-help-digitize-world-war-i-burial-records/

Tomorrow 5/29/2020 Judge Silverstein is schedule to rule on the retention and employment of Sidley Austin LLP as attorneys for BSA. https://casedocs.omniagentsolutions.com/cmsvol2/pub_47373/821162_699.pdf

In 2006, heirs of the founder of the Boy Scouts of America, Mueller and his relatives needed to reinvest money from the sale of an Illinois property in less than a year — or pay $600,000 in taxes to the IRS. Eventually, a solution came to Mueller, an architect who lives in Las Vegas, and his cousin, Michel d’Avenas, a California musician who is the son of a French count and is now known as the Pebble Beach Bagpiper. They would avoid taxes by purchasing four small hydroelectric dams in mid-Michigan near Midland, according to hundreds of pages of federal court records reviewed by Bridge. The deal was troubled from the start for trustees of the William D. Boyce Trusts, which manages the fortune of a Chicago publishing magnate who founded the Scouts at the dawn of the 20th century. In the 14 years that have followed, Mueller and the trust have clashed repeatedly with state officials, federal regulators, local homeowners and even fishermen. Very fascinating story at source: https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-environment-watch/two-heirs-bought-midland-dams-tax-shelter-tragedy-followed

From back in the day...thumbs up to those who recognize and name narrator.

Good question. From above document page 40-41 , Exhibit 5 Form of Abuse Claims TV Spot BSA :30 Second TV Script 72 words VO: (Voice Over) This is an important message for all current and former Boy Scouts and volunteers. The Boy Scouts of America have declared bankruptcy. If you were sexually abused in Scouting, you could receive compensation, but you must file a claim in the bankruptcy case by November 16, 2020 You may file a Sexual Abuse Claim regardless of your current age or the year the sexual abuse occurred. For more information, visit OfficialBSAclaims.com or call 1-866-907-2721. Disclaimer language for last frame of TV (only appears on screen and not in VO): Paid for by the Boy Scouts of America by order of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court

Said document https://casedocs.omniagentsolutions.com/cmsvol2/pub_47373/820848_695.pdf contains a revised victim application and claim procedures from those in use from the start of bankruptcy. Specifically, page 14 12. The General Bar Date Notice, the Abuse Claims Bar Date Notice, the Abuse Claims Publication Notice, a form of the Abuse Claims Publication Notice adapted for email format (the “Abuse Claims Email Notice”), and the form of television spot copy (the “Abuse Claims TV Spot”) attached to this Order as Exhibits 1,2,3,4, and 5 respectively, are hereby approved. A transcript of the corresponding hearing discussions with Judge Silverstein may be available later, perhaps August.

Silver Buffalo Reception is now posted: https://nam.scouting.org/

5/26/2020: Judge Silverstein's Order regarding (I) ESTABLISHING DEADLINES FOR FILING PROOFS OF CLAIM, November 16, 2020. 5pm Eastern Time (II) ESTABLISHING THE FORM AND MANNER OF NOTICE THEREOF, (III) APPROVING PROCEDURES FOR PROVIDING NOTICE OF BAR DATE AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO ABUSE SURVIVORS, AND (IV) APPROVING CONFIDENTIALITY PROCEDURES FOR ABUSE SURVIVORS https://casedocs.omniagentsolutions.com/cmsvol2/pub_47373/820848_695.pdf But the USA Today story is more readable Initially, the Boy Scouts had proposed 80 days for survivors to come forward. The agreed-upon date provides more than twice that much time: almost six months. The Boy Scouts will be required to run a nearly $7 million awareness campaign encouraging people to come forward. The campaign will include mail and email to those who have filed complaints, as well as national television and print advertisements. ... In bankruptcy proceedings, survivors who file claims are considered unsecured creditors. The Boy Scouts, as the debtor, will have a fiduciary duty to equitably pay out those claims based on the organization's total assets and the amount of money the nonprofit group owes to other entities, along with a consideration of how payouts will affect the organization's survival. It will do so via the creation of a Victims Compensation Trust. How the trust will be funded is shaping up to be the central argument in the proceedings – namely whether assets owned by the more than 260 Scout councils will be included in funding for survivors. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2020/05/26/boy-scouts-bankruptcy-deadline-abuse-survivor-claims-set-november/5229497002/ https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/2020/05/27/november-deadline-set-sex-abuse-claims-boy-scouts-case/5259464002/

A National study or survey...

I thought much the same, then Chapter 11 started and problems with our multitude insurance providers surfaced. I wondered if the BSA can continue to provide liability insurance? Who would sell us a "thrifty" policy? Perhaps liability shift downs to CO or units - who would obtain insurance, do background checks as they now "own it"? The BSA version 2.0 would not "recharter" rather just yearly "license" CO's or units to use BSA program and access training material. Imagine the EULA for that? I could see market competition to license local youth groups as happened with baseball - Little League or Cal Ripken or local town leagues. My $0.02,

Were any changes to the Charter and Bylaws of the Boy Scouts of America announced? Will we have a Chief Scout Executive or is that one of the sacrificed sacred cows?

Agree, given the situation back in July 2019, IMHO the focus should have been on more immediate priorities rather than let problems continue to fester - recharter fees, background check privacy issues, GSUSA trademark suit, transparency (survey issues), arrogance ...not musical chairs re-org, creating another IT roadmap, ... 3. Is the National Council effectively identifying and communicating with their stakeholders? 3. How can National Council better listen and respond to the needs of scouts and volunteers? "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." Dan Ownby, Chair Elect Sounds just like scouter.com My $0.02

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.