RememberSchiff

https://nam.scouting.org/ BSA Virtual National Annual Meeting 2020 Coming Soon Virtual National Annual Meeting and National Executive Board and Committee Meeting schedule, as well as the Registration for the Major Events for National Annual Meeting. Stayed tuned for updates.

Those (that link) were large group camping in outbreak areas (Illinois). I'm suggesting small group patrol hikes under CDC and state guidelines not unlike we see people safely walking around now.

Wear a mask when you cannot maintain social distance. "CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission." https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover.html Scouts learn the arms length "safety circle" when using knives. Perhaps the "safety circle" should be extended from arms length to 6ft staff length?

Covid-19 will test scout leadership and character more than anything else has in recent times. Not all scouts will be up for the challenge but I cannot see disappointing those scouts who are. We Scouters can say enough and choose not to provide our outdoor program for the next 12-18 months or longer. Mothball the Outdoor Method. Cancel the 2021 National Jamboree now. No scouts will earn Tenderfoot, Second Class, or First Class under current program requirements during that time. Some say the solution is to fudge the requirements or change the whole program. Make it an indoor STEM program or a Lone Scout program or something else until we run into the next crisis we cannot handle and change it again. My scouts have been stuck inside for two months! They quickly tired of virtual meetings and merit badges as it resembled school at home. None participated in the recent virtual campout. They want to go outside, together as scouts. Is there a Scout way to do this? I think so. My thoughts: SM asks SPL and ASPL to research and understand CDC and state safety guidelines for outdoor activities, in particular, a short nearby patrol hike. SM, ASM, SPL, ASPL all meet outside, usual YP with social distance and face masks. Start brainstorming. If it goes well, build on it, and ask SPL to call a PLC meeting with same guidelines. Come up with a plan for a safe hike. Manage the risk and make clear the consequences for not following safety guidelines! Have “PLC patrol” execute their hike plan. SPL insures PL’s maintain small group, social distance, wear neckerchiefs (masks), wash hands, safe food handling, temp test, family health survey…Retry until they get it right. When they succeed and they will as they want out of the house. As BP said, We never fail when we try to do our duty, we always fail when we neglect to do it. Repeat above but with PL and ASPL meeting with their own patrol to plan a short hike. Sounds like Patrol Method: Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing Next PLC challenge, a longer hike. Later if allowed, an overnight. Small steps. Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible. - Francis of Assisi. My $0.02,

Great to hear from you! I will send up a flare to these members who come to mind, no doubt there are others. @swilliams @christineka @The Latin Scot @DavidLeeLambert

Yes, a family who lives together generally does not social distance or wear masks, whereas a patrol would.

FYI: informative article regarding an Epsilon Tau Pi chapter at Northwest Missouri State University. https://www.nwmissourinews.com/heartland_view/article_42ecbd46-8f0b-11ea-8b11-53b49bc63845.html

If a family (10 members or less) can safely camp and hike, so can a patrol of similar size taking the same precautions. If we had say an Assistant Chief Scout Executive - National Director of Outdoor Adventures,, he should be fighting for safe patrol outdoor access to national, state, and council campgrounds. Social distancing. Learn to walk at same pace to maintain distance. Temp check Neckerchiefs (Face masks) for when social distance cannot be maintained. Bring own food and water, no share. Establish approved loop trails, in fact help rangers replace existing trail markings with one way arrows and other trail maintenance. Cleaning supplies. Family only transports their scout to and from activity. Packing SM's SUV is suspended. Other precautions fellow members? A scout showing how to safely hike was what earning Second Class was all about. I know this goes against the prevailing conventional wisdom that Scouting is about risk avoidance - that the nanny method is better than the patrol method, that it is wiser to ban power tools and ladders than teach scouts how to safely use them, that Train 'em Trust 'em has no place in Scouting. No, Scouting is about risk management. We teach scouts how to make fire not run from it, to swim so they can go in deep water, ...to Be Prepared not Shelter Scared. I will not go silently onto the internet and give up on Scouting or Summer 2020 or wait until a vaccine arrives 18 - 24 months from now. My $0.01,

Simple, whoever qualifies as an essential worker for childcare in that state. BSA membership would not be required as it is a service to essential workers, but who knows we might get some new members from this come fall. Since it is a service to others, how many Scouters or other adults step up is a good question. The camp would follow health and safety (including insurance) guidelines as defined by state authorities, no need to over complicate with redundant process and paperwork such as GTSS, NCAP, ACA certification,... All kids would carry a mask. If you look at a childcare facility, kids often do not wear masks as they maintain social distance. If kids get too close, adults who are required to wear masks, calmly tell to put their masks on. Kids learn fast. Likely a kid will have to bring own tent. One kid per tent. Another point, the served group already understands the risks. Small steps. Another $0.01,

to essential workers? Follow CDC and state guidelines for child care facilities similar to what the YMCA is currently doing, as well as state camp guidelines. It would not be a moneymaker nor an advancement factory. Camp would be downsized and basic - focused on fun and outdoors. Social distances limits group sizes to 10 (patrol size) per area (classroom, campsite). Patrol camping. We would be helping others and learning how to make our camps safe with this new threat. Essential workers would have to press their state governments to extend child care to camps. If that happens, Councils would have to adapt quickly to provide that service. Maybe? My $0.01,

5/6/2020 USA Today summary of two key issues in recent months. 1. Local council's role in Chapter 11 2. Whether Court should allow retention of Sidley Austin as BSA counsel. Recall, the BSA hired SIdley Austin back in Dec 2018 to "explore" bankruptcy and other options. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2020/05/06/boy-scouts-bankruptcy-lawsuits-hit-local-councils/5175146002/ https://casedocs.omniagentsolutions.com/cmsvol2/pub_47373/817225_573.pdf https://casedocs.omniagentsolutions.com/cmsvol2/pub_47373/817330_574.pdf Not mentioned were the stays requested by the GSUSA trademark case and various non-sexual injury cases. I hope the BSA is not billed by Sidley Austin for its own defense against conflict of interest charges by Chubb/Century Insurance these past weeks.

And now something completely different.

Camp Directors – are you ready to turn in your Declaration of Readiness? Due to the fluid nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, camp can submit their Declaration of Readiness 30 days prior to the start of their camping operation. Over 450 properties and programs are assessed by area assessment teams each year to make certain that they are meeting the National Camp Accreditation Program (NCAP) standards of operation. These standards set the minimum requirements that a council must achieve to use the BSA Brand for these camps. Camps will be operating with special COVID-19 processes that everyone is required to do prior to coming into camp. Camp Directors need to inform the Assessment Team Leader of these processes so that they know what is required, such as medical screening, mask required, gloves, etc. .... Check out Circular 14 for any updates https://www.scouting.org/outdoor-programs/trail-to-adventure/are-you-ready-for-your-camp-assessment/

Update: ... the Kalamazoo Parks Foundation is putting up the $2-million dollars to pay for the land and development of a new lakefront park. Rota-Kiwan features over 200 acres with connections to Bass Lake and the Al Sabo Land Preserve and already has parking lots, bathrooms, and the required facilities for a park. https://wkzo.com/news/articles/2020/may/06/camp-rota-kiwan-could-soon-be-a-new-kalamazoo-county-park/1014973/?refer-section=local

Update: For 2020 the remaining Camp Director and Program Director trainings will be held in an ONLINE format ONLY - virtual 3-day training course  https://www.scouting.org/outdoor-programs/trail-to-adventure/ncs-is-cancelled-now-what/

Before Chapter 11 and covid, I sat with coffee in hand ruminating that National should provide easy tools for online fundraising and donations and not the product(s). By tools, I mean a council/unit market place website and credit card app. Councils and units could decide what, if anything, they wanted to sell online - be it jerky, BBQ sauce, discount cards, camperships (donations) , Scoutmaster Coffee, 3D printed sporks, wreaths, scout crafts, raking/wood stacking/shoveling services,... or Schiff's great idea*. Another $0.02, * I knew you'd want to know. After working with scouts with Celiac, nut, dairy, and even watermelon allergies, I think Scout Energy bars akin to some Kind bars gluten -free, etc. would sell.

This spring, we witnessed the GSUSA suspend door-to-door and booth sales of Girl Scout cookies. As I understand, their decision was about safety for scouts and customers with input from leaders, parents, "the CDC, federal, state, and local authorities". Meanwhile, new health laws evolved. Customers were directed to website(s) for online purchasing and donation. Sales plummeted, unsold cookie inventory was donated to front line heroes and food pantries. Will popcorn sales or all fundraiser sales become online only? Should National or local councils make the call or will local authorities? Will the practice of warehousing retail food products in member homes end? A lot of questions, perhaps best raised at National Annual Meeting. Hmmm,

I searched again but found only one council - Pee Dee Area Council (SC). If there are more, I would have expected more disclosure as an aid to other councils considering PPP loans. Typically, this time of year the Pee Dee Area Council is “headstrong into its annual fundraising campaign Friends of Scouting,” Michael Hesbach, Scout Executive said. He said the local council receives 39 percent of its annual income from this campaign, and to date it has only raised 29 percent of its $285,000 goal. Hesbach said normally the Scouts would have raised twice that amount by now. He said they have only one-third of their operating expenses for April. “We have a PPP loan to cover May and June,” he said. “I don’t know about July. We are working on some ideas.” https://www.scnow.com/news/local/pee-dee-boy-scouts-go-online/article_aa1312c9-7b5f-5b57-b3c5-5532ed47e43c.html Pee Dee Council's Camp Coker Summer has been canceled.

I watched the first episode and enjoyed it, but I did not see or hear any mention of Boy Scouts. Maybe it was in the credits? Interesting fact , the original owner Duane Ose had been a SM in Minnesota before moving to Alaska. In July, 1985, Duane and his son Dan hiked the Lake Munchimina area to stake their claim. Duane would be the very last person to secure a homestead under the Federal Homestead Act of 1862. “One day the temp reached 100 degrees; we were scaling a hill and had run out of water. I told Dan to stay in the tent while I walked down the hill looking for water. But no water, so what was I going to tell my son? I sat down to think of how I was going to explain this ‘forced march’ without water, and no breakfast. What I sat down on looked like a big sofa, but it was a moss-covered, sponge-like mound. My pants got wet sitting there. I reached down an arm’s length into that moss sponge and came up with a handful of wet, whitish looking moss. I squeeze and moisture dripped. So that day we filled both our canteens with mossy water. We purified that stuff so it was safe for drinking. But that was our solution for that rather perilous experience.” After 16 days of strenuous hiking Duane and Dan reached the spot Duane had identified on his map as his claim site. “For a long moment I stood looking. A tingling came rushing over me. Dan was looking out over this vast wonderful view. He said, ‘Just like a picture, Dad.’ “Yup, this is where the front window will be with a deck. Drive that claim stake in. This is it,” related Duane. https://www.srperspective.com/2014/02/staking-his-claim/

Update: Camp Stigwandish has now been posted on auctioneers website. https://oldsite.kikoauctions.com/?nav=auctions OPEN HOUSE: Saturday - May 23, 2020 – 1:00-3:00 PM REAL ESTATE: Looking for a family hideaway, hunter’s paradise or nature retreat? This is truly a one-of-a-kind property. 281 acres total. Majority gently rolling wooded land. 3 scenic stocked lakes approx. 6 to 9 acres each! Nature trails and Scenic Mill Creek winds through the property. Improvements include a large rustic dining hall with massive 20’ tall stone fireplace. Commercial kitchen with Ansel system, range hood, 3 stainless steel sinks, and 2 walk-in coolers. 7+ small cabins throughout the woods. 40x90 concrete boat storage with 2 OH doors. 40x80 shop/storage bldg. 3-bed, 1-bath home and 3-car detached garage. Several picnic pavilions, shower house, archery range, shooting range. And large gravel parking lot for guests. Approx. 100 acres at rear of property under conservation easement to protect Mill Creek (copy of easement available on request). Many other highlights! Plan to attend the open house on May 23rd from 1:00-3:00 PM. Bring your hiking boots or get a ride on 1 of our ATVs. 281 ACRES TOTAL TO BE OFFERED AS FOLLOWS: PARCEL #1: Approx. 145.5 acres all wooded. Main camp entrance, dining hall, parking lot, and small cabins. Scenic Mill with creek conservation protection easement. PARCEL #2: 38.8 acres over half wooded, driveway, stocked lake, 40x90 boat storage bldg., 40x80 shop/storage bldg., small cabins, shower house, timber, and trails. PARCEL #3: 97 acres majority wooded, two large stocked lakes, small cabins, shooting range, trails, hardwoods, and timber. PARCEL #4: 3/4 acre with vinyl sided 1.5 story, 3-bedroom, 1-bath home with LP heat, central AC, and 3-car detached garage. NOTE: Parcels will be offered separate then together and will sell whichever way brings the most. Land is a good investment you can enjoy! Bank financing available to qualified bidders. Camp Stigwandish has been a youth camp for over 90 years. Can’t make the auction? Online bidding is available! Don’t miss this rare opportunity. More details: https://oldsite.kikoauctions.com/?nav=auctions&details=10460

5/1/20: Mass is now requiring masks be worn in public where 6ft social distancing cannot be maintained. NH is opening campgrounds but only if guidelines below are followed and only for members or NH residents. The guidelines has the ominous title Stay at Home 2.0 Public and Private Campgrounds: https://www.governor.nh.gov/news-media/stay-at-home/documents/20200105-campgrounds.pdf

Hope it is not a sweetheart deal.

Has any Council received a PPP loan? The NonProfit Times reports that more than half of non-profits that submitted PPP loan applications were accepted. I suspect Council submissions in either PPP round were based on staffing summer camps as 75% of the requested loan amount must go towards wages. As summer camps are being canceled during the second PPP round, well...try again in round 3 with only full time payroll figures? IMHO, Councils should now insure their representation at the upcoming National Annual Meeting (May? June?) and set the Fall application process and registration fee now! No repeat of the last minute form confusion and fee hikes of last year. I am sure there is other Council feedback to "gift" National . My $0.02,

Ninety year old Camp Stigwandish was added to the Lake Erie Council in January 2017. Stigwandish is located in Madison, Ohio and offers over 20 campsites, six cabins, four ranges, a GAGA pit, volleyball court, three lakes, a COPE course, trading post, dining hall, training center, nature center and more. The camp sits on the banks of Mill Creek and is over 300 acres. https://lecbsa.org/stigwandish Lake Erie Council authorized Kiko to auction Camp Stigwandish. The auction is scheduled for May 30 at noon. He (Kiko) also noted that the event is an absolute auction, during which each section of Stigwandish will be sold the highest bidder. There will be no required minimum bids set for the parcels to be sold. As of April 29, no advertisements for the Camp Stigwandish auction have been placed in The News-Herald. The event also did not appear in the Upcoming Auctions section of Kiko’s website. About two months ago, the council announced it would close Camp Stigwandish, based on a financial and operational assessment of its four properties in northern Ohio. https://www.news-herald.com/news/boy-scout-camp-stigwandish-slated-to-be-sold-at-auction-on-may-30/article_656e97b4-8a4b-11ea-ae56-571bc5927b1a.html @TAHAWK