RememberSchiff

My den made a non-working replica of a Congreve rocket for a den meeting. I used 4in round duct for the rocket body and cone and attached a 10ft wood launch strip.

Those you mention are likely Newbies (Junior Members), meaning they have joined but have not posted. When a Newbie's first post is approved they become a Member. A Search on newest Members verifies the information displayed in that "NEWEST MEMBER" block. RS

Some units have tried a FB alumni account which can be a little unsettling when you see how your Eagle scout has morphed into a college dude.

A topic in itself.

11/13/19: NEWBURYPORT, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Vaping related illness has put over 2,000 people in the hospital, and has resulted in the deaths of at least 39 people in the country. However, health concerns regarding vaping are relatively recent. Reports started coming in just this year, after a decade of vapes being sold commercially. In Massachusetts, three people have died and at least 65 are sick. Newburyport High School senior Anne Marie Noe was suspicious of the product three years ago, when she decided to make it the subject of her Girl Scout Gold Award project. "I've just really kind of immersed myself into everything that vaping has been doing in our society. It has definitely become a passion of mine, because Juul is taking over and we all need to do something to stop it," Noe said. Noe developed a course on vaping after seeing how prevalent it was in her school... More info at sources: https://wbznewsradio.iheart.com/content/2019-11-13-newburyport-senior-creates-vaping-health-class/ https://www.newburyportnews.com/news/local_news/newbuyport-girl-scout-earns-top-award-for-teen-vaping-project/article_49653153-b764-5541-8df2-baff4034a456.html

Nov 12-13, 2019: I noticed some new videos have been uploaded to Boy Scouts of America youtube account. Here's one:

The headline follows from story lead. The story is about Grand Teton Council's membership loss (Titanic disaster ) and their response (care for the survivors) - retention. IMHO, the cost of retention is less than the cost of recruitment. The Titanic analogy is a good one in terms of the number lost due to arrogance and stupidity of the big wigs. I too wish Grand Teton Council and every Council the best. Keep as many as you can. In my memory, never has National upset so many members for so many different reasons in so short a time. My $0.02,

“We’ve got up to 20 percent of our membership that are not members of the LDS Church. The assumption is they are going to want to continue their Scouting,” Farrer said. “We know that not all of the LDS families or boys are going to leave Scouting.” Farrer, himself a Latter-day Saint, says there are “legacy Scouting families” that have been involved for generations and want to continue with the tradition. IMHO, Retention (survival) is a priority for Grand Teton Council.

From our East Idaho field office: https://www.eastidahonews.com/2019/11/the-future-of-scouting-in-eastern-idaho-looks-bleak-but-leader-say-it-is-not-doomed/

Yes! It followed a Klondike Derby. Weebs with Dads had about a mile night backpack thru dark woods to cabins. Their packs contained sleeping bag, clothes, personal gear. The sled they pulled over snow contained water, cooking gear, and food. Council sent out a guy beforehand to see if cabins had smoke detectors as each cabin had a wood stove. Next morning, a hardy breakfast, clean up, and backpack to cars. A lot of fun and a great adventure.

We have used cardboard box ovens to roast turkeys and bake pies. At the troop meeting before outing, patrols cover boxes with foil. Temperature control and coordination are key in preparing outdoor feast.

Eternal vigilance is the price we pay to provide youth protection. How often do we see adults yacking with their backs turned away from youth they are supervising? Playgrounds, malls. scout activities... How often do we see a mandatory reporter fined for failing to report? Should reporter laws be changed from "if knew" to "should have known"? How often has an "abuse report" resulted in a visit from Council which changed or retrained troop leadership? My $0.02,

In New England, our eastern hemlocks (IMHO, our most important tree) are turning to skeletons due to the woolly adelgid. The browntail moth is attacking oaks and cherry twice during growth season. Good news, the winter moth has just about been eradicated. Eastern white pines cannot withstand the wind gusts we are seeing from climate change. Sugar maples are in decline from acid rain and warmer winters. Plant zones are shifting north at a faster rate. I was zone 5, soon to be zone 6, so plant forward with a rotating biodiversity. My eastern white pine and eastern hemlock woods will become Norway spruce and ??? and ???

??? Why is it harder (as in not worth the effort) than ever (paperwork, finances) to start units and attract/keep volunteers? Competent leaders know that building a great program is the key to Scouting longevity in their community. My $0.02,

Interesting discussion for Environmental Science merit badge, etc. IMHO, planting less susceptible species in a stressed ecosystem will be preferred over replanting current threatened species. Montana Council, Boy Scouts of America, is underway with a woodland transformation project on Melita Island after devastating stress on trees due to root rot and dwarf mistletoe, in combination with defoliation by Tussock moth and mortality by bark beetle. The biggest issue is safety to the more than 1,000 youth and staff who make the island their home throughout the summer. Recent winds have toppled large trees due to the weak and diseased root systems. Safety to the youth served continues to be Montana Council’s top concern. Rehabilitating the island to a healthy and natural ecosystem is the goal while eliminating the potential spread of issues to neighboring properties....Primary tree species on the island are Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir with a minimal, scattered population of Western Juniper and various hardwoods. The Douglas fir Tussock moth infestation, now in its third year, has resulted in severe defoliation of the stressed trees with significant mortality from bark beetles. Issues besides the mortality include excessive lean, shallow roots with minimal to no taproot and root rot, creating a hazardous environment. Douglas fir will be the majority of the trees removed. Old-growth Ponderosa pine, a signature tree for the island, will be conserved. An aggressive replanting process begins immediately and includes an impressive reforestation of mostly deciduous trees and sufficient shrubs, including chokecherry. Tree removal started the last week of October. The burning of slash piles is expected to begin in early November with visual smoke. Please be advised that smoke from Melita Island is planned with the controlled burn. Scouting programs at Melita Island are heavily water-based with courses including sailing, kayaking, canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding, boating, swimming, snorkeling, fishing, shooting sports, nature, camping, first aid and more. .... Sources: https://www.montanabsa.org/melita-island-woodland-rehabilitation-project/ http://www.valleyjournal.net/Article/22352/Boy-Scouts-rehabilitate-Melita-Island-woodland

I own only one council patch of which I am not or was not a member.

Some clarifications and easing of the rules above. I thought this contest would be a fun diversion, but it seems more like the campout where only 3 or 4 scouts sign up. ~ RS

I suspect some content is about family member addiction and what to do.

Recognizing the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy’s (SOP) ability and desire to serve the public, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) requested a partnership initiative to address the growing epidemic of opioid abuse among adolescents. “There are national resources available to educate youth on the dangers of prescription and over-the-counter abuse, but many agencies and organizations are at a loss as to how to address the issues,” Herndon said. “This program incorporates activities for troop leaders to discuss with their scouts, and has the potential to educate thousands of scouts and troop leaders.” The training modules will take approximately 1.5 hours to complete in total at different times and will be coordinated with BSA den meetings. A facilitator’s handbook is available for den leaders, parents or pharmacy students to lead den meetings and provide the education to the scouts. Facilitators will learn how to create an atmosphere in the meeting to promote discussion about social/legal consequences of drug abuse. They will engage in a game to help further the discussion in a face-to-face manner. ... more details at source: https://www.siue.edu/news/2019/10/SIUE-School-of-Pharmacy-and-Boy-Scouts-Seek-Solutions-to-Combat-Opioid-Abuse.shtml

We define cold weather camping by the extra gear brought to stay dry (layers), warm (bag liner) , and sometimes mobile (crampons, snowshoes). Good exercise for QM's and PL's to extend 3-season gear into winter and keep scouts safe.

Election Day, please remember to vote (Like) early and often.

Yes I bolded the author's content. Interesting how recent forum topics are calling for a return to focusing on the outdoors, character building, community service, leadership ...

Update: 10/19 Sea Scout Ship 198 is back afloat. On Oct. 18, the Sea Scouts took to the water once again with a trip to Cape May, N.J., capping off their trips for the 2019 year. This October, four members of the troop qualified for the William I. Koch International Sea Scout Cup at the Northeast Regional Race. Sarah Krajewski and Ellie Cerchio placed first in the competition, while Carson Watts and Chris Dean placed third, beating out Sea Scout groups from all over the East Coast. More details at source: https://www.capegazette.com/article/lewes-sea-scouts-return-water-after-boat-fire/191364

Another well-considered article about the importance of character building for future "elites" (leaders)...the importance of aṣabiyyah The American Interest : How Do America's Elites Stack Up? by Seth D. Kaplan. lecturer at John Hopkins University ... "As a start, the (educational) institutions that select and groom elites need to prepare them for stewardship, as Weber argued. The overemphasis on merit and achievement (and wealth) has reduced the importance of character and virtue among elites, undermining the values and norms that once predominated across society, with a clear impact on everything from the political arena to the financial markets to the dating scene. This requires transforming how young adults are trained and evaluated. Schools should bolster civic education and character-building programs (for example, the Boy Scouts, at least in its original form), and evaluate students on moral behavior as well as through test scores. Universities and graduate schools should prioritize personal character in applicants. Essay questions today probe for volunteerism and a commitment to helping society, but schools interpret these as another form of achievement. Curriculum should encourage cooperating with stakeholders, responding to the public good, and being invested in a particular place instead of pursuing individual ambition alone. For example, MBA students are often taught that profit-making is the primary—or only—objective of a business in the United States; in other countries (such as Germany, Japan), education, culture, and government policy make the needs of employees, the location of operation, and the broader society just as important. (American politicians who bully companies, such as President Trump, have a point, even if their method is crude and comes late in the game.) Student and business leaders need a renewed focus on the moral sentiments—what we owe others—that Adam Smith saw as the essential underpinning to capitalism. How do we better understand our duties to others? A national service program would give elites experiential knowledge and greater connectivity with other Americans. Higher incentives for living, working, and opening social capital building organizations in less well-off neighborhoods might encourage more people not just to signal their concern but actually to make a personal sacrifice for the benefit of the country. Encouraging elite undergraduate and graduate schools to instill a code of conduct and to mandate or at least strongly encourage service in an impoverished area, similar to Teach for America, would help change values. Instead of just promoting semesters abroad, they could also promote semesters of service at home. Tuition could even be reduced or forgiven for commitments to serve in a rural or inner urban city job for a minimum of five years." ... "The problem is how the culture currently frames this (social) contribution (by elites) . What is valued is not what is needed." https://www.the-american-interest.com/2019/10/30/how-do-americas-elites-stack-up/

Psychology Today Nov 1, 2019: I've had a ritual with my son for a number of years now. It started when he went off to college, 3,000 miles away from home. Whenever he was going to parties or out with friends or on a date, I would simply text him an eagle emoji to remind him that he is an Eagle Scout and that he should always behave like one. He’d always reply with the response, “Always!” The character education and life skills taught in scouting are invaluable and perhaps needed now more than ever in our very challenged society. Good article: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/do-the-right-thing/201911/are-the-boy-scouts-still-relevant-and-worthwhile-today