RememberSchiff

In the last two paragraphs, you both seem to agree whatever it is that you are arguing about should not be in a Scouting forum? Common ground! So...do you really want a Moderator to step in and tell you to stop or can the civil discussion mentioned in the OP proceed? @desertrat77 @MattR @John-in-KC

Travel bidet? I'm still working on adopting the metric system, but thanks for the Christmas gift suggestion for Mrs. Schiff.

Instead of viewing it as reducing bureaucracy at the Council and National levels, view it as restoring TRUST in unit volunteers. Train'em, trust 'em and maybe even treat them as adults. Some thoughts... Units can easily tract advancement themselves either with the old paper scout advancement record or whatever software they are using. No need for a National database. No need to send Eagle workbooks to National either (what do they do with them?) Actually the whole Eagle workbook should be replaced with just a signoff sheet and one page project description. Units can also discreetly decide alternate advancement requirements on their own. No need to violate the privacy of special needs families who are being asked to send documented requests to strangers on a Council Advancement Committee. My $0.02,

"The properties of the ranch secure a mortgage from JPMorgan Chase." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philmont_Scout_Ranch#cite_note-2 That was updated fast.

Gotta wonder, will the (new) OA open casinos at Philmont and Summit?

...and for recharter, National wants to do credit background checks of us?

So signed in March, 2019, was this discussed at the National Annual Meeting last May, 2019? Seems rather important...

Elon Musk? Steve Ballmer? Kevin Plank?

So at a quick glance of OP document, this is rob Philmont to pay Bechtel?

Nov 4: "Within the next several weeks, the National Executive Committee will identify an interim leader for the national organization. " Scoutingnewsroom , National Leadership: https://www.scoutingnewsroom.org/about-the-bsa/national-leadership/ lists four Assistant CSE's as follows: John Mosby — Development. Al Lambert – National Director of Outdoor Adventures, Patrick Sterrett – National Director of Field Service Mark Logemann – National Director of Support Services Seemingly the above are the leading candidates for "interim CSE" , but another person may be selected.

Yes, imagine if a credit card and email address become required to join...billed monthly with automatic renewal

Maybe the old Google, but a Scout is a friend to all. https://www.sciencealert.com/how-dead-girl-paris-ended-up-most-kissed-lips-in-history-l-inconnue-de-la-seine-resusci-anne-cpr-annie-death-mask

Came across this tale embedded in a business story: ...At the time I was the Scoutmaster of Troop 3, at First Presbyterian Church. On this night I had arranged for a Registered Nurse to come in and teach the first aid merit badge. After we completed the required material, the nurse asked the group if they had any questions. Keep in mind we are talking about a group of 13- and 14-year old boys. These meetings can take on a life of their own at times, so I was prepared. Naturally the scouts’ questions tended to be about anything but first aid. There were questions about everything from car wrecks to riding in the hospital helicopter. As we were winding down, one of the scouts asked about emergency medical procedures that could be done in the field. The nurse thought for a minute and then responded, “I believe a doctor could talk you through a tracheotomy with the crudest of implements … with one very important exception! Unless it is my tracheotomy!” https://www.djournal.com/news/business/david-henson-nurses-boy-scouts-and-the-entrepreneurial-perspective/article_6cf41ad5-00d8-5f5a-a037-5f19778e2189.html Please add your stories.

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,