TAHAWK

"I like to disperse new scouts to established patrols" I too experienced the mixed-age patrol as a Scout, and that's fine so long as the Scouts decide who goes where and no one is forced away from friends against their will. Adult ideas of "balance" are irrelevant to friendship. “Again, although the Scoutmaster may often advise with the Patrol leader …concerning new recruits, the admission of a new [Scout] … to the Patrol should be with the approval of the Patrol members.” Hillcourt, William

The "resource role" has meant for 90 years that adults guide leaders to knowledge as required so leaders can teach scouts needing teaching.

$30 per unit for the weekend or $15 per day per unit.

A cord or thong, worn like the Wood Badge beads, prevents the slide from coming off and provides a bit of cordage. Yup, all those foreign degenerates and their knoted neckers. worn over the collar 😁

The Patrol Leader of the New Scout Patrol is a "New Scout." He is, thus, not very "experienced" and needs good coaching, mentoring, and resources in the form of the Troop Guide plus the adults. BSA recommends that the job be rotated among the "New Scouts" through the year so all Scouts get some experience, as the goal is "leadership development," not a "well-oiled machine." The patrols control the respective patrol agendas by democratic consensus, consistent with Aim "citizenship development" and, with coaching from leaders and Scouters, can plan patrol program that inherently leads to advancement. In the minority of a Scout's time that is to be devoted to troop activities, the PLC controls the agenda. Since I checked a day before presenting on this topic at Area, I can confirm that there still is no "Troop Method" in Scouting, as ever defined by BSA. "In Scouting, a troop is composed of several patrols. Boy Scouting happens in the context of a patrol." Scoutmaster Position-Specific Training, at p 20 (https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/training/pdf/511-213_WB.pdf)[Including "famous" "quote" from Baden-Powell that he never said or wrote].

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I had to use a real IT pro to get here. When I try to do a normal entry to Scouter.com I get this message: "Welcome to nginx! If you see this page, the nginx web server is successfully installed and working. Further configuration is required. For online documentation and support please refer to nginx.org. Commercial support is available at nginx.com. Thank you for using nginx." I will try from time to time to log on. I have no trouble logging on to eleven other forums.

As noted above. yes you can, although BSA prefers otherwise. Scouting, January 19, 2028: Q: "My understanding is, as long as Two Deep is practiced for the overall campout or event, it is always OK for a single adult to be with Scouts as long as there is more than one boy present." A: "Not quite, we prefer to have a minimum of two adults as your previous paragraph described."

if I were "king," a patrol could go on a day hike with no adults, o=providing the Scoutmaster approved. That was the rule for over seventy-five years. To which, some might say, times have changed." And they have. At present, BSA might say: "Two or more registered adults must attend each Scout activity, such as a campout or meeting. It is preferred, but not required, that no group of Scouts go off separately, beyond sight or sound, with less than two registered adults. " This wording would pretty clearly, or more clearly, reflect this official statement of BSA in Scouting, January 19, 2028: Q: "My understanding is, as long as Two Deep is practiced for the overall campout or event, it is always OK for a single adult to be with Scouts as long as there is more than one boy present." A: "Not quite, we prefer to have a minimum of two adults as your previous paragraph described." Or, to piggyback on the official answer: "As long as Two Deep is practiced for the overall campout or event, it is always OK for a single adult to be with Scouts as long as there is more than one boy present, but BSA prefers to have a minimum of two adults present with any group of Scouts."

The rules changed a few years ago, so much learning was rendered obsolete. One constant problem is the inability of BSA to communicate clearly. Two registered adults "21 years of age or over are required at all Scouting activities, including meetings." If the adults are back "in camp," is he or she "at" the hike"? I submit that, at the very least, the further the Scouts are separated from the adults, the more likely YP is being violated and the hike is a "prohibited activity." Nor is any consideration expressed in YP of the impact of technology on whether adults are "at" a given location. The explanation of the longer-standing "no one-on-one" rule states that others must be in "view" of an adult and Scout for it not to be a "one-on-one" situation. So one may infer, at one's own risk, or one could ask your counsel for a ruling. (In my experience, that often results in being referred to BSA, where one may or may not get an answer.) Binocular-equipped Scouters in a boat at your lake? (Note: BSA has advised me in writing that, contrary to any rational interpretation of the YP "Two registered adult..." rule, a Merit Badge Counselor may meet (surely a "meeting") with a candidate without a second registered adult being present. Of course, a third person must be present. This position by BSA is daft as a matter of interpreting the BSA YP language, but it is, nevertheless, correct IMO as a matter of being able to use the Advancement Method.)

Adults (or perhaps an adult) were within scream most of the time when I was a Scout in the Golden Age when Bill ruled the roost. However, back before the "Improved Scouting Program," adults were trained, unlike the period thereafter, and especially since 2000. So here's how an adult reacted if he wanted to be around again: Out on a backpacker in the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area Scout: "Johnny is getting real tired. Should we take a break?" Adult: "I'm only a Scouter. Did you ask a leader.? I see the ASPL [SPL; PL] over there. [turning and walking away]." Absolutely no problem. In the Age of Incompetence," big problem.

Once, our troop was back-packing in mid-October in the mountains of western Pennsylvania on a narrow, slanting trial above a steep slope that went down several hundred rocky feet to a cold reservoir. Freezing rain began - instant ice. The issue was whether to go back to the cars at the trail-head, four miles back, or to push on the the campsite twice as far down the trail, located in a steep bowl. The two adults, not commissioned Scouters - parents, insisted that the troop go on. The SPL decided to return to the cars, and all the Scouts accompanied him as the adults loudly questioned his judgment and courage ("wimp"). That SPL was remarkable. I suspect that a more typical SPL , even at sixteen, would have been intimidated onto going on. Neither adult was his parent. We made sure in the future that they were never alone with the Scouts absent commissioned Scouters, although they had attended a unit of training that stressed that Scouts were not a commando unit and safety came first. He was probably aided by the strong Troop culture that the SPL was the leader of the Troop at Troop activities. The Troop took almost two full days to get home from the parking lot, instead of six hours, due to the many trees, utility poles, and utility wires down across the roads. The U.S. Forest Rangers and state and local authorities had to rescue several thousand hikers, backpackers, and campers from that area due to the ice. There were broken bones due to falls. Not our SPL's troop.

A Scout patrol is to be a largely self-selected team. Adult's may influence, but the decision should be by the team members collectively. Even-sized patrols is an adult fascination unrelated to kids. The Troop Guide is a coach/adviser/resource, not the Patrol leader, who is, of course, elected by the patrol members and no one else whatsoever. If patrol members are not going on campouts, the program is not likely attractive to those "customers." One might ask them why. Will the PLC agree to what they want? Can the patrol or troop supply what they expect? Once we reached 2/3 of all Scout-age boys at least for some time. Now, it's under 5%. Only so much can be done. However, if we fail, it would be nice if we at least tried Scouting. Few troops do these days. If they are not interested in Scouting, as can be the case, they are not customers. Was it their idea to join or the parents? If the latter, the odds were always against active participation for very long, if ever. (They WILL escape if it's not their idea: "Dad, I'd like to go but I have math homework I really, really need to do.") Adults'primary responsibility, beyond safety, is training youth to lead. Get outside help if, as is often the case given average tenure, you need it. The Patrol Leaders are critical to keeping the patrol teams together. If a PL is a total disaster after trying everything available to help him or her do better, the PLC should be counselled to consider a new election. Election of a leader is not a mutual suicide pact.

Plaintiffs' lawyers are after money. That is their only objective for the most part. If the BSA gets "destroyed," they could not care less. The more they say, "It's not about money," the more it's about the money. For the victims, money can be secondary.

"Look at this bigshot, being able to keep DE's for almost a year. What's the secret to your retention?" That's the average, not the mean.

In theory, the DE's job is to do what the units need. Then there's reality. $$$$$$$$$$$$$

Our typical DE's have less than three years in Scouting, including as children. They last an average of eleven months, mostly resigning. The actual DEs may not agree that it IS "the best, most-enjoyable paid job in Scouting because the rewards are meaningful, readily-apparent and immediate." They have little contact with youth and spend the bulk of their time trying to convince adults to donate money to pay, mostly, salaries and wages. We had 99 functioning troops in the Cleveland area before BSA arrived on the scene in 1912.

Yes, but what is alleged in the complaints and what position would the excess liability carrier take? At best, the defense will be offered under a "Reservation of Rights" if intentional wrongdoing is alleged. Punitive damages will likely not be covered. "Lewis v. Boys Scouts of America et al. [16] was a case filed in Multnomah County, Oregon, by Kerry Lewis, a former member of the BSA who alleged having been abused by former scout leader Timur Dykes in the 1980s.[17] In 1983, Timur Dykes had confessed to the local BSA co-ordinator that he had molested 17 Boy Scouts,[18] but was allowed to continue working with the Scouts where, attorneys argued, he subsequently abused Lewis.[7][19] In 2010, the jury on the case held in favor of the plaintiff and ordered that the Scouts pay $18.5 million as punishment for their actions—the largest punitive damages awarded to a single plaintiff in a child abuse case in the US.[7]" WIKI "Insurers Balk It’s also in court with its insurance companies, which argue that they shouldn’t have to pay claims related to abuse that the Scouts could have reasonably prevented. BSA and several councils sued the Hartford Accident and Indemnity Co. and First State Insurance Co. in Texas for $13.5 million in June, after the insurers argued that BSA’s own records showed the organization hadn’t done enough to warn or protect kids. These weren’t unrelated incidents, according to the insurers, but all the result of the organization’s failure to warn parents of the risk. In a different legal dispute, insurers are refusing to pay for sex-abuse settlements and legal defense fees, arguing that the events weren’t accidents, or even unforeseen." https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2018/12/20/512554.htm

In Ohio, it is illegal for insurance to cover intentional wrong-doing. That seems to be the rules in most states, if not all.

Hammocks require the right trees in the right places. Some models come with top, bottom and sides for dew and rain. You must like sleeping in a hammock. Aluminum cots and foam pads come in under 4 pounds for those designed to be light. Some, however, are junk - the cheap ones/ all the ones at Walmart. I have one that holds 250 pounds, weighs just under 4 pounds, and has lasted twenty years, including 19 summer camps. Self-inflating foam-filled air mattresses are comfortable and insulate well. They are a proven technology - over forty years old. Originally by Thermorest, but many other makers once patents expired. Open the valve and they inflate, roll and sit on to deflate, then close valve to keep deflated. Many sizes. The one I have used the most - "deluxe" model (4 lbs 6 oz on my scale; R 6.8) fits in a large roll tote with my 3-season sleeping bag.

I believe that, with few exception (such as a National Jamboree, the Official Record of the passing of Merit Badge requirements is the "Blue Card" and no other record. BSA, Guide to Advancement (2019) at pp. 42-43.

Here is a statement of the theory: "The Unit Commissioner's Role A commissioner plays several roles, including friend, representative, unit "doctor," teacher, and counselor. The commissioner is a friend of the unit. Of all their roles, this one is the most important. It springs from the attitude, "I care, I am here to help,what can I do for you?" Caring is the ingredient that makes commissioner service successful. He or she is an advocate of unit needs. A commissioner who makes himself known and accepted now will be called on in future times of trouble. The commissioner is a representative. The average unit leader is totally occupied in working with kids. Some have little if any contact with the Boy Scouts of America other than a commissioner's visit to their meeting. To them, the commissioner may be the BSA. The commissioner helps represent the ideals, the principles, and the policies of the Scouting movement. The commissioner is a unit "doctor." In their role as "doctor," they know that prevention is better than a cure, so they try to see that their units make good "health practices" a way of life. When problems arise, and they will even in the best unit, they act quickly. They observe symptoms, diagnose the real ailment, prescribe a remedy, and follow up on the patient. The commissioner is a teacher. As a commissioner, they will have a wonderful opportunity to participate in the growth of unit leaders by sharing knowledge with them. They teach not just in an academic environment, but where it counts most—as an immediate response to a need to know. That is the best adult learning situation since the lesson is instantly reinforced by practical application of the new knowledge. The commissioner is a counselor. As a Scouting counselor, they will help units solve their own problems. Counseling is the best role when unit leaders don't recognize a problem and where solutions are not clear-cut. Everyone needs counseling from time to time, even experienced leaders."

Down through the generations, many examples can be cited of adults creating their own requirements for advancement. Indeed, they may have the power to enforce those requirements. Such examples of extra requirements were the most common reason for appeals to Council when I sat on the Appeals Committee of the Council Advancement Committee. 8.0.0.2 Boards of Review Must Be Granted When Requirements Are Met A Scout shall not be denied this opportunity. When a Scout believes that all the requirements for a rank have been completed, including a Scoutmaster conference, a board of review must be granted. Scoutmasters—or councils or districts in the case of the Eagle Scout rank— for example, do not have authority to expect a Scout to request or organize one, or to “defer” the Scout, or to ask the Scout to perform beyond the requirements in order to be granted one. Neither can a board of review be denied or postponed due to issues such as uniforming, payment of dues, participation in fundraising activities, etc. 8.0.0.4 Wearing the Uniform—or Neat in Appearance It is preferred a Scout be in full field uniform for any board of review. As much of the uniform as the Scout owns should be worn, and it should be as correct as possible, with the badges worn properly. It may be the uniform as typically worn by the Scout’s troop, crew, or ship. If wearing all or part of the uniform is impractical for whatever reason, the candidate should be clean and neat in appearance and dressed appropriately, according to the Scout’s means, for the milestone marked by the occasion. Regardless of unit, district, or council expectations or rules, boards of review shall not reject candidates solely for reasons related to uniforming or attire, as long as they are dressed to the above description. Candidates shall not be required to purchase uniforming or clothing to participate in a board of review.

I was an SA with one troop for 25 years. Our Unit Commissioner appeared at a meeting once - of the Troop Committee as it happened - never at a troop meeting or activity where Scouts would be present. I have been repeatedly told by CCs and DCs that the council goal is to have 1/3 of units "covered" by a UC who "contacts" each of "his" units once a quarter.

Apparently, BSA agrees. "Tenderfoot" is, of course, a higher rank than "Scout."