acema606

Our Troop Calendar was for 12 months and the PLC developed it with consideration for fun as well as Journey to Excellence standards, and incorporating merit badge components (bike ride to campout for Camping MB for example. If a unit finds itself one activity short for a Journey to Excellence standard, due to this short notice cancellation, I truly hope the Council acknowledges its role in that and finds a way to rectify the situation.

I respect the name change to Fort Liberty, but it's gonna take a while before I consistently call the Center of the Universe by its new name. AATW!

When I was a SM Council said Scouts choosing to not participate in Council fundraising activities (popcorn, camp cards) could adversely affect their ability to receive a campership/ financial aid from the Council. Furthermore, the Council campership application had a spot that specifically asked about individual participation in those fundraising activities. We didn't want to hinder a Scout being able to pursue those things, so we facilitated Scouts participating in Council fundraising, but did not require it. We also did our own fundraising activities and provided our own unit level financial aid/ scholarships for Scouts. Summer camp assistance, paid NYLT fees, etc.. We were told we needed to complete fundraising applications so we weren't competing with the Council for the same dollars and to ensure that the activities were not prohibited in some way by GTSS or some other BSA rule.

Ironically I sent out the link with the updates, but haven't taken a look at any of the new ceremonies myself yet I watch plenty of ceremonies but my assignments in the Lodge have been have been related to Inductions and Service. I'll try to give them a look myself. Guessing from commentary above I'm guessing that we have all seen the ceremonies so many times we notice each and every little change and detail. To the starry eyed and somewhat sleep deprived candidates the finer elements are generally lost on them. It really takes years of hearing the words, reciting them, living them to get to the point that many of us are at. I've been married almost 25 years. Each time I go to a wedding it reminds me of my own vows, what I promised to do all those years ago, and what it's all about and means even more. Going to Induction weekends is the same. Those who just go through Ordeal, or get Brotherhood and then aren't active etc.. never really get to experience and understand that. It takes me back to my first time around the fire and the words that were spoken. Like most things in life, it's what you put into it that determines what you get out of it.

I don’t know if you can still get them from Section or National but you can still print them.

This link should help you out https://oa-bsa.org/article/ordeal-ceremony-revision-announcement There is a link within it that will take you to the password protected latest Ordeal ceremony. Additionally, your Lodge Ceremonies Chair and/or Advisor may already have a hard copy. If you are still at a loss, they can reach up the organizational ladder within the OA.

The 80% he is referencing appears to be the Class 8 Summary (p. 10 of 92) the Direct Abuse Claim section and referencing those who submitted a master ballot. There seems to be a very strong message being sent by that group that utilized the master ballot. Interesting days ahead. We shall see what the Judge reads in her tea leaves.

I got an email from National today. Just an FYI I am not a victim. Goes to the following link to BSA restructuring page, containing what I’m assuming is updated info. https://www.bsarestructuring.org/survivors/

I went as an advisor with a contingent and ended up doing some staff work as well. They both are enjoyable. To be honest my favorite memory of NOAC is getting my trail crew certification and working on rehabbing trail. Was trained by and worked with some top notch folks who are/ were OAHA foreman and staff. It was great to leave a lasting legacy and perform service on the scale that we did.

I feel inclined to mention that I am in no way a legal expert, nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. I very well could be wrong and welcome both dissenting and concurring opinions.

I certainly feel for the victims who are sadly outside of the statute of limitations and I wish there was an avenue for them to get some relief. That being said, if the SOL has passed I don’t feel they should be permitted a vote or relief through this particular process. That’s what statutes of limitations are about. There is not an endless timeline for one to pursue righting most wrongs. I don’t say this because I am callous or to favor either side. I say it because that is the standard currently as I understand it and it should be that way in principle until such time as something changes it. I think there can be lively discussion on if that is good or not but we should operate under that. I also don’t think doing what is right whether it be to BSA’s benefit or the victims has a timeline. Some standard of validation is accepted and ordered by the court and it is used. Some of the things BSA is trying to do within this bankruptcy appear to be previously untested (lumping in the LC’s for example when they are legally separate in their eyes.). If one is in territory that is not completely known to them I think they have to leverage as much of what is established as precedent as much as possible and not throw out what is commonly accepted. Just my personal rambling thoughts.

It seems to me from the outside looking in that it is largely "unworkable" and many of the problems BSA is up against is because they are trying to use the Bankruptcy Court in ways and for purposes it was never designed for. Color me unsympathetic to BSA's impatience to the daunting tasks of due diligence and taking care of the victims.

The longer the bankruptcy drags on, and COVID drags on, as well as the other forces working against BSA the less I'm certain that BSA will be able to survive in any sort of long term. I don't know that any promised future funds will come to to fruition at all, or at least to the level they think it will. BSA is hemorrhaging and is using their rainy day funds. The problem is the storm doesn't seem to be ending soon.

I'm guessing the meter will still be ticking as far as BSA burning through money on legal fees while all this unfolds? Perhaps they will run out of money before this is all said and done. That wouldn't make Mr. Kosnoff unhappy one bit if they have to convert to Chap. 7 and go under.

I have direct first hand knowledge of an individual who received a letter (a certified letter was sent and a copy was hand delivered to the Scout and one of his parents) terminating the youth's membership in Scouting. The former Scout struck a teacher with a large, heavy object. The teacher was aware of the youth's involvement with Scouting and contacted National. The SE delivered the letter to them at school. I witnessed the letter being hand delivered. The letter mentioned no means of appealing the decision and it was effective immediately.