Eagle1993

Coed camping already occurs with venturing and Packs. So, we are really only talking about adding coed camping for 11, 12 and 13 yo. In addition, coed camping exists in those ages as linked Troops share camping sites all the time, including at BSA events. Clarification... When I say coed, I mean boys and girls camping at same site. Now, if you mean in the same tent, I agree that won't happen for a long time.

Perhaps it is just my highschool, but as a parent of a teenager I have to say expectations of what teens must do far exceed what was expected of teens 20, 30, 50 years ago. First, they are expected to take college level courses in high school. When I was a kid, I took 2 AP courses, now ... If you want any chance to get selected by a highly selected university you need at least 8. Plus you need to have nearly perfect grades and an ACT/SAT that is very high. Then look at sports. When I was a kid you can simply walk on to most teams and the sport lasts the season. Now, the best teams are not even at high school and nearly all teams except you dedicate yourself to that sport all year (and expect to travel). Add in the expectation you also have a job, volunteer, become president of a couple of clubs, etc. Free time for far too many kids is rare. They are jumping around from studying for an AP test to travel baseball to mock trials, etc. Participation trophies are a thing in the past. My kids participated in years of various sports, never received a trophy and were told they were no good for travel and should simply quit. As a parent of a couple of kids today I think the lazy argument is that kids today are babied. Actually, in many ways, I think kids today are abused. Expectations are far too high and many sacrifice childhood to become mini adults at age 9. The kids that don't are left feeling like they are failures. It's incredibly sad. Scouting is the one organization where you are not judged if you are not the "best" at something and you don't leave feeling like you failed life just because you didn't ace an AP test while also throwing a baseball in the mid 90s at 16. I honestly think that is why we need scouting more than ever. It allows kids to try a variety of activities, fail, learn , have fun and just be kids. Everything else is rushing them into adulthood.

I just completed a scouting survey. It included standard questions and asked for recommendations. It has additional questions for Scoutmasters that dug into collecting feedback about how girls troops are run (are they really independent or integrated and if integrated how integrated are they). It then had questions about recommendations if BSA should consider coed Troops and if they were coed, how integrated should the integrated Troops be managed. Hopefully this is really a survey to get input before decisions but I know that is not always the case. However, I can say that BSA must be at least considering changing how girls are integrated. FWIW, I recommended allowing coed Troops but keeping girls patrols. I felt like that would open up scouting to more girls but still allow some space for coharts to bond.

I will say for my company, DEI has gone well (overall). There are a few times where I think it went sideways, but overall we have greater pools of talent for hiring, our profits have increased substantial over the last few years and year end bonuses are the highest they have ever been. Personally, I have been happy with my career progression. When I hire, I have never been pressured to hire an under or unqualified candidate. If someone quits because they are against diversity, inclusion or equity... So be it. I haven't seen many people quit my company and definitely no one with talent that is not easily replaced.

I know probably the best employee at our local council is gay. He was promoted and I didn't know he was gay until after he left. The council is worse off after he left. If DEI helps us get employees from more walks of life and expands the pool of talent, I don't see it as a negative. If it is used to push out people than I have an issue with it. I think how an organization handles DEI is really what is important. I'm not an employee of BSA so I'm not sure how they are using it.

What is the hidden message? I do think there are more girls and gay scouts than there were in the past (so in part it is working). I'm not sure about other groups.

To expand scouting beyond those who typically participated?

My district dropped 9% from end 2022 to end 2023, we only post 2.5% end 2021 to end 2022. In the past 2 years we lost 16% of our Troops and more are near the end. Packs and crews are roughly steady.

The consequences of a massive shrinking BSA. In addition, the practice of changing volunteers who staff is not a great practice. One of the ASMs in my troop had a lead role in past Jambos. He spent over $5000 out of own pocket to volunteer (flights to Dallas, food, etc.) along with hundreds of hours just in prep. He couldn't justify keeping up that level of commitment. That said, several of my Eagle scouts said Jambo (not last year's) was by far the best experience you can get in scouting. These are youth that also went to Philmont and. BWCA. Why? They both explained that anyone can go on a high adventure trip, but the experience of Jambo is unique and is not duplicated. I've never been, but based on feedback from others who attended in better years, I hope they can return it back to the event it once was.

Roger Krone is showing far more engagement in a few months than Mosby did in years. No complaints so far! That said, BSA is in a crisis. Hopefully he takes aggressive action to course correct.

That really should be it in terms of appeals. I can't imagine this bankruptcy being undone if the Supreme Court punted now.

I think we are at the point of agree to disagree and time to move on. Let's get back to the initial focus of this topic. @RememberSchiff

Hope it doesn't come to this, but you have the option to file for an extension. No guarantees, but you may have a valid argument. GTA-11.2.0.0-form-2021 (1).pdf

If the worst case happens and the supreme Court rules non debtor/non consensual releases cannot be included in the plan AND BSA plan is not too far along, then my guess is BSA gives up including COs and Councils and could provide a much lower fund. The insurance would be a bit of a mess, but their contribution would be much less. If the plan continues to be rejected, you may see National liquidate. The individual lawsuits and bankruptcy of COs and Councils would follow over the next decade. Donors would flee as their funds could just be waiting for bankruptcy filings. I do expect any contributions made to the trust would be refunded and perhaps clawbacks of payments made to individuals. In short... financial disaster for the BSA. Some claimants may see more money but I expect the vast majority would see less and it would drag out. Hopefully it doesn't come to this.

Seems like some bankruptcy professors and reporters were surprised. In addition "Unlike prior such orders, Alito *didn’t* set a deadline."

Thanks for this info. If they are willing to hold up a $10B bankruptcy like Purdue, why wouldn't they hold up $2.4B BSA bankruptcy based on the same arguments when only $7M was spent to date. I hope they don't hold it up and agree that it doesn't mean they plan to overrule Purdue, I just question overuse of mootness. In terms of the Purdue decision I hold to my initial thoughts post arguments... they find a way to uphold the plan, but it will be close and perhaps set a new bar for 3rd party releases. Would uphold Purdue plan: Thomas, Kavanaugh Would reject Purdue plan: Gorsuch, Barrett, Jackson On the fence (or just tougher to read): Roberts, Alito, Sotomayor, Kagan

Usually when I don't respond timely to a scout, either a text cc to parent or a short email reminder helps. Perhaps just ask the SM and coach if there are other methods of communication that would work. If that doesn't work, fully agree about reaching out beyond your unit. I just checked my email .. OA elections, summer camp planning and updates, two eagle scout projects, troop meeting prep and an eagle scout SM conference... oh, and a job, sick pet, home repairs, wife, etc. 😀

My understanding is that all appeal litigation must end before insurance companies make their full payments.

$2,333 per survivor .... This will be a big decision. I'm not sure paying out 0.2% of the settlement is enough to say it is too late to pause. That said, I do agree that it is likely the best settlement for survivors and BSA. It will be interesting to see how the court rules.

Here is the screenshot from National...

Nothing beyond that screenshot. I would think everything else in the process is unchanged. I do think this could open up the option of adults having to directly use a third party for the background check. I have to do that for other youth orgs, get the certificate and then can submit my registration. We will see ..

Our Troop used to go to LeFeber which was shuttered and then CFL which was shuttered. Bay Lakes is down to two Scouts BSA summer camps (Bear Paw and Hiawatha (which only runs 2 weeks)).

Just received email of another delay in spending out our 2024 summer camp guide. I noted that summer 2023 seemed lighter in attendance than prior years and I think that is causing issues with plans for 2024. Has anyone else seen 2024 summer camp plans change from prior years? "With declining membership in Bay-Lakes Council, as with most councils across the country, there are serious, but not insurmountable financial repercussions. These budgetary considerations need to be dealt with wholistically to ensure the viability of the Scouting program in Northeast Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. Part of that wholistic approach must include a careful examination of how best to provide world-class programing while reducing costs and increasing revenues at our summer camps."