Eagle1993

Volunteers are the life blood of the program. Too often, the same volunteers are asked for more and more support over and over. If you look who has the least free time to volunteer, it is parents. They are busy working to earn enough money to support their family, save for retirement, pay off mortgages and college loans etc. They are also the ones who typically coach their kids little league games and serve as unit leaders. Councils should focus on past scouts (18-30 year olds) and empty nest past scouters (55+) for the core of district/council leadership. Instead, I am typically called multiple times a year to volunteer for district positions. I simply cannot dedicate enough time. I mentioned the idea of using NESA lists and was told that wasn't a great option.

It absolutely can. I look at the UK Scouts Association... They have far more scouts per capital, were growing pre COVID (and have started to rebound), have a large waiting list of scouts and a transparent/reasonable sized board with great focus on what youth need today. Or... We could go the way of Scouts Canada. I work with several Canadians... most don't realize scouting exist anymore. I think major action is needed to save scouts, but so far only see deck chairs being rearranged.

For BSA sake and the sake of the victims of abuse, I hope this plan can remain intact. However, I still struggle seeing bankruptcy abused in various ways (shell companies being created by J&J or non debtors like the Slackers avoiding the full weight of their horrible actions). I think it is clearly time the SC weighs in on non debtor releases. They continue to expand. Given the courts conservative leaning, one could guess that they may not agree as Congress has never authorized non debtor releases (outside of asbestos) and it is clearly not in the constitution. However, this is not a typical right vs left issue so who knows where the 9 members will fall. This could make some odd bedfellows. I really hope the plan remains intact. If it doesn't, I see a decade of council and charter org lawsuits and bankruptcy with primarily lawyers getting rich.

This is interesting. Supreme Court put the Purdue Pharma plan on hold ato hear arguments about allowing non debtor releases. One wonders if this could give a bit of fuel to the appeals against the BSA plan. https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/10/politics/supreme-court-purdue-pharma-opioid-settlement/index.html

They saw this coming and were not prepared... https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/08/09/south-korea-scout-jamboree-heatwave-preparations/

Fully agree. YPT barriers to abuse are not international, if the setup prevents those barriers then BSA should have identified that early. Just one of many examples.

What a disaster. US/UK scouts look like they were thinking ahead now that the entire Jambo is cancelled early and everyone is scrambling. WOSM needs to be better prepared.

A bit more info from FB: From Jeness Woodard #1 This is a WOSM event and monies went to them, not BSA. Further, MANY other contingents are leaving, the issue is logistics. The US is extending their contract with the bus company previously used, which is why we are able to leave. This also takes time. 1200 people just cannot be moved in an instant, even if we would like them to. Also, whether or not you are having fun depends on the attitude of the leader toward the problem. The issue is not the having fun, it is safety, health, medical care, and lack of food. This would, frankly, be a health emergency in the US and be shut down. And it would still take time to get everyone off site. And others are correct, this is like a summer camp and it would not be judicious of a leader to keep a kid in this type of situation. Watch the recording from this morning's parent video, it has way more info. But for reference, statistically they were expecting 500-600 people in the medical tents daily, there has been 5000-10000 and they cannot track your kids if they go to a hospital. reasons we have to go: heat, not enough shade - too little, too late. proper storage of food. started at 600 calories of food, getting better - not enough. deplorable sanitation issues. would be a health emergency if it was in the US. YPT issues. weather - typhoon bands are coming. don't believe site can handle it. more torrential rain on Sun and Mon. clear we had to leave based on safety medical 5000-10000 patients in medical daily. predicted was about 500. Cannot provide enough care. specialist referrals not happening. Americans going to hospitals cannot be tracked. Health of ALL participants is at high risk. Our own medical folks cannot manage the needs without assistance Monday, depart base. neverland and lego store. Tuesday, baseball game. Wednesday, on base culture day, including water games, bounce house, snow cones, movies on site. Thursday off base- Suan fortress. Led special performance. Live viewing of the closing ceremony - virtual. Down time - use stuff on site. Hot meal in morning and evening. to go meals at lunch. reached out to other contingents to see if they are local and want to interac Sleeping in middle school gymnasiums, organized by unit, separated by gender, bathrooms too. not restricted this time and greater flexibility on base. Scouts proved to base that they can behave. bringing in games. schedule will be posted. quarantine for Covid did not exist because of change in gov't policy change. US kid came w/ Covid. Nowhere on site to house sick. US team told them quarantine in tent is not ok and quarantine site reopened. no rapid flu test because it is not flu season in Korea (is in other places). again, plan is to put person in their tent to quarantine. There are other, in my opinion, diseases folks bring - like TB, so no quarantine for those either medical care on base is being billed to insurance, like it would be if taken to urgent care or ER. Pulled out - UK (4000 scouts), US, many others are leaving and working on logisticsother groups are asking if they can come on our military base as well. that has to go through the embassy and the state department.

That was my thought. Perhaps a free trip to Summit? I'm sure they wont get back the cash.

I've seen mixed updates on FB by some who are present. Complaints about lack of shade options, lack of water, lack of facilities (4 toilets for 200+), kids putting drinking hoses down their pants to keep cool, no garbage service, etc. Also, reports that some of the doctors in the hospital supporting the camp have collapsed due to exhaustion. However, it appears not all sub camps are that bad and some want to stay. Some parents have said their kids told them it wasn't too bad and they want to stay. Tough call to make and given how much money was spent, I hope BSA finds a way to compensate. It sounds like South Korea wasn't ready to host something this large.

Posted to FB: The following was shared with all of the National Service Territories earlier today (31 July); I have been busy with other recovery tasks to fully read and vet the information provided. ------------ "from the BSA Volunteer Training Team **Changes to Cub Scout Pack Overnight Camping** Effective Sept. 1, 2023, Cub Scout packs who are conducting their own overnight camping activity may now camp up to two consecutive nights. Cub Scout packs who are conducting their own overnight camping activities must continue to have at least one registered adult leader who is trained in Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO), oversees the planning, and is in attendance for the pack campout. This updated policy also applies to Webelos and Arrow of Light dens who may conduct den-coordinated campouts. The policy will be updated in the Guide to Safe Scouting and other resources on Sept. 1. An updated version of the BALOO training will also be released at this time. ACTION: Reminder, Cub Scout camping is limited to their council’s designated locations with appropriate facilities. As councils prepare to communicate this change to their local packs, now is the time for the council to review the approved Cub Scout pack overnight sites and make any necessary updates. As this announcement is communicated to your packs, it is important to ensure that your council’s list of approved pack overnight camping locations is easily accessible from your website and is included in your communications. For additional information regarding Cub Scout camping, including required youth protection policies, please review the Guide to Safe Scouting." (Mike Walton/Settummanque)

I would have rather seen an actual female scout, but it is still better than the naked man following the boy scout statue.

I'll add... You kill Cub Scouts recruiting you kill the entire organization in a few years.

Cub Scout fees should be lower. I don't see how you recruit many new scouts when those parents are looking at: $140 Council Fee $80 National Registration $25 New Scout Fee $15 Scouts Life $xx Pack Fee $75 Uniform/Book Total $335+ to join an organization to build a pinewood derby car, run around a room a few times a month and visit a local police station.

It could help if they bring up anti inclusions stances BSA has had in the past; However, I don't think it sells the program at all. I have never had no seen the need for it come up with prospective scouts.

Not able to read this entire thread, but thought this was an interesting comment. I do think there are difference in beliefs and values between various groups. We shouldn't dismiss those. That said, when in person (which is much easier to have these discussions) a very conservative friend told me that in many ways, our end goals are similar it's just the path to get there is different which I agree and therefore agree with the intent above. As I drove up my gay/trans scout to camp, they were concerned a bit about acceptance. They live in a community and go to a school and church that is very accepting and were concerned that scouts, scouters or staff wouldn't at summer camp. I told him to be themself and let me know if they run into any issues. So far, every interaction has been positive. Outside of some sideways looks during shotgun merit badge (when they knew more parts of the gun than anyone in the class) it has been great. (While the fact they are gay never comes up, their pronouns and appearance is clearly different.). I see this as a win. First, my scout can see that the portrayal of more conservative groups is not accurate. I'm sure many don't agree but are kind in their interactions. Others, who may not know a trans youth, can see that they are not the characters portrayed by the media. Sometimes they are just a kid, in a scout uniform, working on shotgun merit badge.

My ASM who was a SM of a Troop for many years had several of his former scouts mail him their Eagle Scout medals when BSA fought against including gay scouts. He said it was hard on him but he understood and respected their stance. I'm here at summer camp with a Life rank gay/transgender scout and am happy I don't have to kick them out due to someone else's beliefs. BSA has many faults, but allowing LGBTQ and girls as members are not one of them.

Which is what should be used as BSA's comparison vs travel baseball. I'll also mention that my GSUSA troop never charged for outings (including hotel rooms, camp sites, etc.). Also, not one call about FOS.

My camp appears to have less attendees than previous years. Bad news as one of the bigger camps in the state closed, so attedance should be up. 1,749 total scouts & adults are registered over 6 weeks of camp, averaging 292 per week with 130 Troops (average 13.5 scouts/adults per Troop) Pareto of Troop size (including adults) below. Just 22% of Troops are at least 20 scouts & adults

https://www.cnn.com/style/stephen-lucka-photography-scouts/index.html

I expect they do have a plan, but it sounds like they didn't make it public in NAM. We have seen some snippets during the bankruptcy hearing, and those snippets were from late 2021. Anyone with any competence would have a detailed plan ready to save BSA. I was hoping they would release it during NAM but based on what has come out, nothing was really released. If those were the top 15 items at NAM, I'm happy I didn't attend.

Supposedly they received over $6M for the camp sale so have ~$3M to spend on this camp. The camp has very few cabins, toilets, a small dining hall and is very underdeveloped. Definitely hope they listen to local scouters. When I talked with the council leadership, they emphasized they want to ensure they have good plans before adding anything. We will see...

Indian Mounds Reservation was sold to a NA Tribe.... Probably the best buyer of the land. Dear Scout Leaders: Earlier today, the Trustees of the Milwaukee Boy Scout Fund completed the sale of Indian Mound Scout Reservation (IMR) to the Forest County Potawatomi Community. The camp sale follows Three Harbors Council’s decision to end camp operations at IMR last fall. This difficult decision was reached following a comprehensive review of our two camps while taking into consideration the significant contribution of $3.685 million requested from our council to support the Settlement Trust, a compensation fund for survivors of abuse in Scouting, established through the BSA’s financial restructuring process. Selling the camp was a necessary and important step as we support survivors of abuse and ensure that we are in the best position to serve youth and families in southeastern Wisconsin for many years to come. Following the board’s decision, the Trustees of the Milwaukee Boy Scout Fund, who owned the camp, entertained multiple offers to purchase IMR. The property went under contract at the asking price in the fall, and following a due diligence period, the sale closed on June 1st. The buyers are still determining the future usage of the property. The property is zoned as “Institutional” and therefore the current permitted usage is restricted to camps, parks, schools, hospitals, or similar uses. The proceeds from the camp sale will be invested in the Milwaukee Boy Scout Fund, a separate Trust that serves as the council’s endowment fund, providing annual support for Scouting operations. The sale proceeds will allow the Trust to recoup the $3,075,000 it provided to Three Harbors Council as a special grant to assist in the council’s contribution to the Settlement Fund. At the discretion of the Trustees and pending the completion of a new camp master plan, funds from the sale of IMR may be made available for future investment in Camp Oh-Da-Ko-Ta. While we are pleased to have the sale completed, today is also a time to reflect on Indian Mound Scout Reservation’s legacy. The camp was founded in 1917 on the shores of Silver Lake near Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. IMR served thousands of Scouts throughout its 105-year history. We are truly grateful to the Scouting volunteers, donors, and community leaders who donated their time, talent, and treasure to support the program at IMR. The camp had an incredibly positive, lifelong impact on Scouts, leaders, and families across our council. As we move forward, the Council’s focus will be on strengthening camp facilities and programs offered at Camp Oh-Da-Ko-Ta, located on Dyer Lake near Burlington, Wisconsin. Past Council President, Dr. R. Scott Pierce, is chairing a committee of camp volunteers charged with developing a new master plan for Camp Oh-Da-Ko-Ta. The council has hired Domokur Architects, a national leader in camp planning, to help guide the master plan process, and opportunities for Scout leader input will be shared in the coming months. Please reach out to Camping@ThreeHarborsScouting.org with any questions about the camp sale. Any inquiries from local news media should be directed to Scout Executive Andrew Hardin. Thank you for your continued support of Scouting in Three Harbors Council. In Scouting, Kimberly Kane Council President Andrew Hardin Scout Executive

Apparently they compared membership rates between packs with single gender dens and coed dens and found coed performed better.

One change announced today - K4 through 4th grade Cub Scout Dens can now be coed.