Eagle1993

I am not an active OA member but received the survey. Questions were about OA, Indian Lore MB, camp names, council names, any and all NA usage.

Watch your email inbox... Survey is starting to make the rounds. Dear Scouters, The BSA continuously evaluates the relevance of its program to ensure that it remains engaging for youth and families throughout the country. Native American traditions have been a part of the BSA program, particularly within the Order of the Arrow, for more than a century. As we move forward, BSA is conducting a broad assessment of what role those traditions should play in the future. We’d like you to take the attached survey to provide your perspective on this important issue. No related decisions have been made. The BSA is in the early stages of assessing the issues and your responses will be used as part of that assessment. The survey will take approximatly 5 minutes to complete. Thank you for your feedback. If you have any questions about the survey, please contact David Verbraska, BSA’s Executive Vice President, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer. Yours in Scouting, Roger Mosby BSA President and CEO Chief Scout Executive

Will this form apply to the $3500 quick payout option? I'm curious how that will be handled.

I was wondering when BSA was going to start this process. I question if it would have any impact on the district court, but I know some professors/reporters on bankruptcy have stated appeals can run into trouble if the court determines the appeal is moot. As you state, if BSA basically says there is no other path left because everyone already paid into the plan and the plan started, the court (unless it acts quickly) would kill the appeal even if it could have some merits. I guess the risk would be if the court tells BSA too bad, you shouldn't have started, but BSA would be in serious trouble regardless, so it is pretty much 0 risk for starting it now. I think this might also be a sign that BSA is assuming district will confirm the plan. With the announcement of Mosby's retirement, start of the trust ... I believe BSA has decided to start implementing their exit strategy. Finally ... fully agree this is good for survivors. The alternative to the current plan is endless lawsuits, less money and lack of resolution.

Perhaps the most important hire in BSA history. Given BSA's situation, I don't know if they can survive if the get a bad leader. Any membership or financial buffer is gone. I am definitely open to outside leaders. I also wonder if there is a council out there that is run exceptionally well. There could be some great internal leaders.

The search for Roger Mosby's replacement has begun. BSA-Search-committee-initial-letter-final-02-07-2023.pdf

Some do through "Friends of...". I know we did that for our unit for a few years. However, when we looked at liability (among other reasons) we became concerned and found a CO. Some entity needs to be directly responsible for the unit. Feb 8th The Milwaukee archdiocese announced they will stop charter agreements starting Jan 1 2024.

My Troop also pays the leaders' registration fees. We have one primary fundraiser that does very well. Part of the profit goes to scout accounts. The other goes to Troop expenses which includes adult fees. The $0 MBC was really about not charging the local weatherman or pilot who would like to volunteer to be a MBC. It was never about an end around for those closely associated with Troops. If that local weatherman is looking to camp with the Troop then they are likely not just a MBC.

The TCC was clear that they did not approve of the 72 hour rule. BSA was never going to exit bankruptcy without this change. It was one of the changes that switched TCC from rejecting to supporting the bankruptcy plan. It was an odd rule. I'm not able to do nearly anything with the GSUSA without registering. I think BSA avoided it, like they avoided the YPT training checks for years, to avoid the complaints and moaning from scouters. As far as MBCs, they shouldn't be hanging out overnight with the Troop. ASMs and SMs ... Sure. I struggle to see why a MBC in that capacity should be sleeping in a tent with a Troop. I'm fine with the policy change and expect it will have minimal impact to my Troop. i wouldn't want a parent or leader near my kids who would object to the background check or registration. e One of the major complaints I have seen is impact to family camping.... Great! I've seen too many parents looking to just hang out with the Troop overnight. If this puts a barrier up so scouting can return to only necessary leaders and scouts I see this as a win. Having 7 parents and 12 scouts at camporees is just not what scouting is about.

I think it helps. However, there is a huge variety in experience and culture between units. There are units that are more engaged in training, rules, regulations, etc. Many other units are either unaware (due to so many different sources of data) or just ignore the rules. I think the only fix is for councils to be more aware of unit leaders and unit culture/behavior. Relying on COs will not work. So ... this video will be helpful for the units who follow rules and pay attention. However, I question if that is the biggest safety issue BSA faces. I wonder if the bigger issue is that there are too many poorly led units that violate rules. I'm curious what injury investigations show. Was the injury a result of the inherent risk of an activity, lack of a rule or was it due to violating rules? If it was due to violating rules, was it due to lack of understanding the rules, lack of awareness of the rules or ignoring them? This video helps with one aspect, but may not be the total answer or addressing the biggest cause.

This one snuck in when the other change was announced (about adults staying overnight). A registered female adult leader 21 years of age or over must be present for any activity involving female youth or female adult program participants. So, what is the change? In the past, "female adult program participants" wasn't listed. So, my understanding, is if you have a female 18-20 attending an event, you need a registered female adult leader 21 years or older.

Deleted my thread. 😄

200 BSA councils going through bankruptcy over a 10 year period while National BSA goes Ch 7 is not going to lead to success.

1) The franchise agreement isn't clear. Some have argued that the BSA trustee could pull all LC charters. If that charter is pulled, the agreement states National owns the remaining assets. LCs could fight that but that would be a court fight. In the meantime, they couldn't use the trademarks or program material. Why did BSA include a full national (including LC) liquidation in their analysis... Because of this theory. 2) How much would they pay for the trademarks and program material? $100M? $400M? The trustee would drive that price up as high as possible. 3) It is estimated that 1/3 of councils would immediately face bankruptcy due to lawsuits. COs would also be directly hit and many more would flee. 4) Remaining LCs would face decades of future lawsuits. 5) Insurance companies would avoid BSA or jack up rates until the situation is resolved. 6)Donations would dry up as no one would want their money going to bankruptcy payments. National already sees this... Once their protection is gone, FOS would be hit. BSA knows it is a disaster which is why they never even seriously considered the mini Ch7 offered by TCC (national only bankruptcy+ buyout by council). A full CH 7 could be the end.

BSA will not go Ch 7. Based on their most recent cash burn they can last over a year without looking at Ch7. Even after that year they could get more money from councils, etc. Ch 7 is utter disaster. BSA trademarks and program materials would be sold. All properties sold. There are legal arguments that would be pursued to pull in all council assets. Then CO and LCs would be sued. BSA would likely not survive. Ch 7 was a threat to get approval of a plan. If it does happen, who knows the outcome for claimants financially. I think it would be bad for everyone excluding those who simply want BSA to die as they would likely get their wish.

I see a few milestones to watch for .. Purdue Pharma appeals outcome. I believe the district court ruling in Purdue Pharma did cause a bit of a quake through the bankruptcy courts. An appeals ruling against the plan could perhaps be used to either reject BSA's plan or justification for a stay if the BSA district court approves the plan. Prof Jacoby has mentioned this in the past. BSA District Court ruling ... per Prof Jacoby, now it is more and more likely we will see Purdue appeals ruling first as we wait while for the District Court ruling. One good thing ... the BSA District Court judge has already told Biden he is retiring this year, so it likely won't take all year. Appeals of District Court ruling ... from various articles and messages here, it seems clear that either side will appeal the District Court ruling, regardless of outcome. Appeals court stay ... will the appeals court in BSA stay the effective date of the plan? BSA's actions ... what will BSA do? As mentioned, if there is a stay, we could be looking at 1 year more of limbo. Will BSA continue to limp until mid 2024? Will any insurance company settle and drop appeals? Will the judge allow payment of the fees from the Coalition & other law firms? Time will tell...

One of my fears is that CAC's $20/month fee was the foot in the door. Many people who are younger seem to gravitate to the subscription model. This car will only cost you $400/month. This home will only cost you $2500/month. If you don't look at the total cost of something, the monthly fees don't seem that bad (until you add them all up). BSA only costs $20/month in CAC ... $20/month sounds perfectly reasonable until you multiple that by 12 and realize a few years ago the equivalent was only $30/year. Once you establish $20/month then a change to $22/month much easier than trying to make a $24/year annual increase. Perhaps this is where we are headed ... if we are, I'll probably not be around for the ride.

Only name I see on the 2020 990 form is JAMES PARNELL who was paid $104K. Honestly not too bad compared to most councils I have seen.

Welp .... CAC has now paused the new fee schedule. Based on feedback from parents & volunteers, Crossroads of America council has decided to pause the new fee structure. My daughter's annual Girl Scout fee is $25. As mentioned, 4H and other similar organizations have pretty low annual fees. BSA thinking $300+ is reasonable is completely wrong. Members within CAC are still upset. The entire council volunteer corp & paid leadership approved the fee. Hopefully a warning to other councils think about a massive fee increase.

Thanks for the updates! I do wonder what would happen if Purdue Pharma appeal kills the releases. I know it is another circuit, but there is a ton of attention and change with respect to non debtor releases. If an appeal court rejects them (Purdue had more support in terms of votes than BSA) then I wonder if either the District Court or 3rd Circuit appeals puts the breaks on the BSA plan. I would expect plan supporters are probably hoping that either a ruling comes out backing Purdue Pharma OR the ruling is delayed until BSA has district approval and starts implementing their plan.

Their top paid employees total comp: SE = $326K Deputy SE = $331K Dir. Major Gifts = $191K Dir. Field Ser = $182K

Even parents of upper class ... $340 a year is a lot when you add in the various other costs including summer camp, etc. Asking for $50/year ... ok, they will sign up little Jimmy/Sally even if they are not super active. $340 ... all you are left with are the scouts where scouting is their ONLY activity. That will drop scouts to a small fraction of who is currently registered.

Petition · Prevent the Decimation of Membership of Local BSA unit in Crossroads of America · Change.org

Look at this cost structure. $340 per year in Crossroads of America. Seems a bit steep..

I'm not sure how other Troops handle this but we make it clear that nothing is official until we hear from National. We do not have anyone wear the patch until we have the kit from National. Now, in all my years, I haven't had a case where National rejected the Eagle app but it can happen.