PACAN

I am stunned and in awe of the Churchill project. Do nothing hard. Punt on the major decisions. The three priority items are ones that should have already been done as a part of regular business practices.

Sorry about those folks affected but I'm not sure any of us should be surprised by this. By the numbers of lost just youth membership (of about 1/3) and at $60 pp that is around $30M+ in lost revenue paid directly to National. We have also seen large scale staff reductions at the council levels and a few mergers folks have listed on this forum.

My understanding is that the National Directors of Sea Scouts, Ventures and STEM were axed. So what does that tell us about the future of these programs?

@Eagle94-A1 Once you realize that you are not your council's customer, they are yours it will come clear to you.

Their web site shows they have 4 camps in the council. Don't know anything about any of them but the 35% reduction in youth takes the total youth to right at 2000. Hard to see how they can maintain that many properties.

@mashmaster What does the National Commodore think or know the true membership of the Sea Scouts is? Again...how many are post 18? Are the over 18 primary registration Ventures? What is the need or ramifications of the Sea Scouts not being attached to the BSA? Thanks for any info he is willing to provide.

The capping of Sea Scouts, Ventures, OA at 18 is an interesting discussion. Sea Scouts...there are less than 2000 in the program..any idea of the numbers of 18 and under youth. The old Air Scouts program is now really the Civil Air Patrol. The Sea Scouts could be the same under the USCG. Does being under the BSA banner really do anything for them? Ventures..there are less than 22000 in the program..same question. Use to be over 260000. OA...since once elected to the OA you are a member for as long as you keep your registration and dues current does it matter where the youth/adult cut off is. The senior regional leadership all wear Eagle Scout knots and all over 18. Just wondering out loud on a friday.

@David CO There are certainly scouting professionals that leave a lot to be desired. The Peter Principle applies in many cases at the SE level. This happens in lots of organizations including Congress for sure. There are many issues with professional scouters. One I've seen over and over is zero training in Customer Service and how to trust volunteers to do jobs. "No you can't collect the $5.00 fee for the Pinewood Derby...I have to sit here for 4 hours writing out $5 receipts to the 50 scouts who are here". The Executive Boards are neutered either by design or they just give up.

Council or Unit Assets Upon Dissolution Consistent with the Bylaws, in the event of the dissolution of a council or the revocation or lapse of its charter, the Executive Committee may, at its option, authorize the National Council to assume charge of the affairs of the council and continue operation pending reorganization or re-establishment of the council or wind up the business of the council. All funds and property in the possession or control of such council must be applied to the payment of the council’s obligations. Any surplus funds or property may thereafter be administered as deemed to be in the best interest of Scouting. In the event of the dissolution of a unit or the revocation or lapse of its charter, unit funds and assets must be used to first satisfy any outstanding unit obligations. Any remaining assets obtained with funds raised in the name of Scouting must be redeployed for Scouting use in the local area. Any assets obtained with funds from the chartered organization or parents of registered members may be redeployed as agreed upon by the chartered organization and local council. Any property or funds acquired by the National Council upon the dissolution of a Scouting unit or local council will be administered so as to make effective, as far as possible, the intentions and wishes of the donors.

Not to worry..National is going to hire another 6 figure exec as the national Chief Communications and Marketing Officer

@CynicalScouter PM me

One standard might be total youth served...after the significant membership losses in which all councils were affected, there are 75 councils with less than 2000 youth and 29 of these less than 1000 and as low as 200.

Been saying this for years....Allow units to go to the best provider. The franchise model we are locked into has failed.

I forgot JTE Gold is all we need!!🤣

Trying to find the LEAD part in this consultant produced PLAN. Members of this forum could do better than this but the folk in Texas wouldn't like what we came up with.

Are there no minimum standards now?

Citizenship in the community (7c) requires 8 hours of service that requires the scout to do the volunteer work for the charitable organization the scout has researched as part of the first two requirements of number 7. This requirement is not intended for random service projects in multiple areas. The rank service requirements are better suited for those.

This program still exists today...now called scout reach and/or urban scouting. 😉

What are your thoughts about councils running Virtual Summer camps which are really MB events ? Prices? I've heard of $5 up to $25 per badge . Also seen where they charge for Totem Chip and Fireman Chits and early scout skills. A few other evening events such as a campfire and OA socials.

So what happened with this ?

Camp Rodney in Maryland just announced they are closed for the season.

I think you misinterpreted...maybe your experience is different but scouts still procrastinate until the last minute and therefore are only concerned with checking off the last blocks on their MBs. You can yell, scream, jump up and down, cajole and explain keeping ahead of the game but they still do what they do. Eventually it is their responsibility. Why is the average age a scout earns Eagle 17.8 y/o. The value of scouting to me is enormous. Been doing this for close to 50 years. However you cannot get in the middle of a family's responsibility when it comes to their role as parent. You will lose every time. I have had single parents, homeless scouts, ugly divorces, parental deaths and other tragic situations where the leaders have provided a great amount of assistance as far as we could so please take a step back when you ask me why I do this.

@Navybone The point on B-P is that rational decisions and thought processes are devoid in people today. There are folks who want to remove the Washington Monument and Jefferson Memorial. The question on the pamphlet vs a MB is making it Eagle required is where do you want the BSA to inject itself in this area? My point is early. This will overtime become another last minute MB done to check the block. Also believe it or not we are not the primary influence on a boys life. We see then an hour and a half a week and once a month on an outdoor event if we are lucky. Just as in Family Life MB family meeting requirement there are sensitive topics that are discussed and we are not going to inject ourselves in these. Again JMHO with recognition that nobody asked me and nobody will. Enjoy.

IMHO....this is a family discussion issue just like the YPT pamphlets for Scout Ranks and Cubs. This is not just a BLM issue, it spans across all ethnic and other groups who experience racism possibly including groups we don't agree with? With an almost 600,000 loss of membership in the last year. The BSA needs to focus on their current issues that could put them out of business. Adding an Eagle Required MB is unnecessary. If you want to inculcate this into scouts you make American Cultures a required MB for Tenderfoot. Doing it as the last MB the night before a scout turns 18 does nothing for the scout or the younger guys. Will this be a required line of questioning for the Eagle BOR? All BORs? How do you show diversity and inclusion diversity in your scouting actions? Will the BSA eliminate the OA? Indian Lore MB? Will they remove all references to Baden Powell from the history of the BSA? Does the term Brownsea get axed? Again JMHO.

Just curious....has anyone ever had a potential new Scout's parent tell you that they were joining because this is such a great value and way cheaper than the X activity we were going to sign him up to do.