PACAN

@RichardB Thanks for the info. I'm guessing you meant 938,771 total membership at the end of September. Is this report something you would be willing to share with the group on a monthly basis? I'm guessing councils would be reluctant to give this out although this should be shared with every key three.

Any one heard/seen and recent numbers?

My friend's troop has multiple troop boxes in addition to an administrative supplies one.: First Aid - Rank Requirements Map and Compass including Orienteering Ropes including basic knots and lashings Fire starting Cooking gear including DO cleaning Each one has its own rubbermaid box.

Sounds like you are doing what you can. Unfortunately, sometimes there is nothing you can do if there is no support from the adults and scouts. There are lots of Troops folding due to having no Pack to feed them. My friend has had 5 fold when their Pack folded. Boring meetings: What do they want to do? Maybe focus the meetings on what fun activities you can do on your monthly weekend. Climbing. Planning a weekend day and cover all the techniques and climb on safely. Whitewater rafting, Kayaking or Canoeing Cooking competitions using the techniques required in Cooking MB. Scouts against Adults. Wilderness Survival...building shelters Geocaching/Orienteering...fun hobby Rifle or Archery...can you find a range and qualified RSO? Best of luck! JMHO.

Making percentage comparisons all depend on where you start. I think Circle Ten is probably one of the top 5 councils in membership. So for their increasing 4% is more youth but a smaller council of 1000, 4% is only 40 youth. JMHO

Interesting that this comes up the majority of the time when a scout is approaching 18. My guess is the scout believes his parents gave him permission since there are other Eagle MBs (Cit in Comm, Cit in World, Family Life) (and probably others) that they gave him permission to do the requirement. If this is a religious objection, did the parent have an issue with Personal Fitness? You have to be careful not to get between a parent and yourself. Calmly explain how this requirement can be met as armymutt said. The Book answer is is the scout feels that he has met all the requirements for his next rank, he may have a BOR. I'll offer to sit on it.

@jcousino unfortunately everything you list is already happening. @Eagle94-A1 unfortunately the professionals will never understand that they need volunteers more than volunteers need them.

@jcousino I have no doubt you are correct. It's all about resource control and the LC saying you can't mess with us. Why is the world would any LC want to sponsor units? The LC will make the unit's life miserable. Their definition of actively participate will include additional fees for the pleasure of being your sponsor and to cover all the work they will be doing for your unit. I had a friend say that maybe they will take all the LC ex-UMC units and form one Pack and Troop. 😜 JMHO

JMHO..but LC sponsoring ALL units probably ends the program. Sponsors will withdraw all their support from the BSA causing greater financial shortfalls and increased lack of community support. LC sponsoring ANY units is the way to go as LC neither have the time nor manpower to properly sponsor so they will hire new people just for that purpose and have the units pay for these positions with increased council fees over and above national, expect increased FOS and fundraising support, require "their" units to only go to the council camp and programs. Of course the LCs will have access to bank accounts and equipment they will divest.

When you realize the BSA started Lions for membership and money (every Lion has to pay the extra $25) and none of the decision makers have to execute a program for 5 year olds you will have your answer.

7.0.4.7 was written into the GTA because of the number of National Advancement complaints from Summer Camps. Scouts coming back from camp in one instance with 20 MBs in a week. These MBs included requirements that could only be done away from camp and/or had time limit requirements. The scout pencil whipped a number of worksheets and the 16 year old "counselor" accepted what was scribbled in the blocks as completed work. Since the "If the MBC signed the blue card it was done without any question. Unfortunately the approved MBC (area director) relied on the "instructor" checking the scout off. Another example was when weather precluded the water or climbing badge completion and they were "close enough" and got it signed off. This parargraph should be used cautiously. JMHO.

@ShadyRhoads So the Camp Director was/is the SM's wife and she can't figure out how hosed up an operation she was running to correct this? Speaking of running...run as far away from this camp in the future. Tell everyone you can to do the same so those scouts are not trapped into this shoddy operation.

I don't know the average but a friend of mine went to a camp where they had digitized their program records for the last five years and could call up his sons partial mb in 30 seconds to get the info needed.

@qwazse You don't need a special sponsor....just sell more popcorn, 🤑

@ShadyRhoads Past few years??? Who is telling you what? I don't know what you have done, but whatever the council camp you went to should have records of the classes etc and the Camp Director should be able to resolve this.

This "Scouts is cheaper than X" is an old and tired argument. I have never had any parent say "we are going to join scouts because it's cheaper" If that was the case the membership would not be down 50%. The parents want to sign up their son/daughter and continue to renew for years because of what the program offers their kids for their future in instilling Character, Values and Ethics and have some adventures while doing so. Kids are in sports x/y/z, quiz bowls and their other church youth groups because they want to. Remember they also have school work which comes first. You have to be flexible in meeting their needs. There isn't one unit in the country that has 100% attendance at every meeting or outdoor activity. I have heard some walk away from signing their kids up when they are presented the additional $25 fee. Another great marketing strategy to increase membership! JMHO. Mileage may vary.

When a scout earns his Scout rank, we give them 21 completed MB cards and complete each rank every meeting so they are ready for their EBOR in a month or so. 😜

The 8/26 document I posted comes from the site yknot posted.

The 8/26 document is much more specific than the 1 July one with more specific actions by the UMC/BSA/LC/Unit. It was thought (maybe wished) that the latest agreement which both parties went back in session to discuss would have an option for the status quo for units but that is not in the 8/26 document. The fact that the LC picks the unit leadership and provides the LC EIN to set up a bank account really means they are the sponsor. The UMC side has words like "generally" and "reasonably" support no "will".

@skeptic I did not see this document posted on this thread. It's dated August 26th.

New agreement as of 8/26/22. I don't see that the UMC churches are sponsoring units. Looks like the LC are the CORs and the units can meet at the church. https://unitedmethodistscouting.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/02.-bsa.umc-updated-affiliation-agreement_08.26.22.pdf

I would not be surprised if most councils are below the 2% considering the large loss of membership.

I think I saw somewhere that National's goal was 2% minimum market share.

An unintended consequence. Unit asked a potential new sponsor about taking on the sponsorship. Potential sponsor asked why the UMC was leaving. Unit said liability. P-sponsor says then why should we take on the liability?

Duh...of course it was! ☺️ Sorry.