Jameson76

The challenge we had with cell phones was that it limited actual social interaction. A few years back it was did not want to see them out, use them for music in the tent, etc. As leaders we did not want to be the cell phone police. It was a decision that worked for us. With no phones there were more group games, short hikes, cornhole games, and group interaction than a bunch of Scouts hunched around phones. Basically we do not allow them at meetings or actually at the outing. To and from yes. If we are someplace that may be of photo value absolutely. Scouts leave them in glove compartments of cars or in a box we have. Had one Scout working on a PE class for school last week at summer camp, he came and got it, did his work and exercise thing, dropped it back off. We even lent him some battery power to charge.

Never really seen commissioners, concept is great, just never really seen on in many many (oh so many) years as a leader Who really cares. Do what is BEST for YOUR unit. The most poorly attended events for our unit were the camporees and council events. They did not resonate with our guys, so, the Greenbar leadership dropped them. They did ask if they could and we advised they decided on the program, so that's what we did. Who actually cares what the district or council thinks about how YOUR Scouts run THEIR program. If you get grief at roundtables, don't attend those events. Who needs that in their life. Our focus is on the Scouts in our unit.

$72 for youth. Yeah yeah, great value etc, but it is getting pricey Over the last year, we have seen the Scouting community come together, even while being physically apart, to bring solutions, relief and comfort to those in need. Scouting continues to be a vital partner for communities across the country. The value of Scouting is undeniable for those within the program and the greater public, and the Boy Scouts of America is committed to continuing to offer this unmatched opportunity to young people and families nationwide. It is important that we all reach out to Scouting families who might have left the program due to pandemic reasons and invite them back. We should also be thinking about how to invite new families to join. The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has worked to keep the membership fee as low as possible. Unfortunately, operating costs have continued to rise, and COVID-19 has compounded the need to increase the fee to maintain the program. To ensure we have the resources to fulfill the promise of Scouting, the updated national membership fee is $72 for Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouts participants $45 for Exploring participants $30 for council-paid memberships $45 for all adult volunteers (includes cost of background check) $75 for a unit charter fee The membership fees will take effect August 1, 2021, for the 2021-2022 program year. The one-time $25 joining fee for new program participants in Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouts is still required; however, there is no joining fee for Exploring participants, participants previously registered in any BSA program, those transferring from one program to another, council-paid memberships, or adult volunteers.

Been called many things, yes facetious is one them. In this case I am bring very factual from my own experience The CONCEPT of the commissioner is right on target. The execution in most cases is lacking

You guys seriously meet with commissioners? Unless there are pics, gonna call that "unproven" We are in a large council and they seem to have professional staff all over the place (at least 5 in marketing and untold number in "development") On paper there seem to be Commissioners; Council, assist Council. asst to the regional manager commissioner, Commissioner colleges, commissioner meetings, etc etc. They seem to have commissioner gathering at times. In our District on the calendar there is a monthly commissioner meeting. In 40 years as a leader in 4 different councils, 5 different troops I have met a commissioner once. With my current troop over the last 14 years never seen one. Concept is great, reality is much different.

No BSA President ever seems to speak, or be the driver for the program. Same at the Council level. Overall BSA Marketing is non-existent. The very few efforts seem to be aimed at I am not sure. They are not trying to excite young people to join, they do not seemed to be aimed at parents to entice to get their kids involved.

This reminds me of every sales forecast meeting I have ever attended. Yes, sales this year are down or flat, but in 4 to 5 years they will increase. Skip forward 4 to 5 years and they basically just change the dates and use the same data and slides again. To assume there will be modest growth in 4 to 5 years, when there has been a steady decline in membership for 40 years is at best a fantasy. There has NOT been a concrete plan presented to change the trajectory, and my thoughts are that "increase membership fees" and "increase the burden on volunteers" is not a winning strategy.

Sort of kind of - but there is the privacy rule. It is specific but also broad. Not sure a unit would want to go down the road of requiring something and requiring proof of said something. Not 100% sure how this would apply to a Scout unit and I going to bet a CO would not want to have to find out HIPAA Privacy Rule The Privacy Rule standards address the use and disclosure of individuals’ health information (known as “protected health information”) by entities subject to the Privacy Rule. These individuals and organizations are called “covered entities.” The Privacy Rule also contains standards for individuals’ rights to understand and control how their health information is used. A major goal of the Privacy Rule is to ensure that individuals’ health information is properly protected while allowing the flow of health information needed to provide and promote high quality health care and to protect the public’s health and well-being. The Privacy Rule strikes a balance that permits important uses of information while protecting the privacy of people who seek care and healing. Covered Entities The following types of individuals and organizations are subject to the Privacy Rule and considered covered entities: Healthcare providers: Every healthcare provider, regardless of size of practice, who electronically transmits health information in connection with certain transactions. These transactions include claims, benefit eligibility inquiries, referral authorization requests, and other transactions for which HHS has established standards under the HIPAA Transactions Rule. Health plans: Entities that provide or pay the cost of medical care. Health plans include health, dental, vision, and prescription drug insurers; health maintenance organizations (HMOs); Medicare, Medicaid, Medicare+Choice, and Medicare supplement insurers; and long-term care insurers (excluding nursing home fixed-indemnity policies). Health plans also include employer-sponsored group health plans, government- and church-sponsored health plans, and multi-employer health plans. Exception: A group health plan with fewer than 50 participants that is administered solely by the employer that established and maintains the plan is not a covered entity. Healthcare clearinghouses: Entities that process nonstandard information they receive from another entity into a standard (i.e., standard format or data content), or vice versa. In most instances, healthcare clearinghouses will receive individually identifiable health information only when they are providing these processing services to a health plan or healthcare provider as a business associate. Business associates: A person or organization (other than a member of a covered entity’s workforce) using or disclosing individually identifiable health information to perform or provide functions, activities, or services for a covered entity. These functions, activities, or services include claims processing, data analysis, utilization review, and billing.

We have tried to have meetings in the summer, but with local swim teams in June, vacations, holidays, other camps, etc etc it just did not work. We are somewhat active in the summer with week long camps in June and July. We have meetings prior to the camps and do HA each year. Basically from the end of school (Memorial Day) to First week of August (when school starts) we do not have regular meetings.

For reference our troop has +/- 60 registered Scouts and +/- 20 leaders We restarted out troop activities in July of 2020 holding our own weeklong summer camp. 35 Scouts and Leaders, we did not require masks, but you could wear one if wanted. We were 100% outside, 1 Scout / Leader per tent, no carpooling. The troop started meeting in person in August, again 100% outside, at a park pavilion near the CO, masks not required. Also we started outings in August and have since then had 8 outdoor events; aquatics, kayaking, backpacking, AOL / Webelos visit, Winter trip to coast, more backpacking, wide game, and a ropes course. The unit averaged about 30 Scouts per event. Again, all 100% outside and we have done carpooling but limited the number in cars, (no middle seats). Again no masks required. One scout per tent and no hammock stacking. Our weekly meetings are 100% outside (we are in the south) and fortunately our troop even before the pandemic utilized a large outdoor meeting area behind the CO, so that part was easy. If it rains we may call the meeting and do virtual. While this is anecdotal, looking back over the last 10 months, to our knowledge, we have not had any transmissions or COVID issues. Parents do sign a COVID release. The troop is 100% outside. Each unit needs to do what is right for them and their Scouts and families. We have been very clear to the families what we are doing and what our plans have been. The potential transmission while outside is very low.

We held our own summer camp last year (don't know if you heard but there was some sort of pandemic or somesuch) and I did the Cooking merit badge. Prerequisite was the home cooking, or they did it after camp and we reviewed. The class planned the meals, good discussion ensued. Then we loaded up the Scouts and headed to the store, shopped for the goods from a list, looked at budgets, and secured the food. They cooked some of the meals for the camp (35 Scouts and leaders). For the backpacking part we looked at stoves we took a hike and cooked meals. There is a lot to cooking. Just the discussions on jobs, meals, safety, etc can take a couple of hours. The cooking and cleaning, getting feedback takes time. It can be fun and not onerous, but it does take time.

Average age for Eagle Scouts is (I think) 17.2 years of age, and that has been fairly consistent

Agree, likely not that many, but, how many times can there be not that many? Sort of death by a thousand cuts? At the end of the day, the BSA is an organization that "sells" the program to the "customers" who are adults and youth. If a business puts in a change that may alienate some current customers, that is weighed against how many new customers will come and what will the net change to the customer base be. Also will the change improve the profitability of the customer base, helping the health of the business. Change and updates are inevitable and necessary. How they are handled, communicated, and embraced is what defines the success of an organization. The BSA track record is poor at best. BoyPower Manpower in the 70's; Improved Scout Program in 74, reversed in 81; Flip Flopping on the homosexual acceptance that was handled poorly; Opening the program to girls, where the rollout was poor and survey justification thin to name a few. Bottom line is membership, for many many reasons, is likely less than 1,000,000 youth members right now. Official numbers show that from 2017 to 2020 (4 years) the membership of Cubs, Scouts, Ventures, and Explorers DROPPED 47%. That is over 1,083,177 youth (and their families) no longer involved with the program. Every action that BSA and the "High Level" volunteers take should be laser focused on how is that trend altered or changed. Without that focus, the DEI Merit Badge rollout will be a moot point and if ever presented, it will be to an empty hall.

Sadly the DEI merit badge will be the straw on the camel's back for many volunteers / scouters. Not saying that some items occurring in society currently may need to be highlighted and the units could be venues for that effort. Most not happy with the handling of this will just fade away. Another loss of experience to the organization. Could aspects of the intent of DEI merit badge be rolled / updated into Cit in the Comm, Cit in the Nation, maybe Family Life .... absolutely. Was the DEI mb initiative a knee jerk reaction and viewed by some as attempting to play to and placate some constituency, likely. Rather than play on our organizational strengths (Scout Oath and Law), and clarifying or expanding some points already in use, the organization decided, with little understanding, study, or review, determined we were ALL deficient and needed to change paths. We just had to align ourselves with some seriously politically driven groups and rush forward with this. Again, as usual, the folks "running" the BSA and setting policy forget the folks that actually are running units and in fact, running the BSA. You know, working with the youth and families on a daily and weekly basis.

Agree. I continue to state that the BSA's reason for being in business cannot be solely to protect youth. It is vital and it is important. YPT is a critical component and as you noted it needs to be common place best practices. Our reason or "mission" is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. We do this with experiential learning, a game with a purpose, letting them fail and letting them figure it out. That is what we need to go to market with. If our "Go To Market" is we provide youth protection, likely families will determine / decide that their kids can be safe or maybe safer by being at home. Now we can state and cite statistics that may indicate that is not the case, but that will be the decision. To get to the next chapter of the BSA movement the organization needs to clearly state WHY the BSA is around and WHY it is important and WHY youth can benefit. That message cannot be YPT, That is part of what and how we do programs, not the reason we do programs.

Don't worry, there's always room at The Summit (do we capitalize The??). It's on the books for $345 million...and a bargain at that no doubt 😀

Cubs were at 649,284 for 2020 I'm sadly thinking overall BSA will be under 1 million

Not good update on the BSA Membership numbers

We had a WB beading ceremony (??) that was done at a troop meeting. Ran, I kid you not, 45 minutes. I too felt like we were hostages. Most leaders input was "and that's why I will never go to WB"

I continue to find it interesting that organizations, such as NOW, at various times called upon the BSA (as was an organization's free speech perogative) to open the membership to girls. The press release article qwazse noted was headlined - "Boy Scouts of America Denies Equal Opportunity Access for Girls" Yet, I am not able to find the same organizations, then or now, calling for the Girl Scouts to admit males. Please do not perceive this observation as being against the inclusion of Girls into Cubs and Scouts, it is what it is and honestly has not effected our unit at all. I hope the girls have great adventures and grow as youth in leadership and skills. Just wonder why the obvious hypocrisy is not even mentioned in any way in the media.

I work with our Life Scouts. They know who the SM is (title and name) but reference him only as Mr (name). I refer to getting the CC signature, they say who it that, it's Mr CC. Oh Adult to Adult is first name. Youth to adult is Mr (last name). Agree with others, if I am conversing with a Scout and they need something from another leader, it's see Mr (last name) If we're being smart alecky (which is often) it's title and first name - Scoutmaster Bob...ASM Pete

We ran our own summer camp and had monthly outings AUG through NOV. Maybe average of 24 Scouts and 6 leaders per outing. Did aquatics, kayaking, backpacking, and AOL visit. We did have our annual 3 day Winter trip last weekend, to the swamp, visit to a National Seashore Island, and some other side trips. We have been meeting outside since August, but we always met outside so no difference. Been some challenge due to CO (church) being closed at times so went to park across the street. They close at dark, so winter is iffy. We have picked up some additional High School aged Scouts. Basically we are the only group active. The challenge may be the Cub packs and their activities. We have tried to support but they have not been meeting and we have no idea how many we may get from crossover. It is a struggle to keep things moving forward.

1972 was the BIG change. Many of the core badges (swimming / camping / cooking) were part of the group that could or could not be earned. That was the change wherein one could become Eagle and not have camped at all and basically not have gone outside at all

Maybe they have learned to give the expected answers, please the questioner. I typically get they feel first aid, the shooting sports, climbing, and camping as important.

My hope would be (though not likely) is that they actually take one of 2 paths for this new set of requirements. Whether one thinks the DEI initiative is a good thing or a bad thing, it is likely not going away. BSA National has opened the door, so they will not be able to close that door 2 Hopeful Paths Restructure the Citizenship Merit Badges to include some new items. Some of the DEI requirements could relate to community, nation, or world. Remove the Citizenship in the World MB from Eagle required and insert the (obviously reworked) DEI merit badge in it's place Doubt that will happen, but it would be a good path