InquisitiveScouter

Rovers

For those folks, I listen, and then hand them this official Troop complaint form... https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/524-501.pdf

I think BSA should drop the age limit. This deadline causes so much unneeded frustration for families and Scouts, and a rush to get it done, cutting corners, and detracting from the experience. If we want to create a great outdoor experience, we do not need to overlay the pressure of doing it for an award you are going run out of time getting. This would also help integrate Scouts with different needs (I do not like the phrase "special needs") who need more time to complete things.

Don't think most would survive the scrutiny...

This is deeply troubling, and indicative of a snowplow parent who does not understand Scouting. Good luck with the parent's education 😜

If you have any old membership cards, that would help. Or, just fill out the application from memory. For those at the 25 year mark or over, they'll get sent to national for checking their records (hence the history questions on the form) If you do have any old records, you could scan and attach with the form, but I do not know if they'll be used. Also, call your registrar to ask for advice. When I finally got around to this task, our registrar told me this: File for the 20-year award first. (This one will have your first joining date as a youth, through the next 20 years, so ending about 5 to 10 years ago, depending on your longevity...) Since this one is only done at the local level, the registrar is the validator. Once the 20-year award is established in your record, then file for your current level, as they will go to national. This gives the folks at national less checking to do (on your first 20 years of status), and, perhaps, makes it more likely they'll process them quickly due to the reduced effort. Do not file multiples.... a 25-year and then a 30-year, etc. Just file for the highest one (over the 20 you did with council) that you qualify for. Again, check with your registrar for best advice. Then, set a reminder on your calendar for filing for your next one. (I'm hitting 40-year veteran status in Jan 2027. 😱) Happy Hunting!

@MattR Nice to have you around the campfire Thanks for serving as a Moderator! The BSA will limp along until it perishes from self-inflicted wounds or radically transforms. The former is more likely than the latter. Scouting will always be a thing. It was a thing even before it was called Scouting... young people having adventures together and learning how to get along in their own little "citizenship" laboratory. Societal ills will increase to a point where adults will realize we need to help young people learn how to replace us. And then there will be a revival. Take your grandkids camping, and do your own version of Scouting. Adventures, skills, and teamwork with grandpa sound like great fun. Enjoy the hikes 😜 And post a picture!

Just read all of Aren's articles. Love that guy! I'd venture a guess to say he (at the least) visits Scouter.com to help flesh out ideas and articles.

Next year, we will attempt a batch renewal process with ACH option to pull directly from our Troop Bank Account. Eliminating the Registrar/Council Middle Man Person. Or, maybe we won't 😜

If I understand your question correctly, then yes, sort of... Paid, but not yet renewed... We have a Unit Account with our Local Council. We deposited the recharter fee and membership renewals total into the account ($5400) with a check from the Troop. We printed the recharter and registrations invoices (the latter was a roster of renewals with costs) from my.scouting Organization Manager. Sent those invoices to Council and asked Registrar to process. Funny, the money went out of our Unit Account to the Council on 16 Dec. (See post above, and I have receipts from council 😜 ) Still no renewals done online. Our Committee Chair and SM have fielded multiple calls from families who got registration renewal warnings, and they are still showing warning in Scoutbook that they have to renew. We've had to calm the masses that everything is OK, and that the Registrar will take care of it. Since we are one of the few units in the council who paid and put in paperwork on time, I expect a little consideration to get ours processed. But, I am not holding my breath... Next year, we will attempt a batch renewal process with ACH option to pull directly from our Troop Bank Account. Eliminating the Registrar/Council Middle Man Person.

And at least one patrol's worth of Kazoos... at close range 😜 Merry Christmas to you, too!

Friday evening... none of our members have been renewed through the Registrar. Perhaps they'll update on the midnight data sync... a Scouter can dream, can't he?

Ask the Registrar to open a trouble ticket with IT support. They can see his training history and will credit him if it is complete.

Meh, most subscriptions are automated. Hulu, Netflix, Amazon, etc... you set them up to automatically charge. You have to intervene to stop the subscription. BSA's is currently set up so that you have to take action to renew. At first blush, I think this will only cause units pain. Every outing you go on, you'll have to check to see if Scouts are registered. Actually, many leaders I run across don't bother with that stuff anyway... or medical forms, or swim checks, or adult training, etc... They just take kids camping and don't worry about it. I know a unit that had a Scout camping with them for eight months before they figured out his application was never submitted. Don't see that much different happening with it being automated, especially on renewal.

I hope you are right. But, I think the improvement will be just to spread the pain out across the calendar year. Under the new system, every month, someone on the committee will have to remind parents to renew their Scout's registration. Or, go through some process your unit sets up to cover membership costs. A little pain each month is easier to manage than all the pain at one time.