InquisitiveScouter

As you point out, many now have no outdoors/Scouting experience... so to whom are they to delegate?

Yeah, we could do a wiki and generate most of the materials coming out of National. Including the Scout Handbook.

I have no problem asking Eagle Scout candidates to demo Scout skills, or show some Scout knowledge. But, usually, it is a follow-on to a question about program and experiences. "Jenny, what are some things you liked about Scouting?" "I loved Pioneering Merit Badge, and learning to work with rope to build things." "That's great! Did you share some of these skills with the other Scouts in your Troop?" "Yes, I was our primary Troop Instructor for whipping, knots, and lashings!" "OK, right! I see on your Eagle Application that is one of the Positions of Responsibility you have cited for your rank requirements. Would you be willing to tie a bowline for me? Here's a piece of rope." "Sure!" <Ties the knot> etc etc etc It is not a test for the Scout, and, if the Scout cannot tie it, I would certainly not hold her up unless the candidate said something like "I never learned to tie a bowline." (Then it would be about not ever completing a requirement, versus not being able to remember how to do it.) It is a measure of the program and Troop culture, and not necessarily a measure of the Scout. "Its purpose is to determine the quality of the Scout’s experience and decide whether the requirements for the rank have been fulfilled."

Agreed! And I think we would do better if we set the expectation that adults will learn Scout skills as well. Most adults I know cannot tie the seven basic knots in the Scout Handbook (much less do any lashing), use a map and compass to find their way, sleep outside in less than 40 degree weather, go backpacking, or, more generally, know most of the things in the Scout Handbook that Scouts have to know (or know what "right" looks like). And they are afraid to admit it and then go learn. What happened to Be, Know, Do?

Somehow we need to cultivate a culture of the Pursuit of Excellence. I, too, meet scads of Scouters who are unwilling to admit that they need some changes to improve their Scouting. Good luck overcoming this psychological barrier.

This is what the Commissioner Corps is supposed to be for. And, in all the councils I have been in, it has been sorely lacking. I have some thoughts on the reasons for this. What are yours, and how could we fix?

Spot on! Nothing. You hit upon one of the bigger issues also... deconfliction. Council does not want CO's going to the same well to ask for funding. That's where I could see things going off the rails...

Yes, and this is why National tries to discourage incorporation of units or their "boosters". It is all about the money! For your average CO, their raison d'être is not Scouting. Take a church, for example... Your local church "uses" Scouting as a program to enhance their service to youth. If Scouting units under a CO fold, then the CO continues its other activities. Your local church may ask for donations for a new steeple, to replace their pews, or put a new coat of paint on everything. That is different from your local church asking for donations solely to support their Scout units. When they go down that road, their activity falls under the charter agreement. And, when they do have any money or property earmarked for Scouting, if the unit folds, the agreement is that they will keep all that money and property for the purposes of Scouting, should they start up a unit again. (Of course, council wants that money, so they sometimes pursue that purse.) For the "Friends of Troop XX", their entire purpose for existence (if you didn't yet look up what "raison d'être" means 😜 ) is to support the Scout units, so any and all monies and property they should be used solely for the purposes of Scouting. If the units fold, then the reason for the existence of the corporation ceases also. In everything I have read, nowhere does National "prohibit" units (or "Friends of") from incorporating (because they really cannot). BUT, they do put the threat of revoking your charter out there. "Units could lose their charter if they tried to get their own tax-exempt status and solicit tax deductible gifts." Here's an example (page 2, end of first paragraph): https://www.ciecbsa.org/document/tax-exempt-for-units/25798#:~:text=Units should not incorporate or,approved unit money-earning projects. And another https://lpcbsa.doubleknot.com/newsfeed/fiscal-policies-and-procedures-for-bsa-units/9007 And another https://michiganscouting.org/unit-resources/unit-finance/ You'll notice the verbiage is exactly the same, which means (to me) this comes out of National... I never heard of National denying someone's charter for this. YMMV I cannot see them doing it, especially these days, unless the money amounts get big, and they get jealous/greedy.

https://youtu.be/-9NMt42il4Q

Mass hysteria...

"Oh! And let's log it for more cash before we sell it!"

LOL, you farceur!

3x3 rule??

Almost 22,000 names. I would support BSA having a list like this for parents to see. Bolsters transparency. Although, I'm uncomfortable with them publishing the names of those with "Alleged Misconduct." They should keep those to themselves until the defendant goes through due process. Publishing them there makes them guilty in the court of public opinion.

Pretty sure these are they: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PsYfr1oVDc&ab_channel=TroopLeader https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxsjXWfkZIU&ab_channel=TroopLeader