KublaiKen

It's how our PLC wants to do it.

We have a First Class or above (hence often the PL or Instructor) sign off the left-hand column, and then an ASM the right-hand column. The Scouts don't sign off SMC or BOR, but the Scout seeking to advance does have to answer all the other things like Scout Spirit to the signing Scout's satisfaction.

My Troop as a youth backpacked on the AT and elsewhere in the Blue Ridge Mountains. We made sure to hike on alternate sides of the mountains each day so that one leg didn't grow longer than the other.

I'd wager if your COR walks into the Council office with that fundraising application it will get signed. Especially if, given any hassle, they ask if they should bother coming back with a charter.

To be clear, if the Committee Chair is saying that the adults who help out have to be YPT trained and registered, that is a unit rule, not a BSA rule. There is no such BSA requirement.

I would encourage your Troop's leadership to reach out to the OA chapter absolutely as soon as possible. I say this for a few reasons: They can do a presentation to your Troop explaining what it is and what it does so that the Scouts can be thinking about whom they would elect. Any requirements for membership that are lacking can be made up before the election. You don't miss your chapter/lodge's election window if they have one.

I can't even envision a scenario where I ask a girl to take her Gold Award off her BSA uniform.

And as a lifelong NL fan, I think if they wear the uniform they ought to make 'em hit.

This came to National Capital Area Council a bit ago, but I've been away at camp and rushing a guy to Eagle before that, so sorry for the delay: June 30, 2023 Your National Capital Area Council (NCAC) fulfills BSA’s mission, “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.” NCAC works tirelessly to deliver a safe and high-quality Scouting program to our families in a cost-effective manner. Today it annually costs $240.00 per youth to deliver this quality Scouting program. In prior years, NCAC has subsidized 100% of this cost through corporate donations, major gifts, foundations, fundraising events, board donations, and our Family Friends of Scouting campaign. However, in recent years, the combination of a steady decline in participation in our Family Friends of Scouting and the volunteer and professional costs required to maintain this campaign has made it impractical to continue this model. After an intensive 18-month strategic planning process, NCAC’s volunteer Executive Board determined that our Scouts would be better served by a local Council Participation Fee that would provide consistent revenue and be more equitable to those who support our Scouts. Nationwide, we have seen many other local councils successfully transition to a similar fee, while achieving membership growth. Beginning January 1, 2024, an annual Council Participation Fee of $80.00 will be assessed to all youth participating in Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing, and Sea Scouts programs. For Scouts currently registered, the Council Participation Fee will be collected as part of your unit’s next annual re-registration, often referred to as “rechartering.” Families with three (3) or more Scouts will be capped at paying three (3) Participation Fees. Scouts participating in more than one program will pay one (1) Participation Fee. No youth will be turned away for an inability to pay the Participation Fee. NCAC has always provided financial assistance when needed and will continue to do so. Additional information about the Participation Fee, including a guide, one-page overview, and FAQ, is available on the NCAC website at: NCACBSA.ORG/PARTICIPATION-FEE. Please click to view this short video message by Participation Fee Committee Chair, JP Morgan. The Scouting movement continues to grow across the National Capital Area Council and we are thankful for your ongoing support. Yours in Scouting, Council President Morgan H. Sullivan Council Commissioner Julia Mae-Shen Lesko Scout Executive/CEO Mario A. Pèrez

We have 18 new Scouts (12 going to summer camp this Sunday - been good knowing all of you) and I'm not sure we're done. That's double what we usually had in a good year pre-COVID. I know we're an outlier, but I hope we're also a bellwether.

But as noted previously, this completely divorces your unit membership from the charter. The list of chartered members on January 1st is no more useful than the list on January 5th or July 27th, as you might have completely different members registered on any given date based on individual membership lapses and renewals. I am curious to see where they are headed.

And negative repercussions from that kind of treatment don't end quickly or easily. Thank you for posting this, @RememberSchiff. It is good to remember our history.

Thanks, @MattR.

@skeptic, I believe that was in response to a since-deleted post that immediately preceded it.

We pay the dues for all of our youth members. Sending them a link is insane. ETA: I don't mean we collect dues and pay them for everyone at once; I mean the Troop pays for the dues out of our fundraiser. Now we have to track and pay monthly for the Scouts, and they are getting sent things that mean nothing to them.

Just circling back to say how helpful this thread has been. We just did annual planning this week and the PLC switched all of our Troop's monthly campouts from two nights to one. We had been inadvertently counting those two-nighters towards First Class! But read closely! "Since joining Scouts BSA, participate in 10 separate troop/patrol activities, at least six of which must be held outdoors. Of the outdoor activities, at least three must include overnight camping." So for the past few months we haven't been signing off on any camping trips of two or more nights, as those are not overnight camping. Too many of the guys started coming on Saturday or leaving on Saturday so the activity would count, so now the PLC just changed them. Thanks for clarifying!

Exactly. This is probably the least sensible interim step to this process yet.

I also hope strict adherence to rules would apply to any forthcoming directives from the BSA concerning the use of Native American traditions.

Which is why Pop Warner still uses the Flying Wedge and disallows the forward pass.

Yes, you can take YPT training without being a registered Scouter in any position. Our council, at least, requires it be completed before you are allowed to register as an adult. We have always required adults using the 72 hour rule to complete it, and ask our drivers too, as well. We encourage all parents to take it, but, you know...

By the way, you also don't need an adult present when Scout skills are learned for advancement. Get those adults out of those groups, registered or not, and let the Scouts teach the skills. Let the older Scouts sign the younger Scouts off on the requirements. Only then does an adult need to be involved.

No, you don't need an MBC present when skills are learned. The MBC only needs to be the one to sign off when the Scout has completed the requirements to the satisfaction of the MBC.

Remember that when your Scout finishes Cubs you will be camping separate from them (because of the risk you present, according to the G2SS), so as pointed out, do you need it in a couple of years? I have a huge dogtrot that I still get out once in a while, but I tend to nestle in my two-man (i.e., one-man plus my stuff) on most camping trips with Scouts BSA.

As I mentioned, the campsites closest to us are starting to require two-night reservations. This is a bad idea.

This. I am sure sentiment varies widely among Scouts, among adults, and among areas of the country, perhaps, but I only know of only one Scout for whom it is a draw (not my Troop or even Chapter). For many it is met with disbelief and disapproval.