MYCVAStory

Agreed. Lots of details looming right now but I suspect down the road many will seem small compared to the details of how any Trust and Awards Process are actually being operated.

Not entirely accurate. If memory serves, the insurers had significant issues with his appointment. The TCC if memory serves was strongly advocating for Paul Finn, who had significant experience with abuse cases, so that left the other parties to have a leg up on selecting "their" choices to comprise the three mediators. We need to remember that this is a pretty small and specialized pool so many bankruptcy and trust professionals work together as partners in the morning and then find themselves as opponents in the afternoon! This isn't to promote Green's becoming the Trustee but to at least point out that he has experience as one. Let's hope that whoever becomes the trustee if that becomes reality will understand the importance of communicating with the "classes" he/she oversees.

Given that there is another round of mediation starting tomorrow, and a reasonable guess would be that it is to address issues like the chartering organizations, as well as another round of hearings coming up next week, the TCC has rescheduled its August Town Hall to a better date. Here's the filing and explanation: NOTICE OF AUGUST 16, 2021 VIRTUAL TOWN HALL MEETING HOSTED BY THE OFFICIAL TORT CLAIMANTS’ COMMITTEE PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that when the Official Tort Claimants’ Committee (the “TCC”) was formed it embraced three key goals: (1) represent ALL abuse Survivors, (2) work to achieve the most compensation possible for all Survivors, and (3) keep Survivors informed of the bankruptcy process as the TCC works to achieve these goals. To that last point, the TCC has held monthly meetings to provide updates and field questions. These meetings are viewed by thousands of Survivors and their counsel. Normally we hold these meetings the second Thursday of every month but when necessary we change that date to provide the best possible information at the best time. Now that the hearing for the approval of the Disclosure Statement has been moved to August 25, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. (ET), the approval of the Restructuring Support Agreement (“RSA”) moved to August 12-13, 2021, and another multi-day mediation scheduled for August 3-5, 2021, the TCC changed the next meeting to August 16, 2021 at 8:00 p.m. (ET). Please do not take this delay to signal anything positive or negative about the process going forward. By scheduling the next meeting on August 16, 2021, the TCC will be in a better position to inform you about the status of the RSA, any mediation developments, and what to expect for the Disclosure Statement Hearing. If the above the schedule changes, the TCC might decide to change the time and date of the next Town Hall meeting. The members of the TCC and their dedicated professionals continue to be fully engaged in every part of this process. We ask for patience until August 16, 2021 so that we can provide with the most up to date and thorough status of the restructuring process. In the meantime, stay strong and please check the TCC website WWW.TCCBSA.COM for any updates or send your questions to BSASurvivors@pszjlaw.com. The details for the next meeting are below. https://pszjlaw.zoom.us/j/89421964324 (no registration required) or Phone number: 888- 788-0099 (Toll Free), Webinar ID: 894 2196 4324.

Apparently someone's office got a call to suggest the BSA could use a shout-out. Every victim can now reflect on what anniversary it is of their abuse. It's time for the court to be reminded of that before this hearing ends.

Reminds me of the funny red berets we wore in Scouting for a while. I was always envious of the Smokey Bear hats. Alas, I didn't have a good hat head. I'm also starting to think that before this is over we need a mass Zoom meeting to watch these hearings live and share commentary!

Nor do I. But, 4 1/2 years ago my wife got on a bus to Washington with 50 other women to meet thousands more. She put on a funny pink hat and marched. She came home and volunteered to support a candidate, something she had never done. That candidate was elected and re-elected and is now effecting change. That model has been repeated across the Country for all kinds of candidates on both sides of the aisle. It starts with an unwillingness to accept that things won'tr change. We all want change in some form so that past victims are treated adequately and there are no victims in the future. Whether one or both of those are unrealistic, that will only be the case if people don't speak up now at the grassroots level so that those on top hear the rumblings down below. Let's keep encouraging each other to speak out and respecting those who can't or aren't ready. Thanks for fighting that fight brother.

Agreed. I also do believe that change will come from those most impacted, the victims. We have lived in the shadows for far too long. Our Society's image of masculinity made that our safe space because it was expected. It's still a safe place. But, times have changed and our abuse is known and a part of the "me too" era when sexual abuse is being confronted. Now, victims who are able must speak out of they expect change. Documentaries have been made covering the hearings and trial and stories connected to USA Gymnastics. That was approximately 500 victims and while one is too many BSA victims could understandably be scratching their heads and asking "What about the tens of thousands of men?" For victims this seems like it's taking forever to reach the end of the story. But, if real change is going to happen it isn't the end, it's the beginning. There are stories to tell, documentaries to create, investigations to be completed. Remember Santayana's words: "Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Victims must make sure that what happened is not lost to time. There is plenty of blame to go around; the BSA, insurers, SOLs, attorneys, bankruptcy system and more. But if we expect TRUE change then it must be demanded by those who were victims and feel able, and it must happen at the grass-roots level. If you can, write and call every one of your elected officials. Better yet, ask to meet with them personally. Reach out to local media. Scream, yell. But in the words attributed to Ghandi, but he never actually said them, "You must be the change in the world you want to see." Many aren't ready but if you can speak out in your small piece of this world then please do. If enough of us do the possibility of change only increases.

Or just perhaps the BSA and AD-Hoc got cold feet about excluding the Charter Organizations. Some may not like the payment of the Coalition professional fees but I bet a whole lot of victims would be irate if the charter organizations were included in an injunction without providing any compensation.

My money is on the TCC. Remember, in bankruptcy, like politics, a day is a year. Much can and often changes quickly. "Dead" deals are resurrected miraculously. Also, just a reminder, the TCC will be providing its "take" on the situation in a week: NOTICE OF VIRTUAL TOWN HALL MEETINGS HOSTED BY THE OFFICIAL COMMITTEE OF BOY SCOUT ABUSE SURVIVORS The next TCC Town Hall will be held on Thursday, August 5, 2021, at 5pm PDT/8pm EDT. Zoom link: https://pszjlaw.zoom.us/j/89421964324 (no registration required) or Join by phone: 888-788-0099, meeting id 894 2196 4324

That's a really good analogy. The hardest thing to do is be patient as this unfolds, and remain confident that the interests of victims are being fought for as best as possible. Victims are a strong and that strength has never been needed more than now. Another day...week..month...stay strong.

Well, welcome to the bankruptcy code. Code says that parties that make "substantial contributions" Discussion: https://www.abi.org/abi-journal/substantial-contribution-claims-a-new-perspective Since the Coalition was deemed a "mediation party" by the court the bar gets lowered on their making the substantial contribution claim. That said, the US Trustee is doing his job by holding parties to the strictest rules for reimbursement. Remember though that in many cases the Trustee basically "points things out" and then a party will provide a complete response to satisfy the Court. Regardless of the above, it's nice to know that the US Trustee is paying attention and weighing in regardless of the impact. No, I'm not a party making a "substantial contribution" worthy of reimbursement. But I wish I was 😉

Thanks brothers. All will be good. I suspect the last 16 months has made us tough old bastards! I'm more interested in living vicariously through ThenNow as he heads to the sun.

Let's trade. I'm headed to a cardiologist next week after an "abnormality" turned up. I'm looking forward to when he asks "Have you been under any stress lately?" "Well, do you have a few hours so I can summarize it?!" Enjoy, safe travels, and happy hunting!

Someone let Kosnoff know he can tweet his apology re the TCC not holding meetings when he thinks best. The TCC for now has moved its REGULAR second Thursday of the month meeting to the week before. Not a huge surprise given the the upcoming court dates and what might be better timing: NOTICE OF VIRTUAL TOWN HALL MEETINGS HOSTED BY THE OFFICIAL COMMITTEE OF BOY SCOUT ABUSE SURVIVORS The next TCC Town Hall will be held on Thursday, August 5, 2021, at 5pm PDT/8pm EDT. Zoom link: https://pszjlaw.zoom.us/j/89421964324 (no registration required) or Join by phone: 888-788-0099, meeting id 894 2196 4324 To be discussed: Status of Boy Scouts bankruptcy case Status of the disclosure statement and chapter 11 approval process Status of negotiations with chartered organizations and insurers Other motions pending before the bankruptcy court Other pending motions before the bankruptcy court

Re the next TCC Town Hall meeting, considering the Bankruptcy court hearing schedule I wouldn't be surprised if their Town Hall gets moved to the best possible time, like the week before, as things crystalize. Someone please ask Kosnoff for a retraction and "thank you" if that happens. #wishfulthinking

Always interesting when someone under the gun starts pointing fingers elsewhere. The TCC said it would hold Town Hall meetings monthly. It has delayed meetings, and called one on short notice, to provide the best information. I suspect if the TCC held daily meetings he'd say it was spending too much time on meetings. #whatever.

Anecdotally, I've visited so many reservations in the past decade where I was told "We have several camps in the reservation but only use one regularly." It always follows the demographics. Take Ten Mile River Scout Reservation in New York. 10,000+ acres and at its height 11 independent camps and outposts. Today, three camps. Drive the old roads and it looks like one scout camp ghost town after another. I don't know that Council's plans but if the notion is to hold on to all of that property until eight more camps are filled, well, good luck. There are others like it. It's business. When times get tough, time to close the under-performing franchises.

Well, the BSA NCAP process looks specifically at utilization and strategic analysis of camp plans for usage. https://www.scouting.org/outdoor-programs/camp-accreditation/ I'm guessing these reports and documents would be available, but under mediation confidentiality, and would have helped inform the Ad-Hoc Committee and TCC regarding the amount of under-utilization that made properties "available."

Absolutely. As well, this is why the TCC had CBE conduct appraisals on hundreds of properties. This prevents an LC from saying "Here you go, it's worth a million" when it's worth a thousand. As well, it also prevents the LC from trying to transfer the unusable portion of a camp (i.e. swampland). The reality is that there are a lot of camps out there that while they have been valuable emotionally to LCs because of their history they have been grossly under-utilized. So, some LCs might sound like they're horrified that their camp will be sold but I bet quite a few scout execs are happy that their hand was forced on this.

Excellent point. Remember, the LCs are NOT under mediation confidentiality to do so, nor are they under an NDA. The TCC shared the dashboards with the LCs and specifically encouraged them to share them publicly. Because they contain financial data that is figuratively the "property" of the LC it's the LC's choice as to whether to share. Frankly, it's always a bad look when a non-profit doesn't share all that it can. Again, the question to ask the LC is "Will you share the TCC's dashboard for the Council? If not, in light of the TCC encouraging it to be shared, it not being part of mediation confidentiality, and no NDA ever being produced by BSA or the LC. why not?"

Sounds a lot like someone who got kicked out of the dance and found himself complaining about the music from the parking lot.

Remember, the TCC works with experienced bankruptcy attorneys, financial;l advisors and analysts, pension experts, insurance litigators, and others versed in bankruptcy. Its members never purported to be experts or have competence other than try to make the best decisions in consultation with the best experts it could secure. You're also making the assumption that they rely on heart and sincerity. We know that they come from business, the military, the legal profession, and others. I don't suspect they lack in guts. NONE spoke yesterday because it wasn't appropriate. My suggestion is that you watch the next Town Hall and pose the question to the members on by asking them directly if they feel used , embarrassed or ashamed. You might have your opinion but consider the alternative. Would having NO victims advising any part of this be better? The situation is horrible because of the number of claims and the limited pot of gold. That's the fundamental issue and I don't think the nine people trying to make the best of it should be criticized until after this is over and they choose to talk about the decisions made. Only then, when we know more, should we stand in their shoes and judge.

It is VERY important to note that the US Department of Justice career employees (not political appointees) interviewed over a hundred victims and selected the nine it felt most appropriate. They did this without consideration of how many clients a specific attorney represented. They wanted nine that would represent ALL victims and not one firm's clients. None of the nine were Kosnoff's clients. The Coalition was self-formed and filed to be recognized as a mediation party. I bring this up just so that victims recognize that the TCC was selected and instructed to represent ALL victims regardless of the "business" of their attorneys. Think what you want about the motivation of the coalition but It is grossly unfair and inaccurate for Kosnoff to suggest that the TCC is in the pocket of anyone other than the people it represents.

I hope you stay strong. You've already hit on the most important part of all of this, what happened WAS a part of your past. This bankruptcy though has dragged it into the present for those who were ready for it as well as those who weren't. I hope for all our sakes that at some point we can all find a way to put this back in the past where it belongs. That's a tough destination to reach and the path is an individual one, sometimes interminably long with a lot of detours. Just don't ever give up and you'll keep getting closer.

Do you mind sharing that statement or what State that is?