SiouxRanger
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Former Youth Protection Director on the dangers in Scouts BSA
SiouxRanger replied to MYCVAStory's topic in Issues & Politics
Jaded, or educated? Well, then, perhaps, biased or prejudiced? I just want to understand you. -
Former Youth Protection Director on the dangers in Scouts BSA
SiouxRanger replied to MYCVAStory's topic in Issues & Politics
Gee, not just me. Whew. I don't remember any, as a youth, nor as a parent involved for 25 years, attending nearly every troop meeting and campout. Internet the culprit? This opens a whole new world of concern for me as a leader. -
Chapter 11 Announced - Part 6 - Plan 5.0/TCC Plan TBD
SiouxRanger replied to CynicalScouter's topic in Issues & Politics
TCC Letter is well done. Succinct. -
Former Youth Protection Director on the dangers in Scouts BSA
SiouxRanger replied to MYCVAStory's topic in Issues & Politics
So, what is Mr. Johnson's motivation to come forward and make any statement at all? -
Former Youth Protection Director on the dangers in Scouts BSA
SiouxRanger replied to MYCVAStory's topic in Issues & Politics
Which, may be a deterrent. (Though apparently abusers are not inclined to change their behavior.) But it would get them out of the program. -
Former Youth Protection Director on the dangers in Scouts BSA
SiouxRanger replied to MYCVAStory's topic in Issues & Politics
This is precisely the conundrum. On the one hand, careers of the innocent accused would likely be ruined. One legitimate reason for keeping things quiet. But, why all those cases were not referred to law enforcement-well, I can only conclude BSA did not want the publicity. I fault BSA for that, and that policy is the prime cause of this mess. And had every case been so referred, to some degree, at least, BSA would have had developed a reputation as hostile to perpetrators and perhaps a fair measure of these incidents would have been avoided. And, I'll say, such accusations, if false and publicized by BSA raise a distinct possibility that the falsely accused will sue for defamation. (Damages measured by salary, times number of years left in the accused's work life, plus benefits, and perhaps punitive damages, if permitted.) How many cases are based on false accusations? That children are able to report facts of which they would normally have no knowledge heavily favors their truthfulness. As we have little data, we sit in the dark. On the other hand, if the names of the ineligible volunteers are not made public, then volunteers are not able to self-police their units, and AGAIN will have to rely on some opaque process that failed so miserably to this point. We will all have to trust that someone, somehow, vetted the new volunteer arriving at a unit meeting. Part of the problem, is that everyone presumes that a person is designated as ineligible due to CSA. And that is likely the case for the vast majority, but there are political reasons also totally unrelated to CSA. -
Chapter 11 Announced - Part 6 - Plan 5.0/TCC Plan TBD
SiouxRanger replied to CynicalScouter's topic in Issues & Politics
Has no one vetted the "Claimed Restricted Assets?" -
Chapter 11 Announced - Part 6 - Plan 5.0/TCC Plan TBD
SiouxRanger replied to CynicalScouter's topic in Issues & Politics
What background about "Anderson" can you provide? Many may not understand the reference, nor do I. -
Former Youth Protection Director on the dangers in Scouts BSA
SiouxRanger replied to MYCVAStory's topic in Issues & Politics
And so the plot thickens. People sometimes say 'the plot thickens' when a situation or series of events is getting more and more complicated and mysterious. -Collins National: "We want to out of bankruptcy in August, 2021." "I love it when a plan comes together." --Hannibal, A Team -
Chapter 11 Announced - Part 6 - Plan 5.0/TCC Plan TBD
SiouxRanger replied to CynicalScouter's topic in Issues & Politics
"Draws a vacuum" is the legally sanctioned term. (No, wait, that is a physics expression, and we know physicists only speak math. "S... " musts be legal-what do those folks know about English?) -
Sorry-mon (mes?), apologies! (Just too easy.) I LOVE blood pudding! As long as it is somebody's else's blood. (What is "blood pudding?") Can I get it from Mountain House, freeze-dried?
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I am sometimes reminded, when reading posts, of the Pogo panels by Walt Kelly: "We have met the enemy and he is us."
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National has sat down to a table to play the ultimate game of Texas Hold'em. Where a Chapter 7 liquidation is the "All-In." National has yielded control of its future to a formidable number of powerful players-a "Hail Mary" strategy.
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Well, in the beginning, National did start with nothing, and 100± years later built it into what it now has. So, even starting at zero is doable. But, the second time around,, National would have its intellectual property, and a tradition (some of which is laudable), and a shell of a structure, though hugely damaged, and some camp properties with which to carry on the outdoor component of the program. It won't be what is was before the bankruptcy, but what does one expect when they burn down their own house?
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I've never seen Articles Of Incorporation which did not provide that the corporation was "perpetual." Likely, they all are. My state has statutes providing for the voluntary dissolution of a corporation, (and the involuntary dissolution, for that matter, in the event that the corporation fails to pay annual corporate fees, and such-but not likely a BSA issue.) Seems to me there are only 3 likely scenarios regarding BSA intellectual property:: 1. BSA keeps all its intellectual property, having no right to sell it, or for the bankruptcy court to dispose of it due to some provision or interpretation of the statute you cite, or its Federal Charter. This option leaves open the possibility that BSA continues as a corporation, owning its intellectual property, but without a cent to afford even a custodian. In this scenario, BSA is a hollow shelll with no on-going operations. BSA, in this scenario, does not have the financial strength to operate, and Congress does not want it back. Some group might come along and rescue the Movement. This seems to be the least likely scenario. 2. BSA's intellectual property reverts in some fashion to Congress. Surely, Congress can revoke BSA's Federal Charter. Congress can't pass a law it cannot amend or revoke. In this case, Congress could control to whom the intellectual property was granted as a successor to BSA. I cannot think of any analogous procedure in my state. The assets of dissolved corporations do not revert to the state. But perhaps, BSA would be different due to its Federal Charter. The situation presumes that Congress would have to find some entity willing to fund a new startup BSA and then transfer the idle intellectual property to the startup.. 3. BSA's intellectual property remains assets owned by and controlled by BSA, subject to sale (or pledge as collateral) by BSA, and subject to the jurisdiction of the bankruptcy court. A Chapter 7 liquidation would put these assets on the auction block. In this scenario, BSA is treated like a typical state chartered not-for-profit corporation. BSA's entitlement to exclusive use of its intellectual property appears to me to be nothing more than a "super trademark." I don't see how it adds much, in that trademark holders are also entitled to exclusive use. Though, normal trademark holders have to "defend" their trademarks (so that their trademarks don't become "generic" and thereby in the public domain where anyone can use them) to continue to be entitled to exclusive use. " Yellow Book" is a trademark that lost its status. So, the "exclusive use" provision may mean that BSA need not defend its trademarks to prevent them from losing their trademark status and becoming generic. I would also note that BSA National has many aspects of a franchisor-and appears to be licensing its intellectual property to its franchisees-the local councils. Which councils are separately state chartered not-for-profit corporations, which themselves are chartered (franchise agreement?) by BSA National. As with so many aspects of National's business model and relationships with other legal entities, things are very fuzzy.
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So, if National liquidates, does its intellectual property go on the auction block? And, if so, are the potential buyers limited to those who wish to carry on the Scouting Movement, or could someone buy the intellectual property and simply put it on a shelf to collect dust? Seems to me National is in the franchise business-it licenses its intellectual property, its name, logos, designs, merit badge pamphlets, handbooks, etc. Some tycoon buy Philmont? What is American Scouting without those?
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This is an EXCELLENT question. The blackletter rule (that is the default, simple statement of them applicable rule to the majority of situations), is that "negligence" is the failure to behave with the degree of care that someone of ordinary prudence would have exercised under the same circumstances. Another way of saying it (tort law, that is, civil wrong law-not criminal law-, is replete with parallel, vague statements of rules about negligence that are totally worthless, in my opinion) is that someone has failed to take "reasonable care" in the conduct of their business or actions. My definition of "reasonable" is: "Hire your lawyer early." One person's definition of reasonable is another's definition of insanity. Many times in legal analysis, it is helpful to consider an issue for what it is NOT. And thereby get a better appreciation of what it IS. "Negligence" is NOT "Zero Defect." That is, doing a perfect job. So, in the abuse perpetrator situation applicable to National, that SOME abusers managed to go undetected, or unreported, or reported but managed to resurface in an unrelated unit, or managed to evade National's efforts to identify them and deny them further access to the program and youth, is NOT negligence. (To put "negligence" in perspective, "willful and wanton"( a greater degree of civil liability) is where someone or legal entity, such as a Catholic Diocese, transfers a known abuser to another Parish, without notice to the new Parish of the abuse issues relating to the transferred individual and subjects the new parish to the predilections of a KNOWN abuser.) National does not seem to me to be accused of that. National seems to have tried, though poorly so, to rid its system of abusers. At least in theory. (Jump past the (...) in the paragraph above.) BUT, at the end of the day, whether National, a Local Council (LC ), or Chartered Organization (CO), is liable for negligence depends on the "findings of fact" of either Judge (if a bench trial), or the Jury. So, this is where the "reasonable" definition comes in. "Reasonable" is defined by the "finder of fact." It can be the Judge, and defendants fearing a jury of 12, might "throw themselves on the mercy of the court." It can also be a jury of twelve-all of whom must agree on the verdict. And, that means one is risking all on the agreement of twelve folks. (And there are juries of 6 in Federal court, but that nuance adds nothing to the logic of this discussion.)
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You need not respond to such challenges. Einstein took at least a week to come up with E=mc (squared) (Well, maybe years.)
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Absolutely agree 100%. I am not an abuse survivor. I am a child of Scouting, Cubs through Eagle. Philmont staff, father of 3 Eagles. Scouting is my life and that of my family. I stand appalled that this "principled" organization has failed to defend and protect children. Children. The defenseless. For how many DECADES? (Longer than I have been alive at 7 of them.) An organization with a "religious declaration" requirement. "That which you do to the least of mine, you do to me."- Jesus. How does one deny that idea? My best friend only told me about 3 years ago of his abuse. I had no idea. I camped with him dozens and dozens of times during high school. We had great times. He seemed totally normal and balanced. Only now do I learn he had weekly counseling for the last 55 years. National BSA has betrayed the principles of the Scouting Movement-all the way to the bedrock of the Movement. And betrayed all who believed. And to avoid a moral accounting, it hides behind bankruptcy. $57,000 for Tier 6 abuse in an open state is an insult. $5.7 million is closer to a reasonable settlement amount.
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Chapter 11 Announced - Part 6 - Plan 5.0/TCC Plan TBD
SiouxRanger replied to CynicalScouter's topic in Issues & Politics
And my best friend, from high school onward, only 4 or 5 years ago told me that he had been abused by a priest, by a scoutmaster, and by Christian Brother(s), and even at that, by staff at the facility to which his parents sent him for help. I am 70, so it was a long time ago. and yet he only told me, which he admitted was the person who best understood him, about 50 YEARS after the abuse. He was in weekly therapy for all those years. About 50 years. His marriage failed about 8 years ago. And he was not a weak-willed person: he earned a Phd. How does this happen? What is that damage worth? -
Chapter 11 Announced - Part 6 - Plan 5.0/TCC Plan TBD
SiouxRanger replied to CynicalScouter's topic in Issues & Politics
Godspeed, TCC Committee. (Not a survivor, just a life-long youth and adult adherent to the principles of Scouting, appalled at National's betrayal of those principals. National needs to make this right or close up shop.) -
Chapter 11 Announced - Part 6 - Plan 5.0/TCC Plan TBD
SiouxRanger replied to CynicalScouter's topic in Issues & Politics
Sorry. From now to October 15, printing 24/7, I figure 63.6 pages per SECOND to get the job done. So, 64 presses running at 1 page per second is more likely. And to have time to assemble, package, address, and add postage, probably 130 presses. This is a VERY BIG JOB. So, the solo practitioners who see 5,000, or 10,000 Plan packages show up at their door, to have to add a cover letter, repackage them, add postage and get them back in the mail...well, that is where some of the 40% fees are going. Gotta go, the mouse committee wants me to put a bell on the cat. -
Apparently, the exceptions are hidden in the footnotes to the principles. It would be easier to follow if all the footnotes were to be revealed at once. "And, as he gradually realized that Watergate was a criminal conspiracy: 'The cliche about the other shoe dropping is no longer used or useable. We are dealing with a centipede. Shoes will continue to drop.'" -The Voice Of Reason: Eric Sevareid's CBS Commentaries, by T. Harrell Allen, p. viii.
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Chapter 11 Announced - Part 6 - Plan 5.0/TCC Plan TBD
SiouxRanger replied to CynicalScouter's topic in Issues & Politics
I was doing the print job math when it was mentioned that the Plan was over a thousand pages. Whew! 165,000 reams of paper. (I worked in a print shop decades ago.) -
There is no defense for National in how it handled all this. And to conceal information from an expert acting on National's behalf, where that information, if provided, would clearly have changed the expert's testimony-that is a lie by concealment. A lie nonetheless.