David CO

We had a similar situation. The boy scouts did the concessions stand at school ballgames, freeing up the sports parents so that they could watch their kids play.

I don't care who you that. It isn't true.

I think the thing we need to ask ourselves is whether or not we would feel the same way if the boy had taken the opposite political or social position. If he had taken a knee to protest the removal of Confederate statues and flags from the town square, would we still be so supportive?

Let them quit. Scouting isn't like school. If they don't enjoy it anymore, they should try something else.

Is he a vegetarian? Did you ask for any special accommodations when you registered with the unit?

I put your comment in bold. This might make for an interesting discussion in another thread, but it has little to do with the current discussion. The OP's son did not have his membership revoked. He was suspended from participation in troop activities for 6 months. After that, the parent did not renew his membership. I am sticking to my position. The unit leadership does not need to notify district or council. They can simply remove his name at re-charter time. Nothing more needs to be said.

Be careful about building bridges with that unit. They might charge you a toll.

My biggest concern is that people will be confused and think that they are paying for parking.

Quincy Junior High School (in Illinois) has a rifle range in the basement, and a school sponsored competition rifle team.

Their Chartered Organization.

Yes, that is what you said. It isn't true.

Yes, that is exactly what I am saying.

District Executives are not a reliable source of good information. This is a case in point. The Chartered Organization can suspend or revoke a boy's membership in the unit for just about any reason. The CO doesn't even have to give a reason. YP violations are not the only reason a scout could be dropped from a unit. For example, a scout could be dropped for not paying his dues. An incident form is only necessary if there was a specific YP incident that brought about the suspension or revocation.

You say that your husband may have Asperger's. So, he might not. We don't know. Asperger's is very difficult to diagnose in adults. Either way, your husband is still the boys' father and cannot be replaced. Scouting is not about finding a replacement for Dad. I sounds like you and your husband disagree. You need to work this out between the two of you.

I think this was a mistake. You should have replied to her and nobody else. She did ask you the question, but I'm guessing that she expected a one-to-one reply. Not a public statement.

Since she asked you the question, I see no reason why you shouldn't answer her.

I agree. It is troubling that the district/council have let this continue for 10 years. They must have known that the church had closed. It is also troubling that the parents have been willing (for the past 10 years) to sign their kids up in a unit without a real CO. The boat is the least of their problems.

So from the student point of view, it's all's well that ends well.

I think this thread is very relevant to scouting. If this had been a scout group visiting the Washington Monument, they might have faced the very same kind of harassment that we saw directed at the Covington Catholic boys. Do our scouts know how to react/respond to these sort of provocations? Maybe our scouts need to be prepared.

If so, why don't we fix this problem first? Then we can let the CO improve the unit.

No. I don't like the council.

Yes. My impression is that the boys were laughing at the ridiculous comments being made by the members of "the tribe of Israel." Not at Philips, as the journalists first reported.

You need to remember that these are their kids. BSA didn't give birth to these kids. BSA doesn't feed them, or clothe them, or educate them. The kids belong to the parents, and to some extent, to the churches/schools/organizations in which the families freely choose to associate. These are the Chartered Organizations. This is the root of the problem. Some over-zealous BSA supporters have come to feel that the Chartered Organizations are merely sponsors, and not the true owners of the units.

I have been to pro-life activities with teens. This is exactly what they are taught to do when confronted by hostile and aggressive opponents. Smile. Say nothing. Do nothing. Just hold your ground and say/do nothing until the police arrive. The boy might not have intended any disrespect. His so-called "smirk" might have simply been his attempt to smile (as instructed) while being faced with a very uncomfortable situation.

Nope. They can just ignore the district and council leaders, just like most of us are already doing.