Popular Post MattR Posted January 18, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted January 18, 2019 To everyone on scouter.com, Now that girls are already in the cub program and they are about to enter the scout program it's time to welcome them. That's a nice way of saying stop complaining about girls in the BSA. Every thread that is about girls entering troops has gone off the rails. There have been complaints about how the decision was made, the negative impact on boys, what's wrong with the BSA, and just a lot of anger. I understand that people want to complain in general but we can't have complaints about the decision to include girls any more. The reason is simple. No scout should feel unwelcome in this program. Any scout that abides by the Scout Oath and Law, or their parents, should never feel like they shouldn't belong. When people on this forum complain that the surveys were rigged or that girls will ruin it for the boys then the message every girl gets is that they aren't welcome and that their being in the BSA is a mistake. Now that girls are here the complaints need to stop and we have to welcome them. A scout is a friend to all. I'm not saying there can't be any griping anymore. The distinction between what I'm talking about and general frustration is simple. If a 12 year old girl reads a comment that says girls shouldn't be in the scout program of the BSA, or that the decision was a mistake, then that's what I'm talking about. For example, saying that you won't go to a summer camp or camporees where there are girls is just telling the girls they aren't welcome. Saying that your scouts have to get eagle and get out before the girls arrive is just saying girls aren't welcome. Saying that national didn't listen to everyone's opinion about girls is just saying nobody wants girls in troops. No girl in the BSA should read that on this forum. This argument is over. The BSA decided. It's time to be Obedient. For those that want to keep arguing there are a few options: 1) Accept the change. Be curious and see how this change plays out with an open heart. Girls are scouts and they're in the BSA to have fun with their friends in the outdoors. Change is always rough but it keeps happening. 2) Leave. Stand by your principles and realize it's time to move on and find another way to volunteer your time. BSA troops have changed and there's no going back. 2.1) Don't engage in these threads. For those that still want to be a part of the BSA but still aren't happy with girls: Understand that complaining about girls in the BSA has a negative impact on those girls, or their parents, that are reading these threads. Learn to let it go. 3) Fight it. You can PM me, the other moderators, or @SCOUTER-Terry if you don't like this decision. I'll be honest, we're tired of watching these threads. You can also just ignore this and keep complaining. Well, you can try but you're just going to make yourself bitter. And we'll remove your posts and ban you from this forum if you keep it up. @LeCastor, @RememberSchiff, @John-in-KC, @desertrat77, @NJCubScouter. 1 5 19 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Treflienne Posted January 18, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted January 18, 2019 I started reading this forum last year, as a parent of a girl who wants to join BSA, with the idea of learning more about the BSA as I prepare to become a volunteer. It has been extremely helpful to read the range of opinions. I have been impressed by the number of people (too many for me to remember all their names) who, even though preferring for Boy Scouts to remain single gender, have been kind and courteous to answer my questions and give good advice as to how to have a good program for the girls. And I have been encouraged by the number of people who are obviously genuinely enthusiastic about girls in the program. I can put up with a few curmudgeons. Actually, I have appreciated hearing from them, also. I have appreciated learning, in this online forum, what some of the sensitive issues are. Better for me to learn that here, rather than to accidentally and unnecessarily annoy some of the old-time scouters in my town. 2 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Setonfan Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 Amen. A Scout is courteous. 78,000 girls joined Cub Scouting in just a few weeks this fall. In a couple of weeks, it’s likely there will be a lot of troops starting, from what I’ve heard (one council alone has almost 90 troops ready to start with trained leadership, older Venture girls taking key positions, etc.). Guess National found a few out there that actually wanted the program. You are right, Matt, online forums often bring out the worst (and I’ve watched this one for a long time before joining), however, the personal attacks and just constant negativity would certainly fail to inspire any new leader. I’ve not recommended any new leaders to check this one out from fear they will become discouraged with so much negativity. Some complaining is just fine, but really, if most would just act like Scouts, this could be a place of support and encouragement for all. Just my .02. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjlash Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 Nicely said @MattR. Thank you. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortridge Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 Thank you for this. I’ve also gotten tired of the constant arguing and trying to turn back the clock. After years of advocacy for girls and gays, we finally have an inclusive program. The decision has been made and these girls - our girls - are going to be Scouts. Let’s give them an amazing welcome! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuctTape Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 A mantra of mine which may be apropos, "It's not what you are saying, but how you say it." 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiney Norman Posted January 21, 2019 Share Posted January 21, 2019 Amen 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skeptic Posted January 21, 2019 Share Posted January 21, 2019 Ahhhh; now we can move on and work out the kinks perhaps. Thanks.🤐 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WisconsinMomma Posted January 21, 2019 Share Posted January 21, 2019 WELCOME GIRLS to the BSA! WELCOME families! I wish you an amazing Scouting experience!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Eagle91 Posted January 29, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted January 29, 2019 After years of watching her 3 brothers have all the fun, my daughter has decided she wants to join Scouts BSA. My wife and I (both WB trained) have marshaled enough support in our community to start a non-linked Scouts BSA troop for her and her friends... We turn in all of our charter paperwork on Thursday, and I will officially be the Scoutmaster of Troop 19. Wish me / us luck! -DK 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrkstvns Posted January 29, 2019 Share Posted January 29, 2019 Best of luck, Eagle91! Just curious...does "non-linked" mean that your CO has no boys-only troop under its auspices? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle91 Posted January 29, 2019 Share Posted January 29, 2019 (edited) On 1/29/2019 at 3:13 PM, mrkstvns said: Best of luck, Eagle91! Just curious...does "non-linked" mean that your CO has no boys-only troop under its auspices? That's correct. In my neck of the woods there are a number of existing Troops (5 in the immediate area), but none fall under our CO. Our CO does however have a cub scout pack. While "linking" to my son's troop would have certainly been easier (and I think the CO would have supported it), the scouts there are overwhelmingly against having girls in the BSA in general, and most certainly against sharing meeting space. Rather than force it, I feel being non-linked gives these girls the best chance for success without having to worry about ruffling any feathers...Little extra work on my end, but I'm happy to add to that 1 hour a week That being said, i think all units are eventually going to be co-ed, you just have to give everyone time to adjust... -Dave Edited February 1, 2019 by RememberSchiff remove excessive whitespace 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff1974 Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 No intention on my part to rekindle an argument about the merits of girls in Scouts BSA. I find the numbers of initial signups very encouraging. As a Scoutmaster (with less than a year on the job) of my son's Troop, and the father of a 2d grader girl in Brownies/Girl Scouts, I am supportive of both Scouts BSA and the Girl Scouts. If the numbers are there to form a troop, and adequate parent volunteers exist, go for it and more power to you. What I find troubling is the continued pushing from our council on this issue. We are a small, but growing troop that is making the transition to a boy-led troop. The ranks of our parent volunteers are not deep. When myself and a few new ASMs stepped in, whether the troop should be folded into a neighboring troop was on the table. We elected to push forward and move towards a boy-led troop. Difficult, but rewarding, and working. Our small community also has a rather vibrant Girl Scout program, with a lot of overlap between scouting families. Our committee discussed the issue, and owing to a lack of capacity from parents, the absence of any expressed interest from girls in the community, and respect for the existing GS organization in town, elected not to actively recruit the formation of girl troop. If a quorum of girls comes forward with interest, with appropriate SM/ASM support, we would not turn them away from linking the Troop or sharing the parent committee between the Troops. We just are not actively recruiting girls to join Boy Scouts. I had a discussion with our district rep about the issue, only to have a council rep follow up. I have had to justify that decision on a repeated basis. The continued pushback is growing tiresome. I feel as if the agenda being pushed ignores there is no one size fits all answer for existing troops, the troop committees and the COs. Thanks for allowing me to vent. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treflienne Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 15 minutes ago, Jeff1974 said: What I find troubling is the continued pushing from our council on this issue. That's different than in our area. For our troop, the push definitely came from a couple of girls in particular, who recruited friends to participate and parents to volunteer. Then the local Boy Scout troops and Cub Scout packs stepped up to help, inquiring of their families whether they knew any of any more interested girls. Finally the girls worked out which Boy Scout troop to link with -- deciding between several very appealing offers. In another nearby town, the push came from some high school girls who wanted a chance to do eagle. In this context, our council has seemed supportive but not pushy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skeptic Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 It is the "first" official day folks. I am with another poster in hoping this will not turn into more than it needs to and get "discussed" to death. We have continuing programs to deal with as well. This is just one more opportunity for some of us directly, and all of us indirectly. How we respond reflects on us as Scouter, and how we adhere to our basic foundational standards. YIS 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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