Time to call it a night.

[MattR]

As of yesterday I'm no longer associated with a unit or district. I've lost interest in scouting and now have 3 grandkids that I care much more about. I adore them and even though I've had a cold twice, hoof in mouth and covid, all since the start of Nov, it's worth it. But I don't have time for meetings with bored teenagers or campouts with a handful of scouts. If the parents were still engaged like they were even 10 years ago I'd make the time, but they're not. It seems the same way on this forum. I'm not a leader and I never thought I was. I just kept at it because I believed in it. I'm not going to change anything anymore.

So, it's time to move on. I hope scouting figures things out. It was fun. I have good memories. There were some good people on this forum as well. I may poke my nose in once in a while but my interest is waning. I'd rather go for a hike to take some nice photos.

Take care everyone.

@RememberSchiff and @Eagle1993 , I'll start a thread in the moderator area.

[DuctTape]

We all turn the page to new chapters of life. Enjoy the time with your grandkids. I do hope you stop by on occassion.

[InquisitiveScouter]

@MattR  Nice to have you around the campfire  

Thanks for serving as a Moderator!

The BSA will limp along until it perishes from self-inflicted wounds or radically transforms.  The former is more likely than the latter.

Scouting will always be a thing.  It was a thing even before it was called Scouting... young people having adventures together and learning how to get along in their own little "citizenship" laboratory.

Societal ills will increase to a point where adults will realize we need to help young people learn how to replace us.  And then there will be a revival.

Take your grandkids camping, and do your own version of Scouting.  Adventures, skills, and teamwork with grandpa sound like great fun.

Enjoy the hikes 😜  And post a picture!

[mrjohns2]

6 hours ago, InquisitiveScouter said:

Societal ills will increase to a point where adults will realize we need to help young people learn how to replace us.  And then there will be a revival.

Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.

G. Michael Hopf

[qwazse]

@MattR, thanks for all of your valuable contributions.

My two grandsons (who I affectionately name Thing 1 and Thing 2) are incredibly entertaining. They suck up time in a very good way.

On the other hand, this class of troop parents are some of the most enjoyable, our teens are appreciative, and it’s fun to pass on skills.

So I have stepped back to allow others to step up. But the troop gives me great opportunities to get away from the family. As I was backpacking with them last weekend, each time we passed a mile marker, I’d shout “another mile down and I haven’t heard anybody added to the holiday honey-do list!”

Edited Sunday at 08:13 PM by qwazse

[Tron]

On 1/3/2025 at 7:32 AM, InquisitiveScouter said:

@MattR  Nice to have you around the campfire  

Thanks for serving as a Moderator!

The BSA will limp along until it perishes from self-inflicted wounds or radically transforms.  The former is more likely than the latter.

Scouting will always be a thing.  It was a thing even before it was called Scouting... young people having adventures together and learning how to get along in their own little "citizenship" laboratory.

Societal ills will increase to a point where adults will realize we need to help young people learn how to replace us.  And then there will be a revival.

Take your grandkids camping, and do your own version of Scouting.  Adventures, skills, and teamwork with grandpa sound like great fun.

Enjoy the hikes 😜  And post a picture!

Scouting is going to survive; Scouting America is going to survive. I don't think Scouting America membership has bottomed out yet; and I think a lot of change is coming. I think quality control of adult leaders and of units in general is eminent; certain it will be a thing no later than the final ink is dry on the settlement. I've only ever heard of adults being threatened to be kicked out, and I've only ever heard of units being threatened to loose their charter; I've recently witnessed my first adult leader kicked out of SA after decades of service, and 2 units have lost their charter in the last month, a 3rd was supposedly told 1 more safety/ypt violation and they are gone. What I see is that Scouting America is going to get smaller, and then we are going to turn a very big corner and experience some real growth.