The latest sucker punch received by scouting is coming from an unexpected source:
"Future Relationship with the BSA
We are recommending that local churches change their relationship with their scouting units.
If your local church currently charters a scout unit, we recommend that you NOT renew that chartering agreement when it is up for renewal or re-chartering this fall. Instead, we recommend one of two options, the choice of which is up to you.
1. Tell the local scout council that you will NOT renew that chartering agreement but will only extend the current agreement until December 31, 2021.
2. Tell the local scout council that you will NOT renew that chartering agreement but will enter into a Facilities Use Agreement with their unit until December 31, 2021. This will act similar to a lease allowing the scout unit to use your space, but they will be responsible for everything else, including the selection of leaders.
After December 31, 2021, we should be in a better position to see how the future will unfold. Once a BSA plan is approved by the bankruptcy court, we will know better how to proceed.
If your local church does not charter a scout unit at this time, we recommend that you NOT consider chartering a unit until the bankruptcy case is finalized and we have an understanding of how The United Methodist relationship with scouts will continue in the future."
The pack my buddy runs in a nearby town just got its charter yanked this week in response to this guidance. No word yet from our pack's church leadership, but I don't think this will be a case of "no news is good news".
I'd have more respect for the guidance if it was based on religious or moral objection to what has occurred within scouting, but it appears to be a case of basic CYA. Not sure yet how this upholds the Scout Law - particularly the parts about being Loyal and Brave. It should be a robust discussion with a group of parents and grade-school boys who have already been kicked in the pants enough over the past two years.
Meanwhile:
apnews.com
"Membership for the BSA’s flagship Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA programs dropped from 1.97 million in 2019 to 1.12 million in 2020, a 43% plunge, according to figures provided to The Associated Press. Court records show membership has fallen further since then, to about 762,000."
There are many reasons for this precipitous decline, but the most disappointing is the number of parents and community members who want to take shots from the cheap seats instead of fixing all the problems they perceive.
On the plus side, my oldest son rocked his Rifle merit badge course at camp a few weeks ago, and was the first in that group to earn his Marksmanship patch. This helped my ego recover from the bruising it received during the adults-only clays competition.
"Future Relationship with the BSA
We are recommending that local churches change their relationship with their scouting units.
If your local church currently charters a scout unit, we recommend that you NOT renew that chartering agreement when it is up for renewal or re-chartering this fall. Instead, we recommend one of two options, the choice of which is up to you.
1. Tell the local scout council that you will NOT renew that chartering agreement but will only extend the current agreement until December 31, 2021.
2. Tell the local scout council that you will NOT renew that chartering agreement but will enter into a Facilities Use Agreement with their unit until December 31, 2021. This will act similar to a lease allowing the scout unit to use your space, but they will be responsible for everything else, including the selection of leaders.
After December 31, 2021, we should be in a better position to see how the future will unfold. Once a BSA plan is approved by the bankruptcy court, we will know better how to proceed.
If your local church does not charter a scout unit at this time, we recommend that you NOT consider chartering a unit until the bankruptcy case is finalized and we have an understanding of how The United Methodist relationship with scouts will continue in the future."
The pack my buddy runs in a nearby town just got its charter yanked this week in response to this guidance. No word yet from our pack's church leadership, but I don't think this will be a case of "no news is good news".
I'd have more respect for the guidance if it was based on religious or moral objection to what has occurred within scouting, but it appears to be a case of basic CYA. Not sure yet how this upholds the Scout Law - particularly the parts about being Loyal and Brave. It should be a robust discussion with a group of parents and grade-school boys who have already been kicked in the pants enough over the past two years.
Meanwhile:
Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts suffer huge declines in membership
America’s most iconic youth organizations – the Boy Scouts of America and the Girl Scouts of the USA – have been jolted by unprecedented one-year drops in membership.
apnews.com "Membership for the BSA’s flagship Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA programs dropped from 1.97 million in 2019 to 1.12 million in 2020, a 43% plunge, according to figures provided to The Associated Press. Court records show membership has fallen further since then, to about 762,000."
There are many reasons for this precipitous decline, but the most disappointing is the number of parents and community members who want to take shots from the cheap seats instead of fixing all the problems they perceive.
On the plus side, my oldest son rocked his Rifle merit badge course at camp a few weeks ago, and was the first in that group to earn his Marksmanship patch. This helped my ego recover from the bruising it received during the adults-only clays competition.
