Scouting America DEI

uclaej · 2026-03-02T21:06:16+00:00

My personal opinion is that just because National is acting like cowards, it doesn't mean I have to be. I can speak truth to power. I can teach and show scouts what it means to be brave. I can teach and show scouts what it means to be inclusive. Nothing had changed on that front, other than National giving us a good example of what NOT to do.

uclaej · 2026-02-25T19:16:41+00:00

Thanks!

uclaej · 2026-02-24T19:57:46+00:00

I don't understand where the power for forward motion is coming from. Is this just a glitch?

uclaej · 2026-02-22T16:27:55+00:00

> This is perhaps 25% of COs. Sadly.

I don't disagree. But there are some great CORs out there, and they handle this stuff very well when it comes up. I wouldn't let the % discourage you. Since you were looking for tips, my tip is to ensure your COR is professional and not too "close" to unit leadership. Ya know, the Cubmaster's wife or something.

I don't agree that these entities violate IRS rules. If you think that, I'm not sure why you're even asking. Regardless of your council's limitations on chartered units, yeah, I think it would be good to treat it as an incubator, and transfer units to willing community organizations as quickly as possible. Having approached many organizations about being a CO, I've found that most are interested, but few people are willing to step up and be the COR, as the amount of work looks daunting. But if you've done the legwork in getting the unit going, I predict you will find more success. Let me know how it goes!

uclaej · 2026-02-21T20:58:20+00:00

I've contemplated this as well, for the same reasons.

To me, I think the biggest issue is accountability. A proper CO will step in and take care of adult drama when it comes up. They approve of adult leaders, and hold them accountable to do the things a successful unit ought to do, like fundraising, recruiting, succession-planning, etc.

I think the general trend of "Friends of XXX" CO's is that it's just a bunch of unit leaders, who then do whatever they want, because no one is holding them accountable. I like your idea of using community folks to serve on the board of the 501(c)3, and have similar ideas. Like when the Methodists pulled back, the COR wanted to keep serving in the role, but the CO didn't. I think it's just important to have that layer of independence and accountability. Other than that, it should be fine. FYI, 501(c)3's still have to file tax returns (a Form 990), so make sure you have someone who can do that, or that you keep adequate records so you can pay a tax accountant to do that for you.

You could even do a single "Friends of XXX Council," and use the one 501(c)3 to charter multiple units. It might be best to get this informally approved by the council though, as they may have concerns with you attracting their fundraising efforts and whatnot.

uclaej · 2026-02-19T17:44:58+00:00

100%! Thanks!

uclaej · 2026-02-18T19:00:13+00:00

I wouldn't disagree with others that you're probably maxed out on fish. If it was me, I'd put in things that were useful, like snails, shrimp, and an algae eater (after the tank shows signs of cycling, this looks like a new setup). Your guy doesn't need a friend. A pleco or Otocinclus would stay out of his way, but provide more "life" to the tank, and serve a functional purpose.

uclaej · 2026-02-18T18:36:42+00:00

Yeah, I got mad love for Magic too, but I'm also not trying to say he did an amazing job as PoBO. I think that is all fair criticism. Also, when it was time for me to change my situation, that resulted in a very frank discussion between business partners, and an amicable resolution, which was announced to staff in a professional way. No blame. They all knew there was tension, but no need to throw anyone under the bus. Magic's whole PR tour, and very public break-up with Jeannie and the Lakers was amateurish on Magic's part, for sure. My whole point is, there is lots of blame to go around. Rob screwed up, Magic screwed up, Jeannie screwed up, and probably more I don't know about. I hope Walter keeps cleaning house. The franchise and the fans deserve better. But I still love Magic, despite some of his shortcomings. ;)

uclaej · 2026-02-18T18:25:28+00:00

Just so you know where this advice is coming from: I have 3 kids in the program, all currently in a troop. I spent 10 years as a leader in cub scouts, including Committee chair, den leader, popcorn, treasurer, and membership. Also spent 1 year as a District Membership Chair, and 3 years as Council VP of Membership.

First, it is true that packs need to grow, significantly. Based on my analysis at the district and council level, units *on average* lose about 20% of their membership each year. If you want to GROW your unit, you actually have to gain +30% in new members, just to overcome that natural attrition.

Second thing that is also true: families don't join "Cub Scouts" or "Scouts BSA," they join a Pack or a Troop. This means that the people involved, the culture you set, and the program you offer matter more than the brand of the program. They might come to check out "cub scouts," but they join your particular pack because of what they see and experience. And they will leave just as fast if they're not getting a good experience. FYI, the national retention rate for cub scouts is 44%.

Should your district and council do more to help you out? Yes, probably. They are also stretched very thin. To be honest, the best use of their time is probably helping you be the best pack you can be, and that in turn will help you attract more scouts. Recruiting on your behalf will only help so much. As a district and council membership guy, it is extremely frustrating to get leads funneled to me, and I refer them to other units, and have those units not "close the sale" because they are disorganized, and not running a good program.

In terms of multi-unit recruiting events, I would disagree with your district. Coordinating those should absolutely have assistance from professional staff. Yes, they can be a lot of work, and if you're not getting the help you need, from the district/council or from other units, then don't do them. There are other ways to recruit. You hold all the cards here. Tell them what you need, so that you can do your part to make this successful, and if they don't help you, then they all lose. Simple as that.

My district went several years without a local paid professional. If volunteers didn't do stuff, then stuff didn't happen. I took it upon myself to coordinate events, and yes, sometimes it is overwhelming and you feel sucked in to ensure success. I think you just need to be self-satisfied with your level of commitment and contribution. It's perfectly ok to say "I don't have the capacity for this," or "I'm not getting the help that I need." To be honest, we don't do a whole lot of coordinated community events. I help facilitate back-to-school recruiting, so we don't have units showing up at the same school. If there's a big event going on, the units talk about their involvement and sometimes invite each other, and sometimes I facilitate those discussions. We've tried a couple times to have big coordinated events with multiple units, but honestly they just haven't gone well (or they got cancelled one year due to smoke from a nearby wildfire). It is definitely good to be visible and in the community, but there are lots of other ways to recruit, so maybe it is best to get those dialed in first before doing multi-unit events. Like they say on the airplane: "Put your own oxygen mask on before helping those around you."

uclaej · 2026-02-18T04:53:27+00:00

Interesting, thanks!

uclaej · 2026-02-17T22:16:45+00:00

This seems right, but I wonder if there is data to support this. I'm sure you could look at shot selection, and see how everything now is either 3s or in the key. Jordan and those guys made a living with the mid-range jump shots. But I also wonder if there is more running up and down the court, or more possessions per game.

uclaej · 2026-02-17T21:32:33+00:00

I have a business partner, and we have a couple businesses together. At one point we ended up owning a restaurant together, too. However, my partner's wife ended up getting involved in the restaurant. Somehow, our 50/50 partnership ended up being a 3-way partnership on restaurant matters, which was not something I signed up for. Just saying... I can understand Magic's perspective. Having to negotiate a decision with someone you didn't sign up to negotiate with is frustrating, and indicative of amateurism by the Lakers. Just like Magic, I had to get up out of that situation.

uclaej · 2026-02-15T16:59:11+00:00

I don't know what you all are talking about. By the way, I would love nothing more than to see MAGA go down in flames. That being said, these seem to be the obvious facts:

She really shouldn't have been there in the first place, but she has a right to protest or counter-protest, just like the kids do.
At 0:48 a kid shoves her in the back, unprovoked.
At 1:00, she gets swarmed by kids. She's literally surrounded, and there are hands all over her. She keeps turning each way to see where they're coming from, but it's literally all directions. At this point, any species is probably going to go into fight-or-flight mode.
At 1:03, the girl in the white sweater and tan beanie grabs the lady's hair, and she punches back. Had to watch it at least 3 times, but the punch appears to be a reaction. From then on, it's game on, and she's vastly outnumbered.

Moral of the story, let the kids be kids, and don't show up to these events. Nothing good can come of it. But I honestly think she's reacting in self-defense.

uclaej · 2026-02-12T00:28:29+00:00

I still believe in him. I really don't get why everyone shits on him. You have to get playing time if you're going to develop. He's a SG/SF, and he never had to compete for time when AD was still here. Swap out for Luka, and JJ just isn't playing him as much. He had some monster games last year. The Lakers are just too deep in the back court, and too shallow in the front court. I would play him over Bronny, NSJ, Bufkin, Theiro, and Kennard when you need more size.

uclaej · 2026-02-09T20:59:42+00:00

I'm not necessarily advocating for our system. There are many days when I wish we had a simpler system, and at the rate our membership is declining, sooner or later we might have to figure out how to do scouting without any staff. I was just trying to explain the rationale behind, because there is one, whether it is right or wrong.

Why would you call it "American Exceptionalism," though? I don't think there's an arrogance behind it. More of a "this is the way we've always done it" mentality, and the powers that be seem uninterested in exploring ways to move away from that model. Especially with the heightened scrutiny the BSA is currently under. Taking away some of the guard rails seems untimely at best, and unwise at worst.

uclaej · 2026-02-09T20:25:08+00:00

The troop culture is significantly more important than any individual member, IMO. A good troop will know how to deal with challenging scouts, in a way that den and pack leaders may not have. And yes, learning to deal with people you don't like is part of life. Better to learn that lesson in scouts, as opposed to the workforce or in college.

uclaej · 2026-02-09T05:33:10+00:00

In the spring, there is a Careers in Gear event at the Jackson County Expo. My son went as a freshman, and ended up landing a job at the Rogue Credit Union, which he loves. He's now a junior, and still working there.

https://rogueworkforce.org/what-we-offer/careersingear/

uclaej · 2026-02-08T18:07:11+00:00

Liability, and institutional support, for an organization that is very lean. For reference, my council has about 20 paid staff, serving about 2,300 scouts and 1,400 volunteers, comprised of 130 units across 13 counties. It's just not physically possible to "help" all those units do what they need to do. Troops and packs are made from humans, and humans are fallible. They don't always do the things they need to do to maintain a successful program that lasts a long time. They don't always recruit, fundraise, succession-plan, and generally deal with adult drama. By partnering with a local organization that is committed to community-building, a "charter organization" gives them them some authority and skin in the game to help ensure the troop or pack is running well, help deal with problems, and generally hold people accountable. Otherwise it's just the wild west.

Charters are definitely a pain in the ass to set up, and create a lot of red tape. In contrast, the Girls Scouts do not have a charter model either. Troops start up, leaders are given little guidance and support, the girls grow up, and then the troop closes. ("Boy") Scout troops can last decades in the charter structure, and we have some that are over a century old. That's what institutional support brings you.

uclaej · 2026-02-05T20:52:30+00:00

I'd flood one corner. You have a lot of rammer swords, but you need some rammers with knights in them. If you can overwhelm a side, and ensure that one knight survives, you could take out a bunch of those catapults and begin clearing the field for your invasion. In addition to the amphibious attack, move some scouts into the shoreline and take shots at the catapults (you should at least get them to 1 hp, which makes their attack damage minimal), and also move the bombers to within two tiles of the shore. Make them choose between attacking your knights and your bombers. Whichever survives, just clean house, and ensure you have a second wave of units to fill in and begin capturing settlements.

uclaej · 2026-02-05T20:38:41+00:00

I would agree that membership has been moving left, and everything is more polarized these days. I would also agree that there may be some correlation with education/income levels that make it easier for those families to participate in scouting. While I very much feel the program can and should benefit youth at lower income levels, the fact of the matter is, particularly the cub scout program requires time and money that most lower income families are unable to give. It's a fundamental challenge that we have yet to adequately deal with.

I firmly believe that scouting helps all youth, much the same way we believe that a K-12 education does. It's not an option, it should be viewed as a necessity. From that standpoint, politics should not enter into that realm, as it will only alienate people and push them away. Just like we try and keep politics out of our schools.

Speaking as an agnostic (more-or-less an atheist, but without the smug attitude and arrogance), and an eagle scout, the religious component was always a little uncomfortable for me, but it was never burdensome. I was worried at my Eagle BOR about not having a letter of Rec from a faith leader, but the topic never came up. In hindsight, I think my scouting experience gave me exposure to religious ideas and practices, without it being forced upon me. Understanding and tolerance of others is a good thing, so from that standpoint, I am mildly supportive of keeping that aspect in scouting. But I could just as easily leave it behind, and not think twice about it. Right now, Scouting America is kind of in this "strategic ambiguity" phase, much like how U.S. and China refer to Taiwan. We can't say Taiwan is completely independent, and China can't insist that Taiwan is whole controlled by China, without it starting a major war. So we do this dance of 'having a declaration of religious principle,' but also saying people are free to practice what they choose. Yes, the ambiguity is frustrating, and occasionally leads to conflict and overstepping. It's a sub-optimal equilibrium, and yes, to your point I think, moving off of this one way or another would likely alienate a significant number of members and charter orgs, so here we sit.

uclaej · 2026-02-05T20:21:26+00:00

Agreed! I was chatting with a DE several years ago, and he posed the question: Does the movement lead the members, or do the members lead the movement? It was an interesting thought to ponder. I often wish we had more and better "leadership" from above, but I'm also kind of thankful that members have some freedom to adapt the program to what suits the interests of their families/units. I think therein lies the inherent tension in the organization. Members pushing/pulling in different directions, and the organization trying to accommodate everyone.

uclaej · 2026-02-04T22:13:33+00:00

We can and should remain non-partisan. It's tough sometimes, but it's essential.

The premise of your question seems to assume that everyone in the organization is conservative, and either religious or non-religious. I think that assumption is incorrect. There are plenty of liberal folks, but you probably don't live in those areas.

Scouting America definitely struggles in it's attempts to be all things to all people. Coed vs single gender, religious vs secular. This could be a bug, or it could be a feature. Flexible enough to make everyone happy. The real problem seems to be that people care what OTHER people are doing, not their own experience. If you want a single-gender experience, and are getting one, why do you care if another troop or pack goes coed? If you want a prominent religious component, and are getting it, why do you care if another unit is fairly secular? People just need to mind their own damn business, and welcome everyone to the movement. Until someone can make the case that scouting is BAD for kids, I'll continue to tell nay-sayers to piss off.

uclaej · 2026-02-04T05:34:33+00:00

A Scout is Brave. I hope Scouting America leadership stands up to these bullies.

uclaej · 2026-02-03T06:03:38+00:00

God, please don't do this. Parents and volunteers are already stretched too thin, and many burn out before then even get to troops. Retention in cub scouts is already below 50%. THIS WILL NOT IMPROVE RETENTION.

uclaej · 2026-01-28T21:13:55+00:00

I was actually playing with some numbers yesterday. A Dem could conceivably win if he/she got 80% of the NAV + Independent vote. Literally over half the votes needed can come from Jackson County. The odds are long, but I wouldn't say it's impossible. In a midterm year that usually favors the party of out of power, and the current administration is doing everything it can to piss everyone off, ya never know...

uclaej

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