Boy Scouts will thrive under proposed administrative changes
First, let me begin by saying Scouting made me who I am -- father, husband, physician, Air Force officer, adult Scout leader. And it was all made possible because 40 years ago, someone invested time in the Scouting program and me.
Today, we have the opportunity to extend Scouting’s reach to more of the 900,000 un-served youth in Michigan, enriching their lives and the communities in which they live.
On Sept. 15, after a great discussion in open forum, the executive board of the Great Sauk Trail Council, Boy Scouts of America made a bold, forward-looking, and strategic move when it overwhelmingly -- 42-to-1 -- voted to send the Crossroads Recommendation to its membership for a council wide vote.
Dr. Karl J. Edelmann is president-elect of the Great Sauk Trail Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
• Focus both professionals and volunteers on unit service, retention, and membership growth through the formation of new units.
• Increase the number of youth serving executives.
• Consolidate administrative functions and governance of the councils in Michigan.
• Enhance local funding efforts for Scouting .
The goal of this effort is to make Scouting streamlined, efficient, and -- importantly -- sustainable. It is the result of more than 100 volunteers from all over the state of Michigan investing nearly 10,000 hours in reviewing, strategizing, and debating how best to incorporate the changes that have occurred technologically, socially, and administratively over the last several decades into the economic reality that is Michigan today.
Editor's note: For a another viewpoint on this issue, see: Will local Boy Scout units really vote to disband their councils throughout Michigan? |
It’s good for our Scouts and good for our council. If it were anything short of that, 42 of 43 members of our board would not have offered their support for moving forward. The overwhelming support speaks to the importance - and sound substance - of this new approach.
Dr. Karl J. Edelmann is president-elect of the Great Sauk Trail Council of the Boy Scouts of America, an Eagle Scout and an Ann Arbor family practice physician who specializes in geriatric medicine.
Comments
pseudo
Tue, Oct 4, 2011 : 4:40 p.m.
I think your assessment of the orgnaization is missing some very fundamental realities. First and foremost, the National Leadership has declared that the Boy Scouts to be a religious organization, a fundy-leaning Christian one at that. Rightly or wrongly, that perception is the most common one. While some would point to the anti-gay reality of that manuever at the Supreme Court as a main issue, I don't. I think the declining enrolement in the Boy Scouts mirrors the decline in church membership- particularly church membership in the more fundamentalist sects. That manuver had the effect of changing the question about enrolling and participating from "do we do this" to " do we join this religous organization". It also put you in competition with church groups targeting youth. Boy Scouting is a fine occupation and organization but it has branded itself as something beyond being prepared, camping, community good works and selling popcorn. That deicsion limited the organization's appeal. So, I believe your enrollment will continue to decline everywhere outside of Utah and...$$ as well. Stop kidding yourself about 'flourishing' - this is a cost-saving manuver, possibly an over-due one. Plan accordingy or you might as well not have a plan.
Tom_B
Tue, Oct 4, 2011 : 11:34 a.m.
Perhaps I am missing something. Nowhere do I read what the "Crossroads Recommendation" actually is nor what it does or does not do with the assets of the proposed-to-be-disbanded (?) council. Are there any insurances, in writing? Will these insurances become part of the recorded deeds? Since the doctor remains silent on these important issues, I lean to supporting Dell Deaton's stand on the proposal.
Suzi
Mon, Oct 3, 2011 : 4:03 p.m.
Until Boy Scouts are allowed to be homosexual atheists, I don't care if they reorganize and start selling cookies instead of nuts..
clark
Sun, Oct 2, 2011 : 2:56 p.m.
The real problem is that the councils (and National) are perpetually stuck in the past. We're not living in the 1960s anymore, where scouting meant one guy loading up a bunch of small-town kids in his station wagon to go camping for the weekend. No, today the market is flooded with activities for kids. Parents have higher expectations too: they don't just want their kids to go to tennis practice or karate lessons; they want them to come back with a better backhand serve or faster round kick. I'm the scoutmaster of a local troop and I strongly believe scouting needs to evolve to meet the world as it exists now. We've made changes in our troop to adapt, and we're looking at making more. But the problem with the Crossroads Recommendation is that it's pure fantasy to pretend that it's going to have any impact unless it addresses the underlying fundamentals. Our demographics are shifting, permanently, and what our customers want out of the program in 2011 is not what our customers in 1961 wanted. Those of us involved in unit-level scouting don't need a local badge store or paper-pushing administrators or executive boards. We need a web site that offers good protocol and advice, a reasonable way to get help with real issues: running outings, recruiting kids, and dealing with problems that come up. (And I personally wish National would stop making stupid political statements that interfere with recruiting.) Add in some quality publications, financial support (even just help managing the books), and some places to go camping. That's it. But the recommendations seem completely counter-intuitive. How can dissolving all the local councils "enhance local funding"? How can a proposal that "will not address current camps and council properties... or assignments of Scout Executives and staff" make any meaningful changes in administration and governance? What exactly does a "youth serving executive" do in an organization where all the units are run by v
sh1
Sun, Oct 2, 2011 : 1:23 p.m.
I'm curious if there's been a change in the stance that scouts have to be heterosexual and declare belief in God in order to be accepted.
seldon
Mon, Oct 3, 2011 : 3:51 a.m.
They discriminate against non-religious individuals for membership or leadership roles. They discriminate against homosexuals for leadership roles (I don't know whether they're also discriminated against for membership). I'm citing a Wikipedia article here because it's a pretty good summary, but feel free to do your own Googling: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boy_Scouts_of_America_membership_controversies" rel='nofollow'>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boy_Scouts_of_America_membership_controversies</a> There's no real ambiguity on this topic. It's stated policy, which the national organization has defended in court on multiple occasions, and which has resulted in the Scouts losing access to some public facilities and funds.
sh1
Sun, Oct 2, 2011 : 4:51 p.m.
Rick, I do not know about this council in particular but was referring to the scout policy in general. Nevertheless, here's a Michigan example for you: <a href="http://www.bsa-discrimination.org/html/untitled194.html" rel='nofollow'>http://www.bsa-discrimination.org/html/untitled194.html</a>
Rick
Sun, Oct 2, 2011 : 4:25 p.m.
sh1, I have never heard of any examples of this council ever doing that. Can you provide any examples of this council kicking anyone out for those reasons? Anywhere in the state of Michigan?
sh1
Sun, Oct 2, 2011 : 4:19 p.m.
Rick, why then have atheists and gay youths been kicked out? I've always heard it explained that it's a private, not public, group and can pick its membership.
Rick
Sun, Oct 2, 2011 : 4:03 p.m.
The BSA has no requirement that scouts have to be heterosexual. If when you say "accepting" you mean "accept for membership" there is nothing on the BSA youth application related to religion, or lack of it.
seldon
Sun, Oct 2, 2011 : 3:14 p.m.
I was going to post a comment on this topic, but instead I'll vote yours up. If they're losing ground, it's because most of us in society don't want to live in the 1950s.