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Girl Scouts file trademark lawsuit as Boy Scouts plan to rename to Scouts BSA

reuters.com

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Re: Girl Scouts file trademark lawsuit as Boy Scouts plan to rename to Scouts BSA

#51

Post by nedwin »

AuthorizedCust wrote: post #50

I am the Cubmaster of a large Cub Scout pack (>150 kids). Admitting girls has been a non-issue, except to local Girl Scouts USA activists (long story, and it wasn't pretty). Girls have always been in Boy Scouts: sisters have ALWAYS been coming to meetings. Now they get to earn badges, too. My son still picks boogers and giggles at farts even with girls around. This lawsuit is but the latest in GSUSA's petty-ness. I d…

Keen to hear the long story. Any articles you recommend as someone in the know?

Re: Girl Scouts file trademark lawsuit as Boy Scouts plan to rename to Scouts BSA

#52

Post by vertline3 »

Casseres wrote: post #48
ericb wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The current plan is that they separate dens by gender.

That's for Cub Scouts. For Scouts BSA, the current plan is to have boy-only troops and girl-only troops. They can share the same troop number, committee, budget, etc, but only the Scoutmaster has to be different. I foresee that changing or troops taking initiative and organizing differently unofficially, but that's the current plan.

For the informal organizing part

Alternatively they do have explorers scouts as a coed part, and those are often attached to a regular troop, so they already have this for older scouts.

Re: Girl Scouts file trademark lawsuit as Boy Scouts plan to rename to Scouts BSA

#53

Post by taeric »

AuthorizedCust wrote: post #50

I am the Cubmaster of a large Cub Scout pack (>150 kids). Admitting girls has been a non-issue, except to local Girl Scouts USA activists (long story, and it wasn't pretty). Girls have always been in Boy Scouts: sisters have ALWAYS been coming to meetings. Now they get to earn badges, too. My son still picks boogers and giggles at farts even with girls around. This lawsuit is but the latest in GSUSA's petty-ness. I d…

As a counterpoint, I've actually been kind of annoyed with the local boy scouts for getting somewhat active trying to recruit my girls to their scouts.

I get that they likely mean well, but my kids are already quite happy in the girl scouts. No need to try and confuse things by trying to "turn a new leaf."

I confess I assumed you were both the same organization years ago. Found out you weren't, and largely didn't care. That it largely seems to be an image saving move by the boy scouts, though, does give a bad taste.

Re: Girl Scouts file trademark lawsuit as Boy Scouts plan to rename to Scouts BSA

#54

Post by taeric »

ericb wrote: post #33

The move to allow both boys and girls in the (Boy) scouts looks really smart, long-term. For parents with both boys and girls, the choice is now to join two organizations and deal with two sets of meetings, fundraisers, schedules, and activities, or join the (formerly Boy) scouts only and have half the headaches.

This seems to largely be a win "on paper." With multiple girls, we already have to deal with the same organization multiple times for little reason. Adding another organization doesn't sound like it will actually cost much.

Re: Girl Scouts file trademark lawsuit as Boy Scouts plan to rename to Scouts BSA

#55

Post by taeric »

mdasen wrote: post #34

It's amazing how times change. Just a few years ago, the Boy Scouts wouldn't allow gay kids to join (2013) and wouldn't allow gay leaders (2015). Back then, people were applauding the Girl Scouts for their progressive stance on gay rights and transgender youths. Today, the Boy Scouts are leaning into a more gender-neutral membership. Ultimately, I think the Girl Scouts are worried about their membership. If Scouts BS…

You should read the article. The concern is less over them taking in girls, but in doing so and assuming the name "scout". Sending fliers to young families with "join the scouts" and not being honest that they are joining a different organization than the Girl Scounts is... slimy. At best.

Your history just adds to the feel that this is being done entirely as a somewhat "below the water" way to up the BSA membership. They got a tarnished name for a while, so now it looks like they are trying to wash some of their garbage with the reputation of the Girl Scouts.

Re: Girl Scouts file trademark lawsuit as Boy Scouts plan to rename to Scouts BSA

#56

Post by King-Aaron »

hyperrail wrote: post #4

In many English-speaking countries other than the US (including Canada and UK), the Girl Scouts are actually called Girl Guides - and thus both the (Boy) Scouts and (Girl) Guides could theoretically admit both sexes without name conflicts or confusing names by simply dropping the references to boys and girls in their names. For example, the British Boy Scouts organization is simply the "Scout Association" and has adm…

In Australia, it's also just the Scout Association. I was a Cub Scout, Scout, Venturer and Rover (all the age brackets), and we had girls involved every step of the way. In fact it used to come up quite often in discussion about how stupid it was that its still called 'Boy scouts' in America.

Also it came up in discussion frequently that the Guides were rubbish, lol.

Re: Girl Scouts file trademark lawsuit as Boy Scouts plan to rename to Scouts BSA

#57

Post by nradov »

randyrand wrote: post #42
makewavesnotwar wrote: post #36

Nothing about the Boy Scouts is really gender specific, beyond their requirement to be male that's set to be amended in February. I don't understand how "Scouts BSA" is a violation of any trademarks that the Girl Scouts might hold. Especially considering the Girl Scouts came after BSA had already been established. If anything I would say that Girl Scouts are encroaching on the BSA's brand identity by calling themselv…

I don't have a strong opinion either way (I'm an Eagle Scout), but the decision to include girls will fundamentally change Scouting. Guys act differently when around girls. Girls act differently when around guys. This is doubly true for ages 12-17. Whether this is a change for the better or worse is subjective but there is no doubt it is a drastic change. There is benefit to boys interacting with girls. There is bene…

4-H and FFA have long been gender integrated and that seems to work fine. Their operations are similar to Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.

Re: Girl Scouts file trademark lawsuit as Boy Scouts plan to rename to Scouts BSA

#58

Post by viggity »

ericb wrote: post #45
randyrand wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't have a strong opinion either way (I'm an Eagle Scout), but the decision to include girls will fundamentally change Scouting. Guys act differently when around girls. Girls act differently when around guys. This is doubly true for ages 12-17. Whether this is a change for the better or worse is subjective but there is no doubt it is a drastic change. There is benefit to boys interacting with girls. There is bene…

The current plan is that they separate dens by gender.

FWIW, our new lion den has both boys and girls.

Re: Girl Scouts file trademark lawsuit as Boy Scouts plan to rename to Scouts BSA

#59

Post by CobrastanJorji »

AuthorizedCust wrote: post #50

I am the Cubmaster of a large Cub Scout pack (>150 kids). Admitting girls has been a non-issue, except to local Girl Scouts USA activists (long story, and it wasn't pretty). Girls have always been in Boy Scouts: sisters have ALWAYS been coming to meetings. Now they get to earn badges, too. My son still picks boogers and giggles at farts even with girls around. This lawsuit is but the latest in GSUSA's petty-ness. I d…

> Girls have always been in Boy Scouts. Now they get to earn badges, too.

Yes, and before 1920, women were frequently allowed into statehouses. They just didn't get to vote. Turns out that was a pretty important distinction.

Re: Girl Scouts file trademark lawsuit as Boy Scouts plan to rename to Scouts BSA

#60

Post by Smeevy »

Casseres wrote: post #48
ericb wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The current plan is that they separate dens by gender.

That's for Cub Scouts. For Scouts BSA, the current plan is to have boy-only troops and girl-only troops. They can share the same troop number, committee, budget, etc, but only the Scoutmaster has to be different. I foresee that changing or troops taking initiative and organizing differently unofficially, but that's the current plan.

I really hope so.

Venturing Crews and Sea Scouts, both of which are part of BSA, have been co-ed for a long time. My initial research was not particularly fruitful, but I think that they've been that way since their respective inceptions. There's also no gender-specific leadership or structure.

My son just switched to Sea Scouts after attaining his Eagle Scout rank and my daughter just started Cub Scouts as a Tiger. We've been really impressed with how the Sea Scouts aren't making a big deal about the young women in the program. The only thing we run into is old men calling them "gals". I didn't know that was a pet peeve of mine, but you learn something new every day.

Comparatively, the Cub Scouts are constantly creating awkward situations in relation to the girl dens. Some of that is caused by BSA youth protection guidelines (girl dens must always have a female adult present), but other times it's about over-correcting little boys' behavior in front of little girls. It's still very new and I'm sure that everyone will adjust to something that doesn't require so much effort.

I very much hope that BSA can get out of its own way as more girls move into troops and just take notice of what's been accomplished by their existing co-ed programs.

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