Beyond camping, canoeing, Boy Scouts add robotics!

The Boy Scouts of America is adding a new and exciting merit badge to its lineup, the Robotics Merit Badge!
To learn more about this cool new badge, click here and read the news article.

Saluting in Uniform

A question that seems to come up from time to time is can/should a Scout salute the American Flag when wearing their unit T-shirt with official pants, belt, socks, etc.  There are a lot of different opinions on this, and I will not even get into the "Class A, B, etc" debate, but here is how Scouting Magazine answered the question in June of '05:

Saluting in uniform
In addition to the official Class A Scout uniform, the BSA also has a Class B uniform—official Scout pants or shorts with a troop or camp T-shirt. My question regards protocol during flag ceremonies: Should a Scout use the Scout salute while in a Class B uniform or place his right hand over his heart?

Christopher Dillon
Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop 24
Bloomsburg, Pa.

First, when referring to uniforms, Class A and Class B are military terms that are not used in the BSA. The correct Scouting terms for the two versions of the uniform are "official uniform" and "activity uniform." Although less formal, the activity uniform is still considered an official uniform, and therefore it is appropriate for boys to use the Scout salute while wearing it during a flag ceremony.

http://www.scoutingmagazine.org/issues/0605/d-lett.html

So, there ya go.  Salute away!  Just remember, jeans are not official uniform pants, but that is an argument for another day :-).

Scouting’s Journey to Excellence to Replace Centennial Quality Recognition Program

Scouting’s Journey to Excellence is the new performance recognition program for Councils, Districts, and Units.  This program replaces the Centennial Quality Recognition program.  The BSA Journey to Excellence program uses a balanced approach and key performance indicators to measure performance versus process, encourage and reward success, and achieve the mission.  This exciting new program will launch January 1, 2011.

For more information visit http://www.scoutingnews.org/2010/10/10/bsa-journey-to-excellence/

Camouflage/Military Uniforms and Scouting

I found a great article that pretty much sums up whether Scouts can/should wear cammo with or in place of their uniform.  The correct answer is NO!  Click here for the article.

WOOD BADGE KICKOFF

WHO:  All Scouters, past and present, who have taken Wood Badge anywhere at any time.

WHAT:  Wood Badge Pig Pickin’ and Kickoff  for our next Wood Badge Course, to be held in the spring of 2011.

 WHY:

• Rekindle the Wood Badge Spirit
• Share Fellowship with past Wood Badge Participants and Staff
• Enjoy Good Food 
• See What's New at Camp Barnhardt
• Help other Scouters find out how the Wood Badge experience can help them gain personal leadership skills and deliver a better program for youth:  BRING A FRIEND!

WHERE: Camp John J. Barnhardt Dining Hall

WHEN: (Wed) September 29, 2010 at 6:30 PM

Join Host Jack Kepley,  Course Director of SR-345, for a great evening of visiting with old friends, making new ones and kicking off the next Wood Badge Course!  Hear (or tell) a story or two, have a good laugh and feel the spirit again!
There is no charge for prospective participants or their bead-holder hosts.  Cost is $10 for bead holders who do not bring a prospect.  All who plan to attend the kickoff should RSVP so enough food will be available.



FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Wood Badge Reunion Host:
 Jack Kepley
 (704) 636-1820

Wood Badge Course Director,
Course No. S5-416-11-1:
 Dan Waggoner
 (704) 633-0462
  dan@waggonerrealty.com

Council Training Chairman::  
 David Wilson
 (704) 642-7465
  Wilson.DavidB@Gmail.com

Bugling reinstated as separate merit badge

http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2010/08/bugling-reinstated-as-separate-merit-badge.html

Have your guys start practicing "Taps," because Bugling is here to stay.
In early June, we reported that the Bugling merit badge was to be discontinued and its requirements merged into Music merit badge.
That's no longer the case. Responding to concerns from hundreds of Scouters, the BSA's Youth Development team has decided to reinstate Bugling as a separate merit badge.
Oddly enough, this means that Bugling will never have officially been part of Music merit badge, because the changes were never reflected in a Boy Scout Requirements book.
Bugling and Music will continue to share a merit badge pamphlet. Requirements and information for both of the badges will be contained within that single booklet.

Important Changes to the Boy Scouts of America’s Youth Protection Training Policies

Youth safety is the No. 1 concern of the BSA.

To increase awareness of this societal problem and to create even greater barriers to abuse than already exist today in Scouting, the Boy Scouts of America is implementing several important changes to further enhance its Youth Protection policies:

Effective June 1, 2010:

• Youth Protection Training is required for all registered volunteers.
• New leaders are required to take Youth Protection Training before they submit their application for registration. The certificate of completion for this training must be submitted at the time application is made and before volunteer service with youth begins.
• Youth Protection Training must be taken every two years. If a volunteer’s Youth Protection Training record is not current at the time of recharter, the volunteer will not be re-registered.

To ensure these policies are fully implemented, please take the following steps:

• If you have not taken Youth Protection Training within the past two years, please log on to MyScouting and take the training. Be sure to have your member ID number. The number can be found on your Boy Scouts of America membership card.
• If you do not know your member ID number, contact your unit leader or committee chairman. Your council can also assist you.
• If you have taken Youth Protection Training online but did not input your member ID number, please log back on to the Training section of MyScouting and input your member ID so the training will be linked with your records.
• If you have taken Youth Protection Training within the past two years but did not take the course online, log on to MyScouting to ensure your records are up to date, or contact your council and have them verify that your Youth Protection Training records are accurate.
• Finally, please share these important changes with other Scouters.

Youth Protection Training is available online at http://www.scouting.org/Training/YouthProtection.aspx.

To find out more about the Youth Protection policies of the Boy Scouts of America and how to help Scouting keep your family safe, see the information available in any of the Cub Scouting or Boy Scouting handbooks, or go to http://www.scouting.org/Training/YouthProtection.aspx.

Thank you for your commitment to our nation’s young people and to Scouting.

Sincerely,

James Terry
Assistant Chief Scout Executive