Transatlantic Council: Boy Scouts of America
Over 50 years of serving the youth of America overseas
News & Notes
Change in Venturing Age
The National Executive Board recently approved a resolution to change the eligibility requirements for Venturing to ensure consistency among Venturing, high-adventure bases, and other core programs.
The current age and grade eligibility requirement for participation in the Venturing program is 14 years of age and completion of the eighth grade.
Effective May 1, 2010, the minimum age requirement will be changed to 14 years of age, or 13 years of age and completion of the eighth grade. The maximum age for participation remains under 21 years of age.
In support of this change, a list of frequently asked questions is posted at www.scouting.org/venturing.
Having difficulty with MyScouting, Internet Advancement or Internet Recharter with Internet Explorer 8?
MyScouting.org is not compatible with the new Microsoft Office Live Add- In. This is why you are receiving the error - 403 access forbidden, access denied screen. To continue to access MyScouting, you will need to uninstall the Microsoft Office Live Add-In. Go to the Control Panel and then add and remove programs. For Vista users: Control Panel and then Programs and Features.
Sometimes IE 8 is giving problems even after the MS Office Live Add-In is removed. The next step to try is to open your IE webpage, click Tools on the toolbar, then check Compatibility View and that should clear up the problem.
BSA Photo Contest
In celebration of the Boy Scouts of America's 100th Anniversary, the BSA and licensee DK Publishing will produce a new photo book to document Scouting as it exists today. This book, Boy Scouts of America: Today, is scheduled to be released in October 2010 and will incorporate both professional and amateur photographs of Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Venturers engaged in activities that represent the 12 points of the Scout Law.
To support this book, the BSA is sponsoring the Boy Scouts of America: Today National Photo Contest. Eligible participants may enter the contest by submitting photographs in any or all of the 12 categories to visually depict the 12 points of the Scout Law-trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. Winning entries will printed in the book Boy Scouts of America: Today, and the winning photographers will receive a copy of the book and a $50 gift card for official Scouting merchandise purchased through Scoutstuff.org or at any participating Scout shop. Employees of the Boy Scouts of America National Council or local councils, their immediate family members (spouse, parent, child, sibling, and their respective spouses, regardless of where they live), and persons living in the same households of such employees, regardless of relation, are not eligible to participate. A separate employee and family contest will launch soon.
For more information please visit http://scouting.org
Power of Scouting in Haitian Relief Efforts
The news coming out of Haiti is very grave. So many citizens are missing or are in need of immediate care. "Our hearts and prayers go out to those suffering at this very difficult time," said BSA International Commissioner Jim Turley.
There is one small beacon of hope. World Scouting has been in contact with a member of the Scouts and Guides of France who happened to be in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, during this horrific earthquake. "This Scouter reports that our brother and sister Scouts are helping in the relief effort. No one should ever underestimate the power of Scouting! Be Prepared are not just words on a piece of paper. Rather, they are a call to action," explained Turley.
Agencies trained in disaster relief are already on the ground in Haiti. Additionally, the U.S. is sending military troops and supplies to further assist rescue and relief efforts. But there are still a number of ways members of the BSA can help in Haiti. The biggest need right now is financial resources to purchase emergency supplies; later it will be to help rebuild once the emergency of the coming days has passed.
The most efficient way to meet immediate needs is through your local American Red Cross Chapter. The BSA has a long-standing relationship with the American Red Cross and has every bit of faith that monetary donations will be put to use in the most effective way.
Also, the World Organization of the Scout Movement is accepting donations to meet immediate needs. BSA members may visit its Web site at: http://www.scout.org/en/information_events/news/2010/solidarity_with_haiti
For rebuilding projects, our members are encouraged to make contributions to the BSA's World Friendship Fund. All monies collected here will be set aside for future projects requested by the Scout Association of Haiti. To conduct a local fund-raising program, contact your local council for World Friendship Fund brochures (No. 130-159), posters (No. 22-609), coffee can labels (No. 22-620), and DVDs (No. 22-611).
Roger Schrimp, chairman of the BSA's International Committee, adds, "At the end of the day, it does not matter how big or small an individual's contribution is. We all give what we can afford. That's what we do in Scouting. These are our friends, our fellow Scouts. They need our help. On my honor, I will do my best! is a pledge that each of us has taken as a Scout."
Digital Scouting Magazine
Check out the first digital edition of Scouting magazine! It’s available on www.scoutingmagazine.org. Click on the image of the magazine cover to start reading.
Digital Scouting is also available from MyScouting.org by clicking on same cover image. The digital edition is a work in progress designed to make Scouting magazine an even more useful tool for our members. Watch for improvements such as embedded video and links to forums, blogs, and podcasts. Be prepared. If you don't have a MyScouting login, create one today!
The Price of Freedom
A citizenship and leadership program of the Freedom Foundation and the Boy Scouts of America, held February 11-14, 2010 at Valley Forge
The Price of Freedom brochure.pdf
New Cub Scout Belt Loops and Pins
Video Games is one of 13 new belt loops and pins in the Cub Scout Academics and Sports program. It’s been more than 10 years since the program expanded, so volunteers and Cub Scouts from around the country have been waiting for this change. In late January, Scout shops across the country should begin selling a new edition of the Cub Scout Academics and Sports Program Guide (No. 34299), which will include these additions:
Academics Subjects:
•Disabilities Awareness
•Family Travel
•Good Manners
•Nutrition
•Pet Care
•Photography
•Reading and Writing
•Video Games
Requirements for the new awards will mirror those for the existing belt loops and pins. Besides the addition of the new awards, the Cub Scout Academics and Sports program remains the same.
Sports:
•Hiking
•Hockey
•Horseback Riding
•Kickball
•Skateboarding
New Boy Scout Merit Badges
Scuba Diving is the first new Boy Scout merit badge in three years; it will become available in December.
Four other new merit badges will appear over the course of the coming year:
•Inventing (First quarter 2010)
•Geocaching (Second quarter 2010)
•Scouting Heritage (Second quarter 2010)
•Robotics (Fourth quarter 2010)
These badges are being introduced because they received positive feedback in a youth interest survey.
If five new merit badges seems like a lot, it is. By comparison, the BSA introduced just six new merit badges between 1992 (Collections) and 2006 (Composite Materials).
But the new badges aren’t the only innovation. In the past it took three years to create a merit badge. Now, that time has been cut to just less than a year, helping to keep the badge topics and content fresher than ever.
Please help spread the word about the new merit badges, belt loops, and pins through Web sites, newsletters, e-mails, social networking, roundtables, and events. As always, www.scouting.org is your best source for the most current information about these awards.
New BSA Stamp
The U.S. Postal Service gave us “a stamp of approval” to honor 100 years of the U.S. Scouting movement. The Celebrate Scouting stamp will be issued in the summer of 2010.
The design, created by Craig Frazier of Mill Valley, California, depicts the spirit and outdoor adventure of Scouting through a backpacking Scout and a large silhouette of a Scout surveying the landscape.
In conjunction with the announcement, we are encouraging Scouts to send letters and packages to veterans and U.S. Armed Forces personnel serving overseas.
“Regardless of our age, we never outgrow the joy of receiving a personal letter in the mail,” said Chief Scout Executive Bob Mazzuca. “This is the least we can do for the service men and women to whom we owe the deepest gratitude for their service.”
Celebrate Scouting letterhead, guides for writing letters to deployed soldiers and veterans, and care package tips are available in an online toolkit to help Scouts get started.
The Celebrate Scouting stamp was championed by U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions of Texas and supported by a bipartisan group of more than 300 Congressional members.
For administrative processing, please send requests and/or questions to the appropriate e-mail below for more efficient processing times:
International Newsletter from our National Office
NATIONAL JAMBOREE 2010 PATCHES
The Transatlantic Council's National Jamboree are currently fundraising to make the Jamboree the best in the 100 years of Boy Scouts of America. Check out their website to order your patches and support our representatives in Washington DC this summer.
http://www.tacjamboree.com/?page_id=78
TAC Cubcraft Proficiency Award
Read all about the new Cub Scout Award and order today!
TAC SCOUTCRAFT PROFICIENT-award - order.doc
TAC CUBCRAFT PROFICIENCY AWARD - Order Form.doc
Fundraising Page Updated (NFL, Popcorn, Bowl-a-Thon)
A helpful page on fundraising, including all the Fall Fundraising options, is available here. This includes the new NFL fundraiser information.
Cub Scout 2010
During Top Hands, there were a number of requests about making leader materials available as early as possible in 2010. To accommodate these requests, materials will be available in Scout shops in March. The video from Top Hands, in which Scout Executive Mike Surbaugh announced Cub Scouts 2010, is now available online at http://www.scouting.org/cubscouts2010.
Philmont Individual Trek Information
For scouts who have not had the opportunity to attend Philmont with a unit or council crew the scout ranch run programs individual scouts can apply for. Here is an explanation of the Philmont programs for which individual scouts can apply.
Nothing But Nets Campaign
This is the latest BSA initiative to support the UN campaign to eradicate malaria in Africa. You can find the information at http://www.nothingbutnets.net/
Preparing young people to make ethical and moral decisions over their lifetimes by instilling within them the values of the Scout Oath and the Scout Law