Weekend Patrol Box #29

I like the new 2010 Centennial rank awards.  Adding the date makes them special, and I think we'll look back on them with fondness in the future.

Watch for all of them in future editions of the Scoutsigns blog.

Snow has been in abundance.  We've had to cancel meetings this month, as well as a long anticipated backpacking trip on the C&O.  Disappointing, but man do we have a lot of snow!

On to the Patrol Box:

1. Is Scouting in Jeopardy?
2. 100 Days of Scouting--what are you going to do to build Scouting?  Seize the moment!
3. Academics and Sports--all of the new ones.  Do you own a set yet?  Yes, why yes I do.
4. 50th and 75th Anniversary strips and where to put on your uniform.  Will there be a 100th in the same style?
5. Skijoring--I'm not even sure how to pronounce it, but it looks like fun in the snow.  Did I mention the snow yet?
6. 33 items for your bug out bag--there is a lot of "be prepared" here (@frugaldad) 
7. Something to do in the snow, besides complain about it (@campingblogger) Americans can do this, too.
8. OK, some indoor fun (the movie could be a great troop activity)--The Lightning Thief opens Friday.
9. Art of Manliness blog commemorates the BSA 100th Anniversary. (Usual debate in the comments though.)
10. Did you order the Scout Sunday patches yet?  $1.99 at Scoutstuff.org.  Free shipping through 28 FEB, no minimum purchase.  Use promotion code FB41827.

TV, book, movie, and blog suggestions for indoors, and plenty of outdoor ideas, too!  Share your thoughts and comments below (or tweet away!).

100 Days of Scouting project

100 is a powerful number.

100 years of Scouting.  100% is everything.  100 degrees is hot weather, no matter where you are.  

On the 100th Anniversary of Scouting, I started a new blog:  100 Days of Scouting.

The purpose is to record the positive things I do for Scouting each day--big or small.  It also makes sure I focus on accomplishing something each day for Scouting.  Busy, tired, can't think of something?  Something must be done each day.

Just think of what could happen if you stuck to it for 100 straight days. Could you impact lives?  Absolutely.

The Challenge!

I want to challenge you to write down and share the positive things you do each day for Scouting on  your own blog, Twitter, or in the comments section of the 100 Days of Scouting blog.

Don't have a blog?  Free and easy to start one.

Don't have Twitter?  Free and easy to start an account.  (Don't forget to follow Scoutsigns!)

Plenty of room in the 100 Days of Scouting comments, too.

Hundreds of people have looked at the blog since Monday.  Comments have already been posted, emails have been sent to me, folks have followed the blog, it has been retweeted, and it has been posted to Facebook.

Join us!  Make a difference in a child's life...and in Scouting.

100th Anniversary Postage Stamp to be Announced!

Scouting has been celebrated on postage stamps around the world.  Some collectors only focus on those stamps.  There is even an organization for it:  Scouts on Stamps Society International.

There was also a big drive on Facebook to have an official stamp created for our 100th Anniversary, too. It showed that a lot of folks were upset that the anniversary may go unnoticed.

Well, looks like the wait might be over, per SOSSI website.

12 NOV 2009 at 10AM, the United States Postal Service is announcing a Celebrate Scouting stamp at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum.

Can't wait to see it!  And I can't wait to hear the story behind the stamps creation.  Oversight? Public pressure?  Did folks just not communicate well?

New BSA Rank Requirements Coming

[Image from boyandgirlscouts.com--thanks!]

There are several new requirements for Tenderfoot all the way through Life coming, effective 01 JAN 2010.

According to the Scouting.org website, it appears that they will be in the new Scout handbook coming in August.

New Requirements:

Tenderfoot

• A Scout must teach another person how to tie a square knot using the EDGE model (explain, demonstrate, guide, and enable). He must also be able to discuss four specific examples of how he lived the points of the Scout Law in his daily life.

Second Class

• A Scout must discuss the principles of Leave No Trace and explain the factors to consider when choosing a patrol site and where to pitch a tent.
• He must explain what respect is due the flag of the United States.
• He must again discuss four examples of how he lived four different points of the Scout Law in his daily life.
• He must earn an amount of money agreed upon by the Scout and his parents and save at least 50 percent of it.

First Class

• An additional requirement to the 10 separate troop/patrol activities states he must demonstrate the principles of Leave No Trace on these outings.
• He must discuss four more examples of how he lived the remaining four points of the Scout Law in his daily life.

Life

• A Scout must use the EDGE model to teach a younger Scout a specified skill.

Star, Life, and Eagle

• Troop Webmaster and Leave No Trace trainer are two new leadership positions.

H/T: @ScoutingNews

BSA Speaker

Do you really love the Boy Scouts of America?  

Does the 100th anniversary get your blood up, in a good way?

Are you the leader that can't get enough of the program?  Active in a lot of things?  Trained?  

Love to share your good news and the BSA message?

Blog, tweet and participate in online groups for Scouting?

You should consider the BSA Speakers Bank.

From the website:

The BSA Speakers Bank is a national resource for volunteers and executives that provides BSA speakers with a centralized resource of speech templates, topics, and other presentation tools for use at the local, regional, and national levels. This asset will serve as a critical component as we re-introduce Scouting to communities across America.

To become part of the Speakers Bank, you need to contact your Scout Executive as only the SE can enter you into the Speakers Bank.  There are speeches and powerpoint presentations available online to help you out.

Hey, there might even be a free lunch! 20 speeches earns you the nifty Speakers Bank knot, too.

Are you currently part of the Speakers Bank?  Any stories to share?  Feel free to help us with a comment.

Happy Birthday BSA Photo Contest

Great contest idea from Boys' Life.

Scouts can submit photos via the website to compete for the cover of Boys' Life's February 2010 edition (THE anniversary edition).

From the site:

The Boys’ Life “Happy Birthday, BSA” photograph contest is open to readers age 6 to 17. Its theme: The Five Pillars of Scouting. Use your imagination and come up with a photograph or photographs that illustrate one or more of these important BSA values: 

• Character
• Leadership
• Achievement
• Outdoors
• Community Service 

...and...

Each of the age categories—ages 6 to 11 and ages 12 to 17—will have first-, second- and third-place winners. Each first-place winner gets a Canon PowerShot G10 digital camera worth $500. Second place wins a $200 iPod nano. Third place wins a $100 Scout Supply gift card. 

H/T:  CapitalAreaBSA

Help Scouting magazine

With the 100th anniversary of Scouting coming soon, acting now can help make great changes in plenty of time.

Just received this email from the fine folks at Scouting magazine:

Dear Scouter,

Scouting magazine needs your help! We would like your input to find out how Scouting magazine can continue to serve your needs. This survey will take about three to five minutes to complete.
This is the same survey advertised in the September issue of Scouting Magazine. If you have already taken the survey, please disregard this email.

The BSA has designated 2008 as "The Year of the Volunteer." As a token of our appreciation for completing the survey, you will automatically be directed to an online form where you can register to receive a free BSA "Year of the Volunteer" iron-on logo transfer. We hope you will wear it proudly to show your support for Scouting.
Click here to begin...
Thank you for all you do for Scouting!

Scouting magazine staff

Take a few minutes to help steer the future of Scouting.