October 2000
Edited by Scott Daniels
Jamboree-on-the-Air for 2000
The 43rd annual Jamboree-on-the-Air (JOTA), sponsored by the World Organization of the Scout Movement, will take place Oct. 21-22.
Thousands of amateur radio stations and nearly a half million Scouts and Guides will participate around the world. If the conditions are right, it is common to contact a hundred Scouting countries during the weekend.
Many BSA districts and councils hold events that coincide with JOTA, in which amateur radio operators set up stations giving Scouts and leaders a chance to exchange greetings with Scouts from other areas.
The JOTA frequencies are SSB (phone): 3.940, 7.290, 14.290, 18.140, 21.360, 24.960, and 28.990 MHz. CW (Morse code) frequencies are 3.590, 7.030, 14.070, 18.080, 21.140, 24.910, and 28.190 MHz.
Postcard-size certificates are free and available to participants. To order, send requests to Jamboree-on-the-Air Certificate Cards, S221, 1325 W. Walnut Hill Ln., P.O. Box 152079, Irving, TX 75015-2079. Enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope large enough to hold the number of cards ordered. All orders must be received by Dec. 31.
JOTA patches are available for $3 each plus state sales tax, postpaid, from the address above.
Coupon saves money on Cub Scout shirt-pants combination
From now until Nov. 30, 2000, the BSA Supply Division is offering the blue Cub Scout uniform shirt and trousers or shorts at a package discount price of $38. Depending on size and style of the uniform, the package price represents a savings of up to $18.95 off the regular retail price.
The package includes a pair of blue Cub Scout uniform trousers or shorts and a short- or long- sleeved blue uniform shirt. Accessories such as hat, belt, socks, and insignia are not included.
Customers should present the special discount coupon found in the October of Scouting magazine and also available from Scouting retailers. The coupon may also be downloaded from the BSA Supply Division Web site: http://www.scoutstuff.org.
New BSA Family Program resource available to leaders, families
Cub Scouting's new BSA Family Activity Book (BSA Supply No. 33012A) is a resource that helps families achieve goals while building relationships among family members. The book contains activities designed to help strengthen all families—whether a two-parent, single-parent, or nontraditional family—with all family members encouraged to participate.
The BSA Family Activity Book is divided into five categories: "Learning Through Fun and Adventure," "Strengthening Family Relationships," "Developing Character," "Teaching Responsibility," and "Handling Difficult Situations." Each category contains suggested activities for family members to do together. Activities include field trips, role-playing, games, projects, and discussions. The book also provides parents with ways to incorporate these activities into daily life, by meeting their own family's needs and interests.
Requirements and resources are provided so that families can earn the BSA Family Award (Supply No. 33710A). A certificate is given to the family, with optional patches and/or pins given to family members who participate.
The BSA Family Activity Book is available through council service centers, Scout shops and distributors, or by mail from the BSA National Distribution Center, P.O. Box 65989, Charlotte, NC 28265-0989. To place a credit card order, call (800) 323-0732.
Training 2000 Award recognizes packs with trained den leaders
Each Cub Scout pack that has a den leader who has completed basic training for each one of its dens as of Dec. 31, 2000, will receive a special "Training 2000" streamer for its pack flagpole. In cases where the leader has changed, the leader who spent the majority of the year in the position may be counted.
Training is a key element in helping den leaders deliver a quality Cub Scouting program to the Cub Scouts or Webelos Scouts in their dens. This training award recognizes those packs with den leaders who are doing their best to have the basic knowledge and skills to present outstanding den programs.
Other recognitions include a special certificate awarded to the district Cub Scout training chairman, the district training chairman, and the professional Scouter of each district in which at least 75 percent of Cub Scout and Webelos den leaders have completed basic training for their position as of Dec. 31, 2000. Councils will also be recognized.
New video supports Scoutmaster's Junior Leader Training Kit
A 47-minute video, "Junior Leader Training" (AV-02V013), is available from the BSA Audiovisual Service for $19.50, plus handling and shipping. It can be ordered through local Scout council service centers or direct from the Audiovisual Service.
The video supports the Scoutmaster's Junior Leader Training Kit (Supply No. 34306). For more information call (972) 580-2598.
Scouts honored for service dedication
Several Boy Scouts were among the 104 young people from across the country who were recognized for dedication to volunteerism by the 2000 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards.
From more than 20,000 applicants, the program selects a high school and a middle school student from each state and the District of Columbia. From these state honorees, 10 students are picked as national winners.
Among the state winners whose projects involved Scouting were Christopher Zeigler, 17, Wilmington, Del. (restoring a school playground); Shawn Garner, Roanoke Rapids, N.C. (reforesting hurricane-damaged areas of a state park); Daniel Tessier, Smithfield, R.I. (collecting books for disadvantaged children); Jonathan Cheek, Alexandria, Va. (developing a curriculum and conducting classes to help senior citizens use the World Wide Web); and Ryan Olson, Pearisburg, Va. (holiday ham collection drive for the poor in an entire county).
The awards program is administered by The Prudential Insurance Company of America and the National Association of Secondary School Principals. For more information, see http://www.prudential.com/community/spirit/volunteer.
85 BSA service projects win awards in annual Colgate Youth for America competition
For innovative and successful service projects, 85 Scouting groups were honored in the 1999-2000 Colgate Youth for America campaign. Winners received grants from $100 to $1,000; they included 39 Boy Scout troops, 34 Cub Scout packs, four Venturing crews, three local Scout councils, two Order of the Arrow lodges, one Sea Scout ship, and one Explorer post. The three top BSA winners were:
- Troop 7, Buttonwoods-Warwick, R.I. ($1,000), for working with local utility companies to mark neighborhood house numbers on telephone poles to assist emergency vehicle response.
- Pack 42, Plymouth, Mass. ($500), for a fire and safety awareness and assistance program for the elderly.
- OA Lodge 553, Housatonic Council, Derby, Conn. ($300), for a drive which collected 42,000 cans of food to replenish three local food pantries.
In addition to BSA units, the program honors projects of the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Girls Incorporated, Camp Fire Inc., and the National 4-H Council. Since 1972, Colgate has awarded more than $5.5 million to local groups.
The official Web site, http://www.colgate.com/Community/youth.html, contains a list of the 1999-2000 winners, information for entering the current competition, and entry forms, which must be printed out and mailed to Colgate Youth for America, P.O. Box 1058, FDR Station, New York, NY 10150.
A Halloween bookshelf
- Creepy Riddles (Puffin Books, $3.99), by Katy Hall and Lisa Eisenberg, illustrated by S. D. Schindler. Cub Scouts will roll laughing at "punny" riddles such as: How did the werewolf send his valentines? By Hairmail.
- Pumpkins Gone Crazy (Klutz Press, $5) is a great guide for carving the scariest- or funniest-looking pumpkin on your block. The fold-out format is laminated and includes a carving template.
- Horrible Harry at Halloween (Viking, $13.99), by Suzy Kline, illustrations by Frank Remkiewicz. Every Halloween Harry dresses up as something scary or gross or both—and this year his classmates are in for a really big surprise.
- Tricks & Treats: The Ultimate Halloween Book (Reader's Digest, $12.95), by Deborah Harding. A handy guide to costumes, decorations, foods, toys, gifts, and fashions.
- The Halloween Book (Dorling Kindersley, $12.95) by Jane Bull includes 50 creepy crafts plus recipes for terrifying and delicious treats.
Software to note
- Excel@ Middle School (Havas Interactive, $40, Windows 95/98, Power Macintosh) includes more than 330 interactive lessons to help students master subjects such as algebra, grammar, history, geography, and science. Students can create their own personal study plans to tackle the areas where they need the most improvement. Two other titles, Excel@ High School and Excel@ Mathematics use the same format for older teens.
- Updates to the popular Math Blaster and Reading Blaster software series, also from Knowledge Adventure ($30, Windows 95/98, Power Macintosh), include a "virtual classroom." Math Blaster has more than 300 lessons in addition, subtraction, fractions, decimal and percentages, and geometry. Reading Blaster fine-tunes grammar and reading skills through spelling, reading comprehension, and a vocabulary list of more than 2,000 words.
 Erik R. Swensen |
Utah Eagle Scout receives American Legion award
Erik R. Swensen, 17, of Smithfield, Utah, is the American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year for 2000. Erik, formerly of Troop 50, is a member of Venturing Crew 150, chartered to LDS-Smithfield 4th Ward. The award recognizes his citizenship at school, Scouting, and church, and includes a $10,000 college scholarship. An Eagle Scout and high school honors student, Eric plans to pursue an engineering degree. The American Legion awarded $2,500 runner-up scholarships to Robert J. Markelewicz Jr., Cranston, R.I.; Joshua T. Davenport, Roper, N.C.; and Keith Brudnicki, Novato, Calif.
Elks announce winners of Marvin M. Lewis Scouting Award
Twelve Scouters received the 2000 Marvin M. Lewis Scouting Award from the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at the organization's national meeting in July. Established in 1998, the award honors Marvin M. Lewis, a staunch Elk supporter of Scouting, and recognizes Elks members who have significantly contributed to the youth of their communities by volunteering in BSA programs. Elks lodges may nominate candidates for next year's award by submitting completed applications to the national foundation by March 30, 2001.
This year's honorees are John F. Wilcox, a unit commissioner in Kansas City, Mo.; Miguel Velasquez, Order of the Arrow adviser in Santa Maria, Calif.; Paul E. Tucker, Scoutmaster of Troop 276 in Caldwell, Idaho; Tom Tabb, Orange County Council international representative in Costa Mesa, Calif.; Richard P. Medlin, Troop 999 Scouting coordinator in Broken Arrow, Okla.; and Thomas C. McLurkin Jr., executive board member of the Verdugo Hills Council in Glendale, Calif.
Also honored: Lester C. Hess Jr. of Wheeling, W. Va.; Donald L. Hay of Homer, N.Y.; Richard Goldner of Thousand Oaks, Calif.; Richard L. Flock, associate board member of the Verdugo Hills Council, Glendale, Calif.; Christopher J. Dufford, assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 9, Boonton, N.J.; and William L. Coleman, chartered organization representative for 18 units in Fremont, Calif.
 Jeff Baldwin |
United Methodist Church presents first Good Samaritan Award to Georgia Eagle Scout
Eagle Scout Jeff Baldwin of Troop 2, Griffin, Ga., is the first recipient of the Good Samaritan Award presented by the United Methodist Church. The new award from the church recognizes a Scout or youth who demonstrates the attributes of ministry to others through outreach, humanitarian assistance, or advocacy.
Recently Jeff worked with a mission crew from his church to build a new church in Reynosa, Mexico, a city of 500,000 which is eight miles south of McAllen, Tex.
Additional information about this new award can be obtained by writing to The Good Samaritan Award, c/o Office of Civic Youth-Serving Agencies/Scouting, P.O. Box 340006, Nashville, TN 37203-0006.
In Loveland, Colo.... A Troop Is Born
Jeremy Hoard rounded the final turn on the quarter-mile walk/run that is a requirement for Tenderfoot. He hitched up his pants and loped to the finish line, where he collapsed spread-eagle.
Everyone cheered Jeremy's effort because he, like his fellow Scouts in Troop 196, Loveland, Colo., has a disability that lowers his coordination ability but not his desire to improve and succeed.
The troop began in December 1997, after Julie Szallar, a Thompson Valley High School teacher, asked Dave Jarvis, Longs Peak Council senior district executive, about a program for boys whose disabilities include Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, and others. The nine special-needs boys of Troop 196 meet twice a month during an hour that is otherwise scheduled for field trips into the community.
Caterina Conrad, the school's director of the special-needs program, said Scouting allows the boys to feel part of a group. They especially look forward to Scout meetings because they are unable to participate in many other high school-related activities.
The troop is chartered to Golden K Kiwanis of Loveland. Kiwanian Dick Hunsacker noted that the service organization's members enjoy providing one-on-one assistance for the Scouts. "There is great gratification in helping these boys," he said.
At an April troop meeting, Life Scout Nathan Howe of Loveland's Troop 487 joined Hunsacker in demonstrating proper techniques for push-ups and situps. Later, Nathan timed and cheered on Scout Luke Hummel as he sped his wheelchair around a four-chair obstacle course.
As the boys also formed the Scout sign with their right hands, some struggled with uncooperative fingers. Leaders offered encouragement, reminding them they were close to completing their Tenderfoot requirements. A court of honor was planned, and the success of a recent popcorn sale meant they all might have uniforms before the end of the school year.
District executive Jarvis watched as Nathan Howe began to lead the Scouts in the Scout Oath for the second time during the meeting. "I wouldn't trade these kids for anyone," he said.
—Carol Jones
Safety Tips for Trick-or-Treating
The potential for injury rises on Halloween with increases in pedestrian injuries, burns, and falls among children. In fact, the chances of a child being hit by a car and killed increase fourfold on Halloween.
Many risks children face can be avoided if parents discuss with them the following precautions:
- Decorate costumes, bags, and sacks with retro-reflective tape and stickers.
- Use costumes that are light or bright enough to make children more visible at night.
- Look for "flame-resistant" labels on costumes, masks, beards, and wigs.
- Use fire-resistant material when making costumes.
- Avoid costumes made of flimsy material and outfits with big, baggy sleeves or billowing skirts. These are more likely to come in contact with an exposed flame, such as a candle, than tighter-fitting costumes.
- Keep candles, pumpkins with candles, matches, and lighters out of children's reach.
- Travel only in familiar areas and along a pre-established route.
- Never enter a home or an apartment building unless accompanied by an adult.
- Set a time to return home.
- Restrict trick-or-treating visits to homes with porch or outside lights illuminated.
- Tell children to bring their treats home before eating them. Parents should check treats to ensure that items have not been tampered with and are safely sealed. Be careful with fruit: Inspect the surface closely for punctures or holes and cut it open before allowing a child to eat it.
Program Resources by the Day, Week, and MonthOct. 7Enjoy penny-pinching pleasures. Indulge in some cheap thrills by celebrating National Frugal Fun Day. Conceived by Shel Horowitz, author of The Penny-Pinching Hedonist: How to Live Like Royalty With a Peasant's Pocketbook, individuals and families are urged to engage in at least one fun activity that's free or costs less than $5 per person. For more than 100 different ideas on what to do, see http://www.frugalfun.com/frugalfundayideas.html or call (800) 683-WORD. Oct. 28Do something for others. Join millions of other Americans in Make A Difference Day, a national day of community service, created by the Sunday magazine USA Weekend. For volunteer project ideas and free team-building guides, see http://www.usaweekend.com/diffday/ or call (800) 416-3824. Grants to help fund the projects are available to nonprofits through Wal- Mart, and winning projects are awarded more than $2.5 million for their favorite charities. Oct. 15-21Get excited about books. Encourage young people to read for knowledge and pleasure by celebrating Teen Read Week, sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA). For ideas, tips and resources to plan your own festivities, or to purchase posters, bookmarks and other products, see http://www.ala.org/teenread. The Web site's "resources" link also contains a list of ALA-recommended books for those 12 to 18 years old, plus a list of books given the thumbs-up by teens themselves. For more information, call (800) 545-2433, ext. 4391. |
Numbers20,000,000—total cans of food collected by Scouts of the Greater St. Louis Area Council over the past 15 years in their Scouting for Food Good Turn. During the 1999 campaign, General Motors provided special patches for the 30,000 Scouts and Scouters who distributed more than a million donation bags. 60 & 75—The birthdays celebrated in 1999 by two Connecticut Rivers Council camping facilities: Camp Workcoeman, founded in 1924, and Camp Mattatuck, which held its first summer camping season in 1939. $2,000,000—The endowment gift presented to the Circle Ten Council of Dallas by Mrs. H. L. Hunt, widow of the legendary Texas oilman, in honor of her brother, James B. Ray, who served for 30 years as the Scoutmaster of Troop 230, Idabel, Okla. |
October 2000 Table of Contents
Copyright © 2000 by the Boy Scouts of America. All rights thereunder reserved; anything appearing in Scouting magazine or on its Web site may not be reprinted either wholly or in part without written permission. Because of freedom given authors, opinions may not reflect official concurrence.
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