At the reception key note speaker, Mr. Steel announced that 16-year old Harford County Resident, Alex Griffith, has been awarded the National Eagle Service Project of the Year for his Eagle Scout Service project. Alex’s project was chosen from over 50,000 Eagle Scout Leadership Service Projects in 2009. This award will be presented at the National Council Annual meeting at the end of this month in Dallas, Texas. 

Alex attracted national media attention when he decided to raise funds and build a playground for the orphanage in Krasnoyarsk, Russia where he was adopted from at the age of 11 months for his Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project. Through this project and over more than two years, Alex, along with the assistance of his Boy Scout Troop (Troop 809) and other volunteers, dedicated countless hours to raising over $60,000 for the purchase of the elaborate playground. In April 2009, Alex and a crew of Boy Scouts and leaders travelled to Krasnoyarsk with the playground kit and spent two weeks assembling the playground. They worked alongside Russian youth, overcoming language and cultural difference. 

Alex has been recognized for his efforts as a 2009 CNN Hero of the Week, one of 28 Heroes selected from over 9000 nominations from 100 countries. Alex is here to tell us about his Scouting experience. 

The Eagle Scout award is the highest rank a boy can attain in the BSA. Only 4% of all registered Scouts earn this coveted mark of success. A Scout must complete 21 merit badges, serve in a leadership position successfully for six months in their Scouting group, show Scout Spirit, and complete the capstone Eagle service project.  Once the requirements are met the Scout takes part in a board of review with adults from his group and the larger Scouting community.  

The Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project provides a Scout with the opportunity to demonstrate leadership of others in the completion of a significant project to benefit his school, church, or community.  Normally the service project involves over 100 hours of effort by the Scout and individuals who assist him. In 2009, total project hours of Eagle Scouts throughout the metro area was 87,972 hours. In Harford County 54 youth achieved the rank of Eagle. 

The Baltimore Area Council, BSA is initiating a number of opportunities for Eagle Scouts of all ages to renew their commitment to serve others. First among these is the “Eagle Reserve” an alumni and affiliation network of Eagle Scouts in the Baltimore area. Realizing that many Eagle Scouts are not in a place in their career or family life to be able to devote time as a unit volunteer the Eagle Reserve connects Eagle Scouts to the countless options to serve others, and perhaps help the next crop of Eagle Scouts.  All Eagles are encouraged to contact kmcclelland@baltimorebsa.org or 443-573-2540 for alumni information and updates.

Someone had to do something.

Two Soldiers assigned to the 414th Civil Affairs Battalion, U.S. Division – Center, Lt. Col. Gary Esson, the senior fire service advisor and a native of Joplin, Mo., and Spc. Michael Burris, a fire service advisor and Fayetteville, N.C., native, both with the Provincial Reconstruction Team – Baghdad, have spent nearly a year working to make life for Iraqi firefighters a little bit better.

The first step was to improve living standards inside Iraqi fire stations.

“If there was an [American Base] closing, we would contact them for any furniture that they would give up,” said Esson. “Items like desks, beds and chairs, your basic living items.”

The second step was to get the Iraqi firefighters proper recognition throughout the local community. According to Esson, Iraqi firefighters are not held in the same high regard as the police.

An opportunity for the second step came, May 2, in the form of a “Camping Day,” sponsored by the 72nd Joint Area Support Group. Visiting Iraqi Boy and Girl Scouts had the opportunity to participate in events that included fire safety.

“It gets kids excited seeing what emergency services are doing,” said Esson. “Iraqi kids are the future of the country, they are the next generation. They will grow to trust the fire department and hopefully put trust in other government services.”

The fire safety presentation was a joint effort between Soldiers assigned to the 414th CA Bn., firefighters with Kellogg, Brown and Root Inc. and Iraqi firefighters. They worked together to demonstrate various pieces of fire-fighting and safety equipment and also gave helpful tips on what to do in case of a fire.

“It is important that the public be aware of the fire department and look up to them,” said Burris. “This is the first time they took it upon themselves to show the public who they are.”

Burris has worked alongside the Iraqi firemen and said he enjoyed spending time with them and building bonds with his fellow firemen.

“They are firefighters, like the guys back home where I work. They are good people,” said Burris. “They put themselves in harms way every time they go out. If they are willing to get shot working for their people, I will do my best to get them the training and equipment they need.”

Burris and Iraqi firefighter Kareem Kasim showed a bit of teamwork while participating in a three-legged race. The pair came in first place against two other Iraqi firefighter teams. After he stopped laughing, Burris said that he’d had a funny thought.

“I was cracking up: What kind of war story is this? A three-legged race with a 50-year-old Iraqi man,” said the smiling Soldier.

The Scouting for Change service project was conceptualized by the Central Florida Council’s leadership as a way to join the national celebration of Scouting by raising funds to help build schools in Nairobi, Kenya. Nairobi is widely considered the birthplace of Scouting, where founder Lord Robert Baden-Powell envisioned the ideas and fundamentals of the Scouting program and where he was later laid to rest.

The first phase of the service project, the coin drive collection, was completed on February 8th, BSA’s 100th birthday. Phase two, the virtual deposit program, ends May 19th, exactly 100 days later. The Council’s goal is to raise enough to make major construction improvements to two schools around Nairobi with organizational partners Church World Service, which will build a new school, and World Hope, which will build a ninth grade wing at its Hope Academy in Kenya.

“Our goal was to do something truly special to celebrate the 100th anniversary of our Scouting program,” said Ron Oats, scout executive. “Our Council’s leadership took the original concept and created a campaign that has truly transformed the original idea into something so much greater. This project wouldn’t be possible without the unwavering support of our community partners.”

Under the direction and guidance of Technetium, the Central Florida Council implemented an integrated campaign to create awareness and motivate participation in the drive. The campaign concept incorporated local Scouts of all ages to create visual elements for the drive’s Web site – www.scoutingforchange.com – billboards, TV and radio public service announcements, as well as the school-shaped coin collection boxes that Scouts, their parents and volunteer leaders used for collecting the quarters.

“We couldn’t have accomplished this without Bright House Networks, Clear Channel Outdoor, Cox Radio, DeRoo Printing Services, Full Sail University, and Regions Bank and their contributions to this campaign. Together our team of community partners generated amazing materials and tremendous exposure for Scouting for Change,” said Joe Forget, president of Technetium and the Council’s VP of Marketing.

The Central Florida Council continues its 100th Anniversary celebration with the Central Florida Scout Show on May 1, 2010 at University of Central Florida’s Bright House Stadium.

About Technetium
Technetium  is an Orlando-based boutique advertising and Web design firm specializing in integrated marketing campaigns based upon its proprietary Four “A” Metrics: Awareness, Affinity, Action and Analytics. For more information on Technetium and its services, call 407.826.1990 or visit www.technetium.com.

Source: Press Release

On February 1, the BSA will launch a separate relief effort to provide tents and sleeping bags to Haitian people who have been displaced from their homes. Visitors to www.scoutingfriends.org/haitianrelief can make a monetary donation or purchase selected items to send to Haiti.

Throughout its first 100 years, the BSA has been known for coming to the aid of the country and the world in times of great need. As the organization begins its second century, the need is indeed great. Fortunately, the BSA’s commitment of service to others is just as strong today as it was in 1910.

“Our motto has always been ‘Be Prepared,’ and we are living out our motto. We are prepared to help, and we hope all of our Scouting family and others will be part of this relief effort,” said Chief Scout Executive Bob Mazzuca. “It appears that many of their immediate needs for food, medical supplies, and shelter are being handled now, and we don’t want to duplicate efforts. Our collections are to help them as they begin to rebuild their lives.”

“We don’t want to get in the way of the work that is already being done in the area,” said James Turley of the WOSM. “We will house the supplies and boxes in the Dominican Republic and, when safe and advisable to do so, Dominican Republic Scouts will provide the supplies to the Haitian Scout organization to provide to the whole Haitian community.”

About the Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. The Scouting organization is composed of 2.7 million youth members between the ages of 7 and 20, 1.1 million volunteers and nearly 300 local councils throughout the United States and its territories.

More information about 100 Years of Scouting can be found at www.scouting.org/100years.

“The survival needs are so extensive with people desperately requiring food, water and medical care that the psychological damage is put aside,” stated Dr. Judy. “Research and clinical experience in such disasters proved that survivors suffer emotionally and need attention to their psychological trauma.”

To address this situation, Dr. Judy arrived in Haiti five days after the quake with Haitian Catholic priest Father Wismick Jean Charles to assess the mental health needs of the people. At the local hospital where their support station was set up, Dr. Judy encountered a group of Boy Scouts and immediately recruited them to be “comforters” to soothe the wounded minds and souls of hundreds of patients lined on blankets outside.

“Since so many people were in pain with limited professional staff to give them attention, the Boy Scouts filled an important role in showing the survivors that someone cared,” says Dr. Judy. The Boy Scouts were taught how to comfort patients with simple techniques used by even experienced mental health professionals.

Dr. Judy, who has offered “psychological first aid” to survivors of many past disasters like 9/11, Hurricane Katrina and the Asian tsunami, notes that people without professional training can be enlisted to give emotional support. “While research shows that a certain percentage of people do suffer severe reactions diagnosed as PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder),” says Dr. Judy, “majority of people, especially right after a disaster, need to feel they are not alone and be offered support.”

In helping others, the Boy Scouts themselves are also helped. As one Scout said, “When I aid others, I feel helped myself.”

Roger Schrimp, chairman of the Boy Scouts of America’s International Committee, brings attention to the contribution of Scouts in such tragedies by stating, ” ‘On my honor, I will do my best!’ is a pledge that each of us has taken as a Scout.”

Visit www.drjudy.com for Haiti pictures.

Source: OneWorld Experience, LLC. Press Release.

Spc. Rob Campbell with 230th Brigade Support Battalion, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, launched the “Pogs for Presents” campaign by placing gift wrapped boxes for pog donations around Forward Operating Base Falcon, here, to support his former Boy Scouts Troop as they raise money for the needy.

“I’m like Santa Claus ringing a bell,” said Campbell. “Only I can’t ring a bell and [the Army] won’t let me wear a Santa suit.”

Troop 223, located in Campbell’s hometown of Southern Pines, N.C., helps needy families by collecting canned goods during the Christmas holiday season.

“I can’t collect can goods, but I can collect money to get the stuff that’s not put in the bins,” said Campbell. “When I was a boy scout it was a big deal for us.”

The former Eagle Scout came up with the idea when he realized that many soldiers did not value the paper coins. He vowed to match the donations dollar for dollar thinking he would raise around $100.

“A lot of [Soldiers] have stacks of [pogs] and unfortunately people don’t really see them as money,” said Campbell. “Everybody’s getting ready to go home and they are packing up and finding them everywhere.”

Campbell tore open the display boxes like a kid on Christmas morning; pouring out a around $214 worth of pogs. The total count was a little more than $265, after adding in cash donations from soldiers that forgot to bring pog donations the day of the count.

“I will go to [the Army Air Force Exchange Service] to [cash-in] the pogs on Christmas and then I will call my wife and tell her to write a check,” said Campbell.

According to Yvonne Ward, AAFES assistant team leader, the pogs can be exchanged at any AAFES location abroad or in the states. The cardboard coins, which display photos of Soldiers of all branches, were adopted in 2002 due to high shipping rates charged on the weight of metal coins.

“It saves taxpayers hundreds of dollars and soldiers can cash them in or take them home for souvenirs,” said Ward.

“I don’t know if it will be a problem cashing them in but I will send the donation regardless,” said Campbell referring to the large amount of pogs donated.

Campbell revealed one Secret Santa when he mentioned that Staff Sgt. Stephanie Brasington of Stafford, Va., gave a donation that almost matched the total value of pogs, raising the amount to $750 for the needy.

“It’s Christmas; to me it just makes sense,” said Brasington.

To Campbell, the importance comes from finding a way to keep his family’s time honored tradition alive even while deployed here in Iraq. His father, brother and uncles were all Eagle Scouts and he said he hopes to continue the legacy.

“I have friends that are involved or will be involved [with the scouts],” Campbell said as he made hand gestures as if he were knocking on wood. “If I have sons one day, I’d like to encourage them to be scouts.”

Story and photo by Spc. Ruth McClary, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team

Air Force Lt. Col. Denise Boyer, commander of the 474th Expeditionary Civil Engineering Squadron, coordinated much of the effort to get the popcorn down to Guantanamo Bay. Her two sons are scouts in Maryland, and upon seeing the large number of Girl Scout cookies delivered here earlier this year, she wanted to get Boy Scout popcorn here.

“Every year my boys sell Boy Scout popcorn, and one of the options is to make a donation to the Service members,” said Boyer. “Our Boy Scouts distribute at Baltimore Washington International Airport when Service members are coming back from the field. Most service members say they would rather have it in the field than when they come home.”

In order to have the popcorn reach Service members in the field, Boyer arranged transportation for the popcorn with the Office of Military Commissions flights from Andrews Air Force Base.

“I approached the subject of getting stuff down here, and talked with the local service members and to the one back in Baltimore to figure out some way to get some donated popcorn here,” said Boyer. “The Baltimore Area Council approved to send 4,000 to 6,000 pounds of popcorn to Service members stationed at Guantanamo. It is overwhelming to see how much popcorn they were willing to send here.”

Shipments are arriving, and Boyer’s two sons and husband made the trip to distribute the first tins alongside the local service members. The plan for distribution was first to the MCSFCO who work outer security for the naval station.

“The first people we wanted to give to were the Marines at Guantanamo who work the fence line,” said Boyer. “For many of them, this is their first deployment. Sometimes it will be their very first time away from home for Christmas. We wanted to do something special for them.”

Marine Lance Cpl. Aaron Purkiss, a MCSFCO member and Eagle Scout, said he enjoyed the visit from the scouts and the work they are doing.

“Boy Scouts always have that spirit of helping out, doing some service for others and doing what is right,” said Purkiss. “Thank you, Boy Scouts of America. Thank you for coming here and treating us.”

Continued distribution of the popcorn is expected in the coming weeks to reach all Joint Task Force and U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay service members.

For more information about Joint Task Force Guantanamo, visit the Web site at www.jtfgtmo.southcom.mil.

Article by Spc. David Mclean, Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs

There was also a short video clip that was produced about this story:

The 52nd annual Jamboree-on-the-Air will allow more than 500,000 Scouts from around the world to exchange experiences and share ideas by making contact through amateur radio. The event is an official Jamboree, so it contributes to the world brotherhood of Scouting by promoting communications and understanding among Scouts from all over the world. Individual Scout units can operate on the air for any part of the 48-hour weekend event.

JOTA welcomes participation by Scouting and amateur radio enthusiasts of all ages – Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturers, Girl Scouts, and, Scouters.

JOTA is traditionally held the third weekend in October, and this year will be no exception. The event will begin on Friday, October 16, at 22:00 hours local time and will end on Sunday, October 18, at 23:59 hours local time.

Patches are available. JOTA cards for recording contacts are also available.

For more information and JOTA Scout frequencies, and how to order patches and JOTA cards, visit the national BSA Web site:
www.scouting.org/international/highlights or download the 2009 JOTA Flyer (pdf).

Check to see if your District or Council will be holding any JOTA activities that weekend.

“King Abdullah is committed to peace, and his initiatives — including the Arab Peace Plan, the Interfaith Dialogue Initiative and Gifts for Peace — aim to bring people together in peace,” stated Prince Faisal.

The Gifts for Peace program is the World Scout Foundation’s key centennial program for all Scouts to tackle local issues and make a difference in their communities. It includes Scouts in more than 100 countries. This latest donation from Saudi Arabia brought the Kingdom’s total contribution to Gifts for Peace to approximately $7 million since the program’s inception in 2001.

“Gifts for Peace, which his Majesty King Abdullah so kindly initiated a few years ago, has done a fantastic job of reaching out to promote tolerance around the world,” stated King Gustaf.

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) recently signed a historic agreement with the Saudi Arabian Boy Scouts Association to participate in a youth and leader exchange program to further promote understanding of different cultures.

Following a breakfast with Scouts from the Boston Minuteman Council of the Boy Scouts of America today, Prince Faisal joined King Gustaf during the Volvo Ocean Race while touring the Boston Fan Pier.

This press release was distributed by Qorvis Communications, LLC on behalf of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.

The Peace Light is something the Transatlantic Council in Europe started several years ago. They transport the flame from Bethlehem to Vienna, Austria where it is distributed throughout Europe. A few years ago, the Catholic Committee on Scouting of the Diocese of Brooklyn & Queens, & International Committee, Greater New York Councils (GNYC) BSA & Units of the Transatlantic Council BSA, found a way to bring the Peace Light flame from Vienna to New York City.

This last summer some of Troop 113 Scouts attended the International Scout Jamboree in Iceland where they met a few people from Europe who are involved in the Peace Light program. Since then, they have been planning to be a part of the flame distribution between New York City and Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Peace Light flame is scheduled to arrive at JFK in New York City on December 10, 2008. Two Scout Leaders from Troop 113, Roger Knuteson and Joe Reding, are driving to New York City to meet the flame. On the way back they are planning to stop at the Boy Scout Councils in State College, Pennsylvania; Toledo, Ohio; Chicago, Illinois; Madison, Wisconsin; and finally Saint Paul, Minnesota, so they too can distribute the Peace Light flame to other Scouting Units.

On Friday, December 12th, 2008 from 1:00 – 2:00pm, the Peace Light flame will be present at Glacier’s Edge Council’s Madison Service Center, 5846 Manufacturers Drive, Madison, WI 53704.

On December 14, 2008 the Peace Light flame will be available for distribution from 12:00pm to 4:00pm at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 490 4th Street, Bayport, Minnesota 55003. Everyone is welcome to come to Bethlehem Lutheran Church where the flame will be shared and distributed. If you wish to take the Peace Light flame away with you, a vessel is needed to transport the flame. Small candle lanterns will be available at Bethlehem Lutheran Church for purchase. Special arrangements for Peace Light distribution may also be accommodated.

The Peace Light from Bethlehem campaign was originally organized by the Austrian Broadcasting Company – ORF (Linx) – and was part of a large charitable relief mission – Light into Darkness, for children in need in Austria and abroad. Since 1990, there has been a great deal of co-operation between Scouts and Guides in many countries, which has allowed the light to travel throughout Europe. Each year, a child from Upper Austria fetches the light from the grotto in Bethlehem where Jesus was born. The light is then flown to Austria from where it is distributed at a Service of Dedication to delegations from across Europe and who take it back, with a message of Peace, to their own countries for use at ecumenical services throughout the continent.

Scouts and Guides can then take the light on to houses of worship, hospitals, homeless shelters, old people homes, prisons, and places of public, cultural, and political importance – to anybody who appreciates the significance of the “gift”.