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”.

On Saturday afternoons, a fenced-in patch of land outside Camp Victory becomes a ground for children to play and participate in their community.

Young girl scouts sit around a table to decorate arts and crafts. Some of their eyes barely make it over the tabletop as service members show them how to paint with a brush. The boy scouts hurl dodge balls at one another, while others learn how to build a fire using just twigs.

It looks like all fun and games, but there is much at stake for these young Iraqis.

“You can look around and, if nothing else, you are doing something good here because you are creating a positive impact for Iraqi families and the children,” said Lt. Cmdr. Eric Fretz, who is helping bring the scouting program back to life after almost two decades of neglect in Iraq.

“We can work together and create this great program for these kids, and then they get all kinds of good life skills out of it,” added Fretz, who is from Southgate, Michigan.

The scouting movement was revitalized in 2004 by the Green Zone Council, which was formed by a group of Coalition forces in Baghdad who saw value in having Iraqi children involved with their communities. Fretz learned about the council in March and wanted to help out, but logistically it was impossible for him to participate on a regular basis because Baghdad is a 30-minute convoy ride from Camp Victory, which is where Fretz is stationed.

Though disheartened, Fretz didn’t want to give up.

“It’s kind of a big deal for me. I was a scout from the lowest level of cub scouts since I was a youth, all the way to Eagle Scout. And when you get your Eagle Scout, you basically get what is called the Eagle Charge, which is to give back to scouting for the rest of your life,” he said.

Committed, Fretz and other passionate service members decided to start their own Victory Base Council, which brings Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen together with schoolchildren from areas in southern Baghdad. The group began with just a few dedicated volunteers, plus a few other service members who helped out whenever possible.

“I was like the lens that focused everybody else’s energies, so you know, yeah, the lens is important, but without those thousands beams of light of those other people’s energy to focus, I’ve got nothing,” said Fretz, a signal officer with Multi-National Corps – Iraq.

Now, the council has grown to nearly 200 members with more than 120 volunteers on Victory Base Complex. More than 60 of those members are active on a monthly basis.

“After I went out to scout the first time, I was hooked. I am not sure who gets more out of the scouting activities, me or the kids,” agreed 1st Lt. Stephanie Flowers, Champagne, Illinois, a member of the 11th Signal Brigade, which provides strategic communications services units throughout Multi-National Division – Center.

As much fun as the adults are having with the program, they all understand who the true focus is.

“That’s where we’re going to rebuild Iraq, is with the children. It’s with the children where you’re going to start,” said Sgt. 1st Class Nevin Gordner, a scout master from Hughesville, Pa., and member of the 398th Command Sustainment Support Battalion.

The service members volunteer their time every Saturday to teach up to 80 children valuable scouting lessons and new sport activities. Often the kids will outnumber the adults, but the volunteer service members look forward to that.

“I love working with children, and I have many wonderful memories from the 12 years I was a Girl Scout when I was growing up. I’d like to see these children grow up with wonderful memories and learn new skills,” said Staff Sgt. Lani Yearicks, of Gwinn, Michigan., a member of the 10th Mountain Division Band.

As part of the program the volunteers organize at least one scout craft, a team-building exercise and rotate between sports, including soccer, football, ultimate Frisbee and even archery.

“They don’t really have the same setup as we do in terms of handbooks and whatnot,” Fretz said. “We bring in the American knowledge of scouting and how we do things, and we blend that with the Iraqi ideas … So we create sort of a hybrid program.”

Iraq had a scouting program up until the 1980s, but the World Organization Scouting Movement decertified the program after they realized Saddam Hussein was using it to train children as paramilitary youths.

“Perhaps the term, ‘Hitler Youth’ is too strong, but it was something like that,” Fretz said.

For roughly 20 years following decertification, the scouting movement simply didn’t exist in Iraq. Now, it’s back to the beginning stages of a project; a project that is steadily moving forward. The council members are also working with scouting adults so they may continue the project once Coalition forces withdraw from the country.

“I think my biggest mission for the next eight months is probably to get the Iraqi adults more involved so that they’re actually teaching and running the program,” said Maj. Cheryl Hanke, a scout pack leader from St. Louis, who will replace Fretz when he redeploys soon.

It took several months of multiple meetings and socializing and trust building with Iraqi leaders and schoolteachers before the council began working. Leaders then needed to find a site, which happened to be a junkyard once filled with tires and scrap metal.

When an Iraqi counterpart told Fretz this place would become their scout camp one day, Fretz originally scoffed. Now, he says he’s astounded by everyone’s collaboration to make scouting a possibility.

“If you told me that I had to sacrifice five years off my life in order to preserve what we’ve done here, I would do it in a heartbeat. It’s that important to me,” Fretz said.

To support this scouting program in southern Baghdad, please visit: www.victorybasecouncil.org.

Members of the Zabul Provincial Reconstruction Team medical staff used sweets and “strong food” to help hundreds of malnourished Afghan children back to health in October.

The PRT members began a four-week regiment of their “strong food,” known locally as Qavi Ghiza, to the Shajoy hospital two months ago.

“Strong food” is a vitamin-enriched high calorie food supplement used to combat malnutrition. The Zabul Provincial Reconstruction Team medical staff is working with local heath officials to combat the main causes of the extremely high-infant mortality in the area such as unsanitary water supplies and malnutrition.

The area’s public health administration staff has been using the low-cost and locally produced food supplement to treat more than 400 malnourished children.

“This program has been going very well and giving positive results. People know about it,” said Dr. Zamarai Sultan, the public health administration nutrition officer. “It is going to be even more successful in the future.”

Dr. Sultan has monitored the “strong food” program in Shajoy closely. In a patient sampling of 60 children, 78 percent have shown positive growth. The doctor said he has seen most patients gain 1 to 1.5 kilograms a week while taking the vitamin-enriched and calorie-heavy supplement.

“People from this area are very poor,” Dr. Sultan said. “They don’t have enough money for their baby’s special food. As long as we have this kind of program, it is going to succeed. Now people know this good thing about the ’strong food,’ that is why more patients come in and get this food.”

The success of “strong food” in the Shajoy area and a positive backing by Dr. Sultan provided Capt. (Dr.) James Arnold the momentum he needed to expand the program.

“Giving this program to Dr. Sultan has actually been the biggest help to us because he is well invested in it,” said Captain Arnold, deployed from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. “He is a nutritionist. He deals with the malnourishment problem for the entire Zabul province.”

Captain Arnold said Dr. Sultan’s positive reputation in the medical field has helped convince his fellow doctors to join the program.

“(As) the voice of this project, (he) can better influence anything I can do,” he said.

The two doctors met local medical experts with pediatric specialties to go over the results.

“We are trying to make all of our projects Afghan run because we are not going to stay around the long haul,” said Captain Arnold, a native of Grass Valley, Calif. “We (want) to give them something they can do on their own and sustain on their own.”

After a demonstration on how to make “strong food,” the medical professionals made a batch themselves with ingredients available locally. The concoction was blended using donated mixing sets.

The mixing sets came from Michael Morgan, an Eagle Scout candidate with Boy Scouts Troup 157 out of Salem, Ore.

“Boy Scouts are taught to seek opportunities to help others,” the West Salem High School senior said. “I wanted to provide service that was meaningful as I sought to complete my requirements for the obtaining of the rank of Eagle. This project seemed challenging but perfect.”

Dr. Sultan is grateful for the effort the PRT put into launching the “strong food” program.

“I am very thankful to this team,” he said. “This is a very active team, and they have really wanted to work and (it) has been seen.”

Photo Credits:
1. Capt. (Dr.) James Arnold shows medical professionals from the Zaubl province how to make “strong food” Oct. 15 in Qalat, Afghanistan. “Strong food” is a vitamin enriched high calorie food supplement used to combat malnutrition. The Zabul Provincial Reconstruction Team medical staff is working with local heath officials to combat the main causes of the extremely high-infant mortality in the area such as unsanitary water supplies and malnutrition. Captain Arnold is deployed from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Keith Brown)

2. Zabul Governor Delbar Jan Arman shows his appreciation for the work being done to fight malnutrition by the Zabul Provincial Reconstruction Team Oct. 16 in Qalat, Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Keith Brown)

Report Introduction:

The 21st World Scout Jamboree was an amazing experience, made even more special
because it took place in 2007 – the Centenary of Scouting. We had the privilege of
leading the planning, preparation and organisation of the Jamboree, but there is no
doubt in our minds that it was only with the enthusiasm and huge efforts of many
others – too numerous to list here – that nearly 30,000 young people had a ‘once in
a lifetime’ experience. So from both of us, a huge thank you to everyone else who
was involved!

However, we do want to specifically mention all the members of Contingent Teams
who played an absolutely crucial role in organising the participation from their
National Scout Organisations. We know that without the hard work and dedication of
those in the Contingent Teams, there would have been no participants and no
International Service Team!

We are very conscious that not everything was perfect and if we were to do it again
(perhaps in another 100 years?), there would be some things that we would want to
do differently – after all, this is what learning by doing is all about! Nevertheless,
from the evaluations that were received, we know that we got most things right most
of the time – of those that submitted a completed evaluation, 85% of all the
responses expressed to all of the questions were marked ‘very positive’ or ‘positive’
(35% for very positive and 50% for positive). Please accept our apologies if you were
one of the few who were inconvenienced by something that did not work as well as it
should have done – whether it was a coach that did not arrive at the intended time or
toilets that were not clean when you wanted to use them.

It is worth mentioning that the 21st World Scout Jamboree was a very safe event –
given the huge numbers of people involved, we are thankful that there were no major
outbreaks of sickness, no serious accidents and no fatalities during the Jamboree.
We are very grateful to everyone who helped to ensure that the Health and Safety of
those at the Jamboree was taken seriously and made a top priority.

Finally, we would like to make it clear that the purpose of this report is to record what
was done and how it was done and it is therefore primarily a reference document. It
is most certainly not intended to be a guide as to how a World Scout Jamboree
should be organised, rather it is a guide as to how the 21st World Scout Jamboree
was organised. Let’s be grateful that there is not one single model for a Jamboree and
that others will have new ideas and find ways to do things differently.

Read the whole 2007 World Scout Jamboree Report