In Scouting, youth run the Troop, but adults are critical to support the Troop's operation and make Scout leadership possible. As youth age out, we have a need to refill our ranks of adults in all sorts of positions. Merit Badge Counselors help youth learn and earn Merit Badges, Assistant Scoutmasters to support outings and meetings, and all matter of positions on the Committee side that support operations from advancement to finance. Please contact the Committee Chair Doddabele, Prakash and The Scoutmaster Hertel, Gene if you are interested.

The Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters meet monthly, usually on the second Sunday of the month at 7pm. Next meeting is on September 13. If you are interested in attending, contact Hertel, Gene

Re-posting this message (from June) from your Scoutmaster reminding you about good communication practices. Please take time to read all of this as it continues to be a problem.

How you communicate is very important to the troop, and this week I've had a number of failures in communication from youth new and old. I will bring to you one example. Today I received an email from someone. I say someone because the person didn't sign their name to the end of their email. Their email address has a "funny" (I'm sure to them) name in the address field that doesn't tell me who they are, and their email address doesn't have their name in it either. They are asking for help, but because they didn't tell me who they are AND they failed to copy their parents I have no way of replying to them within Youth Protection guidelines. And their email missed many of the common courtesies as well. No signature or closing, no formatting, name not capitalized. A Scout is Courteous, and that includes in communication.

As we have repeatedly said, you MUST copy your parents or another adult, or a mailing list with many adults on it, when emailing a Scouting adult you are not related to. If you do not, this person can not email you back unless they choose to look up your parent (if they can) and add them to the reply. When you don't follow Youth Protection guidelines, your question may go unanswered or at best be delayed by days. As you get older and start emailing people outside the Troop, they have no ability to look up such information and may simply ignore your email. This may result in you missing that Merit Badge class or getting your Eagle project approved. By not following the rules, you make extra work for others and some will simply choose to not do that work. It is your loss. As volunteers, we are busy with many things and if you make it hard to communicate we will spend time on things we can do first. If you follow the Youth Protection guidelines, you still must communicate your message well to be successful.

When sending an email, you are not texting a friend. You are engaging someone in a conversation and often asking them for something. Take this seriously, treat the person you are communicating to with respect. Open with a proper salutation, close with the proper complimentary closing and your name. Consider a signature at the end. Make sure the message body and subject communicate what you need well. This is an important lesson for Scouting, where you will probably be emailing people you don't know as you advance in rank, and it is an important lesson to learn as you start considering college and work. Writing a good email can impact hiring and college entrance, and goes a long way when building your network.

An example of a good email in a business/professional context can be found here: https://erinwrightwriting.com/how-to-format-a-business-email/

Covid-19 Blue Card Requirement:

1. Scouts attending summer camps are not required to carry blue cards. Due to Covid-19 all summer camps for 2020 are cancelled.

This update is to notify those who were interested that the 2021 BSA National Jamboree has been postponed due to the current health crisis. In keeping with the BSA's duty to the safety to their Scouts and volunteers, they recognize that an event that takes years to plan might still be limited in terms of participation next year and rather than take risks with the health of the community or limit participation they have decided to push out the National Jamboree scheduled for next July (2021) to a time better suited. Much like years past, when a polio epidemic occurred in 1935 resulting in that year's Jamboree being delayed, community health is driving the decision and a new date will be announced once their is some confidence in being able to get together safely.

Original Content

Just a reminder. The 2021 BSA National Jamboree, held in West Virginia, has announced they are open for participant registration. The National Jamboree is held every four years, which for many Scouts means a once in a Scout's career opportunity to attend. Called by many a “flagship BSA experience,” this 10 day event offers opportunities to earn merit badges, participate in all sorts of Scouting activities, meet Scouts from all 50 states (and sometimes foreign countries,) an experience Scouting beyond the local Troop.  Learn more about eligibility and where to sign up after the break.