Words to Live By 6

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

Words to Live By 5

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

Words to Live By 4

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

Words to Live By 3

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

Words to Live By 2

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

Words to Live By 1

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

Words to Live By Campaign

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

Scouting Video of the Week

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

Support Eagle Scout that was Suspended for bringing a pocket knife to School

Here is a request for help to support a fellow Eagle Scout in need of our assistance:

I've recieved a few messages about Matt the Eagle Scout who was suspened from school for 4 weeks for a 2 inch pocket knife in his car. I think that as a group we should stand behind him and ask his school;s administration to change their decision. We all know that a 2 inch pocket knife is nothing mroe than a tool, and Matthew was simply being prepared for any emergency that require it, So let's help him out.

Please help by contacting Super intendent George Goodwin by em-amil at ggoodwin@lansingburgh.org or by phone at 518-233-6850 ext. 3400.

I personally choose to send a e-mail and her is a copy of the e-mail that I sent:

Dear Superintendent George Goodwin

Hello. My name is Mark West and I am currently a Assistant Scoutmaster for a Boy Scout Troop in Soldotna, Alaska. I have been involved in Scout as a Youth and Adult for over 12 years. I am also a Eagle Scout and I realize that even without meeting with Matt face to face I know he is a Scout of good character and moral standards. This is just something that every Eagle Scout comes to expect from fellow Eagles.

I know for you as the superintendent it must be really hard to make some of the decisions you have to make. I realize that the School district has a zero tolerance, I know that in this case you had no choice in suspending him but I do not think that it was necessary to suspend Matt for the full 45 days, this to me seems unfair to the student and in this case in particular the punishment does not fit the crime. A punishment is definitely necessary according to district policy and changing for this student would only complicate matters for you, the family, and the district but I do suggest that you decrease the length of the suspension for two reasons. My first reason is that since there was no intention of using the knife or causing harm to others which the student clearly admits this, then the punishment should not be for the maximum length of time. I know that there is a possibility that the student that reported seeing the knife either felt like he was seriously endagered or the more likely story is that it was just another teen trying to attract attention. I just do not believe that the student report Matt ever felt he was endangered. If the student was then obviously something more is going on then the media is leading us to believe. Making this determination will hopefully allow you to reconsider the decision. Second the Scout was completely honest with security and the administration, so I believe that this should be taken into account when making your decision. Matt never tried to hide anything from you in regards to this pocketknife. ALso I do not believe that he was fully aware of why a pocketknife that he would only use in emergency's would cause such a big problem. I think that if Matt was more aware of the problem this would cause, he would have never brought the knife to school. I know from personal experience that whenever I am without a knife is the time when I need the knife the most which is probably along the same thought process Matt was thinking. Without a knife I sometimes feel naked and not able to fully participate in a activity. This nakedness comes from the Scout training both me and Matt have recieved. I know that there are rules and laws about taking knifes into certain places but I do not believe that Matt violated the law and cannot be charged with a crime. Yes he did violate school district policy and he admits that but I just don't think that he was fully aware of the consequences of his actions.

If have any questions or comments in regards to this e-mail plese feel free to e-mail me at:

westybsa@aol.com or west701@regis.edu

You can also reach me via cell phone at the following number:

303-870-2376.

Thank you in advanced for taking the time to read and consider my perspective. It is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely
Mark West
Scouting Volunteer.


Please feel free to use sections or ideas from this e-mail in order to write one to the Superintendent. We all have a duty to act upon this and help this Eagle Scout.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

NSj 2010 Staff App

Just wanted to give you a update on how my application is going.

As you know I have recieved Council, Local, and National Approval. I am just waiting on my LOA which probably got held up in the system because I choose a area that is supposedly already full, so hopefully then will get it to the next area director on my list soon. I guess we will just have to wait and see.

That is all for now. I know that wasn't much of a update but I hadn't posted information for a week on the subject.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 '10 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

Quote of the Week

The most unfair thing about life is the way it ends. I mean, life is tough. It takes up a lot of your time. What do you get at the end of it? A Death! What's that, a bonus? I think the life cycle is all backwards. You should die first, get it out of the way. Then you live in an old age home. You get kicked out when you're too young, you get a gold watch, you go to work. You work forty years until you're young enough to enjoy your retirement. You do drugs, alcohol, you party, you get ready for high school. You go to grade school, you become a kid, you play, you have no responsibilities, you become a little baby, you go back into the womb, you spend your last nine months floating.

Georg Carlin

“Life is hard; it's harder if you're stupid.”

John Wayne

Life is tough, and if you have the ability to laugh at it you have the ability to enjoy it.
Salma Hayek

Yours in Scouting Service

Mark W

Assistant Scoutmaster

Troop 1616

Great Alaska COuncil

Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member

NSJ '05 '10 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

JOTI After action report

JOTA/JOTI 2009 Half a million Scouts, 6500 actions for environment

Since last Friday, thousand of Scouts from all-around the world have met via Air-waves and Internet. At the World Scout Bureau radio station, the JOTA international team welcomed 50 Scouts and Guides de France and Portuguese Scouts. They established connection with more than 50 countries. From Germany, the JOTI international team implemented all the necessary technology to run the event.

At the end of a working meeting on WOSM Governance, Luc Panissod, Secretary general , came to say hello to all participants and broadcasted the following message : “As every year, on the occasion of the JOTA/JOTI, you have been part of half a million Scouts coming together over the air-waves and through the Internet. On behalf of World Scouting, I thank you all, volunteers and young people from all around the world, for having shared a real spirit of brotherhood and cooperation.
In order to demonstrate what the Scout Movement is doing in favour of protecting our common environment, we invited all of you to promote your challenges for climate change. I’m very happy to announce that since 12th October, more than 3000 newactions have been registered by you on the website of the race for environement, adding up to some 6400 actions being undertaken worldwide by Scouts just like you.
On your behalf, we will ensure that all these actions will be brought to the attention of the United Nations Summit on Climate Change which will be held this December in Copenhagen.
This last week end, your friendly and supportive contributions has demonstrated the great capacity of the Scout Movement to concretely act to create a better world. I hope that you will use JOTA/JOTI to all come together again next year and I encourage all of you to continue your positive actions wherever you are.”

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

New Blog Gadget Update

I finished adding the gadget or widget I wanted to but unfortunately it required me to make a few minor adjustments to my template. This I believe has cause the blog to ac somewhat irregularly and take longer to load. I need someone to confirm this because I am on a large scale network at college I do not have the best testing environment and I am not able to adequately diagnosis or support this issue with confirmation.

Also If you think my blog is getting too busy or the template does not look very good then feel free to leave comments about that subject as well.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

NSJ 2010 Staff App

Been approved by National Council.

Just waiting to recieve my LOA or Letter of Acceptance. Can't wait to see which position I will get, I will probably not get subcamp staff but that is okay.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

One of the more important Positions in the NCCS or National Catholic Committe on Scouting is that of the Vice President of the Committee. Recently the Vice President has passed away.

Let our prays and thoughts be extended over him and his family.
Here is a copy of the Obituary which can be accessed online at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/louisville/obituary.aspx?n=john-paul-ribar&pid=134371157

RIBAR, JOHN PAUL, 81, of Louisville, died at home Friday, October 9, 2009.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jean; his children, John (Judy), David (Susan), Richard (Susan), Don (Tracee), and Susan Loveland (Mike); eight grandchildren, Rachel, Beth, Erin, Matt, Thomas, Carly, Zoe and Max; and numerous nieces and nephews.

John was born June 19, 1928 in Wilmerding, PA and was an alumni of the University of Pittsburgh. He served a tour as an Air Force second lieutenant in the Korean War and hiked Mt. Fuji before accepting a sales position with Standard Register in North Carolina. He moved to Louisville in 1959 where he later started a successful family-owned printing company, Bluegrass Business Forms, in 1972.

A founding member of Mother of Good Counsel Parish, he prayerfully served for more than forty years. Most recently he belonged to St. Margaret-Mary Catholic Church.

John began service to the BSA in 1960. He was a cubmaster and scoutmaster, and then held positions at the District, Council and Regional levels. John was a recipient of many Scouting awards, including the Silver Antelope, the Silver Saint George, and the Golden Ad Altare Dei. He was proud of all those he helped to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout, including his four sons and two of his grandsons. His daughter married an Eagle Scout.

In 1995 John represented the BSA on a trip to Siberia. He was a leader and course instructor at Philmont, and attended five National Jamborees. John formerly chaired the Louisville Catholic Committee on Scouting and organized many popular Flaget Trail camp-outs. He was a vice chair of the National Catholic Committee on Scouting, and was awarded the prestigious Brother Barnabas Founders Award in 2008.

John belonged to the Kiwanis for many years. He assisted the Trinity High School Foundation and donated time and support to many other charities. He was a devoted gardener and sports fan. His sense of humor was renowned.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Margaret-Mary, 7813 Shelbyville Rd., followed by burial in Calvary Cemetery. Family and friends may visit from 2-8 p.m. Friday at Pearson- Ratterman Funeral Home, 12900 Shelbyville Road.

Memorials may be made to the National Catholic Committee on Scouting, P.O. Box 152079, Irving, TX 75015; The Lincoln Heritage Council, P.O. Box 36273, Louisville KY 40233, or another charity of your choice.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

Adding New Gadget

Working on adding a InsaneScouter widget to the site. Having problems but they should be resolved shortly.

Thanks for your patience.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

Here are the answers to the questions:

1. Scouting’s first camp took place in 1907 on Brownsea Island, off the coast of England
2. Global Positioning System
3. Compasses appeared in China about 1,000 years ago
4. Webmaster and Leave No Trace Trainer
5. In bedrolls
6. Severe thirst, dark urine, headache
7. Reach, throw, row, go
8. Every quiz has one give-away…

That is all for right know.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

Scouting Skills IQ Test

Here are the questions to a Scout Skills IQ test:

1. Where and when did the first Scout camping trip take place?
2. What does GPS stand for?
3. GPS is nifty, but the ever-reliable compass has been around for a long time. When and where did compasses first appear?
4. Name two new Scout positions introduced in the new handbook.
5. Other than backpacks, how did early Scouts carry supplies?
6. Name three signs of dehydration.
7. What is the order of water rescue?
8. Who builds the leaders of tomorrow?

I guess you will just have to wait a day to get the answers.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

Scout Healthy Food Tips

Here are some healthy eating tips from Scouting magazine:

• Water instead of soda: -150 calories (12 oz. serving)
• Pretzels instead of chips: -80 calories (2 oz. serving)
• “Light butter” instead of “movie theater butter” microwave popcorn: -75 calories (5 cups)
• Skim milk instead of whole: -60 calories (1 cup)
• Whole-grain Fig Newtons instead of Chips Ahoy: -60 calories (per serving)
• Subway Turkey Sandwich instead of McDonald’s Quarter Pounder With Cheese: -300 calories

These ideas are designed to help you switch various foods for something more healthy which will lead to a calorie reduction of at least 700.

Here are some camp food ideas:

• Healthy trail mixes: dried fruit, nuts, seeds, and a healthy cereal (Grape Nuts or Kashi, for example)
• Lowfat stews made with lean protein and veggies
• Beans and rice
• Fish or lean meat with vegetables in a foil pocket
• Oatmeal with dried fruit and skim milk

Here are some other nutrition tips:

• Adding 5 to 10 grams of soluble fiber to your daily diet will reduce LDL (“bad”) cholesterol by 5 percent.
• Adding a daily dose of 2 to 3 grams of plant-derived stanol and sterol esters (a supplement found in foods such as yogurt, orange juice, and margarine products) typically lowers LDL by 6 to 15 percent.
• Adding fruits and vegetables, reducing sodium and alcohol intake, and increasing physical activity will reduce blood pressure by 2 to 14 mmHg.

Obviously it would be impossible to do all of these things at once but taking a few of these ideas even if you just take 1 and are super committed to it then you can make a big difference.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

BSA Press Release for New jamboree home:

National Executive Board News I am writing to share some exciting news. Today, our National Executive Board took another significant step toward establishing a permanent home for future national jamborees and creating another premier outdoor adventure Scouting site. The board approved the purchase of more than 10,000 acres of some of the most spectacular land you’ve ever seen. It’s located in the New River Gorge area of West Virginia-an area that offers some of the best rock climbing, whitewater rafting, and mountain biking anywhere in the country. It is a perfect site for the full complement of activities we intend to offer at our new facility: extreme sports, leadership training, camping, high adventure-anything you can imagine doing in the great outdoors, and, of course, the national jamboree. We still have a lot of work to do, but under Jack Furst’s tremendous leadership, we are well on our way toward going from vision to reality. As Jack said to board members, “We are only limited by our own creativity and ingenuity.” And as we know, with Jack at the helm, that means there are no limits to what we can accomplish through this effort. Stay tuned for further details and a formal unveiling of our plans in November. Until then, my sincerest thanks to the team for its tireless efforts in bringing this exceptional opportunity to our Scouting family. It is, truly, one of the best investments we will make in serving Scouts for the next 100 years.


Sounds like National is definitely moving quickly on this issue. Seems a lot quicker then normal but the I guess the Next jamboree after 2010 is expected to occur in 2013 in order to get back on schedule of the national and world jabmoree schedule of one or the other switching every two years. This schedule allows scouts to attend both events and allows for less of a finanicial burden. Both these events are very expensive but the fact remains you can attend both if you know far enough in advance and if you plan for the expense.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

JOTI

During the same weekend as JOTA there is also a event known as JOTI or Jamboree on the Internet, this is a event where scouts get togoether on the internet and through various other digital communication means to exchange ideas and meet new people.

Here is a introduction from a WOSM Circular or World Organization of the Scouting Movement Update:

WHAT IS THE JAMBOREE-ON-THE-INTERNET?
Similarly to the JOTA, the Jamboree-On-The-Internet connects Scouts using Internet techniques. The JOTI is held on the same weekend as the Jamboree-On-the-Air. Units can choose to take part in either one event or both. The JOTA and JOTI are worldwide events. During the weekend, units may normally participate for 48 hours or any part thereof, from Saturday 00.00 h until Sunday 24.00 h local time. Both JOTA and JOTI are WOSM events to which members of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) are kindly invited to take part and enjoy the international atmosphere together with the Scouts.

Here are some of the resourcce sites available for this event:

• JOTI Resource site: http://www.joti.org/
• Official WOSM JOTI Resource page: http://scout.org/en/information_events/events/joti/joti_2009_theme
• Theme Resource Site 1: http://www.environmentrace.org/
• Theme Resource Site 2: http://en.cop15.dk/

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

JOTA

A very important event is coming up in World Scouting that I feel every scout should know abou.t This event is that of Jamboree on the Air. This Jamboree is a jamboree that takes place over radio waves.

Here is a introduction to what the event is all about:

The JOTA is an annual event in which Scouts and Guides all over the world speak to each other by means of amateur radio contacts. Scouting experiences are exchanged and ideas are shared, via the radio waves.

Since 1958 when the first jamboree-on-the-Air was held, thousands of Scouts and Guides have "met" each other through this event. Not only is it fun to talk to Scouts from other parts of the world but it provides also a chance to find out about other countries and about Scouting elsewhere. Many contacts made during the JOTA have resulted in penpals and links between scout troops that have lasted for many years.

With no restrictions on age, on the number that can participate and at little or no expense, the JOTA provides an opportunity for Scouts and Guides to contact each other by amateur radio. The radio stations are operated by licensed amateur radio operators. Many Scouts and leaders hold licences and have their own stations, but the majority participates in the JOTA through stations operated by local radio clubs and individual radio amateurs. Today some operators even use television or computer linked communications.

Date and duration of the event

The world--wide Jamboree-On-The-Air is organized to coincide with the third full weekend of October each year. The event starts at 00.00 hours local time on the Saturday and concludes 48 hours later at 24.00 hours local time on the Sunday. Each station can choose its own operating hours within this period.

Here are a couple of website addresses that are very important to this event.

• World Scouting Website: http://scout.org/en/information_events/events/jota/jota_2009_theme
• JOTA Information Site: http://home.hetnet.nl/~kava04un/index.htm
• JOTA Theme Resource website: http://en.cop15.dk/

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

15 steps to building a campfire

15 Steps to Build a Campfire

1) Split dead limb into fragments and shave fragments into slivers.

2) Bandage left thumb.

3) Chop other fragments into smaller fragments.

4) Bandage left foot.

5) Make structure of slivers (including those embedded in hand.).

6) Light match.

7) Light match.

8) Repeat "a Scout is cheerful" and light match.

9) Apply match to slivers, add wood fragments and blow gently into base of flames.

10) Apply burn ointment to nose.

11) When fire is burning, collect more wood.

12) Upon discovery that fire has gone out during your absence, soak wood from can labeled "kerosene".

13) Treat face and arms for second degree burns, and relabel can to read "gasoline".

14) When fire is burning well, add all remaining firewood.

15) When thunderstorm has passed, repeat steps 1-14.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

NSJ 2010 App Status Update

My 2010 Nationl Scout Jamboree App has made it through Council and is probably still at Western Region or has been sent off to National for Approval and dissemination to the appropriate first choice position. In this case I am trying to get a spot in subcamp staff. I called region and they said that there subcamp staff was probably full but that does not make sense because I was contacted by someone from subcamp 9 saying that they were sitll looking for staff. I guess we will have to wait and see.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

NSJ 2010 Staff App

I decided that I could not miss the action and ended up signing up as a staff member for the 2010 National Scout Jamboree. I know that it will be a crazy 2 years between the National Jamboree in 2010 and the World jamboree in 2011 but that is perfectly fine with me. Everything should go great, I can't wait to see which position I get as a youth staff member. I am hoping to work in subcamp 9 because I already not one of the staff members in this subcamp, if not I am sure I will get a great position as a youth staff member.

There are going to be some long days at the jamboree but hey if I didd not want to do this then why would I be wasting the money and signing up. It does seem ridiculous to some people that we have to pay as staff members bu that is just a expectation of being staff.

Hopefully Council will approve me relatively quickly.

Immediately after getting a assignment I will post information about what position I got.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

NSJ 2010 Bulletin

September-October 2009

COUNCIL CHECKLIST: WHERE DO YOU STAND?

Should Already Be Done

• Second national fee paid by July 31.
• Confirmed transportation and tour arrangements.
• Finalized council fee and payment schedule.
• Designed council shoulder insignia.

In Progress

• Promote jamboree at roundtables.
• Promote jamboree at troop meetings.
• Make individual calls to Scouts who have indicated an interest in attending.
• Hold monthly committee meetings.
• Schedule Troop Junior Leader Training for early 2010.
• Schedule the troop’s pre-jamboree training campout for late May 2010.
• Prepare for the third and final payment, due January 31, 2010.

Next 30 Days

• Order council shoulder insignia.
• Order custom unit numeral.
• Order equipment packages from Supply department.

Announcing new lower prices on canvas tents. Check out the updated 2010 Jamboree Package Plans brochure on MyBSA>>Resources>>Jamboree Information.

September 16, 2009: The first batch of Jamboree Health and Medical Records for those who are council-approved have been distributed. Before you ask or e-mail a question, please review not only this alert, but also all of the information about the process contained on this Web site.

Our hints for making this a better experience:

• Mac users, please open the medical record with Adobe Reader 9, not in preview mode.
• The password that you will receive is case-sensitive. Many users have found cutting and pasting the password is easiest. To date, we haven’t found a technical issue that prevents the medical record from being opened with the assigned password when entered correctly.
• We suggest you download Adobe Reader 9 if you do not have it. It’s available for free; we consider that pretty thrifty: http://get.adobe.com/reader/ .
• If you have your spam filter in place and have not added jamboree.medical@scouting.org to your sender list, please correct this issue before you ask for another record.
• The confidentiality of your information is important to us. Thus, the medical record is password-protected and encrypted. If you have a .mil address or a policy in place that does not allow encrypted password-protected documents to pass, we suggest you update your or your son’s registration to include a personal e-mail address that will allow the attachment through. You can do this yourself at www.scouting.org , MyScouting. We know the Army is filtering these records.
• If you notice incorrect information after you open the file, type over it and print out the record.
• Please complete the record to reflect the time the physical exam is performed.
• Parents, you should receive a copy of your son’s medical record. If you used the same e-mail address for both of you, that is why you received two copies.
• Leaders, if you let your youth use your e-mail address, then you’ll receive theirs as well. Each record is bar-coded with the participant’s member ID.
• Council coordinators, you get a copy of all contingent members’ forms.
• Council coordinators, please contact the jamboree registrar at 2010Jamboree@scouting.org if you need to remove a youth from your attendees list. Parents, please contact your council if your son will not be attending the jamboree.
• We understand some of you inadvertently deleted the form. This is not a problem. If you cannot recover it, send us an e-mail, and we will resend it.
• If you have general questions about the Jamboree Health and Medical Record, please review the FAQs (click the link below) before contacting us. http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/Resources/MedicalFormFAQs.aspx

There is still room: Despite rumors, there is still room available at the 2010 National Scout Jamboree, both as participants and staff members. Prospective participants should contact their local council and get signed up as soon as possible. Prospective staff members need to fill out an application at www.MyScouting.org. After all, the 100th Anniversary comes only once. You don’t want to miss this one! Staff members should go to the staff section of this Web site, go to the bottom of that page, and click on “staff positions available–complete list” to view all of the positions available.

Troop Leader Guide: The 2010 National Scout Jamboree Troop Leader Guide is now posted on this Web site. Check out the “Publications” section on the left side to download and print a copy. Please remember this is a “living” document. If you printed a copy some time ago, you may want to print the newest version from our Web site.

Youth Protection Training: Leaders and staff, don’t forget to update your Youth Protection training so it will be current during the national Scout jamboree. Make sure you go through your “MyScouting” account so it will include the correct date. If you need assistance with your “MyScouting” account, contact the customer service center at 800-627-3025.

Travel Advisories: Soon it will be time to book your travel to Fort A.P. Hill. Information will go out via e-mail regarding travel advisories. It is imperative to housing, food services, and emergency services that a travel itinerary for every staff member and for every contingent troop be submitted to the Jamboree Transportation Services by the due date. Instruction on submitting this information and the due date will be included in the e-mail. Be sure to check your e-mail, including the junk/spam folder, regularly.

Recycling: One goal of the 2010 jamboree is to be the “greenest” jamboree to date.

Our refuse contractor has developed a waste removal and recycling program for the 2010 National Scout Jamboree. Each subcamp will have distinct containers for waste material and recycling of specific materials. Each container will be clearly marked, identifying the materials that should go inside.

The proceeds from these transactions will be utilized to offset the expense of hauling and disposing of non-recyclable materials.

Non-recyclable trash will be bagged and collected in a marked subcamp container that will be emptied regularly by our refuse company and disposed of at a landfill.

Dishwater and wet kitchen waste should be collected in pails and taken to the nearest grinding station for appropriate disposal by subcamp maintenance/environmental personnel. Scouts are required to do the same. Food waste recycling is being explored; guidelines and containers for this type of recycling would be made clear.

World Friendship Fund: A Good Turn opportunity for jamboree participants will be provided at breakfast on Thursday, July 29, 2010. At this time, a collection will be taken for the World Friendship Fund. The purpose is to make Scouts and Scouters aware of how the fund helps Scouts around the world and to give them a chance to contribute to world Scouting endeavors.

A collection bag will be given to each troop in a subcamp by the subcamp program officials prior to the collection. Follow subcamp instructions on how to turn in the collection bag after breakfast.

Scout Visitors to the Jamboree: Jamboree activities are made possible by the event fees paid by participating Scouts and leaders. To ensure all paying Scouts get ample opportunity to participate in all of the jamboree activities, visiting Scouts will not be allowed to participate in events and activities at the 2010 National Scout Jamboree. Participation in the activities at the action centers (action alley, air rifle, archery, bikathon, buckskin games, confidence course, motocross, pioneering, rappelling, and trapshooting) by members of visiting units will not be allowed. Other areas reserved for paid jamboree participants are the outback centers (conservation, fishing, and aquatics), mountain boarding, and the Order of the Arrow’s THE MYSTERIUM COMPASS. Visitors will not be able to work on merit badge requirements at the Merit Badge Midway. Visitors are allowed to watch the action, tour the various activity sites, and purchase food and awesome souvenirs at the trading posts.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08