The Digital Eagle: Weekly Talon
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Welcome to the May 15, 2020 edition of the Digital Eagle: Weekly Talon! This is a weekly publication of the Greater Alabama Council, BSA to help keep you and your family on the Scouting Trail.
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GAC Operations Update, May 15th, 2020
Based on information we have received from the State of Alabama, CDC and other resources we offer the following update:
Units are allowed to resume their meetings and activities but it is imperative that the safety of our scouts and families come first and you meet all the guidelines related to maintaining a safe distance and disinfecting the meeting space.
We recognize that each unit is different, each meeting space varies in size, and the sizes of our units vary from 5-100 youth. So please use common sense, work with your leadership team, your chartered organization, and the families of the youth you serve, to make the best and safe decision for your unit.
Before meeting or going on a camping trip, make sure you can answer yes to all of the following:
- Chartered Organization has approved the resumption of Scouting activities for our unit.
- Meeting, activity or camping trip will be consistent with applicable state and local orders.
- Unit will limit participation of those unit members who are at higher risk if they cannot be protected.
- You are able to promote healthy hygiene practices and hand washing, wear cloth face covering if feasible.
- Intensify cleaning, disinfection and ventilation of meeting place and transportation used.
- You are able to limit the sharing of belongings, supplies and equipment.
- Train unit leadership on proper safety protocols and guidelines
- You will not allow anyone who is sick to attend meeting etc.
Unit/District/Council Meetings and Events:
District Meetings and Events:
We encourage you to postpone any large meetings or activities and continue virtual gatherings where possible, utilizing conference calls or online video conferencing. Meetings or activities where it is difficult to maintain the social distancing guidelines should not be held.
Weekend Camp Use:
Effective today, May 15
th
all of our council properties will be open to outside use. We will be limiting the number of participants at each camp so please make sure if you sign up for a weekend camping trip you communicate to our staff the exact # of youth and adults that will be attending.
Summer Camp and Day Camp
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Adversity and challenges have always brought out the best in our scouts and scouting alumni, and helping others is an integral part of the Boy Scouts of America. You see it in Scouting for Food drives, Eagle Scout service projects and patriotic displays such as placing flags on the graves of our veterans. The public health challenges of 2020 present social issues that we have never faced due to the nature of our call to in-action. We live out the Scout Slogan: Do and Good Turn Daily and the Motto: Be Prepared in our daily lives, but we prepare for action and adventure; not to shelter in place. It is difficult to see our scouts and camps somewhat idle at a time when our youth desire fellowship and active participation and so many in our community need our help.
Technology, devices and digital connectivity are helping keep us together, but our scouts want to build a campfire, to hear it crackle, smell the smoke and watch the flames as they sing their favorite camp songs. They long for silly skits and the camaraderie that comes as they act out “the bravest camper in the world” or “the banana bandanna” and build friendships that last a lifetime. Your Friends of Scouting contribution to the Greater Alabama Council helps keep our collective campfire burning for over 10,000 youth and families. Thank you for your support of scouting!
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Become a Registered Merit Badge Counselor Today!
Do you have a hobby or an interest you're passionate about? Have you developed a set of skills and knowledge because of your job or past jobs? Are you wondering what you can do with that random theatre minor from college? Have you thought about becoming a Merit Badge Counselor to help the youth of your troop, or your district, or the Council? If you have answered "yes" to any of these questions, Scouts need your help!
Becoming a Merit Badge Counselor is easy! Make sure you're Youth Protection Trained, fill out the Adult Member Application (indicate position code 42), and fill out the Merit Badge Counselor Application, and you're ready to begin serving youth in an essential capacity! Just click on the links below to get started!
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Now Accepting Nominations for the Silver Beaver Award
The Silver Beaver Award is the highest honor that a Council can bestow on a volunteer Scouter. This award recognizes continuous service to youth over a sustained tenure in the Boy Scouts of America. The Silver Beaver Award was introduced in 1931 and is a council-level distinguished service award. The award is given to recognize registered Scouters of exceptional character who have provided distinguished service within a council.
To nominate an individual or individuals for the Silver Beaver, please work with your District Executive, and submit all nominations to the Council through them. The nomination form as well as information on the Districts of the Greater Alabama Council can be found in the links below.
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New Updates for Rank Advancement and Camping Requirements
During these unusual times, the BSA has sought ways to ensure that Scouts are able to make progress on rank advancement. To help spread the word, the BSA has published a series of FAQs. Updated recently, the FAQs now reflect temporary modifications to rank advancements and camping requirements. Click on the link below to go to the FAQ page
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Looking for ways to help keep the Scouting adventure going at home? The Greater Alabama Council has put together a web page where you can find 30 Day Challenges, Helpful hints and activities, and more! To access the page, just click on the button below and keep on Scouting!
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Did you and your family participate in the National Camp-in? Be sure to get your patch for the unique event! To reserve the patch, follow the link below!
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Beginning May 20th, the Huntsville and Birmingham Scout Shops will be open to serve you and your Scouting needs! They will have modified hours and a modified schedule, so please take note:
Tuesday-Friday: 10am-6pm
Saturday: 10am-2pm
Until May 20th, you can still email Michele, our local territory manager, directly and she will help take care of your orders. Unfortunately, she won't be able to work with existing store accounts, but she can handle credit and debit card transactions. To fill your order, she needs:
>A list of the items needed (a general description will work)
>Name of Person receiving the order
>Address to ship to
>Phone number of person receiving order
For advancement purchases (all rank, merit badges, and palms):
You
must
send a copy of the advancement report, the Scout Book report, OR Printed PDF completed with Unit and Scout’s information, as well as signed by leader.
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Updates on the Order of the Arrow
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The National Order of the Arrow Committee is pleased to announce "Momentum", a national training event at the Summit Bechtel Reserve, August 3-8 of 2020. For more information, please follow the Momentum link below.
To stay up-to-date on all the latest with Coosa Lodge, follow the links below!
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Every Scout Deserves a trained leader!
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The Scouting program thrives with trained leaders, like you! Now is a great opportunity to refresh your skills, learn new methods, and update your training on things like Weather Hazards or Youth Protection Training. Click on the image to the left or the button below to take part in training that will help you be the best leader for our Scouts.
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