January 2009
August Roundtable to be at True Light Missionary Baptist Church at 7:00 p.m on the second Monday of January

New Uniforms available at Scoutstuff.org

COMING SOON:
August 1st, Training at the Scout Office from 9:30 to 2:30 p.m.

ON FEBUARY 2010 SCOUTING WILL CELEBRATE 100 YEARS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

October 12th, 2009
7:00 p.m. 840 Main Street
Charter Representative Training

November 9th, 2009
7:00 p.m. 840 Main Street
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
Commissioner training
Venturing training

November 10th, 2009
7:00 p.m. 1906 Edward Street
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
Boy Scout training
Cub Scout training

Boy Scouts of America’s Centennial Commemorative Coin Receives Presidential Approval
Scouting Activities in Underserved Areas to Benefit from Share of Proceeds

DALLAS, October 16, 2008—President Bush recently signed into law the Boy Scouts of America Centennial Commemorative Coin Act (H.R. 5872) which authorizes the minting of 350,000 silver dollar coins in recognition of BSA’s 100th Anniversary in 2010. Only two commemorative coins are selected for U.S. Mint production each year, and minting of the coins for 2010 will occur between February 8, 2010 and January 1, 2011. For each coin sold, there is a $10 surcharge – representing a $3,500,000 donation – that will be made available to local councils in the form of grants for the extension of Scouting in hard to serve areas.

The Boy Scouts of America was founded on February 8, 1910. Since then more than 111 million youth have participated in Scouting’s traditional programs, including 248 members of the House of Representatives and the Senate. In the past four years alone, Scouting youth and their leaders have volunteered more than 6,500,000 hours of service in their communities through more than 75,000 service projects.

“It is a great honor for the Scouts to be recognized with this Centennial Commemorative coin. We thank the President, the House and the Senate, especially Congressman Sessions and Senator Sessions for their support,” said Bob Mazzuca, Chief Scout Executive, Boy Scouts of America. This is a treasured moment in the history of our organization and we are grateful for the millions of Scouts and volunteers who have served as the foundation of our success for nearly 100 years.”

The act received strong bipartisan support from both the House and the Senate. Introduced earlier this year to Congress by Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX), an Eagle Scout with four generations of Boy Scouts in his family, the act received overwhelming approval with 403 Members of Congress voting for it. “Boy Scouts are a significant part of American culture, shaping the values, citizenship, and skills of millions of young men,” Congressman Pete Sessions stated. “From conservation to character building, the Boy Scouts 100th Anniversary celebrates the highest Scouting ideals of helping others and making communities stronger.”

Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL), who also is an Eagle Scout, was the Senate sponsor of this legislation, which passed by unanimous consent on September 27, 2008. “I am pleased that the Senate has approved this legislation to mint a commemorative coin celebrating an important mark in the Boy Scouts history. Scouting has been a positive influence on millions of young men across the country,” said Senator Sessions.

H.R. 5872 legislation states that the commemorative coin must be “emblematic of the 100 years of the largest youth organization in the United States, the Boy Scouts of America.” The act also outlines other design mandates of the silver dollar including that it must show its designated value, the year 2010 and have inscriptions of the words “Liberty”, “In God We Trust”, and “E Pluribus Unum”. The coin will weigh 26.73 grams, have a diameter of 1.5 inches and contain 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper. The design will be selected by the Secretary of the Treasury after consultation with Chief Scout Executive Bob Mazucca and the Commission of Fine Arts. The selected coin design will also be reviewed by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.

Earlier this year, the Boy Scouts of America kicked off a multi-year 100th Anniversary celebration. Over the next two years, BSA will reintroduce to America the contributions Scouting makes in communities across the country and the positive impact Scouting has on millions of young lives. The 100th Anniversary celebration will include major national events, activities, and initiatives to engage nearly 3 million youth and 1.2 million volunteers; an estimated 50 million Scouting alumni; and the general public.

About the Boy Scouts of America
Serving nearly 4.7 million young people between 7 and 20 years of age with more than 300 councils throughout the United States and its territories, the Boy Scouts of America is the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training.

Youth Protection

The Boy Scouts of America places the greatest importance on creating the most secure environment possible for our youth members. To maintain such an environment, the BSA developed numerous procedural and leadership selection policies and provides parents and leaders the following online, video, and print resources for the Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and Venturing programs.

Leadership Selection
The Boy Scouts of America takes great pride in the quality of our adult leadership. Being a leader in the BSA is a privilege, not a right. The quality of the program and the safety of our youth members call for high-quality adult leaders. We work closely with our chartered organizations to help recruit the best possible leaders for their units.

The adult application requests background information that should be checked by the unit committee or the chartered organization before accepting an applicant for unit leadership. While no current screening techniques exist that can identify every potential child molester, we can reduce the risk of accepting a child molester by learning all we can about an applicant for a leadership position—his or her experience with children, why he or she wants to be a Scout leader, and what discipline techniques he or she would use.

The Boy Scouts of America takes great pride in the quality of our adult leadership. Being a leader in the BSA is a privilege, not a right. The quality of the program and the safety of our youth members call for high-quality adult leaders. Our chartered organizations endeavor to recruit the best possible leaders for their units.

The adult application requests background information that should be checked by the unit committee or the chartered organization before accepting an applicant f or unit leadership. While no current screening techniques exist that can identify every potential child molester, we can reduce the risk of accepting a child molester by learning all we can about an applicant for a leadership position—his or her experience with children, why he or she wants to be a Scout leader, and other matters.

Barriers to Abuse Within Scouting
The BSA has adopted the following policies to provide additional security for our members. These policies are primarily for the protection of our youth members; however, they also serve to protect our adult leaders from false accusations of abuse.

Two-deep leadership. Two registered adult leaders or one registered leader and a parent of a participant, or other adult, one of whom must be 21 years of age or older, are required on all trips and outings. The chartered organization is responsible for ensuring that sufficient leadership is provided for all activities.
No one-on-one contact. One-on-one contact between adults and youth members is not permitted. In situations that require personal conferences, such as a Scoutmaster's conference, the meeting is to be conducted in view of other adults and youths.
Respect of privacy. Adult leaders must respect the privacy of youth members in situations such as changing clothes and taking showers at camp, and intrude only to the extent that health and safety require. Adults must protect their own privacy in similar situations.
Separate accommodations. When camping, no youth is permitted to sleep in the tent of an adult other than his own parent or guardian. Councils are strongly encouraged to have separate shower and latrine facilities for females. When separate facilities are not available, separate times for male and female use should be scheduled and posted for showers.
Proper preparation for high-adventure activities. Activities with elements of risk should never be undertaken without proper preparation, equipment, clothing, supervision, and safety measures.
No secret organizations. The Boy Scouts of America does not recognize any secret organizations as part of its program. All aspects of the Scouting program are open to observation by parents and leaders.
Appropriate attire. Proper clothing for activities is required. For example, skinny-dipping is not appropriate as part of Scouting.
Constructive discipline. Discipline used in Scouting should be constructive and reflect Scouting's values. Corporal punishment is never permitted.
Hazing prohibited. Physical hazing and initiations are prohibited and may not be included as part of any Scouting activity.
Junior leader training and supervision. Adult leaders must monitor and guide the leadership techniques used by junior leaders and ensure that BSA policies are followed.
Member responsibilities. All members of the Boy Scouts of America are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the principles set forth in the Scout Oath and Law. Physical violence, hazing, bullying, theft, verbal insults, drugs, and alcohol have no place in the Scouting program and may result in the revocation of a Scout's membership in the unit.
Unit responsibilities. The head of the chartered organization or chartered organization representative and the local council must approve the registration of the unit's adult leader. Adult leaders of Scouting units are responsible for monitoring the behavior of youth members and interceding when necessary. Parents of youth members who misbehave should be informed and asked for assistance in dealing with it.
The "three R's" of Youth Protection
The "three R's" of Youth Protection convey a simple message to youth members:

Recognize situations that place you at risk of being molested, how child molesters operate, and that anyone could be a molester.
Resist unwanted and inappropriate attention. Resistance will stop most attempts at molestation.
Report attempted or actual molestation to a parent or other trusted adult. This prevents further abuse and helps to protect other children. Let the Scout know he or she will not be blamed for what occurred

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A Time to Tell: Troop Meeting Guide
Video Facilitator Guides. English and Spanish meeting guides for facilitators' use when showing the age-appropriate sexual abuse prevention video.

It Happened to Me: Cub Scout Meeting Guide
Video Facilitator Guides. A sample letter to parents and guardians as well as English and Spanish meeting guides for facilitators' use when showing the age-appropriate sexual abuse prevention video.