Dear Pack, Troop and Crew Leaders:   

Thank You.  

Thank you … for caring about the youth of the world.

• … for being a leader in a Cub Scout Pack, Scouts BSA Troop or Venturing Crew.
• … for modeling to youth how to be Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent.
• … for helping a Scout learn how to tie a knot.
• … for helping a Scout learn how to teach another to tie a knot.
• … for every Scout who you helped to do their best.
• … for every Parent who you helped to do their best.
• … for the positive results in your Scouts, and their families, schools, churches and communities.
• … for the cold rain on den hikes.
• … for the sub-freezing nights on Troop campouts.
• … for showing your Scouts how to build a fire.
• … for s’mores.  And cobbler. 
• … for putting on safe Scouting outdoor adventures that will be imprinted in the memories of your Scouts.
• … for helping them learn to fish, bike, hike, camp, cook, paddle, climb, shoot, swim, sing, serve and play with Scout friends.
• … for taking Youth Protection Training again, and other training to help you help Scouts.
• … for showing how to make this campsite of our world a better place than you found it.
• … for delivering the promise of Scouting.

Did you miss any of our “Membership Updates Live” virtual gatherings?  We encourage all Pack and Den leaders, assistants and helpers – whether Cubmasters, Den Leaders or Assistants, Committee people or parents – to watch the programs we’ve recorded and posted (click on the links to view):

1)      Sign-Up Nights in New Times,

2)      Den and Pack Leader Roles in Family-Led Program,

3)      How to Handle Online Applications

4)      Parent Orientation Importance - How to Bring Parents Onboard

5)      Forging a Functional Facebook strategy

6)      Recruiting Leaders

7)      Is It Safe: We Want To Gather, but When and How?, and

8)      Scouting on Demand Resources for Parents and Packs.

That wraps up our series for now … but here’s other video resources that might be useful to you: 

Does your Unit want to enter advancement in BSA Records?  Was that hard because you don't have your "code" for the Internet Advancement Site?  You can use either ScoutBook (which is free -- see https://www.scoutbook.com/) or "Internet Advancement 2.0" .  The Internet Advancement 2.0 upgrade provides a web based interface better designed to function on any platform, desktops, tablets, and smartphones.   The site can be found through https://my.scouting.org at Menu == > BSA Web Links == > Internet Advancement 2.0.

Internet Advancement 2.0 will not use the Unit ID and shared password any longer.  Instead it will use the same Access Control system as My.Scouting and Scoutbook.  The unit Key 3 (Charter Organization Representative, Committee Chair, & Unit Leader), Key 3 Delegates, and any Unit Advancement Chair designated in Organization Security Manager (at My.Scouting for the Unit) will be able to enter the Advancement updates.  We highly recommend that one of your unit Key 3 go into Organization Security Manager right away to ensure that the unit Key 3 are properly reflected (My.Scouting will show who the Key 3 were when the charter renewed last spring, but may not reflect transition that often occurs at the end of a school year/program year).  We also recommend that a Key 3 leader adds Key 3 Delegates in Organization Security Manager (this has to be renewed every year), and that a Key 3 leader adds a Unit Advancement Chair in Organization Security Manager (this also has to be renewed annually).  For more, see this “Bryan on Scouting” Blog:  https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2019/05/29/internet-advancement-upgrades/.

Internet Advancement 2.0 includes all of the features you have enjoyed in the past, including the ability to upload advancement files from your 3rd party unit products. Contact your 3rd party vendor for more information. 

For more information, please check out the Internet Advancement Version 2.0 FAQ.  And there is a YouTube of someone reading a PowerPoint about how to use it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0EBmRjBJf8

Highlights of the most recent District News were these (click links for information):  Troops Recruit! Scouts BSA Recruiting and Arrow of Light Crossover Plans. ... Go Packs Go! Pinewood Derby Car Prize Contest and Facebook Funding - Extended Through November ... Some Recruiting FAQ as of Now about "What Now?" and "How Do We Recruit In These Times?" ... and from the prior week: Results of District Annual Business Meeting (Thursday, November 5)  ... A Cub Scout Adventure Resource -- Adventures Grouped by Content / Topic ... Opt In, Opt Out ... 

One observation about Scouting during a pandemic is that Troops seem to be able to continue functioning a bit easier than Packs.  We’ll chalk that up to the greater maturity and wisdom of our youth in Scouts BSA Troops, and the lessons they’ve picked up to this point learning from their BSA leaders.  

But those older Scouts will need new Scouts to lead … and now is a great time for Scouts BSA Troops to do their easiest recruiting, by forging ties with Cub Scout Packs, especially their Arrow of Light Dens.  Packs that cross over the greatest number of Scouts into Troops achieve that success because their 5^th grade Scouts get to know and emulate those wise elder Scouts in grades 6, 7 and 8 (and High Schoolers too sometimes).  

So now is a great time to recruit into your Troop – not to just plan a crossover ceremony, but to do safe Scouting activities that attract Scouts to your Troop.  If you’re completely remote and Zoom Scouting, the good news is:  Arrow of Light Scouts don’t look short on Zoom, so they can fit in with the Troop easier.  In person, Scouts BSA troops can give those Scouts a helping hand (not a shake, but a clap is OK – stay COVID conscious!) and conduct safe activities like hiking and biking and more.  

Some Troops pitch in and help Arrow of Light Dens with those final advancement Adventures that must be accomplished to complete the Arrow of Light.  The required “Scouting Adventure” needs your Troop to step in and help – and show off how your Troop operates, even in these tough times.  Same with “Outdoor Adventurer” – a great opportunity for Scouts in your Troop to instruct on outdoor skills.  We’ve got resources that your Scouts and Leaders in Scouts BSA Troops can use to help an Arrow of Light Den complete their rank and join your Troop, at https://www.atlantabsa.org/AOLAdvancement, the AAC Arrow of Light Advancement Page, plus some additional resources at https://www.atlantabsa.org/AOLOnDemand, the Scouting on Demand Arrow of Light page.  

So if you’re in a Troop, please reach out to your Packs to see if you can help your local Den Leader and their Scouts – and hopefully they’ll join you on your Scouting journey next year.  P.S.:  don’t be shy about helping out younger Dens – either as a Den Chief or just as event helpers.  Every Pack needs what Troops can provide. 

If you’re not sure how to contact your local Packs,

To encourage Packs to keep recruiting in these challenging times, the Atlanta Area Council has two new initiatives to share:

1)      Free pinewood derby cars for the top recruiting Pack in each district!  The Pack that recruits the most new Cub Scouts between August 1 and November 30, 2020 will receive free pinewood derby cars for each active Cub Scout in the Pack. 

2)      Free Facebook Ads – Extended Times! The Atlanta Area Council will reimburse every Pack up to $20 for Facebook advertising: boosting posts or geofencing events.  Key tips:

(a)    Run your ad for 5 to 7 days.  Any longer and you won’t get enough exposure each day.

(b)    If you have pictures of recent events where your scouts have masks on that would be great.

(c)    Video is always the best choice for ads. 

All ads must be run between October 2 and November 30.  Click here and complete the form to request your Pack’s reimbursement on or before November 30. 

For more on using Facebook, see this Webinar on “Forging a Functional Facebook strategy” and for more on promoting your Pack, see Promote Your Pack - Media, Flyers & More.  As part of that Promote Your Pack page, see this BSA page on Facebook Geofencing.