In February 2010, the Boy Scouts of America will celebrate 100 years as an organization. Founded as an outlet to prepare every eligible youth in America to become a participating citizen and leader, BSA has more than fulfilled its mission. Today, as we celebrate our first 100 years, we not only reflect on our rich history, but lay the foundation for a strong future, as well.

 

A Year of Celebration A Century of Making a Difference Underway   Through A Year of Celebration, A Century of Making a Difference, we will do just that. Individuals can earn awards by demonstrating dedication to five of Scouting’s core values—Leadership, Achievement, Community Service, Character, and the Outdoors. Participants can earn one award in each category. The program will be both fun and engaging and, most important, will show America the impact of Scouting through its commitment to these values. A Year of Celebration will be in effect from September 1, 2009, through December 31, 2010.     You can download and share the patch requirements from the Year of Celebration page on the 100th Anniversary Web site. For more information and additional resources, check out the Year of Celebration program toolkit on YourSource.

100th Anniversary Volunteer Celebration

The 2010 Kickoff Event   February 14, 2010 St. Paul's Cathedral Pittsburgh, Pa 15213 4:00 PM     "A Scout is Reverent." Join us at the 2010 Kickoff Celebration hosted by Bishop Zubik whereover 1,500 Scouts, leaders and families will be exposed to Buddhist, Catholic, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, and Protestant faiths while celebrating 100 years of religious involvement in Scouting. In addition, the Greater Pittsburgh Council will spotlight religious award recipients from the previous year. The Greater Pittsburgh Council, B.S.A. believes that religious emblems are very special. When a Scout wears his religious emblem on his uniform, it shows his duty to God. We are very proud of our Scouts who earn their religious emblems.  Please let us know you are atteniding by contacting Chaz Schieb, Relationships Committee Staff Advisor at charles.schieb@scouting.org or 412-325-7965. A Year of Celebration Learning to lead. Building character. The thrill of achievement. Knowing the value of community service, and appreciation for the outdoors. From 1910 to 2010, these values are at the core of every scouting activity.   A Year of Celebration is a series of awards developed to explore these values as we celebrate a century of living by the Scout Law. Each Year of Celebration award recognizes scouts And adult leaders who demonstrate dedication to leadership, character, achievement, community service, and the outdoors.   These awards seek to engage each participant to become involved in scouting activities based on each of these five values. Requirements will emphasize engagement and reflection on the lessons scouting teaches. They reward personal development through these five values. A Year of Celebration will be available to Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Venturers, as well as their respective adult leaders. Scouting alumni are also encouraged to earn A Year of Celebration awards and will be eligible to receive patches. Activities occur and patches are earned during the September 2009–August 2010 program year.     BSA Alumni Connection is a call to reconnect and engage former Scouts and anyone who has been touched by the Boy Scouts of America — family members of Scouts (both past and present), volunteers, Scouters, community leaders, and the tens of millions of Americans who have benefited from Scouting in their communities. Through this program, we will invite our alumni to come back, make a new connection, and get involved in Scouting once again. We will provide a resource that makes it easy to connect and become involved by sharing their time, their talents, and their treasures with the BSA. Visit the BSA Alumni Connection website at: www.scoutingfriends.org

Meet our 100th Anniversary Committee   Beaver Valley Jeff Olson jdolson405@yahoo.com Conestoga Karen Campbell karencambell23@verizon.net Fort Pitt Jack Russell russjackpgh@msn.com Frontier Elizabeth Stumpf wlstumpf@yahoo.com Japeechen Rich German rgerman95@gmail.com Mon Valley Theo Camut tcamut@leedsworld.com Scoutreach Ronald Curry rc51942@aol.com Seneca Shirley Derbis saderbis@yahoo.com Steel City Kimberly Krapp kkrapp@jmsonline.com Tecumsa Daniel Fitzhenry dfitzhen@verizon.net Generations Connection Celebrating Deep Roots: Planting a Foundation for the Future Nearly every youth who experiences Scouting does so with members of their family. The degrees of family involvement may vary, but ultimately, Scouting provides an opportunity to strengthen ties between family members, create great family memories, and develop a shared family foundation of worthwhile virtues and values. Current membership, combined with more than 50 million living BSA alumni, provides a tremendous opportunity around the 100th Anniversary to demonstrate on a large scale the value generational Scouting brings to a family. Generations Connection events provide fun and meaningful ways to reinforce the value Scouting brings to both individuals and the family unit. As part of the Generations Connection 1OOth Anniversary program, Scouts will celebrate the legacy of Scouting in families and its positive impact. The family tree is a theme central to this program. In addition to creating their own Scouting family trees, Scouts will be encouraged, in conjunction with the Arbor Day Foundation, to plant a 1OOth Anniversary tree in their yard, or other appropriate location, as a quality family activity.   The National Hall of Leadership The National Hall of Leadership is designed to recognize and acknowledge Scouting volunteers, cultivate new donors and prospects, and increase membership and units through targeting the best inspirational stories. This is a one-time opportunity only during the 100th Anniversary to honor and recognize Scouts, leaders and any living person who has served as a Scouting volunteer for the extraordinary difference they have made in the lives of others through their leadership. Nominations will be in the form of stories submitted online for judging.  Each of the 303 BSA councils and the national council are eligible to select up to 12 (no more than 12) top nominations for inductees to the National Hall of Leadership. One individual will be selected from each council to be inducted into the National Hall to be kept at the National Scouting Museum in Irving , TX.  Those selected for the National Hall of Leadership will be honored with national recognition commemorating their extraordinary leadership and modeling of Scouting virtues in the service of others. To be nominated for the National Hall of Leadership, the nominee must be a living Scout or Scouting volunteer who may/may not be officially registered with the BSA. They also must have served as an active Scout or Scouting volunteer within Scouting for at least one year. A nominee may be young or old — there is no age limit for nominees.  You will be able to submit nominations for National Hall of Leadership the National Hall of Leadership program online at a web site that will be available in February 2009.