| As part of our ongoing commitment to abuse prevention, the Boy Scouts of America is updating the adult supervision requirements for overnight activities. This update enhances the minimum “two deep leadership” requirements by additionally requiring every adult present on overnight activities to be a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America. These adults must submit an adult application and registration fee, undergo a criminal background check, a volunteer screening database check and must complete mandatory Youth Protection training. A limited exception for parents and legal guardians of Cub Scout youth attending overnight with their children is planned due to the family centric nature of Cub Scouting. All Cub Scout Packs, Scouts BSA Troops, Venturing Crews, Sea Scouting Ships, Exploring Posts, council, and district overnight programs will be required to comply with this update by September 1, 2023. The BSA encourages early adoption prior to the effective date. This updated Barrier to Abuse can be referenced as part of the Guide to Safe Scouting, Youth Protection and Adult Leadership section, Scouting’s Barriers to Abuse. Youth Protection and Barriers to Abuse FAQs will be expanded to include additional FAQs as they are developed. Thanks to every leader and parent for their help in keeping our Scouts safe. |
Council Annual Meeting Set for February 8
The Jayhawk Area Council will hold its Annual Business Meeting on February 8, 2023 at the Rolley Scout Service Center located at 1020 SE Monroe Street in Topeka. The meeting will begin at noon and last until all formal business has been conducted. Key topics include passing of required annual resolutions and election of the new slate of officers and board members for the 2023-24 term.
Voting members include Chartering Organization Representatives of Jayhawk Area Council units, current Jayhawk Area Council Members at Large and Executive Board members and any national council board members residing in the Jayhawk Area Council.
Nominations for board members and officers are being sought. Should you have any suggestions, please refer them to our Scout Executive, Wayne Pancoast at Wayne.Pancoast@Scouting.org. The nominating committee will review all suggestions and make contact with the prospects to ensure their willingness and capacity to serve. All nominations must be received by January 11, 2023 to allow time to properly recruit the individual.
Updated Adult Leader Applications Available
Over the past several years, the National office of the BSA has been migrating towards using technology-based platforms throughout the organization.
You may have noticed numerous changes to the Boy Scouts of America’s Adult Volunteer and Youth Applications. Many of these changes are predicated by changes in local state laws related to background checks, disclosures, and records retention expectations.
To ensure you have the most up-to-date version, the Jayhawk Area Council has placed a link to the national website for all membership applications (youth and adult) on our council website. You can find this link on our Resources Page by scrolling down to Membership Applications.
This electronic version is much more user friendly, has re-arranged the sections to ensure the critical questions the volunteer needs to answer are before their signature line and, most importantly, is a fillable pdf!
The advances in technology of My.Scouting.org and BeAScout.org allow someone to complete an application and pay registration dues directly. We encourage all our units to use the BeAScout.org option for the following reasons:
- – Adult’s personal information like social security numbers is protected.
- – The Criminal Background Check process, which is our first line of defense in our commitment to Youth Protection, starts immediately.
- – The new volunteer gets quicker access to My.Scouting. This is especially helpful for new leaders for program planning as well as advancement tracking for the Scouts.
- – Unit leadership can focus on delivering programs versus running down registration fees.
- – Today’s parents are accustomed to paying online. No more checks or cash exchange, which makes the unit treasurer’s job much easier.
- – Makes the unit roster accurate, no more trying to decipher people’s handwriting.
- – The unit will always have access to the most recent version of the Adult/Youth application.
- – It saves time, money, and trees.
Please discard any previous versions of the Adult Leader Applications as there is information on those that is no longer accurate. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Jayhawk Area Council registrar who can assist you in this transition. She can be reached at Cheryl.Collins@scouting.org or at 785-354-8541.
Topeka’s Top 20 Under 40 Class of 2022 Announced
The Jayhawk Area Council is pleased to announce its 13th class of honorees recognizing twenty individuals under the age of 40 that are leaders in our community. These honorees are helping make Topeka and Shawnee County a great place to live, work and play.
Each spring a call for nominations goes out to the great Topeka community for candidates who’ve shown leadership and community involvement. Once the nomination period has closed, all nominees receive an invitation to apply. Annually, the program receives more than 200 nominations and 100 applications.
“It was a privilege to lead the selection process for Topeka’s Top 20 under 40. The caliber of applications this year was extraordinary, and all on the committee were challenged to narrow down the final 20. This group represents the bright future of Topeka with leadership, passion and generosity ,” notes Kelly Potter, Special Events Advisor .
The following list of 2022 honorees have been chosen from a pool of prominent nominees for their notable accomplishments in professional and personal service to build a stronger Topeka. Evaluation and selection of the nominees was completed by a committee of more than 20 community members.
The 2022 Class of Honorees are:
- Chelsea Artzer, Principal, McClure Elementary
- Kate Butler, Associate Attorney, Barber Emerson, LC
- Sean Dixon, President, Visit Topeka
- Dr. Jessica Dorsey, Executive Director, Kansas Volunteer Commission with the Kansas State Department of Education
- Ashley Esquibel, Vice President of Human Resources, Envista Credit Union
- Nick Gardner, Principal, Ross Elementary School
- Emmanuel “Manny” Herron, Founder, Infinite Properties Group LLC
- Jodi Litfin, Assistant Solicitor General, Office of the Kansas Attorney General
- Mallory Lutz, Lobbyist, Little Government Relations
- Haley Matherly, Volunteer and Family Engagement Manager, Topeka Habitat for Humanity
- TJ McDonald, Membership Sales Manager, Greater Topeka Partnership
- Marcus Miller, Executive Director, First Tee – Greater Topeka
- Michael Odupitan, CEO and Founder, Omni Circle
- Rockell Otero, Financial Controller, Prairie Band, LLC
- Julie Phillips, Director of Grants, Communities in Schools of Mid-American, Inc.
- Eric Purcell, Wealth Advisor, Clayton Wealth Partners
- Kelly Rippel, Crop Claims Adjustor, Zurich North America / Rural Community Insurance Services (RCIS)
- Amber Smith, Deputy Judicial Administrator and General Counsel, Office of Judicial Administration
- Gretchen Spiker, Director of Communications, City of Topeka
- Lauren Wolf, Senior Registered Nurse Investigator, Kansas Attorney General’s Office
On November 10th, the Jayhawk Area Council will host a banquet at Townsite Avenue Ballroom to recognize the 2022 honorees. To make a donation in their honor, purchase a ticket to the event or to become a sponsor visit www.jayhawkcouncil.org/20Under40. Topeka’s 20 Under 40 is a premier event benefiting the Jayhawk Area Council Boy Scouts of America.
Where can I find a list of local merit badge counselors?
Where can I find a list of local merit badge counselors? (SB)
Troop, crew and ship leaders can find the list of merit badge counselors on the unit page in Scoutbook. Scoutbook provides a search for merit badge counselors at that location. Your unit need not use Scoutbook to view the list. Log into http://scoutbook.scouting.org with your my.scouting userID and password, click on My Dashboard, Administration, your unit and scroll down the page. A downloadable list is not available at this time.
District and council leaders can find a list of merit badge counselors at this link.
Merit badge counselors can find the badges they are approved to counsel by logging into http://scoutbook.scouting.org (use your my.scouting userID and password to login) and clicking on My Dashboard, My Account, My Positions.
Assigning Scouts to merit badge counselors in Scoutbook
Unit leaders can assign merit badge counselors to Scouts. For information on how to do this, follow this link. Merit badge counselors can also assign a Scout for their counseling in Scoutbook, see this link for information.
Per the BSA Guide to Advancement, Scouts should not have access to a list of merit badge counselors; they should work with their unit leader for a recommendation of a merit badge counselor to work with.
The BSA merit badge process is as follows:
- The Scout develops an interest in a merit badge and may begin working on the requirements.
- The Scout and unit leader discuss the Scout’s interest in the merit badge.
- The unit leader signs a blue card and provides the Scout with at least one counselor contact.
- The Scout contacts the counselor.
- The counselor considers any work toward requirements completed prior to the initial discussion with the unit leader.
- The Scout, the Scout’s buddy, and the counselor meet (often several times).
- The Scout finishes the requirements.
- The counselor approves completion.
- The Scout returns the signed blue card to the unit leader, who signs the applicant record section of the blue card.
- The unit leader gives the Scout the applicant record.
- The unit reports completion of the merit badge.
- The Scout receives the merit badge.
For more information on merit badge counselors, contact your local council or district.
Reference: BSA Guide to Advancement, The Merit Badge Program
BSA MEMBERSHIP FEES TO CHANGE EFFECTIVE AUGUST 1, 2022
The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has worked to keep the membership fee as low as possible. As you know, costs continue to rise, and the annual fee must be increased to address the fiscal realities we face to deliver a safe and quality Scouting program. The fee adjustments are consistent with the National Council’s long-range projections that were announced two years ago.
To ensure we have the resources to fulfill the promise of Scouting, the following national membership fee structure will take effect August 1, 2022.
- $75 for Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouts participants
- $100 for a unit charter/affiliation fee
- $15 for Scout Life magazine; this is the first price increase since 2005
There will be no change in fees for the following programs:
- $45 for Exploring participants
- $45 for all adult volunteers (includes cost of background check)
- $25 one-time joining fee for new program participants in Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouts
The above represent the annual membership fees which are due for existing members when you unit recharters in January 2023. For new members joining this fall, fees will be pro-rated (except for the $25 joining fee) based on the month they join. The fall membership packets will have the update membership fees chart included.
These are national membership fees only. Councils have the option of adding a local council membership fee in addition to the fees that are paid to the national council. Your Jayhawk Area Council executive board has elected not to institute a council membership fee program. Your annual Friends of Scouting contributions, participation in the annual popcorn sale and attending your council’s summer camp programs and council events all help support the local council operations mitigating the need for a council membership fee.
The national membership fee helps cover the cost of essential services, including program resources, liability insurance for those participating in approved Scouting activities, criminal background checks, youth protection, and the development of intellectual property for national, council, and unit programs. As they move forward, the national council executive board will continue to look at the membership fee structure and how they deliver the Scouting program for future generations. Thank you for your understanding, together we will continue to provide a great Scouting program for our families.
