News

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:

1. – Adult’s personal information like social security numbers is protected.
2. – The Criminal Background Check process, which is our first line of defense in our commitment to Youth Protection, starts immediately.
3. – 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.
4. – Unit leadership can focus on delivering programs versus running down registration fees.
5. – Today’s parents are accustomed to paying online. No more checks or cash exchange, which makes the unit treasurer’s job much easier.
6. – Makes the unit roster accurate, no more trying to decipher people’s handwriting.
7. – The unit will always have access to the most recent version of the Adult/Youth application.
8. – 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.

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:

1. The Scout develops an interest in a merit badge and may begin working on the requirements.
2. The Scout and unit leader discuss the Scout’s interest in the merit badge.
3. The unit leader signs a blue card and provides the Scout with at least one counselor contact.
4. The Scout contacts the counselor.
5. The counselor considers any work toward requirements completed prior to the initial discussion with the unit leader.
6. The Scout, the Scout’s buddy, and the counselor meet (often several times).
7. The Scout finishes the requirements.
8. The counselor approves completion.
9. The Scout returns the signed blue card to the unit leader, who signs the applicant record section of the blue card.
10. The unit leader gives the Scout the applicant record.
11. The unit reports completion of the merit badge.
12. 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

Scout Executive Wayne Pancoast pleased to announce the addition of Joseph Blasko to the Jayhawk Area Council Staff.

Joseph Blasko has accepted the position of Council Program Director effective May 16, 2022.  His responsibilities include serving as staff advisor for the various operating committees responsible for council programming including summer camps, NYLT, Wood Badge, Cub Adventure Day, Council Recognition Dinner.  He will have responsibilities in securing program-related project sales and grant funding.

Joe graduated in 1990 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Quincy University in Quincy, IL. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts from Springfield College in Illinois.

Joe professional career has afforded him the opportunity to work for two Chambers of Commerce, two Governors in Minnesota as well as the Commissioner’s Assistant for the MN Department of Public Safety for 3 years. Prior to joining the BSA, Joe served as the Senior Manager of Hospital Systems for the American Cancer Society where he worked with 75 Commission on Cancer accredited hospitals in Kansas, Nebraska, Hawaii and Western, MO.

On the Scouting front, Joe has served the Greater St. Louis Area Council for the last 4 plus years in two different roles.  He began as District Executive in the Black Gold District serving 25 plus units in six rural counties in Southern Illinois.  His second assignment was District Director in the River Trails District where he currently serves approximately 1,100 youth in 58 units in Jefferson County, MO.  Joe is a member of the Council’s Religious Relations Committee as the staff advisor to the Catholic Committee on Scouting.

Joe is currently a member of the Festus Crystal City Rotary Club and has had a 20 plus year involvement with Kiwanis serving in a variety of Leadership roles at the local, state and international levels.  Joe has been married to his lovely wife Barb for 10 years. They enjoy visiting new locations and trying out new restaurants.  

Please join me in congratulating Joe on this promotion and wishing him well in this new role.