[K3PZN-List] Scout Troop

[Andy Leeds]

Members = there is a scout troop in Finksburg looking for some help (see 
below). Is anyone able to help out?

Andy

ou're listed as officers on the Carroll County Ham
Radio Club's web page, so I thought you'd be able to
point me in the right direction.  Boy Scout Troop 395
in Finksburg is looking for some expertise in Morse
and flags to help our guys work on the Signaling Merit
Badge.  This was one of the original Merit Badges in
the Scouting program and has been brought back
along with three others for a limited time to honor the
BSA's Centennial celebration this year.

   I've copied the requirements below.  Please let me
know if you know of anyone who'd be interested in
helping some Scouts learn the basics of Signaling
and practice on their speed and accuracy of Morse
and flags.  I'd expect that the time commitment on
anyone who'd be willing to help us is low.  Ideally
we'd like to arrange a suitable Wednesday evening
when someone could give a half hour talk/demo at
one of our regular meetings and then set up a couple
of weekend afternoon practice sessions at some point
so the Scouts can practice their skills and earn this
Merit Badge.  While I'm sure that most of our Scouts
have never seen Morse code before, they're all from
the GameBoy generation and will likely pick things
up quickly.

   I'd be much obliged if you could put me in contact
with someone or some group who'd be interested
in helping out a local Scout Troop.  Thank you,

--Art McCann, Troop 395, Sandymount UMC Finksburg

BSA has announced a special program in honor of the
100th anniversary of the founding of the BSA, which
includes the reintroduction, for ONE YEAR ONLY, of
four Historical Merit Badges - Carpentry, Pathfinding,
Signaling, and Tracking.
· The original merit badge requirements will be used
wherever possible.
· Work on the badges is to be finished no later than
December 31, 2010.

Signaling

It was first offered in 1910 and discontinued in 1992.

Requirements:

1. Make an electric buzzer outfit, wireless, blinker, or other
signaling device. Send and receive in the International Morse
Code, by buzzer or other sound device, a complete message
of not less than 35 words, at a rate of not less than 35 letters
per minute.

2. Demonstrate an ability to send and receive a message in
the International Morse Code by wigwag and by blinker or
other light signaling device at a rate of not less than 20 letters
per minute.

3. Send and receive by Semaphore Code at the rate of not
less than 30 letters per minute.

4. Know the proper application of the International Morse
Code and Semaphore Codes; when, where, and how they
can be used to best advantage.

5. Discuss briefly various other codes and methods of signaling
which are in common use.