[South Florida DX Association] Boy Scouts of America Revive Four Merit Badges for 100th Anniversary, Including Signaling

[Bill]

 From Tony N2MFT


    Boy Scouts of America Revive Four Merit Badges for 100th
    Anniversary, Including Signaling

*TAGS:* 100 years 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/search/Tag.name:100%20years>, boy scouts 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/search/Tag.name:boy%20scouts>, hams 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/search/Tag.name:hams>, international morse 
code 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/search/Tag.name:international%20morse%20code>, 
merit badge pamphlets 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/search/Tag.name:merit%20badge%20pamphlets>, 
radio merit badge 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/search/Tag.name:radio%20merit%20badge>
06/07/2010

In keeping with Boy Scouts of America’s centennial 
<http://scouting.org/100years/100years/> theme -- /Celebrating the 
Adventure, Continuing the Journey/ -- four retired badges 
<http://www.scouting.org/sitecore/content/Home/BoyScouts/AdvancementandAwards/historical_mb_program.aspx> 
have been brought back for the group’s 100th anniversary. The effective 
date for earning these new merit badges -- Carpentry 
<http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/historic_carpentry_new.pdf> 
(1911-1952), Tracking 
<http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/historic_tracking_new.pdf> 
(formerly Stalking, 1911-1952), Pathfinding 
<http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/historic_pathfinding_new.pdf> 
(1911-1952) and Signaling 
<http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/historic_signaling_new.pdf> 
(formerly Signaler, 1910-1992) -- is April 1, 2010; requirements must be 
completed no later than December 31, 2010.

Merit badges have been a fixture of the BSA since its inception in 1910. 
The requirements that generations of Scouts have completed have taught 
lifetime citizenship lessons, personal fitness habits and life skills, 
as well as serving as the beginnings of countless careers and lifetime 
hobbies. In the last 99 years, there have been many changes in the merit 
badge offerings. As society has changed, BSA has adapted by revising the 
requirements, implementing name changes, adding new merit badges and in 
some instances, eliminating some badges altogether.

The BSA said that the overall goal of the program is for a majority of 
registered Boy Scouts to earn one or more of the merit badges during the 
centennial year, 2010. “The badges offered have a history that can be 
traced back to the origins of the BSA,” said the BSA Web site 
<http://www.scouting.org/sitecore/content/Home/BoyScouts/AdvancementandAwards/historical_mb_program.aspx>. 
“The original requirements are being used, as well as supported by 
scanned pages of the early merit badge pamphlets 
<http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/Signaling_MBP_Historical.pdf>, so 
a Scout can view what a Scout 100 years ago used, giving Boy Scouts the 
hands-on opportunity to experience the exciting past of Scouting while 
learning how our world has changed in that 100 years.”

The contemporary merit badges closely resemble the original designs of 
their counterparts, but with a gold border, immediately identifying it 
as a 2010 historic merit badge. These four historical merit badges may 
be used toward a Scout’s rank advancement.

“The Signaling merit badge is a great way to encourage hams who are 
already involved in Scouting to mentor this limited-time badge in their 
Troop and perhaps in other ways, such as camps,” said ARRL Rocky 
Mountain Division Director Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT; Mileshosky is the 
chairman of the ARRL’s /ad hoc/ Committee on Scouting. “Hams -- and 
especially clubs, that have more resources and volunteers -- who are not 
involved in Scouting at the present time but want to assist a Troop with 
earning the Signaling merit badge -- should contact their local BSA 
Council <http://www.scouting.org/LocalCouncilLocator.aspx> to inquire 
about Scoutmasters in their area to contact and offer their assistance.”

Hams who offer assistance should be prepared with knowledge of the 
badge, the timeframe in which it is being offered, why it’s being 
offered and what the requirements are, Mileshosky advised: “Once the 
relationship between a club and a troop is established, it can evolve 
from offering the Signaling badge and then move to the Radio merit badge 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/bsa-updates-radio-merit-badge-requirements>, 
then Jamboree On the Air (JOTA 
<http://www.arrl.org/jamboree-on-the-air-jota>) and then a Technician 
licensing class.” Hams who volunteer to work with Scout troops can 
expect are required to submit to a criminal background check.

The requirements for the Signaling merit badge are the original 
requirements as written in 1911:

    * 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.
    * 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 the rate of not less than 20 letters per minute.
    * Send and receive by Semaphore Code at the rate of not less than 30
      letters per minute.
    * Know the proper application of the International Morse and
      Semaphore Codes: when, where, and how they can be used to best
      advantage.
    * Discuss briefly various other codes and methods of signaling which
      are in common use.


      Photo Gallery
      <http://www.arrl.org/news/view/boy-scouts-of-america-revive-four-merit-badges-for-100th-anniversary-including-signaling#>

    * The Boy Scouts of America are bringing back four retired badges to
      celebrate its centennial this year. Scouts who earn the Signaling
      merit badge are required to have good Morse code skills.
      <http://www.arrl.org/images/view/News/mb-signaling.jpg> The Boy
      Scouts of...
    * The Boy Scouts of America are bringing back four retired badges
      that can only be earned in 2010: Signaling (formerly Signaler),
      Tracking (formerly Stalking), Pathfinding and Carpentry.
      <http://www.arrl.org/images/view/News/FourBadges.jpg> The Boy
      Scouts of...





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