Daily Blog

Welcome Scouts and Scout Parents,

I have just recently started this blog as a means to communicate with all those interested in keeping up with the Pony Express National Scout Jamboree contingent. Our troop has decided that it would be a good idea to take notes of our journey and create a journal of our daily activities. The troop/patrol scribes committed at the last shakedown to create daily reports that will be received by our troop scribe (Drew Davies) so we can put together a timeline of our expedition east. This type of journal will not only give the parents an idea of what we experienced, but it keeps a living memory for those interested to look back upon in the years to come. In the past this journal has been on paper and provided a blind insight of the daily life at the Jamboree. For several the memories and experiences are only captured by the minds of those in attendance. With the technology advancements and improved internet service at the Jamboree site, we will be able to create window for all those back home to experience the Jamboree through our pictures and journal entries. I will be working with each of the scribes’ everyday to help them create a story of their troop/patrol experiences to be posted on this blog. My plan is to post daily, but my duties as an Assistant Scoutmaster come first, and if I miss a day I apologize in advance. I will do my best to keep everyone informed and share our experience with as many as possible.

Thanks,

Matt Becker

A Shining Light Across America

On Saturday, July 31, 2010, the entire Scouting family will be able take part in a historic nationwide broadcast, "A Shining Light Across America," from the 100th Anniversary National Jamboree in Fort AP Hill, Virginia

Hundreds of local councils across America will be gathering together in venues large and small to host their own Shining Light activities leading up to the broadcast and are encouraging all Scouts, Scouting volunteers, alumni, families and community supporters to join in the festivities.

"The Shining Light" broadcast will be available via satellite and via Webcast starting with the Jamboree Arena Pre-Show festivities at 5:30 p.m. EDT. The highlight of the broadcast — the spectacular Centennial Celebration Show — will begin at 8 p.m. EDT, and will conclude at approximately 10:30 p.m. EDT.

In addition, anyone with a high speed Internet connection can tune in online at www.ustream.tv/shininglight or on the Shining Light section of the BSA's Facebook page. There, viewers will be able to comment and interact with fellow webcast participants while watching.

National Scout Jamboree Mass Notification System

The 2010 National Scout Jamboree will utilize a mass notification system to alert those signed up of emergency situations.

The system is called IRIS, Immediate Response Information System, and will deliver alerts using several methods - phone, e-mail, SMS/text message, and pager.

E-mail alerts will come from alerts@irisalert.com, and phone messages will be sent from a 281 number.

To receive an alert, follow these steps:

1. Go to https://www.irisdispatch.com/.
2. Log in using "BSA" and your member ID with no spaces (your member ID is found on your BSA registration card; on your MyScouting account: select Profile and scroll to the bottom; your troop leader may have it; and your council registrar can look it up.) For example: BSA123456789.
3. The password is your last name (first letter uppercase, rest in lowercase letters).
4. The first column is your account information; some fields may be completed. Complete the other fields; you must also reset your password the first time you log in.
5. The second column is the contact information. Enter all information. If you decide you don't want to be notified via one of the means, you can deselect it at the bottom of the first column (Do Not Contact Options).
6. Save the information.
7. Return to this site to change your information at any time.

Parents may also sign up to receive jamboree alerts, via this system - include the parent information with the attendee's contact information.

Please note, this system is not designed to respond to your inquiries or distribute additional information. The Jamboree Web site (www.bsajamboree.org) will be utilized for further messages related to emergency situations.