BSA Bar Date and Claims Communications

Dear Scouting Family,

As the national organization reaches a significant moment in its bankruptcy case, the Lake Erie Council wants our Scouting community to know that we share in the Boy Scouts of America’s heartfelt support for victims of past abuse in Scouting.

Tens of thousands of individuals submitted claims in advance of the November 16th deadline set by the court in the national organization’s Chapter 11 case. We are moved by their bravery. Millions of youth across our country have benefited from Scouting for more than 100 years, but the number of individuals who have been affected by past abuse is devastating.

Now that all claims have been filed, the next step will be for third-party advisors to review the claims in order to uphold the integrity of the process, while the national organization works to develop a plan of reorganization to fund the proposed Trust.

It is important to note that while any instance of abuse is one too many, the overwhelming majority of abuse claims filed in the national organization’s bankruptcy case relate to allegations of abuse that occurred before our modern youth protection policies were put in place more than three decades ago.

I want to underscore what many of you already know: The safety and protection of the children in our programs is our absolute top priority. The BSA has multi-layered safeguards in place, all of which act as barriers to abuse, and I can assure you that our volunteers and staff members take these measures extremely seriously. I encourage you to review our safety policies and procedures to better understand our commitment to youth safety and ask that you share this information with friends, neighbors, and family members who ask about this topic. Some helpful resources include our Youth Safety Infographic and Video.

The Lake Erie Council remains committed to delivering Scouting’s unparalleled experiences to young people throughout our communities, and we thank you for your continued support. If you have any other questions about the policies in place to keep kids safe in Scouting today, please feel free to contact us at Lake Erie Council. If you have questions about the recent news regarding the national organization’s bankruptcy case, please reference this FAQ.


Yours in Scouting,

Marc Ryan

Scout Executive

Lake Erie Council

Lake Erie Council is a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit from the national organization. Lake Erie Council has not filed for bankruptcy. Meetings and activities, and council events, other Scouting adventures and countless service projects are taking place as usual. There should be no change to the local Scouting experience.

The national organization of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is the only entity involved in the Chapter 11 filing. The Lake Erie Council – which provides programming, financial, facility and administrative support to local units and individual Scouts in our area – is separate and distinct from the national organization. Our camps, properties and all local contributions are controlled by our council.

BSA Unit Operation and Camping Safeguards

These Guidelines are no longer valid.

Dear Lake Erie Council Scouts and Scouters,

Below are current COVID-19 safeguards for the Lake Erie Council as of November 1, 2020 and are subject to revision. These safeguards are in place to mitigate the risk of contracting COVID-19.

1. General

  • Follow local, state, and federal guidelines as it pertains to participation in activities.

  • Remember, your chartered organization owns your unit and may have its own policies and requirements in addition to local, state, and federal guidelines. If so, you must adhere to their additional requirements.

  • Maintain social distancing and limit group sizes to 10 or fewer.

  • Sanitize the meeting area as well as the equipment used for each activity.

  • Keep attendance for both youth and adults in the event contact tracing is needed.

  • Adhere to Youth Protection Policies.

  • Ensure that hand sanitizer is available and used regularly (either supplied or each person brings their own.)

  • Encourage frequent handwashing with soap and water.

  • Additional guidance and resources can be found at https://www.scouting.org/coronavirus

2. COVID-19 Plans

3. Face Coverings

  • Adhere to the state mandate on face coverings FACE COVERINGS.

  • Again, your chartered organization owns your unit and may have its own policies and requirements in addition to local, state, and federal guidelines. If so, you must adhere to their additional requirements.

4. Welcoming New Members

  • As new youth are being invited to join our program, there is an exciting new feature on Beascout.org.

  • For the youth that are joining this fall, the system is automatically collecting fees through the end of 2021.

  • For those families who need an alternative method for registering, we can still collect paper applications and charge families the pro-rated rate until the end of 2020.

5. Unit Meetings

  • In-person Scout meetings are permitted for Scouts living in counties at alert levels 1, 2, or 3. If your unit’s county is level 4, in-person Scout meetings are prohibited.

  • Meeting outdoors is encouraged when available and weather permitting.

  • If the unit is still not ready to meet, we continue to encourage virtual meetings. All youth protection policies and guidelines for online meetings, including having multiple adults over the age of 21 present the entire time, must be followed.

  • If both male and female youth are on the same conferencing event, one adult of each gender must also actively participate. As a reminder, make sure youth are never being recorded or filmed.

6. Meals

  • While many unit activities include the sharing of meals, especially during the holiday season, there continue to be restrictions regarding the sharing of food. It is important that the unit develop dining protocols (including but not limited to):

  • No self-serve buffet meals or common water coolers.

  • Use of disposable utensils, napkins, cups, and plates.

  • Clean and disinfect eating and cooking gear after each use.

  • When in doubt, the safest answer is for families to bring their own food or to not have any “community or potluck” food at your events for the time being.

  • Here are some additional suggestions to consider:

  • Utilize single-serve, prepackaged foods.

  • If the unit wants to do a “community meal”, pick a person to take or find a person who has ServSafe training.

  • https://www.servsafe.com/ServSafe-Food-Handler/Get-Certified

  • The ServSafe trained person can cook and coordinate the distribution of the food.

  • Choose a caterer or restaurant that could provide the meals and separate the servings appropriately.

  • If commercial food is offered, make sure that the food is not repackaged by the unit.

7. Camping

  • LEC’s full camping safeguards including the temperature and prescreening questionnaire can be found here: https://lecbsa.org/news/2020/7/30/weekend-camping-procedures

  • Reservations can be made here: https://lecbsa.org/weekend-camping

  • Here are some updates, highlights, and reminders:

  • Weekend camping is limited to BSA properties operating under a resident camp license from their local health department.

  • This means that units can camp at either Firelands, Beaumont, or any other BSA resident camp property that has been given permission to operate by their local health department.

  • At the present time, there are no procedures for units to camp on non-BSA resident camp properties. This includes non-campground facilities such as private property and property owned by the chartered organization.

  • Camping and activities are permitted for Scouts living in counties at alert levels 1, 2, or 3.

  • If your unit’s county is level 4, participating in camping and activities at a Lake Erie Council camp is prohibited.

  • If Lorain (Firelands) or Ashtabula (Beaumont) County are at a level 4 alert level, each respective camp will be closed for the duration of the time at alert level 4.

  • Units who choose to camp independently when it is not permitted by the State, will not be covered by liability insurance that normally covers leaders, and the supplemental health insurance that covers leaders and Scouts will not be in effect during those camping activities.

8. Den Meeting Resources

  • The Lake Erie Council has created Den Meeting resources to help your packs have fun meetings this fall. Whether you choose to meet in-person or virtually, our Cub Scout Virtual Adventures Kit and Meetings are a great resource to use. To purchase your kits, please go to https://scoutingevent.com/440-CSvirtualadventures.

9. Unit Funding:

  • The Lake Erie Council Unit Funding Specialists have developed Unit Funding Guidelines to help units fundraise during COVID-19. These can be found here.

  • Please note that all fundraisers outside of Scout’s Own and Popcorn are subject to approval.

  • The Lake Erie Council is currently in the planning stages for our 2021 Scout’s Own Sale. Please be on the lookout for more information in December.


We appreciate everyone’s commitment to our youth in Northeast Ohio. As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to our Member Care Team at (216) 861-6060.

Unit Service Center Closed

These Guidelines are no longer valid.

Scouts and Scouters,

It saddens us to inform you that this afternoon, November 10, 2020, we were informed one of our employees tested positive for COVID-19. The employee is now self-isolating. We have notified all close contacts and instructed them also to self-isolate. If you were not contacted, you have not been identified as a close contact.

We are doing everything within our ability and resources to keep our Scouting family safe and healthy. Still, with many cases of COVID-19 transmitted before anyone knows they have been exposed, and with employees only being at work for a fraction of the day, we cannot 100 percent guarantee the virus won’t enter our building.

Due to the unfortunate positive test, we have decided to close the Unit Service Center.

  • The Unit Service Center will be closed tomorrow, November 11, 2020 to all staff members.

  • The Unit Service Center will be closed to outside visitors until November 30, 2020.

  • The Cleveland Scout Shop will be open to curbside service during this time.

If you have a question about COVID-19 or your situation, please contact your doctor or review the recommendations on the CDC website.

Our commitment to your health and safety is our top priority. Please stay healthy and safe.

Yours in Scouting,

Lake Erie Council

Get ready, it’s time for JOTA-JOTI

The world’s largest digital and radio Scout event is days away! There is plenty of fun and new learning in store for you during this year’s JOTA-JOTI.

Register now to experience international Scouting and connect with young people all around the world over inspiring discussions, games, challenges, webinars, live shows and more. 

Make sure to watch the JOTA-JOTI live shows hosted by talented Scouts from Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil and the Philippines who will present the daily highlights of JOTA-JOTI, showcase talents from around the world, connect with various local Scout groups, and engage with special guests. Tune in from anywhere in the world via Facebook and the Youth Got Talent Stage.

See the JOTA-JOTI Live schedule

 
Don’t miss the other activities you can be part of during JOTA-JOTI 2020:

Fun Zone

Join dance parties by DJs around the world, challenge yourself with trivia, quizzes, arts and crafts, or check out the Spotify playlist made just for you. This is the place you want to be for fun and games! 

Internet Radio Station

Tune in to the official online radio station for JOTI-JOTI 2020 broadcasting live and non-stop from the UK. You can contact them to request a song or ask for a shout out on the radio! 

Chat Room

Talk to other young people from around the world on JOTI Chat. Join different moderated chat rooms and connect over a variety of interesting topics. Pick your chat group of interest, and let the conversations begin! 

Knowledge Lab

Get connected with young people around the globe over dialogues and informative webinars as you learn about topics such as diversity and inclusion, health and well-being, humanitarian action, sustainable development and the powerful role you can play as global citizens to shape our future.  

International Campfires

Who says we need to travel to see wonderful places? Take a virtual trip with us to experience Scouting from different corners of the world as we join the campfires of various local Scout groups and learn their cultures and traditions. 

Challenge Valley

Put your skills to the test! Get involved in themed Challenges by completing offline activities, attending webinars, or watching the JOTA-JOTI Live shows. Can you complete all of the Challenges before the event is over?!

These are just some of the many enjoyable activities and challenges you can take part in whether you’re participating with your Scout group or on your own, so check out the rest of the JOTA-JOTI campsite! 

If you have any questions, our teams are ready to respond at any time. Visit the support page to find answers to key questions or reach out directly to us. 

OA Lodge Updates

Nearly four years ago we embarked upon a journey that would witness the birth of a new lodge for our Order serving the Scouts, units and camps of Northeast Ohio.  Today, the Erielhonan Lodge is growing and gaining steam as it determines its path and future. Like all things, it takes leadership, drive and clarity in purpose for any entity to achieve success and celebrate milestones.  We have been and continue to be blessed with some exceptional Scouters who believe deeply in the mission and purpose of the Order and have worked hard to integrate those ideals into the Lake Erie Council. Much like our council and the world around us, change is always part of progress for these concepts are forever tied together.  

Today I am pleased to announce the selection of Sean Fahnestock as the new Lodge Adviser for our lodge. Before I share more about Sean, let us pause to reflect upon the dedication and job done by current Lodge Adviser Joe Wollet. Joe has been a terrific leader, working diligently to help make Erielhonan Lodge a reality.  From guiding the youth to building a foundation for success, to his tremendous support of the program and operations at our camps, Joe has given so much of himself and coordinated the efforts of a superb group of advisers along the way.  Joe plans to remain active in the lodge and has been asked by Sean to serve as his mentor. Please join me in offering Joe our sincere thanks and deep appreciation for his commitment and devotion to brotherhood, cheerfulness and service as our Lodge Adviser.

Sean Fahnestock is well known in our lodge and to our members. Currently serving as our Membership Adviser, Sean has worked closely with Joe, his fellow associate advisers and our youth to create the success we enjoy in our lodge today.  Most recently Sean, Lodge Chief Evan Richwalsky and other brothers worked tirelessly to host a safe and productive induction weekend where more than 100 Scouts and Scouters became members of the Order, more than 50 sealed their vows, and 14 were called to the Vigil Honor.

Sean, a Vigil himself, is active in many other facets of Scouting and our council as well.  In addition to serving as a merit badge counselor and a camp host, Sean is on the committee for both the girl’s and boy’s Troops 52 in Saybrook.  Sean completed his ticket as a member of Wood Badge Class C-4-463-14.  In his professional life, Sean is in regulatory compliance at the Perry Nuclear Plant, where he has been for the last 15 years, starting in the security department. He is also a veteran of the United States Army where he served for eight years. 

Scouting is a family affair in the Fahnestock home!  He and his wife, Jacqueline, Pack 52 Committee Chair, have four children all in the program.  Lane is 14 years old and is a Life Scout. Justin is 11 years old and is a First Class Scout.  Declan is a seven-year-old Wolf and Zoey is six years old and is a Tiger.

Sean will become the new Lodge Adviser on November 1, 2020, as we induct the new lodge youth officers.

Please join me in welcoming Sean to this critical role and wishing him, our youth officers and adult advisers well as we progress into our next chapter as a strong lodge with a clear purpose!

About BSA Ads You May See or Hear

Dear Lake Erie Council Scouters, 

 I am constantly impressed by the dedication of our Scouting Movement and the way we band together as an organization in challenging circumstances. Amid these great difficulties, Scouting has continued to build character, confidence, leadership, and hope in families and communities across the country, and your efforts have helped make some incredible things possible this summer:

  • Beaumont Scout Reservation ran an incredibly successful and SAFE resident camp serving over 1,000 youth who earned more than 5,600 merit badges.  In addition to the great program and life changing experiences, our staff conducted over 41,000 temperature checks; none of which exceeded 100 degrees.

  •  At Firelands Scout Reservation, nearly 50 families enjoyed participating in our family camping adventures and 90 youth took part in the National Youth Leadership Training programming, preparing them for key roles in guiding their home units. 

  • Virtually we were very active as well!  Volunteers and staff created and executed content for the extremely popular Virtual Merit Badge University.  Over 100 badges were offered, and 1,363 total merit badges were earned.  Our Lake Erie Council Eagle Celebration went virtual on Facebook Live as well and welcomed over 2,000 viewers to celebrate our newest class of Eagle Scouts!

 Now more than ever, families are looking for what Scouting offers. When asked what they want from youth-serving organizations this fall, parents overwhelmingly said they want to give their children a sense of normalcy, as well as something to do as a group, even if socially distant, or something productive to do with peers, even if it’s online. Scouting delivers what parents are asking for. Together, we need to stand ready to bring Scouting to even more youth and families this year.

 As we promote Scouting in our community, some people may have questions about our youth protection policies and how we keep kids safe. Each question is an opportunity to shed light on the important policies and procedures we’ve put in place that make Scouting safer than ever before. 

 It is important to emphasize that the safety of children in our programs is our absolute top priority. That’s precisely why, over many years, the BSA has developed some of the strongest expert-informed youth protection policies found in any youth-serving organization. 

 If you are a volunteer, you’ve taken youth protection training, undergone a criminal background check, and play an integral role in the BSA’s commitment to keep kids safe. At Lake Erie Council, and at all councils across America, adhering to and upholding these policies is a duty we take very seriously. I encourage you to view and share this video and infographic about the BSA’s youth protection measures and resources that make Scouting safer than ever before. 

 Conversations about safety will be especially relevant over the next several weeks when those in Scouting and other members of the public will likely see and hear print, TV, social media, digital and radio advertising from national BSA’s Chapter 11 noticing campaign. Although only the national organization has filed for Chapter 11, you will likely come across these ads in the coming weeks, so I wanted to make sure you knew their purpose and had the necessary information to address questions or concerns they may raise for you or others.

 These noticing ads are different than those many people have seen so far that have been sponsored by plaintiffs’ attorneys trying to solicit clients. The BSA’s ads are instead designed and sponsored by national BSA to ensure that victims have the opportunity to come forward and apply for compensation from a proposed Trust by filing a claim by the November 16, 2020 deadline set by the court. This advertising effort underscores the BSA’s commitment to the dual objectives of its bankruptcy proceeding: equitably compensate victims of past abuse and continue the mission of Scouting.

 If you would like additional information about the BSA’s outreach to victims of past abuse, see this FAQ. For questions about local Scouting, please contact Marc Ryan, Scout Executive at marc.ryan@scouting.org.  

 

Yours in Scouting, 

 

 Marc J. Ryan

Scout Executive/CEO

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