*See the video at:*
http://ping.fm/oVR81The Boy Scouts of America and the American Radio Relay League Team Up to
Help Scouts Learn Radio Communications Skills *The two organizations
celebrate a long history of working together *
*(IRVING, Texas, and NEWINGTON, Connecticut—February 15, 2011)—*After
working together for nearly a century to provide Scouts with the ability to
learn radio communication skills, the Boy Scouts of America and the American
Radio Relay League (ARRL)—the nationa l association for amateur radio—have
officially teamed up after signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU). This
MOU designates the ARRL as a key resource for the BSA’s radio station,
K2BSA, and Radio merit badge training at the BSA national Scout jamboree,
and establishes the ARRL as the go-to source for Scouts interested in
learning about and becoming involved in radio communication.
BSA Chief Scout Executive Bob Mazzuca and ARRL President Kay Craigie
launched the alliance today by holding a signing ceremony that took place at
separate locations. During the ceremony, Mazzuca and Craigie took the
opportunity to talk about the importance of each organization to the ongoing
development of the other.
“Throughout the years, going all the way back to the Wireless merit badge in
1918, the ARRL has worked hand-in-hand with Boy Scouts of America to help
teach Scouts the skills and joys of radio communication,” Mazzuca said.
“Today, we are making official a relationship that has been beneficial for
both of our organizations for nearly a century.”
The BSA, by virtue of its active membership and its outdoor program,
represents a significant source of potential new radio operators looking to
utilize amateur radio for emergency communications while in the field, as
well as for education, experimentation, and friendship. As part of this
strategic alliance, the BSA will encourage Scouts and Scouters to become
familiar with opportunities for public and community service, learning, and
personal growth through involvement in amateur radio.
“We’re excited by the opportunity to make official a relationship that has
existed informally for many years,” Craigie said. “Scouts and Scouters have
been some of the strongest proponents and practitioners of radio
communication, and we know they will continue to help foster a love and
understanding for the essential nature of radio communication for
generations to come.”
The BSA established the strategic alliance with the ARRL because the mission
of the ARRL is complementary to the mission and goals of the BSA.
Specifically, the ARRL is organized for the establishment of networks to
provide communications in the event of disasters or other emergencies; the
advancement of the radio art and of the public welfare; the fostering of
education; the promotion and conduct of research and development; the
dissemination of technical, educational, and scientific information relating
to electronic communication; the representation of radio amateurs in
regulatory matters; and the promotion of fraternalism and high standards of
conduct among radio amateurs.
In addition to its national Scout jamboree involvement, the ARRL will
continue to promote participation in the annual Jamboree-on-the-Air event.
The ARRL will serve as contri buting editor to the Radio merit badge
pamphlet, and will assist with the review, creation, and modification of
requirements as necessary and in the development of course materials, lesson
plans, and other resources for teaching the Radio merit badge to Scouts. The
ARRL also will contribute to the content of the Electricity, Electronics,
Emergency Preparedness, and Communications merit badge pamphlets. To view
the video of the signing, please visit
www.scouting.org/scoutsource/International/ProgramEnrichment/ARRL.aspx.
*About the American Radio Relay League** *
The ARRL is a non‐commercial membership association of radio amateurs,
organized for the promotion of interest in amateur radio communication and
experimentation. The ARRL is the principal representative o f the Amateur
Service and Amateur Satellite Services in the United States, and is the
Secretariat for the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU), the worldwide
federation of national amateur radio societies. The ARRL is organized for
the establishment of networks to provide communications in the event of
disasters or other emergencies; the advancement of the radio art and of the
public welfare; the fostering of education; the promotion and conduct of
research and development; and the dissemination of technical, educational,
and scientific information relating to electronic communication, the
representation of radio amateurs in regulatory matters, and the promotion of
fraternalism and high standards of conduct among radio amateurs. It serves
its members by protecting and enhancing radio spectrum access and providing
a national resource to the public.
http://ping.fm/VMLu4 [image:
http://ping.fm/5oUuU]*About the Boy Scouts of America *
The Boy Scouts of America prepares young people for life by providing the
nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based
leadership training. The Scouting organization is composed of 2.7 million
youth members between the ages of 7 and 21, and more than a million
volunteers, in nearly 300 local councils throughout the United States and
its territories. For more information on the Boy Scouts of America, please
visit www.scouting.org.
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