By now most readers of this blog are aware of the tornado that struck Little Sioux Scout Ranch in western Iowa yesterday.     Four Scouts lost their lives and dozens more suffered injuries.     Our prayers go out to all those affected by this tragedy.

Earlier Thursday (6/12) the Mid-America Council, BSA had announced on their website that a mechanism to help those affected would be established.   The message has since changed slightly.     Grief counselors are available to those affected.     I would expect this council was flooded with phone calls this morning.       The council now asks that you do not call the council office unless you are a family member of someone affected by this tragedy.

Their camp was devastated by this disaster.     Lives were shattered.     I expect a fund to be established to receive donations for the camp and affected families.     As I draft this post, nothing yet has been announced regarding that.   Mid-America Council will make further announcements on their website as they know more.

Jay Dunbar recently posted this message on the Arrow-l listserv. With his permission, I am sharing it here. If interested in this book, please contact him at the email address at the end of this post.

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I am pleased to announce that I now have 500 copies of the latest printing of the perennial favorite THE DRUM: A Training Aid for Ceremonial Teams, by Tischitanissohen (40 pages, illustrated: edition 10.3).

A classic underground training aid, THE DRUM has revolutionized ceremonial performance nationwide in hundreds of lodges for 30 years. Here is what one lodge advisor said about it:

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It’s been widely known for some time now that in 2010 the BSA will hold its last National Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia.   This has been the BSA’s permanent site since 1981.     The partnership that has developed between the BSA and the US military has been a great boon to all involved.

The BSA has partnered with McCallum Sweeney Consulting for assistance in locating and evaluating potential sites.     One of the most interesting sentences in this press release is this:

“Securing a permanent home for the National Scout Jamboree, beginning with the 2013 event, is one of several initiatives launched in celebration of the BSA’s 100th Anniversary.”

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