03/21/2020
March 19, 2020
The Greater Niagara Frontier Council continues to closely monitor the COVID-19 Virus and to make decisions on Scouting operations in the best interests of our youth, families, volunteers, and communities. Over the last few days the nation, states, counties, and local communities have taken a number of actions to reduce the spread and severity of the virus. These actions have a direct impact on the lives of all of us and our Scouting operations.
Based on the recent actions by government agencies and the recommendations of healthcare professionals, the Greater Niagara Frontier Council, BSA is extending our suspension of all in-person Scouting activities through April 30, 2020. This includes all unit meetings and activities, district and council events, all use of our camp properties, and the operation of our Scout Service Center (including the Scout Shop).
We strongly encourage units, dens, and patrols to continue to meet virtually during this hiatus using video or phone conferencing at their regularly scheduled time. It is critical that our youth maintain a sense of normalcy and continuity during this time, and your unit can help with this by continuing to meet with your Scouts virtually.
The Council has created a special page on our website with many resources to help you with your virtual meetings or for families. These resources include: guidance on how to use electronic assets for your meetings, videos and other program content, updates on the status of upcoming events, and youth protection guidance to ensure on-line safety. You can access the page at: www.WnyScouting.org/covid19info.
Beginning next Monday, March 23 we will be publishing on our website each day virtual activities for both Cub Scouts and Scouts, BSA that families and units can use with their Scouts. Please check our site daily to view these activities and to give us ideas for future content. If you develop or come across virtual programs for your Scouts and are willing to share, please send them to us and we will make them available to others.
While the Scout Service Center will remain closed through April 30, our staff is set up and working remotely and is available to provide support to you. Please feel free to call us at (716) 891-4073 and leave a message in the appropriate staff members voicemail box, send an e-mail directly to a staff member (full list is on our website), contact your unit commissioner, or e-mail us at [email protected] if we can help in any way. We have installed a drop box by the front door to the Council office if you need to leave documents and we will be checking this frequently. We also have established a system to handle mail and receive packages during this period so, you can continue to send us things as necessary. Please do bear with us as there may be a delay in responding to some inquiries sent to us via mail, package or dropped off at the office.
We also strongly encourage our districts to continue to have their normal monthly meetings (District Committee, Roundtable, Leaders Meetings, etc.) via electronic means. If you need help setting up a virtual meeting, please contact your District Executive.
Several people have asked us about possible extensions for Eagle Scouts and specifically Eagle projects. While we have not received final guidance from BSA National on this matter, we do anticipate that case by case extensions will be granted for those Eagle candidates who are physically unable to complete their projects. Once we get clarification on this matter, we will post details on the council website.
We are planning to resume normal operations council-wide when the authorities and healthcare professionals let us know that it is safe to do so. This includes reopening our scout service center, scout shop, and camp facilities as well as resuming district and council events and unit operations. We also continue to plan for a great summer camp experience for our Scouts and will be adjusting the payment schedule to help families during this time (details will be forthcoming on the new schedule).
As this is an evolving situation, we will continue to provide updates as they become available and will make additional adjustments to our operations as necessary.
Please take the necessary precautions to remain healthy and safe.
Yours in Scouting,
Gary A. Decker
Scout Executive & CEO
Darlene Sprague
Council President
Joe Lane
Council Commissioner
As always, your safety and the safety of all our members, volunteers, and employees is our top priority. We know there are questions and concerns about how COVID-19, commonly known as the coronavirus, could affect local Scouting programs in the Greater Niagara Frontier Council. Please know that we ...
