Troop 171 and Covid-19   updated 03/16/20

Scouts and Parents,

The Troop 171 Committee continues to evaluate information provided by BSA national, Piedmont Council and our connected organizations and advisors. 

Williamson's Chapel Church has announced a cancellation of all activities for all groups until March 25th, therefore we will have no meetings for the next 2 weeks.  We will keep you informed about future meetings when we receive additional guidance from the Church.

This week the adult Troop leadership will be discussing how we will move forward with planned outings and what we will do to keep Scouts engaged while meetings are cancelled and rescheduled. Please watch for further email and website communications regarding activities and contingency plans.

Thanks for your understanding,

Andrew Raddant - Troop Committee Chair
Ryan Moore - Scoutmaster Boy Troop
Margaret Bruce - Scoutmaster Girl Troop 

​Meeting & Event Cancellations   updated 03/13/20

The following list will be updated as information is determined. Please check for Troop emails and communications for up-to-date information.

• Monday Meetings - Online TBD
  
• Merit Badge University - Postponed
• New Scout Weekend (Shepherds Field) - Postponed
• Spring Camporee - Posponed

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Pidemont Council COVID-19 Update   03/13/20

Greetings Piedmont Council Scouting Family,
 
The health and well-being of our Scouts, volunteer leaders, families, and staff continues to remain our number-one priority. As COVID-19 (coronavirus) and its impact continues to persist, we know we must maintain constant communication with you to address the growing concern by many in our communities.
 
As we all know, the information coming to us from state and national public health officials is fluid. So, we are discussing frequently all of our options. As the emphasis is currently on prevention strategies and protecting the overall public health of our communities, we are changing ALL council and district meetings change from in-person to conference call and/or video conference call for a period of 30 days (through April 13, 2020). This time frame may be extended depending on local conditions. 
 
Additionally, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announced state officials will begin recommending people postpone or cancel events of over 100 people to help combat the coronavirus. We have factored in this recommendation as it pertains to Scouting activities listed below.
 
Council Meetings Scheduled/Changing to conference call/video conference format:

• Council Executive Board Meeting March 19th @ 6:30 p.m.
• Advancement Committee Meeting March 17th @ 6:30 p.m.
• Council Commissioner Meeting March 18th @ 6:30 p.m.
•  Training Committee Meeting March 26th @ 6:30 p.m.
•  International Committee Meeting April 8th @ 6:30 p.m.

 
Council Activities That Are Still Being Held (at this time) (Each under 100 participants)

• OA Spring Fellowship (March 20-22)

 
Council Activities Postponed:

• Council Recognition Banquet/Silver Beaver March 25th (Rescheduled to May 27th)
• Eagle Banquet April 7th – Working with CVCC to establish new date and will communicate by March 20, 2020.

 
District Indoor Meetings and Activities
 
Additionally, all other indoor district meetings and activities scheduled through April 13, 2020, will be postponed and rescheduled for a later date and time effective today (Friday, 3/13/20). Group meetings that can be conducted by telephone or other digital means are encouraged. If you have any questions about specific meetings or activities in your district, please contact your District Executive.
 
 
Outdoor District and Council Activities (Postpones and Rescheduled)
 
The following outdoor activities will be postponed and rescheduled.

• Webelos Woods (Postponed)  This activity will be held in conjunction with Cub Scout Odyssey (May 1-3).
• District Camporees (Will be postponed and rescheduled. Updates will be communicated.) Battleground, Chimney Rock, Gemstone, Lake James/Foothills, Lakeland, Two Rivers
• BALOO Training (Cancelled) Current registration can be transferred to fall BALOO training (October 3)

 
Activity Refund Policy for Cancellations and/or Postponements Due To COVID-19
 
Refunds for activities

• If an activity has been cancelled, you should expect a refund within the next 2-3 weeks.
•  If an activity is rescheduled, you may transfer your registration to the new date. 
• If you cannot make the rescheduled date and/or would like a refund, please notify Kara Miller Kara.Miller@scouting.org and we will honor your refund request.

 
Unit Meetings
 
Decisions about unit meetings and activities should be made by unit leadership and chartering organizations based on the unit's individual circumstances and current CDC and local health department guidelines. Please contact your chartering organization about their meeting space policy.
 
Camp Card Sales
 
For the health and well-being of our Scouts, volunteer leaders, and families, the Piedmont Council recommends that all face-to-face, door-to-door, and store front sales be suspended for a period of 30 days effective immediately. We will closely monitor local conditions to determine a sales restart date. Any suspension period for the sale will be added to the scheduled end date. (For example, the current sales end date of May 2, 2020 will be extended to June 2, 2020.)
 
Also, it's important to note that additional information will be forthcoming to address future meetings and activities for our council and districts. We will be doing so based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) recommendation to reconsider hosting public events that could put our communities at risk.
 
We are cognizant of the effect this causes for those involved in these meetings and activities. We appreciate your partnership in helping to address and mitigate this outbreak for all.
 
Connie Bowes | Scout Executive, CEO
 
Piedmont Council, Inc.
Boy Scouts of America
Connie.Bowes@scouting.org 
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BSA Health Policies

BSA Polices to Prevent the Spread of Illness
The Boy Scouts of America continues to have policies and procedures in place that help protect participants from contracting an illness at large Scouting events. These include the Annual Health and Medical Record and the Pre-Event Medical Screening Checklist.

Everyday Preventive Measures
Even with those important policies in place, it is critical that we all take these everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases:

• Stay home when you feel sick.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, and wash your hands before and after doing so. 
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve/elbow, not your hands.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe. 
• Do not share personal items such as cups, water bottles, eating utensils, etc.
• Avoid shaking hands.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

If you have a fever, cough, or other symptoms associated with COVID-19, or if you believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19, you should isolate and not attend any Scouting events. People who think they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should contact their healthcare provider immediately.