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Update on National BSA Chapter 11

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The national organization of the Boy Scouts of America filed for bankruptcy earlier this year to equitably compensate victims of past abuse and ensure that Scouting’s mission continues.

The bankruptcy case recently reached a milestone when a bar date was set for November 16, 2020 – the deadline for submitting claims in the case. You may have received or may soon receive a notification and/or notice to file a claim. These notices were sent out to individuals and groups (Scouts, parents of Scouts, alumni, and volunteers) who have been part of the BSA within the last eight years.

This notification process is part of an effort to ensure that the BSA reaches as many potential claimants, survivors of abuse, as possible. In addition to these email and mail notifications, which will reach more than 10 million individuals, the BSA will run targeted advertising this fall as a required part of the bankruptcy noticing process.

To be clear, receiving a notice does not mean that you have a claim or that your child was harmed while in Scouting. The BSA is just being as thorough as possible. The BSA encourages all survivors of abuse to file a claim by November 16, 2020. More information about how to file a claim is available at www.BSArestructuring.org.

Although the national organization is navigating through bankruptcy, the Alamo Area Council’s local programming, like Scouting at Home, is continuing – subject to current COVID-19 policies.

Nothing is more important than the safety and protection of children in our programs; It is our top priority. The BSA has developed and implemented some of the strongest expert-informed youth protection policies found in any youth-serving organization. Our volunteers and employees take youth protection seriously and do their part to help keep kids safe. To learn more about how the BSA keeps kids in Scouting safe today, I encourage you to visit www.scouting.org/youth-safety.

At the Alamo Area Council, we remain as committed as ever to delivering Scouting’s unparalleled experiences to young people throughout our communities. Please feel free to reach out to our safety committee by email at safety@alamoareabsa.org or reach us by phone at 210-341-8611 or online chat at www.AlamoAreaBSA.org.

Thank You.

GOOD SCOUT AWARD BEING PRESENTED TO CARLOS AND MALÚ ALVAREZ

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information contact:
Angel Martinez, PR Director
(210) 394-9915
Angel.Martinez@Scouting.org

GOOD SCOUT AWARD BEING PRESENTED TO CARLOS AND MALÚ ALVAREZ

Alamo Area Council BSA will honor the Alvarez’s at Good Scout Luncheon on March 11th

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (March 6, 2020) – The Boy Scouts of America, Alamo Area Council will honor business leader and philanthropists, Carlos and Malú Alvarez, at their 38th Annual Good Scout Luncheon on Wednesday, March 11, 2020. The largest special event of the Alamo Area Council BSA will be held at the Norris Conference Center in the Red Oak Ballroom, 618 N.W. Loop 410 #207, San Antonio, TX 78216. The media is invited to attend the luncheon and the pre-luncheon reception that begins at 11:15 a.m.

“In recognition of the importance that leadership plays in our mission and community, the Council is honored to present the 2020 Good Scout Award to Carlos and Malú Alvarez, whose leadership and values reflect that of Scouting’s Program,” said Michael de los Santos, Alamo Area BSA Chief Executive.

The “Good Scout” Award, chaired this year by Barbara Gentry, is an annual award presented to individuals who exemplify the ideals of the Boy Scouts of America as expressed in the Scout Oath and Law. Recipients are chosen for their outstanding contributions to the community, as well as the respect and esteem in which they are held by their friends and colleagues. Started in 1982, this prestigious local award will list past Good Scout Award Honorees including majority Spurs owner, Peter Holt, former President, George W. Bush, General Colin Powell, Governor Rick Perry, and Spurs legend, David Robinson.

Carlos is a true visionary who is one of our city’s greatest business leaders. He is Chairman and CEO of The Gambrinus Company, which he founded in 1986 when he moved from his native Mexico with his family to San Antonio. He is responsible for bringing Corona Beer to the U.S. and developing Corona into one of the most successful global beer brands. In 1989, he acquired what at the time was a little-known, ailing brewery in Shiner, Texas, and transformed Shiner Bock into Texas’ best-selling craft beer.

“Carlos and Malú have established themselves as leaders in our community through their tremendous support of a very wide range of charitable and civic causes to which they have given generously of their time and money,” said Bill Greehey, Chairman of the Board of NuStar Energy L.P. and 2001 Good Scout Award Honoree.

Carlos and Malú are passionate about education, particularly scholarship funding. They have contributed to educational institutions across the U.S., including every major university in San Antonio. They are leading supporters of San Antonio-area organizations like the United Way, the Tobin Center for Performing Arts, Texas Public Radio, and Haven for Hope. Carlos serves on the Boards of Davidson College, Davidson, NC, the University of Texas Chancellor’s Council Executive Committee, the World Affairs Council of America, and National Public Radio – both in Washington D.C. Carlos was inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame in 2010 and awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2011.

For more information and a list of past honorees, visit www.AlamoAreaBSA.org/GoodScoutAward or email GoodScout@AlamoAreaBSA.org or contact Courtney Bukowski at 210-296-7623.

About the Boy Scouts of America, Alamo Area Council

The Alamo Area Council, BSA, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, serves a 13-county area imparting the Scouting program to over 17,000 youth and 4,000 volunteer adults in South Texas. The Boy Scouts of America continue to prepare young people for life by providing the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training, utilizing outdoor activity, citizenship, and fitness. The Alamo Area Council manages over 1,500 acres of outdoor adventure for boys and girls from 5-20 years of age at three premier camps – Bear Creek Scout Reservation, Mays Family Scout Ranch, and McGimsey Scout Park. Learn more at www.AlamoAreaBSA.org.

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3 Things to Know Now That the BSA Has Filed for Chapter 11

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Dear Scouting Community,

Today, the national organization of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to achieve two key objectives: equitably compensate victims who were harmed during their time in Scouting and continue to carry out Scouting’s mission for years to come.

 I want to highlight important points that are most relevant to the Alamo Area Council:

  • The Alamo Area Council has not filed for bankruptcy. Our Council is legally separate, distinct and financially independent from the national organization.
  • Scouting programs will continue. This means that unit meetings and activities, district and council events, other Scouting adventures and countless service projects will take place as usual. In short, we expect no changes to the local Scouting experience in the 13-county service area of the Alamo Area Council.
  • Scouting is safer now than ever before. Over many years, we’ve developed some of the strongest expert-informed youth protection policies found in any youth-serving organization. I can also assure you that our volunteers and employees take youth protection extremely seriously and do their part to help keep kids safe.
  • Restricted donations – past, present or future – can only be used for their designated purpose. In addition, Give the Adventure (GTA) and other annual donations made to our Council will continue to fund necessary day-to-day expenses that are critical to local Scouting programs.

While we do not anticipate the national organization’s bankruptcy filing will have any direct impact on the local Scouting experience or your involvement with our Council, I understand you may still have questions about these issues and things you will see in the news. To that end, the national organization has established a dedicated restructuring website, www.BSArestructuring.org.

This site includes a helpful Resources page, where you will find a short video explaining what Chapter 11 means for Scouting, as well as a FAQ. The site’s Milestones page will be your best source for the latest updates throughout this process.

If you have any questions about local Scouting, you can always feel free to reach out directly to me or your usual contact within our Council.

Through your engagement and dedication to Scouting, the Alamo Area Council will continue to bring adventures, values and lifelong benefits to youth and our communities for generations to come. Thank you for your trust and support as we continue this important mission.

Yours in Scouting,

Angel Martinez, PR Director on behalf of Michael de los Santos, Scout Executive

Boy Scouts of America, Alamo Area Council

Pinewood Build Days at Mays

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Get Ready For The Races!!!

Come and get your Pinewood Derby car ready for the races!

Lots of tools will be on hand to help sculpt your car to perfection.

Be sure to bring an adult (some tools will need the aid of an adult) and your creativity. A paint booth will be set up. Bring your favorite colors of paint since they’re not provided, and sharing with others is encouraged.

This event is just $5.00 per scout (this nominal price will help us to keep having this event year after year).

Two dates in 2020.

Click here to register for a session on January 4, 2020

Click here to register for a session on January 11, 2020

Each date will have 3 sessions to choose from.

If you have any tools that you would like to use or share feel free to bring them along as well.

Thorlo Sock Sale Starts May 5th

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When Jim Throneburg invented the Thorlos brand in the early 1980s, he dreamed of two new guiding possibilities:

  1. Sustainability of the company beyond his own lifetime.
  2. Being the best in the world at foot protection.

As a result, we at THORLO shifted our primary focus from the sock business to the relationship business. Our official vision and mission became all about Sustainable Relationships, and the Thorlos brand experience was born.

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