MIDDLE TENNESSEE COUNCIL, BSA
PLANS RELATED TO THE COVID 19 VIRUS
COMMUNICATION # 2
March 16, 2020

Dear Middle Tennessee Council, BSA Leaders and Families:

The Middle Tennessee Council (MTC) sent all Scouting families a communication last week regarding the MTC plans related to the COVID 19 Virus.

Below is an update as of today (3/16/20).  NOTE – Several MTC plans and recommendations have changed since last week’s communication. We will communicate with you as additional information from local, state and national officials, as well as the CDC develops.

• Starting today through April 12 all district and council events, meetings and activities have been cancelled or postponed. NOTE where possible, we are advising that meetings be held by conference call or virtual meeting platforms such as Facebook Live.

• We are recommending that all unit events and meetings be cancelled or postponed through April 12. We will update our recommendations as additional information becomes available.

• For leaders and families who have registered and paid for events, they can request a refund or transfer to another MTC Program through Ron Turpin at rturpin@mtcbsa.org. There will also be a link on the website and the MTC Facebook Page to request a refund.

• For the time being, the MTC office and Scout Shop will be open for business. We have offered our employees who are in “high risk” categories the opportunity to work from home. If you need to meet with a specific person in the office, please call the MTC office to ensure they are available.
   
• To continue Scouting Advancement Programs, we are encouraging Scouts to work on these programs at home with their parents.  We encourage units to be creative and look for ways to keep youth engaged through virtual events and advancement. NOTE – For Scouts BSA youth who are under a deadline to get their Eagle Rank, we have asked the BSA National Office to extend the deadline passed the Scout’s 18^th birthday. To date, there has not been an official announcement of an extension from BSA.
   
• The MTC Camp Card Sale deadline for selling cards has been extended to June 5. Money from the card sale that is due to the MTC is to be turned in by June 10.

• All Friends of Scouting events through April 12 have been postponed. In order to continue financial support for Scouting Programs in the MTC, we are asking our Friends of Scouting volunteers to continue to reach out by phone or email to potential donors as planned. The events will be rescheduled for the late spring as recognition events.
   
• Currently we are planning to hold our April 26 Eagle Scout and Silver Beaver Recognition event. We will let you know ASAP if this changes.
   
• All summer camp programs are a go. We will let you know immediately should this change.
   
• All MTC Camps will be closed through April 12. Refunds are available by contacting Ron Turpin at the MTC Office.

We hope to get the MTC events and unit meetings back to a normal schedule as soon as possible. We appreciate your leadership and engagement with the Scouts and the MTC. Please feel free to call the MTC Office if you have any questions.

Yours in Scouting, 

Dr. John Bright Cage Council Board President	Karen Bengtson Council Commissioner	Larry Brown Scout Executive;