Announcing BSA's Newest Merit Badge Are you an avid chess player? Have you ever wondered about all those interesting moves each piece can make? Have you simply wanted to learn to play the game of chess? WELL...the Boy Scouts of America is launching its newest merit badge, CHESS! On September 10, 2011 the Chess Merit Badge will be launched at a special ceremony in St Louis Missouri and YOU can be a part of this historic event! We are looking for a contingent of Scouts who are interested in being a part of history at this launch. The event will take place on Saturday, September 10 from 12:00pm until 3:00pm on Maryland Avenue (between the Chess Club and Scholastic Center and the World Chess Hall of Fame). As a part of the event, there will be a 'human chess match' involving Scouts and several dignitaries including Lt Governor Peter Kinder, a Distinguished Eagle Scout of the Great Rivers Council, all serving as chess pieces. Another special guest will be Astronaut Greg Chamitoff, an Eagle Scout who will be available to sign the new Chess Merit Badge books for Scouts at this event. In addition, there will be special tours of the Chess Hall of Fame and lots of great media coverage. If you would be interested in being a part of this significant event in the history of the Boy Scouts of America, please contact the council service center at 573-449-2561 and let us know that you are planning on attending and that you would like to be a part of the human chess game! We need a contingent of at least 20 Scouts in uniform to attend the event and represent the Great Rivers Council. We will not be planning a group trip to St Louis for the launch, but we would like to have names of those planning on attending. Merit Badge books for Chess are not available yet, but should be in the Great Rivers Council Scout Shop by early September. Great Rivers Council Executive Board Member Jeanne Sinquefield lead the efforts of the Boy Scouts of America to develop this new and exciting offering, and she is the nation's first Approved Chess Merit Badge Counselor! The Great Rivers Council thanks Jeanne for her tremendous efforts to make this new Merit Badge a reality! Plan to join Jeanne and others in St Louis on the 10th of September for this very special event!
|