World Scout Bureau's Memorandum

Jamboree on the Internet October 18./19. 2003

Rationale and History

In November 1996 the World Scout Committee, noting that Scouting already had a considerable presence on the Internet, and that there was already an informal and rapidly growing Jamboree on the Internet, decided that JOTI should become an official international Scouting event, and that it should be held on the same weekend as the Jamboree on the Air (JOTA).

Therefore, the World Scout Jamboree on the Internet is to be held on the third full weekend of October each year, starting at 00:00 hours local time on the Saturday and concluding 48 hours later at 24:00 hours local time on the Sunday.

Special Internet Jamborees may also be organized in conjunction with local, national and international Scouting events which are held at other times of the year.

When Scouting was founded in 1907, the concept of Internet was far from the imagination of Scouting's founder Lord Baden-Powell. So were many other aspects of Scouting today. While society and Scouting have changed over the years, Scouting's fundamental principles have essentially stood the test of time and they remain universal for all Scout organizations which are members of the World Organization of the Scout Movement. Scouts around the world share much in common, and Scouting encourages them to use that mutual understanding as the basis for learning about each other, making friends, and building a better and more peaceful world.

The word "Jamboree" is said to have been invented by Baden-Powell as a name for an event which brings Scouts together from around the world. The first World Jamboree was in 1920 and it was a remarkable, historic, event bringing together some 8000 Scouts from 34 countries. The spirit and drive for Scouts to get together at international events has never diminished, and there are hundreds of "international" Scouting events each year. Getting together does not always require a physical presence. In 1957, the concept of the World Scout Jamboree On The Air was launched, and it has been a popular event which today involves more than half-a-million Scouts and Girl Guides who communicate with each other on the third weekend of each October by amateur radio and related technology.

In the mid 1990's the means for international electronic communication became available to virtually anyone with a computer. Scouts have been among the first to use every technological development to "get together" electronically. The spontaneous and overwhelming involvement of Scouts on the Internet is proof that it is a viable way of bringing Scouts together in ways that Baden-Powell probably would have wanted to use to the fullest.

The JOTI Web Site

Go to the JOTI Web site for the latest background and event information:

• http://www.joti.org

• http://www.scout.org/joti (alternate address)

Some Characteristics of Scouting on the Internet

• It is an economical way of communicating locally, nationally and internationally.

• Worldwide accessibility and availability.

• Speed of communication: It can be instantaneous or live.

• Potential quality of communication: Scouts on the Internet can go beyond simply saying "Hi". There is potential for sharing more meaningful information, establishing friendships, improving the Scout programme, starting projects, etc.

• Educational: The amount of useful information about Scouting available via the Internet is large and growing daily.

• Languages: It is possible to participate in JOTI by contacting others who share your language. If someone is communicating in another language, you can use "off-line" time to more carefully compose messages.

Guidelines for organizing the World Scout JOTI

• As there is considerable overlap in programme objectives and often the technology, the annual JOTA and JOTI should be planned (when possible) in conjunction with each other.

• It is recommended that each national Scout Organization appoint a national coordinator for JOTI.

• Scouts are in contact worldwide with each other via Internet at any moment of every day, but the purpose of JOTI is to bring "together" as many people as possible at a specific time period with certain objectives.

• While it is possible for an individual to sit at home alone and participate in JOTI, the emphasis of JOTI should be placed on participating in the context of Scouting: at Scouting events with groups/troops/patrols. Of course, JOTI is ideal for lone Scouts who live in remote areas.

• JOTI activities should offer opportunities for Scouts who:
  • don't have computers
  • don't have WWW access on Internet
  • are disabled

• JOTI may be only one element in a weekend event such as a camp or public open house, shopping mall exhibit, etc.

• JOTI should be the opportunity for Scouts with Internet experience to share their knowledge and skills with others, using the fundamental Scouting principle of "learning by doing".

Who can participate?

JOTI is for young girls and boys who are members of national Scout organizations which are members of the World Organization of the Scout Movement. Members of national associations of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts are also heartly welcome to participate.

Some "Rules"

Follow the rules of good Internet behaviour which are called "netiquette". A copy of these can be downloaded at http://www.joti.org Specifically:

• It is courteous to acknowledge messages which are received.

• If you promise to send information or exchange badges then keep your word.

• Think before you write. Do not use language which could offend others.

• Be cautious about giving your address or telephone number on the Internet. Instead, share a common address for all members of your scoutgroup.

Youth Programme Objectives of JOTI

• To become aware that one is a member of an international movement and that all Scouts share the same fundamental principles of Scouting.

• To become more aware of Scouting information / programmes in one's own country, as well as in other countries.

• To offer the opportunity for Scouts to establish a dialogue with other Scouts, mainly in other countries.

• To offer the opportunity for, and to encourage meaningful communication among young people.

• To share ideas and make friendships.

• To learn about computers, Internet and related technology.

• To help initiate and implement projects of cooperation among Scout groups in different countries.

Ways to participate in JOTI

There are many ways to participate in JOTI, and the choice of them will depend on the computer hardware, software, and Internet access which is available. Details and starting addresses for each of these possibilities will be published on the JOTI Web Site as they become available.

• Electronic Mail (E-Mail)

• Bulletin boards or discussion forums

• Message exchange, competitions and games on the World Wide Web. Start by looking at the http://www.joti.org and the other sites mentioned at the bottom of this document.

• Chatting channels

• Video / Audio events

Please remember that JOTI is not a completely pre-organized key-in-the-box event where you can just sit down, pay a ticket and enjoy the show. JOTI lives with the ideas, the participation and the creativity of the participants. What we can provide to you to help you make this event a highlight within your unit are:

• a common place to start - The internet is huge and without a starting base you will most likely fail to meet other groups because you will not know where to search. The JOTI Web Site acts as a coordination center to locate safe Chat areas, E-mail addresses and activities proposed by other groups.

• a place to share your activity ideas and pre-arrange meetings - The JOTI Web site will provide a mailing list for group leaders to share their ideas, web addresses and experiences before the event. The JOTI Web site will also host an area where people can publish adresses of competitions, scavenger hunts and other Web-based activities.

• a safe, worldwide chat network - Provided by ScoutLink, an association of internet professionals and Scout leaders. The ScoutLink network can be accessed with any IRC-compliant chat program (IRC stands for Internet Relay Chat). The chat areas will be staffed with operators to provide assistance and prevent abuse.

• documentation to help you to get set-up for the event - This includes instructions on which software to use, where to find it and how to set it up. It also includes background material such as this document, safety rules and behaviour guidelines (Netiquette).

E-mail Contacts with other Groups during JOTI

We have received a large number of requests by people who were looking for E-mail addresses of other Scout groups which they could contact during JOTI.
We are happy to announce that like last year, the JOTI will host a list of E-mail contacts which will be up between September 1^st, 2003 and November 31, 2003. To see the list, point your web browser to the JOTI Web Site at http://www.joti.org/ and select "Contacts " in the side bar.
If you plan to base some of your group's JOTI contacts through E-mail, we encourage you to add the group to this list. There will be a menu item on the JOTI site which allows you to do this.

Chat Areas

During the past years, the main JOTI activity took place on the Internet Relay Chat (IRC). The IRC is a collection of chat networks sharing common software programs to access the chat areas. We are using a dedicated network or IRC servers (ScoutLink) with software that has been specifically customized to cope with the major issues raised by such a large meeting of young people. Where to find the necessary software, how to set it up and which Channels and Servers you should connect to can be found on the JOTI home site at http://www.joti.org
The site also gives you a few rules to follow and has pointers to further information.

Some things to do before the JOTI weekend

• National associations should appoint a JOTI coordinator who is knowledgeable about Scouting and Scouting on the Internet. Please communicate the name and E-mail address of this person to the World Scout Bureau at joti-coord@world.scout.org through your international commissioner so that he or she can be kept informed.

• National associations should use their normal channels of communication to inform members about JOTI.

• Translate this fact sheet (available on Internet and from the World Scout Bureau) into your local language. If you do a translation, please contact us. We would like to make your translation available on our JOTI pages.

• Local JOTI organizers should organize the event thoroughly. In particular, make sure that your equipment is set up and tested before the event starts, and prepare alternate Scouting activities to provide your participants with a variety of activities.

• When preparing contacts through bulletin boards and electronic mail, START EARLY. Post contact requests at least four weeks in advance to give your message a chance to reach all potential Scout groups.

• Look on the JOTI Web Site for activity ideas. Check the page again shortly before JOTI, as this page will be continually updated.

Some things to do before and during the JOTI weekend

• Prepare a short, standard, message which you can send. It should say: your group name, where you are (town and country), something about the participants in your group (first names, ages), when you plan to be online during JOTI and how you can be contacted (E-mail address, chat channels, ICQ, etc.), something about your Scouting activities, the JOTI weekend, etc.

You may want to prepare more than one standard message, one that provides more details about Scouting in your country; perhaps the same message in different languages.

• Write down the key JOTI Internet addresses. (See the end of this document.)

• Prepare small photos of your group, your camp, your group emblem, etc. which can be sent electronically to those who ask for them (many groups have a slow connection to the internet and do not want to receive pictures, so please don't send photos or graphics to groups who haven't asked to receive them)

• Where in the world? Have a large world map and place pins on the towns/countries where you make contacts.

• Set up an information section with maps, atlases, encyclopedias and other reference sources to learn more about the contacts you make.

• Collect the Scout motto "Be Prepared", or the Scout Promise, in as many languages as possible.

• Ask the groups you're contacting about how Scouting activities look in their country. Scout groups around the world share a common vision and common objectives, but they show a large diversity based on factors such as the local culture and the local climate.

• Check the Contacts database on the joti.org web site after September 1st, 2003 to find contacts for your group.

• Add your group to the Contacts database on the joti.org web site after September 1st, 2003. The database will allow you to get receive e-mail from other scout groups without needing you to disclose your original E-mail address.

• Invite parents and friends to visit your JOTI event. It can be a good way to get them involved in Scouting.

• Notify the news media; invite them to your JOTI event and also give them key JOTI Internet addresses so they can "look" at the event.

• Try to establish "pen-pal" contacts with other individuals/groups.

• Use the event to initiate contacts with another Scout group to start a community project.

• Organize JOTI contests for other groups. Participate in other groups' JOTI contests / scavenger hunts. A place to announce and find these contests will be set up on the JOTI Web site.

Registration?

Several people wrote to us because they were looking for the place to register for the event. There is no need to register for JOTI as global event. Some districts or national associations may ask their members to register at their level, but the World JOTI organizers are not involved in this.

However, we strongly suggest that your group signs in to the contacts database on http://www.joti.org after September 1st, 2003. Signing in will give your group a safe way to communicate with other groups without needing to disclose your original E-mail address.

JOTI Logo / Patches

There is no yearly JOTI patch from the World Scout Bureau. However, in the past years individual groups have created their local logos and patches.

Safety

As we already noted throughout this document, the safety and good spirit is insured on the Chat network (ScoutLink) through the use of server software that have been specifically adapted for this purpose and through a number of volunteers who coach the different discussion channels. Other Internet media such as the World Wide Web or E-mail are more open. It is your task as Scout leader to ensure that your scouts are coached during this event on your side of the computer screen. JOTI will be an experience in immersion for many participants. It is probably by far the best opportunity in the year to initiate a discussion among kids and young people on how to behave, what to do, and on taking responsibilities in this still new and changing environment.

Reports

The World Scout Bureau would very much appreciate receiving reports, news clippings, comments, suggestions about JOTI as soon after the event as possible. Send them by email to: JOTI@world.scout.org or by mail to:

World Scout Bureau JOTI Coordinator Box 241 CH-1211 Geneva 4 Switzerland

Conclusion

• Check the JOTI Web Sites at the address shown below.

• JOTI is a new concept/event and all feedback is appreciated.

Jamboree on the Internet official Web Site: http://www.joti.org

The World Scout Organization: http://www.scout.org/

JOTI information: JOTI@world.scout.org

Contact for Press and National Coordinators: JOTI@world.scout.org

Jamboree on the Air: JOTA@world.scout.org

Some indexes to Scouting information on the Internet include

Scouting Jumpstation: http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/

InterNETional Scout page: http://inter.scoutnet.org/

Published in English and French by the Public Relations and Communications Service
World Scout Bureau, Box 241, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
Telefax: (+41 22) 705 10 20, Email: worldbureau@world.scout.org

National Scout associations which are members of the World Scout Organization may reproduce this information without permission, giving credit to the World Scout Organization.

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© 1999-2003 "joti.org-Team" & World Organization of the Scout Movement