Dear Advisors
and Crew Committee Chairs:
This is your
monthly e-bulletin to all top Crew leaders in the Golden Arrow District.
**********
ROUNDTABLE, DISTRICT, AND COUNCIL MESSAGES **********
1)
AUGUST
ROUNDTABLE:
Venturing Roundtables
for the Golden Arrow District have been discontinued until a new Venturing
Roundtable Commissioner is found.
If interested in
the position, contact contact Jeff Hutchinson (see below for contact
information) or BJ Yother, bj_yother@hctx.net
The Boy Scout
Roundtable will be held on Thursday, 7 August on the grounds of
St John
the Devine starting at
7:30 PM.
It is a cooking program.
2)
BACK-OFFICE JOBS: As you plan your
2008-2009 Scouting program, don't forget to name three volunteers for the
fundraising jobs too: Popcorn in the fall, Friends of
Scouting in the winter, and Scout Fair tickets in the spring.
These are good roles for parents who do not want a full-year
commitment but can do a diligent and organized job, maintain focused
enthusiasm, and keep excellent financial records during a limited campaign.
3) TOP
LEADERSHIP CHANGES: If you become the Committee Chair or Advisor, you MUST
turn in a properly filled out and signed NEW adult leader application to the
Scout Office. Until this happens, the old volunteer remains as the leader of
record. No form = no official change.
4) NEW
LOCAL TOUR PERMIT: Please note that a new Local Tour Permit has been posted
to the SHAC web site (under Forms): <https://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/Forms/LocalTourPermit/Local%20Tour%20Permit.PDF>
Expiration dates for training are asked for, as appropriate for that
activity: Safe Swim Defense, Safety Afloat, Youth Protection Training, CPR,
Hazardous Weather Training - 2 years
5) BACK-OFFICE JOBS: As you plan your 2008-2009 Scouting program, don't
forget to name three volunteers for the fundraising jobs too:
Popcorn in the fall, Friends of Scouting in the winter, and Scout
Fair tickets in the spring. These are good roles for
parents who do not want a full-year commitment but can do a diligent and
organized job, maintain focused enthusiasm, and keep excellent financial
records during a limited campaign.
6)
POPCORN
CHAIR TRAINING: Your Popcorn Kernel’s training Orientation and Training is
August 19 7 p.m., at St. Mark’s Episcopal in Hauser Hall, 3836
Bellaire Blvd. (Southside Place). The 2008 Trail's End popcorn sale is just
about to begin. It will again feature a simplified product-pricing plan,
with a straight percentage of the gross sales going back to your unit.
SHAC will continue to provide new and exciting prizes and performance
incentives, giving your unit the opportunity to increase your percentage of
profit.
Questions: Dale Fitz, email fitzkuah@aol.com
7)
TOP
LEADERSHIP CHANGES: When you become the Committee Chair or Advisor, you MUST
turn in a properly filled out and signed
NEW
adult leader application to the Scout Office. Until this happens, the old
volunteer remains as the leader of record. No form = no
official change. See next item regarding criminal
background checks.
8) ANY
NEW
LEADER: All new leaders must fill out a proper form and undergo a criminal
background check. New forms are just now coming off the
presses authorizing this – be sure you are using the brand new one, or else
ask for the supplement sheet for this required authorization.
9) SUMMER
MOVES OR PHONE NUMBER CHANGES: If you, your leaders, or your families move,
remember to phone in any address and telephone updates to the Scout Office.
If you phone in these changes as you learn about them, you save yourself a
chore at rechartering time, and the families continue to get Boy’s Life
without interruption. The direct phone of the Council registration desk is
713 756-3328.
10) TAX-FREE
PURCHASES: The Scout Shops are required to check that each purchaser who
claims tax-exempt status has a letter showing this on file.
You are exempt from sales tax on your purchases only if you are
chartered by an organization that is exempt from sales tax.
(Think of it this way: your Crew is "owned" by
your Chartering organization. Their tax status = your
tax status.)
To download a
convenient letter you can give vendors, click here: http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/taxforms/01-3392.pdf
To read the
rules on what constitutes a tax-exempt Chartering Organization in the State
of
Texas,
click here: http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/sales/faq_exempt.html#exempt
P.S. There is
no such thing as a "Tax Exempt number" so don't drive yourself crazy trying
to find one!
11) INSURANCE
COVERAGE INFORMATION: The contact person for unit
insurance, certificates of insurance, proof of insurance is Pearl Suggs. Her
direct number is
713-865-9123.
The fax number is
713-865-9199,
and her email address is pearl.suggs@shac.org. Click
here to read the exhaustive and clear info on this subject:
http://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/AboutSHAC/Resources/VolunteerInsurance/
12) CHANGE IN
DISTRICT LEADERSHIP: Our wonderful District Executive Shannon Harlan has
elected to leave Scouts for personal reasons. Please
wish her well in her future endeavors at this month’s Roundtable.
********** ADULT TRAINING ********
13) TRAINING
OVERVIEW: Our goal is 100% trained leaders. This
consists of a "Fast Start" online training, then online Youth Protection
Training followed by live training "Venturing Leader Specific Training”, see
below. Other Districts also offer these trainings; a
list of training opportunities around the Council is available on the SHAC
website.
14) ONLINE
WATER SAFETY TRAINING: Click here to take Safe Swim Defense and Safety
Afloat: http://www.scouting.org/pubs/aquatics/index2.html
15) VENTURING
LEADER SPECIFIC TRAINING: All adult volunteers who work with Venturing crews
need the VENTURING LEADER SPECIFIC TRAINING. The next opportunity for this
is in Golden Arrow District on Saturday
September 6,
2008
from
9 am
to
3 pm
at the home of Troxel and Kelia Ballou, 3842 Grennoch Lane, Houston [inside
West Loop 610 off Stella Link between Bellaire and Beechnut/North Braeswood].
Requested donation for the training is $7 (due at the training), which
covers training materials and lunch. For those trainees who have not taken
the New Leader Essentials training, an NLE will be offered immediately
before the
VLST
(i.e., at
7:30 am).
NLE is required along with
VLST
for one to be considered a trained Venturing adult. To complete your
registration please arrive at least 15 minutes before the training (7:15 am
or
8:45 am)
that you will be taking. Please contact Kelia Ballou at kelia@ballou.cx or
713-661-1309
(H) to pre-register or for more information.
NOTE: A
minimum of 5 attendees preregistered by Monday,
September 1,
2008
is needed for the training to make.
16) WOOD
BADGE: Wood Badge is a mentally-intense 6-day leadership course designed for
all adult Scouters. It is hoped that every Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Varsity
Scout, and Venturing leader, as well as Council and District leaders and
professionals, will take it to help you focus on your responsibilities,
identify a goal, help you work toward that goal -- and give you the personal
tools to reach it. Upcoming classes in 2008 include:
·
SR-921 September 26-28 & October 10-12, 2008 (begins Friday at 7:30 AM, ends
Sunday at 5:00 PM)
·
SR-922
October 9-11 & November 13-15, 2008 (begins Thursday at 7:30 AM, ends
Saturday at 5:00 PM)
For
more information and applications go to: http://www.shac.org/Home/Training/WoodBadge/
17) POWDER
HORN: Powder Horn will happen over three 2 day weekends;
21/22 March 2009, 4/5 April 2009 and 2/3
May 2009.
The first session will be at El Rancho Cima and we’ll have people
there starting Friday afternoon 20 March to let those in to a camp site.
The other two weekends will be at different, closer to home camps.
More information to follow, stay tuned. Bill Berry our course
director can be contacted at scoutmaster@SR637.org if you’d like to join
before the rush.
You also
might consider a course at Bear Creek Scout Reservation (near Kerrville),
Sept. 19-21 and October 3-5. More info is available
at <http://www.alamopowderhorn.org/>
You can register online at <http://www.alamopowderhorn.org/register.php>
18) CANOE
TRAINING: Prepare for adventure safely by training all your adult volunteers
with these classes: http://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/Camping/Activities/CanoeProgram/
19) ONLINE
HAZARDOUS WEATHER TRAINING: Beginning
January 1,
2009,
Planning & Preparing for Hazardous
Weather Training must be completed by at least one
adult prior to any activity requiring a tour permit. http://www.scouting.org/Applications/MyScoutingFull.aspx
20) HOW DO I
GET
MY PERSONAL ID NUMBER? When registering for online training classes, if you
put in your leader ID#, the system should automatically record your
achievement. This number is found on the annual ID cards
you are issued at recharter time. (Hint: The Committee
Chair should photocopy the sheet of cards before tearing them apart and
distributing them, then you have a back-up paper record.) However your
Advancement Chair can look up your Unit's list of personal ID numbers
anytime, if your Unit is registered for Internet Advancement.
21) NRA
SHOOTING INSTRUCTOR: This comprehensive class starts
with two, 3-hour evening sessions Aug. 11 and Aug. 13 at the
Cockrell Scout Center with how to organize an event, publicity, etc, etc.
and then on to Camp Strake September 20 and 27 for Rifle and Shotgun
hands-on training, respectively. Contact Bruce Robinson
at boss@kingwoodcable.com
************
EVENTS
AND
OPPORTUNITIES **********
22) AGGIE
EAGLES WEEKEND: Twice a year, the Texas A&M Corps holds a recruiting weekend
for academically qualified junior and senior high school Scouts (Eagles or
near-Eagles) on their campus. For 2008, the next date is
September 19-20. Click here: http://www.aggiecorps.org/home/AggieEagles/
23) BOVAY
HIGH ADVENTURE LUAU: Crews and Ships from all over SHAC will meet for a
weekend of camping, small boat sailing, swimming, hand gun shooting,
archery, volleyball, limbo, great food, a dance, Guitar Hero Rock Off and
more. The event date has been moved to September
19-20 and location is Bovay Scout Camp. The cost is
$25 and includes 3 meals. For more information, contact
Traci Talley, ih4bt@aol.com or at (713-419-6020).
24)
WIN
A BACKPACK: The Osprey Pack
Co.
is running a monthly contest open to kids ages six to 16. In 250-500 words,
contestants are asked to tell about a place they have hiked or backpacked
that was especially memorable. Why is it special? Was there a special
encounter with an animal? Mother Nature? Was the area threatened? Was it
well taken care of? Last but NOT least, contestants should pick one of the
Leave No Trace principles and tell how it applied to the adventure. Entrants
are also welcome (but not required) to include a photo.
For more information and contest rules, please visit the Osprey website at
http://www.ospreypacks.com/OspreyLifestyle/KidsEssayContest/
Learn about
Leave No Trace: http://www.lnt.org/programs/principles.php
**********
HIGH ADVENTURE OPPORTUNITIES **********
25) PHILMONT
FOR ADULTS: Philmont is open to adults only during the
September through November for hikes (Autumn Adventure).
Need 7 to 12 adults. For more information talk to John
Curry and/or go to website:
www.scouting.org/philmont/camping/season/autumn.html
********** IN
CLOSING **********
26) You can
contact your Golden Arrow District staff by email:
Jeff Hutchinson, District Director (jeff.hutchinson@shac.org) or
713-756-3337
The new mailing address for the Scout Office is
P.O. Box
924528,
Houston
TX
77292
15)
Thanks to our dedicated webmaster James Cauble, our Golden Arrow
District website has a wealth of information: www.goldenarrow.org
Mike
Fitzgibbons - Golden Arrow District Crew e-bulletin Editor – with material
supplied from the GAD Troop e-bulletin, Claudia Hackbarth Editor
"The information presented here is not an official document of the Boy
Scouts of America, but is solely my volunteer work and responsibility."