Dear Advisors
and Crew Committee Chairs:
This is your
monthly e-bulletin to all top Crew leaders in the Golden Arrow
District. Please delete or edit items not relevant to your Crew, then
forward to all your volunteers.
***If
your current Adviser / Committee Chair are not receiving this email and
passing it on to you. Please send me full contact information and Crew #
for the missing person(s). Thanks!
***
*** To add a
new recipient, please send me full contact information, volunteer position,
and Crew #. ***
***
Please check
that we have your Crew leadership info correctly listed on the Golden Arrow
web site at
http://www.goldenarrow.org/venture-units.html contact
James Cauble with updates***
*** Please
forward the EVENTS
AND
OPPORTUNITIES Section on to your Crew Officers ***
*** This plus
the last two months of this e-bulletin can be found on http://www.goldenarrow.org/news.html
**********
ROUNDTABLE, DISTRICT,
AND
COUNCIL MESSAGES **********
1) VENTURING ROUNDTABLE:
NO meeting.
Venturing Roundtables for the Golden Arrow District have been discontinued
until a new Venturing Roundtable Commissioner is found, see Item 2.
2)
VENTURING ROUNDTABLE COMMISSIONER OPENING: The
District position for Venturing Roundtable Commissioner is open.
Those interested in applying should contact Jeff Hutchinson (see
below for contact information) or Farrell Gerbode,
farrell@alumni.rice.edu.
3)
RECHARTER ADVICE: The BSA deadline for recharters is the
15th of the month in which the charter expires (e.g. February 15th for
February 29 expirations). While a recharter will not be considered late
until the close of the last business day before expiration, delaying until
the last minute will not leave time to correct any errors found by Council
registration personnel.
The District staff will accept recharters at Roundtable in each month that
we have charters expiring, and will help find errors before it is turned in
to the Council. For more information or to request assistance with recharter,
contact Farrell Gerbode fgerbode@swbell.net
(713)
661-2790
or your Unit Commissioner.
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)
FRIENDS OF SCOUTING FAMILY CAMPAIGN 2008: Guess what! In 2007, our
Golden Arrow District was the first ever to top $200,000 in pledges (Family
and District components together). Wow!
Every Crew
should be hosting a brief 2008 Friends of Scouting (FOS) presentation during
a meeting when you expect a high number of parents to be present, for
example at a parent planning meeting, or other high-attendance event. This
is the kick-off of a six-week internal campaign whose goal is 100%
participation by every family, in a donation amount that is personally
reasonable for them. For your information, the Council budget is
$135/Scout, and that is the amount we seek to raise on average. For more
information email claudia.hackbarth@shell.com
5) CENTENNIAL
QUALITY AWARD 2008: Each Unit is asked to log into this site and fill out
their goals for the coming year. (Typically the Committee Chair would do
this.) If you can keep it up for four years total, you will achieve
Centennial Quality Unit status for the 100th anniversary of Scouting, which
will be an extremely Big Deal. Please give it a whirl by February
15: https://www.samhoustonbsa.org/HOME/FORMS/CENTENNIALQUALITYACHIE2/
6) WOOD BADGE
RECOGNITION DINNER: This annual city-wide event for Wood Badge
alumni/alumnae is held in honor of Baden-Powell's birthday. This year's
event is February 25 and costs $15 for dinner. Details and
registration information: https://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/Training/WoodBadgeDinner/
7)
ANNUAL DISTRICT DINNER: Come celebrate our success as a 2007
Centennial Quality District and yourselves as Quality Units, plus the
distribution of Unit and District Service awards. Our District Dinner will
be Thursday February 21 at
Houston
Baptist
University.
The cost is 12.00 per person before February 18th and 20.00 per person after
February 18th. All reservations go to Shannon Harlan at Shannon.Harlan@shac.org
or 713-756-3338
8)
WOOD BADGE RECOGNITION DINNER: This annual city-wide event for Wood
Badge alumni/alumnae is held in honor of Baden-Powell's birthday. This
year's event is February 25 and costs $15 for dinner. Details and
registration information: https://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/Training/WoodBadgeDinner/
9 SCOUT FAIR
TICKET DISTRIBUTION: The informational kick-off and ticket distribution to
your Crew Ticket Chair is scheduled for February 13,
7 p.m.
at St. Paul Presbyterian,
Bellaire Blvd
just inside US59 at Sharpstown. If you haven't already, please email the
name and contact information for your SF Ticket Chairman to
phyllismr@aol.com or
281-501-9945
Remember, the
quicker you distribute your tickets and collect back sales proceeds, the
more prize stamps and raffle chances your boys earn! The $10 family ticket
includes over $250 of very usable coupons plus a raffle ticket for a new
Chevy Malibu.
10) SCOUT
FAIR BOOTH SIGN UP: Hosting a booth with a game, craft, skill, or
demonstration is a good experience for your youth, plus it significantly
increases your commission on Scout Fair ticket sales proceeds. Click here
to register online: https://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/Forms/ScoutFair2008OnlineUni/
********** ADULT TRAINING ********
11) ONLINE
WATER SAFETY TRAINING: Click here to take Safe Swim Defense and Safety
Afloat: http://www.scouting.org/pubs/aquatics/index2.html
12)
NEW
LEADER ESSENTIALS: This first module, which is for all
volunteers in any role, will next be offered on Saturday May 3,
during the first two hours of Cub leader training starting at
8 a.m.
The location is on the campus of
Houston
Baptist
University,
7502 Fondren immediately south of US 59, in Atwood II room 214. Contact
Mary Farley
281-649-3349
or mfarley@hbu.edu Click here: http://www.goldenarrow.org/training/adult-pack.html.
13)
IOLS (Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills): IOLS is the
hands-on module leading to full training in the Boy Scout Leader sequence.
Learn what you need to successfully teach your boys their various rank
advancements, and practice the Patrol Method yourself. This class consists
of a weeknight orientation followed by a weekend campout. No advance
registration is required and cost is usually about $35 including food costs.
www.goldenarrow.org/training/outdoorskills.html For questions, email or call
Fritz Maxwell: fritzmaxwell@msn.com and
281-238-4438
(H). The next scheduled class in our District kicks off
on
2 April
2008
at TBD, with the outdoor campout session on April
12-13.
14) VENTURING
LEADER SPECIFIC TRAINING: Adults who wish to be Associate Advisers or
Advisors should sign up for Venturing Leader Specific Training.
The next opportunity for this in Golden Arrow is on Saturday
9 August
2008
location to be determined. . Please
contact Kelia Ballou at kelia@Ballou.cx or
713-661-1309
(H) before 1 August if you plan to attend.
A minimum of 5 people are needed for the course to happen.
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. To pre-register or for more information please
contact Kelia Ballou (713-661-1309 or keliascout@ballou.cx).
15) 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-919
February 21-23 &
March 27-29,
2009
(begins Thursday at
7:30 AM,
ends Saturday at
5:00 PM)
·
SR-920
April 2-6 &
April 25-27,
2007
(begins Friday at
7:30 AM,
ends Sunday at
5:00 PM)
·
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/
16) POWDER
HORN: The next SHAC Powder Horn is being considered for
the Fall of 2008. More information will follow when it
is known.
17) CANOE
TRAINING: Prepare for adventure safely by training all your adult volunteers
with these classes: http://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/Camping/Activities/CanoeProgram/
18) VENTURING
VIDEO PRESENTATIONS: You can view two good Venturing Presentations on the
national site (www.scouting.org/). The first is
Venturing Fast Start (http://www.scouting.org/venturing/faststart/index.html)
for adults and the second is the Venturing Crew Officers Orientation
(http://www.scouting.org/venturing/training/coo/index.html).
You might consider showing the second item during a recruiting / open
house session to let new prospects see what Venturing is all about.
19)
NEW
PHILMONT TRAINING REQUIREMENT: Starting in 2008, Philmont will require that
at least one person, preferably two, (either an advisor or a youth
participant) in each crew be currently certified in American Red cross
Wilderness First Aid or the equivalent* and CPR from the American Heart
Association, The American Red Cross or the equivalent. The American Red
Cross Wilderness First Aid is a sixteen hour course designed to help in
situations when help is not readily available. Several hours may be required
for Philmont staff to reach a remote backcountry location after a message is
delivered to the nearest staffed camp. First aid and CPR training will
result in proper and prompt attention being given to injuries and/or
illnesses. You must present current certification cards upon check-in to
verify this requirement.
************
EVENTS
AND
OPPORTUNITIES **********
20)
CAMP
HAMMAN
SUMMER
JOB
OPPORTTUNITY:
Camp
Hamman
is looking for staff this summer. Needed: Back Packers,
Canoeing Guides,Rock Climbers. (we will train, you just need to have the
dizzier) Minimum: age 18 Camp
Hamman is by Tarpley, near Bandera
Texas.
Room and board are provided. Dates for Camp: June 1 to
July 26 Salary: Starting $225 per week
If interested
and you want more information, contact Steve Stolzer at
hamman@hctc.net
21) KODIAK
COURSE: A Kodiak Course is being offered at
CIMA
/ Horseshoe Bend during Spring Break from 16 to 22 March.
This is an outdoor youth leadership course, taught in the outdoors.
Activities include pistol shooting, climbing / rappelling, horseback
riding, archery, and small boat sailing. It is open for
Venturing youth ages from 14 to 20. The cost is $130 per
person with a deposit of $25 per person due by
31 December
2007.
A follow up email will provide more information including a flyer,
registration forms, etc. For more information contact
Traci Talley at ih4bt@aol.com
22)
VLSC: A VLSC is being arranged for those who need
this to attend the Kodiak course during Spring Break (see above). For those
interested it will be held on Saturday 23 February at
Wildwood
Baptist
Church,
5110 Louetta
Road. Cost
is $12.00 per youth, includes meals. Theyll do VLSC,
Ethics Forum and a few other trainings. Interested parties need to RSVP by
31 January to Crew 2020 who will host the event. Alan Cross is the contact
and his email address is
alan.w.cross@exxonmobil.com
23) DISTRICT
CAMPOREE: The annual District Camporee will be March 7-9, watch this
space for news: http://www.goldenarrow.org/events/camporee2008.html
In the past Crews have helped staff and run this
event.
24) DISTRICT
CAMPOREE: Sign up now for the fabulous District Camporee, March 7-9
at the Webb Ranch, near
Chappell Hill,
TX.
The cost is 9.00 per person, if registration is received at Scout Office by
Feb 29 or 15.00 per person, if registration is received at Scout Office
after Feb 29.
http://www.goldenarrow.org/events/camporee2008.html
**********
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
26)
INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING OPPORTUNITIES: Germany Bavarian Jamboree
2008 August 1-10, 2008 Take a troop, patrol or crew (coed allowed)
for a Jamboree near Schwangau, Germany (It will be in a valley below the
famous castle of Neuschwanstein - Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland)
Age limit 11+, 800 German Scouts and Guides from Bavaria and the rest of the
world. Participation Fee $200.00 (includes meals, program) flight to
Munich,
Germany
>$1,000.00
. Total Cost $1500.00. www.spuren2008.de
<http://www.spuren2008.de/>
If you would like more information contact Dan Ownby at
713-256-3019
********** IN
CLOSING **********
27) You can
contact your Golden Arrow District staff by email:
Jeff Hutchinson, District Director (jeff.hutchinson@shac.org) or
713-756-3337
Shannon Harlan, District Executive (shannon.harlan@shac.org) or
713-756-3338
The new
mailing address for the Scout Office is
P.O. Box 924528, Houston TX
77292
28)
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."