Crew e-bulletin for Oct 2008

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) OCTOBER ROUNDTABLE: The October Venturing Roundtable will be held on Friday 10 October at St. John’s Presbyterian Church located at 5020 West Bellfort. This is the GAD Venturing Cookoff. Crews can start setting up at 4 PM. The judging will be at 7:30. We will clean-up and be gone by 9. Any charcoal must be done elevated off the ground (Leave No Trace) Categories: Main Dish Dessert Breads / Side Dishes Judging will be based on a combination of taste, presentation, and creativity. If you have a large crew, you may break into 2 teams and submit an entry per category per team. 3) 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 4) NEW ADULT LEADER FORM: Last year BSA worked hard to ensure that all potential new leaders undergo a Criminal Background Check (CBC). Adult leaders already on seat have been notified if they lack a CBC and were requested to follow up ASAP. Below is the link to the most current and correct adult application form. Should you have any paper adult applications that do not look just like this version (28-501F), please destroy them as the local councils are prohibited from accepting them. http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/28-501F.pdf Remember that applications need to be completely filled out, especially these key items: SSN, DOB, crime questions, references, and applicant signature; the Committee Chair signature; and the Charter Organization Representative signature. 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. 5) 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. 6) SILVER BEAVER AWARDEES: Congratulations to our District's newest Silver Beaver recipients, just announced: Scott Coleman, David Grizzle, Kent Johnston, Ben Royce! You can come to the annual recognition ceremony and reception following on October 13 at Chapelwood UMC, click here: http://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/Events/AnnualRecognitionDinne/CouncilRecognitionRece/ ********** ADULT TRAINING ******** 7) 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. 8) 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 9) IOLS (Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills): Learn what you need to successfully transition entering boys into Scouting! This class consists of an evening orientation followed by a weekend campout. See District website for details - no advance registration is required and cost is usually about $35 including shared food costs. www.goldenarrow.org/training/outdoorskills.html The next upcoming dates are an orientation on October 1 at location <TBA>, with the weekend campout on October 10-12. www.goldenarrow.org/training/adult-pack.html 10) 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 January 24, 2008 from 9 am to 3 pm. 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. 11) 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-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/ 12) 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. 13) CANOE TRAINING: Prepare for adventure safely by training all your adult volunteers with these classes: http://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/Camping/Activities/CanoeProgram/ 14) 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. Note: Internet Advancement can show only the membership numbers of adults who are paid in the unit. You'll need to ask the unit to which you paid your BSA membership fees. Membership numbers are on the "temporary membership cards" that Internet Advancement can print. ************ EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES ********** 15) PRAIRIE PANDEMONIUM: On October 18, help Armand Bayou Nature Center restore a critical native habitat- the Texas Tall Grass Prairie. This important effort will bring the ABNC prairies closer to a climax state of native wildflowers and grasses. Volunteers will become part of a team planting effort. Sign-in will begin at 8AM and the activities will last from 9AM to noon. Lunch is included, and there are door prizes. Volunteers should be 12 years of age or older, and if under 18 to be accompanied by an adult. Participants will need sturdy shoes and clothes that can get muddy. The nature center will provide tools and work gloves. Pre-registration is required to participate. For more info, visit www.abnc.org. To register, contact Chris Mattox at 281-474-2551 ext. 20, or email chris@abnc.org. ********** HIGH ADVENTURE OPPORTUNITIES ********** 16) 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 ********** 17) 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 18) 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." David Coughlen Global Product Director Epoxy Hexion Specialty Chemicals 832-366-2345

2) RECHARTER WORKSHOP: On October 29 and (repeat) November 13, we are offering training in how to properly fill out your Unit's annual paperwork. It is not hard if you know what to do! Every Unit should send the responsible person, because an hour invested now could save you several hours of frustration and re-do. The location is St. Paul Presbyterian, 7200 Bellaire Blvd just inside US 59. For more information contact BJ Yother, bj_yother@hctx.net

3) DISTRICT COMMITTEE NOMINATIONS: The Golden Arrow District only runs because a core group of volunteers helps the paid staff to plan and execute the program. Service at this level is very rewarding because your investment of time and energy has a very broad impact across hundreds to thousands of youth. Nominations are due by November 3 for the next year of service. Can you volunteer, or do you know a good person? Send the name and contact information to Victor Trevino, victortrevin@hctx.net You can see the current District Committee jobs and roster here: http://www.goldenarrow.org/committee.html The elections are November 20.

4) FRIENDS OF SCOUTING FAMILY CAMPAIGN 2009: Boy Scouts has three fund-raising campaigns each year: Popcorn sales in the fall, a Friends of Scouting pledge drive in the winter, and Scout Fair ticket sale in the spring. If you haven't already, please send the name and contact information for your 2009 FOS Coordinator, plus your FOS presentation date between Jan. 12 and end of March 2009, by November 1 to Jeff Hutchinson jeff.hutchinson@shac.org

Your 2009 FOS Unit Coordinator should be email savvy, detail-oriented, able to keep good records, and able to keep up sustained interest over a six-week period to get the job done in a rapid and efficient way. Their training will be Dec. 2 or (repeat) Dec. 4 and materials will be passed out approximately January 11, 2009. In 2008, the Golden Arrow District led the entire Council in generosity (in fact we left ‘em in the dust). Well done!

5) PHILMONT TRAINING NOMINATIONS SOLICITED: The Philmont Training Center is one of Scouting's best secrets. Located on the grounds of Philmont Scout Ranch, in Cimarron, New Mexico, the Training Center offers approximately 60 courses to over 5,000 adult volunteers each summer. Participants can enroll in these 1-week conferences with the approval of their local Council, and families are invited along to enjoy recreational activities while you are in class. Learn about it here: http://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/Training/PhilmontTrainingCenter/

Your first step is to request a nomination. a) Read all the info on the web link; b) Ask your Committee Chair to add your name to the nomination list; c) Ensure that he/she sends in your Unit's total list of nominations by October 31 to Jeff Hutchinson jeff.hutchinson@shac.org If accepted, you will receive a full registration packet by return mail in ~January 2009, at which time you can make your final decision and send in your forms and deposit.