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) FEBRUARY ROUNDTABLE:  There Venturing Roundtable will be held on Thursday, 5 February at St John the Devine church, room TBD with note posted by the scouting assembly area.  David Coughlen, the GAD Venturing RT Commissioner will be there to welcome adults and youth.  Announcements will start at 6:45 and the main portion, a discussion on running a crew and events will start at 6:55 running to 7:20 to allow those interested to attend the Boy Scout RT.  A survey on topics for future Venturing RT meetings will be handed out.

2). SHAC VENTURING FORUM: A SHAC Venturing Forum will be held at the Cockrell Scout Center on Tuesday, 24 February starting at 7:00 PM.  This event is for youth and adult members of the Crew or Ship.  It is the first of a series of resource meetings.  This first forum will feature an instructional presentation on delivering a “Venturing Road Rally” program (see item 23 below) for the Flaming Arrow event.  There will also be a session on the upcoming Kodiak and Kodiak X courses (see items 25 & 26 below).  Come and participate.  The next Forum will be held on Tuesday 24 May, see the SHAC website under Council Venturing programs.

 

3) NEW ADULT LEADER FORM: 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.  http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/28-501F.pdf

4) SCOUT FAIR TICKETS and CHAIR: Pick up your Scout Fair Tickets at Roundtable February 5.  Please turn in the name and contact information for your Unit’s Scout Fair Ticket Chair to Jeff or Eric  jeff.Hutchinson@shac.org or eric.Bolton@shac.org  Your Unit earns 40% of the sales price if you have a booth at the Scout Fair April 18 (30% with no booth).

Remember, the quicker you distribute your tickets and collect back sales proceeds, the more prize stamps and raffle chances your boys earn! 

5) SCOUT FAIR BOOTH CHAIR: Please turn in the name and contact information for your Unit’s Scout Fair Booth Chair to Jeff or Eric  jeff.Hutchinson@shac.org or eric.Bolton@shac.org 

Scout Fair is April 18.  Reserve your booth online: https://www.shac.org/HOME/FORMS/SCOUTFAIR2009ONLINEUNI/

6) SCOUT SUNDAY AND SCOUT SHABBAT: At least once a year, Scout units are urged to participate in the religious service of their chartering organization: attend en masse in uniform, do a flag ceremony, speak about Scouting, pass out your earned religious awards, and/or formally thank them for their support throughout the year. Why not also have a recruiting information table in the foyer or hospitality area afterwards? This year Scout Sunday is February 8; information on Scout Shabbat is forthcoming. Note that Boy Scouts is non-sectarian and awards can be earned for nearly any organized religion - "a Boy Scout is reverent". http://www.scouting.org/awards/religious/awards/index.html

7) BSA’S 99th BIRTHDAY:  February 8, 2009    Only one year to go until the Centennial!

8) ANNUAL DISTRICT DINNER:  The various annual Unit and District awards will be presented at the District Dinner on Saturday February 21, 6:30 p.m. at the Council offices.  We are really upgrading this year to make it like “date night” – live music and everything!  Purchase tickets for yourself, your partner/ spouse, and your top Unit leaders including your honorees, at Roundtable.  Also see the District website: http://www.goldenarrow.org/events/dinner-2009.html

9) WOOD BADGE RECOGNITION DINNER: This annual city-wide event for Wood Badge alumni/alumnae is held around Baden-Powell's birthday – this year the party will be on February 23.   See  http://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/Training/WoodBadgeDinner/

10) NEW MEDICAL FORM: A new Annual Health and Medical Record form will replace the former Class 1, 2, and 3 forms by end 2009. The new form, No. 34605, will be required effective January 1, 2010, and for the 2010 National Scout Jamboree.  http://www.scoutingnews.org/2008/12/19/annual-health-and-medical-record/

Therefore, you should start using this new form henceforth so that you don’t have to re-do 2009 doctor exams mid-season (e.g. next January)

- Annual Health and Medical Record (Prints on four 8.5 x 11 sheets)
- Annual Health and Medical Record spread (Prints on two 8.5 x 11 sheets)

 

**********    ADULT TRAINING   ********  

11) UNIVERSITY OF SCOUTING: This year's University of Scouting will be held on Saturday February 7.  Choose 5 courses from 100+ offered, to fill your schedule; pre-register to have the highest chance of getting all your first-choice selections.  Historically, the classes are really top-quality and people are very happy they took time to attend.  http://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/Training/UniversityofScouting6/

12) 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.

13) ONLINE WATER SAFETY TRAINING: Click here to take Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat: http://olc.scouting.org/

14) ONLINE HAZARDOUS WEATHER TRAINING: 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

15)  IOLS (Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills): 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 April 15, 2009 at location St. Paul’s Presbyterian, 7200 Bellaire Blvd @ US59 with the weekend campout on April 25-26.  http://goldenarrow.org/training/outdoorskills.html

16) VENTURING LEADER SPECIFIC TRAINING: If interested in a future class, contact Kelia Ballou at kelia@Ballou.cx or 713-661-1309 (H).

 

17) 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 2009 include:

             

 

 For more information and applications go to: http://www.shac.org/Home/Training/WoodBadge/

 

18) 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.

 

19) CANOE TRAINING: Prepare for adventure safely by training all your adult volunteers with these classes: http://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/Camping/Activities/CanoeProgram/

 

************ EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES **********   

 

20) WILDERNESS ADVANCED FIRST AID: The Wilderness Medicine Institute will offer a 40-hour training class over two weekends on February 13-15 and 20–22, 2009 at Camp Wisdom near Dallas.  This serious class is for adults and Scouts age 16 or older.  For more information, contact Robert Squyres, phone 972-699-0339, fax 972-699-0058, or e-mail rtsquyres@sbcglobal.net    You can access the course web site at http://wmi.nols.edu

21) AGGIE EAGLES: On February 27-28, current junior or senior high school Scouts who have earned Eagle, or still could before their 18th birthday, are invited to College Station.  This is a recruiting event for scouts to see Texas A&M and to become familiar with the Aggie Corps of Cadets. When possible, Scouts will be paired with Cadets who were also scouts. Attendees will be housed in the Corps dorms. It is an official campus visit sponsored by the Office of the Commandant of the Corps.  Read about it and sign up at  http://www.aggiecorps.org/programs/AggieEagles/

 

22) VENTURING RENDEVOUS 2009: The Circle 10 Council is hosting a Venturing Rendezvous April 3-5, 2009
at Camp Wisdom, Dallas, Texas.  Activities include: Shooting Sports (Pistols, Black Powder Rifles and Shotguns), Land Navigation/Map and Compass / GPS, Archery, Casting, Canoe tug-of-war, Casual Socializing and games including Ultimate Frisbee, Volleyball, Blind Volleyball, One Eyed Volleyball, Capture the Flag.
http://www.northtrail-data.org/venturing/rendezvous_flyer.html

 

23) FLAMING ARROW DISTRICT ROAD RALLY: The Flaming Arrow District is holding their 5TH Annual Road Rally on 28 – 29 March 2009.  The event is sponsored by Crew 839, Kingwood.  For more information contact Carol Agnew at carol@bakerservices.org or Karen Hamilton at khamster17@yahoo.com or check their web URL http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SHAC_roadrally09/.

 

24) CAMPOREE: This fantastic all-District campout is March 6-8, with discounted pre-registration due February 20.  At the Webb Ranch near Chappell Hill, Scout and Webelos patrols will circulate around numerous skill and game stations to learn or sharpen their Scouting skills in a fun and entertaining way.  Overall events include a Model Campsite contest, a Dutch Oven Cooking contest, and an evening bonfire with Order of the Arrow tapouts.  Click here: http://www.goldenarrow.org/events/camporee2009.html - Venturing Crews have helped staff this event in the past.  Your crew should consider doing for this year.

25)  KODIAK: The Kodiak course for youth and adults will be held again this year at El Rancho Cima on 12-18 July.  Application forms are due in no later than 1 May.  Forms can be found on the SHAC website under forms “V”.  For more information, please contact Traci Talley at IH4BT@aol.com

26)  KODIAK X: The Kodiak X course for youth and adults who have already completed a Kodiak course will be held at El Rancho Cima on 14-16 March.  Application forms are due in no later than 1 March.  Forms can be found on the SHAC website under forms “V”.  For more information, please contact Traci Talley at IH4BT@aol.com

 

27) MAKING CAMP RESERVATIONS: The Sam Houston Area Council has upgraded its web pages describing all the Council-run camps and current schedules (updated weekly).  Start here: http://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/Camping/Camps4/AllCampReservations1/

 

28) BAYOU TRASH BASH: On March 28, join a regional clean-up of our Texas wildscape.  Click here: http://www.trashbash.org/  and  http://www.trashbash.org/scouting_information.htm

29) BRAZOS BEND: Celebrate the 25th anniversary of Bend State Park on Saturday April 4. Numerous special events (see website). Admission to BBSP is $5 for ages 13 and up, 12 and under free. See http://www.brazosbend.org/home.htm

30) SCOUT FAIR: This family fun fest is Saturday April 18 at Reliant Arena, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.  Games, puzzles, skills, crafts, and demonstrations, with one $10 ticket giving entrance to the whole family.  See: https://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/Events/ScoutFair/

31) MAKING CAMP RESERVATIONS: The Sam Houston Area Council has upgraded its web pages describing all the Council-run camps and current schedules (updated weekly).  Start here: http://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/Camping/Camps4/AllCampReservations1/

 

32) NAT’L ORDER OF THE ARROW CONFERENCE: In August 2009, Order of the Arrow members from around the country may attend the National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC). Over 7,000 Arrowmen will come together August 1 – 6 at Indiana University.  A typical NOAC day covers all aspects of the OA. In the morning, you can pick your choice of training sessions ranging from Leadership, to Indian Crafts, to Ceremonies, to High Adventure Skills, and more. The afternoon brings sports, competitions, special events, and more. After dinner, you get to see an outstanding Evening Show followed by open activities, patch trading, and just hanging out with your friends.  Colonneh Lodge NOAC reservations have begun. Space is limited, and will be given on a first come first serve basis. Download the NOAC reservation form and turn it in today. More.  If you have any questions about NOAC, please e-mail Alan El-Lahham at alan@ellahham.com      

 

33) MILITARY MUSEUM: The Military Museum of Texas gives tours of their restored military vehicles and participates in battle re-enactments. Located near the intersection of I-10 and 610 East Loop: http://www.texasmuseum.org/

 

********** HIGH ADVENTURE OPPORTUNITIES **********

34) TBA

 

********** IN CLOSING **********

35) You can contact your Golden Arrow District staff by email:
Jeff Hutchinson, District Director (jeff.hutchinson@shac.org) or 713-756-3337

Eric Bolton, District Executive eric.bolton@shac.org or 713 756-3338
The mailing address for the Scout Office is P.O. Box 924528, Houston TX  77292     

 

36)  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."

 

Flaming Arrow Road Rally - I forgot to include the web URL for our Road Rally group. It is: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SHAC_roadrally09/