Cub e-bulletin for Dec 2008

This is your monthly e-bulletin to top Cub leaders in the Golden Arrow District. Please delete or edit items not relevant to your Pack, then forward to all your volunteers.

*** Please check that we have your Pack leadership info correctly listed at http://www.goldenarrow.org/packs.html ***

********** ROUNDTABLE, DISTRICT, AND COUNCIL MESSAGES **********

1) DECEMBER ROUNDTABLE: This monthly meeting will be Thursday December 4 at 7:30 p.m. sharp. Roundtable is the "continuing education" vehicle for Scout leaders, and a place to learn new materials, receive mentoring, and get event information for the benefit of your Den and Pack. This month we will preview the January Pack theme in plenty of time for you to prepare and deliver an excellent program – handouts will be provided.

The Golden Arrow District Roundtable is held in the basement level of the St. John the Divine Parish Life Center, 2450 River Oaks Blvd. at Westheimer. There is a meeting every month EXCEPT JULY. All leaders are warmly invited. Your Pack mailbox is available in the foyer and contains hard copies of important information. Every Pack should be represented. What is Roundtable, and why should you attend? Click here: http://www.goldenarrow.org/training/roundtable-cub.html

2) NEW ADULT LEADER FORM: When you become the Committee Chair or Cubmaster, 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. Below is the link to the most current and correct adult application form.

http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/28-501F.pdf

Remember that applications need to be completely filled out: SSN, DOB, crime questions, references, and applicant signature; the Committee Chair signature; and the Charter Organization Representative signature. No application = no insurance coverage!

3) POPCORN IS STILL RUNNING: Final popcorn ordering deadline is December 2, and pick-up of your product is December 13. Questions: Dale Fitz, email fitzkuah@aol.com SHAC popcorn link: http://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/Events/PopcornSales/

4) FRIENDS OF SCOUTING FAMILY CAMPAIGN 2009: If you haven't already, please send the name and contact information for your 2009 FOS Unit Coordinator, plus your FOS presentation date between Jan. 12 and your feeder school’s Spring Break, to Jeff Hutchinson jeff.hutchinson@shac.org

Your 2009 FOS Unit Coordinator’s training is this week: 8 p.m. Dec. 2 in room 210 or (repeat) Dec. 4 in room L-18 at St. John the Divine Parish Life Center, 2450 River Oaks Blvd. at Westheimer. Materials will be passed out approximately January 11, 2009

5) CENTENNIAL QUALITY UNIT: Your 2008 actuals and 2009 plans must be turned in to keep you on the path to achieving this prestigious honor annually. For questions Jeff.Hutchinson@shac.org

6) RECHARTER ADVICE: The BSA deadline for recharters is the 15th of the month in which the charter expires (e.g. January 15th for January 31 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 contact Farrell Gerbode, fgerbode@swbell.net (713) 661-2790 or your Unit Commissioner.

7) FREE PUBLICITY: www.InstantNewsWestU.com andwww.InstantNewsBellaire.com are open community calendars where Units can directly post special events, bridging ceremonies, Eagle Scout projects, fundraiser events, etc. As any news service, Scout Units are invited to send news reports of their activities with pictures for the community to enjoy on the site.

8) YOUR SCOUT MADE FAMOUS: Would you like to see your Scouts in SHAC’s newsletter, Scouting Trails? SHAC is always looking for great Scouting pictures to include in their publications and slide shows. Please email 5-10 of your best pictures that have Scouts involved in camping, hiking, learning skills at Scout meetings, summer camps, etc. Include a contact name or number with the pictures and send to scoutingtrails@shac.org.

9) UNIT SERVICE AWARDS: Every Unit should recognize its own valuable volunteers, and this program allows you to honor up to one adult for each five registered adult leaders. Read about it here- submission deadline is January 8 Roundtable: http://www.goldenarrow.org/news/GAD-adult-recognition-pgm.html

10) DISTRICT SERVICE AWARDS: We are also collecting nominees at the District level, for example the volunteers who work to bring you Roundtable, Twilight Camp, Cub Fun Day, Merit Badge Fairs, Webelos Woods, Camporee, Scout Fair, Friends of Scouting, First Aid Meet, Golden Arrow Trails, communications, popcorn, etc. etc. etc.. You can view the list of 2008 District level volunteers at http://www.goldenarrow.org/committee.html ; if you are not sure about names just say so and we will help you identify and honor the correct person. Download and fill out a nomination form at http://www.goldenarrow.org/news/GAD-district-service-nomination-form.pdf Submission deadline is January 8 Roundtable.

11) DISTRICT AWARD OF MERIT: The Golden Arrow District can give 5-6 of these distinguished service awards each year. Nominations are due by January 8; read about it and download a form at http://www.goldenarrow.org/news/district-merit-nomination-form.pdf Candidates for this award must be nominated by others (self-nomination disqualifies the candidate).

12) 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 for 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

14) ANNUAL DISTRICT DINNER: The awards described above will be presented at the annual District Dinner on Saturday February 21. We are really upgrading this year – live music and everything! Watch this space for details and for the form to purchase tickets for yourself and your honorees: http://www.goldenarrow.org/events/dinner.html

15) 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/

followed by live training "New Leader Essentials" and "Cub Leader Specific" lectures. Finally, outdoor skills are taught at BALOO / OWL, and IOLS. See below for the specific opportunities. To read the Grand Unified Explanation of Scout Training, click here: http://www.goldenarrow.org/training/training-overview.html

17) NEW LEADER ESSENTIALS and CUB LEADER SPECIFIC : The next date for this efficient combo training in our District will be Saturday December 13 at St. Paul Presbyterian, 7200 Bellaire Blvd. Brand new leaders should come at 8 a.m. for "New Leader Essentials". At about 10:00 a.m., the course will continue on to Cub-specific and position-specific training. So, if you are a returning trained leader but NEW to your position (for example, new Cubmaster, new Webelos leader, etc.) you should plan to attend from 10:00-noon. If you are a brand new leader, you should plan to attend from 8 a.m. through noon, and then noon to 1 p.m. to complete Youth Protection Training. The cost is $16 at the door and includes a copy of the Cub Scout Leader Book (an $8 value). www.goldenarrow.org/training/adult-pack.html Contact Mary Farley,

18) BALOO (Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation) and OWL (Outdoor Webelos Leader training): The next date for this training in our District will be <TBA>.Designed for leaders who are in charge of Pack and Webelos overnight activities, this combined course covers the rules, guidelines, skills, and safety considerations for "Pack family camping" and Webelos campouts. Trained adults, who will receive both BALOO and OWL credit, can deliver the outdoor portion of the Cub scouting and Webelos programs. (Local Tour Permits require that a BALOO-certified registered adult leader attend Cub Scout Campouts and overnight activities.) You can read more about it at http://www.goldenarrow.org/training/baloo.html . Questions: Cliff Rhodes, 713 669-9973

19) IOLS (Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills): Second-year Webelos leaders are invited to take IOLS, one of the modules leading to full training in the Boy Scout Leader sequence. Learn what you need to successfully transition your 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 April 15, 2009 at location St. Paul’s Presbyterian, 7200 Bellaire Blvd @ US59, with the weekend campout on April 25-26. http://www.goldenarrow.org/training/outdoorskills.html

20) 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. For more information see: http://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/Training/WoodBadge/

SR-1006 March 5-7 & March 26-28, 2009 (Thursday at 7:30 AM to Saturday at 5:00 PM)

SR-1007 April 3-5 & April 24-26, 2009 (Friday at 7:30 AM to Sunday at 5:00 PM)

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

23) 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.

24) EXCELLENCE IN TRAINING AWARD: In our drive towards 100% trained leaders, SHAC has established a new award your Unit can earn. A ribbon streamer will be awarded once during the calendar year to units achieving the goal of 75% direct contact leaders trained in their registered position. At the 100% level, you will further be awarded a plaque. Cub Scout leaders are considered trained when they have completed Fast Start Training, New Leader Essentials, and the Cub Scout Leader Specific training for their position. Read about it and download an application: http://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/Training/ExcellenceinTrainingAw/

25) COMMISSIONER'S CONFERENCE: On December 6 at the Cockrell Scout Center, you can train to become a Commissioner, or just select from a variety of helpful how-to classes: Council Resources, Time Management, International Scouting, Religious Awards, Recruiting Techniques, Budgeting, and so forth. Attendance of all commissioners is strongly encouraged; any other Scouters who want to learn more about the Commissioner Service or just have an interest in the topics being presented are welcome to attend. http://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/AboutSHAC/CommissionerContactInf/CommissionerConference5/

26) UNIVERSITY OF SCOUTING: This year's University of Scouting will be held on Saturday February 7. This is similar to the autumn "Akela’s Trail" but with additional Scouting topics that are relevant to leaders of older boys. Choose 5 courses from 100+ offered, to fill your schedule; pre-register to receive a discount and 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/

27) 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 website at http://wmi.nols.edu.

28) AMERICAN INDIAN WEEKEND: The 7th Annual Colonneh American Indian Weekend will be held December 5-7, 2008 @ Bovay Scout Ranch. It is open to all Boy Scouts and Leaders, Venturers and Leaders, all OA members + Cubs, Webelos, and Leaders. Everyone! The $35 Registration fee includes Saturday lunch and dinner, Sunday breakfast, event patch, special patch and event tee-shirt. A full program of activities includes:

If you have any questions contact Pat Collins at: 281.897.8949

29) CUB BELT LOOPS: The Children’s Museum of Houston has introduced a new multi-class schedule on a single day, to earn up to four belt loops @ $15/each. This will be run Saturday December 13 and (repeat) January 24. See cmhouston.org or email bdeyon@cmhouston.org

30) FIRST AID MEET: Calling all Webelos II Patrols- you are invited to compete in our Boy Scout District First Aid Meet on Saturday January 31 (registration deadline January 10). While not eligible to move up to the Council-level meet, you will have a blast trying to properly react to a series of scary and challenging first aid scenarios. The location is <TBA> Check the Golden Arrow District website for info and forms soon www.goldenarrow.org For more information, contact David Barnes Work (713) 470-4115; Home (713) 432-0487 Fax (713) 470-4116; e-mail dbarnes@alliantinsurance.com

31) TEN COMMANDMENTS HIKE: The fourteenth annual five-mile hike to visit ten churches, synagogues, and other places of worship will be held Saturday February 14, 2009. The purpose is to support the Scout Law element "A Scout is Reverent", and promote inter-faith understanding. This walk is appropriate for entire families, Cub, Boy, and Girl Scouts, Sunday School classes, youth groups, etc. etc. However, participants must be physically able to navigate good and not-so-good sidewalks, roadways, gravel paths, grassy stretches, etc. at a moderate pace. Register and pay $8/person by February 6. See https://www.shac.org/Home/Forms/TenCommandmentHike3/Ten%20Commandment%20Hike.PDF

32) BECHTEL ENGINEERING DAY: Webelos can earn the Engineering Activity pin on Saturday February 21 at the Bechtel Engineering offices, in the Galleria area. You can only sign up by Patrol, following exact email registration requirements, on January 7. The classes will fill within minutes, so be sure to fill out your full den or Pack list exactly as required, and set the email to automatically "send" at the dot of 7 a.m.! Click here: www.bechtel.com/eng-day-home.html

Free advice: There may also be pre-work required; this class is best for boys that have a genuine interest and can focus without being disruptive. If you sign up and take a slot, please do not be a no-show and waste it.

33) FREE FUN FISHING: The newly re-built and re-stocked McGovern Lake at Hermann Park (next to the zoo) is open for free, catch-and-release fishing for those ages 12 and under, or 65 and older. You can angle for channel catfish, largemouth bass, and bluegill sunfish. Send your browser here for a map: http://www.hermannpark.org/fishing_and_pedal_boats.htm

34) TWILIGHT CAMP 2009: All den leaders should begin telling their families about this very low-cost, high-fun, one-week evening camp offered in June 2009. All boys will enjoy Archery, BB guns, survival skills, silly songs, and earn sports belt-loops. Attention current Bear and Webelos I leaders: the camps will help boys earn two Webelos pins. You definitely should take advantage of this and lighten your own load! Registration opens in March and fills very quickly.

35) TEXAS CRIMINAL JUSTICE BADGE: A Texas Criminal Justice Badge is being offered in cooperation with the Criminal Justice Center of Sam Houston State University. Click here for requirements. This badge may be earned by any Cub Scout or Boy Scout in the state of Texas.

36) 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/

********** TECH CORNER **********

37) FLAT STANLEY, SCOUTING STYLE Insanescouter.org has developed a virtual flat Scout Stanley find it here. The only thing you need to do to participate is get an Insanescouter FREE account on the site. You will be able to post your adventures and upload up to 4 photos, as well as view other posts. We are trying to see how many times Stanley will go around the Globe as a Scout. This will be an International game so you will be able to see photos, read posts, and interact via the Stanley website with Scouts from all over.

38) PINEWOOD DERBY VIDEO GAME The BSA has authorized a PC-based video game based on the Pinewood Derby. Available at Best Buy or www.pinewoodderbygame.com.

39) ONLINE LEARNING: "MyScouting" is now available from the main toolbar of the National web site as a portal for members to access E-Learning, Internet Recharter, and Internet Advancement. You must set up a new account, even if you already have one for the Online Learning Center. http://www.scouting.org/nav/enter.jsp?s=ms

********** RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY *********

42) Thanks to our Webmaster James Cauble, the Golden Arrow District website has a wealth of information: www.goldenarrow.org

"The information presented here is not an official document of the Boy Scouts of America, but is solely my volunteer work and responsibility."

Activities Around Houston
Cub Activities - Houston	www.shac.org/Home/AboutBSA/CubScouting/Activities1/
American Indian Weekend
American Red Cross	www.shac.org/Home/Camping/Training1/RedCross/	Basic Aid Training (BAT); Webelos Readyman
Armand Bayou	www.abnc.org/education/scouting.php	Cub/Webelos classes, Eagle Projects, badge classes, unit camping, canoeing, fishing
Bechtel Engineering Day	www.bechtelengineeringday.org/	Merit Badge Fair in Feb for sci & engineering badges
Bovay Fishing Day	www.shac.org/Home/Camping/Camps4/Bovay/	Texas Parks & Wildlife Junior Angler Program
Brazos Bend State Park	www.bbspvo.org
ECO-DOINS		Conservation programs held at Camp Strake
Fort Bend Museum	www.fortbendmuseum.org/education/scout/	Texas Badge for Cub Scouts
Gem & Mineral Show	www.hgms.org/client_show/Show_Scout_Badges2.pdf	Belt loop, Webelos badge, Merit Badge
Houston Arboretum	www.houstonarboretum.org/	Free Sunday afternoons nature programs
Houston Zoo	www.houstonzoo.org/Community_Groups/Index.aqf	Webelos Naturalist badge; Cub Scout classes; overnights
McNair Adventure Camp	www.shac.org/Home/Camping/Camps4/Bovay/	Weekend cub camping; summer camps
Museum of Hlth & Medical Sci	www.mhms.org	Webelos Fitness & Readyman activity badge, Merit Badges
Museum of Natural Science	www.hmns.org/education/scouts.asp	Cub Scout, Webelos, Merit Badge classes
Ocean Star Museum	www.oceanstaroec.com/education/bscouts.htm	Belt loops, Webelos badges, Merit Badges
Space Center Houston	www.spacecenter.org/scoutcampin.html	Cub, Webelos, Boy Scout overnighters