Dear Cubmasters and Pack Committee Chairs:
This is your monthly e-bulletin to all top Cub leaders in the Golden Arrow District. Please delete or edit items not relevant to your Pack, then forward to all your volunteers.*** To add a new recipient, please send me full contact information, volunteer position, and Pack #. ***
*** Please check that we have your Pack leadership info correctly listed at http://www.goldenarrow.org/packs.html ***
*** Please pick up the items in your Pack Mailbox each month at Roundtable ***
********** ROUNDTABLE, DISTRICT, AND COUNCIL MESSAGES **********1) FEBRUARY ROUNDTABLE: This monthly meeting will be Thursday February 7 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 March Pack theme in plenty of time for you to prepare and deliver an excellent program: Litter to Glitter. Please bring things you and your Cubs have made from throw aways, for example: First Aid kits from film canisters, costumes from paper bags, vases from jars, etc.
Click here to download handouts: http://www.scoutingthenet.com/Training/Roundtable/Handouts/
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) CUB SCOUT SENATE: The CSS is a new approach to help us coordinate District Cub Scouting program events that affect your Unit directly. This team meets at 6:30 p.m. before Roundtable at Crescent City Beignets, across River Oaks Blvd from Roundtable, for dinner and conversation to plan and coordinate the District Cub Scout events that benefit your Pack such as District Pinewood Derby Race, Twilight Camp, Tiger Day, Webelos Woods, and this year the new Arrow of Light Transition Crossover.
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 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.4) FRIENDS OF SCOUTING FAMILY CAMPAIGN: 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 Pack will be hosting a brief 2008 Friends of Scouting (FOS) presentation during a meeting when you expect a high percentage of parents, for example at your Pinewood Derby, Blue and Gold banquet, 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 across the population. For more information email claudia.hackbarth@shell.com
5) SCOUT FAIR TICKET DISTRIBUTION: The informational kick-off and ticket distribution to your Pack 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.
6) SCOUT FAIR BOOTH SIGN UP: Hosting a booth with a game, craft, skill, or demonstration is a good experience for your boys, plus it significantly increases your commission on Scout Fair ticket sales proceeds. Click here to register online: https://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/Forms/ScoutFair2008OnlineUni/
7) SCOUT FAIR AD SALES: Purchasing an ad for the 2008 Scout Fair yearbook is a great and easy way to earn money for your unit. Many businesses want to participate in this opportunity since the yearbook honors SHAC's newest Eagle Scouts is viewed and collected by the 70,000 Scout Fair attendees. At least 25% of ad sales is returned to your unit, thus a $700 full page black and white ad would return at least $175 to you. And it's easy to participate - simply download the form seen at this link and return it at Roundtable or drop it off at the Scout Shop. The link is
<https://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/Forms/ScoutFairAdSalesContra/Scout%20Fair%20Ad%20Sales%20Contract%202008.PDF>. The form will show how to submit your own artwork or the staff at SHAC will do it for you!
8) 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
http://www.goldenarrow.org/events/dinner.html
9) 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/
10) SPRING RALLIES: Every Pack is requested to hold a spring recruiting event between March 10-13. Attendance with your Dens at Scout Fair can be an enticement. Any new members will be eligible to attend Twilight Camp in June, and parent-child camp adventures at Bovay with their parents over the summer. This will also help your Tiger Cub yield for the fall-
11) 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/
12) UNIT FINANCIAL HELP: An updated page of money-earning FAQs and links to helpful forms is posted on the SHAC website. Click here: http://samhoustonbsa.org/Home/DistrictSites/UnitResources/FAQ1/
********** ADULT TRAINING ********
13) EXCELLENCE IN TRAINING AWARD: In our drive towards 100% trained leaders, 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/
14) BRAND NEW LEADERS: Our goal is 100% trained leaders. This consists of a "Fast Start" online training, then online Youth Protection Training. Access both by clicking http://olc.scouting.org/
Then take live training "New Leader Essentials" and "Cub Leader Specific" lectures (see items below). 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
Other Districts also offer these trainings; a list around the Council is available on the SHAC website at http://shac.org/Home/Training/TrainingSchedule/
15) 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.
16) ONLINE WATER SAFETY TRAINING: Click here to take Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat: http://olc.scouting.org/
17) NEW LEADER ESSENTIALS and CUB LEADER SPECIFIC : The next date for this efficient combo training in our District will be Saturday May 3 on the campus of Houston Baptist University at 7502 Fondren immediately south of US 59, in Atwood II room 214. 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 12:30 p.m. to complete Youth Protection Training. The registration cost includes a copy of the Cub Scout Leader Book. For questions, contact Mary Farley 281-649-3349 or mfarley@hbu.edu Also: pre-register using the form at this link to save $5 off the fee: www.goldenarrow.org/training/adult-pack.html18) BALOO (Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation) and OWL (Outdoor Webelos Leader training): The next date for this training in our District will be Saturday February 16, 2008 at location St. Paul Presbyterian, 7200 Bellaire Blvd just inside US 59. 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.) Read more about it and download a pre-registration form: http://www.goldenarrow.org/training/baloo.html . For questions, email Ed Biegert, biegert@alumni.rice.edu
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 2, 2008 at location St. Paul Presbyterian, 7200 Bellaire Blvd, with the weekend campout on April 12-13.20) 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-919 February 21-23 & March 27-29, 2008 (begins Thursday at 7:30 AM, end Saturday at 5:00 PM)
SR-920 April 4-6 & April 25-27, 2008 (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)************ EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES **********
21) TEN COMMANDMENTS HIKE: On Saturday February 9 rain or shine, you are invited to follow one of three different, five-mile hikes to view a variety of church, synagogue, and other religious sites with a brief architectural and religious lecture at each stop. 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. For the Museum District hike, gather at First Christian Church-Disciples of Christ, 1601 Sunset Blvd., across from Rice University. Check-in begins at 8:15a with coffee, juice, and donuts. Sign-up forms and details: http://www.goldenarrow.org/events/ten-commandments-hike.html
22) DISTRICT CAMPOREE: Webelos and their leaders are invited to join the Boy Scout 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
23) MARSH MADNESS: Have a learning fun day Saturday, March 8 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge, near Port Arthur. This free event showcases natural resources of southeast Texas with hands-on activities and demonstrations, including the live Birds of Prey program by Last Chance Forever. Other activities include bird banding, seining in the Gulf, crabbing, additional live animals, and more! For more info, contact Michele Whitbeck @ 409-252-4311 ext. 27 See: http://www.fws.gov/Refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=21525
24) TRASH BASH CLEANUP: On Saturday March 29, your Pack can give service with age-appropriate participation in this annual event. See http://www.trashbash.org/
25) SCOUT FAIR: This family fun fest is Saturday April 19 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/
26) MEGA-DERBY: For the fifth year, boys and family can bring their Pinewood cars to the Scout Fair on April 19 and race them again on three tracks, in events including absolute speed (against the clock), classic (against other cars in your heat), and robustness (a demolition derby- last car standing is the winner, grief counseling available). No extra charge, and all participants get a patch.
27) TWILIGHT CAMP 2008: All den leaders should begin telling their families about this very low-cost, high-fun, one-week evening camp offered in June 2008. 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. The new Campmasters are Rich Murphy, Melody Soice, and Jeff Burns, many thanks!
28) SUMMER CAMP AT BOVAY: Parent-child 3-day camps at Camp Bovay are a very fun and economical get-away for adventure and closeness. These sessions run between July 24 - August 9, see: https://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/AboutBSA/CubScouting/OutdoorCamping/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
********** COOL WEBSITES **********
29) ScoutingTexas.com provides an interactive map view of conservation related activities and projects for the entire state of Texas. Go to www.ScoutingTexas.com. ConservationBSA.com has an extensive list of material related to conservation service and program opportunities. Go to www.ConservationBSA.com.********** IN CLOSING **********
30) 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 713-756-3338The mailing address for the Scout Office is P.O. Box 924528, zip 77292
31) Thanks to the Webmaster James Cauble, our Golden Arrow District website has a wealth of information: www.goldenarrow.org
Don't forget February 14 because if mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy,
Claudia Hackbarth - Golden Arrow District Cub e-bulletin Editor - SR-446"The information presented here is not an official document of the Boy Scouts of America, but is solely my volunteer work and responsibility."