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) JANUARY ROUNDTABLE: This monthly meeting will be Thursday January 3 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 February Pack theme in plenty of time for you to prepare and deliver an excellent program: Chinese New Year. We will also discuss Blue & Gold ideas so bring samples of what you plan to do for your Blue & Gold celebration!
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) DISTRICT AWARD OF MERIT: The Golden Arrow District can give 5-6 of these distinguished service awards each year. Nominations are due by January 3; read about it and download a form at www.goldenarrow.org/news/district-merit-2008.html Candidates for this award must be nominated by others (self-nomination disqualifies the candidate).
4) 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 3 Roundtable: http://www.goldenarrow.org/news/GAD-adult-recognition-pgm.html
5) 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 or to request assistance with recharter, contact Farrell Gerbode fgerbode@swbell.net (713) 661-2790 or your Unit Commissioner.6) FRIENDS OF SCOUTING FAMILY CAMPAIGN 2008: Every Pack will be hosting a brief Friends of Scouting (FOS) presentation during a meeting when you expect a high number of parents to be present, for example at your Pinewood Derby, Blue and Gold banquet, or other high-attendance event. This is the kick-off of a six-week 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. Campaign materials will be distributed to your own Unit Coordinator on January 13. For more information email claudia.hackbarth@shell.com
"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." John F. Kennedy
7) ANNUAL DISTRICT DINNER: The awards described above will be presented at the annual District Dinner on Thursday February 21. Watch this space for details and for the form to purchase tickets for yourself and your honorees: http://www.goldenarrow.org/events/dinner.html
8) 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 3; 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
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) 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 (35% if ordered and paid by December 15). Thus, a $700 full page black and white ad would return at least $175 to your unit or Scout. 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!
11a) SCOUT FAIR TICKET DISTRIBUTION: The informational kick-off and ticket distribution to your Pack Ticket Chair is scheduled for mid-February, details <TBA>. If you haven't already, please email the name and contact information for your SF Ticket Chairman to jeff.hutchinson@shac.org Remember, the quicker you distribute your tickets and collect back sales proceeds, the more prize stamps and raffle chances your boys earn!
11b) SCOUT FAIR BOOTH SIGN UP: It is not too early to decide what game or craft your Pack will sponsor at the Scout Fair. Hosting a booth 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/
12) CONGRATULATIONS: Hooray for us, we earned the "Quality District" award! Attend the "Key Leaders Conference" (see below) to help us accept the award.
********** ADULT TRAINING ********
13) KEY LEADERS CONFERENCE: If you hold a volunteer position at the District level, or would like to, you are invited to this lunch-included event at the Scout Office, TC Jester at the 610 Loop. The Key Leaders Conference on Saturday January 26 starts at 8:30 a.m. and provides training for: Your District Chairman, District Commissioner, Vice-Chairman of Program, Vice-Chairman of Administration, Membership Chair, Training Chair, Camping Chair, Advancement Chair, Activities Chair, Public Relations Chair, Cub Day Camp Chair, Health & Safety Chair, Exploring Chair, Venturing Chair, Roundtable Commissioners, OA Chapter Advisors, & Cub Scout Outdoor Program Chairs. RSVP online by January 18 and pay $10 (covers lunch): website https://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/Forms/KeyLeadersConference20/
14) UNIVERSITY OF SCOUTING: This year's University of Scouting will be held on Saturday February 2 at MacArthur High School. This is similar to the autumn "Cub Leader Pow Wow" 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 before January 25 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/
15) 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/
16) 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/
17) 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.
18) ONLINE WATER SAFETY TRAINING: Click here to take Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat: http://olc.scouting.org/
19) 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.html20) 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
21) 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 12-13.22) 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 **********
23) FIRST AID MEET: Calling all Webelos II Patrols- you are invited to compete in our Boy Scout District First Aid Meet on Saturday January 19. 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. Click here to read and download a form: http://www.goldenarrow.org/events/firstaid-meet-2008.pdf or contact the organizer with questions: David Barnes - Work (713) 470-4115: Home (713) 432-0487 Fax (713) 470-4116; e-mail dbarnes@alliantinsurance.com
24) 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
25) BECHTEL ENGINEERING DAY: Webelos can earn the Engineering Activity pin on Saturday February 23 at the Bechtel Engineering offices, in the Galleria area. You can only sign up by Patrol, following exact email registration requirements, on Thursday January 3. 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: <http://www.bechtelengineeringday.org/default.htm> Free advice: There may also be pre-work required; this class is best for boys that have a genuine interest and can participate without being disruptive.
26) TWILIGHT CAMP 2007: All den leaders should begin telling their families about this very low-cost, high-fun, one-week evening camp offered in June 2007. 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.
27) FREE FUN FISHING: 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.htmActivities Around Houston
Cub Activities around 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 **********
28) 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=ms29) SCOUTING SAFELY: Link for finding resources on BSA safety issues
http://www.scouting.org/nav/enter.jsp?s=promoi&c=http://www.scouting.org/healthandsafety/index.html********** 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
Happy New Year,
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."