Dear Scoutmasters and Troop Committee Chairs:
This is your monthly e-bulletin to all top Scout leaders in the Golden Arrow District. Please delete or edit items not relevant to your Troop, then forward to all your volunteers.
*** To add a new recipient, please send me full contact information, volunteer position, and Troop #. ***
*** To delete yourself, tell me your Troop # too because that is how I have you filed ***
*** Please check that we have your Troop leadership info correctly listed at http://www.goldenarrow.org/troops.html ***
*** Please pick up your Troop mail each month at Roundtable ***
********** ROUNDTABLE, DISTRICT, AND COUNCIL MESSAGES **********
1) MAY ROUNDTABLE: This is it, Program Preview! Roundtable is Thursday May 1 at 7:30 p.m. sharp. If you only go to one Roundtable a year, let this be the one. The 2008-2009 calendar is ready for your pick-up, along with handouts and flyers for a number of upcoming activities, along with informational displays on various Scouting topics. The point is that with these materials, you can best take advantage of the opportunities provided for you. Plan your TROOP activities on dates that the DISTRICT and the COUNCIL have not already filled for you. Twice the fun, half the work! Every Scoutmaster, Committee Chair, and any adults involved in planning should be there to pick up flyers, hear the presentations, ask questions, and get a calendar.
Roundtable is held every month EXCEPT JULY in the basement level of the St. John the Divine Parish Life Center, 2450 River Oaks Blvd. at Westheimer. All leaders are warmly invited. Your Troop mailbox is available in the foyer and contains hard copies of important information. What is Roundtable, and why should you attend? Click here: http://www.goldenarrow.org/training/roundtable-bs.html
2) SUMMERTIME PLANNING: Once you have your District calendar in hand to schedule and staff the fun youth activities, don't forget to name three volunteers for the "back-office" fundraising jobs too: Popcorn in the fall, Friends of Scouting in the winter, and Scout Fair tickets in the spring. These are good roles for parents who do not want a full-year commitment but can do a diligent, organized job, keep up enthusiasm, and keep excellent records during a focused campaign.
3) JEWISH SCOUT AWARDS CEREMONY: The Houston Jewish Scouting Committee invites the community to honor youth and leaders in Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, and Boy Scouts who have earned Jewish Scout awards during the past year. The event will also include a presentation on Scouting in Israel, and will be followed by a reception. This annual event will be held Sunday June 1 from 2- 4 pm at Congregation Beth Israel, in the Shlenker School Multi-Purpose Room. Contact HJSC Chair, Lisa Stone (lestone26@hotmail.com) for more information.
4) FRIENDS OF SCOUTING FAMILY CAMPAIGN: UPDATED Click here to see your own Troop's statistics as of April 25: http://www.goldenarrow.org/news/fos-2008-troops.pdf If your FOS Chair is holding pledges, please turn them in at Roundtable to get them logged in and credited. The Council holds its FOS "victory celebration" in the third week of May, so it is time to wrap it up. If you would like to pledge electronically right now, click here: www.shac.org/familyfos
Congratulations to the Troops that have ALREADY exceeded last year's totals: Troops 11, 13, 197, 211, 222, 266, 354, 505, 740, 806, 1020, 1197, 1226, 1730, 1881. As always, our goal is a response from every family. For more information email claudia.hackbarth@shell.com
5) SCHEDULE YOUR FALL RALLY: All Troops need to have their dates (primary and back-up) coordinated with their schools well in advance! Please turn in your date, time, location, and Rally Chair contact information to Jeff Hutchinson or Shannon Harlan by early June, to have nice flyers printed for your use at NO CHARGE.
6) TOP LEADERSHIP CHANGES: If you become the Committee Chair or Scoutmaster, 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.
7) TEXAS YOUTH CAMP SAFETY ACT: Please note that if you (an adult over age 18) are attending a Youth Camp in the State of Texas, you must follow specific procedures to be in compliance with State Law. http://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/Camping/YouthCampCompliancePro/
8) SILVER BEAVER NOMINATIONS: The prestigious Silver Beaver Award nomination deadline is May 31st. The Silver Beaver Award is presented for outstanding service to youth within the Council or for outstanding longtime service to youth by a registered Scouter residing within that Council. A typical tenure for Silver Beaver candidates is ~ ten years or longer. Download a nomination form here: http://samhoustonbsa.org/Home/Events/AnnualRecognitionDinne/
********** ADULT TRAINING ********
9) ONLINE WATER SAFETY TRAINING: Click here to take Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat: http://olc.scouting.org/
10) NEW LEADER ESSENTIALS: This first module, which is for all volunteers in any role, will be offered on Saturday May 3, during the first two hours of Cub leader training starting at 8 a.m. The location is on the campus of Houston Baptist University, 7502 Fondren immediately south of US 59, in Atwood II room 214. Contact Mary Farley 281-649-3349 or mfarley@hbu.edu Click here: http://www.goldenarrow.org/training/adult-pack.html
11) POWDER HORN: This activity training for Scout and Venturing leaders is like "day camp for big people" where you get to sample a bit of many exciting physical sports and challenges. The next SHAC Powder Horn is being targeted for three, two-day weekends in Spring 2009. See the SHAC website http://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/Training/PowderHorn/ The Chair can be contacted at scoutmaster@SR637.org
You also might consider a course at Bear Creek Scout Reservation (near Kerrville), Sept. 19-21 and October 3-5. More info is available at <http://www.alamopowderhorn.org/>
You can register online at <http://www.alamopowderhorn.org/register.php>12) 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 and applications go to: http://www.shac.org/Home/Training/WoodBadge/
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)
13) CANOE TRAINING: Prepare for adventure safely by training all your adult volunteers with these classes: http://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/Camping/Activities/CanoeProgram/
********** IN CLOSING **********
14) POSITIVE PRESS: More often than not, when the BSA is in the press, it's negative. The only way to combat that is with positive stories that showcase what Scouting is really about ... making a difference in the lives of kids. You can help. Take lots of pictures at your events. Your members will get a thrill seeing their name or picture in the newspaper and your unit can earn the "Scouting in the News" award by submitting one article per month or twelve per year to a newspaper, church bulletin, or community newsletter. The more we let others know about Scouting, the greater the community support! Bring your articles to Roundtable or turn them in Jeff Hutchinson or Shannon Harlan at the Council office. Also see www.shac.org/home/districtsites/PRinNewsAward
15) 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 713-756-3338
The mailing address for the Scout Office is P.O. Box 924528, zip 77292
16) Thanks to our dedicated webmaster James Cauble, the Golden Arrow District website has a wealth of information: www.goldenarrow.org
A vulture boards an airplane, carrying two dead raccoons. The flight attendant looks at him and says, "I'm sorry, sir, only one carrion allowed per passenger."
Looking forward to summer vacation,
Claudia Hackbarth - Golden Arrow District Troop e-bulletin Editor - SR-446
"The information presented here is not an official communication of the Boy Scouts of America, but is solely my volunteer work and responsibility."