Dear Advisors and Crew Committee Chairs: ********** ROUNDTABLE, DISTRICT, AND COUNCIL MESSAGES ********** 1) ROUNDTABLE: The next Venturing Roundtable will be May 7. If you were not at the February RT, please take a moment to fill out the survey below on desired future topics. This will be used to decide the May and other future topics. Please send to david.coughlen@hexion.com. Thanks. GAD Venturing Roundtable Future Topics Survey Please indicate all of the topics you would like to have at future roundtables and number your top 3. Training Venturing Youth Leaders Planning a high Adventure Trip SHAC Canoeing / kayaking resources Venturing Advancement Fundraising ideas that work Leave No Trace Camping Favorite Texas Trails Other: ___________________ 2) SCOUT FAIR TICKETS: 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! Your Troop’s Ticket Chair can turn in ticket proceeds and get prize stamps this Thursday March 5 at Roundtable (see above). Remember, the quicker you distribute your tickets and collect back sales proceeds, the more prize stamps and raffle chances your boys earn! 3) 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/ 4) FRIENDS OF SCOUTING 2009: This annual pledge drive, which works towards 100% participation by every family, is well underway. Your Unit Coordinator can turn in pledges collected so far at Roundtable (or you can bring them on his/her behalf). 5) SCOUTPARENTS UNIT COORDINATOR: Beginning immediately, each Unit should have a position on their Committee called the “ScoutParents Unit Coordinator”. There will be a line on the recharter form to indicate the name of the person filling this position. The ScoutParents Unit Coordinator’s job is to assign parents to help with at least one specific task, assignment, or project annually; provide an orientation for all parents about how the Unit works and the benefits to the family; keep parents updated on the program and their son’s involvement. Fast Start training is available for this position at www.myscouting.org. Committee and/or Advisor specific training along with NLE (New Leader Essentials) and YPT (Youth Protection Training) should be taken. There is a position patch for this new role. The new youth application encourages all parents to check the block to be an active ScoutParent. For more information, visit www.ScoutParents.org. 6) 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) 7) POCKET PRIDE: Many Adult Training knot patches on your pocket make you a real object of envy amongst your peers. Perhaps this year you completed many of the requirements already, and didn't even know it! Click here to start covering yourself in glory: http://www.goldenarrow.org/training/knots-overview.html and then here to read more: http://usscouts.org/usscouts/awards/knots2.html 8) DISTRICT AWARD OF MERIT 2009: Congratulations to this year's winners of this year's highest District-level recognition: Beverly Folts, KyleShannon, Dale Fitz, Bob Livitz, Tom Mathews. Well done! Click here to read about this award: http://www.goldenarrow.org/news/district-merit-2009.html 9) PHILMONT ADULT CLASS: There is a new class that goes even a step beyond Wood Badge: Philmont Leadership Challenge. The course is all hands-on, no classroom. There is still space left in the August course (until the article comes out any day in March's Scouting magazine) http://www.philmontleadershipchallenge.org/Scouting_mag_mar1.html. Our district exec, Jeff Hutchison needs to contact Philmont ASAP to get you an invitation. To learn more about the course, click here: http://www.philmontleadershipchallenge.org/ 10) POPCORN RECALL: Trail’s End is having a voluntary recall of the 9.5 oz Caramel Corn, and 9.5 oz. Caramel Corn with Peanuts, with code date markings of “102861 109 JAN 19 08” through “102861 297 JUL 23 09”. No salmonella has been detected and a Trail’s End representative states “We have also had a nationally recognized expert in Salmonella do a thorough inspection and review of our manufacturing process and he has advised that he is "completely confident that no Salmonella organisms would survive the manufacturing heat process." “ If concerned, contact: Cathy Yingling, (317) 264-5860 ********** ADULT TRAINING ******** 11) 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 "Scoutmaster Fundamentals”. Finally, outdoor skills are taught at IOLS. Other Districts also offer these trainings; a list of training opportunities around the Council is available on the SHAC website. 12) NEW LEADER ESSENTIALS CHANGING: According to www.scouting.org, the new online training course “This is Scouting” will soon replace New Leader Essentials. It should be on the Online Learning Center around April 1. http://olc.scouting.org/ 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) 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) NEW LEADER ESSENTIALS: This first module, which is for all volunteers in any role, will be offered in our District at the Merit Badge Fair from 9-11 AM on April 4 (see http://goldenarrow.org/events/meritfair-09-04.html) and during the first two hours of Cub leader training starting at 8 a.m. on May 2 at St. Paul Presbyterian, 7200 Bellaire Blvd. (see http://www.goldenarrow.org/training/adult-pack.html) 17) EXCELLENCE IN TRAINING AWARD: In our drive towards 100% trained leaders, SHAC will award a ribbon streamer each 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. Read about it and download an application: http://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/Training/ExcellenceinTrainingAw/ 18) VENTURE LEADER SPECIFIC TRAINING: If interested in a future class, contact Kelia Ballou at kelia@Ballou.cx or 713-661-1309 (H). 19) POWDER HORN: This six-day activity training for Scout and Venturing leaders allows you to sample a bit of many exciting physical sports and challenges so that you can offer them to your Troop/ Crew. It is based on the eight core and eighteen electives found in the Venturing Ranger program. Participants will not learn how to rock climb or shoot a skeet course per se, but will learn where to go to find those who can teach these skills to your group. The dates for the course are: March 20-22, at El Rancho Cima; April 4-5 at Camp Strake; and May 2-3 at Bovay Scout Ranch. http://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/Training/PowderHorn/ The Chair Bill Berry can be contacted at scoutmaster@SR637.org 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 and applications go to: http://www.shac.org/Home/Training/WoodBadge/ SR-1007 April 3-5 & April 24-26 (begins Friday at 7:30 AM, ends Sunday at 5:00 PM) 21) CANOE TRAINING: Prepare for adventure safely by training all your adult volunteers with these classes: http://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/Camping/Activities/CanoeProgram/ Actual testimonial: “I have been canoeing all of my life and thought I knew all about it--WRONG!! I learned a great deal about handling a canoe and had a lot of fun taking the classes--especially with the other adults from <my unit>. It is almost all on-the-water activity and surprisingly challenging to do some of the required activities.” ********** EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES ********** 22) 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 23) 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 24) 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/. 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) 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. Scouts from Tiger Cubs to Eagle Scouts will have a fabulous, fun-filled day mingling with thousands of other Scouts and their families, participating in hundreds of hands-on activities (e.g., climbing walls, craft booths, monkey bridges, rubber band guns, making Gak, meeting astronauts), tasting gourmet camp-fare cooked by Scouts (e.g., cobbler, chili, turkey, bread), and taking home treasured bits of memorabilia See: https://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/Events/ScoutFair/ 28) 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/ 29) 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 30) 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/ ********** IN CLOSING ********** 31) SHAC STRATEGIC PLAN: Just as a Scout uses a map and compass to find his way, the 2008 – 2012 Strategic Plan of the Sam Houston Area Council will serve as our map and compass. In 2007, a team consisting of members of the board of directors, district volunteers, and community leaders was assembled into Task Forces to achieve the Vision Statement of the Council, which is Leading Youth to Lifelong Values Service and Achievement. The eight critical areas of the strategic plan are: 1. Camping – chaired by Stewart Gagnon 2. Development – chaired by Walter Johnson 3. Facilities & Properties – chaired by Travis Traylor 4. Information Technology - chaired by Rick Conley 5. Marketing – chaired by David Grizzle 6. Membership – chaired by Judge Edith Jones 7. People – David Jones 8. Program – Stan Stanley The action items scheduled for each year will be assigned to appropriate volunteer committees and staff. We will have a scorecard for a semi-annual review per group where the volunteer task force chair and the staff member will present results. It will be great for us all - and especially the Scouts and Participants! 32) PHILMONT ADVISOR”S GUIDE: This 118 page annual guide is a compilation of input from a network of advisors and staffers. This includes perspectives from experienced female advisors, rangers and ranger trainers, serving the growing Venturing population at Philmont - and gives women the option of contacting peers "off-line" through contact info in the guide for questions. To order a copy of the guide for $10, click here: http://www.bacphilmont.org/pag.html As in the past, the proceeds from the guide continue to benefit youth in scouting. 33) You can contact your Golden Arrow District staff by email: Jeff Hutchinson, District Director jeff.hutchinson@shac.org or 713-756-3337 -or – Eric Bolton, District Executive eric.bolton@shac.org or 713 756-3338 The mailing address for the Scout Office is P.O. Box 924528, zip 77292 34) Thanks to our dedicated 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."