Troop e-bulletin for Apr 2009

1) APRIL ROUNDTABLE: Thursday April 2 at 7:30 p.m.. This month’s main topic will be "Kiddos – Learning to Be Leaders.” We will be discussing youth leadership training opportunities and some games and activities which can be used in troop youth leadership training.

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. Boy Scout Roundtable provides a forum for adult leaders to discuss topics of interest, both formally and informally; to learn about upcoming District and Council events and opportunities; and to meet and exchange ideas with other leaders from the Golden Arrow District. All adults involved in the Boy Scout program are warmly invited. Your Troop mailbox is available in the foyer and contains hard copies of important information. Click here: http://www.goldenarrow.org/training/roundtable-bs.html

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 April 2 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

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). Click here to see where your Troop stands so far this year: http://goldenarrow.org/news/fos-2009-troops.pdf

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. Pack/Troop Committee and/or Scoutmaster 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.

7) FREE PUBLICITY: If you have an upcoming event to publicize, or a past event to immortalize, send news and photos to www.InstantNewsWest.com or www.InstantNewsBellaire.com

Don’t forget that 10 publicity items each year will get you a flag ribbon. Keep copies and submit to Jeff Hutchinson or Eric Bolton.

8) EAGLE ALUMNI REUNION: The second annual “Gathering of Eagles” will be held at Minute maid Park on Tuesday May 12, 6:30 p.m. Please go to The Gathering of Eagles Web Site to read about last year's spectacular event hosted by Continental Airlines. Click on the links to view videos of presenters such as Texas Gov. Rick Perry, sportscaster Giff Nielsen, and event hosts Larry Kellner, CEO of Continental Airlines, and Frank Tsuru, CEO of Momentum Energy. Register online.

9) 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 “This is Scouting” and "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.

10) NEW LEADER ESSENTIALS CHANGING: The long-awaited replacement course for New Leader Essentials -- This is Scouting -- is now available online at www.scouting.org. Access via the MyScouting button at the top of the screen.

Remember that to automatically receive credit in the council database, one must register for MyScouting using your Personal ID.

In order to print out a completion card, you must use a computer with printer.

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

12) 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

13) 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.

14) THIS IS SCOUTING: 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)

15) SCOUTMASTER SPECIFIC MODULES 1, 2, 3: Adults who wish to be Assistant Scoutmasters or Scoutmasters should take Scoutmaster Specific training, modules I, II, and III . The next scheduled series in our District is <TBA>. There is no charge and no pre-registration requirement, but an email to the instructor would be appreciated to ensure sufficient materials. For information, email or call Fritz Maxwell: fritz.maxwell@sbcglobal.net and 281-238-4438 (H) http://www.goldenarrow.org/training/adult-troop.html

16) IOLS (Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills): Learn what you need to successfully transition entering 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.

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) TROOP COMMITTEE CHALLENGE ONLINE: Troop Committee Challenge (Leader Specific Training for troop committee members) may now be completed online via the BSA Online Learning Center. Completion of the course will take about a half-hour. Click here to start: http://olc.scouting.org/

20) 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 next course are <TBA> http://www.samhoustonbsa.org/Home/Training/PowderHorn/

21) 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)

22) 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.”

23) PROJECT WILD WORKSHOP: On Saturday May 18, adult leaders can take an all-day workshop at the Council Service Center, 2225 North Loop West. Why attend?

• Fun activities to teach about habitat, wildlife and area natural resource issues.

• Receive both Project Wild & Aquatic Wild Activity Guides plus supplemental materials.

Contact: Glenn Buckley @ grbuckley419@comcast.net or 936.273.0098 or by mail at 2427 Blue Lake Dr. Magnolia, TX 77354

COST: No cost, but it is important that those who reserve a space make every effort to attend or notify Glenn Buckley in a timely manner so the space may be filled from the waiting list (there are only 30 spaces).

24) MERIT BADGE FAIR: On Saturday April 4, the Golden Arrow District will hold its semi-annual Merit Badge Fair at NEW LOCATION St Francis de Sales Catholic School, 8100 Roos Road For map to the location, click here.

25) LEMONADE DAY: On April 4 this year, Lemonade Day is an annual city-wide event produced by Prepared 4 Life (P4L) and its many community partners. Businesses, families and communities work together to produce Lemonade Day, which is a fun, family-oriented activity designed to train thousands of young people how to be successful entrepreneurs. Scouts learn how to set goals, find investors, select their site, build a stand, purchase supplies, make healthy products, advertise, serve their customers, account for sales, open a bank account and give back to their community.

Boy Scout can earn partials on: Personal Management (1a-c, 2a-b, 3a-h, 4a-c, 7a-c, 9a-c), Family Life (1a, 2a-2d, 5a-5c, 6b/3), Entrepreneurship (3a-3e, 4b/1-3, 4c/1-4, 4d/1-5, 5a-d), Communications (2b, 6, 7c), Salesmanship (2a, 2c, 3, 4, 5a-c, 6a/1-4, 7a-7b), American Business (2a, 2c-d, 5a-b, 6b), Art (2/1-2), Graphic Arts (3), Computers (7c), Drafting (1a-b, 2a, 3a, 4), Painting (1, 2a-2d, 3-7), Safety (1e), Wood Carving (1, 2b, 4a-d, 5-7), Wood Working (1a, 1c, 3a-b, 4-5), Environmental Science (5), Personal Fitness (3c, 5a-c), Public Health (5b), Weather (2), Cooking (1a, 1c, 2b-c, 2f), Leave No Trace Award (1, 2):

26) 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/

27) 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/

28) 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

29) POISON IVY BROCHURES: Spring is here! With spring will come exposures to poison ivy during hikes, camp-outs, and other outdoor activities. Zanfel Laboratories has free educational brochures available for Boy Scouts and Scout Leaders which teach about poison ivy, oak, and sumac plant identification, as well as prevention and treatment of the allergic skin reaction. Zanfel also has a helpful plant identification poster available. These educational resources are free of charge and can be ordered in any quantity. Shipping is also free.

30) FACEBOOK GROUPS: For those of you who enjoy Facebook, find your Scouting friends at:

SHAC: www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=25239022610

BSA: www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2203772399

OA Colonneh Lodge: www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=19588874468

31) 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) 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 communication of the Boy Scouts of America, but is solely my volunteer work and responsibility."

P.S. Anybody want to take over writing this monthly newsletter? It’s been fun but ~6 years is probably enough. Please email me to discuss and I will tell you about all the glory and accolades. ;-)