Compass - Boy Scouts of America
Transcription
Compass - Boy Scouts of America
The Western Massachusetts Council Compass Volume 2 No. 4 Serving Youth in the Four Counties of Western Massachusetts August 1, 2013 Cheryl Izyk Council Commissioner Joe Case Council President David Kruse Scout Executive Let’s Grow Scouting in Western Massachusetts! If you’re reading this, then you probably already know the incredible impact that Scouting has on youth, their families, and the community. It is up to every one of us to make sure that every youth has the opportunity to join Scouting. In the last Compass newsletter, there was an article on fall recruitments, including best practices and free resources available. Be sure to take advantage of the resources available to your unit, including flyers, posters, yard signs, and experienced people who are ready to assist you at your sign-up night. Packs – don’t forget to incorporate the new Lions program in your pack! Lion Cubs is our new program for boys in kindergarten. Packs that started a Lions Pride as a part of their pack last fall now have an established Tiger den for new families to join this fall. The boys will always be the best recruiters so be sure to have them invite one friend for special events. Consider using an early fall event like the space derby or rain gutter regatta as a time to bring in new boys. A 30 boy unit that grows by 10% adds 3 new boys, you can do that!! One of the many keys to success in recruiting new boys is to continue to ask them and invite them to join. Ask them in church, ask them at school, ask them out in town; let them know they can come and check out an event to see how much fun they and their parents are certain to have. As Jeff Glaze stated so well at a recent Council meeting, we must “Evangelize Scouting” by preaching its merits. In addition to all the great things you know about the program, remember the cost of joining is still very low and within reach of many families in the region. As I take over the Compass from long time writer-extraordinaire John Willemain I promise to do my best to keep this means of communication relevant and interesting to our readership inside and outside the council. If you feel I may serve this newsletter in any other way, please let me know at neil@weatherdeck.com. Going forward, the membership and recruiting section will be the first part of the Compass-every boy in our region should be asked to join or invited to an event at least THREE TIMES. 3 more members in every unit is about 10% growthChallenge the boys. Tips for a successful recruitment: 2 4 5 6 8 9 11 12 13 15 16 Recruiting is a year-round function, not just spring and fall. Every day is a good day to join Scouts! Plan an "ask a friend" opportunity and communicate that plan to the district executive and membership committee to get all resources lined up - the best way for Troops to recruit Mini Scout Show anyone? Pick a day and set up at the chartering organization. Show off the best Scout Skills and fun activities possible, and invite the neighborhood in (flyers ahead of time?) to come out and try out the activities. Pick up "Join Scouts" signs to make sure everyone knows why the event is going on Follow UP! The most important step is follow up, follow up, follow up! Return that phone call, get that application done, get that family involved. Directory Scout Executive and President Commissioner’s Corner Sporting Clays, Popcorn District Realignment, Hornaday Award Activities and Civic Service Camping Camp Maintenance Advancement, Training Appalachian Trail District General Knox District Updated Contact Information 1 Paperwork . . . that new member is not a member until the application is in the service center. Go to the library - or any other public place. Wearing a Scout uniform and sitting down in a public place is a good way to get people talking and asking about joining. Just Be Prepared with applications . . . From the Scout Executive Have You Seen Somebody? Let me tell you a story about a Cub Scout pack. It was August and the pack was holding a parents meeting to talk about the program for the coming year. The pack has 30 Cub Scouts registered. For the past five years Mr. Smith had served as the Cubmaster. About 20 parents showed up for the meeting. As they talked about activities for the year Mrs. Farmer said, “Somebody should take the boys to the Zoo.” Mr. Dixon said, “I know, somebody can lead a camping weekend at Chesterfield.” Mr. Smith, the Cubmaster said, “I need somebody to be the kernel for the popcorn sale, and I also need somebody to chair our Blue and Gold Banquet.” Well said Mrs. Jones, “my boy just isn’t earning his rank advancement fast enough. Surely there must be somebody who can work with Jimmy on his rank advancement?” Mr. Horn, the pack committee chair mentioned that there are three dens without a leader this year. Can somebody be a den leader? Mr. Smith looked at the 20 parents who had gathered for the pack planning meeting and asked if somebody would help out with one of the open positions. All the parents looked at each other and shared how busy they were and they just didn’t have any time to give to their son’s Scouting program. Mr. Smith ended the meeting saying he hoped that somebody would call him and volunteer for the open positions. All the parents in the room thought that somebody would volunteer, but when it was time for the first Pack meeting of the new school year, nobody had volunteered. I bet you can guess the experience the Cub Scouts had in this Cub Scout pack? I share this story as a reminder that the best time to recruit additional volunteer help is at the start of a new program year when parents are bringing their boys to join. I don’t know about you, but when a parent signs one of their children up for an activity they expect to be asked to help out in some way. If they are not asked to help, no problem, they move onto other activities. I would venture that there is not a Cub Scout pack, Boy Scout troop or Venture crew that could not use the help of additional adult volunteers. Don’t miss your chance this fall. Make the expectation that at least one parent of each Scout will be “somebody” and help out. As always, if you have any questions, ideas, or concerns let me know. David Kruse Scout Executive President’s Report At the Council’s annual meeting in June, I outlined some accomplishments of the past year and outlined some objectives for the coming year. Here’s a summary of my remarks. Governance and Administration We welcomed David Kruse as Scout Executive on August 1. He has brought new energy, enthusiasm, and valuable expertise to his work in the Western Massachusetts Council. As part of the transition in leadership, the BSA conducted an administrative review of our operations and program and made recommendations that we are in the process of implementing. Among these are a year-round functioning nominating committee and finishing the council’s strategic plan. The Executive Board engaged in a self-assessment in late spring and reviewed findings at a retreat in early June. These included need for improved communication at all levels, broader diversity in the board, and board members’ greater understanding of the expectations for their role. In the districts, we need to recruit more district committee members and unit commissioners and ensure that there is depth in the working committees of the district committees. 2 A strategic plan subcommittee on camp properties has been working a detailed assessment of our two properties, including operating costs and maintenance needs. In the spring, the Council conducted a series of listening sessions to hear what leaders thought were essential for year-round camp opportunities. It is clear that the Council cannot continue the expense of operating two properties. Hard decisions lie ahead in determining a course of action. There must be new efforts in communication, marketing, and public relations in the coming year. New leadership, analysis, and planning are crucial as we move forward. The Council website, Compass newsletter, and support of fund-raising, camp promotion, and special events are all part of the communication task. In legal affairs, the Council concluded sale of the former Chicopee office and the wilderness portion of the Chesterfield Scout Reservation; the Risk Management Committee reviewed compliance issues concerning BSA procedures and state statutes; and the annual meeting adopted updated bylaws. Finance Tremendous strides have been made in fiscal management in the past year (with special thanks to the work of Mike DuBois and Mike Brennan), part of the accounting function has been outsourced, and new BSA software has been implemented. Although our financial pressures have eased, we must continue working to budget carefully and monitor closely our financial condition. In future budgets, revenue should not simply equal expenses, but should exceed them so we can begin reducing accumulated debt. Provisions should also be made for property maintenance and a reserve for contingencies. Fund development efforts, under the guidance of Jeff Glaze and David Kruse, have provided support for professional staff and a growing number of volunteers. The successful Friends of Scouting campaign was structured with district and council teams of volunteers; the number and kind of special events have been rethought; and innovations have included camp cards, merit badge sponsorships, and a new popcorn vendor. Last summer a BSA team conducted a development assessment of the Council. We entered into a service level agreement that includes a thorough review of our fundraising and fund-development efforts. Future tasks include cultivating new donors, growing the endowment, and developing planned giving efforts. Membership BSA leaders call membership “The Main Thing.” The future of Scouting in Western Massachusetts – and in the nation – depends on recruitment and retention of youth, addressing the changing demographics of the youth population, and reaching out in our urban centers. Membership growth also entails cultivating new chartered organization partners and recruiting and training adult leaders. The Council’s innovative Lion Cub program, organized under Learning for Life, has proven successful. The first group of Lion Cubs will be making the transition to Tiger Cubs this summer and fall. At the BSA national meeting in May, membership policy for youth was revised, effective January 1, 2014, to remove exclusion of youth on the basis of sexual orientation. There was no change in BSA policy for adult leaders. The WMC Executive Board has adopted a statement of nondiscrimination, tolerance, and inclusion. Program Under the leadership of John Willemain, the Council coordinates a program of activities, training, advancement, and camping opportunities. Last summer an in-council camping program for Boy Scouts was resurrected though a volunteer-led effort (with special thanks to Dan Shea, John Willemain, and many others). This summer the program is underway, with a substantial increase in Boy Scout participation and innovations in programming, including ATV’s. John prepared the Council’s response to a new BSA National Camping Accreditation Program, which focuses not only on program and on health and safety concerns, but also on yearround camp operations and the fiscal integrity of the camps. 3 The Council has received approval for camp operations in 2014 and 2015. Unit Service Under Council Commissioner Cheryl Izyk and the district commissioners, the commissioner staff has been growing and BSA’s Unit Visitation Tracking System is now used more widely for reporting. The College of Commissioner Science had a very successful 30th anniversary session last December. Cheryl has led the effort to collect e-mail addresses for contacts in the BSA Voice of the Scout on-line survey tools for assessing consumer opinion about the Council and its program. The past year has seen a change in professional leadership, growth and new vigor in program, increased financial stability, and broader volunteer engagement in fund-raising. In the year ahead, we must continue our fiscal vigilance, undertake new efforts in communication, reverse the slide in youth membership, make tough decisions about our camp properties, and expand our incouncil Boy Scout residential camping program. We must be future-facing, positive in attitude, and work together – as a united Council – for the success and vitality of our programs in service to youth. That’s the only reason for the Council’s existence. Joe P. Case Council President Commissioner’s Corner Welcome to our newest Unit Commissioners: James Burke, Aaron Clark, Connor Evans, Robert Hackett, Kathy Krawczyk, and Stephen Scannell. These six experienced Scouters have joined the Commissioner Corps to serve units in their respective districts and have been active this summer, helping Scouts and Leaders enjoy camp and unit activities. In June, Commissioners across the USA participated in an initiative to visit every unit, and our Western Massachusetts Commissioners received an enthusiastic “Thank You” from Northeast Region President Hab Butler for recording their visits to a significant number of Packs, Troops, and Crews. Many other units have been contacted by phone and email and at Summer Camp. Continue to invite your commissioners to your unit events and meetings - we thrive on seeing Scouts participating in fun events and really enjoy sitting in on committee meetings and planning sessions. Let us know if we can provide you any resources to help you move your unit forward – our goal is to provide friendly service to help all Scouts and Leaders succeed. Very soon our hot and humid summer days will pass. We will be home from summer camp and gearing up for fall. Traditionally this is a prime time to recruit new members to our units. Parents of Cub Scout age youth are often looking for activities for their sons and are especially receptive to joining a local Pack. This is also a great time for Troops to hold an Open House and for the Crew to schedule a First Nighter. Your Commissioner can assist you in running an effective sign-up event. We are happy to assist in filling out the membership applications for youth members and leaders and will see that those applications and the associated fees are promptly submitted to the Council Office for proper registration. I’ve already heard from a Pack I commission and have the recruitment night on my calendar – I look forward to helping the Cubmaster and Den Leaders welcome new members to the unit. The entire Commissioner staff works closely with the District leadership and membership teams to help our units grow – please let us assist you. Check the Council calendar and your district page in this issue of The Compass for information about the monthly Roundtables that will begin again in September – participation in these lively events will give you what you need to deliver the Scouting promise to youth and their families. We hope to see every Commissioner at the Annual Commissioner Retreat to be held on Saturday, August 24. Please consult the Commissioner page of the Council website for details – and don’t forget to let us know you are coming. The day will provide Commissioners the opportunity to become more familiar with the many online tools and resources available to assist units throughout the year. 4 December 7, 2013, is the date of our 31st College of Commissioner Science and every Commissioner should be planning to attend this annual training event. Every Commissioner is asked to complete the Personal College Record and return it to College Dean Peter Matrow as soon as possible, whether 2013 will mark your 1st or 31st College. The course selection is great for every participant and we are looking forward to the opportunity to reconnect with colleagues returning from all over the northeast as well as making new friends of those who join us for the first time. See the Registration Form online at the council website for information on various sponsorship opportunities. For more information, contact: David Kruse (413) 594-9196 mailto:David.Kruse@scouting.org 2013 Popcorn Sale Sporting Clays Tournament Day – Saturday, September 7 Western Massachusetts Bird Dog Club We will use NSCA registered targets. The mission of the Western Mass. Council Sporting Clays Tournament is to provide an avenue for corporations and area sportsmen to raise funds to support Scouting programs, which ensure that every youth has the opportunity to participate in the quality character-education program of the Boy Scouts of America. Computers Merit Badge Olen Bielski, Chairman (508) 320-3824 sportsman9165@yahoo.com Cheryl Izyk Council Commissioner 2013 Sporting Clays Tournament Spend all that money on a great Scouting program Great NEW flavors from our new vendor Pecatonica River! Unbeatable prize program features, prizes and gift cards $600 in sales – 3 free ticket Sports Pack Foam Dart Blaster - bonus prize for selling $600 Great bonus prize choices for $2,500 sellers For more information on the 2013 popcorn sale, go to www.wmascouting.org and check out the popcorn page which can be found under the Volunteers tab. Popcorn sale to-do list Sign up for the sale Assign unit kernel Set and plan an exciting Unit Popcorn Kick-off Plan your unit super Saturday Order popcorn for Show and Deliver SELL, SELL, SELL Order popcorn to fill Take Orders Mobius Works will be sponsoring the Computers Merit Badge. The next Clinic will be Saturday, September 14 from 9:00 to around 4:00. Computers Merit Badge clinics will be limited to 12 Scouts. First come, first serve. Mobius Works will provide lunch. Online registration will be available soon. Merit badge clinic dates for 2013: September 14, 2013 - Register here November 9, 2013 - Register here Each clinic is limited to 12 Scouts. register for only one clinic, as you should be able to complete the merit badge in one day. Please bring: Signed permission slip found HERE. Flash Drive to keep projects which were completed during the clinic. Notes on at least 3 Scouting activities to put in blog for requirement 7c 5 District Realignment The professional staff and the executive board of the Western Massachusetts Council are committed to providing the necessary support to benefit our existing units and to foster growth in the Scouting movement. It is important to regularly look at our current structure to determine if it is the best way to serve the youth in our communities. After careful consideration, it was determined that our current structure has not met our expectations to provide program and support to Scouting families in all of our communities. To better serve Scouting, the council executive board has passed a resolution to realign our district structure. Here's what you need to know: Effective immediately, the Western Massachusetts Council will have three districts: Appalachian Trail, General Knox, and Metacomet. The geographic service area of Appalachian Trail District will remain unchanged. Holyoke will now fall under the support of the Metacomet District. Chicopee, Springfield, and West Springfield will now be part of the General Knox District. The new, larger General Knox District will be supported by two Scouting professionals. Joel Parker will remain as the district executive, and a district director will be named shortly. The district leaders for the affected districts have been consulted, and we thank them for their support during this transition. We are confident that this new structure will provide us with better opportunities to further strengthen our programs. Fall is around the corner, and unit leaders are preparing for the new program year, recruitment nights, and the popcorn sale. Until a district director is named, unit leaders of the former Chapweq District should contact Assistant Scout Executive, Bob D'Avignon, for unit support. Any questions regarding this new structure can also be addressed to Bob at 413-594-9196 ext.7034 or Bob.D'Avignon@scouting.org. Thank you for your continued support of Scouting in western Massachusetts. We look forward to growing Scouting with you! CONGRATULATIONS! ROBERT J SOUSA, Ph.D At the most recent National Boy Scout Jamboree at the Summit in WV, Bob was awarded the William T. Hornaday Gold Medal. This Medal is the most distinguished adult conservation recognition bestowed by the Boy Scouts of America. The Hornaday Gold Medal, first granted in 1914, is the oldest continuous conservation award by any organization in the United States. Fewer than 100 Gold Medals have been presented with the likes of Aldo Leopold receiving the second medal. Recipients must demonstrate unusual service to natural resource conservation and environmental improvement over a sustained period exceeding 20 years. Bob, a Vietnam war veteran, is a Ph.D. fishery biologist and Certified Fisheries Scientist (American Fisheries Society). He retired from an extensive and productive career spanning more than 30years with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Here he was instrumental in development of the Wallop Breaux amendments to the Sport Fish Restoration Act that provides matching grant funds to states for boating access and fisheries enhancements. He fly fishes in many countries throughout the world and holds several world records. His motto is to try to fish every day! Without a doubt, Bob is an international subject expert in angling and specifically fly fishing. He has taught many thousands of scouts how to cast a fly helping them catch their first fish on a fly. His enthusiasm for angling is very catchy! Bob’s passion for fishing means giving back. He has served on the Board of the Future Fisherman Foundation, is a Master Instructor in Massachusetts Aquatic Resources Education program, a Certified Angler Instructor with the International Game Fish Association and is Vice Chair of the Fishing Committee of Boy Scouts of America. 6 Bob's latest book, 24 Greatest Flies ...You Don't Leave Home Without is available directly from www.huskingbeebooks.com. His goal is to simplify the lifetime sport and encourage more people to get out of doors and become responsible stewards of our woods and waters. He continues to be active in helping youth and adults learn the concepts of fishing and conservation. In Boy Scouts, Bob originated the Fly Fishing Merit Badge, contributes editorially to the Fishing Merit Badge, Wildlife Management Merit Badge and Ranger Fishing Awards. He leads the fly fishing venue at National Boy Scout Jamboree and has done so for the past 6-7 Jamborees. He has also participated in teaching fly fishing at several National Order of the Arrow Conferences. Bob has been instrumental at establishing fly fishing programs at the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, Northern Tier in Ely, Minnesota and the Sea Base High Adventure camp in Florida. He initiated and teaches at BSA Fishing Camp Schools throughout the country. Using his many years of teaching fly fishing to many thousands of people, his first non-BSA book, Learn to Fly Fish in 24 Hours (McGraw-Hill) was written to take the intimidation factor out of learning this life-long sport. His latest book, 24 Greatest Flies You Don't Leave Home Without, picks up on the same simplicity theme and describes how an angler can catch most fish, most places, most of the time with a few simple fly patterns. 7 Activities and Civic Service News and Notes John Willemain Chair Staff Advisor Park Hours: 10:30am – 9:00pm Catholic Scout Retreat MassJam Registration Deadline Unit registration is now open. Registration is by unit (troop or crew) only. Visit the official MassJam website at http://www.massjam.org to register your unit. September 27 – 29, 2013 Camp Holy Cross Cost is $30 per person and includes everything! See the council web site for more details. Registration deadline is September 22. When: October 12-14, 2013 Registration Closes: September 20, 2013 Cost: $30 per participant (Boy Scouts, Webelos, Venturers, Adult Leaders). Deposit: $100 non-refundable registration deposit per unit which will be applied to your final payment. Six Flags Scout Day You are invited to join us for Scout Day at Six Flags on October 5. Enjoy our special discounted rates listed below. When you're there, be sure to come down to the Picnic Grove and participate in fun Scout activities for the whole family. Prices: Catered Meal Package - $38.00 includes Admission, Parking, Catered Meal consisting of all you can eat hamburgers, hot dogs, assorted side dishes, Soda, Dessert Item Non-Catered Package - $29.00 includes Admission only Meal only - includes Catered meal but not parking or admission. $15.24 pp (same menu as above) New Scouts - FREE! New Scouts who sign up this August and September will receive a free admission pass for Six Flags New England that can be used on Oct. 5, 2013. A new youth application must be completed and submitted to the council office along with any applicable registration fees in order to qualify. To purchase tickets, visit the Six Flags website at www.sixflags.com/newengland and enter the promo code: WMSCOUT. Faces from Cub Resident Camp 2013 – The Tournament of Thistles 8 Camping and Outdoor Program News and Notes Andrew Dufault Chair Steve Roberts Staff Advisor A Successful Summer Camp Season This year’s summer camp season was again very successful, from Cub Day camp to Boy Scout Resident camp, Cub Resident camp and AdVenture Week, fun was had by all. We saw tremendous growth in the number of troops and boys attending Boy Scout resident camp this year (260 youth this year) which positions us well for expanding the number of weeks of Boy Scout camp going forward. Some highlights of this year’s programs follow. ATV Program at the Moses Scout Reservation Shiny and New to the Left Dirty and Muddy to the Right!!! The ATV program was for boys 16 years and older and centered on the skills needed to properly operate an ATV. Under the supervision of our highly qualified staff, everyone came away with a much safer and skilled level of operation upon completion of the class. The Program met all of the requirements of the ATV Safety Institute Training Course which includes safety instruction and agility coursework for the first three days with an hour-long trail ride on the fourth day. It was reported to be EXTREMELY FUN. Even some of our adult volunteers were able to participate in the program. Merit Badge Partials Day – September 14 On Saturday, September 14, we will be offering an opportunity for Scouts who were unable to complete a merit badge at camp to come to the Moses Scout Reservation to finish their work. Watch the council web site for more information. Human Foosball, Tetherball and the 9–Hole Disc Golf Course The new human foosball court and 9–hole disc golf course that were set up for the camping season along with the repaired tetherball poles proved to be very popular. Each of these games was in constant use from the moment campers arrived until the last Cub Scout departed on Friday the 9th of August. The foosball court was so well received it was used as soon 9 as Leone’s Laborers placed the last board into position. (I am proud to be a 1979 Leone Laborer.) Play at the foosball court and the tetherball poles continued well past sunset when the flood light was turned on each evening. Tetherball poles were always in use The new Human Foosball court was very popular Tomahawk throwing, kayaking and blacksmithing were just some of the many popular programs at camp. Rifle Shooting, Climbing and Robotics were some of the merit badges offered at camp. The new Welding merit badge proved to be very popular with many Scouts participating in the program. Cub Resident Camp was filled with Medieval Fun! 10 Camp Maintenance News and Notes Steve Kenniston Chair Steve Roberts Staff Advisor Beaver Day at Moses Scout Reservation When: September 14, 2013 Where: Meet at the Parade Field Pavilion 8:30 a.m. Coffee and Safety Brief 9:00 am Start Working 1:00 pm Lunch Provided at Nunes Building Pre- Register for Lunch with Jack Leone: leone170@yahoo.com 4:00 pm Finish our Cheerful Service and Fellowship ALL ARE WLCOME-NEW AND OLD-FRIENDS AND FAMILY-FULL OR HALF DAY *Project list: Finish climbing tower. Power wash buildings. Stain and paint buildings. Remove trees. Paint inside buildings. Repair doors and sills. *Bring your tools; hammer, saws, power washer, paint sprayer, weed whacker, etc.* *If you know anyone that can donate any of the following items, it would be appreciated: 5/4 pressure treated decking. Exterior doors. Lumber of all sizes and types. Cement. Roofing shingles. Dumpsters. *Do you know someone with a backhoe? We have work for them too!* Adults and other Scouts can do work projects while Scouts are finishing merit badges as part of Partials Day! 11 Advancement and Recognition News and Notes Joshua Hall Chair Staff Advisor Recent Religious Awards 01/01/2013 - 6/30/2013 Date of Award Name of Award Scout City Unit 02-Jan-13 GOD AND LIFE Christopher Clark Chicopee Troop 02-Jan-13 GOD AND LIFE Justin Sanchez Ludlow Troop 15-Apr-13 GOD AND FAMILY David Clark Pittsfield Pack 30-Apr-13 CHI-RHO Evan Manioudakis Belchertown Pack 17-Jun-13 GOD AND CHURCH Noah Scott Brimfield Troop 19-Jun-13 GOD AND ME Nathan Brown Hinsdale Pack 19-Jun-13 GOD AND FAMILY Carlton Brooks Peru Troop 19-Jun-13 GOD AND CHURCH Logan Brooks Peru Troop Congratulations to the above boys. Your commitment to earning a Religious Award is most admirable and determination and commitment to Scouting’s Principle of Duty to God. Well done! # 182 182 3075 4057 164 3021 1021 1021 evidence of Training News and Notes Peter Izyk Chair Hunter McCormick Staff Advisor Remember, as summer winds down and before the Scouting year starts up in September everyone should check out your training profile. Make sure all the issues have been resolved if you are one of those who had taken a number of the online courses before receiving your BSA identification number. If you have not taken steps to merge your different accounts, some of the training you have taken will not appear on your profile or in Training Reports. So, check it out and see where you stand. It will be a good time to check out the new updates to the MyScouting Tools portal. While you are checking out your training records, it would also be the time to check if you need to retake any of the courses. Some of the current training courses have an expiration date, especially if your certifications are going to be used on Tour Plans for upcoming unit trips. An example of this is the Youth Protection training. You have to take this course every two years to remain current and stay registered. Below are some of the training courses that have expiration dates and need to be retaken to be valid: Youth Protection – every two years Safe Swim Defense – every two years Safety Afloat – every two years Trainer’s EDGE - every three years Hazardous Weather - every two years Climb On Safely – every two years Physical Wellness – every two years Trek Safely - every two years 12 Appalachian Trail District News and Notes Vicki Kornacki District Commissioner Jon Giracca District Chair Message from the District Commissioner We hope you are all enjoying your summer!! You all know that Scouting is a year-round program. Besides getting your scouts to camp, the summer is a great time to be gearing up for the fall. Here are some ways that the Commissioner Staff can help: 1) Ask your Unit Commissioner to review your Journey to Excellence progress with you. This will give you the opportunity to see where you are headed for the end of the year, and make a plan to reach your desired level. 2) Have your Unit Commissioner attend your program planning session in August. They can provide guidance or be a sounding board on the how, where and what needs to be done to accomplish all that is on your agenda. 3) Your Unit Commissioner can help make sure your unit service hours are logged properly, and that your BeAScout pin is updated properly. 4) Your Unit Commissioner can help you get ready for your fall recruitment and assist in getting training for your new leaders (even before the recruitment) so that you are ready to go in the fall. Hunter McCormick Staff Advisor These are just a few ways in which your Unit Commissioner can help prepare you for the fall. Feel free to contact your Unit Commissioner or me atdistcommissioner@gmail.com for any of your needs over the summer months. We are here to help you!! Enjoy the rest of your summer!!! -Vicki Kornacki District Commissioner 4th of July Parade For those of you in the Pittsfield area, you are probably aware of the importance of the 4th of July parade to the community. This year there were 60,000 people in attendance. Pack 5 in Pittsfield, under the direction of Cubmaster Becky Caropreso, built a float to enter in the parade this year. Pathfinder Award More kudos in the Appalachian Trail District!!! What great feat have we accomplished now you ask? Well, we will be the recipient of the Pathfinder award! This award is recognition for having an increase in Cub packs over the previous June. It demonstrates that the volunteers are running programs to retain the youth while providing more opportunities for boys to have the Scouting experience in their neighborhood. Thank you for your hard work. National Jamboree 2013 Greetings from THE SUMMIT!! This is your opportunity to hear about life at the summit from the staff perspective...from your very own District Commissioner and Senior District Executive who spent two weeks on site. Let's start with living quarters...this is a picture of the staff camp site at Base Camp Echo. Their efforts paid off...as they won the most outstanding (grand prize) for their entry!! Be sure to congratulate Becky and the rest of Pack 5 for their achievement!! Great job guys!! 13 There are 4 people to a tent and ambient water showers but there are flush toilets (luxury at its finest), and plenty of choices for food. We even found a place to get Starbucks coffee and ice cream! You can even have Granny do your laundry...who said camping is not a vacation! Next, let’s talk about the great exercise program that they offer. Most companies do not provide this perk! Yeah it is a lot of walking...but just look at the great scenery you get to see, and how great the trails are! There’s nothing like a good, invigorating walk to start and end each day. We are hoping to shave some time off of the hour walk for Vicki to her Trading Post at Action Point and forty five minutes for Hunter to his Trading Post at Boulder Cove from Echo before the end of the Jamboree!! Take a look at the presently empty sub camp...imagine that this will soon be a sea of tents. We are looking forward to seeing the excitement of all the youth that will soon have the opportunity to experience this great place! Here is a list of the representatives of the Appalachian Trail District that are at the Summit: Staff: Joshua Hendrix (Retail Operations) Jordan Kornacki (OA Service Corps) Vicki Kornacki (Retail Operations) Hunter McCormick (Retail Operations Contingent: Mike Cunningham – Troop 93 Quincy Heon – Troop 93 Alex Johnson (PL) – Troop 3 Devon Katt – Troop 3 Tyler Kornacki (SPL) –T 112 Cameron Taylor – Troop 93 Quincy – Troop 93 Roundtable will be starting on September 9. The roundtable staff has been working hard to create a great program this year! There Fall Recruitment It is almost that time of year again! Just a reminder to all unit leaders that if you have not yet scheduled your recruitment…please start thinking about it. Please make sure that you get the date of your recruitment to Hunter McCormick as soon as you know it. It is also important to make sure that your request for flyers and other materials gets submitted in a timely manner in order to make sure that you receive everything that you need…when you need it!! Thank you in advance for your cooperation and HAPPY RECRUITING!!! Upcoming Events Roundtable Update will be new features and a few twists that will be incorporated into the format. Come check it out! If you have any ideas of what you would like to see at roundtable, contact Laurie Hendrix (ADC for Roundtable), Joshua Morse (Boy Scout Roundtable), or Pam Burton (Cub Scout Roundtable). They are always looking for input…let them know what you want to know about!!! August 8 – Commissioners Workshop September 3 – District Committee Mtg. 9 – Roundtable 12 – Commissioner Meeting October 7 – District Committee 10 – Commissioner’s Meeting 12-14 – MassJam 21 - Roundtable 14 General Knox District News and Notes John Benjamin District Commissioner Paul Zielinski District Chair Joel Parker Staff Advisor Connor Gottzmann, Anthony Martin, Robert Moore, Brandon Simmons, Tim Ronaldson. Longmeadow's own Boy Scout Troop 90 was invited to Gettysburg, PA, as an honor troop to help with the 150th anniversary of the Battle by the National Gettysburg Foundation and the US National Park Service. They helped set-up and light the 3,500 luminaries marking the graves of the soldiers killed in the Battle of Gettysburg. The illumination ceremony was held at the Soldiers’ National Cemetery at Gettysburg which was dedicated by Abraham Lincoln's famous Gettysburg Address speech. Troop 90 represented Massachusetts and worked for hours with troops from other states that had veterans buried there. Group Picture (in front of lighted luminaries in the Soldiers’ National Cemetery at Gettysburg): Group Picture (taken in front of the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center): Front Row (from left): Nicholas Komaiszko, Ben White, Billy Martin, Mike Hanson, Asa MacCormick, Nate Anderson, Dan Moore, Lachlan Berry, Luke Gottzmann. Front row (from left) Mike Kirby, Jeff Minardi, Jerry Martin, Steve Anderson,Dave Ronaldson. Middle row: Josh Minardi, Michele Moore, Petra Gottzmann, Lachlan Berry, Atilla Troy, Ben White, Nate Anderson, Mark Melchionna, Marie Holmes, Michael Beaulieu, Luke Gottzmann, Asa MacCormick, Luke Martin, Nicholas Komaiszko, Robert Anderson, Dan Moore. Back Row: Jerry Martin, John Hanson, Anthony Martin, Robert Paprocki, Jimmy O’Donnell, Brad Staples, Tim Ronaldson, James MacCormick, Mike Kirby, Andreas Gottzmann, Mark Melchionna, Michael Beaulieu, Steve Troy, Atilla Troy, Brandon Simmons, Luke Martin, Robert Moore, Connor Gottzmann, Robert Anderson, Michele Moore, Petra Gottzmann, Marie Holmes, Steve Anderson. Troop 90 Scout helping to set up luminary: Anderson. Nate Photographs by: Steve Anderson. Back row: Jan Komaiszko, Andreas Gottzmann, Mike Hanson, Steve Troy, Brad Staples, Jimmy O’Donnell, Robert Paprocki, John Hanson, James MacCormick, 15 Western Massachusetts Council Contact Us! Professional Staff Council Locations Council Officers David Kruse Scout Executive and CEO David.Kruse@scouting.org x - 7002 Joe P. Case President jpcase@amherst.edu Bob D’Avignon Assistant Scout Executive Bob.D’Avignon@scouting.org x – 7034 Westfield Service Center 1 Arch Road, Suite 5 Westfield, MA 01085 Open Mon-Fri 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Trading Post – Mon until 7:00 PM Office: (413) 594-9196 Toll-Free (800) 649-1735 Fax: (413) 562-1041 Hunter McCormick Sr. District Executive Appalachian Trail District Hunter.McCormick@scouting.org x – 7033 Sherry Bowden Trading Post Manager Westfield Service Center SBowden@bsamail.org x – 7005 Steve Roberts Sr. District Executive Metacomet District Steven.Roberts@scouting.org x – 7014 Pittsfield Service Center 2 South Street, Suite 125 Pittsfield, MA 01201 Open Mon-Fri 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM Office: (413) 594-9196 Toll-Free (800) 649-1735 Fax: (413) 236-0902 Philip Brodeur V. P. Administration pwbrod@solutia.com Gail Wojtkowiak Council Registrar & Office Manager – Pittsfield Service Center gwojtkow@bsamail.org x – 7018 Bob Walz V. P. District Operations robert.walz@hs.utc.com Joel Parker District Executive General Knox District Joel.Parker@scouting.org x – 7031 Mike Brennan Business Manager & Accountant mikbrenn@bsamail.org x – 7001 Beverly Pond Accounting Assistant Beverly.Pond@scouting.org x-7001 Cheryl Izyk Council Commissioner cdizyk@comcast.net Jeffrey Glaze Executive Vice President/ V. P. Fund Development jglaze@epi-ctr.com Robert M. Dwyer Treasurer rdwyer@aaapv.com Chesterfield Scout Reservation 22 Sugar Hill Road Williamsburg, MA 01096 Phone: (413) 296-4248 H. A. Moses Scout Reservation 310 Birch Hill Road Russell, MA 01071 Phone: (413) 568-0211 Michael Dubois V. P. Finance mdubois@massmututal.com John Willemain V. P. Program johnwillemain@comcast.net Stephen McGovern V. P. Membership smmcgv@charter.net Neil A. Daboul V. P. Communication neil@weatherdeck.com Council Web site: www.wmascouting.org 16