Camp Jackson Update - Greater Alabama Council

Greater Alabama Council, Boy Scouts of America
www.1bsa.org
July 18th, 2011
IMPORTANT INFORMATION, MEETINGS AND DATES TO REMEMBER
Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30am until 5:00pm
Main Phone 205-970-0251 Fax 205-970-0349
Northern Area Service Center 256-883-7071
Birmingham Scout Shop 205-967-5954
Huntsville Scout Shop 256-880-1488 or 877-880-1488
Scout Shop Hours: 9-5 M-F, 10-2 Sat
Printer Ready Digital Eagle (pdf)
Camp Jackson Update
Recovery efforts from the approximately half-mile wide EF-4 tornado that
hit Camp Jackson are progressing. A professional tree removal contractor
has opened the road to the back of camp and is removing trees that fell on
buildings, structures, and tent platforms. A logging contractor has been
working to salvage the numerous trees that were blown down. A
construction contractor has begun work to repair the Ranger Cabin and will
then repair the OA Lodge and other buildings that can be repaired.
Like all of the Council's camps, Camp Jackson is covered by insurance for
replacement costs to the buildings and structures. The insurance company
has surveyed the damage and has reserved funds to repair/replace the
damage to the buildings and structures.
Since the camp was developed on a patchwork basis over the years, the
Camp Jackson Development Committee, with the aid of the Council and the
National Office, is looking at possible changes to the camp as it is rebuilt to
better serve Scouting in the future. The Committee is also continuing to
progress plans for capital projects at the camp that are part of the Capital
Campaign.
Camp Jackson remains closed until further notice. There will be a time when volunteers will
be needed at the camp but currently professional crews are working and it is dangerous for
anyone else to be there.
What's Happening (next four weeks)
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES - Check out the upcoming training at the Training Calendar on
our website.
ON-LINE REGISTRATION - A new page has been added to the council website for on-line
registration. Check it out!
Events, Activities, and Information
New information in this section is indicated by this font color.
Troop 4711 will host a Merit Badge Fair at the First United Methodist Church in Wedowee on
Aug. 27th. Please register your troop for the classes that they wish to attend. Link Below
http://www.meritbadge.info/mbn/eventdetails.aspx?id=09E47190-1B57-4BD1-A687797ED4CA6AFC
GENERAL SCOUTING
CAMP JACKSON CLOSED - Due to the April 27 tornado damage Camp Jackson is CLOSED
until further notice. Please do not visit the camp or attempt to enter it. It poses dangerous situations
with downed and unstable trees, downed power lines, heavy equipment moving through camp and
unstable structures. Thank you for your cooperation.
REVISED BSA PHYSICAL FORM - The BSA physical form has been revised and expanded,
and now serves as the single health form for all BSA activities, from pack overnighters to jamborees
and high adventure bases. Part A (the health information section) and Part B (permission and
authorizations section) are required for all Scouting activities. Part C (the medical examination) is
required for any activity greater than 72 hours (such as Boy Scout summer camp), and also for
specific activities such as Wood Badge, NYLT and Powder Horn, for example. The new section
(Part D) is required to be used in conjunction with Part C for the High Adventure Bases (Philmont,
Sea Base, and Northern Tier.) For additional information, click here.
POWDER HORN - Greater Alabama Council will conduct a Powder Horn course in the fall of
2011. Click here for more information.
NEW YOUTH PROTECTION REQUIREMENT - Effective June 1, 2011 the Boy Scouts of
America will require NEW applicants to have 30 days from submitting their application to complete
Youth Protection Training. The current adult application states that new adult applicants must
complete Youth Protection Training before submitting their application. The adult leader
application is being updated with these changes. Again, this change applies to only NEW leaders.
WEB INFO AVAILABLE - A wide range of Scouting information is available to all
volunteers by looking at www.Scouting.org. From training to definitions on Scouting
and other information on a national level can be attained from this website. Everyone
is encouraged to go to www.Scouting.org to attain more information on Scouting you
might need along with the Greater Alabama Council’s website at www.1bsa.org
Wilderness first Aid Course to be heldWHAT:
The Wilderness and Remote First Aid class is a 16 hour course based on the Boy
Scouts of America Wilderness First Aid Curriculum and Doctrine Guideline. This
course certification is good for 2 years.
WHERE: Riverchase United Methodist Church in Hoover AL & Oak Mountain State Park
WHEN:
CPR/AED: Friday October 14th 5pm – 9pm
WFA: Saturday October 15th, 7:30am-7:30pm and Sunday October 16th , 8am –
12pm.
WHY:
This course is required for any high adventure activity by the BSA. It is essential for
troops who are involved in activities where you are further than 1 hour away from
EMS. It also meets one of the requirements for the Ranger Award in the Venturing
Program.
WHO:
This course is open to anyone aged 14 and over.
Download form here for WFA.
CUB SCOUTS
BOY SCOUTS
SCUBA OPPORTUNITIES - Boy Scouts -- SCUBA merit badge is now available.
Interested? Click here for more information.
VENTURING/EXPLORING
SCUBA OPPORTUNITIES - Venturers --SCUBA instructions and outings are
available. Interested? Click here for more information.
District News
(Click on the District name to go directly to that section)
Arrowhead Birmingham Cheaha Cherokee Choccolocco Lookout Mountain Mountain
Lake Shelby Talakto Three Rivers Vulcan Westmoreland Coosa Lodge
ARROWHEAD (Serving Cullman, Lawrence, Limestone, and Morgan Counties)
2010 CENTENNIAL QUALITY DISTRICT
Contact: wmcintyre@1bsa.org
Arrowhead District Website:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arrow_web/
Good Afternoon Everyone,
This is my fourth week on the job as your new DE and I've had such a great experience so far!
Your kindness and hospitality has made me feel right at home. It was so much fun to visit our Day
Camps last month in Cullman and Decatur. The boys sure did have a lot of fun!
We all had a lot of fun yesterday at the Spirit of America Festival in Decatur. It was a great day for
festival goers to be out with their families and for us to show them what Scouting is all about. We
had a lot of visitors to the Scouting Area and they all had a great time!
I want to remind everyone that Roundtable will be this Thursday, July 7th at Rhodes Ferry Park in
Decatur. It will be from 7:00pm-8:30pm and is a potluck dinner. I will see you there!
Please bring your completed POPCORN commitment forms to Roundtable!!! Blank forms can be
downloaded from the arrow_web group files. Please fill it out and either bring it to Roundtable or
email it to our Popcorn Kernel, Brenda Daniel (arrowheadpopcorn@yahoo.com).
I hope you all had a wonderful Independence Day, and I will see you at Roundtable!!
William T. McIntyre
Arrowhead District Executive
Greater Alabama Council
Boy Scouts of America
wtmcintyr@1bsa.org
(W) 256-714-9841
(F) 256-883-2193
BIRMINGHAM
2010 CENTENNIAL QUALITY DISTRICT
Karen Harris Johnson
Greater Alabama Council
Boy Scouts of America
District Executive
+1.205.902.2766
Digital Eagle
July 18, 2011
Birmingham District
Twenty-nine new boy scouts from the Birmingham District had their first summer camp experience. They traveled to
Camp Sequoyah for Week 5, July 10 to July 16, 2011. It was a week weʼll never forget. The scouts were enrolled in
the Eagle Bound program and participated in a number of camp-wide events. Thanks to the Birmingham District
Camp Staff for the huge effort it took to get those scouts to camp and to keep them there. A big thanks goes to the
2011 Camp Sequoyah staff. They are the best!
Everyone who volunteered for the June 2011 Birmingham District Cub Scout Day Camp at Ruffner Mountain was
invited by Deborah Hudson, Day Camp Director, to attend a picnic at Oak Mountain State Park on Saturday, July 09,
2011. Thanks to the men from Troop 405 at Greater St. John Baptist Church Powderly for grilling the meat.
Everyone enjoyed the “Whatʼs in the Bag” activity led by Deborah Hudson and the Pig Personality activity by
Deborah Huff.
We took a short summer break from district committee and roundtable meetings in July. The next time we see you
will be at the Districtʼs Program Preview on Thursday, August 4, 2011 at Sixth Avenue Baptist Church. All volunteers,
parents, youth and others are invited to attend that meeting to learn about the upcoming council and district
programs and camps, registration goals, Popcorn and Friends of Scouting (FOS) fundraising goals, and more. See
you on August 4!
School Night(s) for Scouting is coming this fall. The Birmingham District in particular has several thousand boys who
are eligible to participate in scouting programs. If you are interested in helping to recruit youth and volunteers for
scouting- we need at least one volunteer from each unit- especially at your school or church, please contact Karen
Johnson, District Executive, at 205-902-2766.
Every scout deserves a trained leader. Please remind any adults who want to register as a scout volunteer/leader
that they must complete the Youth Protection Training, preferrably on-line, and submit the completion certificate with
their registration form. They should also be encouraged to take as many other on-line training courses as possiblefollow the links from www.1bsa.org or www.scouting.org- and submit those certificates to our training chairman, too.
For more information about volunteer training, please contact Yolanda Pleasant, District Training Committee
Chairman, at yourdoname@aol.com or 205-401-6966.
Have a great rest of the summer!
CHEAHA
District Executive Thomas Ritch email - tritch@1bsa.org
452-5135
Cheaha District,
Office - (205) 970-0251 Cell - (256)
We have in the works a Merit Badge fair in Wedowee sponsored by Cheaha's Troop
4711. Registration for this Fair will begin June 20th and you can find the information on
that by visiting the website meritbadge.info. The Robotics class is filling up fast so sign
up early. We also have two Adult Leadership Training classes planned for the day. We
have worked hard to get the classes set up and Counselors trained and listed with the
counsel. Please help us to plan by signing up your Scouts and Leaders early. If you
have any questions please call me or email me. The link to sign up for the fair
is: http://www.meritbadge.info/mbn/eventdetails.aspx?id=09E47190-1B57-4BD1-A687797ED4CA6AFC
I know that summer is coming up and everyone is gearing up for summer camp and day
camp, but we have gotten the dates for some events coming up in the fall. For the Cub
Scouts we have the Fishing Derby at Sequoyah, and Camp Comer sept. 24th.
Cub Haunted will be the at Sequoyah the weekends of October 8-9, 15-16, and 22-23,
and will be at Camp Comer the weekends of October 7-8, 8-9, 14-15,21-22,22-23. So that
is what we have coming up this fall for the cub scouts so put it on your calendar and lets
start gearing up for this fall.
For the Boy Scouts we have our Fall Camporee that we have been planning for the
weekend of November 11,12,and 13th, we have sent a letter to wave the fees for the
camping area in Cheaha State park and will be able to get more information when we
hear back on that. But if you could go ahead and put those dates on your calendar for the
Fall Camporee.
Hope everyone is having a great summer and I look forward to seeing everyone during
the coming weeks.
Our next Roundtable will be July 14th at 6:30 in Ashland First United Methodist Church.
Thank you everyone and hope you have a great week.
Thanks,
Thomas Ritch
Cheaha District Executive
(256)452-5135
tritch@1bsa.org
CHEROKEE
**QUALITY DISTRICT**
District Executive Anthony Edwards aedwards@1bsa.org,
Office 205-969-4252 Cell 205-441-5763
Cherokee District Website - www.bsacherokee.org.
A big thanks you to all the leaders and scouts that worked Cherokee Day Camp. You all made
camp wonderful this year. We could not have put on a fantastic camp for the cub Scouts, without all
your help. The boys earned many belt loops and achievements in their rank books. Hope to have
picture cds and other items at the August Program Preview Conference. Cherokee District is blessed
with wonderful scout volunteers. From your 2011 Day Camp Director Cyndi LaFond.
This is a great article from David Darby. If you have information to be place in Digital Eagle please
email me at aedwards@1bsa.org.
Cub Scouts attend Day Camp at Tannehill State Park
By David C. Darby
Tannehill State Park was the location of this year’s summer Day Camp Program for the Cub Scouts
of the Cherokee District, held June 20-24. More than 50 day campers from area Cub Scout Packs
participated in many fun and educational events including archery, leather crafts, wrist rockets, BB
gun shooting, riding pedal cars, creating & launching water rockets, playing soccer, hiking, playing
on the water slide and completing achievements in their rank books. Thanks to the many adult
leaders who gave of their time to making this exciting event possible.
Our local Cub Scouts are part of the Cherokee District in the Greater Alabama Council of the Boy
Scouts of America. Since 1930, the Boy Scouts have helped our youth through the Cub Scout
program, having served youth from 7 to 10 years of age (or first through the fifth grades). The older
youth, age 11-18, are served by the Boy Scouts. It is the mission of the Boy Scouts of America to
serve others by helping to instill values in young people and, in other ways, to prepare them to make
ethical choices over their lifetime in achieving their full potential.
The Cherokee District is one of fourteen Districts served by The Greater Alabama Council, serving
youth in 22 counties. For more information about Scouting programs in your area, call The Greater
Alabama Council at 205-970-0251, or visit their website at www.1bsa.org.
Photo Here: Cub Scout day campers and adult volunteers gather in front of the John Wesley Halls
Mill at Tannehill State Park.
District Planning Meeting is on July 19, 2011 at the Bessemer Chamber of Commerce4:30pm to plan for the coming year. Your unit leader and District committee should plan to
attend this meeting and bring your calendar items. We need to have all the information to
provide to the Council as well as update our Website. Let’s plan a great year your
Scouts!!!
2011 Cherokee Program Preview Conference is Thursday, August 4, 2011- 7:00pm
at Bessemer LDS Stack. Plan to attend to receive information on activities, calendar
dates for 2011-2012, Popcorn Kick-off and much more!
Cherokee District Training- Please mark your calendars for Cherokee District
Training on Saturday, September 10 , 2011 time and place TBA (Cub Leader
Specific, Boy Scout Leader Specific, LDS Leaders Specific Training and District
committee training.
Cherokee Fall School Night Training- July 25, 2011 at Pleasant Hill UMC—6:30pm
Commissioners Planning Meeting- July 25, 2011 at Jimmy’s Nick in Homewood11:30pm If you are commissioner and able to attend please do so.
A Cub Scout Pack's Annual Budget Plan
What is the "ideal year of Cub Scouting" plan? It is implementing the elements of a
complete annual Cub Scouting program for youth, committing as a pack to incorporate
these elements, and then providing adequate funding for them. Even more, it is
committing to implementing the plan with the entire pack: Cub Scouts, leaders, and
families, by raising enough dollars to fund the "ideal year of Cub Scouting." The result is
a well-managed, well-financed unit.
The steps to an "ideal year of Cub Scouting" are:
1. Plan the pack's complete annual program.
2. Develop a budget that includes enough income to achieve the program.
3. Identify all sources of income (den dues and any traditional pack activities), and
then determine the amount of product sale and the sales goal per youth
member that will be needed to reach the income goal.
4. Gain commitments from parents, leaders, and all Cub Scouts.
If you like to raise money every month, plan your program as you go, limit your activities
based on the unit's income, or not involve the youth members in the planning process,
then this format might not be for you! Those leaders who want a meaningful, exciting, and
comprehensive youth program that achieves the objectives of Cub Scouting will find this
format the ideal way to go. Click for budget worksheet.
CHOCCOLOCCO
2010 CENTENNIAL QUALITY DISTRICT
District Executive Steven Miles smiles@1bsa.org Cell - 256-223-2999
Good morning, Choccolocco District. I hope that everyone is finding their week start a good one. Mine is
going to be a little shakey as I have been on vacation for two weeks and have forgotten how to work. :o)
Seriously, it was a great opportunity for me to recharge my batteries and get back into the swing of things.
Things I learned on my vacation, I hate to paint. I have painted an entire week. Well, no more painting until
next year.
I am not going to bore you this week with a lot of gibberish I am going to stick straight to the facts. We have
a lot coming up and a little time to get it done. Popcorn!!!! It is just around the corner. There are some great
prizes this year to include cash incentives for district top sellers. It is going to be a great year for it so let's
make sure that we get behind it. Let me know if you are intending to sell. I want to make sure that we have
everyone on board to make this a banner year.
District School Night Training is on July 25th at 6:00 p.m. at the Anniston LDS Church. I need everyone there
that can come. Put it on your Calendar.
Program Preview Conference is on Augutst 4th at 6:30 p.m. at the Anniston LDS Church. Be there with as
many leaders as you can muster. This is the big one.
September Roundtable and Popcorn Kick Off meeting is on September 1st at 6:30 p.m. at the Anniston LDS
Church. This is also our roundtable. Be there to get your popcorn forms and all of the information about this
year's sale.
Choccolocco/Cheaha Fishing Rodeo-September 24th at Camp Sequoyah- I need volunteers for this one guys.
Some personal matters have removed the coordinator from the mix and I am needing some help now.
Please volunteer. Check with your leadership to see who can step up. This is a huge event that we do not
need to put a mediocre effort forward.
I would like for everyone to make sure they get into their fall calendars Cub
Scout Haunted weekends. I mentioned at the last roundtable that I would like
everyone to commit to working at least one weekend at the Cub Scout
Haunted. I am a very greedy DE and would like for everyone to commit to all
three weekends but I will take at least one. I would like all Units to sponsor
and design a Fall Carnival type game that we can put on the field in front of
the Dining Hall to set up a fun atmosphere for all of the kids that come. Go
ahead and be thinking about this. I know that you will have fun as I do every
year. I will take care of the prizes and such. Just get the games designed and
there. Please let me know what you will be doing so I can work on prize levels
and lay-out on the field.
Guys, that about covers it. Please continue to strive towards excellence in everything that we do. Serve the
youth. That's what we are signed on to do. Thank you for all that you do.
Steven D. Miles
District Executive
Choccolocco District
Greater Alabama Council
Boy Scouts of America
256-223-2999
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN DISTRICT
Serving Cherokee, DeKalb, & Etowah Counties
District Executive Michael Wells
miwells@1bsa.org
Cell - 256-473-5511
Office - 205-969-4258
Please note: Our District’s Web address has changed! Please update
your bookmarks! Look for new updates to the page coming soon.
http://lookoutmountain.1bsa.org
GADSDEN FISH DERBY PLANNING
Following the Trainer’s EDGE Course on Saturday, we will be discussing the
Gadsden Fish Derby. If you would like to be included and are not attending the
Gadsden Fish Derby. If you would like to be included and are not attending the
training, please let Michael Wells know, and we will contact you, if training ends
early.
NEW VENTURE CREW IN GADSDEN
We are starting a NEW VENTURE CREW in Gadsden at Crosspoint
Church. Venturing is a co-ed program for boys and girls ages 13 to 20. We will
be having a Open House in the future. Please check next week’s Digital Eagle for
more information.
TRAINER’S EDGE
The Trainer’s EDGE will be held on Saturday, July 23, 2011 at Crosspoint
Community Church located at 2730 Wills Creek Rd, Gadsden, AL. Crosspoint is
located just off I-759 in Gadsden. The training will be located in the two-story
gym, in between the two playgrounds, to the left of the main building. The cost of
the course is $5 plus $6 if you want lunch, plus $10 if you want a Trainer’s
neckerchief. Registration starts at 7:30 AM with instruction beginning at 8:00
AM. The course will be over at 5:00 PM.
You MUSTpreregister for this event as you MUSTbring a prepared presentation
with you. To register send the information below to either Lisa Sullivan at
mulberryscouter@yahoo.com or John Trichell at bammertrich@yahoo.com. You
will receive further instructions when you preregister. If you have questions
contact either Lisa or John. You may also contact Clay Pruitt, Field Director at
cpruitt@bsamail.org or (205) 969-4264.
Trainer's EDGE is BSA's latest version of the Training Conference that instructs
leaders on better ways of making presentations at trainings and allows the
participants to practice the EDGE training model (Explain, Demonstrate Guide
& Enable) and gain self-confidence through hands-on training experiences.
Participants are given an opportunity to prepare and practice a training session
of their choice, using materials, equipment, and/or props that they bring with
them to the course.
SAFETY FIRST
As we enter into the heat of summer, make sure we focus on safety. Most of our
youth spend time in climate controlled areas, and are not adjusted to the
heat. Make sure everyone stays properly hydrated with water. Most of your
carbonated drinks such as Coke or Mountain Dew, as well as tea and the energy
drinks, contain caffeine, or other ingredients that are a diuretic, which cause you
to expel fluids. Have mandatory brakes, and make sure you see everyone
drinking water, not just a swallow out of a bottle, but large quantities. Also make
sure you are familiar with signs of Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke, and watch
out for all adults and youth. Nothing ruins an outing like having to go to the
hospital to get an IV for fluids. Stay safe and have fun.
GREAT FLAG RETIREMENT AT FIRST FRIDAY IN GADSDEN
Troop 777 conducted flag retirement ceremony. They had 53 flags plus they
replaced the city's flag. It was taken down and disassembled on site before
retiring. The crowd participated with the red and white stripes and the blue
fields were give to local veterans to retire. Carter Rains did a piece in the
Gadsden Times and went on the local radio promoting the event, and conducted
the ceremony along with Noah Harden, TJ Davis, Derek Trichell, RC Roe, Mike
McDaniel, and Tyler Hopper from Troop 777 and Jonah Harden, a Webelos 2
from Pack 777. Noah, Carter, and Derek spent several hours preparing the flags.
Digital Eagle
Make sure you are talking to all your members about signing up for the Digital
Eagle, and all the other digital media where they can get information.
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN
2010 CENTENNIAL QUALITY DISTRICT
District Executive Johnathan Lovett jlovett@1bsa.org
(256) 609-3150
Mountain Lake Day Camp: A huge thanks goes out to Jimmy Chapman and his volunteer staff for putting on a
great Day Camp for the Mountain Lake District! The children, as well as, the adult leaders had a great time! They
got to experience a lot of great things including: a life saver helicopter fly-in, a visit from the Scottsboro fire
department, a visit from the ambulance service, a trip to the Scottsboro Splash Park, BB's, Archery, Arts and Crafts, a
trip to Dominos Pizza to tour and make their own pizza, lots of sports activities, water bottle rockets,
advancements, and a whole lot more!!! Jimmy Chapman and his staff really went above and beyond to ensure that
these boys had an unforgettable fun-filled experience! We will post pictures of our Day Camp on the Digital Eagle
next week!
Fall Program Preview Conference: Attention all volunteers!!! Mark your calanders for Thursday August 4th. We
will meet at the Henryville Methodist church at 6:30 pm to discuss all the exciting events and activities planned for
the upcoming year in Scouting! Please encourage all of the adult leaders in your unit to attend! This is a great
opportunity for fellowship among other scouters in our district! There will also be an Order of the Arrow Chapter
Meeting! Any Scout or Adult leader that is a member of the Order of the Arrow is welcome to attend this meeting.
Below is a list of things that we will be discussing at our upcoming Program Preview Conference.
At our Program Preview Conference we will be discussing:
The popcorn sales drive (Please make sure that your unit popcorn kernal is in attendance!!!)
Cub Scout Round-ups and recruitment
Cub fishing rodeo
Cub Haunted Weekend
Boy Scouts - Fall Camporee
Upcoming training opportunities
And a whole lot more!!!We look forward to seeing everyone there!!!
2011 Popcorn Sale!!! Our 2011 Popcorn Sale is here again! We encourage every unit to give their youth an
opportunity to earn great incentives and awards through our annual popcorn sale!!! The annual popcorn sale also
teaches our youth the importance of "earning their own way". It is a valuable way to teach youth the skills they will
need in order to be successful in life! By participating in our annual popcorn sale; a scout can potentially fund their
entire year of scouting!!! Please come to the Program Preview conference at Henryville United Methodist Church on
August 4th to hear more about this great opportunity and these great incentives!!!
Don't Drop on Albertville!!! In April of this year; Albertville Troop 4071 spent 4 hours of their time picking up
trash on roads in the Albertville community. They spent their personal time to help beautify their community and
show others that they care about their community! This was a great opportunity for them to earn service hours and
make an impact on the community they live in! A huge part of living the Scout Oath and Law is to do our duty to
God and our Country! They exhibited this by cleaning up the community and land that God has blessed them with!
We should all do our part, each and every day, to help our community and reach out to others! Thank You Troop
4071 for sharing this story!
Johnathan Lovett;
Mountain Lakes District Executive; GAC, BSA
(256) 609-3150
jlovett@1bsa.org
SHELBY
2010 CENTENNIAL QUALITY DISTRICT
2010 CENTENNIAL QUALITY DISTRICT
Senior District Executive Alan Riethmaier ariethmaier@1bsa.org 205.213.3409 (Cell)
205.969.4244 (Office)
**Program Preview Conference**
August 4th at 7:00 p.m. – Riverchase Church of Christ – All Scouting leaders are
encouraged to attend the 2011 Program Preview Conference. This meeting is
your chance to get updates on all council and district activities for the 2011-2012
school year. We will roll out our training, fundraising, and activity dates and
flyers.
**Troop 548 Has A Great Summer**
Troop 548, chartered by American Legion Post 138 of Alabaster and Shelby
District’s oldest continuously chartered unit, concluded a successful summer camp
at Sequoyah Saturday the 2nd by bringing home the Camp Commissioner’s
award, the Campsite Inspection award, placing second in the Water Carnival and
having one Scout earn a Top Gun award at the shooting range. The troop
members also earned many merit badges & participated in the Foxfire and
Mountain Man programs. In addition, our new Scouts made great advancement
strides in the Eagle Bound program. This is at least the third straight year that
Troop 548 has brought home the Camp Commissioner’s award.
**Baron’s Scout Night**
August 19th – See the Council Website at www.1bsa.org for the registration flyer. This is a great
deal, and a blast!
**Unit Training Updates**
Please take a few minutes to review the training status of your unit’s leaders. This is a key to
earning the Journey to Excellence Award! If our records do not match yours please email
Alanatariethmaier@1bsa.org so we can reconcile them.
**Oak Mountain Fishing Rodeo Save The Date**
This year’s fishing Rodeo will be held on Saturday, September 24th with an overnighter at Camp
Tranquility field on Friday, September 23rd.
**2011 Shelby Camporee Save The Date**
Please mark your calendar on October 14-16 at Veterans Park in Hoover.
Program details will be available at the Program Preview Conference on August
4th.
Alan Riethmaier
Shelby Senior District Executive
Greater Alabama Council, Boy Scouts of America
205.213.3409 (Cell)
205.969.4244 (Office)
ariethmaier@1bsa.org
TALAKTO
2010 CENTENNIAL QUALITY DISTRICT
Senior District Executive Curtis Hunt Chunt@1bsa.org or cell phone 256-361-7303
District Executive Brian Reeves brreeves@bsamail.org
Day Camp-We had a successful Cub Scout Day Camp a couple weeks ago at the Cahaba Shrine in Huntsville.
Scouts enjoyed many activities, including bb guns, archery, first aid, and others. Thank you to all of our Scouts that
came out and had a good time. A special thanks goes out to Sarah Capps and April Hall and their staff of dedicated
volunteers. We are already looking forward to having a great time at next year’s camp!
Fishing Rodeo- September 24th Our Fishing Rodeo will be held at Madison County Lake this year. Stay tuned for
flyers to come. Boy Scouts- don't forget that if you need servicehours, we need your help. Adults and siblings can
fish but anyone over 12 must have a fishing license. There were reports of parking problems last year so we are
looking for any input and suggestions you m
ay have on how to solve the problem. We are looking for a chairman for this event. Contact Dianna O'Dell @
Talakto_communications@yahoo.com to volunteer.
Huntsville Gem and Mineral Society's 43rd Annual Gem and Mineral Show- October 14, 15, 16 Beltloop and
Merit Badge opportunity. In the past 6 years, we have had over 2400 kids attend this event. Slots are limited so book
early. Cub Scouts can work to earn their Geology Beltloop and Pin Webelos can work to earn their Geology
Beltloop and Pin and the Geology Activity Badge Boy Scouts can work to earn their Geology Merit Badge And
don't forget to visit the Fluorescent Room where all the rocks glow under shortwave ultraviolet light! Contact
Dianna O'Dell @ Talakto_communications@yahoo.com to book a spot.
Scouting for Food- tentative date- November 19th We are supporting the Salvation Army again this year. Bags will
beavailable at the November RoundTable. Stayed tuned for more information. Please letus know the answer to the
typical grocery store question, "Paper or plastic?" We've noticed that the plastic bags have gotten really thin and
want toknow which you prefer. Talakto collected 20,715 pounds of food in 2010 to help needy families in our local
area. Great job!!
Powder Horn September 16-18 & October 7-9, this is not a Venturing Course,but a High Adventure exposure course
to take Scouting to the next level in their Troop and Crew.
Youth Protection Training is required for all registered volunteers. New leaders are required to take Youth Protection
training before they submit an application for registration. The certificate of completion for this training must be
submitted at the time application is made and before volunteer service with youth begins.Youth Protection training
must be taken every two years. If a volunteer's Youth Protection training record is not current at the time of recharter,
the volunteer will not be reregistered. You do not have to be a registered member or have a member ID to take Youth
Protection training..To take Youth Protection training go to My Scouting and create an account. From the
MyScouting.org portal, click on E-Learning and take the Youth Protection training. Upon completion, you may
print a certificate of completion to submit with a volunteer application or submit the completion certificate to the
unit leader for processing at the local council. When your volunteer application is approved, you will receive a BSA
membership card which includes your member ID number. After you receive your membership card, log back into
My Scouting, click on My Profile and update the system by inputting your member ID number. This will link your
Youth Protection training records, and any other training, in MyScouting to your BSA membership.
Roundtable New Location!! *GREAT* Scouting resource covering upcoming events, places to go, things to do!
Held the first Thursday of each Month When: Thursday, August 4, 2011 Where: JP II Catholic High School, 7301
Old Madison Pike, Huntsville(1/2 mile west on left past Bridge Street Town Centre)Time: 7:00 p.m. Order of the
Arrow meets at 6:30 p.m. National Eagle Scout Association (NESA) meeting starts at 6:00 p.m.
Huntsville Stars "Scouts in the Outfield" Download form here
Thank You,
Curtis Hunt
Senior District Executive
Boy Scouts of America
2211 Drake Avenue
Huntsville,Al.35805
Cell: 256-361-7303
Office: 256-883-7071
THREE RIVERS
2010 CENTENNIAL QUALITY DISTRICT
Please visit our district website and facebook page at :
District Website - http://threerivers.1bsa.org
GAC
Contact: Brian Wilson
Senior District Executive
(205) 969-4282 - Office
bwilson@1bsa.org
or facebook – Three Rivers District
bwilson@1bsa.org
District Updates
Thank you to all of the units, leaders, parents, and, most of all, scouts that
participated in our two TWO TWILIGHT CAMPS. This was a great year and
we made our goal of having a combined total of 125 Scouts to participate. We
want to thank Jon Ryan and Adam Gooch for serving as the Camp Directors as
well as Mechell Malone and Samantha Meadows for serving as Program
Directors. We have already secured the second week of June with Clearbranch
Church to host Day Camp 2012 and we ask that you go ahead and plan your
calendars with this information. We will be working on the second camp’s
location and date in the near future.
Are you ready for School Night?
Now is the time to get with your school’s principals to schedule the dates for the
upcoming School Night for Scouting. Our goal is to complete fall recruitment by
September 22, 2011 and we cannot do this without your support. Keep in mind that
we would like to host these events on Tuesday and Thursday nights beginning no
earlier than 6:00pm. Give your families enough time to get home begin on homework
and possibly eat dinner prior to heading out to a meeting. Also, we would like to host
these events as stand alone meetings. They should not be coupled with Open House,
Meet and Greet, or PTO Meetings. You are encouraged to participate in these events
as a Pack, but not to
UPCOMING EVENTS
July 21, 2011 – District Committee Meeting
St. Vincent’s East Hospital
Atrium Cafe
7:00pm
August 4, 2011 – District Roundtable
St. Vincent’s East Hospital
Classroom 1
7:00pm
Commissioner Staff
If you have not received a visit or call from your Unit Commissioner or have no idea
of who your Unit Commissioner is, please contact Bill Kiley at
rustybayonet@charter.net.
VULCAN
**A Quality, Award Winning District since 2004**
2010 CENTENNIAL QUALITY DISTRICT
Senior District Executive Doug Jackson doug@1bsa.org Office (205) 969-4269 Cell (205) 9072845.
Updated:
***Day Camp- Well who can really say that June is cooler than July now? July 25-29 at Oak
Mountain State Park. You can still sign up for the Vulcan Day Camp and get the early bird special.
Please see our district website and the Day Camp Page for all of the details. We will be having a lot
of fun, and we hope you can join us.
***Popcorn- As you plan your upcoming Scouting year, figure out your unit budget and how
much you will need the Scouts to sell to meet that budget. Trails End has some great tools to help
every unit plan their budgets. Even if you are not participating, these tools are helpful. We have a
great team in place that is waiting and willing to help you. We need your help to insure we have a
successful year this fall with our popcorn sale. Kristin Massie is the District Kernel. Please contact
her for help and to let her know your unit popcorn kernel (kristinmassie@bellsouth.net).
***School Night for Scouting- Please contact your schools to set the date. The district is targeting
the week of August 22nd. The district School Night team is excited about this Fall and are eager to
help your unit. Joe Swaika is the District School Night Chairman and Peter Bosworth our
membership chairman. You can contact them for information or support. I hope to have more
information on the Hoover School system this week. Our School Night Training is going to be
August 2nd 6:30pm.
***As Summer Camp continues please let me know if you need help. I hope all Troops have a
great experience. Remember that at the July Roundtable we will be discussing Camp.
***The Vulcan District continues to serve our communities as the Storm recovery efforts continue.
Here is the latest example of Vulcan in action:
Here is the latest example of Vulcan in action:
“Pack 776, Liberty Park Baptist Church, recently collected sports equipment that was delivered to
the University of Alabama day care facility (University Place) and to a school in Alberta, AL, both
of which provide services to children affected by the recent tornado devastation. The intention was
to replace sports equipment that was damaged in the storm, so the kids would have something
active to do this summer”
***Philmont Training Center Scholarship Available - Vulcan Adult Scout Leaders who want to
attend the Philmont Training Center can apply for the Robert F Calhoun Philmont Training Center
Scholarship. Applications are due April 15th, 2011. NEW APPLICATION WILL BE POSTED
AS SOON AS AVAILABLE.
Vulcan OA is on Facebook- “Nunne-Hi Chapter of the Coosa Lodge”
District OA Meetings - OA meetings are held the last Thursday of each month at 6:30 PM at the
Briarwood Scout House. Both former and current arrowmen of any lodge are invited to attend.
Questions: Brett Melton, bkmelton@charter.net
WESTMORELAND
Interim District Executive- Clay Pruittt- cpruitt@1bsa.org
My name is Clay Pruitt and I will be serving as your interim District Executive until a replacement
can be found. For those who may remember it was my pleasure to serve as your District Executive
prior to Alan Riethmaier and I am looking forward to serving with you again. Please feel free to
contact me on my cell phone at 205-914-7182 or via email at cpruitt@1bsa.orgif I can be of any
assistance. I take great pride in making sure all my phone calls that I receive from you are returned
as well as emails to make your job easier to serve our youth. Westmoreland District holds a special
place in my heart and you are a special group of people who I care for very much. I greatly
appreciate all your service to our youth, it is recognized and very much appreciated. I look forward
to hearing from you and I will keep you posted on any information that becomes available.
Eagle Board of Reviews:
To schedule a Project Review or Eagle Board, email the Westmoreland District Eagle Board at
<mailto:EagleBoard@WestmorelandDistrict.com>
EagleBoard@WestmorelandDistrict.com<mailto:EagleBoard@WestmorelandDistrict.com> with
your Name, Troop #, Email and Phone Number that you maybe reached at. Also, state if it is a
Project Review or Eagle Board and give a brief Description of your proposed project including the
sponsor and the physical location.
Have your email sent to the Board by the Friday afternoon before the 1st Thursday of the month so
that you maybe scheduled for the upcoming Board. The Eagle Board meets the first Thursday of
each month concurrently with Roundtable except no meetings are held in the month of July."3
The Westmoreland District Day Camp was exceptional!!! Congratulations and Thank You to
Laurel Rickard, Kristie Woodfin, and all of the wonderful volunteers for putting on such a great
week of fun for everyone! 84 boys participated in camp this year and Laurel and Kristie received a
perfect score on their camp inspection!
perfect score on their camp inspection!
Coosa Lodge
These past few weeks, camps Sequoyah and Mike have held several Brotherhood
ceremonies. Congratulations to all our brothers who have sealed their membership in our
lodge!
Our next event will be the September Ordeal at Comer Scout Reservation, September 911th. If you're a member cost for the Ordeal will be $10. The registration forms for
members and candidates are both on coosa50.org
If you are planning on running for a lodge position make sure to have your Officer Nomination
Form as deadline to turn it in is at the September Ordeal.
OA Fact - The OA has more than 176,000 members located in lodges affiliated with approximately
327 BSA local councils.
WWW,
WWW,
NGM
Lodge officers:
Chief – Devan Beitel
Vice Chief of Service – Kyle Dotson
Vice Chief of Administration – Jacob Smith
Vice Chief of Communications – Nathan Moore
Vice Chief of Fellowship – Jorge Marin
Vice Chief of Inductions – Ethan Merrell
Vice Chief of Native American Affairs – Alex Pope
Northern Vice Chief – Micah Gilliland
Southern Vice Chief – John Melton