Cub Halloween at Camp La-No-Che

Mark your family's calendar for Cub Halloween 2012 at Camp La-No-Che.  Your Cub Scout and family will be able to participate in the famous "La-No-Che Haunted House", the "Haunted Trails", pumpkin decorating and trick or treating plus activities such as archery, bb guns, games, campfire, camping plus much more!  Cub Halloween 2012 at Camp La-No-Che is available the following weekends (click on the appropriate week to register):

• October 5-7, 2012
• October 12-14, 2012
• October 19-21, 2012
• October 26-28, 2012

You will be receiving a survey shortly via e-mail from the Boy Scouts of America - please take the time to complete it. Help make the Scouting Program the best it can be for our Scouts.

Central Florida Council receives funding from our local United Ways.  In Central Florida, we are supported by four United Ways:  Brevard; Lake/Sumter; Volusia/Flagler and Heat of Florida United Way (Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties).

In Brevard, Lake/Sumter and Volusia/Flagler United Ways, Central Florida Council is a member agency.  In these United Ways, we receive both designations and allocations. 

The Central Florida Council became a "contract organization" instead of a member agency in the Heart of Florida United Way (Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties) in July 2001.  As a "contract organization", we no longer receive an allocation from the pool of non-designated funds (which is the majority of the funds United Way raises).  In order for us to receive funds from the United Way campaign, donors must specifically designate all or a portion of their gift to the Central Florida Council (Heart of Florida United Way code 8009).

During the fall 2001 United Way campaign, we received $449,000 in designations due to all the publicity with being changed to a "contract organization".  The designation funds have continued to decrease yearly mainly due to people forgetting and new people moving into Orange, Osceola and Seminole County.   2011-12 designations were $141,155 and 2012-13 designations were $113,783.

It's time to invite new families to join Scouting!!  By now your Pack should have launched your Cub Scout sign-up promotion campaign.  Promotional supplies were distributed at the July Roundtables.  Packs received yard signs, posters, and the 'Parent's Guide to Cub Scouting' brochures.  It's time to use these tools!!! 

Remember, our goal is to saturate our communities with the promotional materials.  Go beyond your school and set up the yard signs and posters at churches, restaurants, supermarkets and other places families frequent.  Use your social networking sights to invite your friends to be a part of the Cub Scout adventure.  Make sure you have a visible presence at 'Meet the Teacher' and 'School Open Houses' and hand out the 'Parent's Guide to Cub Scouting' brochures.  Use the brochures in your church bulletins.

In mid August you will begin to see billboards and hear radio spots letting families know that now is the time to join Cub Scouts.

Follow the plan...  Families need Cub Scouts...  You need to "get the word out" that they can join your Pack!!

Marketing/Promotions Plan

• "Get the word out." - Communicate your Pack's School Night Sign-Up to friends and parents whom with you come in contact.
• Social Networking - Get your parents to use their social networking sites; Face Book, Twitter..., to inform their friends about your Sign-Up Night.  (Have them give a personal testimony of how Scouting has benefitted their family.)
• Make sure you have posters of Scouts in action; in your school, church and other places that will give parents info on when they can sign up.
• Develop an incentive for Peer-to-Peer recruiting.
• Have an impressive presence at Meet the Teacher & Open House.  (Tents, Flag ceremony, Cub Scout greeters, interactive booth...)
• The day before and the day of your School Night, see if the school will allow Cub Scouts in uniform to welcome parents and students in the drop off line.
• Make sure all your Cub Scouts proudly wear their uniforms the day of your School Night.
• Make sure Leaders & Cub Scouts are at your School Night ready to welcome new families.
• Have an organized School Night.  First impressions are crucial.
• Make sure you have a Pack calendar to give to the new families.
• Make reminder calls to all new Cub Scouts to insure they attend their first meeting.
• Update your BeAScout.org pin. 

You've heard of Them - the Volunteer Unit Leaders, the Volunteer Council/District Leaders, and the Council Professionals - (well they are us?). We are all One of Them and it's a good thing because we need every one of us and them. Them as they are sometimes called are not our opponents they are our allies working alongside us and with us as one team to create and operate our Scouting Program.

Scouting's Leadership starts with every one of us, we are all equals working and playing on a level playing field of opportunity and adventure. That being said, being no different than any other organization or corporate business the need for coordination exists which means organizers are required. The Them are created. They (Them) need us to cause advancement and success for the Scouting Program, for the Scouts and the Units.

Scouting has divisions needed to provide and coordinate the program as a whole and to truly be able to provide Scouting's Mission. These divisions are solely geographical, the local Unit (Pack, Troop, Crew, Team, Ship, and Post), the District (includes Units from a geographical area), and the Council (encompassing all of the Districts and Units as one). These divisions require coordination and organization requiring single points of information collection and directional control; this is where Scouting's Leadership titles come alive. They are a need, not a distinction of the person as without all of us no one succeeds.

Within the Unit you have three entities, the Charter Organization, the Unit Committee, and the Scout's Adult Leadership. These entities divide the business from the program, program being the fun part for the Scouts, and the business being the safety for all involved, the financial needs of the Unit, and security of the well being of the Scouts and the Scouting Program. These entities are lead by the Charter Organization Representative, Committee Chairperson, and the Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, or Adviser. It is certain that these leaders cannot individually provide and organize the Unit's Scouting Program - they need and want our help.

Within the District there are also three entities, the District Committee, the District Commissioner Staff, and the District Executive (the Professional). These entities also divide up the duties and tasks at hand in fulfilling the needs of the entire Scouting Program. The District Committee organizes the program and business needs including membership, finance, training, camping, activities, and advancement - everything needed to provide the Units with the best Scouting Program. The Commissioner Staff is called "Unit Service", yes their Scouting purpose is to help serve the Units to assure that every Scout receives Scouting's Promise and gets to develop in and enjoy their Scouting Adventure. The Professional is solely an adviser, someone to give guidance, provide coordination within the leadership roles, and performed needed business functions.  These District Leaders are from our local community, they are our neighbors, and they are present and past Unit Leaders who cannot do it alone - they also need and want our help.

Within the Council there are also three entities, the Council Executive Committee/Board, the Council Committees, and the Profession/Support Staff. These entities once again divide up the duties and tasks working in unity developing and executing the Council's Scouting Program. The Council Executive Committee/Board includes the Council President and Council Commissioner along with the Council Vice Presidents and Executive Board Members who oversee the operations of the Council and develop the plans and objectives for the future. The Council Committees develop and coordinate the Scouting Programming enjoyed by our Scouts and Leaders. The Council Professions and Support Staff provide guidance and perform the daily business functions needed to sustain the Scouting Program and succeed in Scouting's Mission. These leaders are our voice in the Council - they also need and want our help.

Make your voice heard, get what You want in the Scouting Program, be one of Them - make it Us. Join the Team, every Them is a parent just like Us, they were Scouts or have/had Scouts in the program. More Us equals better Scouting, more Us equal success - There is no them, there's only Us . We need to do it for our Scouts, the reason for the scouting program, the reason for us to be involved.

What is "Scouting for Food?"

"Scouting for Food" is the nation's largest single-day food drive. It began as a Scout's service project in St. Louis in 1985 and was adopted by the National Organization in 1988. The goal is to help feed the hungry of our communities.  We are pleased to announce that Florida Hospital is the sponsor for this year's Scouting for Food drive

When does it take place?

In Central Florida, it always happens on the first two Saturdays of November.

• Saturday, November 3rd is Bag Distribution Day. Some 750,000 Winn-Dixie grocery bags will be hung on doors throughout Central Florida.

• Saturday, November 10th is Bag Collection Day. Starting at 9am, Scouts blanket our communities, collecting food donated by residents. Scouts then deliver the food to collection sites, where it is counted, packed and readied for delivery.

Why do we participate in Scouting for Food?

As an organization, the Boy Scouts teaches youth the value of helping others and giving back to their communities. By collecting food for people in need, Scouts are "doing a good turn" and "helping other people," key elements of the Scout Oath and slogan.

What's next?

Plan to attend your District's September Roundtable. Your District Scouting for Food Chair will be leading a kickoff and your unit will receive all the information it needs to make this event a success. Your unit can also commit now to participating in Scouting for Food by going to http://scoutingforfood.cflscouting.org

Where does the donated food go?

The Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and other local food pantries. Your donated food will help feed people in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake, Brevard, Volusia and Flagler Counties - at no charge to them.

Who helps make Scouting for Food possible?

The first event of the official Scouting program year kicked off with the 16th Annual Boy Scout Travel, Sports & Entertainment Auction on Friday, August 17th sponsored by WAYNE M. DENSCH CHARITIES, INC. Monique Yeager, Director of Marketing of Tony Roma's was this year's chair. Monique and the Auction Committee delivered a 'first class affair' - 'Thank You' all for you servant -leadership.

The Auction was an excellent event highlighting the Scouting program in the Central Florida Council. With over 600 participants coming out to support and bid on over 400 auction items - fun was had by all. Special thanks to all of the sponsors: ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, PEPSICO and Wayne Densch Distributor for the donation of beverages.

The new venue at the Sheraton Orlando North Hotel proved to be a great choice, with a staff that was accommodating with top-notch services. The valet parking services provided by Bags & Cars - compliments of Mark Moravec and the Sushi Bar compliments of Chef Keith Esbin were delighted touches. The performance of Alan Frenkel the auctioneer did an outstanding job! 'Thank You' to the entire Central Florida Council Staff for your support and contributions. Last, but not least, 'Thank You' to all the VIP's and guest. Your participation and patronage contributed to success of this year's Auction. Kudos to all!

The 2012 Boy Scouts Golf Classic is kicking into high gear. Giving leadership to this event are co-chairs Attorney Todd Miller of Greenberg Traurig, P.A., and Central Florida Market President, Toby Peabody of BBVA Commercial Bank. We are excited about this year's tournament which will be held at the prestigious Lake Nona Country Club on October 1st. The title sponsors are Fields Automotive and Greenberg Traurig. There is a 30 team limited field, so secure your foursome today! What an ideal way to recognize member of your staff, and top clients by securing a Foursome to one of the most talked about golf courses in Central-Florida. Please refer to the Council's website for additional information or contact Kirk Clark/Development Director at (407) 703-0230 - email: kirk.clark@cflscouting.org

 

 

The 2012 Sporting Clays Invitational

Online Charter Renewals (re-charters) instructions will be handed out at the October Round Table.  

NEW THIS YEAR - The annual Charter fee is being re-named and the fee is increasing to $40.  Please see the document at the end of this article for the explanation of changes.

Re-charter is the annual opportunity for charter organizations to recommit to operating a scouting unit as part of their youth programs.  It is the time that leaders and scouts renew their membership for the upcoming year.  All returning members pay a $15 annual membership fee and can also select Boys' Life Magazine, for a $12 fee.

Re-charter packets are handed out at the October Round Table and are due at the November Round Table.  If you have a question regarding re-charter, contact your Unit Commissioner. 

Complete a  Unit Inventory (call all inactive youth):

Call ALL inactive youth on your roster and ask them if they would like to continue their registration in the Scouts.  Just because a Scout hasn't been active lately does not mean that they want to end their association with Scouting; every kid deserves a second chance. Take a minute to invite them back. 

Since the BSA's inception in 1910, Scouts have learned to live the principles of the Scout Oath and Law through community service and "helping other people at all times." What began as a singular act of service on a foggy London night quickly evolved into daily Good Turns and then into more encompassing national initiatives. These have included selling war bonds, collecting rubber and scrap metal, growing victory gardens during WWII, and more recently Scouting for Food. We now have the opportunity to raise our levels of community service and increase awareness of the Scouting program within our neighborhoods. And we can do that one Scout at a time.

Remember to and remind all:
"Do a Good Turn Daily."