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.

Scouting for Food, our Council's largest service project, is just around the corner. This event, which takes places the first two Saturdays of November, teaches our Scouts a great deal about service to others, as we work together to collect food to feed the hungry of our communities.

For your unit to participate, you need to be sure your unit has filled out its commitment form. If your unit has not yet committed, please do so online at http://scoutingforfood.cflscouting.org. You also find some great resources and information about the event on the website.

Next up, be sure your unit is represented at your District's October Roundtable. That will be the meeting where you will pick up your bags. Also, your unit needs to plan on having a unit Scouting for Food kickoff, so the youth of your unit understand what it's all about.

Under leadership of 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 Boy Scout Golf Classic tournament which will be held at the prestigious Lake Nona Country Club on October 1st. The title sponsors are Fields Automotive and Greenberg Traurig who are excited about the tournament. The 30 team limited field, which is almost filled to capacity is looking good. This year's Pairing Party was hosted by Fields BMW and sponsored by TD Bank on the 28th of September. Thanks to all for your participation and support for an evening of fun, food and camaraderie. For addition updates on the Golf Classic, please check the Council's website for additional information or contact Kirk Clark/Development Director at (407) 703-0230 - e-mail: kirk.clark@cflscouting.org 

 

 

The 2012 Sporting Clays Invitational

is off to a "blast" of a start with two Title Sponsors: BB&T Bank and David Maus Automotive Group. Richard Haines of R.L. Haines General Contractor, Chairman for the 6th Annual Sporting Clays has energized his team to shoot for the stars... The event is scheduled for November 1 & 2 at the fabulous Quail Creek Plantation in Okeechobee County, FL., boosting a shooting complex which spans over 1000 pristine acres. Your Team will enjoy the activities of a tailgate reception & BBQ and a course of 14 different stations. Each shooter will take aim at a total of 100 clay targets. Come join us for some FALL FUN! Please refer to the Council's website for additional information or contact Kirk Clark/development Director at (407) 703-0230 - email:

• Receive the unit ID from Council (Unit IDs will be distributed at the training sessions).
• Click on the Help link to review this resource.
• Click the Frequently Asked Questions link and view the file.

• Click on the Internet Advancement link as a first-time user, and then log on with the unit ID, unit type, and four-digit unit number. You will continue using the unit ID and user-selected password in the future as a returning user.
• After log on, the system will use the information from ScoutNET.
• When you complete the process, submit your file. This submittal process updates the youth member records for the unit within ScoutNET and the council information.
• Print the Advancement Report and acquires the appropriate signatures. The signature(s) verify the approval for the advancements reported.
• Turn in the Advancement Report and purchase award insignia(s).

What message do you send to your new Scouting families about popcorn?

Often times, we forget that our new scouting families are NEW. There are so many things about Scouting that we take for granted, and it has become such a part of our lives that we forget that our new families are lost and trying to figure this whole "Scouting" thing out. Between Den Meetings, Campouts, Uniforms, and Badges, Popcorn may seem overwhelming unless it is properly explained.

Remember that parents sign their boy up for Scouting to be a Scout, not to be a popcorn salesman. But with the right message, you can show them how popcorn makes your Scouting program run. The articles in this newsletter will focus on the three steps to bringing new families into popcorn in a positive way as well as welcome them to your Scouting program.

1. Be Positive

Sounds simple, doesn't' it? You would be surprised how many people skip this very important step. Parents are looking towards you and your other leaders for guidance. If you or another leader is negative about anything (Popcorn, campouts, or other leaders) they are going to follow your lead. If they think you don't like popcorn then they aren't going to like popcorn. If they don't like popcorn they aren't going to sell it. If they don't sell in your program won't have the funds it needs to put on all the GREAT activities you have planned.

2. Focus on the Program (the FUN)

Scouting is fun. That's why boy's join. That's why parents volunteer. If they aren't having fun, then they aren't going to stay very long. What does this have to do with popcorn?

EVERYTHING!!!!

Parents need to see their boy having fun. They need to see all of the fun events that their son is going to participate in over the next few months. They need to know that the time they spend in Scouting with their son and other parents are going to be enjoyable. Once they see the fun that their new Scout will have, then they will be very open to paying for that fun by selling popcorn.

3. Make it easy

Have a good popcorn plan that involves:

1. A Goal
2. Sales Opportunities
3. Unit Prizes and Incentives

All these new Scouts ... now what do I do???

During the past two months Packs throughout our council have been recruiting new Cub Scots to join Cub Scouts for the first time.  Now it's time to deliver the promise of Scouting, to make sure the new families are "plugged in" and having fun!!!  By now most new families should have been to at least a couple of meetings and well on their way to earning belt loops and patches.  Within the first two weeks of activities every new Scout should have earned his Bobcat Badge.  Your Pack should be signed up to attend your District's Cub Family Campout and at least one of our fantastic events at Camp Lanoche.

One key indicator to a strong and healthy Pack is the number of leaders they have that are trained.  Training is key to a successful Pack program!!  Attend your District's Roundtable and take advantage of a wealth of resources.

We are part of the greatest youth organization in the world!  By the end of this year over 7,000 more families will have joined our organization for the first time!!

Thank you for helping make Scouting grow!!

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. 

The Boy Scouts of America has a Mission - causing success for our Scouts and Scout Leaders in building their Scouting Adventure. The Boy Scout motto is - "Be Prepared" ad we are helping you to be Prepared. For Life - to be "Prepared" you must pre-think or educate yourself, or in short you must have a plan. If we, the Central Florida Council, every registered member - youth and adult - plus our youth member's parents look to succeed in Scouting's Mission we must also have a plan. The plan must include Council objectives and District objectives, needing every Unit, Scout, and Adults participation to fulfill completely and succeed in carrying out Scouting's Mission. The Central Florida Council is "Prepared. For Life" for Scouting success now and in the future by the development and execution of the Central Florida Council - Strategic Plan.

The Central Florida Council "Strategic Plan" is all encompassing, both the Scouting Program's needs and objectives plus assurance of its longevity by including present year goals and goals extending outward five years into the future. The Scouting Program's needs and objectives include the entire program offered and deliver to the Scouts, the Scout Leaders, and Scouting Parents. These needs and objectives include Membership, Finance, and Program - Training, Activities/Civic Service, Camping, and Advancement - plus Unit Service. Needs and objectives to cause success and the proper deliverance of the Scouting Program include recruitment and retainage of membership, funding requirements and financial partners, leadership requirements and development,  education and recognition, and "Scouting's Promise"  the fun and service, plus the outdoors and adventure.

The Strategic Plan is the Central Florida Council's plan to successful Scouting. We, the Scouts and Adults involved in the Scouting Program, as its Council's Membership, its Representatives, and its Leadership must recognize the need and reason for our assistance and involvement. We must be able to track where we are presently and be able to follow the plan to obtain its objectives, reach its goal, and conquer success.

For more information about the Central Florida Council's Strategic Plan and how you can be involved in the success of the Scouting Mission, please ask your Council or District Leadership.