A Few Words From the Scout Executive

Fireside Chat Dates Announced for Western Service Area

As you have probably heard by now, the Shawnee Trails Council will stop administering the Scouting program in Kentucky, Illinois, and Tennessee on March 31. Effective April 1, the communities it served will become part of the Lincoln Heritage Council, which is headquartered in Louisville.

I know that you have many questions about what this change will mean for you and your unit, including how you'll get supplies and where you'll go to camp. Many of those questions are answered on a special page of the Lincoln Heritage Council website. Click here to view the web page. Others will be answered over the coming weeks. We want to give you the right answers, not just right-now answers, and I appreciate your patience as volunteers and Scouting professionals as we work together to ensure a smooth transition.

I would like to invite you to meet our council leadership at one of three fireside chats scheduled in April. Any and all Scout leaders are invited to attend. You will have an opportunity to meet both the volunteer leadership and executive leadership of the council. We will share our vision of Scouting in the Lincoln Heritage Council and our methods of support for all units, leaders and Scouts in the council.

Please join us at any one of these locations at 6:30 p.m. Central Time:

April 4, 2012 

Owensboro Community and Technical College

Blanford Hall in the Humanities Building (2nd on left)

View map at www.octc.kctcs.edu 

April 16, 2012
Paducah Area

Fountain Avenue United Methodist Church

300 Fountain Ave, Paducah, KY 

April 18, 2012
Bowling Green Area

Holy Spirit Catholic Church
4754 Smallhouse Road
Bowling Green, KY 42104

I look forward to learning from you and also sharing some of what we've learned in the century since we started out as the old Louisville Area Council. Together, we'll grow into the 14th largest council in America - and what I hope will soon be the best council our country has ever seen.

Thank you for your continuing commitment to serving young people through Scouting.

Barry Oxley

Barry Oxley

Scout Executive

What difference can Scouts make?

With over 35,000 Scouts, Scouters, and parents involved with the Lincoln Heritage Council, we have the opportunity to make a HUGE impact on 64 counties in Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and Tennessee. During the week of April 15-22 we encourage each unit to plan and execute a community service project that will benefit their city/town/county. All unit leaders will need to record their project at mygiveaday.com.  

Whether you give a hour, or the day - the rewards are bigger than you can possibly imagine.   

Project Ideas: 

• Organize a backpack school supply drive
• Volunteer at a soup kitchen
• Spend time with the elderly
• Adopt a highway
• Organize a tornado relief project

Need help finding a project? United Way has a list of ongoing service projects. Visit www.uwky.org to find a United Way agency in your area. For additional information contact Larry Arnold, Central Kentucky Program Director, at (502) 400-5373 or larry.arnold@scouting.org.    

Eagle Scout Argonaut to Be Selected

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Eagle Scout Award, the National Eagle Scout Association and the BSA's STEM Initiative will select one Eagle Scout to accompany Dr. Bob Ballard, the oceanographer who discovered the Titantic, to the Black Sea this summer. Eagle Scouts who are qualified and would like to be considered for this wonderful opportunity must submit an essay by email to nesa@scouting.org, with the subject line of Eagle Scout Argonaut, no later than midnight, March 23, 2012. 

To qualify as the Eagle Scout Argonaut, candidates must:

• Be an Eagle Scout
• Be at least 15 years of age by June 1, 2012
• Intend to major in either oceanography or marine science in college
• Intend to have a career in either oceanography or marine science
• Be able to attend the BSA's National Annual Meeting in Orlando from May 31 to June 1, 2012 (expenses paid)
• Be able to travel to Connecticut for boot camp and then to the Black Sea (between Europe and Asia) from July 23 to Aug. 4, 2012 (expenses paid)
• Either have a current passport or obtain one no later than June 1, 2012
• Submit an essay no more than 250 words on why you are the best person to go to the Black Sea as the Eagle Scout Argonaut.  This must be submitted no later than midnight March 23, 2012.

Volunteers recruit units for a LHC Tornado Relief Team
The Lincoln Heritage Council Boy Scout troops and crews have joined forces with the Cross Roads of America Council in an effort to assemble a large work force of volunteers to assist with tornado relief efforts in Southern Indiana. These areas include Henryville, Marysville, Nabb, Otisco, individual outline property and Farm-Aid.
 
This is a unique opportunity to demonstrate the character and spirit of our organizations by providing intensified, productive, hands-on aid to our fellow Hoosiers hit by this tragedy. On, March 10th the Pekin Indiana Team assembled 171 Scouts and Leaders which made a meaningful and measurable community impact. The goal is to assemble an even larger workforce this time, and have an even greater impact!  
 
This service effort will take place on Saturday, March 31, 2012. Click here for more information.  

Keystone Club builds bunkhouse at Camp Crooked Creek 

New bunk house

Keystone Club worked with the Camp Rangers on a new bunkhouse near Frontier Town. Twenty-four bunks were built, gravel was spread and rough-cut oak walls were installed.  The project will be ready for use by Summer Camp, and features covered breezeway and handicap access.  Much of the wood used was taken from trees on camp property, adding to the quality while reducing the overall project cost.

Elections for new officers were also held and Adrian Grisanti will be the
new Chief of Keystone Club.  For more information about the club or for
information on being nominated to become a member, contact Adrian at
502-797-8842