Connecticut Scouting e-Bulletin

May 18, 2012 

"A week of camp life is worth six months of theoretical teaching in the meeting room."
- Lord Robert Baden-Powell 
 
Read All About It
New Scout Executive Announced
Get Your Lou Salute Calendar
Friends of Scouting 2012
Eagle Scout Recognition Dinner
Take Your Pack To The Ballgame
Me & My Shadow
Eagle Stories
Register For Wood Badge

Day Camp 2012
It's not too late to sign up your son for Cub Scout Day Camp this year. Seven weeks, three locations to choose from ... incredible memories and fun to bring home. 
Fleur De Lis (GIF) 
Council Leadership

 

Council President

Doug Machin

Council Commissioner
Scout Executive

Lou Salute


Serving Branford, East Haven, Guiford, Madison, New Haven, North Branford

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Serving Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Stratford, Trumbull, Weston, Westport

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Powahay District
Serving Darien, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stamford and Wilton

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Serving Bethel, Brookfield, Danbury, Georgetown, New Fairfield, Newtown, Redding, Ridgefield, Sandy Hook, and Sherman

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Serving Hamden, Meriden, North Haven, Southington and Wallingford

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Serving Bethany, Milford, Orange, West Haven and Woodbridge

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NESA Logo 
Congratulations
to our newest
Eagle Scouts

 

Richard Coppola III
Spencer Erhardt
Alex Judkins
Owen Kosmaczewski
Joseph Kunetz
Joseph Palamara
Alexander Roccapriore.
Dylan VanSteenberger
Brandon Waibel
Adam Wruck
 
Carry on the Scouting trail with the National Eagle Scout Association
Useful Links 

Did You Know ... 
Eagle Scouts are roughly 39 percent more likely than other Scouts and approximately 55 percent more likely than non-Scouts to have held a leadership position in their workplace. . 
LOGO - Health & Safety
Health & Safety - Insurance Coverage

BSA recently issued an Information Alert regarding insurance coverage available to volunteers and chartered organizations. It addresses the availability of Comprehensive General Liability Insurance coverage, Automobile Liability Insurance requirements for Scouting events including requirement for vehicles carrying ten or more passengers, the general liability insurance policy coverage for Chartered Organizations, Accident and Sickness Coverage (optional coverage), non-owned boats used in activities, unauthorized and restricted activities and the requirements for Tour Plans. The link can be found at www.scouting.org. 

2013 Jambo Promo

Chief Scout Executive Bob Mazzuca tests out the lashing skills of Scouts from Stamford Troop 9. 

ConnJam 2012 - One for the Record Books!

 

If you missed ConnJam this past weekend, you missed one incredible experience -- the largest, most fun activity we've had. But in addition to the memories and activities, probably the thing that many Scouters will remember most is the professional response by our EMS Explorers in reacting to a clear air microburst that toppled a banquet tent and bounce house on Saturday afternoon, sending six to the hospital and injuring four others.  

 

Explorers from Stratford EMS Post 4911 respond to the emergency.
Photo Credit: Kristen Riolo.

"We train our Scouts to be prepared in all circumstances but hope that they won't need to put their first aid and emergency response training to the test," said Lou Salute, Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America, Connecticut Yankee Council. "I'm proud of the way that our Scouts, Explorers and volunteers reacted. They brought calm to chaos."


Thankfully, none of the injuries were life-threatening and all were released from the hospital on Saturday. One of those injured, a Cub Scout, actually returned to ConnJam later Saturday afternoon to experience the rest of the day.   

Slacklining was just one of the new activities featured at ConnJam 2012.

The microburst wasn't the only exciting thing at ConnJam. A visit by the Chief Scout Executive Robert Mazzuca, a slacklining demonstration, non-stop Scouting activities and a rocking closing show made this an event one that our Scouts will never forget. A year and a half worth of planning and preparation, led by event chairman Michael Card, certainly paid off.

"I am always amazed at the resilience of Scouts," said Salute. "Within ten minutes, our Scouts were out on the fields collecting the thousands of sheets of paper that had been blown into the air. Nobody asked them to. They just went to work, because they are Scouts."

 

We have posted over 100 pictures from ConnJam on our Council Facebook page and plan to share more through our website in the coming weeks. If you've got photos, videos or stories to share, please send them to us

Dustin Shaver Selected To Take CYC Helm as Scout Executive
Dustin Shaver signs his contract with Council President Doug Machin.
Council President Doug Machin is pleased to announce that Dustin Shaver has been chosen as the next Scout Executive of the Connecticut Yankee Council effective June 16, 2012. Lou Salute is retiring on June 30 after 37 years of service to the Boy Scouts of America, and nine years to the Connecticut Yankee Council. Dustin comes from Colorado Springs, Colorado with a proven track record as a Professional Scouter, most recently serving as Scout Executive of the Pikes Peak Council. Dustin has previously served as District Executive and Field Director in Sioux Council, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Director of Field Services, with the Pacific Harbors Council, in Tacoma, Washington. Dustin, an Eagle Scout and his wife, Bobbi, have three children. Please join us in welcoming Dustin as he leads our Council into the second century of Scouting. 
Get Your 'Lou Salute' Council Calendars!
Scout Executive Lou Salute is presented the first calendar by Chief Scout Executive Robert Mazzuca.
The new 2012/2013 Scouter's Directory & Council Calendar is available. We handed them out at ConnJam 2012, at the Program Kickoff and additional copies are available for pickup from the Council Resource Center or your district Roundtable. This year's calendar features two covers, one commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Eagle Scout Award, and the second celebrating Lou Salute's nearly nine years of service to the Connecticut Yankee Council. For more information or to get your own copy, contact your district executive 
Friends of Scouting 2012
Scouters pose with a big check representing the over $6,000 in unit incentives from FOS this year.
The 2012 Friends of Scouting Campaign is well on its way to meeting its goal to raise critical dollars to support Scouting here in the Council. Over 20 units have already exceeded their goals earning a combined $6,670 credited to their unit accounts. To learn more about Friends of Scouting, how your investment makes a difference locally, and how your unit can earn some FOS rewards, visit http://www.ctyankee.org/support/fos. 
Be A Mentor or Sponsor for an Eagle Scout
NESA LOGO
Eagle Scouts in the class of 2011/2012 will be recognized for their achievement on Sunday, June 10 at the annual Eagle Scout Recognition Dinner at Deer Lake. This event is being organized through the Council's National Eagle Scout Association Committee. Complete information for Eagle Scouts, parents or mentors is online at http://www.ctyankee.org/program/nesa/dinner.
Bring Your Pack to Scout Night at Bluefish!
Kickoff summer with a great game of baseball, an evening of fun for the entire family, and a campout in the outfield at the annual Scout Night at the Bluefish on Saturday, June 16. It doesn't get any easier or more fun for Cub Scout families. $16 a ticket gets you the pre-game parade, a great game, campout and of course a patch. Plus there will be fireworks. New Tigers who joined from January 1 to June 16 are eligible for a free ticket. Click here to download a registration form 
Bring Your Shadow to Hoyt on June 16-17

All Cub Scouts are invited to Hoyt Scout Reservation for the annual Me & My Shadow event with the theme of Patriot Games. Bring your Scout spirit and go through a Colonial-era boot camp Live a soldiers' life for the day, play some games and earn your stripes. BB-guns, sling shots, obstacle course, musket demo and more. This event is limited to the first 150 Scouts. Contact Keith Watson for more information. 

eagle
Eagle Stories - 'Focus on Trying to be the Test'

100th NESA Logo Transparent "In the history of Troop 19 there had never been an Eagle Scout. But before I walked out of my first Scout meeting, I had already made up my mind that I would become the first Eagle Scout at Troop 19. Hastily, I began my scouting journey with the goal of catching up to the many Scouts that were ahead of me. When I earned First Class my Scoutmaster asked me, "Why do you want to be the first Eagle Scout anyway?" I didn't have a very good answer. Then he followed by stating, "I wouldn't worry about trying to be first, I'd focus on trying to be the best." These words forever changed my life. They ring in my ear as if they were spoken a moment ago. "Focus on trying to be the best."


I began working on merit badges with a new sense of purpose. Rather than trying to complete things quickly, I worked with a goal of getting all I could out of every experience. And then I incorporated this thinking into every aspect of my life. When I eventually got my Eagle Award, I had learned to try to become the best person I could be.

We learn many lessons in life but none were greater than the one I learned while climbing the hill toward Eagle. And when I work with young Scouts today, it's not with the goal of making them Eagles, rather the goal is teaching them to become the best they can be.   

- Thomas Mercaldo
Eagle Scout Class of 1980

 

If you are an Eagle Scout, we'd like to know what it means to you. Send a note (300 words or less) to tony.vogl@scouting.org and we'll share in future editions of this newsletter. 

Register for Wood Badge Now to Save $25
Wood Badge logo
Is 2012 your year to take Wood Badge, Scouting's premier adult leadership training course? This training, founded by Baden Powell in 1919 and full of modern day management principles and leadership essentials, focuses on preparing adults to deliver the promise of Scouting, in a fun atmosphere. The course is August 24-26 and September 28-30 at Deer Lake. The staff has been preparing for nearly a year ... are you ready to join them in August? Visit http://www.ctyankee.org/woodbadge .to learn more. 
Prepared. For Life. LOGOBOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
Connecticut Yankee Council

 

60 Wellington Road
Milford, CT 06461

 

P (203) 876-6868

F (203) 876-6884

The Connecticut Yankee Council will carry out the mission of the Boy Scouts of America in every community in our Council by providing leadership opportunities for all youth through quality programs, mentoring from trained adult volunteers and ongoing learning and personal development through outdoor experiences.

 

For more information, please visit www.ctyankee.org.