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Click HERE register for the 2013 National Jamboree! 

Open to all First Class Rank Boy Scouts 12 and over (or 11 years and sixth grade graduates) AND all Venturers who have graduated the 8th grade (or age 14 by the first day of the Jamboree). 

Fees for the Jamboree will be $1500 and will include travel and everything but personal clothing and a sleeping bag!

Register now, space is limited!

 

Session 1:  July 14 to July 17

Session 2:  July 19 to July 22

Session 3:  July 26 to July 29

Session 4:  August 2 to August 5th.

Remember to Input your Service Hours for Scouting for Food and other Community Service. 

Click Here to Input!

Thanks for your service to our communities!

To say change is difficult is, to some, an understatement.  In organizations, such as the Boy Scouts, with over 100 years of history and tradition change can be downright scary. Currently, our council is in the process of change: new staff, a new approach to Cub Scout resident camp, and a change to how we deliver programs at Cedarlands Scout Reservation.

Given the difficulty of change, one might ask, "Why change at all?"

In order to understand the need for change, as you read this newsletter, consider the following:

1)Change is necessary to ensure the long-term survival of our organization.  Said another way, organizations must predict the future and be ready for it before it arrives.  It is no longer enough to be reactive, we need to be proactive.  Consider the following organizations: Atari, Pan American Airways, Commodore Computers, FW Woolworth, Montgomery Ward, Polaroid, Bethlehem Steel, Circuit City, Hollywood Video, Borders Books along with a number of Boy Scout councils across the nation.  These organizations lost sight of the future and failed as a result.  Our council will not fail in this regard.

2)Change is necessary to meet the changing needs of customers.  Looking back on over 100 years of Scouting we can see a lot has changed about how we deliver the program.  The fact is that, as generations pass, society and people evolve.  What was relevant 10, 15, or 50 years ago is not always relevant today.  This is especially difficult in Scouting as we serve no less than six generations with individuals ranging in age from 6 to 88. 

3)Change is necessary to reverse declines.  Over the past 15 years, the Boy Scouts of America has experienced steady membership declines.  During our recent change process, our council has reversed that trend and has experienced a 10% increase in membership.

In closing, we realize that you have several options when faced with change.  We sincerely hope that you choose to face change with a positive outlook. That does not mean that you have to like it, it just means that we want you work with us as leaders to see the potential of what change and our future has to offer.

 Dear Fellow Scouters,

As members of the Council's Executive Board, we want take this opportunity to inform you that the Council Executive Committee has decided to close the summer resident camp program at Cedarlands Scout Reservation.  Although this decision was not easy, it is necessary to ensure the long-term sustainability of our camping operation and our council.  The following information was considered in our decision:

• At a critical time in preparing for camp, we simply do not have enough committed campers to offer a meaningful program. 
• Only about 25% of our Boy Scouts (500) attend one of our council's camps with another 500-600 Scouts from outside our council.  A Boy Scout Council is doing well to have 62% of its Boy Scouts attend a camp.
• For the past 30 years, our council has been challenged with maintaining three summer programs and three camping facilities with limited volunteer, staff and financial resources.  Unfortunately, the expenditure of these resources has not had a meaningful impact on increasing our membership or camp attendance.  In fact, camp attendance has steadily declined over the past 10 years.
• It is the conclusion of the Executive Committee that the level of excess capacity along with declining attendance and the steadily increasing operating costs of offering a summer resident program at three camps is inefficient and has the high potential to cause our council to fail in the near future.  Unfortunately, several councils in central New York have experienced such failures and their programs, membership and Scouts have suffered as a result.

We want to assure you that closure of the summer resident camp at Cedarlands does not mean that we will lose all of the programs that have been offered at the camp.  At this time, we are working on a plan to use Camp Russell as a base camp for units that want a high adventure experience.  In short, units will arrive at Camp Russell to receive an orientation and depart for a high adventure destination including Cedarlands Scout Reservation. Upon completion, they will return to Russell's base camp.

We realize that there may be a lot of questions regarding our decision.  As such, we have designated Mark Miller 315-736-3300 or [email protected] and Dave Manore 315-735-4437 or [email protected]  to answer any questions.  In addition, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions and video message on our website. 

Tony Colon, Council President                  

Mark Miller, Council Commissioner  

Dave Manore, VP Program 

Gene Quadraro, VP Finance

Peter Hedglon, Camping Chair

Rick Rotondi, Director of Camping