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Friends of Scouting is the Colonial Virginia Council's annual giving campaign and is the largest and most important source of funding. Your support enables Scouting's programs and outdoor adventures to prepare young people for a lifetime of character and leadership.
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In this Issue...
Dear Scouters and Supporters,
As you know the council has gone through a few rocky years as we've struggled with the debt of our camp, which quite frankly has been very distracting relative to our primary mission. The entire leadership should always be focused on the impact we have on our youth. It is important that you know that we are working through our financial issues and will come out a much stronger organization when we are done. In the meantime, I welcome the opportunity to answer any questions you might have relative to the financial situation or any other aspect of the council's future.
As we look forward we must get back to a razor focus on those things a council exists to perform and that you count on us to do for the entire organization. To be successful in that effort, we need to hear from you. Please take a few minutes to complete the very short survey at the link below. It begins with a very brief description of what a council is supposed to do and then gives you an opportunity tell us which of those functions is most important to you and how we are doing in those areas. This will guide the "Way Ahead Strategic Plan" that we are building for the council. The survey can literally be completed in less than five minutes.
With deepest gratitude THANK YOU for your contributions and sacrifice to a program like no other I know. Our impact will never be truly known but our world will be a better place. Thank you for your input, time and support.
Yours in Scouting,
Jeff Wassmer
Council President
If your unit needs more popcorn please email Amanda.Wroten@Scouting.org prior to noon on Wednesday. Popcorn will be available for pickup at the Council office or by coordination with Zach Oman (southside) by noon Friday.
Storm Drain Medallion Project
About five (5) years ago, communities in Hampton Roads came together to initiate an effort to make the public aware that waters down the storm water drains flow to the Chesapeake Bay. HR Green received a grant from the EPA to attach medallions to existing storm drains throughout the area. However, this required community involvement.
The Master Naturalist were recruited to install the Storm Drain Medallions (SDM). They installed about half of those needed and moved on to other projects, hoping that others would pick up the project. No one stepped up till the Boy Scouts in Hampton did so. Troop 29 and 99 divided the remaining SDM's locations in half and planned efforts on Saturdays.
Troop 99 started each project Saturday with background training included history, reason for the need, and installation techniques. Teams were formed and the Scouts proceeded to install. The requirement of properly preparing the surface is critical and the Scouts and Scouters insured that they took great care to do so. The tasks of surface preparation, gluing and placement were rotated so that all Scouts got the opportunity to participate.
Over 50 SDM's were installed to two different neighborhoods with over 60% of the Scouts taking part. Cub Scouts accompanied the Scouts and learned about the need and helped install the SDM's. In addition, the Scouts got the opportunity to explain to the neighbors who inquired, about the program and the consequences of trash, fertilizers and other items traveling from the neighborhood. Many expressed appreciation to the Scouts for their efforts. One family invited them to a cookout. Overall, this proved educational about the environment, a chance for team building, leadership and public relations for Scouting. Family Friends of Scouting Patches
Friends of Scouting Patches
The Colonial Virginia Council, Boy Scouts of America has a limited number of patches from the 15 patch set - "12 Points of the Scout Law" to rerelease. Each individual patch is available for a $75 donation and a limited number of 6 full sets are available for a donation of $1,000 (includes 15 patches). You may shop our online storefront and pay online or contact Amanda Wroten at 757-595-3356, ext. 209 to pay via cash, check, or credit card over the phone. We ask that all donations be above and beyond your current Friends of Scouting gift.
Know Your District
Information in our newsletter is organized geographically.
Although events across the Council are open to all units, most units participate in events close to home. Each local territory has a specific service area and a name. Find your District below:
- Chesapeake Bay: Mathews, Gloucester, and York Counties and the City of Poquoson
- Colonial Trail: Surry and Isle of Wight Counties and the City of Suffolk
- First Colony: James City County and the City of Williamsburg.
- Monitor Merrimac: The City of Hampton and The City of Newport News
- Siouan Rivers: Sussex, Southampton, Greenville and Brunswick Counties as well as the Cities of Franklin and Emporia
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Chesapeake Bay District Roundtable
Hello all fellow scouters - vacation time is over your Cub Scout Roundtable staff is recharged and ready to go for an exciting and new Scouting year. The first Cub Scout Roundtable will be on September 3. At 7:30 pm. Note: Starting time for future Roundtables might change. Agenda as follows: District Committee recruitment, Points of the Scout Law ( new Cub Scout program), Pack Activity, Advancement Ceremony, Game, break out sessions: Den Leaders: review of the new Cub Scout program, Webelos and Arrow of Light: Requirements for required Adventure Webelos Walkabouts and elective requirement Build my own hero . Cubmasters / Committee: Welcoming new adults, using skits, cheers, applauses. Closing Ceremony. Door prizes.
Roundtables will help you put on a better program, give you ideas, interact, participate. What can you bring to roundtable ?? A friend, your ideas to share. Please don't miss out on a great opportunity with your fellow scouts. I hope to see many of you next week, thank you for your time, Claudia Clifton, Ches. Bay Cub Scout Roundtable Commisssioner.
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Send us your news! Email amanda.wroten@scouting.org so we can feature the great things your units, Scouts and Scouters are doing!
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Fun in Space
Join the Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce September 28th from 3:30-6:30 on Main Street in New Town and meet 4 international astronauts, celebrities, and other race participants as they roll in after finishing their missions. They will be showcasing their cars and signing autographs. NASA will also be at the finish line event festivities bringing along fun activities for the whole family. This season of Fireball Run is being called the Space Race and includes four international astronauts and ends at Florida's Space Coast. In keeping with the theme, NASA will be providing exhibits like a giant globe tent, spacecraft inflatables and everyone's favorite astronaut, "Spacey Casey." For more information please contact jill@visitwilliamsburg.com.
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Monitor Merrimac District
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Monitor Merrimac Patch Design Contest
It is time to design a Monitor Merrimac District patch! Adults and Scouts alike, send in your ideas, concepts, and sketches for consideration. Submit a detailed written description of what the patch should look like, or submit an image in .JPG or .PDF format before October 16th. Send submissions to Dennis Camp at bczoo@cox.net. On October 28th, the district committee will vote on which design to use. The Scout or adult with the winning idea will receive special recognition and the very first of the patches to be produced, and of course, the honor of having his or her patch design worn on the uniforms of Scouts and leaders across the district!
The Patch Must Include: A solid BSA Fleur-de-lis as well as the text "Monitor Merrimac District" and "Colonial Virginia Council". Please do not use any more than nine colors.
Limited to Scouts and Scouters of Monitor Merrimac District
Denbigh Day 2015
Calling all Pack, Troops, and Crews. The Denbigh Day parade is September 19th, 2015. Let's come together once again under one Banner and show that the scouting spirit is still alive. Contact Ron Feracho at 757-589-1870 or rferacho13@gmail.com to sign up. Line up starts at 9:30am.
Rifle Merit Badge
Superior Pawn and Gun is excited to offer the opportunity for Boy Scouts to earn their rifle shooting merit badge. Our professionally trained staff includes several former scouts, Eagle Scouts, scout leaders, and merit badge counselors that love helping the scouting community. For more information or to set up a class contact Steve at 757-723-6033 or HamptonSuperior@gmail.com
Bass Pro Shops Merit Badge Clinics
Bass Pro Shops will be hosting Merit Badge Classes every Tuesday and Thursday at 6 pm. You must register your group by calling (757) 262-5200 and speaking with the operator. Class size is limited to ten people and is first come, first served.
The two Merit Badge Classes are "Fishing" and "Rifle Shooting." The Counselor will NOT be testing for all the requirements and will choose a select few to test Scouts on.
September: 1, 10, 15, 24, 29 - Fishing Classes
September: 3, 8, 17, 22, - Rifle Shooting Class
Bass Pro Shops in Hampton welcomes Scouts throughout the month of September to solicit donations on behalf of the Council. Please contact Alyssa David at amdavid@basspro.com or (757) 262-5217 at least 5 days prior to when you would like to be present in the store. Keep in mind that you will not be able to sell any items while at our store. Unfortunately all of our Exit Door dates are completely booked for the year and we cannot accept groups selling inside the store.
Lee Hall Drain Depot Shoe Drive
The Lee Hall Train Station Foundation is beginning a shoe drive to raise additional funds for the interior restoration of the Lee Hall Depot. They are collecting unwanted, used (they have to be in one piece!) shoes, boots, slippers, flip flops, (men, women's children's) etc. A bag of 25 pairs of shoes will reap approximately a $10 donation to their Capital Fund . The shoes are being purchased from the LHTSF by a non-profit that helps cottage industries in developing countries to refurbish the shoes for resale in their country. Needed are groups and individuals who will help them collect shoes! They will pick them up at any time by calling Madeline at 757-877-7618 or the shoes can be dropped off at the Warwick County Courthouse on Old Courthouse Way, Newport News. Any number of shoes would be welcomed. It is going to take quite an effort to get 300 bags of shoes. If a troop needs to have their efforts signed off as a service project or a photo op, that can be arranged!
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Send us your news! Email amanda.wroten@scouting.org so we can feature the great things your units, Scouts and Scouters are doing!
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Every Scout Deserves a Trained Leader!
If you had a magic wand, would you use it to make the Scouting program better and more fun for youth so they stayed in Scouting longer, so it had a larger impact on their lives? What if the same magic wand made leadership roles easier, more rewarding, and led to better retention among adult leaders? Would using that magic wand be a top priority?
Well, such a magic wand does exist-in the form of the learning programs for leaders in the Boy Scouts of America. The Colonial Virginia Council has a policy that all direct contact leaders must be trained in their position. If you still require any training to be considered "Trained" in your position, we encourage you to complete the training as soon as possible.
Common sense tells us training is important, and research shows the importance of trained leaders. A trained leader is knowledgeable and more confident in the role being performed. Trained leaders exhibit a knowledge and confidence that is picked up by people around them. Trained leaders impact the quality of programs, leader tenure, youth tenure, safety, and a whole lot more. A trained leader is better prepared to make the Scouting program all it can be!
Powderhorn
Powderhorn has been canceled.
Training Awards Update
Effective August 17th a new policy concerning training awards will be implemented. Any request for a training award will be checked by the council office for completion of all requirements. If all requirements are met, the council will issue a certificate but it will be up to the unit to buy the medal, device, and knot. Currently the cost for all three is $13.99. Please see the attached document for the current prices for the various training awards. A copy of the certificate will need to be presented to Scout Shop to buy the items.
Any training award that does not meet the requirements will be returned to the unit, through the District Executive, with a note of which requirement(s) have not been met.
As a reminder, the Scout Shop does not keep a large number of awards on hand and they may need to be ordered.
Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills
Date: Date: Sept 25-27, 2015
Contact: John Sly (Coordinator) 757-344-5570 or slyj36198@aol.com
BALOO
The next BALOO will be held on October 3rd, location to be determined. A big thank you to Zach Struhs who had over 30 people attend our most recent BALOO in Heritage District. Great job Zach and many thanks!
National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT)
We have to reschedule NYLT for Oct 30-Nov 1, 2015 and Nov 6-8, 2015. This will mean we will need to restart with a new/revised staff so we will be taking applications of Scouts to be considered for staff. For anyone registered for the March course who cannot make the new date, refunds will be done on a case-by-case basis. Please notify Dennis Camp at bczoo@cox.net.
Your youth work hard to earn advancements and awards AND so do your adult leaders. Be sure they are recognized appropriately. Please remember to use the Progress Record Forms with the 2012 requirements for the Adult Leader Training Awards. The old forms will no longer be accepted.
CPR and Basic First Aid
This course covers adult and child/infant CPR with AED, how to respond in an emergency, and render basic first aid. This meets and exceeds the requirements for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts Level 1 Provider.
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The next service weekend has been moved to September 18-20 at Pipsico.
The September LEC has been moved to September 13th.
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Advancement and Registration
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The Council has created a new email address for Advancements. If you need to email us you can reach us at advancement@cvcboyscouts.org.
For general questions about advancement, please contact your district advancement chair:
Internet Advancement Reporting UNIT Advancements and Awards Coordinators - Myscouting.org has changed. Internet Advancement Reporting- IAR is no longer accessible through the myscouting.org website. IAR is now located on my.Scouting.org website. Log in using your same user id and password; you will be asked to update your profile. Do so. Then click Home to view a drop down menu. Click on Legacy Web Tools. Click on Internet Advancement. Continue as normal for some. OR start using itfor other units. Great News - The supported browsers are Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer 9, 10, and 11. In Internet Advancement, units may choose to upload advancement files generated from PackMasterİ, TroopMasterİ, or ScoutSoftİ, or enter information manually. You need to have your Unit ID and your unit number handy. (The number you use for recharter IS NOT the same number you use to set up your internet advancement profile.) Be sure you follow the instructions in red regarding Compatibility Mode. Your session is not complete and will not update into council's Scoutnet System until you confirm your entries by clicking "Submit to Council". Please print your copy and a copy to turn into Council to enable you to purchase the awards. Log on. Try it out. Start using it. Your unit will benefit over time as the records are more accurate.
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Monday through Friday: 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Saturday: 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
Sunday: Closed
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Next Newsletter Deadline: August 26th
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