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The Dispatch
Monthly News
for Marin Council Leaders
and Friends
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| Greetings! | |
- Camping
- Hiking
- Biking
- Swimming
- Spelunking
- Geocaching
- Kayaking
- Environmental Study
- Archery
- Pioneering
- Canoeing
What do all these activities have in common?
If you said they all can be done outdoors, you would have been correct. If you said that they are some of the many activities available to Scouts, you would be correct. If you said that these activities help teach leadership and responsibility, mold character, develop citizenship, and build personal fitness, you would be correct again!
Through a program of fun and adventure, Scouts everywhere growing, learning, and having a blast. Summer is here--a time when we can take them outdoors to do the things Scouts do best. Let's help them build memories that last a lifetime.
GO HAVE FUN!
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Pinewood Derby Fun
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It's time to show off your pinewood derby cars in two exciting ways!
 One: Winners of their pack pinewood derby races may enter to race in the Marin Council Pinewood Derby Race at the Marin County Fair on July 3, 1:00. This is the day children under 12 get into the Fair for free! Download this form with the rules to enter. The check-in dates for the cars are June 4 or 15. You must check in on one of those 2 dates. More info is on the form.
The race committee also needs help running the race. Please help them! Email Bill Bradbury to find out how you can assist.
Two: Pinewood Derby Car Exhibition at the Marin County Fair. When we first started gathering cars for the Fair exhibition many years ago, we would receive 100-150 cars to take to the Fair. Now it seems like we struggle to get even 50. So, we were considering not participating in the  exhibition this year. However, in talking to our Fair contact, he told me that Vanguard Automotive in San Rafael is sponsoring all the awards for the pinewood derby entries. Wow! That's awesome! It would be great to show not only the Fair but Vanguard Automotive our support by entering. This is a wonderful way to showcase the fun of Cub Scouting.
If you are not entering the above race, enter your cars to be displayed in the Fair Exhibition Hall. Don't wait! Download the entry form and instructions by clicking this link. You bring the cars to our office with entry forms by June 4, and we take them all to the Fair. If you can collect them up as a pack then have one or two people bring them down, it may facilitate it for everyone. |
June Roundtable and Free BBQ
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 It's the end of the year for the roundtable sessions. Come and enjoy a dinner with us cooked by the commissioners. The dinner starts at 6:00, and there is no charge.
After we eat (approximately 6:45-7:00), we will start the joint town-hall-style meeting with the council president, commissioner, and Scout Executive. This is an opportunity for you to hear about the state of Scouting in Marin, what's new and coming up, and to ask questions.
Then will come the opportunity to secure a reservation at Marin Sierra during the winter with the winter camp lottery. Have representatives present to make your selection.
 Here are the guidelines for the lottery, which were published in our February Dispatch:
During last year's June roundtable, the attendees established the rules which the council will follow to rank which units get an earlier draw and therefore an earlier choice of available dates. This is how it works; All units will first be ranked by their 2012 Journey to Excellence (JTE) scores within each of the award levels: gold, silver, and bronze. If there are any equal scores among the group, these will then be ranked by their roundtable attendance. In other words the unit with the higher roundtable attendance will have the first pick within these tied JTE scores. This method of sorting will determine the order of selection for determining winter camp reservation options. Once you have selected your camping date, your unit needs to confirm and pay for this reservation by the end of the day on June 30, 2013, or the reservation will lapse and be offered to the first unit on the waiting list. |
| Fishing Derby |
 The Marin Council Fishing Derby returns to Marin Rod & Gun Club on June 22. This is a great opportunity for Scouts and their families to have a great time together.
Expert angler Joe Cilia is again organizing the event. There will be fishing, prizes, BBQ, and plenty of sunshine and fun.
Marin Rod & Gun Club is at Point San Quentin--the last Marin County freeway exit before the Richmond Bridge. The derby is from 10:00-12:30, with the BBQ lunch and prizes following from 12:30-2:00.
Click here to download an informational flyer and registration form. Entry deadline is June 17.
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Cub Scout Camping Opportunities
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 Attention Scouters! Sign up now for summer camp programs and a chance to get out with your Scout: - Cub Scout Day Camp - INTO THE WEST
There are still openings in the August session (8/5-8/9), so sign up now to reserve your Scout's space. This camp features separate program tracks for the younger Scouts (Wolf through Webelos 1) and 5th graders (Arrows of Light).
- Webelos Woods - WEBELOS EXTREME
at Camp Marin Sierra (Aug 30, 31, & Sept 1). Open to Webelos and Arrow of Light Webelos Scouts ONLY - an intro to the Boy Scout experience that you will always remember.
- Family Fiesta 2013 - MYTHS & LEGENDS is now in the books and was a EPIC success thanks to the programs run by Venturing Crews 76, 335, and 1220, and Boy Scout Troops 24, 27, 38, 42, 73, 200, and 2000. Big thanks to our adult volunteers Kevin & Jennifer Barkdull, Mike Blum (all three from the Shooting Sports Committee), Ronald Berliner, Ed Vorous, Leigh Ann Bostian, Nancy Rozell, Jim Campbell, Greg Spry, Pat Townsley, Harvey Hunerberg, Chuck Dundas, and camping chair, Dave Pearce, as well as professional staff, Camp Chef Mike Morrison, and Cub Camping Adviser, Chris Wells. Great work in supporting the family of Scouting. We could not have done it without YOU!
YOU make the Pack Go: We need roles filled for Webelos Woods and more. So anyone interested in supporting the upcoming Cub Camping programs can contact Cub Camping Committee Chairman David Pearce. |
NRA Basic Muzzle-loading Rifle Training Class
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FINAL NOTICE This is your last chance to enroll in the NRA Basic Muzzle-loading-Rifle shooting course or Muzzle-loading Instructor. This course will give you the skills, knowledge, and attitude to safely use a muzzle-loading rifle as you learn how to safely handle a muzzle-loading rifle, parts of the rifle, sighting, how to load and fire, shooting positions, range commands, safe gun handling, care, cleaning, and storage of muzzle-loading rifles.  This is the perfect class to take for everything you ever wanted to know about muzzle-loading rifles! The class will be offered starting on Friday, June 21 to Sunday, June 23, 2013. Cost is $75 (plus certificate fee--see below). Minimum age is 14. All must be BSA registered. CUT OFF DATE for registering is Friday, June 7. Class size: minimum 4, maximum 14. See Marin Council web site for the registration form. The course classroom time will be offered at the Marin Council Service Center in San Rafael and range time at Camp Tamarancho. If participation is high, we may also offer a Certified Muzzle-loading Rifle Instructor course at the same time. The class portion will be held at the Marin Council Service Center Friday, June 21 from 7-10 PM, Saturday, June 22 from 9 AM-6 PM and will include open book instruction, lecture, PowerPoint slides, student participation presentations, demonstrations, and hands-on handling of muzzle-loading rifles. NRA Manual & binder will be supplied to all participants. Range time will be Sunday, June 23 from 9 AM-5 PM at Camp Tamarancho. Eye and hearing protection is required for the range. Range time is outdoors. Dress for range time according to weather. Muzzle-loading rifles will be supplied by the class. Do not bring firearms or ammunition to class. You will also need to bring a check or credit card to the class in order to register with the NRA for your certificates and processing fees which will be about $40. This is separate from the class fee. You will need to be an NRA member (required). Please register to be an NRA member at www.nra.org before the class. If you have any questions contact Berne Holman. |
The Power of "Yes!"
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When the parents of a special-needs kid say 'yes' to Scouting, this happens...
 When Crystal Bueno and her husband first saw the go-kart their Tiger Cub sons were given at a council derby Saturday in Brooklyn, their first reaction was "No." "No way," Crystal remembers thinking. "Marcus can't do this. And Adam's definitely not big enough or strong enough to push the kart." Read more . . . |
Reserve Tamarancho Online
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 Making reservations for unit outings at Tamarancho is now easier than ever. Not only can you make the reservation online, but you can also see what campsites, facilities, or program areas are available for the dates you desire. With the exception of non-Scout groups and campwide rentals, reservations will no longer be made by calling our office.
You can get to the Tamarancho reservation landing page by clicking the button on the left, which is also on the home page of our web site, the Tamarancho page of the site, and also there is a link in the side menu under Camping Programs and Facilities > Camp Tamarancho.
There are some things that are different, so you will want to visit the landing page to read. Also, you will want to download the Payments and Refund policies.
If you have difficulty the first time with the process or have questions, please call our office at 415-454-1081.
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Your Help Needed for Our Camp Properties
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There Are Still Ways You Can Help We often hear people say things like: "Hey, could you get rid of the graffiti in the top of Ibach Lodge" or "I wish you would do repairs in the bathrooms and kitchen at camp." Well, here is your opportunity to do just that! It's a party! Work parties! Hey, they are just that, party time! Could there be more fun than a party with great food, activities, and friends? That's what we do, combined with a little aerobic activity to keep the conversation lively. Please consider helping with these important work parties at your camps. We can used skilled and unskilled labor. Here are the dates: Marin Sierra Ibach Lodge party, June 1-2 Marin Sierra commissary roof party, August 17-18 Email if you can participate in the above. At Tamarancho, the first Saturday of every month is a work party from 9:00 to Noon. This lists of what you read by clicking the link below is largely done by dedicated volunteers. Come and be a part of the crew! Read more . . .
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Summertime Boy Scout Advancement
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Summer is the perfect time to teach younger Scouts the skills they need for their lower ranks, and it is an opportunity for older Scouts to practice leadership, planning and coaching. Newly-bridged Scouts can quickly integrate into a new troop and get up to speed by enlisting older Scouts to be in charge of their training. Assign each of your older Scouts to one or two newly-bridged Scouts, and have them help the new Scouts learn their skills. Some units make a contest of this, giving rewards to the older Scout who gets his charges to complete the most items. Another idea is to give one or two skills to each older Scout and then have him spend 15 minutes in a meeting presenting and using EDGE to teach younger Scouts. Other older Scouts should assist during the hands-on portion.
And don't forget to prepare for summer camp! Encourage younger Scouts to work on their Trail to First Class and have the older Scouts help them set up their week-long schedule. Older Scouts should set up their own schedule with little or no input. Even if Scouts change their schedule once they reach camp, going through the process of developing a schedule and having to make choices due to time constraints is a valuable exercise. Make sure Scouts have carefully read the requirements for merit badges they plan to take at camp. Many require pre-work, and Scouts should arrive at camp prepared as outlined in the camp documentation. Don't forget to send Scouts with their blue cards filled out and signed by a unit leader. Adopting an aggressive advancement plan for the summer can be very rewarding for all levels of Scouting, and the Scouts will enjoy having fun challenges during their lazy days of summer. |
Take Scouts out to the Ball Game!
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 Head for the Pacifics Experience baseball like it used to be: up close, exciting and lots of fun! Marin County's own minor-league team, the San Rafael Pacifics, is ready to start the 2013 season after winning the 2012 North American League Championship. Opening Day is June 11! The Pacifics invite your pack, troop, or crew to come to a game this summer, and we've got ticket discount plans and pre-game party options in one of our fun party areas at Albert Park. We've got lots of great package deals that even include throwing out the first pitch or take batting practice with the team! Book your event by emailing Kim Biss or call 415-640-4504 You can get additional information on tickets, parties, or merchandise on our web site. |
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On May 23, 2013 during its annual meeting, the Boy Scouts of America held a historic vote concerning its membership policy and whether to delete certain aspects that prevented all youth from participating in the BSA program. The 1400 delegates in attendance, representing every BSA Council in the United States, voted overwhelmingly to approve the revision to the membership policy and thereby remove any disqualification for youth members based solely on sexual orientation.
How the Change in Membership Policy Affects Marin Council
While the resolution is important nationally, for Marin Council, it is truly an affirmation of our existing principles and practices concerning youth membership. Read more . . .
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Marin Council, Boy Scouts of America
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