March 2014
Vol 7, Issue 3

The Dispatch
Monthly News
for Marin Council Leaders
and Friends

          

As is often said, no young person joins Scouting to go to meetings. Experience shows that the magic of Scouting happens in the outdoors.

 

For example, will it be more effective to instruct someone as to how to lead or to let them lead--mistakes and all? Should we tell youth to be good sportsmen or let them learn in the process of playing games? Should we tell them how to cook something or let them learn by cooking--and maybe burning their food a few times?

 

 

Scouting happens to the fullest when we go outdoors, when we camp, when we hike, when we tour, when we play, and when we allow growth. As difficult as it is to step back and allow a youth to succeed as well as fail, as in our own lives, it is those mistakes that teach us to grow and to reach.

 

Here below are numerous opportunities to experience the outdoors, gather with friends and fellow Scouts, and to volunteer our time to make Scouting better. Let's give the best of Scouting to our youth! 

In This Issue
Recognition Dinner
Pinewood Derby Workshop
Roundtable
Cub Scout Camping
Council Pinewood Derby
Camp Staff 2014
Friends of Scouting
Train Leaders
Properties Info
NYLT
Cub Scout Recruting Seminar
Technology Quest
Camping and JTE
Shooting Sports
Service Help Needed
Tradin' Post
Other Important News
Join Our Mailing List!

Quick Links
Marin Council Recognition Dinner

Don't miss out because it's almost time for the annual Marin Council Recognition Dinner. Join us as we eat and celebrate the spirit and accomplishments of Scouts and leaders all over Marin.

The date is March 10. People from all over the council will be honored that night for their achievements. Some will be unit Scouts of the Year, some will be council Scouts of the Year, some will be unit Volunteers of the Year. It's a wonderful night to applaud both youth and adults!

If you have someone from your pack, troop, or crew that is being honored, then bring a bunch of people with you to make some noise and applaud! Many of the honorees do not know they are being honored, so don't stay away because you think you may not know someone.

One of the great outcomes of the dinner is that people get to see just how large and active Scouting is in Marin.

Registration is open on our web site. You can download a registration form, and send it in, or you can register online. Don't wait! Registration ends on March 6. Because we have to give the caterer specific amounts, we don't take walk-ins.

Contact our office if you have any questions.
Pinewood Derby Workshop -- Rescheduled!!!
 

Unfortunately, due to rain (which we sorely needed), the original Pinewood Derby Workshop and BB Gun Shoot was cancelled.

 

Cub Scouts, parents, and pack leaders are invited to Team Talako's rescheduled Pinewood Derby Workshop on Saturday, March 15, from 9 to 1 p.m. The workshop is held at the Camp Tamarancho wood shop in Fairfax. Our pit crew will assist you in designing and cutting out your car. Fee for this event is one rock the size of a grapefruit to help Ranger Dana's projects in camp. Please deposit your rock outside of the ranger's office when you arrive. So, bring your car, pink slip, rock, and imagination on Saturday for a great time.

 

We'll have our Trading Post open for limited sales of Pinewood Derby items, such as car kits, wheels, and weights. Also, if you get hungry the lodge is offering a hot dog lunch, which includes chips, salad, cookie, and a drink--all for $5!

 

Not having fun yet? The rifle range will be open for BB guns shooting for $5 per shooter. You must have your release form with you. You can download it here. Hope to see you there!  

March Roundtable
 
The next roundtable is on Wednesday, March 5. Both Boy Scout and Cub Scout sessions begin at 7:30 p.m. Roundtable is held at the LDS Church, 220 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael, on the first Wednesday of most months through June. Anyone is welcome to attend. At least one person from each unit should come to stay up-to-date on what is happening around the council.

Along with important council information and announcements, the roundtable meetings will include the following:

For Cub Scout roundtable, Ron Poggi says, "For our March meeting, the theme is My Family Tree and the core value is Faith. Join us as we discuss membership growth and retention and disability awareness. Plus, come prepared to play games, lots of games. What kind of game shall we play? Join our meeting to find out."

Also, make a note that there will be a Cub Scout Recruiting Seminar at 6:30, before roundtable, on April 2. Make someone for every pack attends! Membership VP Andy Odell will be presenting ways and ideas for successful Cub Scout recruiting.

 

Boy Scout roundtable will include some of the following important topics: How to make a membership plan, with VP Membership Andy Odell; Troop discipline issues, with Scout Executive Michael Dybeck; and Wood Badge beading of two volunteers, Ed Vorous and Joe Cilia.  

Time for Cub Scout Camping

The Cub Scout camping committee is busy putting together an exciting year of Cub camping events. All the 2014 event information is contained on the Marin Council web site at this link, and the registration forms for the events are posted in the same section as soon as they become available.

  • Family Fiesta--May 16-18: A fun-filled family camping event with activities put on by Boy Scout troops and Venturing crews. The entire family is welcome and you can camp one or two nights or just come up for Saturday's activities. This event is held at Camp Tamarancho in Fairfax.
  • Day Camp at Tamarancho "Castles and Kings"--July 7-11, July 21-25, and August 4-8: Three separate weeks of action-packed days for incoming second through fifth grade boys culminating in the Friday afternoon campfire event put on by the campers for all the parents. These camps sell out quickly so don't wait too long. Camps are held at Camp Tamarancho in Fairfax. Bus service is available for an extra fee.
  • Webelos Woods--August 29-31 at Marin Sierra (Boy Scout camp in the sierras). This event is for incoming 4th and 5th grade Cub Scouts and their parent(s). Scouts will form patrols and each patrol will be led by one or more Boy Scouts. Activities are designed to be similar to Boy Scout troop activities and this year's focus is the Scout Law.
  • Cub Scout Adventure Weekend--October 10-12. This event is open to incoming 2nd through 5th graders and their parent(s) and is held at Camp Tamarancho. A variety of activities put on by Boy Scouts and Venturers are planned as well as an evening camp fire and star gazing.
  • Tiger Cub Expedition--October 11-12. Jungle Book is the theme, and this event is open to incoming 1st graders and their parent(s). It is a great way for them to experience some of the fun things that Cub Scouts can do as well as introduce them to Camp Tamarancho. 
Marin Council Pinewood Derby
 

Pinewood Derby fun does not have to stop with your pack races!

 

All Scouts not racing in the council derby are welcome to enter the Marin County Fair exhibition. Scouts can earn awards for their cars based on their handicraft. What will work well is if cars are collected by each pack. After your own pinewood race, pack them up in a tub, and bring them into the council office when you have the forms filled out. Parents must sign the exhibit entry form, which will be available soon.

 

First place winners for each rank from your pack are welcome to enter the Marin Council Pinewood Derby. Collect winning cars and impound them so that they can be submitted for weigh-in as a group. All scouts are welcome to come to weigh in, but weigh-in by pack will avoid late sign-ups. Weigh-ins will be Saturday, June 7, from 11:00 a.m.-1:00, and Tuesday, June 10, from 5:00-7:30 p.m. In fairness to the on-time entries, no late entries will be accepted. No exceptions. Race date and entry forms will be available soon!

 

Volunteers are needed to support the Marin Council Pinewood Derby at the Marin County Fair. We need people from various packs to participate. If you will be coming anyway to watch the race with your son, please volunteer to help for a couple hours. If you are available for weigh in, or to assist with race day set-up, clean-up, or racing, please email Bill Bradbury.  

It's Not Too Early to Be Thinking about Camp Staff.

Camp Positions are Still Available at Both Camps!

Although all under-18 positions are filled at Marin Sierra, we are still looking for a couple over-18 and over-21 positions. These are (18) Trail to Eagle and Nature directors, and (21) Shotgun and Climbing directors.

There are many opportunities still available at Camp Tamarancho. Cub Scout day camp is a great place to work 1, 2, or all 3 weeks. Young women and men learn how to apply themselves, teach, lead, and work with younger Scouts. The minimum age is 14 to be a counselor in training and 15 years old to be paid.

Applications for Boy Scout resident camp can be downloaded by clicking this link. Cub Scout day camp applications are available here. Also you can email Chris Wells about Cub Scout camp or Tim Wells about Boy Scout camp with any questions.
Friends of Scouting

What is Friends of Scouting (FOS)? FOS subsidizes every Marin Scout's activities by about $250 a year or less than 70 cents a day. Without FOS fundraising, Marin Sierra Boy Scout summer camp would cost about $100 more per week, and you'd be paying double the current fees for summer day camp for Cub Scouts at Camp Tamarancho. That's the difference between what you pay for Marin BSA programs and what they actually cost. FOS is 25% of our yearly budget.

 

Why should we donate to Friends of Scouting? For the same reason families donate to local school foundations; we donate because we are contributing to our children's education. Just as parent contributions allow our local schools to offer programs not available in many other California schools, Marin Council FOS donations allow our local Scouts and families access to some great facilities and programs close to home at an affordable price.

 

The unit Friends of Scouting (FOS) packets will be ready this week, so don't forget to pick them up.

 

For more information, contact Chris Wells.

Trained Leaders are Effective Leaders

Having trouble getting your committee members to take training? There are a myriad of important training opportunities to involve and inspire your adult volunteers. For example, Merit Badge Counselor Training: There is no better way for leaders and parents to help with one of the key components of Scouting, which includes a Scout interacting with mentoring adults. We offer Merit Badge Counselor Training every few months before the regular roundtables. Alternatively, you can make arrangements with the training team to come to your unit as Troop 73 just did. We trained 13 adults and are happy to make those kinds of accommodations if requested.

 

Coming up is our super weekend of training being held at Camp Tamarancho in April:

 

These trainings are conducted by seasoned Scouters who have a passion to share their knowledge and experience to enhance the overall Scout experience.

 

Register on the Marin Council web site under Training. There you will find more details about the different offerings.

Properties Important Reminder
 


Properties Committee Report February 2014

 

A new year, and the camp patterns have changed to winter. The snow and rain have finally arrived. The leaves have turned, camp activities slow down, and we turn to planning for spring. What do we have to look forward to this year?

 

Several major projects are in the planning stages. Read more . . . 

 

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Marin Council, let's take the ownership of our camps to heart and help maintain them. Plan to come to each camp once or twice a year. You won't regret it! Contact John Pope  or the council office to find out how you can help.
National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT)

Marin and Redwood Empire Council's 2014 NYLT Course

June 22 (Sun) 12 noon to June 28 (Sat) 11:00 a.m.

Camp Tamarancho

 

National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) is an exciting, action-packed program designed for councils to provide youth members with leadership skills and experience they can use in their home units and in other situations demanding leadership of self and others.

 

The NYLT Course is leadership training experience sponsored by the Marin and Redwood Empire Area Councils and held at Camp Tamarancho in Marin. The training is conducted by highly qualified youth staff under the supervision of adult advisors.

 

The course models a month in the life of a unit. The training consists of a variety of lectures and Scout activities culminating in an overnight outpost camp.

 

Any questions, contact Erik Masterson Scoutmaster 2014 NYLT Course. You may obtain more information or apply through the Marin Council by clicking this link.  

Cub Scout Recruiting Seminar

Most Cub Scout leaders know how important it is to add Scouts to their pack continually to maintain its long-term health. However many times, leaders feel at a loss as to how to do this or what resources are available.

Have no fear! Our Vice President for Membership, Andy Odell, will be presenting a one-hour recruiting seminar before roundtable on April 2 at 6:30 p.m. This will be at the LDS Church--same location as roundtable.

Andy is very experienced and will help pack leaders understand how to do successful spring and fall recruiting as well as continually throughout the year. Bring your questions, problems, successes, and difficulties because he is there to help you. There will be time for leaders to share ideas--both what to do and what not to do.

No pre-registration is needed. If you have thoughts, ideas, or questions, email Andy Odell.
Technology Quest at Tamarancho

Technology Quest:

A Leadership Challenge, July 15-19

 

This course is designed to provide you with a technology-based leadership challenge that applies the cutting edge technology activities, and advanced leadership skills and that motivates you to follow a life of servant leadership by helping others succeed based on the values expressed in the Scout Oath and Law.

 

The TQ Challenge will equip youth leaders to be better leaders, and to better succeed in all aspects of their school, family life and careers. It will help guide a Scouts' journey in leadership service to others - able to develop all members of whichever team they lead. It provides life skills for now and the future.

 

Course Activities Include:

  • Advanced teambuilding skills
  • Geocaching
  • Robotics
  • 3D Printing
  • Engineering
  • Biotechnology

Participant Requirements

  • Be 14 years of age by the first day of the course
  • Open to both youth and adult leaders
  • Be in good physical condition and have parts A, B, and C of the BSA annual medical form.
  • Be motivated to engage in leadership learning and to pass your skills to others after the course

Program Costs

The cost of the program is $375. Registration deadline is 5/31/14. This fee covers meals/lodging, training materials, a cap, and t-shirt. Payment in full is due with registration.

 

Click here for information and registration form.

Click here to email for information. 

High Adventure and Camp Help
 

In order to enhance and support the Boy Scout camping program and everyone's Journey to Excellence in Marin, members of the camping committee will be contacting each troop to determine their short-term and long-term camping activities along with what, if any, are the challenges that they face regarding camping.

 

Also, an effort is being made to establish a resource base of camping activities already successfully undertaken. Specifically, any detail regarding 5, 10, 20 or 50 milers that your troop has experienced would be helpful. Information should include, among many other things:

  • length of the outing
  • availability of water
  • starting and ending points
  • maps that were useful
  • suggested age and rank requirements
  • attractive features of the outing (views, lakes, streams, etc.)
  • weather considerations
  • any federal or state permits that may be required
  • campfire restrictions or limitations

Remember that we also have our very own remote high adventure camp for Leave No Trace camping just a few hours away. Anyone interested in a weekend at Slanes Flat--an amazing site--should contact the council office.

 

For those looking for outstanding high adventure camps throughout the U.S., contact us for a spreadsheet of about 75 (yes, 75) such opportunities.

    

This is shaping up to be another great year of camping for Scouts in the Marin Council!

Shooting Sports Committee News

 

We are working on a new schedule of training events. Please keep your eyes on this newsletter and the Marin Council web site as the plans firm up. Trainings will include:

  • Cub Scout Shooting Sports training gets you ready to come up and help run the archery and BB gun ranges for council-run Cub camping events.
  • Range Safety Officer training. We need trained RSOs to help run the rifle ranges.
  • Rifle Instructor training. We need trained instructors on the range also so that we can run fun and safe shooting events.

Boy Scout troops and Venturing crews are invited to include a shooting event the next time they come to Tamarancho. It's a great way to add an extra activity to any campout. Just call the service center in San Rafael to ask for a date and a reservation form. There is a 45 day minimum notice required. A shoot makes a great patrol outing, also.

 

Range availability is subject to RSO and Instructor availability unless your unit has their own trained staff. Makes you want to reread the above note about getting trained, now doesn't it? 

Give Back to a Friend

Empire Mini Storage in Novato has been donating space to the Marin Council for a number of years. The space they donate to the council has been used to store furniture and equipment for Camp Marin Sierra during the snowy winter months until it can be taken to camp in the late spring. This storage space has been very useful and extremely valuable to us.

Would you help us to give back to them with a "thank you" service project? They could use help sweeping around the buildings, raking leaves, pulling weeds, or other light-duty chores. If a unit wanted to participate in a "thank you" service project, it probably would only involve a few hours on a Saturday.

Be sure to let us know if you can do a service project there. However, also contact manager Bill Fort at 415-883-3910 or click this link to email. Let him know when you would like to come over to help.

Thank you!
What's Tradin' at the Tradin' Post




Click this link to see updates from the Tradin' Post.
Other Important News

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk has added another Boy Scout overnight event to the spring as well as the annual fall event. The spring overnight is an indoor camping adventure. The Boardwalk is already receiving calls from excited Scouts wanting more information. Add this date to your event calendar. This event is co-sponsored by the Silicon Valley Monterey Bay Council. Your support is greatly appreciated.

 

Here are the details:

 

2014 Boy Scout Spring Jam

Friday, March 21 - Saturday, March 22, 2014

 

Indoor camping event for all levels of Scouts

Early Bird Deadline is March 7, 2014

 

Go to: www.beachboardwalk.com/boyscout  

 

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The Oakland A's are happy to announce that the A's Scout Day event will be back for the 2014 season! This year's event is scheduled for Sunday, June 1, vs. the LA Angels. Once again, the event will feature a special pregame festival, parade, and a Scout day patch.

 

Group tickets are now on-sale. To reserve a group, all that is required is a 10% deposit. Call or email Mason Snyder directly at 510-563-2373 to get started!

 

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Age-Appropriate Guidelines

 

Many people do not know that there are BSA policies regarding what activities are appropriate for which age groups. However, the BSA has made this easy by publishing this helpful chart. Take a look, and use it in the planning of future outings. 


Council Executive Board and Officers

The Marin Council is pleased to announce the 2014 executive board members and officers that were installed during our annual business meeting held on February 18, 2014.

 

Members of the executive board are: 

William Barton, William Bell, Carl Blom, Al Boro, Diane Brown, Glen Calkins, Chris Cardinal, C.J. Carrillo, Phillip Cassou, Larry Chu, D. Keith Coombs, Willy Coronado, R. Thomas Decker, Rolf Hartley, David M. Hellman, Russ Ketron, Edward Keller, Kevin Krick, Carl Lippenberger, Marti Madias, Denman McNear, Tony Mei, Andrew Odell, John Pope, Michael Reading, Irving L. Schwartz, Trish Shurtz, George J. Silvestri, Jr., Brad Stevens, Mary Stevens, Peter Sullivan, Nick Tarlson, Lynn O'Malley Taylor, and Jim Wirth.

 

Council officers for 2014 are:

President - Bill Barton

Commissioner - Tony Mei

Treasurer / Secretary - Larry Chu

Assistant Treasurer - David Hellman

Vice President of Development - Phil Cassou

Vice President of Marketing - Rolf Hartley

Vice President of Membership - Andy Odell

Vice President of Program - Marti Madias

Vice President of Properties - John Pope

Counsel - George Silvestri, Jr.

Scout Executive, CEO - Michael Dybeck

Marin Council, Boy Scouts of America