Southern Lakes Ledger
10.29.2012
In This Issue
DISTRICT ITEMS
COMMISH'S CORNER
CUB SCOUTS
BOY SCOUTS
VENTUERS
LEADERS
Hello Southern Lakes Scouters!  Please feel free to forward this to anyone who may want or need it!  If you have any events that needed to get added in the future please send them to asherry@bsamail.org
 
DISTRICT ITEMS
  
Roundtable Thursday November 1st 2012 at 7:00 PM located at Elkhorn High School, 482 E. Geneva St. Elkhorn, WI.  Come for the Fun and Fellowship-learn a new skill and meet great Scouters!
  

 

District Committee Meeting Wednesday November 7th at 7:00 PM.  See how the District works and help plan District Events.

 

FYI-ROCK THE CASTLE HAS BEEN CANCELED!!
 
Summer Program Chili Feed-Two Chances to get all your Program Planning needs!
Wednesday December 5th at Middleton High School or Thursday December 6th at Camp Indian Trails!
The chili is being prepared; final drafts of the 2013 Leader guides are in the works. All will be ready for the second annual Glacier's Edge Council Chili Feed and Summer Camp Kickoff.
Dates: December 5 at Middleton High School December 6 at Camp Indian Trails.
Schedule: Doors will open at 6:15
* Chili with all the fixings
* All Camp Midway featuring Leaders Guides and other 2013 Glacier's Edge and BSA High Adventure camp information.
Chili and Midway staffed by Camping Committee members
7:00 - 7:20
* Time for District Roundtable sessions and announcements
* Chili still available and Midway staffed
7:30 - 8:15
* Breakout sessions for Cub Scout, Boy Scout and Venture Crew camp information.
* Dates, times program information for summer camp 2013
 
A Night Out Wine Tasting

Monday December 10, 2012 6:00 pm

217 N. Main Street, Lake Mills, WI 

An enjoyable evening featuring Wine Tasting, Tour and a Charitable Auction Benefiting the Boy Scouts of America Glacier's Edge Council.  This event is limited to the first 50 to register. Tickets: $25 per person in advance/$30 at door.  No uniforms please. For more information: http://glaciersedge.org/2012/10/southern-lakes-district-a-night-out-2012/

 

COMMISH CORNER 
It's beginning to look a lot like Rechartering Time....everywhere I go.....

 

We are at the time of year when retention and rechartering is becoming the focus of our committees. Unit retention is something we all puzzle over. Why do some units recharter easily every year? Why do other units struggle to recharter? Is there anything commissioners or the key three can do to make unit retention easy for all units?

 

Of course, the key to unit retention is youth retention, one youth at a time. That comes as no surprise to anyone. But what does come as a surprise is the amount of control unit leadership has over youth retention. A few years ago the National Council conducted two research projects. The first was focused on why Cub Scouts leave the program, and the second was focused on Boy Scout retention. The results were remarkably similar. The percentages listed reflect the percentage of boys who left Scouting who said the factor was a major reason for leaving. When working with a unit with dwindling membership, the units should analyze the situation. Why are the youth leaving? Boring meetings? Not enough outdoor program? Cost? This may not be easy to determine at first glance, and certainly different boys will have different reasons. But using the Journey to Excellence work sheets combined with observations should reveal an area or two that can be improved upon within the unit. Then it is a simple matter of working with the committee and identifying which areas to work on improving and then to decide upon strategies to improve those areas. If you would like help, your unit commissioner is always available to help guide this process, and having an outside set of eyes on the situation doesn't hurt either.

 

Factors in the Hands of Pack Leadership

   Boring meetings 44%

   Poor/disorganized leadership 43%

   Not enough outdoors 22%

   Not enough challenge 19%

 

Factors in the Hands of Troop Leadership

   Boring meetings 56%

   Disorganized troop 24%

   Didn't like other guys 18%

   Not challenging enough 15%

   Leaders too strict 14%

   Bullying in troop 13%

   Costs too much 11%

   Not interested in camping 10%

  
Rechartering is now done on-line and most units are familiar with the process. Working through the process as early as possible will help to insure the process goes smoothly. Having discussion about the recharter process should remind the committee of the tasks and can facilitate making sure things such as getting the appropriate signatures are not left to the last moment. The unit should review the unit rosters to make sure all the unit members are listed and make decisions about members that will be retained or dropped during the process. Any youth considered for a drop should be contacted to attempt to retain them.

 

Other Notes:

-         Five Star University is January 12th, 2013. Visit the following Link for more information...

 

5-star-university-of-scouting

CUB SCOUTS
 
SAVE THE DATE! SATURDAY FEBRUARY 2ND 2013 AT CAMP INDIAN TRAILS! JOIN THE BOY SCOUTS AND SEE HOW THEIR KLONDIKE EVENT GOES AND HAVE SOME LUNCH WITH THEM TOO!  More information to come-www.glaciersedge.org
BOY SCOUTS
 
KLONDIKE
SAVE THE DATE: SATURDAY FEBRUARY 2ND 2013 AT CAMP INDIAN TRAILS!  Come join us for a day filled with fun in the snow and competition! More information available soon at:  www.glaciersedge.org
 
VENTURERS
 
 
 
LEADERS
  
CUB SCOUT LEADER SPECIFIC
Saturday November 3rd, 8:30 am located at Cargill United Methodist Church. 2000 Wesley Avenue, Janesville, WI.

WILDERNESS FIRST AID
November 10&11, 2012 - 8:00 AM-5:00 PM. Janesville Service Center, 2300 Racine Street, Janesville, WI. This American Red Cross Wilderness First Aid Basics is a 16-hour first aid course for back-country situations when EMS is not readily available. The course meets the current requirements for Philmont Scout Ranch, Northern Tier and other BSA high adventure programs. This course is designed especially for Venturing Crews and Patrols and older Scouts, as well as adults supporting an advanced outdoor program. Course Director: Jeff Robbe. For further information, please contact Jeff at jrobbe@swedishamerican.org Minium registration will be 4 persons by 11/7/12. Maximum registration is 12.