POW-WOW JANUARY 19 2013 AT DEERFIELD HIGH SCHOOL

The All Scouter Pow Wow is a council sponsored event designed to be a day of learning and fun. It is a single day packed with a year's worth of fun, games, songs, skits, and new information for adults who want to provide the best Scouting program possible for their boys. This event includes topics of interest for Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Exploring and Venturing leaders. In addition to the many resources Pow Wow provides, participants have a chance to meet Scouters from all over our Council and complete supplemental training courses such as Safe Swim Defense, Safety Afloat and much more. For more information go HERE 

Chartered Organization Representative Training 

January 26, 2013 9:00AM-3:00PM Training begins at 9AM in the basement of the Janesville Service Center. Fee is $5.00 and lunch will be provided.

In the morning we will cover the Role of the Chartered Organization Representative. Adult Youth Protection training will be presented for those that need it after lunch.

Scouting in America cannot exist without Chartered Organizations.  

The role of the Chartered Organization Representative is important and unique in the Scouting Program.

Many people volunteer to take this role "on paper" without ever knowing how important the job can be.

This training is designed to explain that role, and to help make a difference in America's youth.

Contact the Chartered Organization Representative in your unit and encourage them to attend.

This training is being presented jointly by Indian Trails District and Southern Lakes District. For more information contact Bill Whitford 608-201-3344 bill.whitford@gmail.com or Andrew Olsen 608-314-3191 aolsen@bsamail.org

This month I am going to talk a little bit about Youth Protection Training, its importance and relevance for us as adults in today's society.

The unfortunate fact of the matter is that there are people out there in this world that do not have the best intentions towards our youth. These unscrupulous people are targeting the youth in the world for their own evil purposes. This is sad and despicable. Unfortunately we as adults need to protect the youth that are entrusted to us, whether they are our own children or our neighbors children. But it is more than that. We have a duty to the organization as a whole. This movement is under attack by groups that for whatever reason do not understand it or want it to fail. We can fight against this by taking this valuable training and living by what it teaches us. If every adult leader were to follow what this teaches then the abilities of the bad apples in the pot would be severely limited if not outright eradicated.

Taking this training is sometimes a hassle. Sure it takes about 25 minutes of your time, time that is already in many cases stretched thin. Sure it is just one more thing that is asked of our volunteers. And it can be a real paperwork hassle, but that one little piece of paper not only protects your children, but your unit, yourself and the Boy Scouts as a whole!

Quite simply it is something that is required of all adult leaders for many good reasons.  It is not a small thing, and this training can make a real difference.  When that child in distress has nowhere to turn this little bit of training can help you change their life in a positive way that you would never expect. Taking this training is like forming a wall against those predators out there. Arm in arm when we follow this training we are sentinels against those that would damage our youth, our beliefs, and the scouting movement.

So take the 25 minutes to take this online training. Take it every 2 years on time, and please do not let it lapse!  Ask all the parents in your unit to take it, registered or not.  And Keep a copy of this training certificate in an accessible place.  This will make life easier for your committee chair when recharter comes. Committee chairs, keep a file of everyone in your unit. Keep up to date on who needs to renew. THIS will make it easier for your District Executive.

This training is here for the good of us all. Take it, use it, and LIVE it.

BeAScout

The online Google Maps application to help parents find Scout units for their children in any zip code WORKS!  This is a very powerful tool; but, it needs unit leaders to populate their "pin" with unit contact information.  To have the Scout Office populate your pin, please fill out this form and submit to Aaron Vikemyr for entry.