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.

If there is a subject that you would like to have covered at roundtable that we have not done yet, please contact myself or Amanda to get the ball rolling. Nothing is out of the question.

I still need your help!

The Wisconsin River District needs your Help in identifying great individuals who could serve as a unit commissioner.

All units need a Unit Commissioner.   A good unit commissioner has a love for Scouting and desire to help Packs and Troops work better together is all that is needed to be a UC. I also encourage you to contact me directly if you are interested.   Group UC meetings are one half hour, once a month prior to Roundtable. It really is not a lot of time for those already involved with the units - just come early to Roundtable.

I challenge all Cub Scout Packs/Boy Scout Troops to forward me one name of a person that fits the bill for being a unit commissioner.