LAFAYETTE E-NEWSLETTER
MAY 2016 EDITION
Lafayette District Roundtable

May's Lafayette District Roundtable meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 11, 2016 at 7 PM.  Roundtable is located at the JP Mascaro Office Building, 2650 Audubon Road, Audubon, PA 19403.  Enter through the main entrance (with the glass) and proceed up the staircase to the second floor.


The theme for May's Roundtable is Scouts with disAbilities and Special Needs, with presenter Mary Matcovich.

The Break-out sessions are:
  • Cub Scouts: Advancement 2.0 and New Advancement Tool Overlook
  • Boy Scouts: NYLT Presentation, including Aidan DePietropaolo from Troop 231 Royersford, who was a staff member from August NYLT, to provide the Youth side to NYLT.

We hope to see you there!
 
Chairman's Message

May showers bring May or maybe June flowers. Well we haven't had a shortage of rain this month so far. I know this because my grass keeps growing and the rain won't stop long enough to cut it.

I hope you all are dodging the rain drops and it hasn't put too much of a damper on your Pack, Troop and Crew events. No doubt many of your units are participating in outdoor programs including weekend and day camping, backpacking trips, as well as Eagle Scout projects and Community service projects. Get outside and enjoy the great outdoors. It's also a great time to finalize your Summer Camp plans. There are lots of camping opportunities for Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts in Lafayette District. Cub Scout Community Day Camp, Cub Adventures at Musser, Boy Scout Summer Camp at Resica Falls. Don't forget that the second week is 50% off. If you want more information, please check things out on the Council website and/or contact Jim Sontag, our own District Camping Chairman for all things camping.

In addition to all those outdoor activities, Spring is a great time to recruit new members into your units. Make sure those boys crossing over from Cubs to Boy Scouts find a Troop and grab all those boys not currently in Scouting into your unit with the help of a Spring Recruitment event. Several of our Units have events already planned and we are actively looking for more opportunities to show off our Units. If you need help developing a plan, please check out the resources on the Council website or reach out to our very own Lafayette District Membership Master, Brett Montich.

I just learned last night that May is Military Appreciation Month. Congress designated May as National Military Appreciation Month in 1999 to ensure the nation was given the opportunity to publicly demonstrate their appreciation for the sacrifices and successes made by our service members - past and present. May was selected because it has the most days set aside for celebrating and commemorating our military's achievements. These days include Loyalty Day, which was established in 1921, Victory in Europe (VE) Day commemorating the end of WWII in Europe on May 8, 1945, Armed Forces Day created in 1949, Military Spouse Appreciation Day established in 1984, and of course the best known of the May holidays, Memorial Day. Please make sure that if you see a Veteran or a current member of our Armed Forces that you shake their hand and thank them for their service to this great country. If you are a Veteran or a current member of our Armed Forces, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!

I hope I will see you all out at our May Roundtable on Wednesday, May 11th and our June Recognition Picnic on June 8th.

To all those Moms out there, Happy Mother's Day!

Yours in service,

Gregg Slocum
Lafayette District Chairman

Wilderness First Aid Course

When: May 14-15 at Valley Forge Service Center, approx. 8:30 AM-5:30 PM each day.

Cost: $60

Hurry, only 5-8 spots left!

Contact Jim Breish for more information at [email protected]

 
Cub Adventures 2016 Happenings
  • Excited for camp? Unsure what to expect? Join us at our Open House where you will be able to get in some practice before the "summer games" begin.

 


  • Other Camp Information:
    • All forms needed for camp will be digital this year, and it is the responsibility of Units or individuals to print them out.
    • We will have a list of what is required for camp and what is suggested as a handout. 
    • Go here to register or find out more about the great summer camp offerings.

 

For more information, contact Jim Sontag, District Camping Chairman at [email protected]

Lafayette District Picnic
The Lafayette District Picnic will be held on Wednesday, June 8 at 6 PM on the lawn at the Cradle of Liberty Council offices in Wayne, PA.
 
The District Committee will provide the hot dogs, hamburgers, veggie burgers and rolls. And you bring the side dishes and desserts. Adult Scouters Recognition Award Ceremony will start at 7 pm.
More details will follow so stay tuned. $5 per aged 10 and up.  Children under age 10 are free.
 
OPPS we do need help. If you want to run a kids game, help with cooking, setup or cleanup please contact Liz Parker at [email protected].
 
To sign up online, use the following link: http://colbsa.doubleknot.com/event/1892048

Meet a District Committee Member

Name:  James Sontag
 
District Position:  Camping Chairman
 
Years in Scouting: 44
 
Were you a Scout as a Youth?  Yes, an Eagle Scout with a Silver Palm.
 
Do you currently serve Scouting in any other capacity?  Scoutmaster Troop 133; Health and Safety Committee member; Lafayette District Camping Chairman; and Service Advisor for the OA.
 
What do you do outside of Scouting?  I am ta Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, working at Temple University Hospital and Hillmont GI, provident anesthesia services.
 
Tell us a little about yourself:  I retired from the US Army Reserve in 2008 with 28 years of Service.  I am married with one Son and 2 Labrador Retrievers.
 
Do you have any children?  One son, who just made his Eagle Scout in January, 2016.  He is a Freshman at Gettysburg College.
 
Did you grow up around here?  I grew up in the Roxborough part of the city.  Moved to Montgomery County 19 years ago.
 
What do you like to do in your spare time? I like to go camping, fishing, biking, boating, reading, and walking my dogs.

May is Military Appreciation Month.  Tell us a little about your time in the military:  I spent 9 years as a Navy Corpsman, before transferring to the Army Reserve to attend college.  With my 28 years with the Army and Navy, I have traveled all over the world with both services.  It is an experience that I will never forget.

Lafayette District Calendar Has Been Updated
The Lafayette District Calendar has been updated!!! Check out everything that is going on from now through the Spring Camporee in 2017 here:  Lafayette District Calendar

Here are some highlights:
  • Lafayette District Roundtable - May 11,2016
  • Lafayette District Picnic - June 8, 2016
     
  • Klondike Derby - January 20 - 22, 2017
  • Lafayette District First Aid Meet - March 4, 2017
  • Lafayette District Dinner - March 8, 2017
  • Lafayette District Pinewood Derby March 25, 2017

STEM NOVA and SUPERNOVA Awards
We all know that there is much more to Scouting than camping. We also know that the emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) today is not new to Scouting.
 
Our founders, most notably Ernest Thompson Seton, understood over 100 years ago that an understanding how of scientific concepts impacted their lives was important to the development of young men. They wove the concepts throughout the program. Among the original 57 merit badges introduced in 1911 there were many that, today, we would include as STEM merit badges. These included Architecture, Astronomy, Aviation, Chemistry, Electricity, Machinery, and Surveying.
 
It has not just been merit badges. Do you remember learning about the food chain, or how to measure the height of a tree using a stick, or how to find north by looking at the stars, or about the Earth's magnetic field, or participating in Project SOAR? Or the hundreds of other things you learned as a Scout that brought Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math into your world in a practical way?
 
Two STEM Awards have been created, NOVA and SUPERNOVA, to encourage Scouts and Venturers to take advantage of STEM activities in Scouting.
 
To find out more about STEM awards and to learn how to become a STEM Mentor contact Brian Wynne, [email protected]

Merit Badge College 2017
Merit Badge College 2017 is tentatively scheduled for January 28, 2017 at the Spring Ford Ninth Grade Center, Royersford.  Scouts can submit requests for Merit Badges that they would like to have offered. While we can't promise a counselor, we can start looking if we know what merit badges the boys want.

Counselors interested in offering classes can submit their availability as well. Just because you know one person has always offered the class doesn't mean you can't offer it as well... often classes are very full, and it would be great to have a second or third person teach. New counselors and new badges are always welcome.

Please send e-mail to [email protected]
Spring Camporee 2016 Cancelled
The Spring 2016 Camporee has been cancelled due to lack of help to organize. We are now looking for a Troop or Troops to organize the Spring 2017 Camporee.  We currently have Camp Hart reserved for May 5-7, 2017.   Please contact Tim Little at [email protected] if you are interested or want more information.
You Are Invited To Attend Roundtable!


JP Mascaro  Audubon Office Building on the 2nd floor.
2650 Audubon Road, Audubon, PA 19403
Meet and Greet starts at 7:00pm; Program portion starts at 7:30pm
Got Questions? CONTACT: Alan Cave (610) 960-5507 
Roundtable Commissioner

Cradle of Liberty Council, Boy Scouts of America
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