| Greetings!
Welcome to the December 2012 issue of our Council newsletter. One year ago we started this newsletter, and we hope that it has provided your a great deal of information on the happenings around, and the people of the Central Florida Council.
If you have an upcoming event, information, or a special scout story you'd like to include in this newsletter, please, email our editor. |
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School and Scouting Supplies for Africa
Please see Ron Oats' article this month for more on our Featured Scout.
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All-Hands Summit
 The The Central Florida Council is proud to announce the 2013 All Hands Summit. This gathering is for every adult leader in the Central Florida Council. The All Hands Summit will begin at 8:30am and will include guest speakers, such as Winston Scott (former astronaut), from throughout our Region and local Scouting unit best practices. In addition we will be hosting a town hall question and answer session with the Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America, Wayne Brock and the National Commissioner of the Boy Scouts of America, Tico Perez. We expect the 2013 All Hands Summit to fill up fast so be sure to reserve your seat today.
Please click here to reserve your seat
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| Register today for the Cub Holiday Adventure
Cub Holiday Adventure
Bring your Cub Scouts and families Holiday cheer to Camp La-No-Che and experience Cub Holiday Adventure 2012. Make sure to bring plenty of decorations for your campsite as we transform our Camp to a Holiday Central. Your Cub Scout and family will be able to participate in archery, bb guns, play camps and activities, be in a campfire and go camping plus much more! Cub Holiday Adventure 2012 at Camp La-No-Che will be held on the following weekend (click the date to register).
Mark this Holiday delight in your family's calendar because space is limited!
Please click here for an information flyer for Cub Holiday Adventure 2012.
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BSA Racing's Latest Entry
Through a generous donation by Scott Lagasse Racing and Team SLR along with car sponsor Hybrid Light, the Boy Scouts of America will have a new entry into the fast paced sport of NASCAR. Together we are gearing up for a successful run in the 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series. In preparation for a competitive 2013 season, Team SLR has already run the Hybrid Light BSA No. 8 car in three races this year (Kentucky 300, Kansas Lottery 300 and the final race in Homestead, FL on November 17).
By utilizing the excitement and high-tech nature of NASCAR race cars as a platform to promote science, technology, engineering and math to those involved in Scouting, this multiyear program will be foundational to reaching America's youth. Through this exposure, our goal is to increase youth interest in the concepts of engineering and math in ways that are fun and relevant.
For more than a century, Scouting has worked to make a positive impact in the lives of youth throughout our country; but we realize we can't do it alone. Organizations like Team SLR of the NASCAR Nationwide Series and Hybrid Light embrace their role in this great pursuit. Our goal is to continue to be a valued teammate to community organizations, corporate champions, and sporting leagues, all seeking to do their part in cultivating our greatest American asset, our youth.
Please be on the lookout for more information about the exciting relationship with Scott Lagasse and Team SLR as we kick off the 2013 season during the Daytona 500 weekend.
For more information about BSA Racing, visit www.scouting.org/BSARacing and www.TeamSLR.com
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Winter Camp at Camp La-No-Che
 Camp La-No-Che has a 2012 Winter Camp planned for Boy Scouts on December 27 -30, 2012!
Lots of opportunities to earn merit badges, fun and camping in Winter in Central Florida. This is the third year for our Winter Camp. For more information, please visit the 2012 Camp La-No-Che Winter Camp home page!
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Scout Day at SeaWorld
 SeaWorld and the Central Florida Council are excited to announce "Scout Day" at SeaWorld on Saturday, December 8th.
SeaWorld has graciously offered a special price (1/2 of the general admission price) for Scouts and their families to enjoy SeaWorld. |
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For Auction: 1932 Plymouth Rumble Seat Roadster
The Central Florida Council, BSA in association with Lonnie Pool and the Occoneechee Council, BSA will be auctioning off a 1932 Plymouth Roadster at the Mecum Auto Auction in Kissimmee on Saturday, January 26th at 6:30pm. It is lot S232, and can be viewed on the auction web site.
This car was the National AACA 1st place winner in May 2012. It has a beautiful 2 tone Cream and Tan with Brown leather interior and is a very rare classic example of an early Roadster with less than 4500 built.
This Roadster is just as good mechanically as it is cosmetically with dual side mounts and luggage carrier. Manuals and documentation dating back to 1965 included with purchase. Reliable Carriers to provide transportation for vehicle purchase anywhere in US or Canada at no cost.
100% of the proceeds of this car are going the Boy Scouts of America. Please encourage your friends and family to bid on this beautiful machine and to support Scouting. |
What is Friends of Scouting (FOS)?
The Central Florida Council has over 27,000 youth members in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Brevard, Volusia, Lake and Flagler Counties. A budget of over $5.7 million is needed to provide the facilities, support materials, programs, activities and professional leadership for our community. The annual Friends of Scouting Campaign focuses on raising a significant portion of this budget through families who participate in Scouting. Funds are raised by coordinated presentations made by volunteers to families of Scouts at Blue & Golds and Courts of Honor. In order for Scouting in our community to grow, we need your continued support. We are asking you to schedule time for an 8-10 minute presentation to the parents of your Scouts about our 2013 fundraising campaign, called the "Friends of Scouting (FOS) Campaign." Thank you for being a part of "Making Heroes"!
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Spring Events at Camp
 Scouting continues to thrive in Central Florida as well at our Camp. The Spring of 2013 is filled with events for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturing and Exploring members.
Please save these dates in your unit's calendar and make sure to check out www.camplanoche.com for more information and ways to register online.
- Feb. 8-10 TNAW (Tipisa Native American Weekend) - for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Venturing members to experience Native American heritage with hands on activities.
- Feb. 15-17 Super Weekend - for our Venturing and Exploring members to experience our camp and all the adventures it offers.
- Feb. 22-24 National Camp School Day Camp - for our Cub Scout Day Camp Directors to find ways to enhance the Day Camp experience for Cub Scouts in their communities.
- March 1-3 Spring Woodbadge # 1 - the first of two weekend experiences designed as one of Scouting's premier training events for adult leaders.
- March 8-10 Racing with Cub Scouting - for Cub Scouts to "Race" their way through the our Camp with their eyes on the checkered flag.
- March 15-17 OA Spring Conclave - for Order of the Arrow members to experience great Tipisa Lodge programs and training seminars.
- March 22-24 Cub character Weekend - a Cub Scouting event showcasing our Camp's adventures including bb guns, archery, aquatic activities plus a whole bunch more.
- March 22-24 Spring Woodbadge #2 - the second of two weekend experiences designed as one of Scouting's premier training events for adult leaders.
- April 5-7 Cub Character weekend - a Cub Scouting event showcasing our Camp's adventures including bb guns, archery, aquatic activities plus a whole bunch more.
- April 12-14 ROTC and Safety weekend - a weekend filled with ROTC units from Central Florida and seminars devoted to making sure our Scouts experience safe events and activities.
- April 19-21 Boy Scout Extravaganza - a weekend for Boy Scouts to experience Camp La-No-Che and all of its adventures.
- May 10-12 Cub character Weekend -a Cub Scouting event showcasing our Camp's adventures including bb guns, archery, aquatic activities plus a whole bunch more.
- May 17-19 OA Service Weekend - for Order of the Arrow members to showcase servant leadership while providing service to our camp in preparation for Summer Camp and other camp activities.
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Sporting Clays Invitational
 Special 'Thanks' to our two Title Sponsors: BB&T Bank and David Maus Automotive Group. First time chairman, Richard Haines of R.L. Haines General Contractor, conducted an outstanding Sporting Clays Invitational.
This event was the "blast" of the fall season. Held on November 1 & 2 at the fabulous Quail Creek Plantation in Okeechobee County, FL. Special thanks to all of the sponsors and team that help make this event one to remember. A big 'THANK YOU' to the staff at Quail Creek for providing quality and cheerful service. Richard Haines and his committee did a phenomenal job with this event - congratulations! Please refer to the Council's website for additional information on future Special Events, or contact Kirk Clark, Development Director at (407) 703-0230 e-mail: kirk.clark@cflscouting.org |
| Summer Camp 2013
Experience Scouting as it should be with high adventure, merit badges galore and the one and only Native American program village plus much more!
 Camp La-No-Che's summer camp adventures for Boy Scouts and Venturing youth include the ATV and Personal Water Craft experiences, a Native American village where scouts learn "hands on" about the Native American culture, High Adventure programs which include the Alpine Tower, high & low courses in COPE plus the Climbing tower, great program areas for scouts to earn merit badges in aquatics, ecology, scoutcraft skills, health fields, shooting sports and trailblazers (designed for new scouts).
 Summer camp 2013 at Camp La-No-Che will be the best ever. We already have over 160 Troops who are attending so please put your reservation in today. Please contact Pam Falconer (352-669-8558 or pam@camplanoche.com) at Camp La-No-Che located in the Leonard and Marjorie Williams Family Scout Reservation to put in your Troop's or Crew's reservation.
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| Focus On: Three Rivers District
What a start it has been to the 2012-2013 Program Year in Three Rivers District! We are expanded our Scouting footprint in East Volusia and Flagler counties, welcoming 475 new Scouts and their families into our Scouting family. The new Scouts and their families were excited by the Scouting promise and the District is delivering!
Hundreds of Cub Scouts and their families enjoyed the Cub-O-Ree Hoedown the District hosted at Doris Leeper Preserve in New Smyrna Beach. The Cub Scouts rode horses, made their own stick ponies, sharpened up their barnyard skills, and of course, shot BB Guns and bows and arrows - a highlight of any Cub Scout campout! At the end of the night, the Cub-O-Ree staff put together a Hoedown to remember, complete with music, a pumpkin carving contest, and a special story read by the Cat in the Hat himself.
At our Fall Camporee, nearly 200 Boy Scouts and Webelos had the opportunity to compete in a weekend chock full of physical activity! The Scouts competed in Dodgeball, Sprinting, Swimming Relays, Volleyball, and a true Camporee staple, Tug of War. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University's Army ROTC program provided a rigorous obstacle course, highlighted by Paintball. Those Scouts that weren't too tired took full advantage of the Rock Climbing Wall and inflatable obstacle course that were also on site! This jamb-packed weekend of nonstop, high-energy fun, may have recorded the earliest "lights-out" in Three Rivers yet!  Just as the program year has started out with a bang here in Three Rivers, so has our impact in the community! The Three Rivers Scouting Family has recorded nearly 8,000 community service hours. From Eagle Scout Projects to Beach Cleanups, Three Rivers is giving back to the community in anyway possible! Our largest community impact to date is Scouting for Food. This year, Three Rivers collected 50,745 lbs of food, 8,570 lbs of food MORE than last year!
Three Rivers District is off to a fantastic Program Year! We are delivering on the promises we have made to our Scouts, their families, and our community. We are excited to continue to grow our Scouting family as we continue our Gold Journey to Excellence.
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Training
 Looking for the latest information on BSA Training Classes being held in the Central Florida Council? The Council Training Calendar is your one-stop shop for all training classes, when they will be held, who is conducting the class, and how to register. |
| What's Going Around: All the Flus
By now, we've made it clear that the flu is going around in Central Florida. But are you ready for a double whammy? Stomach flu is spreading fast, too. But the only connection is that neither Influenza nor Gastroenteritis are welcomed houseguests. Other than that, the two "flus" are not related at all.
Influenza and Gastroenteritis are viral and very contagious but quite different in symptoms and duration.
INFLUENZA (The Flu)
Flu symptoms present very quickly, and are very severe. Common symptoms include:
High Fever
Severe Aches and Pains
Exhaustion, Fatigue & Weakness
Headache
Cough
Chest Discomfort
People carrying the influenza virus can spread the flu beginning 1 day before they notice flu symptoms and for up to 5 to 7 days after getting sick.
The influenza virus can lead to croup, bronchitis, ear infections and pneumonia. Centra Care has a quick influenza test, which can determine within minutes if you or your child has the flu. The earlier you are diagnosed can make a huge difference in how long the flu lasts or how severe it may become.
GASTROENTERITIS (Stomach Flu)
Gastroenteritis is caused by an intestinal virus -- not the influenza virus. You can become ill by eating or drinking contaminated food or water, though poor hand washing most commonly transmits viruses. Common symptoms include:
Abdominal Pain
Vomiting
Nausea
Diarrhea
Low-grade Fever
Symptoms usually only last a day or two.
The stomach flu is viral in nature so it can't be treated with antibiotics, but Centra Care physicians can prescribe medication that can stop the vomiting, slow the diarrhea and prevent dehydration.
Did you know ... Centra Care offers discounted physicals for Scouts and Leaders? Scout physicals are available for $25 and Leader physicals are only $40. Check with your local Centra Care for your next annual physical.
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2012 New Scout Recruitment
 2012 is quickly winding down, but new Scout recruitment is still in full swing! Please continue to invite new families to join your unit and experience the adventure and excitement of Scouting. Every youth deserves a chance to be a Scout!! By now most new families should have been to several meetings and well on their way to earning belt loops and patches. Every new Cub Scout should have earned his Bobcat Badge. Your Pack should have attended a Cub Family Campout and be signed up to attend at least one of our fantastic events at Camp Lanoche. Troops are getting an influx of new Boys. We have had record breaking School Night results for our Boy Scout recruitment. Troop Leaders; make sure you are delivering a great program!! One key indicator to strong and healthy Packs, Troops and Crews, is the number of leaders they have that are trained. Training is key to a successful Pack program!! Attend your District's Roundtable and take advantage of a wealth of resources. We are part of the greatest youth organization in the world! By the end of this year over 7,000 more families will have joined our organization for the first time!! Thank you for helping make Scouting grow. |
| Learning for Life's Outdoor Experience
Learning for Life's 2012-2013 Outdoor Experience is back by popular demand! Many schools have already reserved their day at Camp La No Che and students from Clay Springs Elementary and Cherokee School enjoyed their "Pioneer Day" in November. Five "hands on" activity stations included making pumpkin fry bread and butter, yarn dolls, whirligigs and candles as well as playing pioneer games and going on a nature hike.
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The Boy Scouts of America Discover Credit Card is now available!
 Imagine 1 million people using the BSA Card every day in the marketplace. With millions of swipes taking place in thousands of locations nationwide, the Boy Scout brand will be presented to families who might not otherwise have the Boy Scouts on their mind. This new product will make a positive impact in the lives of Scouters, alumni & new families throughout our community! Why should you get a BSA Discover Card? - You can use your BSA Card to make purchases everywhere Discover cards are accepted
- You'll receive all the benefits & cash back rewards Discover cards offer
- You'll support Scouting with every purchase!
- You'll have the ability to donate your cash back reward to the BSA & visit a Scout Rewards section where a selection of BSA products are available for purchase with your points
So, how do you get one? It's easy! Log on to www.BoyScoutCreditCard.com to apply. And don't forget, we announced last month, the BSA Prepaid Card is available too! Find out more at www.scoutsarethrifty.com. |
Mission Impact - The Future Is Now
 The world rotates endlessly throughout our vast universe causing endless changes from day to night and with seasons changing from the heat of summer to the briskness of winter while always providing for its own destiny. Now "Opportunity Knocks" for changes in the Scouting Program and our Scouting Membership must answer the call. No different than the continuous changes in our daily world, Scouting's needs for both its Scouts and Adult Leaders are also never ending in their need for change and growth. The Central Florida Council Mission Impact Committee is prepared to take on this challenge by providing guidance, ingenuity, and leadership in conquering Scouting's expanse of change required to meet the needs of the Scouting Mission and the Central Florida Council's membership.
Volunteerism and Community Partnering is where it starts. Recruitment will be accomplished by promoting the need, providing the opportunity, developing the objective, guiding the execution, and acknowledging success. Scouting needs you!
Our opinion, input, and approval are of utmost importance to the success and growth of Scouting. We need to make our voices heard through the Voice of the Scout Program. Take the time to make a difference so we can cause direction for the changes needed. Scouting needs your input!
You wouldn't go on a family car trip without directions - a plan, fight a military battle without objectives - goals, or play a football game not to win - succeed. To create and grow Scouting's Mission and our Scout and Scout Leader's Scouting Adventure we need a plan. The Central Florida Council "Strategic Plan" is a plan encompassing every aspect needed to accomplish Scouting's Mission - Membership, Finance, and Program. It takes the leadership of our Scouting Units, Districts, and Council to reach its objectives and cause success for all. Scouting needs your efforts!
We need to tell them if we want them to know - communications is a must. Scouting has unlimited offerings to add to both the Scout and Adult Leaders Scouting Adventure. These endless opportunities within the Scouting Program are available for everyone in our Scouting Membership to enjoy, to learn from, and to grow with but they need to be promoted - communicated to all. Every avenue of communication needs to be utilized, word of mouth, printed media, E Media, and the social medias if we want to be truly successful. Scouting needs your help in passing on the word!
Scouting's front line is our Unit Leaders, District Leaders, and Council Leaders but without support Scouting's operations would not be able to succeed to its fullest ability. All Scouting operational functions include extensive behind the scenes manpower. This support is provided by our volunteer Legacy Quest teams - S3 (Council Office Administrative Support Services), C4 (Council Camp & Office Support Services), Campmasters (Camp Event Support Services), and Blackshirts (Council Event Support Services). Scouting needs your abilities!
The Central Florida Council "Mission Impact Committee" is ready to serve, to build, and to grow the best Scouting Program possible for our Council's Scouts and Scout Leaders. Join the team, be part of Scouting's success and future.
For more information concerning the Central Florida Council's Mission Impact Committee please contact Matt Ragan at matt.ragan@cflscouting.org or Bill Patterson at tricinc@bellsouth.net
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25th Sunshine Trade-o-Ree
 Do you wonder what a TOR is all about? The Sunshine Trade-O-Ree (TOR) is an annual event where scouts and scout friends gather together to display, collect, trade, purchase and sell all kinds of scouting memorabilia. What kind of memorabilia you might ask? Well, let me tell you that you will see anything and everything scouting related at the Sunshine TOR. There will be displays of patches of course, but you will also see older uniforms, scouting pins & buttons, coins, flags, hats, neckerchiefs, knives and other tools, newspapers and magazines and the list goes on and on. EVERYTHING scouting related can be found at the Sunshine TOR.Because of our location here in Central Florida, we draw many more people than other TOR events can. At the 2013 Sunshine TOR we will have 100 tables that will display scouting items from all around Florida as well as the country. Collectors and traders from all over Florida and also many from out of Florida are expected to attend the 2013 Sunshine TOR.Do you want to learn about the rich history of scouting? Do you want to make new scout friends? Do you want to earn Cub Scout and Weblos advancements or Boy Scout merit badges? Have you ever wanted to design a patch? Then come to the 2013 Sunshine Trade-O-Ree and have some fun!The Sunshine Trade-O-Ree will be held on the 1st and 2nd of February at the National Guard Armory, 2809 South Fern Creek, Orlando, Florida 32806 (map). Doors open at 5:00pm on Friday and 9:00am on Saturday. Go to www.sunshineTOR.com to find out more about the Sunshine Trade-O-Ree.
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TNAW '13
Tipisa Native American Weekend 2013
February 8th - 10th
Special Weekend Price: $30 a person
If registered before 1/1/2013.
Regular weekend fee: $35
Includes camping, food, & program.
  For more information & online registration, visit: Tipisa.org/tnaw Or contact weekend chair Michael Todd at: tnaw13@live.com |
 From the Scout Executive
 Can you believe that the holidays are already here ... It's time to slow the pace just a bit and turn our attention to family and friends and give thanks for the gifts of "Hope, Love and Joy" that define this festive time of year.
With this seasonal thought in mind, I was recently touched and inspired by one of our Scout families who in the spirit of sharing reached out over international borders to extend the fellowship of the Scouting movement. Many of you will recall two years ago, in celebration of the centennial of Scouting in America, we launched our 100th Anniversary Service Project called "Scouting for Change." Scouts mobilized themselves to collect quarters to help build and remodel two schools near Nairobi, Kenya. Though their efforts and the guidance of our adult leadership, we successfully completed both of the school service projects in Kenya.
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The School that "Scouting for Change" Service Project remolded
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9th grade classes that our Scouting for Change Service Project funded
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Now, fast forward to earlier this year when I received a letter from Tiffany Lopez. Tiffany is a Scout leader from Troop 787 in Winter Springs and is also a 2013 National Scout Jamboree Assistant Scoutmaster. In her correspondence, Tiffany shared with me that her son Christian had elected to plan and implement his Eagle Scout Project, by continuing this legacy in East Africa by collecting school supplies for one of our schools in Kenya. Christian called upon his brother and fellow troop members to take on this worthy project. With the first task completed, she and her two sons, Christian and Christopher embarked on a mission trip to Africa, coordinated through World Hope Church to personally deliver the supplies to the school in Kenya.
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Christian and Christopher greet Kenyan Scouts.
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Upon arrival the Lopez's were surprised to learn that the school also hosted a Scouting program for young men and women students at the school. The Lopez's were so impressed with the Scout Troop that they immediately committed themselves to another service project. They learned that although the Scouts were highly motivated and troop very active, only six of the Scouts owned Scout uniforms. When Christian and Christopher departed Kenya, they promised to raise the funds necessary to purchase all the uniforms.
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The Lopez's visiting with the Kenyan Scout on their mission trip in Africa at the school our funds
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The example of this young family is a testament to the worldwide movement of Scouting. Few organizations have the capacity to cultivate such passion in young people to serve and lead. This is the dividend your gift to Scouting pays.
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Tiffany Lopez, Assistant Scoutmaster Troop 787 & 2013 National Scout Jamboree Assistant Scoutmaster
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During this season of giving, I want to say thank you for sharing your resources of time, talent and treasure...Please accept my best wishes for a joyous Happy Holiday Season!
Yours in Scouting!
- Ron Oats, Scout Executive
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