| Greetings!
Welcome to the October 2013 issue of our Council newsletter.
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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Beating the Odds While Reaching the Summit!
Deshawn Sullivan had to overcome some major challenges and beat the odds while reaching the summit. He joined the Scouting program while in elementary school as a Webelos Scout. Raised by his mother along with three siblings, Deshawn was forced to take on the daunting role of "father figure" in the household. At age 11, Deshawn was in a very serious accident, leaving him with severe leg and head injuries. While recuperating from his injuries, he studied his Boy Scout handbook. His Scout leaders brought Scouting to him. Deshawn experienced a remarkable recovery and achieved some outstanding accomplishments, culminating in achieving the rank of Eagle Scout!
His journey to the National Jamboree at the Bechtel Family Summit in West Virginia began with an early morning departure from the Kennedy Space Center. He joined more than 40,000 of his fellow Scouts for the experience of his lifetime. Deshawn signed up for the canopy tour and he was eager to view the Summit from a zipline gliding through the air from 30 feet above the New River Gorge and the surrounding forest. His days were filled with a variety of high adventure activities, but Deshawn's most memorable experience was trading patches with the many new friends he met at the Summit! Beyond all of the fun adventures, the Scouts were given the opportunity of rendering "Good Turn for America" service projects in the local community, learning that giving back makes a difference in the lives of others.
As the Summit was coming to a close, and when the sun rose on the crew as they prepared to load the bus to return home, Deshawn and his friends looked back at The Summit and they knew that their lives would never be the same - changed for the better! Cherishing memories and equipped with new life skills they had learned while experiencing a summer at the Summit. Upon returning home, Deshawn called his Scout leader and said, "I can never thank you enough for the experiences I had. My whole life has been changed thanks to you and Scouting." That is what Scouting is all about: Fun with a Purpose - Prepared. For Life!
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Voice of the Scout
 It's in your E-mail Inbox! Every Scout and Register Adult in the Boy scouts of America will be receiving this month via e-mail a Voice of the Scout Survey. Please take the time to Make Your Voices Heard. Please complete the survey promptly. It is your Scouting Adventure! |
October Popcorn Update - Selling Popcorn Online!
 Scouts across Central Florida are working hard to earn their own way in Scouting - and the popcorn campaign is off to a great start. But has your Scout set up their online account, so they can e-mail friends and family out of town? This is an easy to help your Scout reach their goals and earn more prizes!
Here is the "how to:"
* Click on "Scouts" in the upper right hand corner
* Click on "Create an Account"
* Use drop down menu to select Scout
* Enter the Scout's birth-date
* Enter contact information
* Under Council, be sure to select Central Florida, then your District and then your unit number
* You will receive an e-mail to activate your account
* Then you are ready to send e-mails asking friends and family to purchase popcorn!
* All sales are credited to your Scout's prize effort
* For more tips on how to set up your online account, click on this link
What's great about online selling for the consumer?
* When they click on the link they receive, consumers will see a pop up, so they know they are supporting the specific Scout who sent them the request
* Lots of variety. 14-different items are available
* Shipping costs are dramatically better than they have been in the past
* $6 flat rate for all ready-to-eat items, whether a consumer is buying one or more items
* $7 flat rate for any order containing a microwave product
* No shipping charge on military orders
* Consumers will receive 5% off the entire order if they purchase more than one item
Don't forget to find great resources at: http://popcorn.cflscouting.org
If you have any questions or feedback, please contact our Council Popcorn Kernel, Jodi Peterman, petermanconsultingservices@gmail.com, Popcorn Staff Advisor, Patrick Linfors, patrick.linfors@cflscouting.org or Popcorn Executive Assistant, Kimmy Orosco, Kimberly.orosco@cflscouting.org.
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One Movement - One BSA, United We Grow
 The Mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law.
Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, Venturers are the youth membership of the Boy Scouts of America. They live daily by the Scout Oath and Scout Law. They do their best and are prepared. Their ethical and moral choices will give direction to and create our country's leaders of tomorrow.
They are - The Scouting Movement
We the Scouters (Adult Volunteer Leaders) and the Scouting Professions (District Executives and Council Management) are charged with providing the support, the leadership, and the experience to cause the success of Scouting's youth membership.
We the Leaders must be united as one team creating the strength and mass to accomplish the enormous task of the development, the training, and in providing the Scouting Promise for the Scouting Movement's success.
This one Team approach of Scouters and Scouting
Professionals working together in unison are prepared to successfully accomplish the opportunities of Scouting's membership growth, improving the Scouting Adventure, and in providing Scouting's financial security.
We the Leaders together will do our best and be prepared
This is - One Movement - One BSA, United We Grow |
| Scouting for Food
Scouting For Food is in full swing with over 500 units signed up to participate in helping us collect more than 600,000 pounds of food for our community in need.
Make sure your unit has a representative at the October Roundtable to pick up your bags to distribute and finalize your area to cover.
All bags need to be distributed on November 2nd, and picked up on November 9th between 9:00 AM and 12:00.
Lastly if you have a business that would also like to partner with us with an internal Food Drive, contact Randy Steil at Randy.Steil@cflscouting.org.
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FAM-tastic Weekend
Scouting Family Style
November 15th - 17th 2013
A Camping Weekend for the Entire Family. Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venture Scouts and their Families living the Camp La-No-Che lifestyle. The weekend will be filled with Fun and Adventure for all ages - Scouts, Parents, Brothers, Sisters - every Family Member is invited to join in on this Special Weekend where everyone is a Scout. The activities will include Shooting Sports, Aquatic Events, Age Specific Activities, and Games that challenge your skills plus much, much more including Family Style Nighttime Entertainment.
Cost $35.00
All Meals Included
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Community Service Hours
 Since the BSA's inception in 1910, Scouts have learned to live the principles of the Scout Oath and Law through community service and "helping other people at all times." What began as a singular act of service on a foggy London night quickly evolved into daily Good Turns and then into more encompassing national initiatives. These have included selling war bonds, collecting rubber and scrap metal, growing victory gardens during WWII, and more recently Scouting for Food. We now have the opportunity to raise our levels of community service and increase awareness of the Scouting program within our neighborhoods. And we can do that one Scout at a time. Remember to and remind all:
"Do a Good Turn Daily." In the world of "Journey to Excellence" the tradition of "helping other people at all times" is incorporated into the "Service Hour" reporting. Service Hour Reporting is a key component of the measurements for JTE. Units are encouraged to conduct and report several service projects annually, one of which must be for their chartering organization, to achieve the Gold Level. The requirements for achieving JTE Gold are: - Packs - should conduct and report four service projects annually.
- Troops - should conduct and report six service projects annually
- Teams - should conduct and report six service projects annually
- Crews - should conduct and report four service projects annually
- Ships - should conduct and report four service projects annually
For more information on reporting your Community Service Hours for JTE, check out some of the following resources: |
Recharter Time
 Re-charter is the annual opportunity for charter organizations to recommit to operating a scouting unit as part of their youth programs. It is the time that leaders and scouts renew their membership for the upcoming year. All returning members pay a $24 annual membership fee and can also select Boys' Life Magazine, for a $12 fee. Re-charter packets are handed out at the October Round Table and are due at the November Round Table. If you have a question regarding re-charter, contact your unit commissioner. For more information on rechartering, download the 2014 Recharter Guide. |
Council Philmont Contingent 2014
 Next summer, The Philmont Scout Ranch will be celebrating their 76th anniversary. The Central Florida Council still has room for 13 youth and 3 adults for the 2014 trek. The fee is $2,400. The cost per participant includes all Philmont Scout Ranch fees, round trip flight from Orlando to Albuquerque NM, 3 days of touring and exciting activities including white water rafting, & cycling, 3 nights in terrific hotels, meals and attractions, 5 extremely amazing customized Contingent shirts, customized name badge and most importantly - training from two leaders with 9 Philmont treks between them. Each crew of 10-12 chooses their own itinerary based on their interests, the distance they want to travel, and the degree of difficulty they want. Philmont offers interpretive programs in gold mining, western lore, logging, mountain livin', homesteading, burro packing, and black powder shotguns as well as contemporary programs like rock climbing, archaeology, challenge courses, astronomy and mountain biking. This event will sell out, however a $100 deposit will hold available spots, after which a waiting list will be formed. The first Contingent meeting is 8/16 - 8/18/2013. Do not miss this opportunity. Contact Steve.Eisinger@UniversalOrlando.com. |
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Lowe's Eagle Service Project Grants
 Nationally, during 2012, more than 3,000 Scouts received $100 grants for their Eagle Scout service projects through the generosity of the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation. The Boy Scouts of America is pleased to announce that the foundation has offered to continue its support with a similar number of grants beginning in July 2013. This year, the Lowe's service project impact grants will take a different approach. Most importantly, the $100 Discover gift card grants will be mailed directly to Eagle Scout candidates. Local councils will select the Scouts to receive cards and then, through the council-designated Advancement Committee representative, follow up to see that participating Scouts submit their required reports. Completed applications may be submitted to John Pollock, Council Advancement Committee representative at: jpollock3@cfl.rr.com. For more information: http://www.scouting.org/trailtoeagle.aspx or call Gary Brewer at (407) 703-0248 |
Cub Scout Legoland Days
The final Central Florida Council Cub Scout Legoland Days will be held November 16th, at Legoland Florida. Play your part as Cub Scouts and their families fight fires at LEGO City Rescue Academy, conquer the Dragon coaster as they return to a time of knights and castles, feel like a Giant as you walk through Miniland USA featuring incredible detailed cities built out of millions of LEGO bricks, and participate in the Ford Driving School, where Cub Scouts and their families drive LEGO themed cars through city streets to earn their own driver's license.
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2013 New Scout Recruitment
 All these new Scouts....now what do I do??? During the past two months Packs throughout our council have been recruiting new Cub Scots to join Cub Scouts for the first time. Now it's time to deliver the promise of Scouting, to make sure the new families are "plugged in" and having fun!!! By now most new families should have been to at least a couple of meetings and well on their way to earning belt loops and patches. Within the first two weeks of activities every new Scout should have earned his Bobcat Badge. Your Pack should be signed up to attend your District's Cub Family Campout and at least one of our fantastic events at Camp Lanoche. One key indicator to a strong and healthy Pack 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!! |
| Fall Cub Events at Camp LaNoChe
 
Cub Holiday Adventure
December 13-15, 2013
Join Cub Scouts and their families during Cub Holiday Adventure at our camp. Holiday décor will be in full bloom throughout this weekend. Activities include BB guns, archery, craft making and a great holiday show. Join other Cub Scouting families for Cub Holiday Adventure 2013!
Please click here to download the information / registration flyer
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Cub Scout Day Camp 2014
 Cub Scout Day Camp 2014 planning has already kicked off. The 2014 Day Camp Directors, Program Directors and other key staff are putting together the best program ever. The theme this year is Cubstruction. Each camp will be Cubstructing great innovative activities for Cub Scouts. More details of when and where the Cub Scout Day Camps will be held in 2014 will be available very soon.  We have some great new activities planned, some old favorites (BB's and archery). Day Camp is the opportunity for Cub Scouts, to have fun making new friends, learning scout skills, all while earning rank advancement and other Cub Scout awards. Each camp is different and your son can attend any or as many camps as he wants. Most camps will have BB's, Archery, Crafts and Scout Skills after that every camp is different. You son will earn awards in his new rank Wolf, Bear or Webelos. He will earn a Day Camp patch and receive his camp t-shirt. Camp is all week and all day long. SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR CUB SCOUTS - We need help from a Central Florida Cub Scout to design the 2014 Cub Scout Day Camp patch. The winning design will receive a free Cub Scout Day camp for the Cub Scout and a friend! Please click here to download the flyer / instructions on how to turn in your Cub Scout's design. |
 The Boy Scout Sporting Clays Invitational
 Are you looking for something different in terms of special event activities? Then we have a solution for
you: The Sporting Clays Invitational! What a unique opportunity to network and fellowship at a five-star resort with over 1000 pristine acres shotgun complex. Shot and play in style at the beautiful Quail Creek Plantation in Okeechobee Florida.
Under the leadership of Richard Haines, President of RL Haines Construction this year's event is shaping up to be bigger and better than before! The shoot is scheduled for October 24th
This year's title sponsors are: BB&T and Kel-Tec (gun manufacture). Secure your sponsorship today and enjoy the Thursday night tailgate and BBQ reception in the exquisite dining facility at Quail Creek.
For the novice shooters, a First-time Shooters Clinic will be conducted. Each shooter will take aim at a total of 100 clay targets. In addition, your team (foursome) will participate in the "Flurry" with 24 targets unleashed simultaneously for an aggregate total for a chance to win an awesome prize from Kel-Tec.
This is the fall fun that you don't want to miss! For information on securing your team, please call or e- mail Kirk Clark at (407) 703-0230 or e-mail: kirk.clark@cflscouting.org. Or visit our Council website at clays.cflscouting.org |
Training
 "Every scout deserves a trained leader". This quote was from Scouting's founder Lord Robert Baden Powell. The Central Florida Council Training Committee in conjunction with your District Training Committee encourages you to expand your Scouting knowledge to help enrich the Scouting movement here in Central Florida. 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. |
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Support the Scouting program AND Save Money on Summer Camp & Day Camp!!
In order to better serve our Scouting programs, the 2014 Friends of Scouting (FOS) Campaign will launch in October of 2013. Our units will be given the opportunity to set their FOS presentation dates at the October Round Table. The district FOS chair and FOS presenters will be at the October Round Table to answer any questions you may have. Our focus will be to visit each Troop's Court of Honor between October and December and then wrap-up the Blue & Gold visits for our Packs between January and March.
Incentives for participating are numerous:
* Unit service
* Free Basic Leader Training
* Youth scholarships
* Recruitment efforts
* Marketing
* Program development
* Program support
* Affordable Camping
* Support Center
* Camping Facilities
* ...and much more.
In addition, for the 2014 FOS Campaign, Summer Camp and Day Camp Incentives are being established to encourage each Scouting family to participate in the 2014 FOS Campaign. The incentives will be based on a unit hitting their 2014 FOS Goal. Goals will be determined based on the youth members of a unit. Goals will also take into consideration the actual council cost to place one youth through the Scouting program for one year, $150. Combined, these stats will determine a units FOS goal. Here is how it will work:
Goals will be given to the units at the October Round Table.
Goal Setting for Units:
- For Troops -75% of their registered membership x $75 (1/2 a scout for one year) = Goal
- If a Troop hits this goal each family in that unit gets 10% off their Lanoche Summer Camp fee. (Incentive only applies to Lanoche Summer Camp)
- For Packs -75% of their registered membership x $50 = Goal
- If a Pack hits this goal each family in that unit gets 10% off each of their youth's Cub Scout Day Camp fee.
We are excited about the incentives that will save families a significant amount of money for Summer Camp and Day Camp!!
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What's Going Around: Strep Throat
 Kids in Central Florida have been generously sharing Strep Throat lately. Centra Care physicians saw nearly a 70 percent increase last week in pediatric patients with Strep. Since bacteria are usually the cause, Strep cases are most often combated with prescription antibiotics. Besides leading to serious complications, if left untreated, a person with Strep can remain contagious for upwards of three weeks - even if symptoms no longer remain.
Learn More:
A Strep infection is easily spread by person-to-person contact through nasal secretions or saliva. It takes 2 - 5 days after being exposed to the bacteria that causes Strep to experience symptoms.
Symptoms of Strep usually begin suddenly. The sore throat can range from mild to severe, and may be accompanied by other symptoms including:
- Fever that begins quickly
- Red throat sometimes with white patches
- General discomfort or ill feeling
- Loss of appetite
- Tender, swollen lymph nodes in the neck
- Difficulty swallowing
- Stomach-ache
- Nausea
- Chills
- Headache
So how do you know if your sore throat warrants a trip to the doctor? According to the Centers for Disease Control, you should seek medical care if you or your child has:
- A sore throat that lasts longer than 1 week
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing
- Excessive drooling (young children)
- Temperature higher than 100.4° F
- Pus on the back of the throat
- Rash
- Hoarseness for more than 2 weeks
- Blood in saliva or phlegm
- Symptoms of dehydration
- Recurring sore throats
Only a physician can diagnose Strep by examining you and conducting a Strep test. Treatment with antibiotics not only clears the infection, but also helps to reduce complications.
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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From Our Council President
 After my first few months as Council President has passed, I am very impressed with Scouting's reach here in Central Florida. Our recruitment drive continues to reach many new families and I am happy to report that we have recruited over 4300 new Scouts since October 3rd. After becoming your Council President I urged our Executive Board to show "Visible Leadership" at our District events, unit meetings, recruitment nights and other scouting activities. With this being said, I truly enjoyed visiting the four recruitment nights and watching our Scouters facilitate the new Scouting families as they begin their Scouting Adventure. Last month, I had the opportunity to visit the Philmont Scout Reservation in New Mexico. This facility is one of four national high adventure bases operated by the Boy Scouts of America. I enjoyed sharing this excellent experience with fellow Board Members and was completely taken away by the vast landscape of Philmont. I highly encourage both Scouts and Scouters to plan a trip to this great Scouting adventure base. Matter of fact, I am pleased to announce that the Council Key 3 will be inviting each District Key 3 to attend a special training seminar at Philmont next August. Board members from both the Physical Resources and Program Committees have been hard at work in planning the design and program impact of the new Brown and Brown Aquatics Center, including a new pool. Due to our Board members dedication we hope to have this complex in operation for Summer Camp in 2014. I am looking forward to our annual Boy Scout Sporting Clays Tournament held at Quail Creek on October 24th and 25th. I know that our event chair Richard Haines and his committee are hard at work in finalizing the plans and recruiting teams for this great event. I would also like to thank Tony Coley and BB&T for being the title sponsor. Please click here if you are interested in participating at our Sporting Clay Tournament. I would like to also take a moment and thank all of our Scouters for their sincere dedication to the Scouting program here in Central Florida. Without your commitment tens of thousands of Scouts would not be able to enjoy the great Scouting programs you put on. Again, thank you.
Yours in Scouting, Robert Utsey Council President Central Florida Council |
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