THE JOURNEY
Alabama-Florida Council
Boy Scouts of America
Upcoming Events and News
BSA Fleurdelis
The Journey newsletter is dedicated to helping volunteers and parents deliver the 'Promise of Scouting' through information on upcoming council events and news.
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NEW ARTICLES and ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS ISSUE:
77th Annual Eagle Scout, Arrow of Light and Volunteer Recognition Banquet
Friday, February 1, 2013, 6:30 p.m.
First United Methodist Church
1380 West Main St
Dothan, AL 36301
 All Scouters are cordially invited to attend the Alabama-Florida Council's 77th Annual Eagle Scout, Arrow of Light, and Volunteer Recognition Banquet to be held on Friday, the 1st of February, two thousand and thirteen at six-thirty in the evening, First United Methodist Church of Dothan.

Banquet chair Teresa Turner is pleased to announce that the 2012 Eagle Class Honoree is Troop 106 Asst. Scoutmaster Larry Andrews and our Council will present, for the first time, the 2012 Arrow of Light Honoree  to Syd Barringer of Pack 38. Both of these awards will be presented annually in the future.

All Scouts who earned their Eagle Scout Award or Arrow of Light Award during 2012, who are present at the dinner will receive a special recognition.

Dinner tickets are $20 per person.  2012 Arrow of Light Award recipients are only $15, and 2012 Eagle Scouts are free.  Eagle Scout Sponsors are $40, and include both the sponsor and Eagle Scout reservation.  Please contact the Council Service Center to make reservations 
Annual Business Meetings
January 2013
 Annual business meetings are held in each of the 3 districts, plus the council each year, to provide annual reports from various committees on the status of Scouting, elect district and council members, and to consider resolutions.

The Alabama-Florida Council, BSA Annual Business Meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 15, 2013, 6:30 PM, at the Council Service Center, 6801 West Main Street, Dothan, Alabama.  Dinner will be provided, ($8 non-board members).  All  council voting members are invited to attend, which include Executive Board Members, Council Members at Large, and Charter Organization Representatives.

All three district annual meetings (Muskoke, Menawa and Creek) will be held on Tuesday evening, January 8, 2013.  All district voting members are invited to attend their district annual meeting, which include members of the District Committee, District Members at Large, and Charter Organization Representatives within the district.  Please call the Council Service Center to register to attend the meeting in your district.

Please note that the Council/District Annual Business Meetings are not the same as Council/ District Recognition Banquets, which take place to recognize our Eagle Scouts and volunteer efforts.  
Council Roundtable
Thursday, January 24, 2013, 6:00 p.m.
First Presbyterian Church - Fellowship Hall
3012 West Main St
Dothan, AL  36305
 
On Thursday, January 24, 2013, we will hold our Annual Council Camp Promotion meeting.  Once again, we will have a pancake and sausage supper. It will be at this meeting that we handout information about the upcoming Spring / Summer Camps and Activities. Please encourage all leaders and key volunteers from your unit to attend.

In order to make sure that we have enough food and handouts, please contact the Council Service Center to let us know how many will be attending from your unit. 
District Banquets
Creek Banquet
Friday, January 25, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.
First United Methodist Church of Ozark

Menawa Banquet
Saturday, January 26, 2013, 6:30 p.m.
Troop 99 Scout Hut
Enterprise, AL

Muskoke Banquet
Friday, January 25, 2013, 6:00 p.m.
Wesley Building
First United Methodist Church of Marianna

 
We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year. 2012 was a good year for the Districts and the Council.  Our volunteers put in a lot of hard work with their units, in their districts and out at Camp Alaflo. We want to make sure everyone is recognized for their hard work and dedication. January is the month that we like to do that by each district hosting a Leader Recognition Banquet.
We hope that you have plans to attend the one in your district. Also, encourage other leaders in your unit and district to attend. It is at these banquets that our leaders can receive their training knots, be acknowledged for their hard work, fellowship with other leaders from the district and enjoy a good meal.

Each District will be sending letters with more information about its Banquets details and specifics.  
Scout Sunday
Scout Sabbath
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Saturday, February 9, 2013
The Boy Scouts of America annually celebrates its founding on February 8, 1910.  Scout Sunday was added to the Scout celebration in 1914. Scout Sunday is always the Sunday preceding February 8th, unless the 8th is a Sunday, in which case the 8th would be Scout Sunday. The Presbyterian Church and United Methodist Church celebrate Scout Sunday on the second Sunday of February, so as to not conflict with Communion Sunday. In the Jewish faith, Scout Sabbath is celebrated on the Saturday after February 8, Scouting Anniversary Day.

The Scout Sunday tradition was started to make people in houses of worship aware of Scouting, and to allow Scouts to live out their "Duty to God" pledged each week.

The Scout Law says that a "Scout is Reverent", and the Scouts of all ages promise to do their "Duty to God". These values strengthen youth character in their family, community, and faith.

A great resource to plan your Scout Unit's Scout Sunday service can be found at http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Media/Relationships/ascoutisrevernt.aspx 
2013 National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT)
Friday-Sunday, February 8-10, 2013 and
Friday-Sunday, February 22-24, 2013
Camp Alaflo
New Brockton, AL
Don't miss out on this great training opportunity!!!

National Youth Leadership Training is an intense, six day, outdoor leadership training experience for youth troop, team, and crew leaders. The course goal is to prepare young men and women to become superior leaders in their troop, crew, district, council, and other organizations they belong to now, and in the future.

The course is led and taught by some of the best youth leaders in the council, all of whom are graduates of the NYLT program and typically have staffed multiple courses. The adult advisors who assist the youth staff are Wood Badge-trained with extensive experience in training programs.

For more information or a copy of the flyer and registration form, please visit the NYLT website at http://www.alflcouncilbsa.org/nylt.html
Winter Camp Work Day
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Camp Alaflo
New Brockton, AL
If you have been around Scouting for any time at all, you know that there is always something to do at Camp AlaFlo.  The Council Properties Committee has decided to get a head start on the camping season by holding a winter work day.  Grab your tools and come out to Camp and make our camp the great place we all want it to be.

Some of the projects the Properties Committee are working on are:

Elmore Building:
   Ridge Screen
   Attic Access Cover
Staff II:
   Crown and Shoe Moulding
   Paint Interior
   Blow-in Ceiling Insulation
   AC Installation
   Clean Underneath
Council Ring:
  Bench Repair
Chapel:
   Replace Benches
   Drain Repair
Rifle Range:
   Erosion Repair and Control
   Shelter Construction
General Cleaning:
   Remove Debris from Ravines (West Green Field and Rifle Range)
   Remove Debris Near Basketball Court
Handicraft:
   Electrical
   Clean Back Side
OA Lodge:
   Clean Underneath
   Level Floor

The Properties Committee will meet on Tuesday, January 8, and Tuesday, February 5, to finalize plans for this work day.  If you plan to attend and want to work on a specific project, contact John McDaniel, VP of Properties at jmcdaniel3233@yahoo.com 
14th Annual Sporting Clays and Fun Shoot
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Camp Alaflo
New Brockton, AL
The Alabama-Florida Council, Boy Scouts of America will host the 14th Annual Sporting Clays and Fun Shoot under the leadership of Event Sponsor Solomon Chevrolet/ Cadillac.  As America's fastest growing shooting sport, sporting clays has been called "golf with a gun." Competitors move from station to station through the Boy Scout Camp along a challenging course designed and managed by a leader in the industry, Howell Shooting Supplies.  Sponsorship opportunities begin at $500 per team of four.  Contact the Council Service Center for more information.
2nd Annual Pinewood Derby Community Challenge
Tuesday evening, March 19, 2012
Wiregrass Commons Mall
900 Commons Drive
Dothan, AL 36303

Our second annual event, hosted by Event Sponsor Coleman World Wide Moving, will be held at the Wiregrass Commons Mall.

The first race of the evening will be the Council Cub Scout Pinewood Derby Championship. The 2013 District Pinewood Derby Champion in each Rank Class will be eligible to participate and will receive an invitation.  This event is by invitation only, no onsite registration.

Following the Cub Scout Championship Race, the exciting new Community Challenge Race will be held.  This race is open to anyone to enter a car who purchases a race pass or sponsorship.  Race passes are $100 per car and sponsorships begin at $250.  Please contact the Council Service Center if you are interested in a race pass or sponsorship. 

Cub Scout Day Camp
Monday-Thursday, March 25-28, 2013

A big "thank you" to the Alabama Legislature for mandating uniform Spring Break dates across the state!  In 2013, Spring Break week will be March 25-29.  Plans are underway to hold a Cub Scout Day camp in several locations in the Council--at Camp AlaFlo, near Dothan, and in one of the Florida counties.

 

There are many things still in the planning stage and we need volunteers!  One of the primary areas is in Cub Shooting Sports.  If you would like to become certified in Cub Scout Shooting Sports, please contact Program Director Jacquie Jones at jaj175@hotmail.com or Camp Director Scott Carpenter at scott.carpenter.bsa@gmail.com
Be sure to attend the Council Roundtable on January 24, 2013, and go to the Cub Day Camp booth to get more information.  Also, be sure to bookmark https://alabamaflorida.camp-master.com/default.aspx, and check often to register your Cub Scouts for Cub Scout Day Camp. 

Family Friends of Scouting (FOS)
February or March, 2013

During the fall of 2012, we included an article in each council newsletter and made presentations at pack & troop meetings across the council about the purpose of the Family FOS program.  These articles and presentations help parents learn who pays for Scouting, how the council supports pack & troop operations, plus how parents and the council partner together to help prepare children for life.   We want to thank everyone who supported the campaign.

To make this program stronger for 2013, a number of changes have been made by the Council Operations Group.   Most notably, the program will be moved from the fall to February and March.   Please contact your District Executive or District Family FOS Chair to schedule your 2013 presentation in February or March. 

Spring Camporee
Friday-Sunday, March 8-10, 2013

Camp Butter and Egg  

2127 Butter and Egg Rd

 

Troy, AL 36081

Cost is $30.00. 

  

Attention All Boy Scouts...  

 

This could be the most exciting Camporee ever! The weekend will include 3 zip lines, giant swing, climbing wall, net climb, fishing, canoeing, pedal boating, archery and BB guns.  You must register at the Council Service Center  by Friday, March 1, 2013. Specific details will be provided at the Council Roundtable on January 24, 2013.

  

Chairs for the Camporee are:

 

Sean Jones  

smj413@hotmail.com 

334.470.7269

 

and 

 

Josh Nutter

nuttyscouts@gmail.com 

931.249.8829 

Scheduled Events and News
Council Banquet
Annual Business Meeting
Council Roundtable
District Banquets
Scout Sunday/Scout Sabbath
NYLT
Winter Camp Work Day
Sporting Clays
Pinewood Derby Community Challenge
Cub Scout Day Camp
Family FOS
Spring Camporee
Join Our Mailing List!
Contact Information
Jerry Freyberg
Alabama-Florida Council Boy Scouts of America
334.793.7882
_____________________________

David McArthur
The Journey E-newsletter Editor
alfl.bsa.newsletter.editor@gmail.com