General Announcements
100th Anniversary Council Strip Patch
Have a specialized 100 Year Council strip that Scouts and volunteers can purchase.
Now offering a one of a kind Greater Alabama Council 100th Anniversary Council Strip Patch! Get yours today. Costs are:
· $40.00 per numbered 100th Anniversary patch, silver border and lettering (Only 100 Made)
· $20.00 per numbered 100th Anniversary, gold border and gold lettering (Only 500 Made)
· $5.00 per 100th Anniversary, swirled border and gold lettering (not numbered)
These are great gifts for anyone who has been involved in Scouting or for you to keep in your patch collection. 100 Years of Scouting only comes once, so get your patches today!
100th Anniversary Ring Emblem
BSA Supply Group has announced this cool-looking 100th-anniversary emblem ($1.49) which is designed to encircle the world scout emblem on the official uniform
100TH ANNIVERSARY SERVICE PROJECT
The Greater Alabama Council is partnering with the Salvation Army Food Bank to collect canned and non-perishable food items to help the less fortunate in our community. This will be the official service project for the Council’s 100th Anniversary Celebration. The drive will begin in the fall of 2009 and end in February 2010. For more information, click here.
Encourage all Scouting units to participate in the Scouting for Food project to celebrate the idea to “Do a Good Turn Daily.” This can be done in conjunction with the Boy Scout “Good Turn America” campaign with an emphasis helping the:
· American Red Cross
· local school systems, libraries and parks
News conferences to be held in Birmingham/Huntsville/Anniston (and other towns) to kickoff our effort for community service by our Scouts.
The Greater Alabama Council is partnering with the Salvation Army Food Bank to collect canned and non-perishable food items to help the less fortunate in our communities. The Salvation Army Food Bank drive will be the official service project for the Council’s 100th Anniversary Celebration. The Food Drive will being in the fall of 2009 and end in February 2010.
Districts will have drop off points designated in their area by their Key 3 or may take food directly to the Salvation Army locations (see location sheet).
Youth and leaders that participate will receive a special patch recognizing their contribution and participation.
For more information please call the Greater Alabama Council at (205) 970-0251
2010 Photo and Video Contest
Contest for Cubs, Boy Scouts and Ventures to do a photo or video (or both) of celebrating Scouting’s 100th birthday. Winners placed on YouTube and the council website for public viewing.
How will you celebrate 100 Years of Scouting?
Submit a photo or video showing your 100th Anniversary Celebration of Scouting.
Contest Entry Details:
· You can submit in either category (photo OR video)
· Entries should be submitted on a CD or DVD
· Deadline is November 1, 2010
· Submit entry to Anniversary Contest, Greater Alabama Council, 516 Liberty Parkway, Birmingham, AL 35242
Name: ___________________ E-Mail Address: _______________
Address: ____________________________________________
Phone Number: _______________________
Unit: ________ District: ____________
Submission Type: ________________ (Photo or Video)
Brief Description of Entry:
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Questions? Contact Jeff Brasher at jbrasher@1bsa.org or Tom Swain at
tswain@1bsa.org or call 205-970-0251
A Year of Celebration, A Century of Making a Difference Cub Scout Patch Requirements
Every Scout, adult leader, and Scouting alum should have the chance to be part of our biggest milestone yet—our 1OOth Anniversary Celebration. Cub Scouts will be a big part of that! We want keep Cub Scouts excited about Scouting while giving them a chance to make a difference—and earn recognition—at an important time in our history. Through A Year of Celebration, A Century of Making a Difference, we will do just that.
By demonstrating dedication to five of Scouting’s core values, Cub Scouts and others can earn award ribbons to hang from the 100th Anniversary Commemorative patch. A Year of Celebration, A Century of Making a Difference is fun, engaging and—most importantly—shows America the impact of Scouting through its commitment to these values. A Year of Celebration will be in effect from Sept. 1, 2009, through Dec. 31, 2010.
This award can be earned by Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturers, Adult Leaders, and Alumni. Visit http://scouting.org/100years/100years/ayearofcelebration.aspx to see the requirements.
ALABAMA BOY SCOUT TAGS
Join us in celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Boy Scouts by purchasing a Boy Scout license tag. It is a great way to support the Scouting programs and your community. The proceeds from the tag (see the Fact Sheet) will be returned to your local Boy Scout Council.
However, to make this happen, we need your help. We must have 1,000 pre-purchase commitments before the State will manufacture the tag. What does this mean….you need to go to your local tag office, fill out a commitment form, and pay the $50.00 deposit. If we do not meet the 1,000 commitments, your money will be refunded to you so you lose no money in this process. Please do not wait until the month of your tag renewal. The forms are available December 1, 2009 at your local tag office. Go now and fill out the commitment form. Our goal is to unveil the tag on February 2, 2010 at the State Capitol in conjunction with the Scout Day at the Legislature. The tag is sponsored by the Boy Scout Councils in Alabama. Please contact your local council for additional information.
Greater Alabama Council, Birmingham, Tim Cooper, Scout Executive, 205-970-0251
BSA Centennial Commemorative Coin
Commemorative Coin ($1 Dollar Silver Coin) celebrating 100 Years of Scouting. This month the U.S. Mint begins production of the BSA Centennial coin. 350,000 silver dollar coins will be minted in recognition of BSA’s 100th Anniversary in 2010. For each coin sold, there is a $10 surcharge – representing a $3,500,000 donation – that will be made available to local councils in the form of grants for the extension of Scouting in hard-to-serve areas. Set to release March 23, 2010
Order your at: BSA Commemorative Coin
CUB SCOUT DAY CAMP PATCH/T-SHIRT DESIGN CONTEST
All Cub Scouts are invited to participate in the 2010 Day Camp and T-shirt design contest. The theme for next year’s Day Camp is “On My Honor” based on 100 Years of Scouting. The winning design will be the official logo for the patches and t-shirts for Day Camp. The winner will receive a FREE campership to Day Camp or, if a Webelos crossing over into a Troop, $65.00 applied to their Summer Camp fees for attending Camp Comer or Camp Sequoyah. To participate a Cub must:
· Be currently registered in the Greater Alabama Council.
· Have a design based on the “On My Honor” theme and this phrase be on the patch.
· Have a design that can be incorporated into a 3 ½ patch.
The Greater Alabama Council will retain the right to make changes to the design to ensure both quality and artistic integrity. The same design may involve graphic design changes to be used in the design of the t-shirt. Designs of the judges are final. ALL SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE BY AT YOUR DISTICT’S JANUARY ROUNDTABLE/DAY CAMP KICKOFF MEETING. Please ensure that your Pack not only has entries submitted but also has a representative attend the Kickoff that night. They will learn all of the exciting and fun details for Day Camp and enjoy a Day Camp-style Cookout. So mark your calendar to attend Roundtable as well as get your designs ready. Go to http://www.doubleknot.com/openrosters/DocDownload.aspx?orgkey=537&id=69337
Cub Scout Fast Tracks Program
To improve the Scouting program promised to each young person signed up for our local Cub Scout program, the Cub Scout Fast Tracks Program is being encouraged and implemented across the Greater Alabama Council. Here are the fundamental characteristics of the Fast Tracks Program:
1. All registered volunteers to be trained for their Scouting position within 90 days of registering as a Scout volunteer. See your district training chair and calendar for information on training opportunities. Proper documentation of the training is also a part of this process. Each Pack should look to have a full Pack Committee and two-deep leadership in all Dens. All parents should be asked to serve in some role in the Pack helping give support to the local program.
2. Each Cub Scout to have at least one rank advancement annually----follow the ideals and values out of the Scouting handbook.
3. “Make wonderful memories with your son”-----all Packs to encourage their Dens and families to participate in district and council level events including the Fall Popcorn Fund Raising Campaign to help fund the local Scouting program. Each Pack should have attendance at monthly roundtables and review the Digital Eagle, the weekly electronic Scouting newsletter of the Greater Alabama Council.
DIGITAL EAGLE
The Digital Eagle is a great way to find out what is going on within Arrowhead District and throughout the Greater Alabama Council. To subscribe to the Digital Eagle, go to (www.1bsa.org) and sign-up at the bottom of the home page.
Importance on Training in the Scouting Program
Boy Scout studies have shown that trained volunteers in Scouting help retention of youth. These studies have shown retention will improve up to 25% (from 64% to 89%)* when Scout volunteers are properly trained.
· Would we go see a doctor without the proper medical training and documentation?
· Would we have an untrained mechanic work on our car?
· Would our church hire an untrained person to be our minister?
· Would we pay for an untrained attorney to draft our will for our family’s future?
· Would we want our children to go to a Sunday school with a teacher that has no training?
Our youth are the most important priority in our lives-----why don’t we want our Scouting program to be delivered by a well-trained and positive group of volunteers?
Most of the Scouting units that have a dynamic program, growing membership, producing rank advancement and are active in our quality programs have well-trained volunteers.
To help upgrade our Scouting program, the Program & Training Committee is recommending to the board of the Greater Alabama Council to make training mandatory for all registered volunteers within 90 days of being registered as a Scout volunteer.
To be considered trained, a volunteer will need to complete the following training courses:
1. Fast Start Training -online training
2. Youth Protection Training -online training
3. This is Scouting -online and DVD
4. Position Specific Training -available in your Scouting district
Go to www.Scouting.org (the Boy Scouts of America website for volunteers) or www.1bsa.org (the Greater Alabama Council website) for more information on training online and the overall Scouting program.
Contact your local district executive for information on training in your area.
*Source---- National Council, Boy Scouts of America
ON-LINE TRAINING
The BSA's on-line learning center has many training courses for new leaders, and experienced leaders as well. For example, This Is Scouting (which replaced New Leader Essentials), Fast Start, and Youth Protection Training are all available on-line. These courses are available to everyone (leaders and parents), but you must first have an account on www.myscouting.org to access the training. For more detailed instructions on how to get trained on-line, click here.
Scout Unit Award for Marketing Excellence
Continue to have the “Unit Marketing Contest” effort for units to promote their local activities to the local media. Those winners receive a 100th Anniversary Plaque for being the winner. District winners and council winners.
The Greater Alabama Council, Boy Scouts of America Marketing Committee is proud to announce the Fourth Annual Scout Unit Marketing Excellence Award. This contest is designed to recognize Scouts, Leaders and Scout Units for promoting their local Scouting activities, programs, service projects and successes during our 100th Anniversary.
A select group of marketing individuals will judge the entries, and the winners will be awarded 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in several categories. The overall best entry will be awarded the prestigious "Chairman’s Award.”
The contest begins in January 2010 and will run through December 10, 2010. All Boy Scout Troops, Cub Scout Packs, Exploring Posts and Venturing Crews are eligible to participate. Categories include: Best Media Scrapbook (unit & district levels), Best Unit WebPages and Best Unit Newsletter.
Awards will include recognition at the Council Annual Recognition Reception in 2011 and units have the opportunity to win great recognition and camperships for their Scouts.
The criteria used for the contest are as follows:
· Volume of Media is important.
· Marketing of local Scouting programs other than media coverage is also important.
· Units should have written marketing plans and submit it, if submitting a scrapbook.
· Community good turn projects should be included in the unit marketing plan.
· Creative ways to market your local Scouting program are encouraged.
· The unit committee should oversee the organization of this project and highlight the work of the local Scouts using the other criteria in the contest.
· Units should plan to submit their entries into the Greater Alabama Council Headquarters located at 516 Liberty Park in Birmingham Alabama, 35242 by December 10, 2010 to be considered for the contest.
· Make sure each entry has the following on the outside of the entry:
o Unit Marketing Award Entry Form
o Unit Information
o Chartered Organization Name
o District Name
o A brief description of the entry
o Contact name, phone, and email in case of questions from the judges
Entry forms will be available at the council service centers, Roundtables, district and council events and on the website at www.1bsa.org - also see reverse side of this form.
Should you have questions, contact Tim Cooper, Scout Executive, at 1-888-490-8955 or tcooper@1bsa.org.
UNIVERSITY OF SCOUTING
The 2010 University of Scouting will be Saturday, March 6th at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. For more information got to http://www.1bsa.org/tyfoon/site/fckeditor/file/NovemberUoS2010Flyer.pdf
WEBELOS RESIDENT CAMP
The Greater Alabama Council is planning to conduct a Webelos Resident Camp July 11-14, 2010 at Camp Comer. Cost is $105.00 for all Webelos and the first leader with a minimum of four Webelos is free. All additional adults are $40.00. All interested parties are encouraged to sign up their Webelos as well consider volunteering to be on staff. A minimum of 85 Webelos and sufficient volunteer staff (which will be determined by the Council’s Cub Scout Committee) must be registered by June 15 for the camp to be conducted. Those interested in serving on staff need to complete the Adult Volunteer Form (Page 17 of the Guide) and submit it by fax to Jeff Brasher at 205-970-0349. The Cub Scout Committee will determine the final staff selections. There will be separate programs for Webelos I and II. The first-year Webelos will concentrate on Activity Pins while the second-year Webelos will participate in an Outback Adventure concentrating on outdoor and woodcraft skills. Both programs will be fun, exciting and full of adventure. There will be lots of good food and activities. To view the Leader’s Guide, click here.
WOODBADGE
There will be one opportunity for 48 adult leaders to participate in Wood Badge next year. The course will be conducted September 17-19 at Camp Comer, and October 15-17 at Camp Jackson. Cost is $200. For more information, or to request an invitation to attend, http://www.1bsa.org/tyfoon/site/fckeditor/file/SR-1047%20flyer.pdf.
YOUTH IMPACT PLAN
During the last council annual business meeting, the board approved the Youth Impact Plan, which sets several goals including:
· Doubling the number of youth served over the next five years
· Training all adult leaders within 90 days of assuming a leadership position
Increased participation in district and council events
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