California Inland Empire Council                      Monday Memo

Welcome to our November 22nd, 2010 Monday Memo

Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite Holidays. Actually, to paraphrase Will Rogers: " I never met a holiday I didn't like." With the rain resulting in crisp,clear November days and snow on our mountains, it does remind me of Thanksgivings of my youth in Camillus, New York a western suburb of Syracuse, New York.  We even started our own Turkey Bowl while the snow flurried about.

Back then, as we do now, we shared our blessings with family, friends and neighbors. We remembered those in need. We prayed for all those serving in our armed forces. We asked God to keep them out of harms way. Today, we thank God for all our California Inland Empire Council Scouts and Scouters. We count all our blessings in 2010, especially all the great fun and celebrations we had this 100th Anniverary Year. We renew our pledge to live each and every day by the Scout Oath and Law. We are Prepared! We do our Good Turn Daily! From Leah, Michael, Joseph and Waggs, from our home to yours, we wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

Troop 652 Camp Out

Troop 652 of Rancho Cucamonga, Old Baldy District, hosted a camp out at San Clemente State Beach at the end of October that included 19 of their own Scouts & 9 Scouters, along with Pack 621 & Pack 641 of Rancho Cucamonga, that included 6 Webelos, along with their parents & Den Leaders.  The Webelos worked on their Arrow of Light requirements, while the Scouts worked on their Rank Advancement.  Great weather, great food & a whole lot of fun was had by all! 

The Webelos from Pack 621 will be having their Arrow of Light Ceremony (performed by the Navajo Chapter) & Bridging Ceremony on Tuesday, November 16th at Central Park.  The Webelos from Pack 641 will be having their Arrow of Light & Bridging Ceremonies on Friday, February 25th.

Christy Eimen, Assistant Scoutmaster
Webelos to Boy Scout, Transition Coordinator

Introduction to Merit Badges

You can learn about sports, crafts, science, trades, business, and future careers as you earn merit badges. There are more than 100 merit badges. Any Boy Scout may earn any merit badge at any time. You don't need to have had rank advancement to be eligible.

Pick a Subject. Talk to your Scoutmaster about your interests. Read the requirements of the merit badges you think might interest you. Pick one to earn. Your Scoutmaster will give you the name of a person from a list of counselors. These counselors have special knowledge in their merit badge subjects and are interested in helping you.

Scout Buddy System. You must have another person with you at each meeting with the merit badge counselor. This person can be another Scout, your parents or guardian, a brother or sister or other relative, or a friend.

Call the Counselor. Get a signed merit badge application from your Scoutmaster. Get in touch with the merit badge counselor and tell him or her that you want to earn the merit badge. The counselor may ask to meet you to explain what is expected of you and to start helping you meet the requirements. You should also discuss work that you have already started or possibly completed.

Unless otherwise specified, work for a requirement can be started at any time. Ask your counselor to help you learn the things you need to know or do. You should read the merit badge pamphlet on the subject. Many troops and school or public libraries have them. (See the list here.)

Show Your Stuff. When you are ready, call the counselor again to make an appointment to meet the requirements. When you go take along the things you have made to meet the requirements. If they are too big to move, take pictures or have an adult tell in writing what you have done. The counselor will ask you to do each requirement to make sure that you know your stuff and have done or can do the things required.

Get the Badge. When the counselor is satisfied that you have met each requirement, he or she will sign your application. Give the signed application to your Scoutmaster so that your merit badge emblem can be secured for you.

Requirements. You are expected to meet the requirements as they are stated—no more and no less. You are expected to do exactly what is stated in the requirements. If it says "show or demonstrate," that is what you must do. Just telling about it isn't enough. The same thing holds true for such words as "make," "list," "in the field," and "collect," "identify," and "label."

The requirements listed in this publication are the official requirements of the Boy Scouts of America. However, the requirements on the following pages might not match those in the Boy Scout Handbook and the merit badge pamphlets, because this publication is updated only on an annual basis.

If a Scout has already started working on a merit badge when a new edition of the pamphlet is introduced, he should continue to use the same merit badge pamphlet and fulfill the requirements therein to earn the badge. He need not start all over again with the new pamphlet and possibly revised requirements.

Veteran's Day Flags Scouts of all ranks in Pack 29 went to the Riverside National Cemetery to pay tribute to the military men and women laid to rest. In total there were over 600 headstones adorned with flags by the scouts. Many of the scouts that participated have family or friends laid to rest at Riverside National Cemetery making this a very emotional event. Our day included a brief history of Veteran's Day by our Outings Chairperson Sara Aguilar. Thanks, Dawn Hosier Committee Chairperson Pack 29 Mt. Rubidoux Dist.

Silver Beaver Nominations Due November 30th, 2010

Nominate an outstanding Scouter for the Silver Beaver Award.  The Silver Beaver Award is the highest award that a council can present to a volunteer. This award is for outstanding service to youth at the council level or for outstanding longtime service to youth by a registered Scouter residing within the California Inland Empire Council. To nominate an outstanding Scouter for this prestigious award, please complete the 2010 Silver Beaver Nomination form and submit it to the California Inland Empire Council.  Nomination forms are due no later than November 30, 2010. The 2010 Silver Beaver Awards will be presented at the Council Annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner on February 5, 2011. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE NOMINATION FORM

Great Gift Ideas for Your Scout

From camping to apparel, check out great gift ideas for your Scout available at the Scout Shop. Save now before it’s too late. Special sales items are up to 30% off through December 20^th.  And for the Scout or Scouter that you just can't decide what to give, we have gift cards available in any monetary amounts you wish to purchase. Be sure to ask your Scout Shop associate for details.

Holiday Hours

Camp Promotion Chili Feed

A Camp promotion Chili feed will be held on Tuesday, December 7^th at 6:30 PM at the Jack Dembo Scout Service Center located at 1230 Indiana Court in Redlands. All Cubmasters, Scoutmasters, and committee chairs are invited to attend. Presentations for Cub Scout Day Camp, Camp Wiley, Wisumehi, Transition, and Camp Emerson will be made for our 2011 camping season. Please RSVP to volunteer services 909-793-2463 Ext. 129 by noon December 7th

Council Annual Dinner

Mark you calendars now to attend The Council Annual Dinner, which will be held Saturday, February 5, 2011  at The Moreno Valley Convention & Recreation Center. We will be celebrating the 100 Anniversary of Scouting, honoring the Silver Beaver Recipients and much more. Watch the Monday Memo for further details!

California Scouts Play a Record-Breaking Game of Marbles  When there's a Guinness World Record on the line, playing a game becomes serious fun. That was surely the thought going through the minds of the 876 Scouts who broke the record for "Most People Playing in a Marble Tournament" in late September at the California Inland Empire Council's 100th Anniversary celebration. Some 6,000 Scouts, Scouters, and parents attended the three-day celebration, but the highlight for many was the record-breaking marble tournament. The final count of 876 people beat the previous record by 148 players. But this wasn't your father's game of marbles. The guys were playing WarStone, a new card and marble game from Duncan Toys. Michael Brown, WarStone project leader for Duncan Toys, said the record's significance extends beyond this one event. "Breaking the Guinness World Record is a win for all of the 3.5 million Scouts across the United States,” he said. “It was an incredible effort by all of the Scouts to work together as a team to achieve success."

News & Tidbits

Eagle Portraits 

Fall Recruiting Results

Over 1,890 new Cubs, Scouts, Venturers, and Explorers joined a unit this fall. Our fall roundup plan was built around access to our schools and ensuring that every youth hears the Scouting story and has an opportunity to join. It’s never too late to build or maintain strong relationships with public, private and home schools in our quest to enroll additional youth. Great Scouting adventures are awaiting our youth, will you help to ensure they are invited to join?

Current Scouts can earn the coveted BSA 100^th Anniversary recruiter patch. It’s never too late for youth to join Scouting. Every youth that recruits another into Scouting is eligible for a free patch, compliments of the Council Membership Committee. Hall of Fame Recruiter form

Cub Scout Recruiting
The following are some ideas for conducting follow-up recruiting efforts:

1. Ask the current parents in your pack to help invite prospective members-you just need to ask them.
2. Re-flyer schools and churches.
3. Ask your local religious institution to have an article in their weekly bulletin.
4. Increase your visibility by participating in local community activities such as fall festivals and holiday parades.
5. Ask your school, chartering organization or religious institution to have a static display of pictures, brochures and crafts from your Pack.
6. Send an article and photograph about your recent Pack activity to your local newspaper. Work with your local library to hang posters and distribute your Pack information sheet.

Boy Scout Recruiting 
Each troop in the council is encouraged to hold an open house-type recruiting event for boys that never had the opportunity to join Scouts before. The best way to recruit Boy Scouts is by current Scouts inviting their friends to join. Each Scout that recruits a buddy can earn the BSA 100^th Anniversary recruiter patch.

Venturing Crew Recruiting
The Venturing open house is a recruitment event where prospective new Venture Crew members enjoy a “taste” of what membership in the Crew will be like. This co-ed program has the best recruiting results when the current crew members invite their friends to join.

Whatever your Scouting unit’s recruiting needs are, the Council and District Membership Committees are here to support you with flyer, posters, applications, recruiting incentives, and “best recruiting methods.” 

The Council Membership Staff Advisor is our Director of Field Service Jesse Lopez. He can be reached at 909-793-2463, extension 128. 

Hall of Fame Awards for Recruitment Success

Positive Quote
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"For each new morning with its light, For rest and shelter of the night, For health and food, for love and friends, For everything Thy goodness sends."

   ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Have a great Scouting week!
Yours in the Spirit of Scouting,

Joe Daniszewski Scout Executive/CEO California Inland Empire Council, BSA 1230 Indiana Court Redlands, CA 92374 909.793.2463, Ext. 120 877.732.1450 909.793.0306 Fax

Monday Memo is from Scout Executive Joe Daniszewski and contains his reflection on what is happening within the Council. The purpose of Monday Memo is to communicate information about the week ahead, to acknowledge the good things happening around the Council and to address specific issues that the Scout Executive wants to bring to your attention. Joe welcomes any comments, suggestions or recommendations on how to make this memo as helpful as possible. If you have something you want publicized in the Monday Memo, please send it to his attention c/o Monday Memo: Joseph.Daniszewski@scouting.org for Monday Memo Archives Click Here