California Inland Empire Council                      Monday Memo

Welcome to our December 13th, 2010 Monday Memo

A Scouting Mom's Blog from the Life360 Blog 

Is Joining Boy Scouts Worth It?

By Meghan on 16 November 2010 

We’re on our second year of Boy Scouts and I’d be lying if I didn’t sometimes secretly hope that my son would ask to stop going. I don’t mean the complaining about having to stop playing and rush to a den meeting every week, (he usually gets over it by the time we get there) but actually ask to stop doing Scouts. It always feels like Scout stuff conflicts with every other thing we have going on.

But my son loves it. And I have to admit that sometimes, I love it too. Like when he works so hard on a boat for the raingutter regatta and then finally gets to race it. He was pretty proud of his boat, even though he didn’t win anything and his time for each race wasn’t all that spectacular. But he still had fun. And he still thought his “Batman Boat” was pretty awesome.

It’s the Scout events like the raingutter regatta that remind us why we do it. Every adult male I know who was in Scouts has a few deep and meaningful memories of their experiences there. And though I don’t 100 percent understand it, I do get it. And that’s why we keep going.                                                    

Last year he came in first place in the pinewood derby for Tiger Scouts. And that is something he still talks about. And the trophy still sits proudly on the top of a shelf in his room. We are all looking forward to this year’s pinewood derby.

The memories my son is making in Scouts are memories that will stay with him for the rest of his life, and the lessons he’s learning will hopefully stay with him long after he’s hung up his Scout uniform for the last time.

Will he make it all the way to Eagle? I do hope so. But even if he doesn’t, I know we’ll always appreciate the time spent in Scouts.

Redlands Annual Kiwanis Holiday Parade

On Saturday, December 3^rd, the City of Redlands hosted the Annual Kiwanis Holiday Parade.  Scouting had a strong showing with Grayback District Troop 19 providing the Eagle Scout Color Guard, Troops 4 & 16 provided Boy Scouts to carry the parade banners and 19 Cub Scout packs and Boy Scout troops were represented, with a total of about 250 Scouts.  It was quite a sight to see and a great way to close out our 100th year celebration.  A special congratulations to our own Dr. Don Buchanon, who was selected as the parade’s Grand Marshall for his hard work and dedication to the Scouting Movement.

Thank You Inland Empire!

The Rummage Sale & E-Waste Recycling Event benefitting Camp Helendade went very well on Saturday, December 11^th. Jesse and the crew from Cal Micro Recycling did a great job collecting and moving pallets of TV’s, computer monitors, printers, copiers and other electronic items that were delivered to be properly recycled. Crowds were pretty steady after 7:30 AM and we extended the sale by an hour to accommodate shoppers. After the sale, unsold items were delivered to area thrift shops. A special thanks to Larry & Mary Ann Agre for providing signage, tables and canopies to help make the sale a festive event. We would also like to thank Rosemary, Tom Cherry, Virginia Cottone, Marcell Vargas and our two University of Phoenix interns Maria & Deena who helped set-up, tear down, and assisted our customers. Most of all though, we would like to thank everyone who donated to or shopped at the event!

Winter Sports Safety

Pack 204 & Troop 205 in The Chino 100th Anniversary Parade

Early Bird Insurance Fees are Due by December 14th

A note to all those units who participate in the Council’s Supplemental Accident & Medical Insurance program……. The low cost of $2.00 per participant will expire at the close of business on Tuesday, December 14^th.

Beginning Wednesday, December 15^th the cost will be $3.00 per participant.

Take advantage of the lower rate….. your coverage will be in effect and you will have saved $1.00 per person!! Credit card payments by phone are accepted.

If you have any questions, please contact Virginia Cottone at 909-793-2463, ext. 116

More information about the BSA's insurance information can be found on our Council's website. Learn More 

Scout Story

Hello Joe!

Happy Holidays!  I hope you are well.  I have a great story for you about the brotherhood of Scouting.  I love the fun of Scouting: the camping, the skills, the games, and especially working with the kids, but above all, I love the feeling of family among Scouts and Scouters everywhere.  This story is a perfect example of what I am talking about.

As you know, I own and operate a very small, Scout related business.  I received a phone call on Monday from a woman named Terri, who works at the Chippewa Valley Council in Wisconsin.  She was calling me to tell me that a plaque I had made for an Eagle Scout had been found lying on the side of a highway by a State Trooper, along with a Scout t-shirt from a council in Illinois.  The Trooper who found it must have been an Eagle Scout, or at least a former Scout, because instead of throwing the plaque away, he had taken it to the Council office and turned it in.  Terri called National BSA to try to locate the Eagle Scout, Joshua Oxborrow, through his original council.  However,  the information she received was a phone number that was no longer in service.

Being a true Scouter, Terri would not give up; she wanted to get Josh's plaque back to him.  She found my company sticker on the back of the plaque and she called me.  She gave me the date of his Eagle Scout, Aug. 18, 2004.  With a "ballpark" date to start from, Lance looked up the invoice and found his order from 2005 in our records.  As it turns out, Josh comes from a military family and his plaque was originally shipped overseas.  The email address we had for his parents was no longer accurate, but at least we had their names.

I don't give up easily, either, so I searched for his mother's name on the Internet and found her on FaceBook.  I checked her "friends" and sure enough, there was Joshua.  I sent him a message through FaceBook asking if he was an Eagle Scout and if he had lost his plaque.  He responded saying that the plaque was indeed his, that his family had moved, and the moving company had lost one of the boxes of their belongings.  He asked me how he could get his plaque back.

I gave him Terri's contact information and I telephoned her to let her know that I had found him.  She was as delighted as I was to be able to return the plaque to the young man, who probably never expected to see it again.

Three strangers took time out of their busy schedules to track down a young man, to return something to him which is worth more in sentimental value than monetary value.  I think that says a lot about the the kind of people who are involved in Scouts.  What do you think?

Suzy

Old Baldy District Distinguished Citizen Dinner

A dinner benefiting the Boy Scouts of America and Old Baldy Distrtict was held on Thursday, December 2nd, honoring the "Distinguished Citizens", Sue & Gary Ovitt.  Boy Scout Troop 652, out of Rancho Cucamonga, came early to help set up for the dinner.  The Troop also Presented the Colors and Tyler Eimen, Life Scout, delivered a "Scout Testimonial".  It truly was a great evening, honoring two great Community Leaders.

Interactive BSA Uniforms Site Launched

The new, official uniforms website is now active. It includes a number of features that make it a valuable resource not only for Scouts and parents, but for leaders, Scout Shops, councils, distributors, and customer service. The interactive format takes visitors through Scouting’s ranks and programs, with 360-degree views of what the official uniform should look like when complete. Other features include drag-and-drop insignia, full descriptions of each uniform piece, and a “Shop Now” link that takes you directly to the Scoutstuff.org site.

Smilin' n the Rain

Scouts & Scouters took a trip to Lake Hemet, near Idyllwild in late November.  The forecast called for scattered showers starting Saturday, all the way through Sunday. That didn't stop these Scouts, as they were "Prepared" for the rain.  The Scouts & Scouters of Troop 652, Rancho Cucamonga, enjoyed the weekend with great food and lots of time to do Rank Advancement.  It was a wonderful weekend, and one I'm sure these Scouts will always remember!!

~ A Scoutmaster Minute ~ SMILIN' IN THE RAIN ~  A long time ago, a joker said, "Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.” Our Troop just went on a campout at the beach,  people thought it would be raining, and in a couple of weeks we're going on another campout to Lake Hemet, possibly in foul weather, but we'll be there just the same because this is not a “ fair weather” Troop. It may not be as much fun as being outdoors on a sunny summer day, but it's part of outdoor life, and as Scouts we belong outdoors. If we cancelled every time there was a chance of rain, we would miss out on a lot of campouts!  As long as you have a poncho, warm clothes and a pair of dry socks and underwear in your pack, you can enjoy bad weather, too. At least I hope you can. I like to see Scouts smiling in the rain because a real Scout is cheerful even when things aren't 100% perfect. The weather, and life, aren't always predictable. One of the lessons you should be learning as Scouts is to be prepared for foul weather as well as fair. So the key words for this month’s outing are "Be Prepared" and "A Scout is cheerful. " If you follow that advice, you'll have a fine time, no matter what the weather is!! J

Christy Eimen/Troop 652

The Price of Freedom Conference- February 3-6, 2011

Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge presents the Price of Freedom Conference, a four-day residential program for Scouts in grades 9-12 that gives Eagle Scouts, Sea Scout Quartermasters, or Venturing Silver Award winners the chance to explore. Participants must demonstrate leadership abilities and be active within their Boy Scout Troop, Varsity Scout team, Venturing Crew, or Sea Scout ship. Scouts should also be involved in programs such as the Order of the Arrow, summer camp staff, high-adventure programs, and peer leadership training.  Besides Scouting, youth participants should also demonstrate leadership roles in their community of worship, school activities, athletic endeavors, and volunteer work. 
Program Highlights:

• Make history come alive with visits from Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton
• Organize and execute a Flag Retirement Ceremony
• Discuss the Bill of Rights and Supreme Court cases
• Debate liberty and security in mock Congress
• Participate in leadership and teambuilding activities
• Meet with Scouts from around the country
• Interact with Scouts from across America

For additional information and registration contact education@ffvf.org 

CIEC 2010 Cahuilla Lodge Vigil Members  CIEC’s Cahuilla Lodge is pleased to share that all 12 of the Lodges nominations for Vigil Honor completed their Vigil up at Boseker Scout Reservation/Camp Emerson this past Friday night/Saturday morning.  It was a brisk evening with clear skies for 12 Cahuilla Lodge Arrowmen selected to receive the highest honor the OA can bestow, that of Vigil.  12 candidates successfully completed their personal Vigil with their individual sponsors and Lodge Officers present to assist.  The Vigil Honor is given to a select few who recommit themselves to serving the Order with their leadership and support to service.  The Vigil Honor is both the highest honor given and the only honor bestowed on the Arrowmen who are selected by their peers as outstanding Arrowmen who consistently provide service and commitment to their Council, Lodge and units above all.  Our Vigil Chief, Ian McLeod, did a superb job both organizing the 2010 Vigil selection process as well as the 2010 Vigil Chief.  I’m confident that our 12 new Vigil members of CIEC’s Cahuilla Lodge have a lifetime memory of a very special Vigil Ceremony this past weekend.  This year’s Vigil members are: Ian Hare (Wanakik Chapter), Lawrence Krikorian (Aca Chapter), Peter Chapman (Tahquitz Chapter), Billy Warren (Tahquitz Chapter), John Garcia (Wanakik Chapter), Justin Pearson (Yamiwa Chapter), Mal Maloney (Aca Chapter), Jonathan Cambon (Aca Chapter), Andrew Blessum (Hutuk Chapter), John Querns (Wanakik Chapter),Nicholas Dutchover (Aca Chapter), Steven Cambon (Aca Chapter) Tim Purvis

Two Special Ways to Remember Wounded Warriors

XEROX IS DOING SOMETHING COOL  If you go to this web site, www.LetsSayThanks.com  you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently
serving in Iraq . You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to a member of the armed services. 

How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!! It is FREE and it only takes a second. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the soldiers received a bunch of these?
Whether you are for or against the war, our soldiers over there need to know we are behind them. 

This takes just 10 seconds and it's a wonderful way to say thank you. Please take the time and please take the time to pass it on for others to do. We can never say enough thank you's. Thanks for taking to time to support our military! 

OR-

When filling out your Christmas cards this year, take one card and send it to this address: A Recovering American Soldier, c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 6900 Georgia Avenue NW,Washington, DC 20307-5001. If we pass this on and everyone sends one card, think of how many cards these wonderful special people will receive.e sacrificed so much would get. Let's do something meaningful for our Soldiers!e sacrificed so much would get. Let's do something meaningful for our Soldiers!

News & Tidbits

Happy Holidays from the CIEC Staff

FOS Report

Positive Quote
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There are two ways of spreading light: To be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.
  —Edith Wharton

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