Highlighted Titles mean New or Changes Made 

We Need Your Help With Voice of the Scout!

Dear Scouting Friends and Colleagues:
This week, thousands of Scouts, parents, and volunteers will be receiving the fall edition of our twice-yearly Voice of the Scout survey. Launched in 2012, VOS is designed to measure the value of Scouting in the community and help us deliver experiences that surpass the expectations of our members.
The fall 2014 edition of VOS is exciting for several reasons:

• Survey release dates are now standardized. Invites will be sent out on the first Tuesday of October (October 7) and the first Tuesday of March (March 7, 2015).
• A $500 incentive for unit leaders is in effect. In brief, unit leaders who see a response rate of at least 50 percent for Cub Scout parents, Boy Scout/Venturer parents, or Boy Scouts/Venturers will be eligible for an area drawing. Up to 27 units across the country could receive the award, geared to help leaders reinvest those funds back into the unit’s programs, events, or other needs.
• New survey partner will allow us to reach more members. VOS surveys are being released via a new software distribution company, Qualtrics, which is a leader in the field of high-volume surveys. The company already has existing protocols with email providers such as AOL and Yahoo, both of which had flagged our surveys as spam in the past.
• The results dashboard can now display feedback to the district level. This feature was soft-launched during the last survey cycle, after which the VOS team took steps to make district data more accurate and stable. (The overall goal is unit-level results. We will continue to make this a priority into 2015.)

The Voice of the Scout process is most effective when we receive a high level of responses. Without the participation of the Scouts, parents, and volunteers in your area, however, we won’t get the insight we need to deliver more compelling and effective programs. Please let your units know the survey is coming, and encourage them to participate.

For more information about Voice of the Scout, a special VOS-focused edition of Scout Wire has been produced to help you get a comprehensive, quick overview of the program and access links to promotional materials. Thank you for all that you do for Scouting and the youth in your communities.

Sincerely, David Weekley, National Marketing Chairman

A Great Scouter's Popcorn Story

My two little Nephews are now in Tigers and Webelos. They sold (by themselves) over $1200 worth of popcorn...this did not include family funding, but they were so cute, they did manage to have someone donate a $100 bill to their collections. Their uniforms, and camping gear is now supposed to be paid for during the coming year! Drew, the oldest at 9 yrs) is after a special prize so think old Aunt Jean will be hit up for some popcorn (I already told them I would help). 
 
Shelah home schools both boys (she is a teacher by profession) and has to cook from scratch for gluten free/dairy free diets for the oldest boy----which means the whole family.  She is tremendously busy all the time, but looks like she is getting hauled into being a Den Mother. She already contributes to all the goodies, transportation, etc.for Scouts and also their church, but guess a busy person manages to get it all in. The boys seem to be enjoying the scouting experience as well as all their church activities so they are well rounded out kids (and way too smart for their ages).
 
Anyway....long live Scouting!

Webelos To Scout Transition

CLICK HERE here for form. Thanks to Old Baldy District Membership Chair, Charles C. Royas.

Special Invitation to all Venturing Crews and Upcoming Dates of Importance

David Sherman, a Venturing Crew Advisor from the Long Beach Area Council, has asked me to share the following special invitation with all of the Venturing Crews in the California Inland Empire Council.

“The Long Beach Area Council will be hosting a Venturing Crew only summer camp at Camp Tahquitz, which is being tentatively scheduled from June 29-July 4, 2015.  For more information regarding this incredible opportunity for Venturers, you are asked to contact David Sherman at snake1975@verizon.net.”

I also wanted to share with you this afternoon the following dates taken from the calendar of our Venturing Officers’ Association –

• VOA Recruitment Night/Halloween BBQ and Baseball Night (October 18)
• Introduction to Leadership Skills for Crews (November 22 at CIEC Council Office)
• Venturing Awards Banquet, 1920s themed (Date and Location to be announced)
• Venturing Rendezvous, Western themed (April 24-26, 2015 at Camp Emerson)

As a reminder, you can find the above dates as well as important ‘Venturing Program Resource Links’ (i.e., the new youth handbook, adult leader manual, venturing awards guidebook, and youth-specific trainings needed for advancement) on the California Inland Empire Council’s Venturing website (https://sites.google.com/site/ciecventuring/).

Thank you for all that continue to do for the youth of our Council,
 
Ryan Kleinvachter, CIEC VOA Advisor, tqventuring@gmail.com
 

Eerie Emerson 2014 Calling all ghouls and goblins! We still have openings for Eerie Emerson Session #1 on 11-12 October. This is one of the most fun, and definitely the spookiest activity sponsored by the Council. Please don’t miss the opportunity to haunt Camp Emerson and environs. There will be games, costume and site decorating contests, a haunted house, campfire skits and a movie…don’t be the last one in your graveyard to return from the dead and head for the mountains! Information contact Volunteer Services At (909) 793-2463 x129 CLICK HERE for Registration Form Or to register online Eerie Emerson #1

Earn BONUS rewards from California Inland Empire Council, BSA!

Did you know that you can earn BONUS rewards from the California Inland Empire Council when you sell online? And, all online, take order and store front sales from August 1st through October 17th count toward your Fall Sale Rewards!

Enter to Win an XBox One Console! For every online sale you make during Tuesday, September 23rd - Friday, October 17th you will receive an entry to win an XBox One Console. The more sales you make, the more entries you will receive.

Earn a Walmart Gift Card! For every three online sales you make during Tuesday, September 23rd - Friday, October 17th you will receive a $5 Walmart Gift Card!

Scouts: Click here to learn how to sell online.  Leaders: Click here to learn how to track your unit's online sales.

Section W4S Conclave Super Arrowman Academy

When: October 10th – 12th
Where: Rosemead High School
Cost: ONLY $45!!! If you register by 9/23/14, and $50 for registrations btwn 9/24/14 and 10/3/14 – no walk-ins.

Registration closes 10/3/14 11:59 PM. Register at: www.w4s.org/ops/ (if prompted for a security certificate problem please proceed) <<<NOW OPEN>>>

Program to include the Western Region Chief, awesome opening and theme shows, great training and lodge vs lodge competitions with a volunteer staff custom prepared menu for the best food in San Gabriel Valley.

Hornaday 2014

The University of California - Riverside and the Boy Scouts of America - California Inland Empire Council Conservation Committee
Invite you to the 2014 BSA Hornaday Day Event October 18, 2014

Who: Boy Scouts wanting to learn about the BSA Hornaday Awards, example Hornaday projects, and Hornaday Award merit badges. Attendance is limited to the first 150 Scouts on a first come, first served basis -- pre-registration is available by website. No walk-ins will be accepted.

When: Saturday, October 18, 2014 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Cost: $10 for the day, and you must pre-register on the website.

Where: University of California at Riverside, Winston Chung Engineering Building; Parking is covered in fee

Bring: Parent permission slip for event, blue merit badge card for any merit badge you wish to earn (pre-signed by your Scoutmaster); a merit badge workbook for each badge. See website for more details.

Food: Lunch can be purchase on site for $5. This lunch cost is separate from the registration cost.

Program: Presentations will be made on Hornaday Awards Description, Hornaday history, potential Hornaday Projects, and Hornaday Award merit badges

For scouts that are interested in doing a merit badge, they should download the Merit Badge Workbook from the website. It is strongly advised that the workbooks be filled out as completely as possible before coming to the Hornaday Fair. Specific prerequisites need to be completed ahead of time if you want to get completely signed off at the event, please
see the website for details. Please check the merit badge pamphlets or workbooks for more details concerning merit badge requirements. For additional information about the Merit Badge Fair, please contact: Matt Barth at mjbarth@charter.net or Jun Wang at junwang@engr.ucr.edu

To register for this event, please go to http://ieee.ee.ucr.edu/hornaday/ and follow the registration link.

Wood Badge Reunion 2014

Greetings fellow Wood Badgers,

Come Join Us on November 1st, 2014 for the Wood Badge Reunion 2014 Potluck and Silent Auction. Brian Crain has asked me to oversee the Silent Auction this year and donations are needed to make this auction a success. Any donated items would be greatly appreciated just please let me know so I can make proper arrangements. If you wish to donate a monetary amount it will be used for a lovely gift basket.

Please look around your garages and attics; any item will do (whether it be Scout related or non scout related). Please inform all Woodbadgers and let your courses know. If you have questions I am more than happy to help.

Please contact me at:
Bubbles divine_durango_diva@msn.com or Cell# 951-833-2409 (feel free to text or call).

We will be able to accept cash, check, and credit card this year or CLICK HERE to Register Online

Seabadge San Diego

Nominations are being accepted for a Seabadge course being offered January 23 - 25, 2015 at the San Diego Youth Aquatics Center, 1750 Fiesta Island Rd, San Diego, CA.  Seabadge is an advanced training program for Scout adult leaders.   

Seabadge is a weekend course that begins Friday afternoon and concludes with a closing ceremony before lunch on Sunday.  Course participants and staff function as a model ship to help participants understand how a ship or youth-led unit should function. The curriculum includes twenty sessions, with established objectives, that are presented in a motivating and informative forum.

The objectives of Seabadge are to:
-       Improve the understanding of leadership, management, and motivational skills among adult leaders.
-       Provide management, leadership, and presentation skills and tools to adult leaders so that they may use and share them with others in their day-to-day Scout activities.
-       Use the skills and tools acquired at Seabadge to improve the quality of the Sea Scout program.
-       Encourage the development of lifelong contacts and sharing of resources by and between course participant Participant Requirements and more information about Seabadge can be found on the National Sea Scout web page at:  http://www.seascout.org/articlelinkseabadge

A fact sheet and application for the San Diego Seabadge can be found at:  http://www.seascout.org/component/edocman/?view=document&id=158

I ask that you please pass this information to all Sea Scout leaders in your council and any other adults that might be interested in learning more about Sea Scouting.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Mike Philbrook, Course Director, SEABADGE COURSE SB-21-CA-2015

Venturing Rendezvous at Fiesta Island

Venture Crew 641 teamed up with Crew 301 for a weekend of fun in San Diego while attending San Diego-Imperial Council's Venturing Rendezvous at Fiesta Island. Everybody had a great time enjoying cooler temps than the Inland Empire. They took advantage of all that the aquatic center had to offer including sailboats, kayaks, and canoes. They participated in games and competitions and were able to network with other Crews.

Rick Lebel, Crew 641

Troop 45 Beach Camp

Troop 45 of the First United Methodist Church of Highland finished off an awesome camp on Sunday at the beach! At this years camp the boys held a Court of Honor on the beach at Camp Pendleton/San Onofre for the merit badges and rank advancements that had been earned for the past 3 months by the boys. Also Saturday nights campfire the boys retired 15 US flags donated by the Highland Area Chamber of Commerce. The troop is looking forward to next years camp!

Firebirds Race for Excellence in Sports, Life

Stockton Smith of Cathedral City and Rancho Mirage brothers Sam Kocen and David Kocen never had to decide if they wanted to be a Firebird or an Eagle.

The three Palm Valley School students proved they can have an allegiance to both and can excel on either end.

The trio comprises half of the defending Majestic League champion Palm Valley cross country team, and all have garnered Eagle Scout status, the highest and most prestigious scouting rank for boys under 18.

The other half of the team is also well underway to balancing school, sports and scouts, a rare feat according to their coach Bonnie Smith. Read More......

Scout Wire: Voice of the Scout Edition

Youth Protection

Greetings Scouters!
 
I am Joseph Cleary; I have been actively involved in Scouting as an adult for fourteen years.  In my non-scouting life, I have been in law enforcement for thirty years. Recently, I volunteered to act as the Youth Protection Champion for the CIEC. Our council is committed to achieving 100% Youth Protection Training (YPT) for all of our scout leaders.  We are well on our way, and I applaud the efforts of our leaders in increasing the number of Youth Protection trained Scouters. 
 
As we roll into our season of re-chartering, I believe it is important to remind everyone that YOUTH PROTECTION BEGINS WITH YOU, and this year we are focused on having everyone trained in Youth Protection.  One of Scouting’s core responsibilities is providing for the safety and well being of all of our scouts.  As Scouting leaders we all share in the responsibility of watching out for our scouts and taking action when we become aware of risky behavior and inappropriate activities.  Being trained in Youth Protection is one way of understanding the policy and expectations of our organization in protecting our scouts. 
 
Youth Protection Training includes; reporting guidelines, the importance of two deep leadership, indicators of child abuse, violations of privacy, bullying, and other information that will help us keep scouting a positive experience for all of our members.  This training takes about thirty minutes, or so, every two years, and can easily be completed on-line through the Council website.  This year, through the re-charter process, every registered leader must be current in their Youth Protection Training.  We also strongly encourage all non-leader parents and guardians of our scouts to be Youth Protection Trained.  Let us make this year our 100% YPT year.
 
Yours in Scouting, Joseph Cleary
 

Scouting Cartoons From 1967

GiftLegacy eNewsletter

3rd Quarter 2014 P.R.A.Y. Report, Youth Awards

Friends Of Scouting Report

Positive Quote & Prayer
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“The goodness of a person and of the society he or she lives in often comes down to very simple things and words found in the Scout Law. Every society depends on trust and loyalty, on courtesy and kindness, on bravery and reverence. These are the values of Scouting, and these are the values of Americans.”

    ~  President George W. Bush

My Father, I pray that when the "sun sets to-day my hope may not set with it." Be with me earlier than the dawn, that I may plan with thee a new day. I pray that thou wilt release me from anything that keeps me from reaching the highest.

       Amen