Welcome to our January 6th, 2014 Monday Memo

National Eagle Scout Association Forms

Glenn & Melinda Adams Award Form   NESA Outstanding Eagle Scout Award Form    NESA Application Form

Special Early Bird Rates for CIEC Activities and Camps

Lights for Little Lives Memorial Walk Troop 90 of Riverside was again asked to carry the Unforgettables Foundation's banner in the annual New Years Eve Lights for Little Lives Memorial Walk in Loma Linda. This moving event, open to the public is a way of remembering lives lost of all children and recognizing those who work to heal, rescue and save children. The event began at 3:30 pm when families, community members & dignitaries assembled in the parking lot of the Ronald McDonald House. A mother who lost a child in 2013 released a dove at sunset, joined by a dozen more doves in a memorial flight. Many say the dove flight, symbolic of a heavenly journey, is a key highlight of this celebratory awareness event.

Attention Cub Scout Leaders and Parents!

Lowe's Rancho Cucamonga at 11399 East Foothill Blvd, is holding a Dremel Demo for Cub Scouts and their parents. There will be pinewood derby cars given away; and each Scout receives a patch. Everyone in attendance recieves a coupon for 10% off tools to build their pinewood derby cars. There will be an opportunity to win a dremel tool as well. There are many other giveaways and instructions to build your car and increase the speed.

Please contact Richard Chamberlin at (909) 985-3484. You may leave him a message and he will return your call to sign you up for this great event.

This will take place on the following dates: January 11, 18, 25 and February 1, and 15. There are two sessions to choose from: 11:30-12:00 and 12:30-1:00. Sign up now! This is a great opportunity for fun and learning.
 

A Gathering of Eagle Scouts

A gathering of 26 Eagle Scouts for the Court of Honor for Michael Mathews, Merlin Mathews, and Anthony Agbay of Troop 148, Temecula.

University of Scouting

What is University of Scouting?
The University of Scouting is a one-day leader training program designed to provide ideas and resources in areas to benefit ALL Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Varsity, Venturing, District, Commissioners, and Council Leaders.?

University of Scouting is offered once a year and our goal is to provide quality opportunities for leaders, like you to improve your skills, advance your knowledge, and increase your confidence in helping you to deliver a quality scouting program to the youth we all serve.

It is a fun-filled, hands-on, experience-laden opportunity to network with other Scouters, along with being a true learning adventure. Don't be the only one not attending this great learning opportunity.

Who should attend?
All Adult Volunteers, which includes Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and Venturing Leaders, Commissioners, District and Council Level Volunteers, and all other Scout Volunteers.

Can Cub Scouts attend?
The University of Scouting is not intended for Cub Scouts (Youth). There are no courses in the schedule appropriate for Cub Scouts to attend.

When and where?
The University of Scouting will be held on Saturday, February 22, 2014 at Norte Vista High School, located at 6585 Crest Ave Riverside, CA 92503.

How much is Registration for the University of Scouting and how do I register?
Early Bird registration is only $25 per person if paying by February 10, 2014. After that date, registration is $30 per person. The cost of the event includes: up to six classes of instruction, a patch, and a hot lunch! Turn in a completed registration packet to the council office. CLICK HERE to REGISTER

What should I wear and bring?
University of Scouting recommends a FULL Uniform. Other than a desire to learn, you may want to bring a pen and paper for notes, and a coffee mug.

We hope to see you all at University of Scouting on February 22, 2014.
 

Troop 202 Helps "Isaiah's Rock"

For some months now, Boy Scout Troop 202 has been helping Isaiah?s Rock, an organization that helps needy families for more than 25 years. The troop collected, cleaned and refurbished 80 bikes at a warehouse donated to Isaiah?s Rock.

On Saturday, December 21st, Troop 202 went to Chino Town Hall to serve over 300 families waiting for Isaiah?s Rock toy distribution. Scouts served Dutch oven bread pudding and hot cocoa. Isaiah's Rock gave out some of the bikes. On the next day, Isaiah's Rock passed out the rest of the bikes and gave the families a Merry Christmas.

Florida Sea Base for Certified Angling Instructor Training

A BSA National Camping School Course, January 30 ? February 2, 2014 Islamorada, FL

Come join us for Certified Angling Instructor Training at Sea Base!?
The goal of this course is to improve a councils and units overall fishing program and train Fishing and Fly Fishing Merit Badge Counselors on the official BSA approach to these badges. January at Florida Sea Base is the right time and place to learn!

Conference attendees will have the opportunity to earn the BSA Certified Angling Instructor recognition and will be certified to run fishing programs at BSA summer camps and instruct the Fishing and Fly Fishing merit badges.? Think of this training as the fishing equivalent of firearm or climbing instructor training. Yes you know how to fish, but do you know how to teach how to fish?

According to a recent Boys Life survey, fishing is the 4th most popular activity among scouts, with 61% participating. We want to strengthen the level of fishing instruction and programs at councils and camps across the country.

Course Instructors include Ben Jelsema, one of the authors of Fishing and Fly Fishing Merit Badge books along with members of the BSA National Fishing Committee.

Who should attend?
Participants should include current and future Council Camp Program Directors and Fishing Staff, Merit Badge Counselors, Cub Day Camp Staff, Scoutmasters, Cubmasters and Venturing Crew leaders.? You should be committed to instructing Scouts in fishing and fly fishing either at Boy Scout summer camp, Cub Day Camp or teaching one or both of these merit badges in your unit or district.

Dates: Arrive Thursday evening January 30 and Depart Sunday morning February 2. Classes will be taught Friday, January 31 and Saturday, February 1.
Registration and check-in is from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm on Thursday, January 30. We will have a reception Thursday night at 9:00pm for class participants.

Space will be limited to 30 participants.
Cost: $330 ? includes 3 nights lodging, meals, course materials, and a sunset boat excursion

Register Here! Questions? Email David Lund, Course Director at BoyScoutFishing@gmail.com

Old Baldy Scout Shop

New Boy Scout Handbook, other Boy Scout program tweaks due in 2016

The saying ?if it ain?t broke, don?t fix it? could be used to describe some tweaks coming to the Boy Scouts program in 2016.

The merit badge program has been getting stronger with the release of each new merit badge, and the trail to Eagle Scout continues to produce terrific young men. Neither will change.

We are getting a new Boy Scout Handbook, but the 13th edition, due out in January 2016, will keep most of its content from the 12th edition (released in 2010). The design and images inside will be updated, but much of the text will be unchanged. Read More....

VOA Venturing Weekend 2014

Do you like to: Hang out with Venturers? Shoot Guns and Forge Things? Partake in Crew Competitions?

If you answered yes to any of the above items, come out to our radical venturing weekend!

Save The Date April 25 - 27, 2014. Boseker Scout Reservation, be there or be square!

A Trilogy of Religious Emblems Webinars

Presenting a Trilogy of Religious Emblems Webinars Led by Experienced Scouters...

Choose 1, 2, or All 3 Webinars - Each Addresses A Key Facet of Religious Emblems Promotion and Usage

P.R.A.Y. webinars are free and open to the first 100 participants. Webinars listed below in green areas are available to sign up for.?You may sign up for as many webinars as you want. The topics are described below as well as the target audience. Please review the descriptions carefully to make sure you sign up for the appropriate session(s).

Webinars are also recorded and available for viewing at no charge.?Recordings are available for anyone to watch, not just registered participants. If you have questions about a webinar, the presenter's email address is listed with each webinar. Click Here to Register

Ask the Expert mailbag: Merit badges, blue cards, First Class Requirement 10

In the season of Wise Men, you won?t find many wiser than Chris Hunt, advancement team leader for the Boy Scouts of America. Whatever advancement-related question I throw at him, he answers right away. He?s one of the big reasons my Ask the Expert series has been going strong for years. This time, I sent him three questions that came to me from blog readers like you and stemmed from real-life dilemmas you?re facing.

The first was from a Scouter wondering who may purchase merit badges, after he was told only the advancement chair can do so. Another asked for valid reasons a Scoutmaster can use to refuse to give a Scout a blue card. The third cropped up after a parent disputed Requirement 10 for First Class.

Find the original questions and Chris Hunt?s wise answers, after the jump. Read More....

Greatest hits: Counting down my 13 most-read blog posts of 2013 

Where did 2013 go?

For Scouts and Scouters, it went to new merit badges, Eagle Scout journeys, the 2013 National Scout Jamboree, a nationally televised TV show about Boy Scouts, a family discussion on our membership policy, endless Cub Scout fun and so much more.

It was a great year for Scouting. And for Bryan on Scouting.

I’m so humbled that my blog recorded roughly 2 million page views in 2013, more than double the previous record of 850,000 from 2012. Thanks for making this a place you trust for Scouting news and conversation. Read More....

Positive Quote & Prayer
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"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."

    ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
 

Gracious God,
With joy, we now join here together to celebrate,
as some look back on times past and as others look forward to times yet to come.
We rejoice in the opportunity to become better acquainted with our fellow colleagues while finding You in them.
We are grateful for the encouragement we receive
to seek to know You as the source and substance of our mission and identity.

We are humbled to be entrusted with the service
and promotion of social justice in our local and global communities.
We ask that You guide us in this service.
We praise You for Your generous gift of life and love and ask for Your help in sharing that love with everyone we meet.
Amen

    ~ Sheila Doran

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??????