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NOTE: The Highlander was copied and pasted from the Adobe Acrobat Reader files on the Council website and some formats do not copy well, which may cause some words to be pasted out of order. I have made every effort to identify and correct those "mistakes", but offer no guarantees. All graphics used in the Highlander have been excluded because of the difficulty of copying them and the time it takes them to load. Please consult the Council's website for a known accurate copy of the Highlander.
Presidents’ MessageOver the past three years, I’ve have had the pleasure to serve as your Council President. I now will continue to be active on our Executive Board, as well as be involved with my youngest son in Cub Scouts. Our properties committees, leaders, corporations, foundations, our Council Executive Board and professional staff have made great strides improving and upgrading our two camps, Elk Lick Scout Reserve and Camp Merz. Buildings and bridges have been upgraded and rebuilt; new archery ranges and rifle ranges offer the best for all our scouts; waterlines have been replaced at Elk Lick; our dining halls have been refurbished; a new pavilion has been built at Merz; and the list could go on for a full page. This has happened because those of us who have made these projects a reality know the importance of our camps to our programs. Scouting will only do part of the job if you and all your cub scouts and boy scouts don’t end the scout year by going to summer camp. Camp is the high point of a scout’s year, and gets them excited about the year to come. Everything you do in your Pack and Troop during the year should plan for that great opportunity to live and breathe scouting for a week in a natural environment. It is the absolute best. We must share with parents that camp is fun, and they don’t have to be a leader to go. We also might have to arrange for parents to split up the week of camp and have it be a tag team effort, where the week is covered by a few parents and leaders. Whatever it takes is what we all must do to make sure the boys go. Because if they go, they will surely stay in scouts another year. Proven fact. And you know what, your parents might have so much fun that they just might step up and be your next leaders. It has happened many a time. Operating two summer camps is a challenge for our small council – we are the only council of our size in the Northeast Region that runs two summer camps. We want to continue our legacies at both facilities – but you and all your boys – cub scouts and boy scouts alike- must come to camp during the summer. Without your attendance, all this work and all future work that is planned is for naught. If we don’t attend our summer camps, they will go away. From my days as a scout long ago, to my recent experiences as a Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader, my fondest memories revolve around scouting experiences at summer camp. Camp programs and experiences create memories and develop skills in our boys that last their lifetime. Your attendance is important – no, essential - to the success of your unit’s program, and the continuance of our two camp operations. Make plans now to give your boys, and yourself and your parents, a fun, rewarding summer – at Camp Merz and Elk Lick Scout Reserve. Call your district executive today, and schedule a camp promotion at one of your upcoming meetings. Your scouts will be glad you did. See you around the campfire! Mark Williams Council President
Annual Bowl A Thon The time is near! Make your plans now! We will have the kickoff at the January Roundtables, with bowling dates starting February 28 and going through March 19. Our District Executives will work with you and the local alleys to make the date you bowl fit your schedule. Please contact your District Executive as soon as possible to schedule your unit to participate. There is a sign up sheet in this Highlander, which we ask you to fill out and get to the Service Center as soon as possible. The Annual Bowlathon is a great way for your unit to have a lot of fun and make some money to boot. Units will need to schedule their bowling time and date with their District Executive. The District Executive will make the payment and contract arrangements with the local bowling lanes. Please review all of the information in the packet, which will be sent to all unit leaders if you miss the roundtable. The rules for the Bowlathon are explained on the pledge form. Participants must raise at least $25 in pledges to earn a patch and free bowling, $50 to earn a King Pin T-Shirt, and $100 and up, to participate in the Kingpin Prize Night. The Prize Night qualifiers will be sent an invitation to participate and is limited to youth bowlers only
Important Dates to Remember for the Bowlathon Ø January Roundtables – Kickoff ASAP – Schedule the bowling date and time with the District Executive. After bowling - Prize sheet and Unit report form due to the Scout Service Center Ø April. 4th – Money due to the Scout Service Center. Units that pay late will loose 5% commission per week that payments are late. Ø April 27th is Kingpin Prize Night for scouts who earn $100 and up. Ø May Roundtable- Patches and shirts to be picked up by your unit.
Earn Your Way to Camp Popcorn & Hershey SaleHey Cub Scout and Boy Scout Leaders – Back by popular demand, and bigger and better than ever! Mark your calendars now; the official start of the “Earn your way to Camp Sale” is March 21. Materials for your Pack and Troop’s sale will be in the mail to Cubmasters and Scoutmasters March 1. What’s new this year? A lot, and we think you are going to like it. First, we are changing our order system so you can order by container - that’s right, just what you asked for. You will not have to round your order up to order full cases. We will give you exactly what you order. Second, you will have your choice to sell Trail’s End popcorn, or Hershey products, or both! This spring, the order forms will have 9 popcorn products, and 6 Hershey products. Give your customers a choice! The popcorn products are the three way tin, a new cheese lovers tin, a 24 pack variety microwave, the 18 pack of microwave kettle corn, the 28 oz. Caramel corn, the 12 oz. Caramel corn, the 15 pack of micro butter and 15 pack of micro light, and the 2.5 lb. popcorn tin. The Hershey products have expanded also – a Sweet Treat Sugar Shaker filled with mini Reese’s Pieces, a Nostalgic tin with three types of kisses, a Premium tin of assorted Hershey’s Nuggets, a Jolly Rancher Candy Pail, a Good Night Kisses Cocoa Cup and Saucer with Cocoa, and a Hershey Sodas Shop assortment, which includes a 10” tall glass straw dispenser filled with Twizzlers, an old style glass candy jar with a metal lid filled with Jolly Ranchers, and a 4” glass sherbet dish filled with Reese’s Pieces. WOW! We are excited, and hope you are too! You will receive all the materials you need for the sale early in March. The day to order your products is Monday, April 25, and pick up, at our same three locations, will be on Friday, May 6 for Two Lakes and Whitetail, and Saturday, May 7 for Seneca. Your profit is 35%, and prizes are not offered in the spring to maximize your income for summer camp. Please mail, fax, or call us to sign up. The form will be in your “Earn your way to Camp” packet. We are preparing for our best season ever, and your scouts can ALL go if they participate in this great fundraiser.
Friends of Scouting – 2005 We’re taking the show on the road again with a new and improved Power-Point show! Our District Executives will be contacting your unit to schedule the showing of this epic saga. We also have a new recognition patch this year that we’re sure you’ll want in your collection. We thank you in advance for your anticipated enthusiasm and cooperation as we work together to make scouting the best it can be for all our scouts. FOS – it’s important- thanks for being a part – you make a big difference!
Annual Council Recognition Dinner All Scouters are cordially invited to attend the Annual Recognition Dinner to be held Sunday, May 1, 2005, (note change of date – because of facility availability) at the American Legion (2 miles west of Allegany on Rte 417). The dinner will begin at 2:00 PM with an informal gathering starting at 1:30 PM. The dinner is open to all Scouters. You do not need to be receiving an award to attend! The cost will be $13 per person. The dinner will be served buffet style. The menu will be stuffed pork chops, beef and chicken, tossed salad, pasta salad, scallop potatoes, relish tray, coffee and pineapple upside down cake for dessert. Reservations are required and must be received at the Scout Service Center no later than Friday, April 22, 2005. You can fax in your reservation to 716.665.5212, or email to servicecenter@alleghenyhighlands.org. There is a coupon on the back page for your convenience.
The Silver Beaver Award This coveted award is presented for outstanding service to youth and our council, and will be presented at the Council Recognition dinner on Sunday, May 1 at the Allegany American Legion. Recipients will be selected from nominations submitted by you, and remember applications are available on our website. These nominations must be sent to the Scout Service Center by January 28, 2005. Nominations must include the following: 1. Nominee’s name, address, occupation, and Scouting position that they are registered in; if unit connected give the unit number. 2. When referring to BSA service, be specific, i.e. give dates, office, positions held, etc. 3. Include nominee’s record of noteworthy service of exceptional character to youth within the Council territory. Non-Scouting youth service, i.e. Little League Coach, Sunday School Teacher, etc. Include information detailing nominee’s community standing including activities in which the nominee is most active in regarding business, professional, civic religious, education, etc., exclusive of Scouting.
District Award of Merit…Presented at District Dinners The nominee must be a registered Scouter. He/she must have rendered noteworthy service to youth in Scouting, outside Scouting, or both. Consideration is given to the nominee’s scouting position and the corresponding opportunity to render outstanding service beyond the natural expectations their scouting position. Also, service to the district is extremely important, and years of service to scouting. Remember; send in your nominations by January 30 to the Scout Service Center. The application to nominate someone for the District Award of Merit is on our Council website. District Dinner AwardsWe all have really great people in our Packs, Troops, Crews and Posts that make it a pleasure to be in scouting. They always go above and beyond for our scouts. Here’s your chance to recognize them and put them on a pedestal in front of everyone. They deserve it. Here are the awards you can put them in for: Spark Plug AwardEvery unit has someone who’s the first at every meeting, the last to leave… always available to help at a moment’s notice… will do just about anything for your unit. In other words, this person is your unit’s “Spark Plug”.
The VIP Award (one per unit) this person doesn’t have to be a scouter, just someone who’s always ready, willing, and able to help. Nominate them for VIP award.
Miscellaneous Awards If you have some other award or thank you that you would like to do in front of the whole district just let us know and we will do our best to help make that happen. If you have any questions about any of these awards, contact the Council Service Center or your District Executive. They will all be presented at the Annual District Dinner. Remember to state your reasons, in letterform for nominating a particular person(s) and mail to the Scout Service Center at PO Box 261, Falconer NY 14733 by January 30, 2004.
Happy Birthday, BSA! The week of February 6 through 12 is the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Boy Scouts of America. All of our Packs, Troops, Crews, and Posts are encouraged to celebrate this event by doing a press release about your program and sponsors. Also, Scout Sunday is on the 6th, and you are encouraged to attend your local church as a unit, in uniform. If your chartered partner is a church, talk with your pastor about your unit’s involvement in the service that day. There are Program Covers, “A Scout is Reverent”, available at the Scout Service Center for $7.50 pack of 100, item # B3004. Call Nancy and have her order them for you. …FREE…FREE…Free …Blue & Gold PlacematsGet your placemats for your Blue & Gold Banquets FREE at the Scout Service Center. The placemats are designed to give parent’s information on summer camp opportunities for Cub Scouts in our Council. Placemats will be available beginning February 1. To get your placemats, call your order into the Scout Service Center or ask your District Executive. Service Center Trading PostOur Service Center Trading Post is stocked with all your needs for successful Blue & Gold Banquets, special awards for dedicated leaders and scouts, and pinewood derby kits and awards. If we don’t have it in stock, we can get what you need quickly. Give Nancy a call and we’ll help you. Both of our camps also operate trading posts year-round with camp-related goodies, from patches, shirts, and the like. Our Rangers will be glad to help you when you visit.
2005 is the 75th Anniversary of Cub Scouting! Cubmasters and Pack leaders, get ready! 2005 is the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Cub Scout program, and we want to celebrate it with a bang. Your District Executive has a packet for every pack that is full of information about the celebration. It is an action plan for your pack. There is also a sample news release to make a splash in your local community newspaper. There is a list of seventy-five ways to celebrate the 75th anniversary, and we hope every pack will pick out as many of these ideas as possible to make your pack’s program real exciting this year. There is a flyer showing four special awards that can be earned by your pack, your boys, and your leaders. When the requirements are completed and approved, just submit the application to the service center to get your awards. Tiger Fun DayOur third annual Tiger fun day was grrrreat! Tigers and their partners from all over the council were in attendance. Every tiger left with a full bag of prizes and loads of smiles. We think the partners were having as much fun at the games as their Tigers were, what a great time! A special Thank you, to Don Pool this year’s chairman. Also Thank You to all the folks that brought a game or ran game for the day. It was great to see so many smiles on the faces of our newest members to scouting. Welcome, Tigers!
Mail Your Gift: Tribute Fund Allegheny Highlands Council, BSA PO Box 261, Falconer NY 14733 (A special card is sent to the honoree, or next of kin, and the gift is put in our Council Endowment Fund to perpetuate Scouting). Please Accept this Tribute Fund Gift: In Memory______________________________ Happy Birthday___________________________ Anniversary______________________________ Get Well Wish____________________________ Special Occasion__________________________ In Honor of______________________________ Address_________________________________Gift From________________________________ (Name as you want it to appear on card) Amount of Gift $__________________________
Tax Deductions for Volunteers People who do volunteer work frequently ask us about the tax deductions they can take. In general, taxpayers must itemize to take any deductions, and they cannot deduct the value of the time they devote to the volunteer effort, nor can they deduct childcare costs incurred in order to perform the work. However the unreimbursed costs for the following are deductible: Ø Actual costs of driving to and from a volunteer site, or 15 cents per mile plus tolls and parking if you use the optional mileage rate rather than actual cost. Ø Plane, train, and bus tickets to facilitate your volunteer work. Ø Meals and lodging costs if the volunteer work required you to be overnight. Ø Purchase and maintenance cost of required uniforms that would be unsuitable for any other use.
Camp Corner
Camp Leadership is Set After a busy fall our summer camp management is almost complete. At camp Merz we are very pleased to announce the camp director will be Jeff Tabasco from Fredonia. He has been waterfront director and staffer at camp Merz years ago. He is a teacher at a parochial school in Fredonia and will be a great asset to our camp management team. Joe DeBiso will be assistant camp director and Cub Scout program director. Dawn Mullen will also be returning as the Boy Scout program director. With all these great folks camping at camp Merz looks to be really outstanding for 2005. At Elk Lick the camp director will be Wayne Schuver. Wayne is looking for a program director for both Cub’s and or Boy Scout. If you know someone that may be interested please have them contact the service center now so that we can start working on a summer program better than any other. Both camps this year will have the same business manager, Todd Peine. He is our newest executive from Whitetail district. Todd will bring vast business knowledge to the table and will help both camps to unify and stream line ordering from all our vendors. Todd has a lot of great ideas for our trading posts. This will help to insure that everyone, boys and adults alike can bring home great mementos from camp.
Camping Committee News This fall our camping committee invited around 40 Scouters, from across the council to come together to identify and develop areas of improvement in our camps program. Chuck Begert has led us to identify these areas. We are working on ways we can all help to get more boys in our camps. One is camp promotion, this year we hope to have staff from camp help us with this years camp promotion shows. Suggestion on registration and improvements to our Boy Scout leaders guide has already been put into action. A lot of other great ideas still are in the works. Your ideas are all welcome, so come or contact your district representative today. If you would like to be apart of this exciting committee we meet in Salamanca at the high school. Our next meeting is January 19th at 7:00 PM. Come and help us to make our camps the best they can be for our boys.
Promotions Boy Scouts Scoutmasters have already been mailed the NEW Leader Guide for 2005 and camp reservation chart of available sites. If your troop has not reserved a campsite be sure to do that soon hold a space forms are in the leader book. If your troop would like to hear more about the new programs at camp contact some one from the camping committee or the service center to get more information. Cub Scouts Leaders guides will be mailed out after the first of the year with all the latest and greatest plans for this summer. Placemats will be again available for your Blue & Gold banquets thanks to our Order of the Arrow Lodge. You can order quantity needed from the service center in Jan. If your pack would like a camp promotion show please contact your camping committee representative or the service center to schedule the date desired. Remember there are many packs and not many dates in February so schedule today. We hope to see many new faces from your packs and your troops this summer; we have great plans in store.
Your Camp Leadership Many of our packs and some of our troops have the misconception that only Cubmasters or Scoutmasters can bring boys to camp. THIS IS NOT TRUE. To bring boys to camp only one adult needs to be registered with the Boy Scouts of America in any position. For Cub Scouts if you are a den leader you can recruit a parent or another adult you can bring boys to camp. Also the leadership that comes to camp can rotate throughout the session. Adults can come for day or evening or one day of the session what ever is going to work best for your pack, den, or your boy. The camp only asks that there is always adult supervision of the boys. Some of our Cub Scout sessions revolve through a weekend to help you get this supervision. For Boy Scouts, your boys can always go provisional, with out leadership. We encourage that your boys come as a troop or maybe come with another neighboring troop. If not we will certainly help to find that supervision for your boys. Leader fees and ratios are posted in camp leader guide, for Cub scouts there will be some modification watch for changes. Our goal is offer to as many units as possible the opportunity to come to camp. See you at camp!
Camp Properties Committees Great things are planned but you know what they say, “many hands make light work.” Our properties committees have a lot of projects planned so give a hand and stop at the next meeting to find out how you and your unit can help. Meetings are as follows: Elk Lick – February 5th, April 2nd Saturday 9AM; March 3rd, May 5th Thursday 7 PM Camp Merz – February 15th, March 15th, April 19th, May 17th all Tuesday 7PM All meetings are at their respective camps, see ya there!
$AVE $$$$$$$$ How, you say? Turn your unit’s recharter paperwork in the month it’s due, signed, sealed, paid for and delivered to the scout service center (or postmarked by the last working day of the month), and every one of your scouts will receive an additional $5 off their summer camp fees for 2005 !!! Cub Scouts Pack’s must also schedule a Camp Promotion for a January-April pack meeting to be eligible. That’s it. Simple, and you can save your boys alot of Cash. Moohlah. Scratch. Duckets. Dubloons. Lira. Skein. Wampum. The deadlines are as follow: Two Lakes District – Monday, January 31 Seneca District – Monday, February 28Whitetail District – Thursday, March 31
TRAINING CORNERJunior Leader TrainingThe Junior Leader Training course held at Camp Merz the weekend of November 12–15 was a big success, with 39 scouts from 14 troops across the council attending. The staff had a combined total of over 350 years in scouting. Our thanks for all their hard work and dedication to the boys. A special thanks goes to the South Dayton American Legion, Gowanda Police Benevolent Association, Gale Swenson, owner of the Viking Trader, Carriage House Foods, South Dayton Emergency Squad – Gary & Janet Hardy – EMTs, Hamlet Farms and Backpacker’s Pantry of Boulder Co. A special thanks to Mary Jane Begert for washing and ironing neckerchiefs, and Cathy Kaylor for making the troop leader armbands, and to the Camp Ranger, Josh for all his help. Also thanks to Nancy in the Scout Service Center for handling the reservations. The JLT would not have been possible without the help of these people and organization. The 2 cooks for the weekend were Mike Caruso and Phil Erickson who did a great job. The food was delicious and plentiful. After reviewing the critique sheets the staff is hard at work designing next years course to be held the same weekend at a location to be announced at a later date. In the following requests of the scouts, we will be presenting more troop management skills along with more scoutcraft. Tell your troop leaders to be prepared, as we will be limiting the course to scouts who have completed their First Class requirements and be at least 13 years old by December 1st. The Thirteenth Scout Law……PRE-REGISTRATION The Loyal Order of Scoutmasters, the Legion of Unthankable Volunteers and the Faithful Sons of Den Mothers’ Society has asked be to write to you about the Thirteenth Scout Law, Pre-registration. All good scouts should pre-register for events where wherever possible. By pre-registering the volunteer running the event has a better chance to plan and make all the appropriate and necessary arrangements. Please note that you are not making the jobs of those “Professional Scouters” (who shall remain nameless for the purpose of this article) easier when you do this. You are making the life of a volunteer like yourself easier. As loyal scoutmaster, an unthinkable volunteer, and the faithful son of a den mother, I implore all scouters to pre-register wherever possible. Besides, if an unforeseen circumstance, we will call and advise you. Thank you, Gary Porter Lifetime Scouter
Internet Rechartering The Allegheny Highlands Council is excited to offer Internet Rechartering to your unit. We know you’ll like the new method of rechartering because: 1. You will be completing the charter renewal information yourself; 2. You can do it from your home or office anytime it is convenient for you; 3. You will also be able to update your training information and youth rank; 4. Your charter will look exactly the way you want it to. First you should identify some one in your unit that is comfortable working on line. Go to the council web page, www.alleghenyhighlands.org and click on the online rechartering link. Before you attempt your recharter process, go through the tutorial to familiarize yourself with the process. Once familiar follow the steps below to complete your charter. 1. Click on the Recharter Now button below 2. Select First-Time User and enter the unit access code provided in your recharter packet. 3. Select the unit type and enter the unit number. 4. Create a password as instructed. 5. Complete the information requested on each screen. You can stop at any time, log off the system, and begin again where you left off by reentering your access code and password. 6. When you’ve completed all the information to recharter the unit, click the Submit button. 7. Print the Unit Charter Renewal Report Package, which includes the charter renewal application and lists of new members, transfers, multiples, and no-fee adults. Acquire the unit leader and chartered organization representative signatures on the application, then submit the entire packet along with new applications and fee payments to the Scout Service Center before your expiration date. There you go. If you have any questions about the process, don’t hesitate to call the service center.
Hey Commissioners! Great News! A College of Commissioner Science will be held at this end of the world this year. Six councils in our proximity are working together to offer this opportunity locally, instead of us traveling to Syracuse. Mark your calendars now with Saturday, April 16th at Niagara Falls High School. We will be arranging a car pool of our commissioners to attend. Details, with courses offered will be sent to all commissioners at the end of January.
Tri – Council Camporee This year the French Creek Council, Erie, PA, will host the Tri-Council Camporee. The event takes place on May 13, 14, and 15, 2005 at the Family First Sports Park, in Erie, PA. Scouters will participate in round-robin activities/sporting events staffed by Family First and BSA volunteers. Walk through the Ready.BSA midway of stations that will be staffed by volunteers, military/public safety and many other organizations. There will be a giant Trade O’ Ree in the housing center at Family First that you can be a part of. The theme of Ready.BSA was selected to teach Scouts what to do when an emergency occurs and to introduce them to some of the organizations that they can turn to for help. The support of public safety/military/outdoor organizations will be key to the success of the Camporee. Some of the organizations that have been invited to participate in the Ready.BSA midway: - Hazardous Material Team-Heavy Tactical Rescue Team- Fire Prevention House, A Pumper Unit, Ambulance-Mobile Command Center, Coast Guard, Navy, Army, & National Guard, Local television meteorologist invited to conduct a session on severe weather - Local Fire Departments, Automobile Club of America, Local Law Enforcement, Emergicare, US Border Patrol – Airport Security - US Customs, Red Cross Disastrous Preparedness, Homeland Security - Medivac Helicopter- K-9 Group – State Police Swat Team – Erie County Fire Fighters mock house fire, Fish & Game commission, Game Warden, Kidco Identification Group, Millcreek Paramedics, Jambo on the Air, Chain Saw Sculpturing, Raptor Project - Presque Isle Cycle Club, Police Cruiser, Water Patrol Boat, Underwater Rescue Team, DARE Programs, US Power Squadron, Erie Police Motorcycle Unit, College Police Dept., ATF, FBI - Border Patrol, District Attorney, Arson Squad, Mounted Patrol, Bike Patrol, Conservation officers, Military Police, Bomb Squad Poison Control Unit, Neighborhood Watch, Lock companies, Alarm companies, DEA, Secret Service, US Marshals There will be many fun activities throughout the day for Boy Scouts to participate in, soccer, basketball, softball, golf, volleyball, climbing wall, COPE course, climbing tower, disability awareness trail-bike safety course, and fishing rod casting/ fishing. On Saturday there will be Karate and Indian Dancing demonstrations, along with magician, gymnastics and dancing, at 7 PM on Saturday, at the indoor Soccer Park there will be Entertainment & music. Camping will be at the French Creek Council Scout Service Center on Robison Rd. All scouts will be bussed to the Sports Park about ¼ mile away. A booklet with complete details will be sent out to all Scoutmasters in January.
District Executive’s MinuteWell the weather outside is frightful, and the fire is so delightful, since there’s no place to go, Let it… well, you know. Winter is upon us and we may have a bit of cabin fever setting in, but just think of all the great things we have planned for you and your scouts to get out and have a lot of fun. There are many things that are going on to keep you busy. There are events coming up and featured in this edition that will help with your pack, troop or crew in planning winter/spring activities. We would like to take this time to give thanks to the many volunteers who through their time and talents have gone above and beyond what is expected to see that this district runs so smoothly. First of all, to the District Committee Members who on a monthly basis take on projects and put together activities and events to help units with advancement, outdoor experiences, fundraising and training for leaders. We have our Unit Commissioner staff that provides support on the unit level. They are the volunteers that are there to help with ideas, information, and a great person to talk to for anything. Last but certainly not the least is the unit leadership and parents. They are working with the boys and young adults in the program. They work on a daily basis to instill the values and morals that have made scouting what it is for over 94 years. To all of you, “thank you” for what you do. And don’t forget to recognize your leaders at the District Awards and Recognition Dinner on April 2, 2005. District Committee & Chartered Representative TrainingThe Two Lakes District will be offering District Committee Training at the Scout Service Center on January 17, 2005 at 7 PM. You most likely don’t have to work that day because of the holiday, so there is no excuse for you not to be there. The training is available to any district committee member, chartered organizational representative, or anyone who would like to learn more about the district committee responsibilities. Please let us know if you plan to attend by Friday, January 14th so that the appropriate number of materials can be prepared for the training. You can let us know by phone 716-665-2697, fax 716-665-5212 or by my favorite email at fheath@bsamail.org. I look forward to seeing you there.
Two Lakes District Pinewood Derby Gentlemen start your engines…. The Two Lakes District Pinewood Derby is just around the bend on March 19, 2005 at the Frewsburg Fire Hall. Cost for the event will be $3. We would like to have scouts pre-register for this year’s event. Please pass the word on to the cub scouts in your pack. Weigh in will be from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM. Races will start at 10:00 am. Food and drinks will be available for a small fee. If you have any questions please contact Don Pool at 664.9594 or Greg Juul at 569.3688. Friends of ScoutingOur annual Friends of Scouting (FOS) campaign is kicking off on January 5th and we need your help. We would like to have a presenter come to your unit to make a presentation and tell the Scouting story to your families. We have a new set of recognition items for gifts at various levels. Please help the district to make its goal by making a gift and giving the families in your unit the opportunity to do the same at a family presentation. Thank you for your support of our council and our camps. Two Lakes District Awards and Recognition DinnerThe Third Annual District Awards and Recognition Dinner for the Two Lakes District will be held on Saturday, April 2, 2005 with a location, time and cost to be announced at a later date. Please submit your nominations for District Award of Merit, Spark Plug, and Unit VIP to the Scout Service Center by January 31, 2005. Criteria for the awards are located in the council section of this newsletter or at the Scout Service Center.
Two Lakes District Klondike Derby Here we go again, time to dig out the sled and make sure that everything is ready for the annual district Klondike derby. This year the derby will be held at Camp Merz on January 29, 2005. Don Shriver and his hardworking committee have planned a spectacular event. Cost for the event is $4 and a can of soup for the community pot warming station. There will be no separate divisions for Boy Scouts and Webelos. Mixed groups will be judged as boy scouts. There will be a fire building station where the scouts will have to start 3 different kinds of fires, two of which must be matchless. No commercial fire starters can be used. Tinder and kindling must be collected at camp. After the fires are started they will need to make a pancake and eat it. The material for the pancake and frying pan will be provided. Make sure to register early for this event, as hotdogs and soup are being provided for lunch. Don’t be left hungry! Roundtables are F_NWhat is missing at both the district roundtable and from the word above? U are!! Roundtable is a chance for leaders to share their ideas and knowledge with other Scouters, learn from other Scouters and to have a good time. We have a lot of fun and would love to see you there at Scout Service Center on the second Wednesday of the month. You can even earn awards for you and your pack, troop, or crew for attending. The Council Trading Post will be open for the convenience of the volunteers.
Welcome New Units A big welcome to the 4 new units in our District, Pack 159, Clymer, Pack 257, South Dayton, Pack 217, Brocton, and Crew 102, Cassadaga. Pack 159 with their 15 plus youth are lead by Cubmaster Melissa Hoyt. The new Cub Scout Pack 257 is being sponsored by the South Dayton Free Methodist Church it has 17 plus cub scouts with Cubmaster Chris Sandy. Brocton’s new cub pack 217 is sponsored by the PTSA with Patrick Sissem as the Cubmaster and has 15 plus youth. A very special thank you to Mary Lou Barlow for mentoring this new unit. We also have a new Crew. Crew 102 from the Cassadaga Job Corp. is lead by Diane Clark, as Advisor and Stan Kelly as Associate Advisor. The ventures are working on their First Responder certification. We would also like to welcome the new Crew sponsored by the Salvation Army of Dunkirk and its leaders and youth they are being led by Captain Richard Sanchez as their Advisor.
Winter Camping and Hypothermia Hypothermia is the most common of all cold-related injuries. It can happen on any winter/cold weather campout and at almost any time of the day or night. Hypothermia is a fall in body temperature to below 96o F. It causes drowsiness, lowers breathing, lowers heart rates and can lead to unconsciousness and death if left untreated. It is caused by prolonged exposure to extremely cold weather, swimming in cold water or wearing damp clothing in cold conditions. A person suffering from hypothermia is usually pale, puffy faced and listless and is often drowsy and confused. Persons suffering from mild hypothermia will usually respond when given warm beverages and covering their heads with a dry, warm covering. Hypothermia is a medical emergency and anyone suffering from it should receive immediate medical attention! Following are tips anyone can use in preventing and or dealing with hypothermia. • Shirts and other garments should be of a material that will stop wind and shed rain and snow. Some synthetic materials work well. Denim jackets and shirts are not the proper material that Scouts should be wearing on a winter campout! • As with coats and shirts, the outer pair of pants should stop the wind and shed rain and snow. Some types of ski pants do really well. The most expensive is not necessarily the best. Look for material that allows the skin to breathe both in and out. A 60% synthetic to 40% natural blend should allow the natural fibers to cut the wind and allow moisture to pass through in both directions. • Examine your campsite carefully before setting up your tent making sure that in case it rains the rain will flow away from the tent. • Place a canvas under the tent, but be careful not to have your canvas extend beyond your rain fly. • Be sure to use your ground cloth before setting on a wet surface, even if you are only taking a short break during a hike. PREVENTING hypothermia should begin with each individual Scout or leader, however it is mandatory that the leader checks to make sure that all participants are dressed properly and have the proper equipment before going on an outing!
A Thought From Your Executive…The snow has finally come and the holidays are behind us. I hope everyone took the time to count all there blessing and their joys. The holidays are a time to be with friends and family. Here in the Seneca district they seem to be one in the same, at least for me anyway. Over this last year we all rolled up our sleeves and put our shoulders into this thing we call scouting, and as a TEAM we did great things. Our district made its FOS goal by June, gifts from $3.00 to $500 when we were all done it added up to over our goal. When it came time to go to camp Seneca units were more prevalent then any other. Better promotion and better planning it all comes back to Trained leaders and Quality units. Through out the year there were many great events from Klondike Derby’s to pinewood Derbies, Camporees to Ice camps. All our activities focused on our boys. They offered something for each and every one of our scouts. When it came to recruitment many new families joined our ranks this year. We have more cubs, boy scouts and ventures then we did last year. We also have more units then we had last year. All of this should show everyone we have a great thing going here in Seneca district, and everyone wants to be a part of a good thing. It wasn’t hard to believe that with all of you offering support that we became a QUALITY DISTRICT. As we teach our boys, anything can be accomplished when you keep the focus and work as a team. So as we move into this New Year lets keep our focus and make it a two years in a row. Congratulations everyone you are truly a Quality district. Ho Ho Ho PartyA big THANK YOU out to Steve Allen, Nan Allen, Joyce Kenyon and all the other folks that helped to make this a great time for all. Thanks also to all of you for your generous gifts they will be just what the folk’s need in our community that can’t afford. Look forward to seeing everyone in January when roundtable re-zooms their fun, fun, fun schedule your time and we’ll see you there! Friends of ScoutingFirst of all, a real big Thank You to everyone that gave to the 2004 campaign. Our total gifts as of this printing for 2004 were $ 12,500, way to go everyone! Our 2005 campaign will kick off on January 4th and run till the spring. Our goal this year is $14,500 I have great confidence that we can achieve this together. I would like to thank John Cassada for running our Golf Outing for Scouting and I hope to see even more folks on the course this year. If your Unit is interested in investing just a few minutes, please contact Wayne Schuver Jr. to schedule a time (Blue & Gold, Court of Honors, or open houses) to show an all-new Power Point presentation. Many new gifts are offered to each an every pledge giver. It’s great to know in your heart that you have supported financially an organization as valuable as the Boy Scouts. It’s Pinewood Derby time!It’s getting close to race time again for all our Cub Scouts. Making and racing your pinewood car is one of the most fun times for cub scouts and adults. Our district will have two races again this year. One race will feature all the winners from the local packs this is our “Top Banana” race. The folks from Delevan with a new computer program and track will run the race. With the aid of some new technology and projector all should be able to track how their favorite cars are doing, it should be a great time for all. Our other race is a open race for any Cub Scout to enter called “The Grand Prix” all Cub Scout’s cars are welcome. Rules for day: A boy may only enter one race and it must be the car that was raced this year. All cars must pass the pit crew inspection area to be eligible to race, see your packs “Pinewood Derby Guidebook” #33721A for race specifics. Once the races have begun only boys and Race officials will be allowed to handle cars. After cars are entered no other modifications will be allowed. All weights must be firmly attached any that come lose will not be allowed to be reattached. Race officials will be on hand to help all boys “Do their Best.” The races will be held Ellicottville on March 19th. Registration will begin at 8:30 AM and races will start at 9:15 AM. Registration fee will be $5 a car, and remember all cars will receive a trophy. Bring the whole pack and we’ll see ya at the races! Calling all Webelos !!!!!Calling all Webelos it’s time for winter fun! The Seneca/ Whitetail Klondike Derby will again be offering a Klondike derby for Webelos. The Klondike will be January 22 at Elk Lick Scout Reserve. This year Troops 617 from Olean will host our Webelos Klondike. The trail that the sleds will be using will be just for the Webelos and will test their scout skills at the Webelos level. The folks that are organizing the race our excited about the cool things they have in store. Any questions call Tom Scanlon 372-8369. Register your Webelos den by calling the council service center.
CUBS SKATING ALONGLooking for an activity to do when it’s cold outside? Well we will be having a roller skating party for Cub Scouts and their families on February 20th. The Skateland of Franklinville will be the place. All will share a good scouting time. Your Cubmaster will receive more information in the mail, but you can plan now for the fun. Refreshments will be available as part of the cost. Call the service center to reserve your spot for the family, for the den, or for the Pack. You might even see Mr. Schuver skating along. Recognizing Great FolksEach year the Seneca District takes time out to Thank and recognize the volunteers that make our district as great as it is. We also would like to thank the local unit leaders, parents or supporters that are working hard for their own boys and their own units. This year our dinner will be April 2nd at the Cuba American Legion watch for more information on “Smoke Signals” our electronic news updates. Check out the awards on page 3 and send your nominations in by February 20th. Forms for nomination, as well as answers to questions can be obtained by calling Wayne Schuver Jr. at (716) 665-9656 or online at www.alleghenyhighlands.org Recharter on Time and Save $$$$$February is recharter month if your unit is going to go to camp check out the savings if your paper work is done and turned in on time. Remember some charter organization may meet in the first part of the month. Check with your charter representative for when you organization is to meet. If your not sure on how to fill out your charter bring it to roundtable in January or February and a commissioner will be glad to help you. Any questions call Wayne Schuver Jr. (716) 665-9656. Bowl A ThonWhat a great time for fun then to go bowling with your scouts. It can also let your pack, troop or crew earn a little money in the process. Mark Shindlbeck our Seneca District Bowl A Thon King Pin will be at round table to help schedule a time that works best for you and your local bowling alley. Strike, Spares & no misses’ let’s go bowling!! Need an Eagle ProjectDo you have a scout looking for an Eagle project? Pfeiffer Nature Center in Portville has a number of great projects that are all worthy of a future eagle scout. You can contact them directly at (716) 933-0187 Angela Broughton Naturalist & Project Coordinator would be happy to talk to you and share more information and specific details on their projects.
Welcome Aboard !!! We are pleased to announce two new units to are scouting family: Pack 640 sponsored by the Olean Housing Authority. The pack will be working from housing developments doing a lot of fun projects. Special thanks to Doug Taylor to make this all happen. Pack 739 sponsored by the Lions Club of Bolivar. The pack has 37 Cubs & 14 new leaders. Pack 739 signed up in October and has been very active with attendance at roundtable and New Leader Training. They sold popcorn and are planning to go to camp this summer. Thanks go out to Robert Morris that is working with and mentoring the new Pack. Welcome their leaders and their boys to our scouting family.
District Executive’s MinuteWell, it’s been a great three months. We have made lot of progress, but there is a lot more to go. We want to thank everybody that has helped make this a great new experience. Bill Edgar has been a delightful find. I look forward to working with him in the New Year. The New Year bring with it new opportunities. 2005 GOALS: one active commissioner for every three units, over 50% trained leadership, increase in FOS, increase in membership within each unit, Cub Pack and Scout Troop in Galeton, increase in District Committee membership, active Crews in each community, and increase in both number of Packs, Troops and Scouts attending Summer Camp. A special shout out goes to Pearl Harris, the new Cubmaster at 424 in Limestone. She truly has that “Scouting Spirit Deep Down in Her Heart”. Also special THANK YOU goes to Bill Shelp, Pack 557 (25 new boys), Stacy Howe, Pack 530 (23 new boys) and Joyce Stehle, Pack 561 (23 new boys) for the excellent fall sign ups. From The Whitetail District Family to yours, here’s to a great scouting New Year. Let’s give the boys our best.
2005 Klondike Derby This years Seneca – Whitetail Klondike Derby is January 22nd at Elk Lick Scout Reserve in Smethport, Pa. The Whitetail leaders will be hosting the Boy Scout Derby and Seneca will handle the Webelos Derby. Come out and enjoy all the fun. $4.00 plus and can of soup (non-cream) is all. Boy Scout sign-in starts at 8:00 and Webelos Starts at 9:30am. PLEASE SEE THE ENCLOSED INFORMATION SHEETS.
Cub Fun Day Saturday, February 26 at Elk Lick starting with check in at 8:30, followed by a day of FUN! All Cub Scouts and Akelas invited. Bring your plastic sled for a run down Big Dean Hill. The District Committee is hosting this year’s event. $3.00 fee for fun and patch + a can of non-cream soup. We will have a $2.00 Hot-Dog Special for lunch. Hot Chocolate and Coffee will be on in the dining hall. Games, crafts, sledding and general scout knowledge are on the agenda. Please see sign-up on back page.
DISTRICT RAINGUTTER REGATTA This year, the Whitetail District starts its rotation of Cub Scout project derbies. The Raingutter Derby will be held Saturday March 19th at Elk Lick in the Dining Hall. It will start at 10:30 a.m. followed by lunch. $3.00 a person for pizza, pop and chips. Trophies will be awarded. Please see enclosed sign-up slip.
Annual District DinnerThis year’s event will be on April 2, 2005. You need to have your District Award of Merits and Silver Beaver nominees in by January 31st. Application forms are on the Web site. Please send me directly your Cubber of the Year, Scouter of the Year, Spark Plug and VIP recommendations by February 28th. A location will be announced soon.
Friends of Scouting Our district fund drive will start January 2nd 2005. We had a great 2004, $18,000 and still climbing. We will be conducting presentations for each unit. Please contact Bill Edgar or Todd Peine to reserve your units date. Thank you in advanced for your help
REMINDERS District Meetings are held the first Wednesday of the Month at the Boro Building in Port Allegheny at 7:00pm Anyone needing a ride, please contact me to see if we can’t help. Roundtables are held the second Wednesday of the month in Kane at the Presbyterian Church, and the third Tuesday of the month at the elementary library in Coudersport. All Scout leaders are welcome. District news and monthly Scouting programs and fun with good people are also on the agenda.
DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS & CHAIRMAN CORNER
Two Lakes District Commissioner’s Corner The Chautauqua County American Legion Camporee was held Sept. 24-26 at Camp Merz in Mayville. There were 250 boys and adult leaders in attendance. Troop-219 of Cassadaga designed the patch that was given to the participants this year. The County American Legion presented a large flag to the Council Executive to be used on the new flagpole at the Council Office. The American Legion Square Knot Award was presented to Albert Olmstead. The annual Jack Sharp Memorial Scouter award was given to Jim Wright of Fredonia and Paula Pattison won the Brian Bliss award. The dates for the 2005 event are set for Sept. 23-25. Sally Lawson Two Lakes District Commissioner
Seneca District Commissioner’s Corner Happy New Year to all! I hope all of you had a great holiday season. Seneca District has had a great 2004. Great growth! We’ve also had a lot of fun! Our Christmas party was on December 8th, we had quite a few new Scouts and Scouters at the party! Even the Ice Mole made an appearance! We also managed to donate several bags of warm clothes, hats and gloves to the Hinsdale & Ishua Food Pantry. A warm good turn to end the year! Remember Round table is open to the whole District! There fun and you get lots of useful information. Come talk to the other leaders! Exchange some ideas! I would like to thank all of the Unit Commissioners, Assistant District Commissioners, and the Training Staff that attended the training in Cuba on the 13th of November. A special thanks to the Cuba - Friendship Masonic Lodge for hosting the event. Unit leaders, Chartered Organization Reps & Committee Members get to know your Commissioners! They’re a wealth of information and help! If you have a question or a problem, call your commissioner! February is approaching and that means recharter time! This year it’s going to be easy! It’s also on line! It promises to be faster, more accurate too! Your Commissioners and District staff are ready to help! Don’t have a computer! No worries! We’ll arrange to get your information entered. Contact Wayne or myself for details. Here’s to a fantastic 2005! Happy Christmas! YIS Steve Allen Seneca District Chairman
Whitetail District Chairman Corner As the new Whitetail District Chairman, I'd like to introduce myself. I grew up in the scouts. I was a Boy Scout and an Explorer Scout in the Pittsburgh area, more yeas ago than I'd like to recall. I have served as a Den Leader, Merit Badge Counselor and Committee Member within our council. You've probably seen me at Calumet running the amateur radio station on the porch of Honeywell Hall at Elk Lick. The scouting program showed me the importance of community involvement and working to improve the community. The character building and life skills lessons that scouting teaches is needed now more than ever. Our cubs, scouts and venture crews are the reason we're here. These young people are looking to participate in a program that is fun and challenging and at the same time, they learn life skills and character building. I have to tell you that I am truly impressed with the volunteers in the scouting program. Without the dedicated care of volunteers, the scouting program simply would not exist. I am honored to work with you in providing the best possible program to our young men and women. I look forward to meeting each of you within the district. Enough about me, future articles will be about what our district Scouts and volunteers are up to and where we are going. There are some committee positions open that we need interested, qualified people to help with. Positions on the Finance, Membership and Nominating committees are open. We made plans at our last district committee meeting to be a Quality District for 2005. We've got a lot to accomplish in order to reach that goal for next year. The District Committee and I will need your help to reach that. At our November district committee meeting, our District Commissioner, Larry Lukehart announced that he was resigning his district position due to his schedule. We're sorry to lose Larry at the district level. On behalf of the Whitetail District, I'd like to thank Larry for his time and talents in helping our scouts. At our December 1st District meeting, Cliff Wood was asked to serve as the District Commissioner and he graciously accepted. Cliff had previously served as the District Commissioner and we look forward to his knowledge and expertise. Bill Edgar Whitetail District Chairman
COUNCIL CALENDAR January, February, March 2005 January3 – Scout Service Center Closed 4 – Friends of Scouting Campaign Begins 5 – District Committee Meetings 12 – District Roundtables – Bowlathon Materials Available, Two Lakes Commissioner Meeting 15 – Order of the Arrow Family Banquet 17 – District Committee & Charter Org. Rep. Training at Dist. Locations - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – Service Center Open 19 – Council Camping Committee 20 – Key Commissioner Meeting 22 – Seneca/Whitetail Klondike Derby, Two Lakes Cub Winter Fun Day, - Sporting Clays – Bradford Gun Club – See flyer enclosed 27 – Council Training Committee 29 – Two Lakes Klondike Derby 31 – Deadline for District Award of Merit & Silver Beaver Applications February1 – Blue & Gold Placemats Available 2 – District Committee Meetings 5 – Elk Lick Properties Committee 6 – Boy Scouts Anniversary Week Begins – Scout Sunday 9 – District Roundtables, Two Lakes Commissioner Meeting 12 – Boy Scout Anniversary Week Ends 13 – OA Executive Committee Meeting 15 – Camp Merz Properties Committee 16 – Council Camping Committee 18-20 – Cuba Lake Ice Camp 19 - Venture/Explorer Winter Event 20 – Seneca Cub Roller Skating Party 21 – Scout Service Center Closed – Presidents’ Day 24 – Council Training Committee 26 – Whitetail Cub Winter Fun Day 28 – Bowlathon Week 1
March 2 – District Committee Meetings 3 – Elk Lick Properties Committee 7 – Bowlathon Week 2 9 – District Roundtables 12 – University of Scouting 14 – Bowlathon Week 3 15 – Camp Merz Properties Committee 16 – Council Camping Committee 17 – Key Commissioner Meeting 19 – District Pinewood Derbies 21 – Earn Your Way To Summer Camp Sale Begins – Popcorn/Hershey Candy Sale 25 – Scout Service Center Closed – Good Friday
UNIVERSAL COUPON Please use this coupon for any and all events that you are registering for. Name:__________________________________________ Phone:__________________________Unit#___________ Address:________________________________________ City:___________________________Zip:_____________ Price of Event___________Amount Enclosed__________ # Attending_____________ Name of Event/Training_________________________________________________________________________ Date of Event(s)________________________________
UNIVERSAL COUPON Please use this coupon for any and all events that you are registering for. Name:__________________________________________ Phone:__________________________Unit#___________ Address:________________________________________ City:___________________________Zip:_____________ Price of Event___________Amount Enclosed__________ # Attending________________ Name of Event/Training_________________________________________________________________________ Date of Event(s)__________________________________
UNIVERSAL COUPON Please use this coupon for any and all events that you are registering for. Name:__________________________________________ Phone:__________________________Unit#___________ Address:________________________________________ City:___________________________Zip:_____________ Price of Event___________Amount Enclosed__________ # Attending________________ Name of Event/Training_________________________________________________________________________ Date of Event(s)__________________________________
UNIVERSAL COUPON Please use this coupon for any and all events that you are registering for. Name:__________________________________________ Phone:__________________________Unit#___________ Address:________________________________________ City:___________________________Zip:_____________ Price of Event___________ Amount Enclosed__________ # Attending_______________ Name of Event/Training_________________________________________________________________________ Date of Event(s)________________________________
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