Iron Horse District News
December 2009
Please take a moment to listen an audio cast message from the National BSA to kick off the 100th Anniversary of Scouting with presentations by Randal Stephenson, ATT Chairman and CEO, John Gottschalk, National President, Bob Mazzuca, Chief Scout Executive, Tico Perez, National BSA Commissioner at
http://audiocast.scouting.org/
Visit the official BSA 100th Anniversary site
http://scouting.org/100years/100years/Default.aspx
Recharter
Many thanks to the Unit Membership Chairs for helping Iron Horse complete Recharter by the December deadline. Special thanks goes to Bill Patterson, District Commissioner, for facilitating the Recharter efforts.
Training
Please mark your dates for the University of Scouting, Saturday, January 23rd, 2010. The University of Scouting offers a variety of educational opportunities for Scout leaders and youth. This year, “Leave No Trace” training for youth will be offered. Class size is limited and early registration is recommended. Please check course offerings at
http://www.gec-bsa.org/webpay/event/?action=view&event=000797
Woodbadge is an advanced training course aimed to make Scouters better leaders by teaching advanced leadership skills, and creating a bond and commitment to the Scout program. It is high recommended course for adult leaders. The course requires attendance of two – three-day weekends. Check details at http://www.gec- bsa.org/webpay/event/?action=view&event=000783.
Adventure Base
Adventure Base 100 will be held January 21-23 at Cal Expo. The exhibits will tour the US with over 10,000 square feet of scouting exhibits. Adventure Base 100 will begin in Southern California and make it way to Washington DC for the National Jamboree. Volunteers are needed to staff the event. Please contact Kathy Neuberger for more information istahap@jps.net
Scout Expo
Please mark your calendar to attend Scout Expo April 30th to May 1, 2010 to celebrate the 100th anniversary at Beales Air force Base. The Iron Horse Camp-O-Ree has been canceled in 2010 to encourage our units to attend Scout Expo. Attendance by over 10,000 participants is anticipated with many programs and activities to fascinate youth and adults. For more information, please contact Chris Cartano ccartano@surewest.net or Kathy Neuberger istahap@jps.net.
Order of Arrow
The Order of the Arrow (OA) is the national honor society of the Boy Scouts of America. The organization uses American Indian-styled traditions and ceremonies to bestow recognition on scouts selected by their peers as best exemplifying the ideals of Scouting. The OA promote outdoor activities. We encourage Boy Scout Troops, leaders and adults, to become active participants in the organization.
For more information about how to participate in OA or have a dance team participate in your Webelos cross over, please contact Heather Clark at amangivadvisor@yahoo.com.
Friends of Scouting (FOS)
Despite a difficult economic year, the Iron Horse Friends of Scouting campaigned raised $67,000 and compares to $82,000 in 2008. About ½ of the Golden Empire Council budge (about $1,200,000) depends on the Friends of Scouting campaign throughout the 15 Districts. The Golden Empire Council uses this money to pay for cost of four Scout resident camps (Winton, Pollock, Pahatsi, and Coe), insurance, supplies, and professional staff. Over the last decade, the Council Board has focused on the fiscally prudent and transparent management of Council expenditures
In preparing for our 2010 campaign, we again ask for your families to support our Scouting program. The cost of supporting one Scout is $181.00 annually. The Unit goals this upcoming year has been determined by averaging contributions for the past three years plus 6%. Units who exceed their Unit goals will be rewarded by having the excess placed in a Scout account at the Council to be used for camping activities. If you have not already provided us with dates of your key events such as Blue and Gold or Court of Honor, please contact Phil McAnelly at mcanelly@surewest.net. Mike McKinnon (wmike.mckinnon@hp.com) will coordinate the FOS campaign for the LDS Scouting program.
Allan Yamashiro
Iron Horse District Chair
