Newsletter - Our Dist
Iron Horse District News
December 7, 2010
Countdown Re-Charter: To assist any unit in their Re-charter process, District Leaders will be available during Roundtable (Tues, Dec 7th) at the Oakmont Library to help units access their re-charter files on Scoutnet. Leaders with Re-charter experience will provide one-on-one coaching and guidance, necessary to complete the on-line process that evening. We will also have a live presentation of Youth Protection for any adult leaders who still need to update Youth Protection certification. You will receive a 'Trained' card that can be used to submit with your unit re-charter if necessary. Our District Executive will be at the meeting to collect the paperwork (including any YP documentation) and the unit re-charter fees. At least 30 computers will be available, so there will be plenty of room for any assistance needed. This coincides with the due date for the unit charters, so the opportunity for assistance is available!!
Key-3 Kudos: Have you ever tried to teach a Scout to tie a knot without being very good at tying it yourself? Can you teach him to lash poles together if you have never done it? Are you aware of weather hazards when you are on an outing? Lord Baden Powell said “Every scout deserves a trained leader”. I believe that trained leaders are essential to the program. As a teacher, I was expected to have a solid understanding of any subject I was teaching. Scouts expect the same of the adult leadership they encounter. Today it is easier than ever to be a trained leader. Training opportunities are available through the internet, live classes, and Roundtable.
Most of the basic training courses are available on-line with more and more courses being added. Myscouting.org allows everyone to access training courses at any time of the day or night without leaving your home. You don’t even have to put on a uniform. In fact, you don’t have to be a registered Scouter to take online courses. Most of the courses are less than twenty minutes in length. That is less time than it takes to watch a TV show.
Of course if you prefer the interaction of live or in-person training courses, they are available almost every month within the Golden Empire Council. The Iron Horse District usually offers training in March and October. University of Scouting is a major Council wide training event that takes place in January. Training sessions in any district are open to everyone. Roundtable offers opportunities for supplemental training and support. On the first Tuesday of every month except July and August, the Iron Horse District holds a Roundtable session at Oakmont High School. Each Roundtable has about six to eight break-out sessions where you can learn about specific subjects related to the Scouting program. The topics vary every month, but there are usually one or two topics for each type of Scouting unit.
With all these opportunities, it is easy to become a trained leader. The key is deciding to do it. So take a seat in front of your computer, go to a class, or go to Roundtable. Somewhere there is a Scout depending on you to be the trained leader he deserves. – Michelle Pisias, District Executive
Kathy’s Camping Corner: Calling all Crews! Golden Empire Council has some exciting opportunities for your summer camping program. The Mokelumne Expedition is a venturing age (14 years and older) program operating out of Camp Winton. Trek dates are June 27-July 2, July 3-9, July 10-16, July 17-23, July 24-30, and cost is $200/youth or adult. The camp provides adult leaders for the week. Co-ed crews are welcome, but should plan on bringing female adult supervision. This week long opportunity is designed to put campers’ skills to the test, starting with rock climbing at Daffy Dome, crossing the lower Bear River Reservoir, trekking to Devil’s Lake, and finishing with a trek up to Mokelumne Peak. Troops can come to Camp Winton for regular camp sessions and send their older youth out on the trek. Camp Robert L. Cole is premiering a Venturing week July 24-30 for $295/youth and $50/adult at its high altitude base camp. The focus will be on fun and advancement, in a uniquely Venturing only setting. Stay tuned for details! Sign up soon for either program. They are bound to fill up fast.
Elections: The Amangi V Chapter of the Order of the Arrow wants to hold an election for members of all Troops and Teams in the Iron Horse District. All elections must be completed by 03/25/11. Venture Scouts can be elected if they are dual-registered with a Troop or Team. Adults interested in supporting the OA Chapter may be nominated by the Troop or Team Committee. Announcements containing eligibility requirements will be sent to Troop Scoutmasters, Varsity team Coaches, and Committee Chairs. They will be receiving a telephone call from a youth member of the Chapter to schedule the election. Contact Rob Conlin (hrconlin@surewest.net) or Heather Clark (amangiadvisor@yahoo.com), Chapter Advisors, Amangi Nacha Lodge, for more information.
A Good Year for Scouting: Kudos for inductees to the BSA’s 100th Anniversary National Hall of Leadership. From more than 7,000 nominees nation-wide, one individual from each BSA council was selected to represent all of that council’s nominees. A national induction ceremony took place during the BSA’s Washington, DC, jamboree celebration in July, “Our country will never outgrow the need for thoughtful leadership and will never outgrow the need for thoughtful leadership and will never outgrow the need for individuals who choose to live their lives by the Scout Oath and Law…and teach others to do the same,” says Bob Mersereau, national director of the 100th Anniversary Celebration Project… (Excerpts from “Follow the Leaders” Scouting, Nov-Dec, 2010, p9)
Woodbadge – Up & Going: Registration for the Spring Wood Badge Course is up and going! The course will be held at Camp Lassen. The dates are April 29-May 1 and May 13-May15. The registration is set up to allow participants to make payments to their accounts rather than having to pay in one or two payments. Email Penny Hayes, Course Director, Wood Badge W3-47-11-1 at pene1@pacbell.net, if you are interested…Keeping the Dream Alive for Future Generations!Countdown Re-Charter: To assist any unit in their Re-charter process, District Leaders will be available during Roundtable (Tues, Dec 7th) at the Oakmont Library to help units access their re-charter files on Scoutnet. Leaders with Re-charter experience will provide one-on-one coaching and guidance, necessary to complete the on-line process that evening. We will also have a live presentation of Youth Protection for any adult leaders who still need to update Youth Protection certification. You will receive a 'Trained' card that can be used to submit with your unit re-charter if necessary. Our District Executive will be at the meeting to collect the paperwork (including any YP documentation) and the unit re-charter fees. At least 30 computers will be available, so there will be plenty of room for any assistance needed. This coincides with the due date for the unit charters, so the opportunity for assistance is available!!
October 2, 2010:
PHILMONT 2011 --- Golden Empire Council still has available space in Philmont crews for 2011. Crew slots have become very difficult to secure in recent years, and many scouts never get an opportunity to go because of this. Gary Thacker, from our own Iron Horse District, served as crew adviser for Philmont in 2003 and 2007. He will participate again as an adviser for a crew 2011.
Dates at Philmont for GEC will be June 27 through July 9. Crew positions will be granted to qualified scouts on a first come basis. Deposits and registration forms should be submitted directly to the GEC office. Receipt of a $250 deposit at the GEC office to reserve a crew position. Total cost, including transportation, is approximately $1100-1400, with the biggest potential variable being transportation expenses.
This is a great opportunity for an unforgettable experience. For those who have gone in the past, this has invariably turned out to be one of their most memorable and impressive scouting experiences. If you have interested scouts, have them submit their deposit and registration forms ASAP. It would be great to see as many scouts from our district as possible be able to enjoy this experience.
Contact Gary Thacker at alpitch@yahoo.com with additional questions. Gary currently serves as ASM for Troop 121, was ASM for National Jamboree Troop 641, and is an Eagle Advisor on our District Advancement Committee.
Sept 29, 2010: Excerpts from the Iron Horse October Roundtable Newsletter
“All Aboard”: Did you know that Youth Protection was revamped this year? Effective June 2010, Youth Protection training is required of all BSA registered volunteers, regardless of their position. New leaders are required to take YP training before submitting an application for registration. The certificate of completion for this training must be submitted at the time the application is made and before volunteer service with youth begins. YP training must be taken every two years. If a volunteer’s YP training record is not current at the time of Recharter, the volunteer will not be re-registered. For additional details see www.scouting.org/training/youthprotection.aspx. Fortunately, you can now take YP training On-Line (see http://olc.scouting.org/). Alternatively, Iron Horse District will offer Youth Protection training at the October Roundtable. Remember – Get re-trained now so you don’t have to re-apply later.
Kathy’s Camping Corner: What’s new on the camping scene? The 2011 reservations opened in the Spring, and many units took advantage of the early registration incentives. Camp Winton is almost full, and both Lassen and Cole have a number of Boy Scout units registered already. Cub Scout Packs have been signing up for resident camp at Lassen, to experience “The American Frontier” in 2011. Come to October Roundtable on Tuesday the 5th. Rob Conlin, Associate OA Advisor, and I will be handing out the new GEC promotional materials and taking reservations for camp presentations in units. Come and learn about the latest reservation incentive! --- Kathy Neuburger, Outdoor Program Chair
Commissioner’s Firebox: I want to start by saying thanks to Allan Yamashiro for the leadership he has shown as our District Chair for the past four years. I first met Allan at a Mountain Man Rendezvous back about 2002 in Brownsville. He has become a good friend of mine, and someone that I look up to for the time and dedication he has spent on behalf of all Iron Horse Scouts and Scouters. Having said that, I look forward to working with Geoff Miller as our new IH District Chair. He has hit the ground running, the transition has been smooth, and we can expect the same great leadership we have enjoyed over the years. Two things are in every communication I have received in the past few months from Council: (1) Training, training, training - including Youth Protection, on-line opportunities, Leader Specific all the way to Wood Badge (if you can use more training, I invite you to enroll and come out to the upcoming opportunities); (2) Recharter - with all the adults now needing Youth Protection, the concern is how smooth will Recharter flow? Please help your unit Recharter Chair to get all the forms in. We hope to have all of the packets back to Council by November 10th. --- Bill Patterson, District Commissioner
Key-3 Kudos: Salutations fellow Scouters! I want to personally thank each of you for the time and effort that you put into Scouting, at every level! Iron Horse has a well-founded reputation for putting out quality programs and activities. I want to acknowledge the great work that has gone before, and make a pledge to all of you that we will continue to work hard to provide the resources you need to support your individual Units!
Having just returned from the first session of Fall Wood Badge training, I can attest to the necessity of having well trained unit leaders and in tune with all of the new BSA requirements and opportunities. Gaining this required knowledge not only makes for a quality program, but is a true panacea to alleviate any concerns that your leaders may have about their respective positions. All of us can find further edification by reviewing and taking the new training programs available on the BSA website: http://scouting.org/training/adult.aspx.
Never before has it been so easy and convenient to obtain training and information on any level or particular area of Scouting! Next time you are on your PC, take a moment and review this link. If you’re like me, before you know it you will be engrossed in the varied and exciting world of Scouting in the 21st Century!
Now, my personal pledge to all of you -- In an effort to better “connect” the District Committee with the desires and needs of the individual Units, in 2011, Committee members and I will be contacting each Unit in the District to schedule a visit to one of your activities. Maybe it will by your regularly scheduled meeting time; maybe a Court of Honor, or assist in an Eagle Project. Whatever the activity we want to come out and “see you in action”, solicit your feedback, and determine what we can be doing better. We know there is a TON of creativity and good ideas out there; your District Committee will only be able to meet and exceed your expectations if you take a hand in helping us form the District planning.
Here’s your chance to make an amplified difference. We’re looking forward to getting to know each one of you better, and working with you to provide the level of program we know our youth need! Thank you again for all you do! -- Geoff Miller, District Committee Chair
Sept. 25, 2010:
District Committee: On Tuesday, Sept 21, 2010, Allen Yamashiro stepped down as Iron Horse District Chair. Voted in as the new District Chair is Geoff Miller. At the same meeting, Jan Pinney was approved as the new District Vice Chair, and Bill Patterson was reconfirmed as District Commissioner.
Advancement News: Congratulations to seven scouts who, during the month of of August, advanced to the rank of Eagle. From January to August, 52 young men have advanced to Eagle in our district.
National Jamboree 2010: What do you call 60,000 adults and youth sitting around a campfire? The 2010 National Jamboree!!! Great expectations and even better results were enjoyed by 38 scouts from the Iron Horse District for 10 days in July, at sunny Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia. Led by Larry Kelso, Gary Thacker, Rakesh Peer, and Steve Jahr, our scouts enjoyed two Scout arena shows, and participated in multiple Action areas, from climbing walls to shot gun activities. Not to mention, several excursions to our Nation’s Capitol, several memorials and museums, topping it off by a visit to Arlington National Cemetery to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Our district was represented with honor and distinction. Many thanks to those who organized and participated in this great event.
May 2010
Recharter certificates are now available. Please contact Michelle Pisias, District Executive, at mpisias@gecbsa.org or Bill Patterson, District Commissioner, billatnhs@hotmail.com if you have not already picked up at Roundtable.