I would like to ask all Scouters to keep Gerry Greene in your thoughts and prayers. Gerry is currently very ill and needs all the support we can muster. Gerry has been a long-time face in the Greater Fort Hood Area Scouting Community. I would like to thank you in advance for your prayers.

 

A Prayer for Gerry:

A SCOUT'S PRAYER

We have hiked along life's pathway,
Our packs upon our backs,
We have pitched our tents and rested
Here and there along the tracks.

We have used our compass wisely
To guide us on our way
And hope to reach the campsite
Of our Great Chief Scout some day.

We have tried to be trustworthy -
Kept our honor high and clean,
We have been as loyal as any
To our Country and our Queen.

We have done our best at all times -
Kept our Promise - been prepared,
And hope our good deeds please Him
When at last our souls are bared.

We have lightened others' burdens,
With our smiles along the way,
We have kept our hand in God's hand,
Walked beside Him day by day.

And when our span of life runs out,
We'll make this gentle plea -
May we sit around His Campfire
At the Final Jamboree.

 

 

 

LVD DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS

MONTHLY MEETING

27 OCTOBER 2007

 

 

Welcome and Greetings

 

DE Minutes

 

*Please keep to the agenda so we can finish in a timely manner. Open discussion once the agenda is finished.

 

Unit Health Reports/ Unit Visit Report:

 

I really need this information on your Unit Visitations by the third Monday of each month. I had emailed each Commissioner a Red/Yellow/Green Unit Health Report and asked for a response for their Units. I need your true assessment of each Unit. (The Unit Health Report is not a monthly report.)

 

**Do any of your Units need help and if so, what sort of help? ONE PERSON AT A TIME!

 

Centennial Quality Unit:

 

With the upcoming Re-Charters, it is time for the Commissioner Service to meet with Units to review whatever the Unit Leaders set as their goals. If a Unit had not completed the CQU 2007 paperwork they do not qualify for Quality Unit.

 

I have the Form “2007 Centennial Quality Achievement Form for Unit Award” with the instructions on the back of this form. This form is used to review the CQU 2007 Paperwork a Unit has filled out and returned to their Commissioner for completion. Units who Re-charter in December have until the end of January 2008 to complete the Award Form. I will provide Commissioners with copies.

 

The 200 Centennial Quality (Unit) Award Program will be available shortly. I am supposed to have these forms in time to include them with the Re-Chartering phase, The Commissioner Service will be responsible to sit down with unit leaders and have the form completed and turned in with the Re-Charter Packet.

 

Re-Charter:

 

As we all know, it’s that time of the year. We will begin our busiest time of the year when it comes to Re-Chartering. Meet with your Units to go over the Packets, most of which they are given 3 months prior to the Re-Charter date. There is no reason for the Re-Charter to be late, but if they are late it reflects back to the Commissioner Service for not being part of this procedure. Reinforce the on-time re-charter (14 days prior to re-charter date) will allow a unit to gain $1.40 per registered scout be placed into the Unit Account at the Waco Scout Store.

 

Training Opportunities:

 

Work with your units to insure Unit Leaders are trained in a timely fashion. Untrained leaders do not lend to a positive experience for the boys. Work with them to generate a list of who is trained, in what roles are they trained, and what dates did the training occurs, etc… Jennifer generated a list of somewhat local training which is available for leaders.

 

Capitol Area Council is offering a Commissioners College 17 Nov. 2007 at St. Edwards University (located on South Congress). http://www.bsacac.org/Training/CommissionerCollege.php

 

 

 

List of Training Assignments for future LVD DC Monthly Meeting:

 

21 Dec 2007:          Gerry Greene -- Subject: Our role in Unit Re-Chartering.

 

26 Jan 2008:           John Hobson -- Subject: What is the role of the Unit Commissioner?

 

01 Mar 2008:          Jennifer Boyd -- Subject: How to get new Commissioners ready to succeed?

 

26 Apr 2008:          Rhonda Holiskey -- Subject: What are some early warning signs of trouble?

 

24 May 2008: Eric Fremming -- Subject: Our role helping Units stay viable during the summer months.

 

My Burning Issue:

 

Youth Advancement: Please be sure your Unit Leaders understand the Advancement Policies of BSA.

 

Den Leaders – Advancement should be presented as soon as possible after a boy completes the requirements and be done with a proper ceremony. Presentation of badges should be part of each monthly Pack Meeting. Do not hold onto a boy’s award in order for everyone in the den to complete the requirements. We all work at different levels and speeds.

Cub Master - Make certain the boys who have earned awards receive them at the next Pack Meeting. Don't let them get discouraged by having them wait for recognition. Follow-up on boys who are not advancing to find out why they not advancing. Boys sometimes develop behavior problems in seeking recognition. If they receive proper recognition, they may not need to do so many exasperating things trying to gain it.

Speed of Advancement - Boys should advance one rank per year which is age of grade level. If necessary, allow the boy an extra month or two to earn the badge. A Cub Scouts' advancement progress depends on his own motivation for learning new skills; on the encouragement and help he gets from his family, and on his need for recognition. Normally, it should take a boy about 6 months to complete the requirements for Wolf and Bear rank. There is NO hard and fast rule, but if a boy rushes through the requirements, it may be difficult to hold his interest with electives through the rest of the year. Example: If a boy becomes a Bear at the end of the school year (May) and begins to work towards his Bear rank immediately. If this boy attends Day Camp and works throughout the summer, he can receive the Bear Rank in November of that year.

 

COUNCIL COMMISSIONER INFORMATION

 

Internet Re-Chartering Changes:

 

Multiple Positions for Chartered Organizations representative: The COR is the only registered adult allowed to hold two positions in the same unit. The CR may multiple as the Committee Chair (CC) or a Committee Member (MC) holding only one additional registered position that is approved under BSA Registration policy.

 

Social Security Number Handling Changed: If an adult who is an Executive Officer (IH) in a unit or Adult Partner (AP) in a pack is given a registered position, a Social Security number is required. Internet Re-Chartering was corrected to allow entry of a Social Security number.

 

Required Minimum Number of Adult Positions Verified: The Check Roster now correctly verifies that the minimum number of positions required. Based upon the unit type, is provided for each unit.

 

Adult Registrants Who Previously Held a No Fee Position Now Listed as New Adult Registrant: Adult registrants who previously held a No Fee position in the previous charter are now correctly listed as New Adult Registrants and require a Social Security number.

 

Add Membership Inventory Tracking for Youth Member not Selected for Renewal: The Summary stage of Internet Re-Chartering now includes a Unit Worksheet, which will gather data about why each youth member was not renewed. The process was designed for ease of use and a minimal impact on the time, accuracy, and efficiency of the charter-renewal process for volunteers. For each youth not renewed, the unit must select one of six reasons for non-renewal. In addition, the unit must answer a question about whether or not each youth member not renewing was contacted. The data collected will appear in MYBSA.

 

Webelos-to-Scout Transition:

 

Official Plan

District Twists on Plan

Joint RT

WL Rosters for SM

SM Rosters for WL

Troop Open House

Tracking Sheet

 

**As a Unit Commissioner, you are the link between the troop and the pack. Often, the same UC will serve brother-units. UC’s should be a catalyst in developing good relationships between packs and troops. You can promote communication be scheduling a meeting of key volunteers in the units. It is important to keep the pack and troop on schedule as plans develop for the crossover ceremony at the Blue & Gold Banquet. The UC should attend the Banquet as a Council Representative. Be sure Webelos Scouts join a troop in time to prepare for Boy Scout Summer Camp. Give all Webelos Scouts a chance to experience the fun and excitement of Boy Scouting.

 

**Lastly, I ask that each of you present a helping hand to our units. With the growth of the District and extreme growth of some units, guidance will be needed. Keep you eyes open, ear listening, and your helping hand available. Help keep the District stay strong and moving forward.

 

As always, I would like to thank each and every one of you for your service to the Units and Youth of Leon Valley District.

 

Robert Kratzer

District Commissioner

Leon Valley District

leonvalleydistrictcommissioner@hotmail.com

 

 

Happiness is open to all, since, when you boil it down; it merely consists of contentment with what you have got and doing what you can for other people.
Sir Robert Baden-Powell

Cub Scout Advancement Plan

Advancement is the process by which a boy progresses from badge to badge, learning new skills as he goes. The Cub Scout advancement program is designed to encourage the natural interests of a boy in a natural way. Each of the ranks and awards in Cub Scouting has its own requirements. As a boy advances through the ranks, requirements are progressively more challenging, matching the increased skills and abilities of a boy as he grows older.

Advancement is one of the methods used to achieve Scouting's aims—character development, citizenship training, and personal fitness. Everything a Cub Scout does to advance is designed to achieve these aims and aid in his personal growth. These badges are a means to an end—not an end in themselves.

 

Notes to Unit Leaders and Parents

Parents of Cub Scouts should understand their role and responsibilities in their son’s advancement.  The adult’s standard for completion of any requirements should be based on the Cub Scout Motto, “Do your Best.”

Den Leaders – Advancement should be presented as soon as possible after a boy completes the requirements and be done with a proper ceremony. Presentation of badges should be part of each monthly Pack Meeting. Do not hold onto a boy’s award in order for everyone in the den to complete the requirements. We all work at different levels and speeds.

Cub Master - Make certain the boys who have earned awards receive them at the next Pack Meeting. Don't let them get discouraged by having them wait for recognition. Follow-up on boys who are not advancing and find out why. Boys sometimes develop behavior problems in seeking recognition. If they receive proper recognition, they may not need to do so many exasperating things trying to gain it.

Speed of Advancement - Boys should advance one rank per year which is age of grade level. If necessary, allow the boy an extra month or two to earn the badge. A Cub Scouts' advancement progress depends on his own motivation for learning new skills, on the encouragement and help he gets from his family, and on his need for recognition. Normally, it should take a boy about 6 months to complete the requirements for Wolf and Bear rank. There is NO hard and fast rule, but if a boy rushes through the requirements, it may be difficult to hold his interest with electives through the rest of the year. Example: If a boy becomes a Bear at the end of the school year (May) and begins to work towards his Bear rank immediately. If this boy attends Day Camp and works throughout the summer, he can receive the Bear Rank in November of that year.

Recognition is important to young boys. The Cub Scouting advancement plan provides fun for the boys, gives them a sense of personal achievement as they earn badges, and strengthens family understanding as adult family members work with boys on advancement projects.

Bobcat: The Bobcat rank is for all boys who join Cub Scouting.

Tiger Cub: The Tiger Cub program is for first-grade (or age 7) boys and their adult partners. There are five Tiger Cub achievement areas. The Tiger Cub, working with his adult partner, completes 15 requirements within these areas to earn the Tiger Cub badge. These requirements consist of an exciting series of indoor and outdoor activities just right for a boy in the first grade.

After earning the Bobcat Badge, to begin his path to the Tiger Cub Rank, a boy must do the following to earn the Tiger Cub Totem:

• Learn the Cub Scout Motto: Do Your Best
• Learn the Cub Scout Sign
• Learn the Cub Scout Salute

Wolf: The Wolf program is for boys who have completed first grade (or are age 8). To earn the Wolf badge, a boy must pass 12 achievements involving simple physical and mental skills.

To earn the Wolf rank a Cub Scout must complete 58 tasks out of a possible 74 tasks that are offered in the book.

If the Cub Scout has not previously earned the Bobcat Badge, it must be earned first.

Note that these activities are primarily done at home and signed off by the parent after the boy has completed each task. The book is then shown to the Den Leader who records the progress and also signs the boy's book.

 Bear: The Bear rank is for boys who have completed second grade (or are age 9). There are 24 Bear achievements in four categories. The Cub Scout must complete 12 of these to earn the Bear badge. These requirements are somewhat more difficult and challenging than those for Wolf rank.

To earn the Bear Badge, a Cub Scout must complete 12 achievements out of a possible 24 that are offered in the book. The achievements are grouped in 4 major areas, GOD, COUNTRY, FAMILY, and SELF. Within each group, a required number of achievements must be completed, as indicated below. Also, any achievements that they do NOT use to earn the Bear Badge may be used to earn Arrow Points.

(Note that these achievements, as were the Wolf activities, are primarily done at home and signed off by an adult family member after the boy has completed each one. The book is then shown to the Den Leader who records the progress and also signs the boy's book.)

The Bear Achievements are as follows, page number references to the Bear Book are in parenthesis.

If the Cub Scout has not previously earned the Bobcat Badge it must be earned first.

Webelos: This program is for boys who have completed third grade (or are age 10). A boy may begin working on the Webelos badge as soon as he joins a Webelos den. This is the first step in his transition from the Webelos den to the Boy Scout troop. As he completes the requirements found in the Webelos Handbook, he will work on activity badges, attend meetings led by adults, and become familiar with the Boy Scout requirements—all leading to the Arrow of Light Award.

You must first earn the Bobcat Badge to be eligible to work towards this award.

Also, your Webelos Den Leader will now sign off your activities (your parent or guardian does not sign off the activities as they did when you were a Wolf or Bear).

1. Have an adult member of your family read the Webelos Scout Parent Guide that comes with this book (pages 1-22) and sign here.
2. Be an active member of your Webelos den for 3 months (Active means having good attendance, paying den dues, working on den projects).
3. Know and explain the meaning of the Webelos badge.
4. Point out the three special parts of the Webelos Scout uniform. Tell when to wear the uniform and when not to wear it.
5. Earn the Fitness and Citizen Activity badges and one other activity badge from a different activity group.
6. Plan and lead a flag ceremony in your den that includes the U.S. flag.
7. Show that you know and understand the requirements to be a Boy Scout.
   1. Demonstrate the Scout salute, Scout sign, and Scout handshake. Explain when you would use them.
   2. Explain the Scout Oath, Scout Law, Scout Motto, and Scout Slogan
   3. Explain and agree to follow the Outdoor Code.
8. Faith
   After completing the rest of requirement 8, do these (a, b, and c):
   1. Know: Tell what you have learned about faith.
   2. Commit: Tell how these faith experiences help you live your duty to God. Name one faith practice that you will continue to do in the future.
   3. Practice: After doing these requirements, tell what you have learned about your beliefs.

And do one of these (d OR e):

4. Earn the religious emblem of your faith*
5. Do two of these:
   • Attend the mosque, church, synagogue, temple, or other religious organization of your choice, talk with your religious leader about your beliefs. Tell your family and your Webelos den leader what you learned.
   • Discuss with your family and Webelos den leader how your religious beliefs fit in with the Scout Oath and Scout Law, and what character-building traits your religious beliefs have in common with the Scout Oath and Scout Law.
   • With your religious leader, discuss and make a plan to do two things you think will help you draw nearer to God. Do these things  for a month.
   • For at least a month, pray or meditate reverently each day as taught by your family, and by your church, temple, mosque, synagogue, or religious group.
   • Under the direction of your religious leader, do an act of service for someone else. Talk about your service with your family and Webelos den leader. Tell them how it made you feel.
   • List at least two ways you believe you have lived according to your religious beliefs.

* If you earned your faith's religious emblem earlier in Cub Scouting, and your faith does not have a Webelos religious emblem, you must complete requirement 8e.

Completion of requirement 8e does not qualify a youth to receive the religious emblem of his faith.

 Arrow of Light

1. Be active in your Webelos den for at least six months since completing the fourth grade (or for at least six months since becoming 10 years old), and earn the Webelos Badge.
2. Show your knowledge of the requirements to become a Boy Scout by doing all of these:
   • Repeat from memory and explain in your own words the Scout Oath or Promise and the 12 points of the Scout Law. Tell how you have practiced them in your everyday life.
   • Give and explain the Scout Motto, slogan, sign, salute, and handshake.
   • Understand the significance of the First Class Scout badge. Describe its parts and tell what each stands for.
   • Tell how a Boy Scout uniform is different from a Webelos Scout uniform.
   • Tie the joining knot (square knot)
3. Earn five more activity badges in addition to the three you already earned for the Webelos badge. These must include:
   • Fitness (already earned for the Webelos badge)
   • Citizen (already earned for the Webelos badge)
   • Readyman
   • Outdoorsman
   • At least one from the Mental Skills Group
   • At least one from the Technology Group
   • One more of your choice.
   • (Plus the one other badge of your choice that was already earned for the Webelos badge)
     See page 74 for the activity badges group.
4. With your Webelos den, visit at least
   • one Boy Scout troop meeting, and
   • one Boy Scout-oriented outdoor activity.
     (If you have already done this when you earned your Outdoorsman activity badge, you may not use it to fulfill requirements for your Arrow of Light Award requirements.)
5. Participate in a Webelos overnight campout or day hike.
   (If you have already done this when you earned your Outdoorsman activity badge, you may not use it to fulfill requirements for your Arrow of Light Award requirements.)
6. After you have completed all five of the above requirements and after a talk with your Webelos den leader, arrange to visit, with your parent or guardian, a meeting of a Boy Scout troop you think you might like to join. Have a conference with the Scoutmaster.
7. Complete the Honesty Character Connection.

A.      Know: Say the Cub Scout Promise to your family. Discuss these questions with them. What is a promise? What does it mean to keep your word? What does it mean to be trustworthy? What does honesty mean?

B.      Commit: Discuss these questions with your family. Why is a promise important? Why is it important for people to trust you when you give your word? When might it be difficult to be truthful? List examples.

C.      Practice: Discuss with a family member why it is important to be trustworthy and honest. How can you do your best to be honest even when it is difficult?

 

Hello everyone,
 
Before I say anything, I would like to thank each of you for your service to the Units and Boy Scouts. Without people like you, Boy Scouts would fail to meet its goals.
 
First, I would like to introduce a few new members of the Commissioner Service Team.
 
Carol Beckom has offered to assist with the LDS Units. As most of you know, Carol has a wealth of knowledge and a great heart. THANK YOU CAROL!
 
Next we have Eric Fremming. Eric is an experienced Scouter who will serve as the ADC for Fort Hood. Eric was on Commissioner Staff back in the 90's while I was serving also. Eric is an Eagle Scout with many years of experience as an Adult Leader also. THANK YOU ERIC!
 
Now onto business.
 
With the growth of our Units due to the School Rallies, we will need to offer our assistance, knowledge, and understanding of the issues which will arise due to some units tripling their numbers. Parental expectations might be above and beyond what Unit Leaders have control over. Please be sure to offer your assistance. Maybe a chat during a Pack Meeting with the parents can clear the issue. Make yourself available!
 
Unit leaders are already telling me of some of the things coming across their table. Parents are upset because their 5th grader signed up but will not be able to crossover with the other boys because they are not old enough, in the right grade, or have not earned their Arrow of Light.
 
Lack of leaders is also a problem. We may have to talk to parents about volunteering to help make sure the program works. Reinforce that Boy Scouts does not work without volunteers.
 
Unit visitation reports. Please be sure to fill these reports out and email a copy to me. I have to turn these reports over to the Council Commissioner at the 4th Thursday of the month meeting. He would like to receive them in his email, especially form the units in the southern districts.
 
Recharters are about to overtake us. Please be sure your units operate through you to complete the Recharter. Let them know there is an incentive of $1.40 per youth if the packet is turned over to Council two weeks prior to the Recharter date. While completing their packets, be sure to use a Field Receipt! Inform the Units there is a Recharter Booklet which then can use as reference material. Greg has place it in HTML format on the District webpage. It's also available on my spaces blog page in the file section.
 
It's time to review the Centennial Quality Unit forms to see if there was growth, etc.. Please make time to go over these with your Units. I had given you a copy of a Unit Report with 'Red, Green, Yellow' and have not received one report. Council wanted this information, so I had to make it off the top of my head. I know it seems as if there are many reports, but we have no choice but to take five minutes to fill them out. 
 
That is about it for now. Do not forget we have a Commissioners Meeting the 4th Saturday. Where do we want to eat? I am open to suggestions.

Please review the attachment. If there are any corrections, please feel free to contact me

Leon Valley District Commissioner

October Roundtable Notes

 

 

Clifton has been working hard with School Rallies and Boy Talks. Please take time to show your appreciation for his hard work by saying thank you.

 

I would like to ask for the contact information of Committee Chairs, Cub Masters, and one other leader of Packs, Troop’s, Crews, and Posts. This will allow me the opportunity to disseminate information. Feel free to email me which in turn will give me your contact information.

 

Boy Scout Community Rally will be held at the Putt-Putt 13 October 2007 10-13:00 hrs. Super Saturday prices are:

            $10 – 1 slice of pizza, regular drink, 20 game tokens,, unlimited Putt-Putt golf.

            $15 – add bumper cars

            $20 – add go-karts

            *15 boys ($20.99 per boy) guarantee will get a group rate with hours of 10:00 -            midnight

            *If a youth signs up, Putt-Putt will give them a scratch ticket from which they can           win games or food.

 

I would like for 2-3 Cub Scout Packs to offer their time to help organize a Cub Scout Olympics for the beginning of 2008 (Feb or Mar). Please see me in the back room, call me, or email me. Let’s make it a great experience for the boys.

 

Re-Charters are an important of your yearly planning. If your time is approaching, please be sure your Committee follows the guidelines as closely as possible to insure a timely turn-in date. To insure your paperwork is correct, have your Unit Commissioner, an Assistant District Commissioner, or the District Commissioner review the packet for completeness one week before turning the packet over to a Council Representative. This will allow you to gain the needed signature to qualify for "On-Time" Re-Charter and the Commissioners Award. One of the benefits of being a Commissioner's Award unit in 2007 is that your unit gets $1.40 per re-chartered registered youth credited to the Scout Shop Scout Bucks. These "bucks" can be used to buy Scout rank/awards. (This dollar value comes from the Mustang District Website.)  There is a 31 page Re-Charter Training paper within the files on my blog space.

 

Training is an essential tool in preparing new leaders to become effective Den Leaders, Cub Masters, or Committee Members. A “trained” leader leads to a good program. A good program keeps the youth interested and challenged. Be sure to get your new leaders trained!

  

Roundtable is an important training tool, especially for new leaders. This monthly meeting should have splits for the different level of leaders. The Cub Scout RT requires

a staff of 5-6. Being fully staffed allows splits for Tiger, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos Leaders. There should also be a split for Cub Masters and Committee Members. This split allows for the “administrative” training for leaders. 

 

Need CS Meeting ideas? http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cubscout_roundtable/ This Yahoo Group is operated by the LBD CS RT Commissioner. Volunteer to serve on the Roundtable Staff! Your volunteer service can only make the Unit Leaders experience more positive.

 

Future Happenings:

 

20 October 2007 – Fall Festival and Haunted Hayride, Camp Tahuaya (Belton)

03 November 2007 – Cub Scout Fish-O-Ree, Camp Tahuaya (Belton)

10 November 2007 – Highland Games, Camp Tahuaya

10 November 2007 – University of Scouting, Everman HS, Everman, TX ($10)

16-18 November 2007 – Wilderness First Aid Course --- Need for Philmont Trek (open to anyone over the age of 16 but one adult has to be certified)

26-30 December 2007 – Twin Arrows/National Youth Leader Training, Camp Tahuaya

***Look at the District Calendar and Council Calendar for happenings.

 

**Haunted House at Six Flags—Volunteers needed to man the haunted house. For 2 ½ hours of work, your family can have free entrance into the park. With a cost of $40 per person, this is a bargain. If you want to volunteer, please contact Clifton and/or myself.

 

Visit my MSN SPACES BLOG PAGE http://leonvalleydistrictcomm.spaces.live.com/

You’ll find different forms, applications, training, tools, etc... in the Public Folders. I am trying to make information accessible 24/7/365. There are 15 different folders with many files in each folder. Visit the LVD Website, click on District Commissioner to get there.