Spring is in the air. Blue and Gold events have come and gone. Webelos have transitioned (or will be soon) to Scouts BSA. Now what?
For our Scouts BSA troops, it means adding new scouts and families to your group and continuing the way towards the rank of Eagle Scout. For troops looking for assistance with Webelos transition, check out this article from Scouting Wire: “8 Ideas for an easy Webelos to Scouts BSA Transition” at https://scoutingwire.org/8-ideas-for-an-easy-webelos-to-boy-scouts-transition/.
For our Cub Scout Packs – it’s time to recruit and fill in your pack. Spring is a great time for recruiting. Take a look at your membership goals, review your plan and get started.
First, make sure your Key 3 are keeping up with leads from BeAScout.Org. Try to check in at least weekly, so no leads are missed.
Second, participate in community events or parades. BE VISIBLE! Check your school for activities as well. Kindergarten registration is starting-how can your unit be a part of that? See if you may hand out pack information flyers or host a table promoting your unit.
Schedule a Pack open house; and encourage your scouts to bring a friend to a den or pack meeting. Plan a special spring recruiting event! Try an ice cream social. Everyone loves ice cream! Have the scouts make their own ice cream. What about a rain gutter regatta? This would fit right in with our spring weather. What about a S’mores campfire party! Yum!!
If you still needs ideas or assistance with how to fill the gaps in membership, since your Webelos transition, please contact your District’s field staff or Membership Chair. They may have additional suggestions and can assist with flyer requests and more!
If your pack or troop has planned a creative recruiting event – I would like to hear about it and share it with others. Please email the details to [email protected].
#ScoutMeIn
Denise Lesniak
Senior Vice President, Membership
There is an old computer saying, “Garbage in, Garbage out.” (I can’t believe I just said “old” in reference to a computer.) Now you may be asking me how this applies to shooting sports and I will get to that. First, let’s talk about what this saying means or at least my interpretation. What this is saying to me is in order to get a meaningful output from a computer, something of value or significance must be put in.
You can’t expect a computer to be able to balance your books just by sitting down at it and saying, “Balance my books.” This requires a piece of software, that was written by someone or many people that took many hours to create, test, rewrite, test, rewrite, test, and so on until you get a final product that can operate to balance you books. In addition to this it requires you to input the meaningful data about “your books” to allow the software to achieve the final outcome of “balancing”. This process still requires some input from you. If you put in good information you can get good information out. Not to say that you will like the number that you get out, but it should be accurate.
If you want to be good at shooting, this “old” saying applies to any of the sports. To start with, you must have a good working instrument, which went through the same process to design and develop as the above software. You then have to be in the right position, have the correct hold, breath correctly, have the correct finger placement, Release or fire correctly and have the proper follow through. You also have to have a target and be aligned to it, and the proper ammunition or projectile. These are the necessary inputs to a shooting evolution that should allow you to get an accurate output. Again, you might not like the numbers or the score of the target, but by putting something in you will be able to get something out.
If you would like to improve those numbers, either from your books or from the target, you will need to talk to a trained individual to help you. For the shooting sports, that is an instructor and it can be hard to get in touch with one of those. Luckily, the Shooting Sports Committee has taken steps to make that process easier!
We have created a survey through the Black Pug site in order to collect the names and contact information of everyone in the Council that is Certified to provide this instruction. Now, we are asking for relevant, meaningful data input so that we can, when asked by someone requesting an instructor, give out relevant, meaningful direction.
We’ve had this issue identified for a while now but struggled to find the best solution to gathering instructor information quickly and efficiently. We believe this tool will help extend the enjoyment of shooting sports to much more of our Scouting community. We hope that everyone can appreciate the sport of shooting as much as we on the committee do.
Visit the following webpage to share your information with us. And if you would like to become an instructor, please give us that information as well.
https://247scouting.com/forms/form.php?OrgKey=BSA606&id=1213
I hope to see you all at the range enjoying all that these sports have to offer!
Paul Visocky
Mount Baker Council Shooting Sports Committee Chair
By Neal Kazmi
Council Advancement and Recognition Chair
Now is the time to submit nomination forms to recognize adult leaders in your unit, District, or Council! There are a variety of awards and recognition available for Scouting’s volunteers. One of them is the Silver Beaver Award, which is the highest honor a Council can bestow to a volunteer who have made an impact on the lives of youth through service given at the council level.
Scouter awards can be used to honor registered Adult Leaders for their dedicated service to Scouting. Most Scouter awards are ‘knots’ which are representative of pin-on medals, around-the-neck awards, or award certificates, and are designed for the convenience of the wearer. Nominations are required for many adult awards.
The knots are worn centered on the left side of the uniform, above the left pocket and in rows of three with the bottom edge of the knot emblem(s) touching the top edge of the pocket flap. Subsequent rows of knots are placed above the initial set, in rows of three and again, at the discretion of the wearer.
A variety of Nomination Forms for adult leader recognitions can be found at:
https://www.mountbakerbsa.org/advancement/nomination-forms/
A Council’s highest adult leader recognition is the Silver Beaver. Nomination forms at:
https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/92-103.pdf. Silver Beaver nominations are due to the Council offices by 5:00 PM on Friday, March 6th, 2020.
Attention All Scouts and Scouters
Face The Challenge – 2021 National Jamboree – Date July 19th – 30th
Get Ready , Get Excited !! The 2021 National Jamboree is coming, and you will not want to miss this once in a life time Scouting experience. Scouting’s flagship event is one of a kind . The 2021 NJ is a gathering of over 40,000 Scouts (Male and Female) and volunteers who gather together every four years to experience the best Scouting has to offer .
What should attendees expect at the NJ – Serious High adventure – one of the longest zip line courses in North America , a world class skate park , ATV offerings, tree top canopy tours, rock climbing , shooting sports, whitewater rafting, mountain biking ,patch trading and much more .
The Jamboree will be held at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in the mountains of West Virginia. Mount Baker Council is planning on 108 scouts and a minimum 12 adults attending as Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters . This number will include both male and female patrols/troops along with trained leaders.
We need to hear from you ! Do you want to be a part of this amazing lifetime event ? If so we want to hear from you. Let us know if you are interested in participating and attending the 2021 National Jamboree. The Mount Baker NJ committee has already started the organizational process . Our next steps are to identify interested Scouts (who want to attend) and Scouters who may want to be considered for leadership positions . We have already heard from a number of Scouts and Scouters and we want to hear from you .
Adult Leaders for Jamboree Contingent: Leader interviews are happening THIS MONTH! Sign-up online to get your name on our list:
https://247scouting.com/forms/form.php?OrgKey=BSA606&id=1192
Scouts Attending Jamboree: The application process for Scouts to join the Council Contingent will begin soon. Add yourself to our interest list at the following link:
https://247scouting.com/forms/form.php?OrgKey=BSA606&id=1193
You can get a sneak peak at Jamboree plans at the website: https://jamboree.scouting.org
Should you have questions please do not hesitate to contact either Mark or me. We look forward to hearing from you very soon
Dave Edenfield
Co-chair Mount Baker National Jamboree
Mark Hallerman
Co-chair Mount Baker National Jamboree
FROM THE COUNCIL PROPERTIES COMMITTEE
As many of you know we have been working on ground up refurbishing and new construction throughout Fire Mountain Scout Camp for the past ten years. We probably have another ten years to go. Boy Scouts like many non-profits have a great tendency to raise money to build new things, but then let maintenance slide for a lack of funding. This is what happened to Fire Mountain over its first 40 years of existence. The Properties Committee is very committed to the new construction projects in our Camp Master Plan, but we are just as committed to maintain everything we build.
We have a tool that is the envy of Council’s around the nation… A $1.15 million dollar maintenance endowment. The original $1.05 million of this fund came from the sale of Camp Black Mountain. We fund major maintenance projects by utilizing 4% of the assets in this fund each year. Currently that amount is around $45,000. Some examples of the use of these funds recently is the replacement of our walk in cooler and walk in freezer attached to our kitchen. 2020 maintenance projects include the replacement of all of the Hollander Hall fire sprinkler heads, new stove tops, a new double capacity dish sanitizer, and various projects on Fort Boeing.
If you have not been to camp in the past couple of years you really need to see the amazing transformation. We are building a world class Scout camp, and we are also maintaining everything we build to ensure that it will remain a world class Scout camp for many generations in the future.
Scott Suchan
V.P. Properties
SUMMARY
It’s fun to “play” in the snow with your unit during the winter months! Beyond camping, a number of cold-weather activities however present challenges to Scouts and leaders, such as alpine or cross-country skiing, ice skating, sledding, snowmobiling, ice fishing, and snowshoeing. Essential ingredients for fun include skill training and an awareness of the hazards unique to these activities.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Here are a few key points that can help you safely have fun during your winter activities outdoors.
1. Activities should be supervised by mature and conscientious adults.
2. Participants should be aware of the potential dangers of any winter sport, and leaders should stress incident prevention by stressing proper technique.
3. Help participants understand the need for using appropriate personal protective equipment such as helmets for sledding, snowboarding, skiing, and snowmobiles. Be sure you are following local and federal regulations regarding the operating age or training for snowmobile use.
4. Winter sports are more physically demanding. Leaders and youth should be physically fit and capable to participate.
5. Be sure equipment fits each person properly.
6. During sledding, make sure the hill is safe and free of obstacles. Keep sledding paths and participant return paths separate from each other.
7. Talk about and gain support for the basic rules for the activity … before it begins.
8. Train Scouts and Leaders on Basic First Aid for Frost Bite, Hypothermia, Shock, Broken Bones, and Emergency Evacuation and Transportation.
RESOURCES
By Denise Lesniak, SR VP Membership
Add to Your Scouts BSA Troop!
It was one year ago, this month that we welcomed troops for girls into Scouts, BSA at Mount Baker Council. We currently have 11 of these troops serving almost 100 young women. We also have 135 troops for boys serving over 2600 young men. These young men and women put in 18,000 hours of service just working on Eagle Projects and earned 5,789 merit badges. Amazing!
This is a great time to recruit more scouts for your troops. New faces, skills and camaraderie add so much to the program for youth and volunteers. If you are looking for tips on how to recruit for your troop – here are a few suggestions:
Video clips and flyer templates, specific to troops are available at the “Marketing and Membership Hub” at Scoutingwire.org. There is great information and resources as well as the BSA Brand Center. Check it out and create your own troop flyers. Having troop meeting and contact information readily available is one of the keys to successful recruiting. Do not forget to have calendars or schedules available, too!
February is also a great month to check in with your local Cub Scout Packs (if you haven’t already) about Webelos transitions. It’s about that time of year when our Cub Scouts are ready to move into a Scouts BSA Troop. Your troop’s New Member Coordinator as well as your leaders and scouts should assist to make it a smooth transition.
If your troop needs assistance with recruiting more scouts, please contact your District Membership Chair as well as your field staff. They are here to help! Let’s be visible and share the scouting program with as many young men and young women as we can!
#ScoutMeIn
Family Friends of Scouting Campaign
Each year we invite the families of our current Scouts, as well as some of our alumni, to contribute toward the actual cost of providing the services, personnel, events and facilities needed to support the 170 Packs, Troops, Teams, Crews, Ships and Posts served by the Mount Baker Council. It costs about $205 to support one Scout for one year so we ask families to consider that amount as they pledge to support Scouting.
The District Family FOS Chairs and their helpers have been and will be contacting each unit to arrange for a short presentation to your families. Some units believe strongly in the need for this campaign and conduct a very successful effort without district help but many appreciate someone from the district making the appeal. So what is expected?
1. Attend your district’s FOS Kickoff to get a clear idea of how the campaign works and to pick up the materials you’ll need. This will be covered in each district’s January leader’s Roundtable meeting.
2. You are also encouraged to set a unit FOS goal.
3. If you have not already done so, schedule a presentation with your District Family FOS Chair. The District FOS Teams are shown below.
4. Prior to the presentation, give a letter to each of your families announcing the FOS date and explaining the need.
5. The unit leader should introduce the presenter by handing in their own completed FOS pledge card.
6. The Unit is then recognized for their FOS donation with custom FOS patches for those who qualify (see article). There are camp discounts for Presidential, Gold and Silver level units. There are free Rank advancement patches for units that have 100% participation.
Vision 2025 – On Membership
By Steven Davis, Council President
As part of our semi-annual off-site retreat, the Council Executive Board met the first weekend in January to review our accomplishments of 2019 and to compare our progress and strategic planning against our Vision 2025 – the councils’ 5-year plan.
Vision 2025 focuses on our three key areas for growth and long-term measures of success as a council, namely: Membership, Money, and Manpower.
Regarding Money and Manpower, over the past several years and sustaining through various leadership changes in the board and professional staff, the Mount Baker Council has upheld significant financial and training standards that are models for the rest of the country. As a result, we remain fiscally strong with an ongoing commitment to take on zero long-term debt. We keep a balanced budget and continue to fund our endowment to ensure our council is financially positioned to deliver our program for generations to come. Meanwhile, our training standards – annual youth protection training and maintaining 100% of leaders trained in their positions – are adopted standards that provide guidance to the council and ensures we’re delivering the best possible program for the young people in our care.
As a board, we’ve not adopted such rigorous standards when it comes to membership – recruiting new youth and retaining those youth in our packs, troops, ships, and crews. It’s no surprise that the board decided to center the discussion at our off-site retreat around Membership. We’ve set the bar in Money and Manpower standards and now’s the time to set the bar for Membership standards.
We have much to accomplish here: Increasing the level of proactive communication about all the good things we’re doing in our communities (marketing & PR); recruiting a board member to focus on Activities and Service (things like Scouting for Food and council-wide community service events); building stronger relationships with schools and districts (better school access = better recruiting opportunities), ensuring our packs are adequately resourced to fill full dens, and more.
The Council Key 3 and Executive Board will continue to iterate on the ideas and discussion from our off-site and we’ll drive to a set of standards and goals that set the bar for Membership growth and retention. Opportunity is everywhere – there’s no community within our service area where we’re serving more than 10% of available youth. Opportunity is everywhere – there’s not a child that can’t benefit from our program. Opportunity is everywhere – we’re a strong council with the resources and standards to serve these youth exceptionally well. Opportunity is everywhere – we have tremendous leaders and volunteers who are dedicated to serving these youth.
As I said, we have a lot of work to do, but I am confident that with the leadership from the Council Executive Board, we will lay the foundation in 2020 for the council to reach our Vision 2025 goals.
– Steven Davis
Join us at Fire Mountain Scout Camp for dinner and a presentation about
outdoor programs and opportunities available to your unit in 2020.
When: Sunday, Feb. 23; 4:00-6:00pm
Where: Dining Hall at Camp!
We will be sampling some of the new menu items for summer camp 2020, come prepared to be amazed!
This event is intended for Senior Patrol Leaders and Scoutmasters, Crew Presidents and Advisers, and Ship Botswains and Skippers.
Meet representatives from:
This event is sponsored Fire Mountain Scout Camp and is offered at no cost to attendees.
