KFMO Online Radio News: CUB SCOUTS HOLD EVENT THIS SATURDAY AT MINERAL AREA COLLEGE

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  October 9, 2013
  IF YOU OR YOUR CHILD HAVE EVER THOUGHT ABOUT GETTING INVOLVED WITH THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA THE CUB SCOUTS ARE HAVING AN EVENT AT MINERAL AREA COLLEGE SATURDAY THAT WILL GIVE YOU A HANDS ON EXPERIENCE. 
  
  GENE BANNISTER IS THE CAMPING COMMITTEE CHAIR FOR THE OZARK TRAILBLAZERS DISTRICT, WHICH IS MADE UP OF SIX LOCAL COUNTIES. HE SAYS THE EVENT WILL BE FUN FOR CURRENT CUB SCOUTS AND PERSPECTIVE SCOUTS ALIKE. 
  
  BANNISTER1    
  
  BANNISTER SAYS THE CUB SCOUTING DAY 1 EVENT WILL BE HELD IN THE OPEN FIELD ACROSS FROM THE FIELD HOUSE AT MINERAL AREA COLLEGE THIS SATURDAY FROM 9AM TO 1PM. THE COST IS 7 DOLLARS FOR REGISTERED SCOUTS AND 12 DOLLARS FOR UNREGISTERED SCOUTS. FOR MORE INFORMATION YOU CAN FIND THE OZARK TRAILBLAZERS DISTRICT ON FACEBOOK. 
  

2013 Ozark Trailblazers Fall Encampment Video Trailer

The Link is below that will take you to the Facebook page video trailer from our 2013 October Fall District Camporee...from the Greater St. Louis Area Council of the BSA.  Video shot and assembled by ASM Shaun Braswell, Troop 423, Park Hills, Missouri.

Video Link

Scoutmaster Sunrise

The Morning Sunshine is part of the reason

Why I like to camp,

The birds singing, the air so fresh

But my true Sunshine comes

With the sound of Scout laughter,

Voices full of questions

And minds eager to learn

That's when I experience

My true Scoutmaster Sunshine.  

XV1. Sept. 2013

New Troop Leader Guidebooks Coming

For years the Scoutmaster Handbook has been  the go-to place to teach a newcomer how to be an effective Scoutmaster for a Boy Scout Troop, but for Assistant Scoutmasters or Troop Committee Members there was no handbook.  

That's about to change. Later this year, the two-volume Troop Leader Guidebook will debut, replacing the Scoutmaster Handbook and offering helpful checklists, quick tips and fresh ideas for both new troop leaders and veteran Scouters.

Scouting magazine contributor Mark Ray wrote Volume 1, while Bob Birkby, author of the latest Boy Scout Handbook, wrote Volume 2. 

Vol. 1: For new troop leaders

Mark Ray's Vol. 1 focuses primarily on the needs of the new or relatively inexperienced Boy Scout leader.

These Scouters will have been volunteers for up to three years, are likely assistant Scoutmasters and probably recently crossed over from serving as a Webelos leader or parent.

As such, Volume 1 assumes little or no prior knowledge of the Boy Scout program on the part of the reader. It presents a somewhat simplified picture of Boy Scouting that focuses on the short term — getting through this week's troop meeting, this month's outing and this year's planning conference — rather than the long term, such as planning for growth, establishing a troop vision, and measuring personal and troop success.

In other words, it leaves advanced topics to Volume 2.

Given that its readers are mostly newcomers, this volume's tone is similar to that used in a book for new parents. It reassures readers that everything is really going to be okay. Really.

Vol. 2: Advanced guidance for veteran Scouters

Bob Birkby's Volume 2 assumes its readers are ready for the next level.

Here you'll find info like high-adventure planning, working with Scouts with disabilities, conflict resolution, visioning and more.

This volume is for more-seasoned leaders who need fresh ideas. It's an advanced guidebook that will help leaders take their troop's program and operations to a higher level. It will also help leaders keep an established program fresh and exciting so that troops don't fall into the trap of doing the same things year after year.

Look at it this way: Volume 1 replaces the current Scoutmaster Handbook, while Volume 2 offers advanced guidance that's been missing from several editions of the Scoutmaster Handbook.

Behind the scenes

"By the way," Mark tells me, "we changed the name because surveys indicated that many assistant Scoutmasters thought the Scoutmaster Handbook wasn't for them!"

But more than just a new name, the Troop Leader Guidebook represents a new approach to serving all troop leaders. And it happened, as it should, with the input of Scouters like you.

"We held focus groups in the spring of 2012 in the D.C. area (Northeast and Southern Regions), the St. Louis area (Central Region), and the Bay Area (Western Region) to get input on the current handbook and what Scouters wanted to see in the new handbooks," Mark says.

So the two-volume Troop Leader Guidebook is truly designed by Scouters for Scouters. Look for both volumes to be released together later this year.

BLT Training – More than Just a Sandwich

In my feverish, fervent attempt to get notes from last night's Ozark Trailblazers Round Table and Popcorn Kick-Off Dinner, I failed to mention the BLT conversation.  Of course, most people know a BLT is a Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato sandwich, however in the world of Scouting BLT also stands for Basic Leader Training.  And Les Houston, from Farmington, came up last night to speak about the upcoming Basic Leader Training course, which is being offered the same weekend as Fall Encampment (Camporee). 

The course will introduce new adults to the basic concepts of Scouting; patrol method, position responsibilities, and more.  Each new adult member of a unit (be it committee member, scoutmaster, assistant scoutmaster or chartered organization representative) is encouraged to attend.  The training costs $25 and will be held at Camp Lewallen.  If you are interested in attending contact District Training Chair Ken Braun or BLT Ozark Trailblazers Patrol Leader Les Houston.  

August Popcorn Kick-Off and Ozark Trailblazers District Round Table Notes

The meeting began with John Snipes and another Council representative giving the Popcorn Kick-Off Presentation.  District Popcorn Kernels; Kathy Jones & Kathy Klussmeyer, were on hand giving unit leadership and unit Popcorn Kernels their sales materials.  Big Updates include new products and a two new Blitz weekends where Scouts that participate earn a special patch. 

Once Round Table began, after a brief intermission, School Night to Join Scouting was the big topic.  Pack Leadership received their School Night Packets, Youth Applications, and other information.  So far Arcadia Valley, North County, Central, Farmington and Fredericktown have School Night dates set.  Other units are in the process of setting dates.  Our District efforts need to be outstanding this year to make up for the -15% growth we experienced last year.  Boy Scout Troops and Venturing Crews are encouraged to attend their School Open House and recruit there for new potential Scouts rather than just pulling from feeder Packs. 

Fall Camporee, or Encampment, will be "Are You Tougher Than a Boy Scout" themed.  Each unit will participate in five events during the Camporee, scheduled for the first weekend in October (4^th-6^th) at the North end of the Camporee Field at S-F Scout Ranch.  Each unit will also get to submit 2 names each for the Youth and Adult District Dream Team.  The District Dream Teams will compete against each other in a strenuous head-on-head competition.  Camp Manuals are forthcoming.

Cub Scouting Day One is an event scheduled for Beaumont Scout Reservation for October 5^th at a cost of $7.  We will also be hosting an Ozark Trailblazers Cub Scouting Day One event at Mineral Area College on October 12^th, cost to be determined. 

Jeremy Medley discussed Training Awards and the Shooting Opportunities available at Ozark Thunder Indoor Gun Range.  For more information on the shooting opportunities, contact Jeremy Medley, Donnie Jones or Ozark Thunder Indoor Gun Range to schedule your unit to visit the range.

Shannon Hinze spoke about the upcoming OA Fall Reunion, the weekend of September 6^th-8^th at S-F Scout Ranch.  The Ozark Trailblazers will once again be camping in the Camp Famous Eagle area.  Speak to your Unit OA Representative for more information or contact Shannon Hinze.

Guide to Advancement

It's time again for an update to the BSA Guide to Advancement, last published in 2011, here as we approach Fall of 2013.  The below link will take you to a PDF copy of the Guide.  

Things to look for include Eagle Board information and restrictions, clarification of terminology, unit leader responsibilities, merit badge information.  

Only by being informed can Scouts, Parents, and Scouters understand the Advancement process.  

Guide to Advancement 2013 LINK

BSA Membership Standards Decision Reached

For 103 years, the Boy Scouts of America has been a part of the fabric of this nation, with a focus on working together to deliver the nation's foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training.

Based on growing input from within the Scouting family, the BSA leadership chose to conduct an additional review of the organization's long-standing membership policy and its impact on Scouting's mission. This review created an outpouring of feedback from the Scouting family and the American public, from both those who agree with the current policy and those who support a change. 

Today, following this review, the most comprehensive listening exercise in Scouting's history, the approximate 1,400 voting members of the Boy Scouts of America's National Council approved a resolution to remove the restriction denying membership to youth on the basis of sexual orientation alone. The resolution also reinforces that Scouting is a youth program, and any sexual conduct, whether heterosexual or homosexual, by youth of Scouting age is contrary to the virtues of Scouting. A change to the current membership policy for adult leaders was not under consideration; thus, the policy for adults remains in place. The BSA thanks all the national voting members who participated in this process and vote.

This policy change is effective Jan. 1, 2014, allowing the Boy Scouts of America the transition time needed to communicate and implement this policy to its approximately 116,000 Scouting units. 

The Boy Scouts of America will not sacrifice its mission, or the youth served by the movement, by allowing the organization to be consumed by a single, divisive, and unresolved societal issue. As the National Executive Committee just completed a lengthy review process, there are no plans for further review on this matter.

While people have different opinions about this policy, we can all agree that kids are better off when they are in Scouting. Going forward, our Scouting family will continue to focus on reaching and serving youth in order to help them grow into good, strong citizens. America's youth need Scouting, and by focusing on the goals that unite us, we can continue to accomplish incredible things for young people and the communities we serve.

Further information on the membership standards review can be reviewed be visitingbsamembershipstandards.org. 

Are You Tougher than a Boy Scout?

The premiere of Are You Tougher than a Boy Scout? comes at 7pm Central Time on Monday, March 4th, 2013.  In conjunction with the new series, a new website for the show has been launched at toughscout.com, this website will allow exclusive content, plus have links to the series so that people interested in Scouting can get more information and it's mobile optimized Scouts on the move can get updates via their smart phones.

We Are Venturers

A look at the new commercial for Venturing, the co-ed division of the BSA (Boy Scouts of America).  This commercial was shot in San Francisco with an actual Venturing Crew.  If you want more information on Venturing like the BSA's new Venturing Facebook Page

Proposed Changes to Boy Scouts of America

Greetings!  
 

Over the past three weeks there has been a lot of discussion about the Boy Scouts of America and our membership policies as it applies to sexual orientation.

As you may already know on February 6th the National Executive Board directed its committees to engage representatives of Scouting's membership and listen to their perspectives and concerns regarding the BSA membership policy.
 
In May of this year, voting members of the National Council will take action on a yet-to-be-determined resolution at the National Annual Meeting. We want to update you on the progress toward meeting this critically important task.

Each Scout Council has a delegation of voting members who are elected at the Council's Annual Business Meeting.  A Council delegation is made up of the Council President, Council Commissioner, and one member for every 5,000 traditional Scouts in the council or major fraction there of.

It's important to note that the National Executive Board is a board of volunteer leaders like yourself, not paid executive staff.  Decisions regarding any policy of the Boy Scouts of America are developed and decided on by volunteer leadership.

The National Executive Board directed the creation of the Membership Standards Study Initiative Committee. The goal of the committee is to develop and execute a comprehensive plan leading to a vote at the National Annual Meeting by a highly informed group of national voting members while minimizing any disruption in the delivery of the Scouting mission both before and after the vote takes place.

Through this process, the committee will review reports submitted by seven study groups led by volunteers with staff support. Each group represents key audiences in the Scouting family, as well as input from target audiences outside of Scouting. These study groups are youth, local councils, National Council, chartered organizations, legal, finance and fundraising, and parents.  It is my understanding that there will be a formal process for you to voice your opinion directly to the National  Executive Committee. 

These recent discussions have shown that America still cares about Scouting and our volunteer leaders are dedicated to the Mission of the Boy Scouts of America.

For now I ask you to stay focused on providing a quality program to your Scouts every week.  I am not asking you to do anything I am not willing to do myself.  As Tiger Den Leader of Pack 417, I along with our parents are working on our Blue and Gold, Camp Card Sales, and a Pack camping trip and as Scoutmaster of Troop 417 will help guide those Boy Scouts on their next Camporee and into Summer Camp.  We have a lot of fun planned for our boys and that's our focus.

I am committed to pass on information as I get it.  Thank you for all you do for Scouting.