[Commissioners] Central Florida Council Seminole Springs District Sanford Area What's Happening 10/31

Parade of Flags - Opening Ceremony - Jambo 2010

Good Sunday Morning Fellow Commissioner,

Happy Halloween!

Fall is all around, except with the unbelievable high temperatures this week! But, the kids are all ready for trick-or-treat, Tiger Growl is around the corner, as is the District Camporee, and the good news is, they have added another Scoutmaster/Assistant Scoutmaster Basic Training class to the Camporee schedule!

Have you check in with your units to see how they are doing on re-registration? Remember, those packets are due back at the November Roundtable Meeting (November 18th)!

Another piece of scouting memorabilia fell into my lap lately, the photo from the Philmont Expedition I took in 1972. All these young men, and the three leaders, were from Troop 782 in Livonia, Michigan (then, the Detroit Area Council). It was provided by one of other scouts on the expedition, who now lives in Oklahoma! The years indicate when they received their Eagle. (Our Scoutmaster, Mr. B. received his Eagle in 1954.)

Fall Issue of "The Commissioner"

The Fall Issue of "The Commissioner" is now available for download from the BSA web site.

This issue includes lots of great information on UVTS 2.0, Annual Service Plans, and 10 Best Practices for Unit Commissioners (which I will be sharing over the coming weeks in this newsletter). Plus information on the qualifications for both a Council Commissioner, and District Commissioner.

Plus, there is information on the Commissioner's Course being taught at Seabase in January, and the upcoming courses for next summer at the Philmont Training Center.

Mike Rowe's "Letter of Encouragement" for an Eagle Candidate

So, Mike Rowe, Eagle Scout, and host of TV's "Dirty Jobs" as written a congratulatory letter for new Eagle Scouts, which I have written about before.

This time, however, a father has written into Mike asking for him to send his son a "letter of encouragement" to complete his Eagle.

Now, I'm befuddled why a 13 year-old needs a "letter of encouragement," the boy has 5 more years to enjoy Scouting and learn what Scouting is all about (helicopter parents, what can I say) - but you need to read Mike's "letter of encouragement" - and maybe share it with some helicopter parents you know, and their Scoutmasters too!

Mike Rowe for Chief Scout, BSA!

Annual Unit Service Plan

As I have mentioned before, along with unit contacts being recorded in UVTS, one of the other criteria, is that Unit Commissioners have a written "unit service plan" for their units in 2011.

I've mentioned some of the items that should be included in the Unit Service Plan, but this week, I have found a great template for anyone who would like one.

This template is very complete, and includes items we have not even mentioned in previous discussions. This template is actually from another Council, but I have made some modifications to let it be used by anyone. Feel free to download and use it on your units.

Fall Camporee

Information on the Fall Camporee (November 19-21) is now available. Troop 507 has done a great job of planning and putting together a great program, you will want to be there.

The Troops will be divided up into teams of 6-8 scouts of combined ages and rank. These "virtual patrols" will compete in a contest similar to the Amazing Race.

Webelos I and IIs are invited to participate in the events on Saturday in an effort to give them a "taste" of Scouting.

For more information, download the Camporee packet.

Winter Camp 2010

Winter Camp 2010 is a Boy Scout resident camp from December 27th through December 30th to be held at Central Florida Council's Camp La No Che in Paisley Florida both sponsored and staffed by the Order of the Arrow Tipisa Lodge Membership. The Camp shall consist of Merit Badge Classes for Boy Scouts from within the Central Florida Council's Troops and Teams, Special Optional Activities for these Boy Scouts, All Camp Activities, and Adult Leader Activities.

You will arrive at Camp on Monday morning with Merit Badge Classes starting right after lunch that same day and then continuing to lunch time on Thursday when you will leave Camp that afternoon. You can either attend Camp as a Troop/Team camping together as a group or attend as a individual Scout or Scouts staying in one of our Order of the Arrow Chapter supported Provisional Campsites.

For more information: Leader's Guide, Registration Form

Camp La-No-Che Summer Camp 2011

Camp La-No-Che has released their Leader's Guide for Summer Camp 2011. This is invaluable information for your unit leaders whose troops will be attending Camp La-No-Che this summer.

Camp La-No-Che is the only camp in Florida to feature a new Alpine Tower, in addition to the Personal Watercraft Program (PWC) that was started in 2010.

For more information: Leader's Guide. In addition, they are accepting applications for summer camp staff (youth - 15 and older, and adult) through January 31, 2011.

100 Things You Didn't Know About Scouting

Do you know who the first Eagle Scout on a U.S. postage stamp was? How about what the first, the millionth and the two millionth Eagle scouts had in common? Know what the cub scout sign (the index and middle fingers extended in a V shape) symbolizes?

Now you can learn these facts along with 97 more by visiting the website below. See if you can stump your Scouting buddies at your next meeting.

This is definitely an article you can’t stop reading until the end — 100 Things You Didn’t Know About Scouting (Compiled by the Boy Scouts of America).

Are your unit visits all logged in UVTS?

Dates and such

November 5th - Florida Tuskers Scout Night and Scout Parade at the Citrus Bowl (flyer)

November 5-7 - OA Section 4 Seminar - Sand Hill Scout Reservation - On-line Registration

November 6th - Scouting for Food Bag Distribution (more information)

November 8th - Council VOA Cabinet Meeting at Tuskawilla Presbyterian Church 6:30 p.m.

November 8th - Council VOA Sponsored Bowling for Venturing Crews and Sea Scout Ships at Aloma Bowl on Aloma Ave in Winter Park. 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

November 8th - Council Venturing Committee Meeting at Tuskawilla Presbyterian Church 7:30 p.m.

November 9th - Council Key 3 Meeting with District Key 3 (important for District Key 3 to attend) Council Service Center 7:00 p.m.

November 11th - District Committee Meeting 6:30 p.m.

November 11th - Commissioner's Staff Meeting 7:30 p.m.

November 13th - Scouting for Food Bag Collection (more information)

November 18th - District Roundtable and Re-Charter Turn-in 7:00 p.m.

November 19-21 - Fall Camporee

November 20th - SM/ASM Basic Training at Fall Camporee

November 19-21 - Tiger Growl at Camp La-No-Che - Flyer - Online Registration

December 7th - Council Commissioner's Meeting at the Service Center 7:00 p.m.

December 10-12 - Fun with Son at Camp La-No-Che - Flyer - Online Registration

December 17-19 - Holiday Adventure at Camp La-No-Che - Flyer - Online Registration

2011 Future Events

January 7-9 - Hurocon OA Chapter Ordeal at Camp La-No-Che

February 4th - Tipisa Native American Weekend at Camp La-No-Che

February 12th - District Training Day (Cub Leader, Scout Leader, and Venturing Leader Training Classes) at the Lake Mary LDS Ward

February 12th - Merit Badge University at Florida Institute of Technology.

February, April, and May Roundtables - Boy Scout Leader Specific Training Parts 1, 2, and 3

March 12th - Commissioner's Conference held in conjunction with the Executive Retreat at Camp La-No-Che

March 31st - IOLS for Webelos Leaders, Lake Mary LDS Ward

April 7th - Seminole Springs Golden Eagle Dinner, Westin Hotel, Lake Mary

April 8-10 - Venturing Powderhorn Weekend 1 at Camp La-No-Che - Flyer

April 15-17 - IOLS, Rybolt Field, Camp La-No-Che

April 16th - Commissioner's College, Council Service Center

May 20-22 - Venturing Powderhorn Weekend 2 at Camp La-No-Che - Flyer

December 2-4 - Council Camporee at Camp La-No-Che

10 Best Practices For Unit Commissioners

Best Practice No. 1: Get Connected

"To help all units succeed" is a statement that bears repeating. The commissioner service cannot help units if we do not visit regularly. Obviously the best method is to physically visit a unit during unit meetings, unit activities, and also during unit leadership meetings. Sometimes geography is a challenge, so in those cases, a phone call or e-mail can connect the commissioner with a unit. Why not do both? I have a 75-minute commute. This makes a great time to place a phone call (hands-free, of course) to the unit leaders that I know have similar commutes. No cell phone? No problem—a land line at home or during your lunch break still works, even in the 21st century!