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Scouting
Fact of the Week
Scouting has
flourished in times of national hardship, assisting the nation
in many occasions to help people in their time of need. In
1934, during the heart of the Great Depression, Scouts
performed a nation-wide "Good Turn." This was in response to
President Roosevelt's radio address on February 10. Scouts
collected 1,812,284 items of clothing, household furnishings,
foodstuffs, and supplies for the distressed and
needy. In 1941, after the
declaration of war, the government requested Boy Scout service
for the distribution of defense bonds and stamp posters;
collection of aluminum and wastepaper; defense housing
surveys; victory gardens; distribution of air-raid posters;
and, by joint agreement with the Office of Civil and Defense
Mobilization, services in three capacities- messengers,
assisting emergency medical units, and fire watchers.
Here in 2009,
Scouting also has a role to play. As Oregon’s unemployment rate
has risen to 12%, families are looking for value for their
dollars. Scouting is a program that 1- allows families to
participate with their boys in Scouting, helping families
become closer; 2- Scouting allows boys to continue to learn
strong values such as leadership, strong morals, and basic
skills, to develop into young men and later fathers; at a time
when these values are needed the most; 3- Scouting can often
times be more affordable then other similar summer camping
programs or youth programs.
Important
Dates
Tuesday, May
5th- BALOO Training
Thursday, May
7th- District Committee
Meeting
Saturday, May
9th – Cub Scout Fishing Day
Sunday,
May 10th- Mother’s Day
Thursday, May
14th, Roundtable
Thursday, May
14th, Safe Swim, Safety Afloat at Roundtable
Friday – Sunday,
May 15th-17th,
Camporee
Saturday, May
30th- Cub Scout Fun Day
Monday, June
1st- Current Kindergarteners are eligible to join
CS as Tigers
Friday, June
5th- District Dinner
Saturday, June
13th- Community Graffiti Eradication Day (Service
Project Opportunity)
Friends
of Scouting- District
Status
I was reading the
paper yesterday, and the author of an article was talking
about the recession we are in. Instead of saying “recession,”
he wrote “tough economic times,”- in quotation marks. I
laughed silently to myself. But it wasn’t a “oh, that’s funny”
laugh, it was a “I can’t believe he used quotation marks”
laugh. It was almost as if he was trying to say that these
times aren’t so bad at all. Or maybe he was trying to be funny
on a topic that’s not funny at all. Some of you have either
lost your jobs, or know someone that has. And if you ask them,
I don’t think anyone feels the need for quotation marks.
This year,
non-profits of every shape and size who depend on large part
of donations from others, are feeling the pinch. Here is where
we sit as a district. The district’s goal is $101,330 in FOS,
assigned to us by the Finance department. That is broken down
into two categories. First is the family campaign, and that is
the one most of you are familiar with. That goal is $82,000
between 102 units in our district. The other side of our
campaign is the Community campaign. That is where our
district’s volunteer finance team and I reach out to the
community for support. That goal is $19,330.
As of today, we
have collectively contributed $55,000 to support the council
and the Scouting program on the family side, and the District
Finance team has raised $14,261 in the community. Overall, we
are sitting at about 68% of our total goal. When compared to
other districts in the council, we are doing rather okay. As
we move forward, the District Finance team will begin our
telefunding campaign that we do a couple times a year. As a
council, all districts have had to redevelop their entire FOS
strategy, because of this year’s recession. I just wanted to
share with you some things that you can do to help if you can.
The first thing
you can do to help, is to donate. The cost to support one
scout in our council is $150, so that’s what we tend to ask
people for, but that is only a guideline. If everyone in the
District donated $20 this year for example, it would be a
phenomenal increase in our campaign. I know that some of you
though wont be able to donate this year, and we understand.
After all, we’re human too. My own father is out of work, so I
know how tough it is.
If you can’t
donate, there are some other things that will help our
district. Do you shop at Albertson’s? Do you use an
Albertson’s card? You can support us just by shopping there
and using your card. If you fill out the attached form
entitled “Albertson’s Form,” and mail it back to me or
directly to them, Albertson’s donates to our district a
portion of your purchase. Another way you can help is
information. We are constantly trying to identify people in
the community who can support the Scouting program. If you
know someone who might be willing to, or work for a company
that can, see if they are willing to contribute. I can even
come with you to make the ask. It can count towards your
unit’s FOS contribution (by simply writing the unit number on
the card) or it can go to our community
campaign.
Those units
wishing to reach Presidential Status for 2009, need to have
all of their paperwork turned into the office no later then
Thursday, April 30th. There will be people in the
building until 7:30ish. I can come to pick up things in the
district, during the day this afternoon, and tomorrow if you
give me a call.
The following
units are at Presidential status as of 12:00pm on April 29th:
PACKS: 272,
466
TROOPS: 174, 544,
586, 606, 662, 664, 740
CREW:
174
WARD: 171, 187,
276, 286, 298, 657, 680, 712
Camporee,
May
15th-17th
Sign-ups/payments
can be made at the May Roundtable. Please download the
Camporee Packet for complete details.
Program
Planning Packets to be handed out at May
Roundtable
Program Planning
Packets will be available for this next year at the May
Roundtable. We know from experience that units that conduct
long-term planning are more successful. Please take advantage
of this opportunity.
Cub
Scout Fishing Derby, May
9th
Cub Scouts- Please
join us on May 9th, out at Salish Ponds in
Fairview for a day of fun
fishing. Download the Fishing Derby Flier for complete
details.
Cub
Scout Fun Day! May
30th
On May
30th, from 10am – 3pm, up at Camp
Discovery, we will be
having a Cub Scout fun day. There will be BB Guns and Archery,
and some other fun activities to do. There are only three
rules- 1) Try and wear your uniform if you’re a Cub Scout. 2)
Bring a parent if you’re not coming with your unit, 3) Have
fun.
2009
District Dinner, June
5th.
This year’s
District Dinner will take place on June 5th, at
Glen Otto Park in Troutdale.
Sign-ups and tickets will be on sale at Roundtable in May.
Who are invited?
District Level volunteers and unit leaders. This event is
typically not for youth, but families of those being
recognized are welcome. At this event, we will be awarding
Spark Plug Awards, District Award of Merit, Family Award, and
others.
Safe
Swim Defense/Safety Afloat, and BALOO Training coming
up
Safe Swim
Defense/Safety Afloat Training will be offered at Roundtable
in May, in one of the breakouts after announcements.
Questions, contact Dan Lebrun at 503-668-8533.
BALOO Training for
Cub Scout Leaders will be held on May 5th, 6-9pml,
at the Community Presbyterian Church in Sandy.
39290 Scenic
Street, Sandy,
OR. If you
would like to attend, please RSVP with Ken Hall at
503-668-3038.
Cub
Scout Spring Recruitment
This Spring’s Cub
Scout recruitment theme is “Hooked on Scouting.” It is a tag
line based on our first annual fishing derby we are doing on
the 9th of May. The idea is from March
1st – June 30th, to grow your packs 10%
from where you were on June 30th, 2008. Try holding
a join night in May and even June, right before the summer.
Then, take advantage of our two events coming up in May to
SELL our
program to boys and parents. What better time to join is
there? Two free events, and summer camp right around the
corner. If you would like to order fliers for your school,
please use the attached flier form, and either fax it, phone
it, or email the information to: Kelly McHargue. Her number is
503-225-5727, and her email is
kmchargue@cpcbsa.org. |