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Three Rivers District Events in June
June 3 (Monday) at 7:00 PM Council Program Launch and Popcorn Extravaganza /event/1293926
June 6 (Thursday) at 7:30 PM Three Rivers District Committee Meeting /event/1203630
June 11 (Tuesday) at 7:30 PM Three Rivers District Barbecue /event/1203646
June 15 (Saturday) at 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM District Fishing Derby /event/1203661
June 20 (Thursday) at 7:30 PM TRD Commissioners Meeting /event/1203656
Training Sessions in June
June 1 (Saturday) at 8:30 AM NNJC BALOO Training for Cub Leaders /event/1227482
June 1 (Saturday) at 9:00 AM Merit Badge Counselor training session Run by Ramapo Valley District /event/1284662
June 8-10 (Saturday-Monday) starting Saturday at 7:00 AM Wood Badge Weekend #2 /event/1150623
June 19 (Wednesday) Cub Leader-Specific Training at 7:30 PM Run by Ramapo Valley District /event/1314973
Calendar Available for Planning Ahead for 2013-14
Click here for a calendar showing all Three Rivers District events for 2013-14. /openrosters/DocDownload.aspx?id=126837
Examples of Cub events: Gold Rush Tiger Tumble Pinewood Derby Cub Activity Day World Conservation Weekend [more]
Examples of Scout events: Camp-o-ree Klondike Derby STEM Weekend Merit Badge Fair [more]
District meeting nights: TRD Committee meetings TRD Roundtables for Scout leaders and Cub leaders TRD Commissioner meetings
BSA National Membership Standards - Gay Scouts to be Admitted
The Boy Scouts of America on May 23 ended its long-standing policy of forbidding openly gay youths to participate in its activities, a step its chief executive called "compassionate, caring and kind." The Scouts did not consider the question of whether to allow openly gay adults and leaders.
BSA President Wayne Perry said, "The change to the Boy Scouts of America’s membership policy is not the result of pressure from outside; it is the result of extensive dialogue within the Scouting family. Parents, adults in the Scouting community and teens alike tend to agree that youth should not be denied the benefits of Scouting. The resolution is not about adults; it is about what is best for young people." He added, "This is the right decision for Boy Scouts."
One Delegate's Report from BSA's Vote on Membership Standards A delegate from the Greater New York Councils provided this first-hand account: ---
It was like being a witness to history. 2000 or so delegates (1400 voting, including me). A very large room at the Gaylord Convention Center outside of Dallas.
On Wednesday evening, the National Key 3 (president, commissioner, scout executive) spoke first, all in favor of the resolution.
Then they opened it up to three-minute statements from the floor, for the remainder of the 2-hour session. People spoke passionately on both sides of the issue. It was provocative, and civil, which is truly amazing for such a divisive issue. Unlike anything I have ever attended.
Then Thursday morning, there was another session for an hour, and then a three-hour period for voting. It was all very orderly, and to borrow a Scout phrase, Courteous, even though there were strong views on both sides.
The vote was announced at 5:00 PM, when Wayne Perry, the national board president, opened the envelope in front of the assembled thousands. Quite riveting.
"BALOO" Cub Leader Outdoor Training
NNJC Council Office 25 Ramapo Valley Road in Oakland, NJ 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM $20 per person Click here to register: /event/1227482
This course is being offered by the Council to let you "acquire the skills and confidence to plan Cub Scout camping." The initials stand for Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation, and the 1-day training session will take place at the Council Office on June 1.
Note that one leader must be BALOO-trained when taking Cubs camping.
John Brain JBrain@harso.com 201-316-5814
Beaver Day at All Camps Calling all Scouters! Come help us get your favorite camp ready for summer camp: Camp Lewis No-Be-Bo-Sco Camp Turrell Yaw Paw Saturday June 8
Contact Grey Rolland for more information Grey.Rolland@scouting.org
District Cub Scout Fishing Derby Oradell Reservoir (Lake Shore Drive) Saturday June 15, 2013 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM $7.00 per Cub Scout (Includes Hot dog, fruit drink, patches, and awards) (Parents can purchase coffee, donuts, hot dogs, drinks)
Register online on or before June 14, 2013 (see below) Please register as a den or pack if possible.
Rules:
Awards will be given out the those registered cubs that catch the biggest fish by weight
There are FOUR fish categories for each rank of Tigers, Wolves, Bears and Webelos:
A fishing gear set will be awarded to the Cub with the overall biggest fish by weight.
A rain date will be announced later if needed.
To register: http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1203661 Click on "Register" button at the bottom of the page.
Click here for a flyer: /openrosters/DocDownload.aspx?id=113318
Click here for the mandatory permission form: /openrosters/DocDownload.aspx?id=126790
Click here for driving directions: /openrosters/DocDownload.aspx?id=110997
Questions: Gerry Beatty, 201-446-1703 gpb64@aol.com
Advice from the Experts: A Great Cub Den Characteristics of a Great Den
Recently research revealed what a den needs to be great. Hopefully this describes your den. If not, maybe you can start applying these methods to build a strong and successful den.
The den leader position could be the most important one in the Boy Scouts of America. As den leader, you personally affect the future of six to eight Cub Scouts. Will they have a good experience that will influence them positively for the rest of their lives? Or will they have a negative experience, which can have the opposite effect? What you do is so important. Thank you!
Did you know that the BSA provides many resources to help you as a den leader? In addition to the direct support you receive from your district and council in the form of training, activities, program planning, and other help, we offer many supplemental resources on our websites. Here's a good place to start: http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/CubScouts.aspx
Advice from the Experts: Increasing Cub Retention
NNJC Vice-President for Membership Raul Arrazcaeta found these 11 tips in a recent issue of the Scout Commissioner Newsletter. He said "Please, lets get this out to all Units, Unit Leaders, Committee Chairs, ACCs, DCs, Unit Commissioners and all others interested and anyone who will listen." ---
Simple Things a Council or Unit Commissioner Can Do to Increase Cub Scout Retention
1. Make sure every new Cub Scout has a handbook. Promote to all parents the purchase and use of the appropriate Cub Scout handbook—Tiger Cub, Wolf, Bear, or Webelos Scout. The manual will help them gain the most from Cub Scouting for their child.
2. Ensure leaders receive appropriate training. Studies show a trained Cub Scout leader retains Cub Scouts longer. If den leader-specific training is not available before the first den meeting, have the new leader take Fast Start training. It is available on www.MyScouting.org.
3. Encourage all new Cub Scouts to earn the Bobcat rank. Promote earning the Bobcat rank within 60 days of joining and presenting the badge at the first pack meeting.
4. Promote Boys’ Life magazine. Subscribing and reading Boys’ Life helps boys experience Scouting even when they are not at a meeting.
5. Emphasize holding the first den meeting within seven days of joining. Quality den meetings are a critical tool for retention. Make sure every Cub Scout and parent knows the date, time, and place of the first den meeting before they leave the joining meeting.
6. Communicate. Promote frequent communications between the pack and parents on a regular basis such as through a monthly newsletter or weekly contact using e-mail, Facebook, or Twitter.
7. Help packs find a den chief for each den. A good den chief serves as a role model for Cub Scouts. They look up to him and follow his lead on how they should act and behave. He serves as the "big brother" to the den.
8. Make sure the unit has a well-planned program. Program planning is one of the most effective tools for retention. The pack must do their program planning for 12 to 18 months in the spring and distribute the plan to parents. Parents want to know what their child will be doing.
9. Establish a summertime pack program. Keeping Cub Scouts active and participating in Scouting over the summer months is an important retention tool. Cub Scouts and families who enjoy a Scouting summer are more likely to stay involved in the fall.
10. Hold orientation for all new Cub Scouts and parents. Successful parent orientation builds loyalty, lessens parent confusion, and reduces the potential of poor participation. Because education leads to retention, all families need to get the right information when they join.
11. Plan for leader succession. Help the pack committee understand the importance of planning in advance who will replace outgoing den leaders and other pack leadership. Retention is all about fun. Retention begins and ends at the unit level. The den and pack is where the most program happens and where the Cub Scouts are most affected. This means all meetings have to be FUN!
An Interesting Online Resource for Scouters TRD Vice-Chair for Membership Eric Makar brought this website to our attention ---
Bryan Wendell maintains a really good website as his personal blog. http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/
Wendell is a senior editor at Scouting Magazine, but he finds that the flexibility of a website has a number of advantages over the printed editions that registered Scouters receive in the mail.
For example, if he finds a good online resource about some useful topic, he just adds a link to his site. A second advantage is that he can ask for responses from his readers and then pass on the best of them.
Wendell's most recent posting (May 31, 2013) is called "Learn how to work with Scouts from different economic backgrounds." He has some advice of his own along with a link to a "ScoutCast" from Mark Moshier, "Who shares ways to keep funds from hindering a Scout’s involvement."
In April, Wendell got interested in troop trailers and asked his readers first for photos of their outside paint jobs (many were spectacular) followed by "Send me interior photos of your troop trailer" to get ideas for "best practices."
Units Urged to Sell Popcorn in the Fall NNJC Deputy Scout Exec Pat Coviello broadcast this message on May 23 ---
It's Time to Start Planning Your Most Outstanding Popcorn Sale Ever!
The days are getting longer, and the weather is getting warmer, Spring is finally here! Spring is the best time to start planning your Fall 2013 Popcorn Sale. Our most successful units always start planning in the Spring to ensure everything is on track. Here are some key Popcorn tasks you should be working on:
Be sure to attend the POPCORN EXTRAVAGANZA on June 3rd at Mayfair Farms… this is the official Popcorn Kickoff for our council and will be the time to get FIRED UP for the Fall sale!
As always I am committed to helping you be successful with your Popcorn Sale. Let me know if you have any questions, or if I can be of any assistance as you start planning for Fall 2013!
Yours in Scouting, Patrick Coviello Deputy Scout Executive
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