Year 2013, No. 3  --  February 1, 2013
 

103rd Anniversary of the Founding of Boy Scouts in America

fleur-de-lis This week we celebrate the 103rd year of BSA with numerous activities and religious services. Later this month Cub Scout Packs will celebrate at their annual Blue and Gold Dinner. Troops generally have Court of Honors at this time of year. These evenets celebrate Scouting and are events for parents and youth to come together.

Our Council celebration of this anniversary takes place on Saturday, February 2nd, at the Santa Maria Town Center Mall. Come on out for Scout-O-Rama!

Many churches will commemorate Scouting at a service on February 3rd or at another appropriate service during the month. Find out when your church is celebrating Scouting and attend in uniform.

A special area-wide Catholic Mass will be celebrated at St. John the Baptist Church in King City at 11 am on February 3rd. All Catholic Scouts in San Luis Obispo County are invited to attend this Diocesan Mass celebrated by Bishop Richard Garcia. For more information contact Deacon Ed Callahan at ecallahan237@gmail.com.

Friends of Scouting

It's the beginning of a new calendar year and once again we begin anew our annual Friends of Scouting campaign.

This year's theme is "Scouting Builds Future Leaders." 

To schedule your FOS presentation at an upcoming Blue-Gold Dinner or Court of Honor, please call your District Executive.

Why give to FOS?

Scouting Builds Leaders and we do this through:

  • Serving Others
  • Life Learning
  • Healthy Living
  • Building Character
  • Faith Traditions
  • Mentoring
  • Stewardship

Levels of Giving

  • Benefactor Level - $5,000 or more
  • Sponsor Level - $2,500
  • Guardian Level - $1,000
  • Patrol Level - $600
  • Buddy System Level - $300
  • Scout Sponsor - $130
  • Supporter - $103
  • Of course, you can give any amount you wish

To download a special brochure about FOS, click here. For the special LDS unit FOS brochure, click here.

In addition to any money that you pay to your unit, it takes at least $150 annually to support your Scout and keep our facilities open.  FOS makes this all possible.  Your donation is tax deductible, and we will work with you if your employer has a matching contributing program.

Please be prepared to give to FOS, or go online at the Council's website and make your pledge commitment or payment.

 

 

 

 

With apologies to the Buggles, I'm happy to report that the radio star is alive and well.

Well, the ham radio star, at least. And now the BSA offers a special patch for licensed aficionados of amateur radio. The Amateur Radio Operator Rating Strip, above, shows others that you're available for communication services for events, like Jamboree on the Air, and emergencies,

The requirements for the strip couldn't be simpler: You must be a registered youth or adult member with a valid amateur radio license, of any class, issued by the Federal Communications Commission, known to you and me as the FCC.

That's it. If you're eligible, grab the $1.59 strip (Supply No. 617431) from the Boy Scout Supply Group at 800-­323-­0736 or

scoutstuff.org. The strip's release date is Feb. 15, and you can't preorder it. So mark your calendars to fire off an order the day after Valentine's Day.

From Bryan on Scouting

Are You Tougher Than a Boy Scout?

Check out this weekly series beginning Monday, March 4th, at 8 pm on the National Geographic Channel.

TV Show Promotion
 

Advancement Changes

All Scout units should obtain at least one copy of the 2013 requirements book. A number of changes were made in requirements for rank and merit badges as well as several new merit badges now being offered. Many of these requirement changes have to do with safety and/or cooking. Cooking requirements for Tenderfoot and Second Class were changed in anticipation of the new Cooking Merit Badge coming out in the fall. Units should make sure that Scouts nearing Eagle who plan on a 2014 Board of Review will need to complete the new Eagle requirement for the Cooking Merit Badge. It would be good to schedule these Scouts for this merit badge during the upcoming Summer Camp season.

For a list of the advancement and merit badge changes and the requirements for the new merit badges, check out this link at http://usscouts.org/advance/changes/advchanges13.asp an unofficial, but reliable source of Scouting information).

Schedule the Date

Rancho Alegre Camp Work Day - March 9th. Troops, Families, and Individuals welcome to make improvements to YOUR Scout Camp. Lunch will be provided. Please register.

Wilderness First Aid - April 12-13. A required course for at least one individual attending anyone of the BSA's High Adventure Camps; a highly recommended course for EVERY Scout Unit. Check it out.

National Youth Leadership Training - August 5 - 10 at Rancho Alegre (coed course). Applications for participants are now being accepted. For more information and to enroll your youth leadership, click here.

Summer Camp and Programs - Check out our different Summer Camps and Training Activities coming up later this year. Click here to go our camp web page.

Below you will find a list of the next upcoming Council-wide events for Los Padres Council. To register and/or pay for any of these events, click on the line and it will take you directly to the registration page. Included in the calendar are major civic and religious activity dates as well as dates of college testing for college students. This enables units to plan around these events. For events beyond the last date, click on the link to the calendar.

 

To find out about upcoming Scouting events, log on to the Council website at www.lpcbsa.org. 

This newsletter to our valued Scouters in the Los Padres Council is issued twice monthly on or about the 1st and 15th of each month.  Deadline for articles is four days prior. Send all articles, pictures, etc. to the webmaster at RanchoAlegre@cox.net.