March 2008

Information of interest submitted by adult and scouts.

Dues and Taxes Are Due

Well, we only collect dues once every six months and are now due.  Due are $10 per month per scout.  Should you have any questions, please contact our treasure, Mr. Dave Nunley.

You Can Be a Mentor Too

Mentoring New Families

By Amy Kernes,
Committee Chair

At our committee meeting last week it was suggested that a way to help the newly bridged Webelo families to feel more at home in T801 would be to provide an experienced “host” family for each new family.  That way the new people would have a phone number or email of someone who could help guide them through the confusing process of bridging from Cub Scouts into Boy Scouts. 

We will have 14 new scouts and if you are interested in being a mentor host to a new family, please contact Amy Kernes ASAP as bridging is officially over and we already had our New Parent Meeting on Monday, March 3.  I’m sure we all remember how confusing it was when we joined the troop.  Let’s make it easier on the next group.

Family Mentoring Update

Here is an update on our New Family Mentor program.  The following families have signed up:

1.  Camille Heagerty

2.  Jerry Love

3.  Mary & Louis Tasselli – requested the Crawfords from P598 since they already know them.

4.  Amy & Steve Kernes

Hopefully some more of you will step up.  Please consider mentoring a family who is coming from a pack that your son was in, like Mary & Louis did.  That way your son can help ease their way, too.

We have 14 new scouts, but of them we have four younger siblings (Skyler, Jacob, Cameron, and Jordan) of older scouts, so there are really only ten scouts whose families are new to us and would need a mentor. 

Committee Coordinators Announced

by Amy Kernes

Troop Committee Chair Amy Kernes has announced that the following parents have volunteered for troop events:

Leaders are still needed for the following outings:  Bryce Canyon alternative, Hoegee Backpack, White Water Rafting, Cooper Canyon Backpack, Bishop Table Mountain Fishing, Bishop Pass Backpack.

Committee jobs needed are Chaplin, Equipment Manager, July 4 CF Coordinator, Advancements Chair, Committee Chairman, and Adult Training Coordinator.

Scout-O-Rama Ads

by Amy Kernes

At Scout-O-Rama every year a program booklet is published with the day’s events.  This year the Orange County Council has decided to include its annual planning calendar, which will make the program a keeper for all families in Scouting.

We have been asked to sell ads for the program as a fundraiser.  The flier that explains it is attached.  Our troop will get to keep 25% of every ad we sell, and that money goes towards our goal of out-selling our 2007 SOR ticket book total which was $7,240.  If in 2008 we successfully out-earn our 2007 totals for Friends of Scouting, Scout-O-Rama, and Trail’s End Popcorn, we will qualify as a 2008 Founder’s Unit, which means free rank patches at the scout shop.

If you are able to sell any ads either personally or through your employer, it not only helps Orange County Scouting, but T801 as well.

Brea 8K Heroes

by Amy Kernes

Craig Stringham and Salley Mann were the force behind our Brea 8k water station, encouraging all our scouts to come out in the rain and hand cups of water to the runners. 

They also had to sweep up all the dropped empty cups!  Thanks for showing them the benefits of volunteerism.

Snow Sports Day Update

by Amy Kernes

February’s Snow Sports Merit Badge day was a huge success thanks to the efforts and enthusiasm of Mike James.  Some scouts perfected previous skills and some started from scratch learning how to ski or snowboard.  Thank you, Mike and the other adults, for giving our scouts this wonderful opportunity!

Brea Lions Scout Center Clean-Up Day

by Amy Kernes

The following T801 members deserve a big THANK YOU for giving up a precious Saturday morning to help out at the Brea Lions Scout Center clean-up day:

• Dave Nunley – putting in Carpet downstairs

• Steve Kernes – Sanding and staining the cabinet by the kitchen?

• Robert Silva – directing as needed but mostly painting myself & occasionally a few doors.

• Mark Williamson – patching holes.

• Mary Tasselli – cleaning tables and chairs

• Dru Wilson – fixing tables and cleaning them

• Jerry Love – lights, dust dinosaurs, and spiders, oh my.

Other helpers were:

• Jane, Dave, Chris, and Rebecca Richey - “officially” there representing the Girl Scouts - cleaning tables, chairs, sanding & patching holes.

• 3 Venture people

• 4 Girl scout helpers

• Gary Sanui – BLSC foundation

• Jim Whitehouse – BLSC foundation
   
   

Why Training Is So Important

The success of every Scouting program depends on having well-trained Adults & leaders. 

By Robert Silva, Scoutmaster

They not only bring a quality program to their units, but they have more fun doing it.  Everything we do in Scouting has a purpose.  Training is the key to recognizing, understanding and achieving the purpose behind each activity. 

The Training Committee wants to ensure that all parents, adult leaders & youth leaders recognize the purpose of their leadership role and understand how to achieve it in a progressive and fun-filled atmosphere.  It is a proven fact that Scouts with well-trained leaders have more fun, stay in the program longer & advance further.

To provide adults with the basic framework of scouting, help keep our boys safe, & create a better program for everyone, the following three very short core courses are available on-line:

• Fast Start

• New Leader Essentials

• Youth Protection Training

Experienced adult leaders who change positions are considered “trained” only after they have taken the course(s) specific to their new position. 

Adult & Youth Leaders (Scouters) can further improve their skills by taking additional training, including Leadership, Team Building, Safety and various specific Scouting skills. 

Typically Committee Members take the Troop Committee Challenge class and Scoutmasters / ASM’s need to complete the Scoutmaster Leader Specific & Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills classes.

The Advancement Program sets scouting apart from other youth programs. 

Advancement doesn’t just happen; it results from a well-run program, and well-run programs come from well-trained leaders.

We invite you to join with the thousands of other well-trained Scout leaders serving the youth of Orange County…