I hope all of you had a good product sale, and that you now have ample funds for Unit activities.

As most of you know, it was a difficult year for our Council in both recruiting and raising money. The Commissioner staff is dedicated to getting back to the basics, and helping you at the Unit level to both fill your Unit with new recruits, as well as to work with your Unit to raise the necessary money for our Council to run efficiently.

People ask, What does Council do for me? To understand what the Council does, you first need to understand what the District is. The District is a group of geographically connected Villages. Your District is operated by an important group of volunteers, who oversee and coordinate District run activities including Camp-O-Rees, First Aid Meets, Whoop-O-Rees, etc. The District has one full time professional assigned to it, sometimes known as the "D.E." The District Executives our overseen by a Professional Field Director at the Council office. The job of the professionals is to assist you in gathering important information, coordinating receivables and payouts for all events and activities, and providing you with the necessary fliers and other paperwork to get out the word about your District Activities. They have many more duties, but these our the highlights.

In the Council office we have more Professionals that oversee product sales, special events to raise money from corporations, and coordinate the Friends of Scouting campaign. For You and your Unit, there is a Professional Program Director, this person oversees camping programs such as Day Camp, Webelos Weekend, Summer Camp, High Adventure Treks, and more. The Program Director is also responsible for overseeing our three Council owned camps, Camp Lakota, Camp Napowan, and Camp McGraw. The Council pays for a full time Ranger at Camp Napowan, and a part-time Ranger at Camp Lakota. The Council has a full time Scout Reach Director on staff to help us reach out into the communities and bring together less fortunate youth, so that they may be able to enjoy the programs as your children do. The Council is staffed by a hard working, and wonderful group of people that answer your calls, find your lost merit badge info, and in general help to guide you to the information that you need. Our Council also has a Scout Shop to help you with all of your needs, this staff is also paid by your Council. All of these Professionals and staff are overseen by a Scout Executive. This person monitors each function, as well as making himself available to help You and your District as requested. This of course is a partial list of the functions and personnel that work for YOU at the Council office.

Now that you have a better understanding of the Council, next time you are asked to help with an activity, hand out and collect FOS cards, promote camping, be on the District Committee, help on a Council Committee, or be part of a training staff, JUST SAY YES.

Thank You for your dedication to the youth within our Council,