Saluting The 2004 Silver Beavers Our heartiest congratulations to the 2004 recipients of the Silver Beaver – the highest award a Boy Scout Council can bestow upon a volunteer. The new honorees will be saluted at the annual council dinner in May. They are: Barbara Rubenstein – currently a Committee Member for Pack 243 and a Webelo Leader in Pack 176. Barbara has been a teacher in the Chicago Public School System for 23 years. She is a life member of the National Council of Jewish Women and a member of the Temple Beth Israel. Bob Galassi – Former Cubmaster for Pack 175 in Niles, and former Scoutmaster for Troop 175. Bob has served on many training staffs including Blackhawk roundtable and district committee. Ed Schipp – Ed has spent the last 12 years with Pack 3, Troop 3 and Crew 3. All three units are chartered by Mary Seat of Wisdom Church. He is very active in his church as a Eucharistic minister and sits on the Pastoral Council. He is a school board member, a parent volunteer and coaches many youth sports. Chuck Taubman – Charles has been registered since 1972 as a Chartered Organization Representative for Post 468 and has held a wide variety of positions in the Post, Troop and Pack. Since 1985 he has held North Woods District and Council positions such as Jamboree Scoutmaster, Council training Chairman, District Chairman, and Philmont contingent leader. Chuck has been a registered member of the NWSC for 35 continuous years. Wayne Slover -- Wayne registered with the NWSC in 1978 as an Assistant Scoutmaster and continued in that leadership position until 1982. He has been a Unit Commissioner, Pathfinder Roundtable Commissioner, and is currently registered as a committee member with Troop 392 and Crew 392, chartered by Our Savior’s Methodist Church. Linda Cohn – Linda registered in 1993 as Committee Chairman for Pack 493 where she served until 1998. She then became Committee Chairman for Troop 193 and is currently registered as an Assistant Scoutmaster and a Unit Commissioner. Linda organizes and conducts meetings of Interfaith Bible Studies. She is a member of the Schaumburg Business Association and has raised funds for the Easter Seals appeal. It is with sadness that we announce the 7th Silver Beaver recipient. Long time Scouter Dorothy O’Neill passed away recently before her selection was revealed. Dorothy was a registered Scouter for 32 years, ran the Scout-o-rama for eight years and was a den leader and troop 175 committee member. Her dedication and devotion will be deeply missed. Wilderness Engineers Changes are in store for both Camps Lakota and Napowan and the NWSC’s Wilderness Engineers got a brief preview at their annual banquet March 5th at the American Legion Hall in Lake Zurich. Mike Jung, Properties Committee Chairman, hosted 60 volunteers at the event.    Tom Burkhart presented a brief update on status of Camp Lakota which included reconstruction of the "outdoor facilities" at the Eagle site and the pending construction of the Wolf site Comfort Station by the SeaBees.  Tom also announced that approval has been given to begin construction of a new cabin at Lakota this year.  Mike Rader provided a video recap of 2004 happenings and accomplishments at Camp Napowan.  That included an update on logging operations at the camp.  Six volunteers were recognized as Wilderness Engineers of the year for their service to the council and its camps.  The honorees were:  Lou Akins, Max Netzeband, Rae Stecker, Jim Sklena, Bill Majewski, and Betty Wurster.  The project lists for both camps and the Council Service Center were posted and jobs were selected for the upcoming fellowships. 3 Month Memo for Council events APRIL: Climbing Training at Lakota ---------April 1 – 3 BH District Camp-0-Ree ---------- April 15 - 17 Cub Scout Camp Leader Meeting ----- April 16 NW District Camp-O-Ree -------- April 22 - 24 PF District Camp-O-Ree -—----- April 22 – 24 Intro to Outdoor Leader Skills --- April 29 - 30 Jambo 1st Shakedown ------- April 29 - May 1 MAY: Annual (Silver Beaver) Dinner ----------- May 6 Scouting For Food Pick-up -------------- May 7 Six Flags Scout Day ---------------------- May 7 Council Program Kick-off ------------ May 10 OA Spring Fellowship - Napowan - May 13-15 Executive Board Meeting -------------- May 18 Jambo 2nd Shakedown ------------ May 20 - 22 Family Camping at Napowan ---- May 27 – 30 Memorial Day ---------------------------- May 30 JUNE: Day Camp Session 1------------------ June 13-17 Napowan Week 1 --------------------- June 19-25 Troop Leader Development --------- June 19-24 Schaumburg Flyers Game -------------- June 22 Napowan Week 2 ---------------- June 26-July 2 OA Summer Fellowship ------------ June 24-25 Day Camp Session 2 ----------------- June 20-24 Cool Outings – Let’s Get Small All Scout Nanotechnology Event" On March 19, one hundred Scouts and Venturers descended on Northwestern University for the third annual All Scout Nanotechnology Event.  The event offered an incredible experience to our youth with a keen interest in science.  They learned about the incredibly small world of Nanotechnology and how and why scientists at this world premier research center are now working with matter at one billionth of a meter.  Participants got a glimpse of the really big impact it will have on our future.   The event provided an introduction to the very hot new science of nanotechnology, demonstrations of the tools used in its research such as scanning electron and atomic force microscopes, and lots of interaction, including a pizza party, between our youth and a stellar group of graduate students.  The research posters prepared by the Scouts and Venturers stimulated lots of great "tech talk" with the graduate students and staff who enthusiastically shared their knowledge and love of science.    Teaching materials and activities developed for the Scout Nano Events by Northwestern University, with funding from the National Science Foundation, are being incorporated into future releases of Boy Scout merit badge books.  The first up being the new edition Computer Merit Badge planned for later 2005.  Want to learn more about nanotechnology?  Please visit www.nsec.northwestern.edu/education.htm or their upcoming DiscoverNano website.  Want to learn more at next year's All Scout Nano Event?  Please contact Boy Scout Troop 309 ASM Mike Kleppinger at m.kleppinger@sbcglobal.net.   Scout Executive's Minute Scouter of the Month Philmont Calling There are still a dozen openings for Philmont 2006. Get your names in now to claim the remaining spots. A $100 non-refundable, but transferable down payment is required when you sign up for the trip of a lifetime. Get Ready to Camp Here’s an opportunity to get answers to your questions about our Cub and Boy Scout camping programs. The parent-leader orientation for Napowan is set for 8:30 AM Saturday April 9th at the Council Service Center. The 2005 Leader guide will be available that day. Come and learn what’s in store for Napowan. Cub Scout parents and leaders – get the rundown on Cub Scout Camp programs for 2005 on Saturday April 16th at the Council Service Center. The meeting starts at 9AM. See you there! Certificates of Insurance Effective immediately, Unit Leaders and Committee Chairmen should no longer go through their local District Executive to secure a “Certificate of Insurance.” For quicker customer service, please call, fax or visit with Accounting Specialist Bill Morgan at the NWSC Volunteer Service Center. We will provide no later than “next day” service. He can be reached at 847-824-6880 weekdays from 8 AM to 5 PM (except during his lunch break). The NWSC fax number is 847-824-6925. Please mark the fax to the attention of Bill Morgan. New James E. West Fellows for 2005 As of the date of this writing, the Northwest Suburban Council has three new James E. West Fellows for 2005. They are Al Knox, Jim Emigh, and Cindy Taylor. James E. West Fellows are Scouting supporters who make a $1,000 contribution to the council’s endowment fund above their annual Friends of Scouting contribution. These three donors bring the total number of NWSC West Fellows to seventy-five. Council Vice President for Endowment Ron Schagrin has a goal of “206 by 2006” regarding the number of NWSC West Fellows. For information on becoming a James E. West Fellow please contact Council Finance Director Jason Erpelding at 847-824-6910. Upcoming Venturing Events April 21, 2005 Venturing Activities Committee - 7:00pm Location: Dick's (formerly Galyan's) Schaumburg April 22-24, 2005  Indian Events Weekend in Janesville, WI with Crew 476  Call Linda at 847-882-1644 or see http://crew476.nwsc.org May 7, 2005 Bust-A-Bird Trap Shooting & Archery with Crew 601 Attend VAC for more info or call Travis at 847-352-5150 Detail information available at http://venturing.nwsc.org Spring Membership Campaigns   The spring theme for Cub Scouts is "Growing Up Together".  The campaign flier will feature a picture of a father and son fishing together.  Each district will be putting together a program targeting kindergarten and first grade youth. Each unit should be inviting prospective youth to a spring activity like pine wood derby night or activity that helps showcase the program. As an incentive, we will give the prospective youth a Wolves hockey patch.  Units should consider a phone-a-thon or invitations to attract the prospective youth to an activity.    The spring theme for Boy Scouts & Venturing is "Bring a Friend".  Four different postcard size invitations with pictures of a high adventure activity will be available for inviting prospective youth to a district or unit activity.  Districts are encouraged to invite non-scouts to Spring Camporees, and invite the youth to complete an application at the camporee.   See your Membership VP for more information. Scout Shop Scoop Come explore your Northwest Suburban Scout Shop and see what's new and exciting.  Now available:  BSA Breathable Cap and a Mini Knife Sharpener with key ring attachment – or – head outdoors with the Bug Hunt Kit and discover nature.