 First-Ever BSA National Rally Launches the 100th! National Leadership Team Update • November 23, 2009 January 1, 2010 is right around the corner. What we have been preparing for and working towards for two years is now just one month away. Now, it's time to make Scouting history. For the first time in our 100 years, the BSA is inviting every volunteer, every staff member, every Scouting alum, and every parent to hear—straight from the lips of the BSA's top leadership—the vision for Scouting's future. Join AT&T Chairman, President and CEO Randall Stephenson, our 100th Anniversary Chairman; Chief Scout Executive Bob Mazzuca; BSA National President John Gottschalk; and BSA National Commissioner Tico Perez for a nationwide 100th Anniversary Kick-Off Rally on December 10th. Get excited about the 100th Anniversary Celebration and learn how we can help lay the foundation for Scouting's next century of service. You can even submit questions in advance for our presenters! What: 100th Anniversary Kick-Off Audiocast Rally Date: Thursday, December 10, 2009 Time: 8:00 – 8:30 p.m. Eastern 7:00 – 7:30 p.m. Central 6:00 – 6:30 p.m. Mountain 5:00 – 5:30 p.m. Pacific How: RSVP and submit questions at http://audiocast.scouting.org. On December 10th, this is also where you'll find the link to the rally. Our goal is very simple: to create a sense of energy and excitement around the 100th Anniversary so that you and your council can harness that enthusiasm to drive your engagement plans at the local level. We want to create buzz. We want folks thinking about and dreaming about this once-in-a-lifetime milestone. The 100th Anniversary celebration is meant to inspire, excite, and engage the entire Scouting family. Done right, it's the greatest gift we can give to our next generation of Scouts and Scouters. We're aiming to have a quarter of a million people join the rally—the largest single gathering of its kind in BSA history. To help us reach our goal, we're sending this e-mail to 1.6 million Scouters, staff, and alumni to share the details about the rally. Feel free to pass it along! And, please join us on December 10th. The celebration has begun! National Director 100th Anniversary Celebration Project How do you get BSA's 100th Anniversary in the public's eye? ---- Stage a huge 100th celebration at Arlington Park At the November 24 Executive Board Meeting, Council Executive Stephen Taylor announced that NWSC's Executive Committee approved a major council-wide, BSA Centennial celebration to be held on July 4 at Arlington Park. Taylor stated that, following the submission of a written proposal outlining ideas for various Scouting anniversary activities, interested Park officials requested a meeting to discuss the event further. On Wednesday, Nov. 18, Taylor and Carl Laub, representing NWSC's Communications Committee, met with Arlington's Ken Kiehn, V.P -Sales, Marketing & Guest Services, Kriss Stapler, V.P. - Community Relations, Nicholas De Monte, Marketing & Operations Coordinator and Rebecca Frank, Promotions Coordinator. “The meeting was a huge success since the Park is eager to help us by providing a a beautiful showcase for the 100th Anniversary,” stated Taylor. “Arlington Park is well-known for it's community activity and staging events of public interest and entertainment.” The general program discussed centered around a huge parade of Scouts on the racetrack in front of an expected 16,000 attendees in the stands. Envisioned are marching bands, an Eagle Color Guard, a nationally known speaker, and a 100th BSA Anniversary multi-media presentation on the Park's huge LCD screen. “Although quite an undertaking, this is a wonderful opportunity to show what Scouting is all about,” he continued. “We'll need the cooperation of every Cub Pack, Boy Scout Troop, Venture Crew, Learning For Life, ScoutReach Troop and the Order of the Arrow to make this a success. It will be fun for everyone. I don't think we have ever had a council-wide parade” The Arlington officials offered July 4 since the date is an official “Family Day” at the Park, complete with pony rides and other entertainment activities. Stepping off at noon, the parade would be followed by afternoon long Scout exhibits and activity booths. Having a family audience presents a unique opportunity for Scout units to stage their own fun exhibits, such as a climbing tower and rope bridges. The possibility of staging a council level Pinewood Derby “run-off” is being examined along with other Scouting-fun activities.  A committee is now being formed to arrive at a complete NWSC program, scheduled to be submitted to Arlington Park in March. Scouters interested in helping with activity ideas, promotion and unit recruiting, contact Carl Laub at 1-847-255-289, duke@nw.nwsc.org 
Join Our Nationwide 100th Anniversary Kick-Off Rally!
Just one month to go! The year we celebrate our centennial and begin our next century of service. One of the most exciting moments in our history. To jump start the celebration, we're bringing together Scouting enthusiasts from coast-to-coast for a nationwide 100th Anniversary Kick-Off Rally. Hosted by AT&T CEO and Chairman and 100th Anniversary Chair Randall Stephenson, National President John Gottschalk, National Commissioner Tico Perez, and me, Chief Scout Executive Bob Mazzuca, we'll recognize your important role and the difference you make - everyday. Through this live audiocast, we'll share important information about how you can be part of the 100th Anniversary. We'll also answer some of your questions (submitted in advance through the link below). Our goal is to rally more than a quarter of a million Scouting enthusiasts - the largest single gathering of its kind in BSA history. What: 100th Anniversary Kick-Off Audiocast Rally Date: Thursday, December 10, 2009 Time: 8:00 - 8:30 p.m. Eastern 7:00 - 7:30 p.m. Central 6:00 - 6:30 p.m. Mountain 5:00 - 5:30 p.m. Pacific How: RSVP by clicking on "100th Anniversary Kick-Off Rally" at http://audiocast.scouting.org. That's also where you'll find the link to the audiocast on December 10th. You are the reason this great movement works - the passionate supporters and boots on the ground serving youth across America. The 100th Anniversary celebration is meant to inspire, excite, and engage the entire Scouting family. Join us as we embark upon this once-in-a-lifetime journey. Save the date! And, tune in on December 10th. Inter-Troop Popcorn Challenge ends in a Win - Win - Win America thrives on competition and three North Woods troops proved this fact with a just-completed, friendly popcorn contest. Last October, Drumbeat reported that the unique contest was underway between Troops 32 and 159 of Arlington Heights, and Troop 140 of Buffalo Grove. The troop with the most sales per scout participant would be declared the winner and would receive a pancake breakfast prepared by the other two troops.  The results are in. Troop 32, with 26 participating Scouts, popped a record $509 sales per Scout and received its pancake breakfast on Saturday, Nov. 28 at 1st Presbyterian Church in Arlington Heights. Surfacing with the total results, however, is a “Win-Win-Win” situation. Each troop increased its gross sales by over 40% from the previous year. “Not only are the Scouts, troops and council benefiting from the sales, the Scouts also had fun, learned some communication, selling skills and a little bookkeeping, and showed true Scout spirit during the friendly competition,' said John O'Dorherty. T-32' Popcorn Kernel. Addressing the breakfast audience of Scouts, parents and Leaders from all three troops, both T-140's Popcorn Kernel, Rodney Brandon, and T-159's SM, Paul Iverson, commented about the success of the contest. Brandon asked the Scouts if they wanted to repeat the challenge next year. Between bites of pancakes, syrup and sausages, they answered with a resounding “yes.” Because of the fun, increased sales and camaraderie, additional North Woods troops are likely to enter the contest next year and increase the competition. It's the American way. Looking For 12 Boy Scouts in Complete Class "A" Uniforms. We are looking for Scouts to be Greeters at the Annual Business Meeting. They must dress in complete Class “A” Uniforms. This is a great way for the Scouts to work on Communication. When: January 21, 2010 Time: 5:45 – 7:30 Where: Friendship Park Conservatory 395 West Algonquin Rd Des Plaines, IL Please contact Sue Simmons, susan.simmons1@comcast.net. There are only 12 slots; they will be filled on a first come basis. Nominations Being Accepted for National Hall of Leadership
Plans for our 100th Anniversary are well underway. Northwest Suburban Council has planned some exciting events and activities, and we want the entire community to be able to take part.
The 100th Anniversary National Hall of Leadership is an opportunity for anyone to recognize outstanding leadership by a Scout, registered leader or Scouting volunteer who made a significant difference in the life of another by the extraordinary service they have given and the Scouting virtues they have modeled.Nominations can be submitted beginning now and will close February 8, 2010, the 100th Anniversary of Scouting. Nominations are submitted on line in the form of a story that is 450 words or less describing why the person of your choice is deserving of this one time honor. Our Council will select 12 top nominations for inductees to the National Hall of Leadership. We will then feature one honoree per month during the 2010 celebration. One inductee will be selected from each BSA council and will be announced at the BSA National Annual Meeting in May 2010. It truly benefits Scouting in every community when we gather and share these stories of Scouting leadership making uncommon differences through very common acts of service. We need your help inviting individuals in every community to share their stories through National Hall of Leadership nominations. Submit nominations within the National Hall of Leadership section of www.Scouting.org/100years If you have questions or want a unit ,District or Round Table presentation please contact Al Wilson NWSC National Hall of Leadership Chairman 847-259-9194 or Email alwilson100@msn.com or alwilson100@comcast.net. Help the Northwest Suburban Council be the first in the Central Region! As of November 20th, the Northwest Suburban Council was well within reach of attaining its membership recruiting goals for the year. If every Cub Scout pack recruited just 2 more Cub Scouts, we would exceed our goal. The easiest and often the most effective way to recruit new members is by having your youth invite their friends to join, so please encourage your youth to invite their friends to join your pack. The importance of recruiting new Cub Scouts goes way beyond just achieving numerical goals. Parents of Scouts and Scout leaders already know the value of the Scouting program and the positive effect the program has on our youth. I often overhear Scouts and parents tell their friends about how great the Scouting program is, but what I don't hear as often is people actually asking their friends to join their pack, troop, or crew. As a membership organization, it is important that our Scouts, their parents, and our leaders actively recruit new members on a continual basis. “Active recruiting” means asking someone to join and following through by inviting them to a Den Meeting, Pack Night, or other event; having them fill out a membership application; and then turning the application in to the council office. If we do not actively recruit new members, we will suffer the same fate that other membership organizations have and suffer declining enrollment, difficulty finding new leaders, and difficulty providing a quality program to its existing members, and we will deny the benefits that Scouting has to offer to our friends and acquaintances. It is generally easier to recruit Tigers, Wolves, and Bears because first through third graders are less likely to have committed to competing activities than older youth. Every pack should have an active Tiger den because Tiger dens are the foundation for filling the ranks as the boys get older. Contact your unit commissioner, district executive, district membership chairman, or me through the council office if you need help or recruiting materials. Thank you for all you have done to get us this far this year, and for your help in recruiting just a few more youth to help us attain Centennial Quality Council status. Ray Okigawa Group Vice President, Membership Eagle Scout Stephen Bechtel donates 50 million It is interesting how successful and prominent families place a value on Scouting and understand the benefits it brings to the future development of their childrens successful lives. Stephen Bechtel, Jr. has donated 50M to establish a new BSA High Adventure Site on 10,000 acres in the Great Gorge area of West Virginia wilderness adjoining a 70,000 acre National Forest. This is very significant because the ACLU succeeded in driving the Scouts from using deactivated US Army Base Fort A.P. Hill near Fredricksburg, Virginia. The 2010 National Jamboree celebrating Scoutings 100th Anniversary in America is the last Jamboree to be held at the site that has hosted it since the 1960's. Stephen Bechtel, Jr. was a good friend of our friend and construction company owner John Harbert and he, in partnership with Bechtel and Boone Pickens, owned vast coal holdings in West Virginia called "Elk River Resources" which they later sold to Exxon. There will probably be some big construction projects scheduled for Bechtel's 10K acres Scout Reserve and I am sure Bechtel's friends in the industry as well as suppliers will donate generously to the building projects planned there. It is interesting that the successful folks want their children in Scouting and most average people want their children to play baseball when growing up. You can do both but parents usually limit it to only one activity which is still far better than none. Stephen Bechtel and his son Eagle Scout Riley Bechtel are co-owner of Bechtel Corporation, one of the world's largest construction companies. Stephen's thoughts are: "Scouting made a tremendous impact on my life," said Stephen D. Bechtel Jr. "It's the source of my fondest memories. I'm proud to be a founder on this project, and I'm thrilled to know that it will be part of the Scouting legacy future generations will enjoy." $50,000,000 to start a project is a pretty good start! See the following for beautiful wilderness pictures of the Summit and details.  Fourth Boy Scout high-adventure base set to open in 2013 You've hiked through Philmont, set sail at Florida Sea Base, and paddled around Northern Tier. You've done it all, right? Not anymore. Coming in 2013 is the BSA's fourth high-adventure base, called The Summit: Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve. The 10,600-acre property will host rappelling, mountain biking, and-a first for a BSA high-adventure base-whitewater rafting. The Summit is made possible in part by a $50 million contribution from the Stephen D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation. That's the largest single donation in BSA history. The Summit will host future national jamborees and represents an attractive possible location for future world jamborees, as well. You can read all about the exciting new Scouting venue in the January-February issue of Scouting magazine. But if you're itching to know more now, check out these links: * The BSA's official release http://www.pitchengine.com/free-release.php?id=33923 about the announcement. * A local take http://www.wvmetronews.com/index.cfm?func=displayfullstory&storyid=33669 from a West Virginia news station. * Another local story http://wvgazette.com/News/200911180463 from a West Virginia newspaper. Construction will start in spring 2010, and then the countdown begins. Silver Beaver nominations due December 15 Nominations for the Silver Beaver Award are due December 15, 2009. A printable nomination form is available at http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/92-103.pdf Submit nominations to Scout Executive Stephen Taylor at the Northwest Suburban Council office at 600 N. Wheeling Rd., Mount Prospect, IL 60056 Of the hundreds of awards that are presented each year, the Silver Beaver is the highest and most prestigious honor awarded to a volunteer by a local council. As a movement whose leadership is overwhelmingly volunteer, the Boy Scouts of America recognizes the need to acknowledge the invaluable services of adult men and women. Service is not limited to Scouting activities and may include service of a non-Scouting nature. The Silver Beaver Award is presented by the BSA's National Court of Honor for distinguished and noteworthy service of exceptional character over a long time to youth by registered Cub Scouters, Scouters, Varsity Scouters, and Venturing leaders within the territory under the jurisdiction of a local council. The Silver Beaver Award is not an award a person would submit themselves for, and to avoid disappointment, the person being nominated should not be told of the nomination. INDOOR GOLF Mark your calendars now to attend a new type of event on Friday, December 11th --- Indoor Golf! It's food, fun, fellowship, and some golf, too. Pizza is included and it's just $69 to play. Having golf withdrawal because it's winter? The answer is Indoor Golf at Golf Nation in Palatine AND help support NWSC Scouting. Want to travel to Hawaii and play some of the premiere courses, but can't afford it? The answer is Indoor Golf at Golf Nation and assist the NWSC. Tired of the same old Friday night "dinner and a movie" routine? The answer is Indoor Golf at Golf Nation and benefit NWSC Scouting. Can't golf? No problem! Come out and enjoy the fun, food, and fellowship. Can't attend? No problem! Become a "hole sponsor" for $100 and it becomes a tax deductible year end gift to NWSC Scouting. See the flyer at http://flyers.nwsc.org/Cgolfnation1211.pdf for complete details and to make your reservations. 'Celebrate Scouting' Stamp Unveiled 
The U.S. Postal Service today gave scouting 'a stamp of approval' to honor 100 years of the U.S. scouting movement. The Celebrate Scouting stamp, which will be sold in the summer of 2010, coincides with the Boy Scouts of America's 100th anniversary.
The new stamp design was unveiled Thursday during an event at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum. The design, created by illustrator Craig Frazier of Mill Valley, CA, depicts the spirit and outdoor adventure of scouting through a backpacking scout and a large silhouette of a scout surveying the landscape. Since the creation of the international youth scouting movement some 100 years ago, hundreds of millions of children have benefited from opportunities for adventure, skill building, leadership, personal development, and community service provided by scouting organizations. The new Celebrate Scouting stamps will go on sale nationwide and will be dedicated in July 2010 at the Boy Scout Jamboree at Ft. A.P. Hill, VA. National Letter Writing Campaign Launched to Support Our Troops In conjunction with the Celebrate Scouting announcement and Veteran's Day observances, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) announced it will begin a nationwide effort to support U.S. Armed Forces personnel serving overseas and veterans by sending letters and care packages using the Priority Mail Flat Rate Box through the Postal Service. Local DC-area scouts mailed letters and shared news about the scouting stamp from the museum this morning. The letter writing campaign continues the BSA's longstanding tradition of service and performing “a good turn” daily. “We are grateful to the USPS for commemorating scouting's contributions to our nation for the past 100 years,” said Bob Mazzuca, Chief Scout Executive, Boy Scouts of America. “To continue our tradition of service, we are honored to launch our letter writing campaign to support our troops serving overseas. Regardless of our age, we never outgrow the joy of receiving a personal letter in the mail. It is the least we can do for the service men and women to whom we owe the deepest gratitude for their service.” For additional information on these articles, please visit www.scouting.org. Scouts Show Their Appreciation for Our Veterans On November 7, the Scouts of Troop 35, sponsored by the Presbyterian Church of Barrington, hosted an afternoon appreciation reception for hospitalized veterans at the North Chicago Veterans Administration Medical Center. Over 50 veterans enjoyed cakes and pastries from five bakeries and a very large quantity of paperback and hardback books. The books were particularly welcome since the former library space has been repurposed and is no longer available. Over 70% of the Vets had experience in Scouting in their youth. Several were able to repeat the Scout Oath and Law. As each Scout introduced himself, he was treated to a round of applause. Scouts Scott Jonske, Nick Kortendick, Jeep Messer, James Messer, Andrew Schupp, Greg Sheyka, recruit Abe Solberg, and Ethan Woolford were accompanied by leaders Bill Crewe and Tom Kortendick.      After the reception, the Scouts agreed to a visit to the museum at Great Lakes Naval Training Center. Unfortunately, the museum was neither open nor where the Gate guards directed us. However there was still fun to be had at the end of a great day for the boys and real American Heroes!  |
Learning for Life
Smoke Signals “Smoke Signals” lists only Council-level events and dates. For district activities, please refer to the district news pages.
December
January
February A Reminder -- 100th Anniversary DVD still available A just-completed, fast moving story of Scouting's 100-year history on a national and local level in now available on a FREE DVD. For the past several months, Paul Meincke has been researching and gathering historic Scouting activity pictures, commemorative patches, sashes and neckerchiefs, old uniforms and even some early 8mm color film of yesterday's Scouts cooking, camping and having fun. Paul's skills at combining all of the above with fast cuts and a driving music beat comes together in an nostalgic, but exciting, 3:15 minute visual BSA history. The disc, “100 Years of Scouting.” is a great tool for showing to your units, unit committees, Charter Organizations and recruiting open houses. It is already a segment in the 2010 FOS presentation. Unit leaders or individuals wishing to obtain a free copy may contact Paul via email at prm777@comcast.net .  New 2010 FOS Patch and Matching Mug The new 2010 Family FOS Council Shoulder Patch (CSP) and Coffee Mug will actually match for the first time in the council's history. The design was drawn by Norman Rockwell, America's most famous illustrator. The design is entitled "Spirit of America" and was painted in 1927 specifically for a front cover to the Boy Scout handbook. In profile it depicts American leaders and pioneers such as George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Charles Lindbergh, Ben Franklin, a frontiersman (probably Davy Crockett or Daniel Boone, but specifically which one remains a mystery), and a Native American chief (probably Sitting Bull). The patch has three different border colors depending upon the level of the gift.  2009 GATHERING OF EAGLES The 2009 “Gathering of Eagles” will be held at Chandlers Banquets located at 401 N. Roselle Rd, Schaumburg, IL. on January 9, 2010 at 11:00AM. This event is held to recognize all the young men of the North West Suburban Council who have earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 2009. Each 2009 Eagle Scout who attends this event will receive a special minted recognition coin designed by Phillip Ratter and also a special Eagle Patch. The Council hopes to surpass our record of last year and Lu Nuccio, Council Advancement Chairman, predicts that we should have over 150 Eagle Scouts for the year 2009. This special event is held to recognize all the Scouts who have earned the rank of Eagle Scout each year. Our Council Executive, Steve Taylor, and our Council President, Jim Tierney, will be on hand to personally congratulate these fine young men. Once again we will have a guest speaker. In the past we have had U.S. Congressman Mark Kirk and State Senator Matt Murphy who spoke on the importance of Scouting and public service. If you would like to attend this event, you may register at the Council Service Center. The cost of the lunch is $19.00 per person. If you would like to sponsor an Eagle Scout, the cost would be an additional $21.00 for a total of $40.00. All those people sponsoring an Eagle Scout will also receive the special recognition coin as a keepsake of this great event. Geocachers Wanted! In order to support the 100th Anniversary “Get in the Game” Geocaching program, we are looking for Geocaching enthusiasts to help hide, own and maintain a minimum of thirteen Geocaches per district. Twelve will be Cache to Eagle hides, hidden at Eagle Project sites. There are a few other caches themed towards promoting membership and alumni participation as many Geocachers are past Scouts and Scouters. Representation from each district is requested and organizational meeting will be held by early January. If interested, please contact Tony Skiroock at Skiroock@sbcglobal.net. Thank you! National Eagle Scout Association The Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award The National Eagle Scout Association has established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award to recognize valuable service of an exceptional nature by a Scout to a religious institution, a school, community, or other entity. The award recognizes the Scout for his Eagle Scout service project, which is part of the requirements for earning the Eagle Scout Award. Each local council will choose a council-level winner, and from that pool each region will pick a region-level winner. From the four regional finalists, an overall winner will be selected. Annually, on or before January 21, an Eagle Scout, his parents, or any registered BSA volunteer (with the Eagle Scout's permission) may submit his Eagle Scout service project for consideration. The Scout must have passed his Eagle board of review in the prior calendar year (January 1–December 31). The nomination shall be submitted to the NESA committee of the council in which the service project was completed. The submission must include the application (found on www.nesa.org), the name of the project, and the Eagle Scout's contact information. A complete duplicate copy of his Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook (previously submitted by the Scout to his Eagle board of review committee) must be attached to the application. Each local council NESA committee shall, on or before February 28 each year, select one service project of the year from among those submitted, as described above. Evaluation criteria for this award should include consideration of at least the following:
These and other factors are all appropriate for consideration by the committee in selecting the winners. Eagle Scouts who are awarded the Council Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award will receive a framed certificate and a bronze(1) Eagle Scout Knot device from the National Eagle Scout Association. Presentation should take place at an appropriate occasion by the council NESA committee. In addition, each winner's name will be added to a perpetual plaque located in the council service center or other prominent local council facility. NESA will fund the framed certificate and the council NESA committee will fund the plaque, which will be designed by the National Eagle Scout Association. Once awarded, councils are encouraged to distribute a press release to local media using the form provided by NESA. The announcement should focus on the award and the value of all Eagle Scout service projects performed within the council area during the past year. Inclusion on the council's Web site and other council publications and communication tools also is encouraged. Each council should forward the complete application, including attachments, for its winning Eagle Scout service project to the National Eagle Scout Association on or before February 28 of each year. Applications received will be considered for selection of the Regional Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award winner. The regional NESA committees shall be composed of three or more Eagle Scouts, preferably Distinguished Eagle Scouts. Regional NESA committees will select one winner for each region on or before March 31 each year. Regional award winners will be considered for the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. One winner will be selected by April 15 of each year, in time for presentation at the NESA Americanism breakfast at the National Annual Meeting in May. The national award winner will receive a plaque, a silver(1) Eagle knot device, and a cash award of $2,500 to be available for the Scout's future educational purposes or for him to attend a national or international Scouting event or facility. (Eagle Scouts may be asked to provide an accounting of the funds spent, if requested by the Adams Trust.) The national award winner's local council will also receive a $2,500 award. The Service Project of the Year Award winner and his parents or guardians will be invited to the National Annual Meeting as guests of NESA and at NESA's expense. They will attend the award presentation at the Americanism breakfast. With the exception of the regional winner selected as the national award winner, all regional winners will receive an award of $500 each to be available for their future educational purposes or to attend a national or international Scouting event or facility. The regional winners will also receive a framed certificate and a gold(1) Eagle Scout knot device. The local councils of these regional winners also will each receive a $500 award. The application and additional information about the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award can be found on NESA's Web site, www.nesa.org. (1) Knot devices are silver for best, then gold, and finally bronze, as is the order for the Eagle Palms. SCUBA MERIT BADGE The Boy Scouts of America is pleased to announce the release of the Scuba Diving merit badge. The official earn date of this merit badge is December 1, 2009. Pamphlets are in the NDC and available for local council service center and scoutstuff.org orders - just in time for Christmas! The first new merit badge in over three years, Scuba Diving reflects the new direction of BSA to develop merit badges based on youth/Scout input to assure relevance and excitement around the merit badge offering. This merit badge, developed in association with PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors), leverages our spirit of outdoor adventure and expands our aquatics offering. More than 84 percent of Scouts surveyed were interested in the merit badge and recommended that BSA adopt it. Key facts you need to know about the merit badge are as follows:
NWSC PHOTO DATABASE Contest is coming 
Northwest Suburban Council wants your unit photos…It is an opportunity to see your son or daughter and their unit in NWSC marketing brochure or on the website. Starting January 2010 for the 100 years of scouting, NWSC will be having a photo contest. More information be given at the January Roundtable. Council Executive Board Member of the Month Jeff Scholly 
Jeff Scholly - Jeff currently serves as NWSC Vice
President of Hometown Scouting. Jeff is a Senior
Mortgage Banker with Bank of America and is formerly
a residential realtor. Jeff is an Eagle Scout, a long-term
Scouting veteran, an avid Napowan camper, and been
to Philmont leading treks multiple times. Jeff also heads
up the NWSC Golf Outing at Kemper Lakes and is affiliated
with Troop 10 in Barrington.
Northwest Suburban Scout Shop  Gifts for the holidays?? Think Scout Shop!!! What a great opportunity to get those Scout family members or friends a useful gift from the Scout Shop. Shirts, pants, neckerchiefs, patches, hobby kits, books, hats, belts, Dutch Ovens, pocket knives, compasses, sleeping bags and the recently-arrived 100th Anniversary items. These and more are all available at your Scout Shop. Hours are: 9 AM - 8 PM, Mondays 9 AM - 6 PM, Tuesday - Friday 9 AM - 1 PM, Saturdays. For the holidays, the Scout Shop will be closed from Dec. 24 through Jan. 1 for inventory. Normal hours will resume on Jan. 2. 2010 Family Friends of Scouting Scouters please “be prepared” to submit your unit's 2010 Family FOS presentation date to your respective District Executive no later than 11/30/09. Meeting this important deadline will help all of us to plan for a fiscally sound 2010 year as we celebrate Scouting's 100th birthday! For the 2010 Family FOS campaign giving levels, we have a new Norman Rockwell mug, 3 different FOS council strip patches, FOS ball point pens and a unit FOS ribbon. Please help us stretch our growth as we currently have 22% of all registered Scouting families participating in Friends of Scouting. Our goal is to increase that percentage to at least 30% in 2010 by several more families helping participate in celebrating our 100th year! Many families could participate for the first time in this celebration. One hundred percent of all funding for our council comes from the 34 communities we serve and the bulk of our support is from generous private individuals such as you. We want to thank every family in advance for supporting Scouting and helping the Northwest Suburban Council remain financially strong as we celebrate our biggest birthday ever. Federal Employees United Way Combined Federal Campaign Federal employees have the opportunity to donate to the Northwest Suburban Council through what's called the "Combined Federal Campaign" (CFC). If you are not going to make a direct contribution to the Northwest Suburban Council via the Friends of Scouting Campaign, you have the option to allocate a donation for our council by using the five digit CFC code number 61782. The United Way of Metropolitan Chicago is proud to have that the Northwest Suburban Council, Boy Scouts of America listed as a partner agency! NWSC Annual Business Meeting The Northwest Suburban Council, Boy Scouts of America will hold its Annual Business Meeting on Thursday, January 21, 2010 at 7 PM in the Friendship Park Conservatory on Algonquin Road (just east of State Route 83) in Des Plaines. The specific purposes of the meeting is to hear annual reports from the various officers on their operational departments, and elect members and officers of the council for the coming year as well as consideration any proposed resolutions previously submitted. All Council Members-at-Large, Executive Board Members, and Chartered Organization Representatives are eligible to attend and vote at this meeting. All members of the Northwest Suburban Council whether they be unit, district or council connected are invited to attend and observe the process. A reception is held before the Annual Business Meeting starting at 6 PM. Attendees should come early (starting at 6 PM) so that in addition to the reception, we can collect their BSA annual registration fee from them ($15 starting in January 2010), and also take their "head and shoulders" photo for the NWSC Key Volunteer Directory. Suggestions regarding proposed members for the coming year should be placed in writing and mailed to the NWSC Volunteer Service Center in care of Council Nominating Committee Chairman Bill McLeod by no later than December 21, 2009. No nominations from the floor are permitted through our process --- all suggestions must go before the Nominating Committee and placed into a potential classification of council membership. The slate by category is then proposed at the Annual Business Meeting, and not individual members. Suggestions regarding proposed resolutions for consideration at the Annual Business Meeting should be placed in writing and mailed to the NWSC Volunteer Service Center in care of the Council Resolutions Committee Chairman Paul Pinderski by no later than December 21, 2009. No resolutions will be considered at the Annual Business Meeting that are not submitted in advance. ADULTS – "BE PREPARED!" We teach our scouts to be prepared. Adults, are you prepared… with a current will? with current Guardians for your children? with Health Care Powers of Attorney? with Property Powers of Attorney? If you have questions surrounding these and related topics, please attend the "Being Legally Prepared" adult merit badge clinic. The Endowment Committee as a Good Turn for all NWSC adult volunteers is presenting a 30 minute "Being Legally Prepared" adult merit badge Clinic followed by a question/answer session. This is NOT a solicitation for donations by the BSA/NWSC. This is NOT a sales or prospecting seminar by either of our presenters. This is solely a community service presentation! This is an information only session to help educate NWSC adults as a community service presented by two well respected professionals (a local attorney and a certified financial planner - both members of the Northwest Suburban Estate Planning Council). 7:30 pm at the NWSC Service Center, 600 Wheeling Road, Mt. Prospect, IL. Thursday, December 3rd. Due to limited seating, please RSVP to sdomzals@bsamail.org or 847-759-2999 with the session number you will be attending. 2009 Chicagoland BSA Councils Fire Safety Goodturn Patch 
Patches will soon be available at the NWSC for those local Scouting units participating in the Fire Safety Goodturn. The patches are $1 each. This program highlights the need to have a local home family fire safety evacuation plan, the need to change smoke detector batteries twice a year (usually during the clock changes between standard time and daylight savings time), having and testing smoke detectors in the home, and an awareness to the dangers of a fire in the home. Units can use free door hangers to promote this fire safety campaign in their neighborhoods. The free door hangers and patches are available from the NWSC Volunteer Service Center.
The "Centennial Anniversary Tour" patches are still available. This is a “must-have” for the true patch collector. Contact Peggy Thompson at the council office for more availability info. Troop 140 Eagle Recognition In 2008, around five percent of all Boy Scouts earned the Eagle Scout rank. Troop 140, sponsored by St. Mary Parish of Buffalo Grove proved they could beat those odds. On Sunday, Nov. 29th, scouts, friends and families packed the church to witness ten scouts of the ninety member troop received scouting's highest honor the Eagle Scout Award.  The award for becoming an Eagle Scout is conferred during a ceremony that lasts a few hours, but the benefits of the rank are long-lasting. Many of the recipients agreed that they set their personal goal to reach Eagle, when they attended a ceremony as a Tenderfoot Scout. To become an Eagle Scout, a Boy Scout must earn at least 21 merit badges, lead a community service project, complete an application to the national organization and be approved by a board of review. That's what becoming an Eagle Scout is primarily about — learning leadership and service. Together these scouts provided almost five hundred hours of community service in the preparation and completion of their service projects for local schools, food banks, animal shelters and prairie restorations. The most ambitious project was the collection of basic school supplies for a school in a remote village along the Amazon River in Brazil. He fought through bureaucracy and logistical difficulties to ship twenty-five cartons of supplies and is now regarded as a hero in that community. Over the forty-four year history of the Troop, a total of 132 young men have achieved the Eagle rank. The troop's Eagle Coordinator attributes the unit's success to the high adventure program offered each year that retains the older scout until he wakes up one morning on a mountaintop and sees the goal of Eagle is attainable. |