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It's that time of year… Charter Renewal Committee Chairmen and Unit Leaders are not the only ones who have to take time out and start digging for membership, advancement, program records and answers, etc., when charter renewal time arrives. On March 10, the Council Key Three, President Marie Diffley, Council Commissioner Rick Romani, and Council Executive Stephan Taylor, along with the NWSC Group Vice Presidents and Treasurer met with Area Scout officials to review the council's charter application. Area Director Fred Wallace and Assistant Area Commissioner Jerry Kammeyer asked some tough, but pertinent, questions Wallace, conducting the review, reviewed 25 individual charts on various areas of council operations including youth membership by category, market share, demographics, unit growth by category, camp attendance, rank advancement, unit service, staffing size, and finance. One negative concern was Tiger and Cub enrollment, a tread line common throughout the nation. Each NWSC officer reported on their area of operation for 2009, made recommendations for continued growth on successful areas and proposed ideas for “turning around" the few negative trend lines. As a result of the frank questions and answer review, the NWSC was granted a renewed BSA Charter for 2011. Similar to a Unit Charter, it is like a license to operate the local BSA program. Both Wallace and Kammeyer, following the review, praised NWSC for its outstanding achievements in 2009 and presented Diffley and Taylor with the Centennial Quality Council Award for 2009 for having met all eight standards.   Council Executive Board Member of the Month Ernesto Soler 
Ernesto Soler has been the driving force behind the Northwest Suburban Council ScoutReach program. The Scoutreach program uses a soccer theme to impart the values of Scouting to thousands of local Hispanic youth. The success of this program is evident at the tournaments held each year.
Ernesto is an Eagle Scout who has given back to Scouting for numerous years. He has been a Webelos Den Leader, Assistant Scoutmaster and Scoutmaster. He was an Assistant Scoutmaster for one of the six Council Jamboree troops in 2005 and is will be part of the Council contingent to the 2010 Jamboree. He has been a Council Vice President for over a decade and currently is the Council Treasurer. BSA Golf Classic Dust off those clubs and make plans to participate in the Northwest Suburban Council's annual Golf Classic! This year's Golf Classic will be held at the prestigious Kemper Lakes Golf Club in Kildeer IL. Everyone viewing this article can actually help promote this important event that produces operating income for Scouting – by passing this news on to prospective golfers, foursomes, hole sponsors and cart sponsors that you personally know. The most important way for our event to grow is by our readers being proactive to help broaden our network of viewers of our golf brochure by using your-own-rolodex! Please click on the following link to view our 2010 Golf Classic brochure If you have any questions please contact NWSC Finance Director Pete Stikovich (847) 824-6910. 2010 Popcorn Sale News ! The exciting 2010 Popcorn sale is already in its developmental stages. In order for units to plan properly it is very important that each unit secures their Unit Popcorn Chairperson now. Please don't be caught off guard going into the summer months if you don't have a Popcorn Chairperson at this point. Plan for success now by recruiting a new Chairperson, in turn this will no doubt enable your youth to have a fantastic program in 2010. All units are required to please record your Popcorn Chairperson's contact information with NWSC Finance Assistant Sue Domzalski sdomzals@bsamail.org or 847-759-2999. Mark your calendar now -- the Council Popcorn Kick-off is Wednesday August 25 held at the Northwest Suburban Council office 600 Wheeling Rd. Mt. Prospect IL 60056. All units are required to attend...plus you will receive all of your fantastic 2010 sales items and a brand new “popcorn kick-off kit”. Advantages of Holding a Spring Recruiting Drive, Why we need to recruit Tiger Cubs When I first became a Cub Scout leader, we used to hold recruiting activities only in the fall at the beginning of the school year. Since then, many more activities, clubs, and sports have started to vie for the attention of young boys and their parents, and they are starting their recruiting efforts earlier in the year. I started to see signs in my neighborhood advertising sign-ups for fall youth football in February. If you wait until fall to hold recruiting drives, a fairly large portion of eligible boys may already be signed up for something else so it is very important that we hold spring and fall recruiting drives. Use the tried and true methods for successful recruiting:
Tiger Cubs and Tiger Dens An important indicator of the long-term health of a pack is whether or not it has an active Tiger Den. Packs that lack an active Tiger Den run tend to start a downhill trend in their membership and eventually, those packs start to have a difficult time recruiting adult leaders because there are fewer families to choose from. Make sure that recruiting fliers are sent home with kindergarten and first grade students in the spring, and encourage first graders to join your pack. Venturing Age Heads Up Effective May 1, 2010, a Venturer-must be 13 years of age and have completed the eighth grade, or be 14 years of age or older, and not yet 21 years of age. Prior to May 1, 2010, the minimum age for Venturers is 14 years of age and completed eighth grade or 15 years old. Ray Okigawa Group Vice President, Membership Wilderness Engineer Banquet More than 50 volunteers were honored at the recent Wilderness Engineer Banquet hosted by the Northwest Suburban Council. These individuals are just a few of the stalwart caretakers of the Council properties who freely give of their time, experience and skills. Together with the Camp Rangers, both Camps Lakota and Napowan are maintained in top condition and are available for use by the Council Scout units. The highlight of the evening was the announcement of the Wilderness Engineers of the Year. Dave Mackey, Dan Pluff, and Mike Tangen joined the ranks of previous recipients of this honor recognizing their contributions of significant dedication. Through attrition, the ranks of the Wilderness Engineers are starting to grow smaller. Skilled tradespersons of all occupations who are willing to lend a hand are always welcome. Interested volunteers without specific skills are also welcome as not all maintenance issues require the trade skills. A willing attitude and a concern for the safety of the camps is all that is needed. If interested in becoming a Wilderness Engineer or for more information, contact Tavis Tackett at outdoorsman335@comcast.net or at 847-358-5294. Click here to view the list (Excel format)  NWSC COUNCIL BANQUET The Annual Council Recognition Dinner will, be held on Friday, May 21st at the Cotillion located at 360 S. Creekside Drive in Palatine. The theme will be focused on BSA's 100th Anniversary. The Cotillion is located on the Northwest Highway (US 14) just west of State Route 53 next to the Hotel Indigo. A reception/registration starts at 6 PM followed by a dinner/program that starts at 7 PM. Tickets are $40 per person payable in advance through reservations only. This event has been completely "SOLD OUT" for both of the last two years --- so DO NOT DELAY, especially with it being BSA's 100th Anniversary --- make your reservations through Dee Ryan today. Questions and reservations should be directed to Dee Ryan at 847-824-6880 at customer service or elryan@bsamail.org. Get in the Game Updates And they're off! NWSC has two Pinewood Derby cars entered in the Race to 2010 Travel Bug race to Fort AP Hill in time for Jamboree. Besides the pick up truck “Jambo or Bust” created by Alex Miller of Troop 495, we also have “100th Anniversary of the BSA” by Jimmy Minard of Pack 394. Jimmy raced his car as a Webelo 1 at his Pack's Pinewood Derby, and then handed it off just in time for the race start on March 6. Both cars were released at a Geocaching event in Batavia. “Jambo or Bust” was taken to Janesville, WI and hasn't moved since. “100th Anniversary” has been picked up by a Geocacher named Sailor30, who has been dropping and picking it up as he travels the nation. It has gone to Pennsylvania, to Michigan, to Oklahoma, to Kansas and is currently in the lead as the car with most miles traveled at over 1800. You can follow our cars' progress at http://www.geocaching.com/track/default.aspx and enter “NWSC” under “Search for a Trackable Item by Name.”   Lights… Camera…Action NWSC popcorn warehouse becomes video studio Where once stood stacks of wooden pallets filled with Trail's End popcorn, a recreation of a famous Norman Rockwell painting and video interviews was taking place. 
It was all part of the preparations being made for NWSC's 100th Scouting Anniversary celebration..
On Feb. 25, Scouter and WLS-TV reporter Paul Meincke and WLS-TV photographer Rick Hillengas set-up a mini video studio to tape and photograph seven scouts against an American background to simulate the Rockwell painting. The cast members, representing traditional and non-traditional scout units, included Tiger Cub Andrew P., Cub Tyler M, both of Pack 194; Eagle Scout Mike S. of Troop 297; Venturing Crew Scout Katie S.of Crew 808; Sea Scout Mike A. of Ship 401; and Aquila Scout Irvin Velazquez of Troop 780. To give a touch of “history” to the event, Boy Scout Matt Z. of Troop 461 donned an actual 1910 scout uniform that belonged to his great-grandfather. Following the photography, Meincke conducted video interviews with each of the scouts to learn their backgrounds, why they like Scouting, what they would tell a prospective Scout and what they thought of being part of a 100-year-old organization. The Rockwell simulation photo will be reproduced and displayed in numerous 100th Anniversary celebrations including “Scouting On Track,” the council's first big July 4th event at Arlington Park and at ScoutTrek 2010, the second celebration set for September in Busse Woods. The edited video interviews will be used as part of the Winner's Circle scout ceremonies to be held between races at Arlington Park and will be projected on the Park's huge JumboTron screen in front of an estimated 16,000 attendees on July 4. Northwest Suburban Scout Shop  Trading Post Tidbits Patches commemorating Scouting's 100th Anniversary are now available at your Tradin Post. |
Key 3 Minute
Learning for Life Scouter of the Month Smoke Signals “Smoke Signals” lists only Council-level events and dates. For district activities, please refer to the district news pages.
April
May
June March Eagles Cameron Thomson Troop 21 Brendan Besetzny Troop 107 Scott Williams Troop 50 David Grande Troop 24 Alexander Groves Troop 10 Paul Geotsalitis Troop 493 Keanan Koppenhaver Troop 401 IN MEMORIAM EMILIO HERNANDEZ We are all saddened by the loss of Troop 497 Scoutmaster, Emilio Hernandez, of Hoffman Estates from Cancer. Emilio was a man of 'service' whether it was for our republic as a career professional in the US Air Force or for his community working with young people in Scouting. He was actively involved with his children in Pathfinder's Pack 397 and Troop 497. In addition, Emilio was an OA Brotherhood member and had completed Wood Badge as a member of NWSC C 25-7, Fox Patrol. And, he was a serving officer of VFW Post 2201 in Schaumburg. DONALD JOSEPH HARRISON Donald Joseph Harrison, 68, died peacefully on March 15, 2010 and is resting in the hands of God. Beloved husband of Patricia Harrison, nee Whowell; loving father to Deborah Nudo, wife of Anthony Nudo, Doreen Dryjanski (deceased), Donald M. Harrison (deceased) and Deannine Weber, wife of Erin Weber; proud grandfather to Rebecca Nudo, Dominick Nudo, Daniel Dryjanski, Devona Dryjanski and Quinn Weber. Cache In Trash Out Day Saturday, May 15 Busse Woods Come join other Scouts/Scouters and Geocachers as we take part in the national Cache In Trash Out (CITO) Day to clean up our parks and forest preserves. We will meet at Busse Grove 4 at 9am to clean trails on the north side of Higgins Road. Bring your GPS receiver and find some geocaches while doing a good turn. If you haven't Geocached before, please come and learn from experienced Cachers. A limited amount of loaner GPS receivers will be available. Cub Scouts really enjoy Geocaching, so bring them out! Bags and gloves will be provided. Bring a water bottle. Launching the BSA Centennial Silver Dollar 
Since the law was signed in the fall of 2008 authorizing the minting of 350,000 silver dollar coins in recognition of the BSA's 100th Anniversary, there has been almost nonstop interest in when the coins would be available, and how to order one. Now, the time is here!
On March 23, the United States Mint will make available for sale the BSA Centennial Silver Dollar. Proceeds from the coin surcharges will benefit the BSA National Foundation in efforts to bring Scouting into underserved communities. If every coin is sold, $3.5 million will be generated for this very worthy cause. Are you ready to get yours? Beginning at noon ET on the 23rd, coins can be ordered through the U.S. Mint at www.usmint.gov or at 1-800-USA-MINT. For the first thirty days, the proof coin will be offered at $39.95 and the uncirculated coin will be offered at $33.95, after which the prices will be $43.95 and $35.95 respectively. Be sure to visit the coin webpage on the 100 Years of Scouting website. There, you'll find information about the coin, its honorary chairman Judge William S. Sessions, and promotional tools you can use at the local level. Coinciding with the availability of the coin is the National Money Show, Which finds itself in Fort Worth, Texas this year in the vicinity of the National Council. Chief Scout Bob Mazzuca will join U.S. Mint Director Edmund Moy on Saturday, March 27 for an official coin launch event. Scouts in uniform and a parent can enter the show at no cost, and there's even an opportunity after the event for Scouts to participate in a coin collecting merit badge workshop. We expect this limited quantity of coins to sell fast! What a beautiful keepsake to commemorate our historic 100th Anniversary, while furthering our ability to extend Scouting to every eligible youth in the nation. Join in the fun Help celebrate BSA's 100th Anniversary  Scouting On Track…It's the largest public celebration of Scouting in the northwest suburbs since the 1993 “Camp-0-Rama” staged at the old Poplar Creek. Northwest Suburban Council and Arlington Park are teaming up to hold a big, fun celebration of the BSA's 100th Anniversary on Sunday, July 4. It will consist of two major activities. The first is a huge parade of Scout units, Eagle color guard, community and Scouting dignitaries, marching band, speaker and a 100th Anniversary audiovisual presentation on the Park's Jumbotron LCD screen….all in front of an estimated 16,000 to 18,000 attendees. Following the parade and while the afternoon races take place, there will be historical council and district displays, the council's Pinewood Derby Run-offs, multiple Scout and Armed Services displays and interactive exhibits. A few of the afternoon activities include an Army rock-climbing wall, a Lego robotics exhibit, GPS-Geocaching, wood carving, rope bridge, amateur radio and more. July 4 is a “Family Day” at Arlington Park which is providing pony rides and a petting zoo. In between races in the Winner's Circle, video clips and live presentations of Scout rank advancements will be made at various levels of Scouting, ending with Eagle presentations. Winners of the Pinewood Derby Run-offs will be presented trophies in the Winner's Circle also. For all to see, the presentations will be shown on the JumboTron screen. There is NO registration fee. All Scouts, 17 and under, have free admission. Arlington Park's advanced ticket sale price is $5.00 for adult Scouters. The tickets are NOW available on-line from Arlington Park. Scout Leaders are urged to get their units “on track” by registering with the council and downloading on-line instructions. Please Click here for details. Scouters interested in helping with activity ideas, promotion and unit recruiting, contact Staff Advisor Frank Chlebek at 1-847- 824-6894, fchlebek@bsamail.org or Committee Chairman Carl Laub at 1-847-255-289, duke@nw.nwsc.org ADVANCEMENT CUB 
Cub Scout Advancement Workshop held last month
was a resounding success with representatives from
more than thirty Packs attending. This seminar is
designed to help all Cub Scout leaders really under-
stand the advancement program. It explains the why
and how the advancement program works and the
necessary reporting requirements and their importance.
Look, for another Cub Scout Advancement in the fall. In the interim any questions can be directed to Dee Ryan at 847-824-6880, ext 1001 LIFE TO EAGLE SEMINAR 
More than fifty Life Scouts, Star Scouts, Scoutmasters, Assistant Scoutmasters, Troop Leaders and Parents attended the most recent Life to Eagle Seminar at the Council Service Center.
The purpose of this seminar is to educate Scouts, parents and leaders on the steps necessary to attain the rank of Eagle Scout. The success of this program can be measured by the increase in Eagle Scout rank achievement by the youth of this Council. In 2009, more than 150 youth achieved this honor. Another Life to Eagle seminar is being planned for the Fall. If there are questions before than, contact your District Advancement chairperson or Dee Ryan at 847-824-6880, ext 1001 BSA alters age and grade eligibility requirements for Venturing The Boy Scouts of America's National Executive Board recently announced a change in the age and grade requirements for the Venturing program. Effective May 1, 2010, the minimum age/grade requirement will be changed to 14 years of age or 13 years of age and completion of the eighth grade. The previous requirements mandated that participants be 14 years of age and have completed the eighth grade. The change was made to accommodate boys and girls who have late birthdays, usually from June to September. Under the previous requirement, these boys and girls were not able to immediately join a Venturing crew with their friends when their class graduated from the eighth grade. Now that's no longer an issue. The new requirements do apply to Sea Scouts, who are part of the Venturing program. But Explorers and Venturers who are part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints won't be affected by the change. 
Was your grandfather a Cub Scout, mom a Den Mother, uncle a Merit Badge Counselor? Or are you the first in your family to go down the Scouting trail? No matter what your Scouting legacy, we invite you to celebrate your family with the 100th Anniversary Generations Connection program. For 100 years, Scouting has given American families opportunities to build memories, share experiences, and develop strong values. We invite all Scouting families to share your stories and continue the tradition. For those without a long history of Scouting, you can start today! Generations Connection celebrates the legacy, and powerful impact, of Scouting on American families. It teaches Scouts to understand the value of their Scouting family tree and encourages first-generation Scouts to carry this special tradition forward. Through a partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, official BSA 100th Anniversary trees are now being offered. For each one sold, another will be planted in an area newly designated as the BSA Centennial Forest in Montana. For more information, contact Janice Spitz @ 847-401-6142 or e-mail janices921@yahoo.com Share Your Family Story! Tell us about your family. Print a special (and free) BSA 100th Anniversary Generational Scouting Family certificate! Trace Your Scouting Ancestry! Download a Generations Connection Family Tree! Fill in names and—if you can find it—something special about that person's Scouting experience. Plan a Family Celebration! Order your official BSA 100th Anniversary Tree from The Arbor Day Foundation. Plant it together as a family, as a lasting memory of your commitment to Scouting. You can also make or order a tree marker to designate its importance. Create a Group Activity! Are you a Scout leader? Whether at the unit, district, or council level, you can build fun Generations Connection activities that inspire Scouts and their families. BSA 100th Anniversary Trees The tree is an important symbol of the family—a family tree, the life of a tree that spans generations, the belief that a tree will continue to provide, long after we're gone. Because of that symbolism—and a shared mission for service and environmental stewardship—we could think of no better Generations Connection partner than the Arbor Day Foundation! Arbor Day has designated official BSA 100th Anniversary trees for anyone to enjoy. Order yours at http://www.arborday.org/boyscouts. For every BSA 100th Anniversary tree purchased from Arbor Day, another will be planted in Montana at the newly created Boy Scouts of America Centennial Forest. The Centennial Forest will aid replanting of the Flathead National Forest following recent fires. Through a partnership with Comcast, Pathfinder Janice Spitz has been able to get 7,000 tree seedlings for various service and recruitment initiatives. On Arbor Day, scouts in the Pathfinder District are connecting the deep roots of scouting by planting a foundation for the future with the elementary school students. Each student will get an opportunity to take home an evergreen tree seedling to plant themself. For more information on Arbor Day at schools, contact Janice Spitz @ 847-401-6142 or e-mail janices921@yahoo.com A Day of Service to plant 250 trees at Lakota and 250 trees at Napowan is tentatively planned for this fall. How far do your roots go? |