“And coming into the home stretch…” Scouting On Track, Northwest Suburban Council's first public celebration of the Boy Scout Centennial, after months of planning, is approaching the finish line on July 4 at Arlington Park. As Drumbeat hits the internet on July 1, the event will have over 300 Scouts participating in the noon kick-off parade and 20 Scout exhibits and displays set up in the Parks “picnic” area for afternoon fun. NWSC is honored to have Army 1st Sgt. Retired Sammy Davis, a Viet Nam veteran and recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, as the event's guest speaker. Another highlight is the council's annual “Pinewood Derby Championship” Races taking place in the International Ballroom with registration beginning at 1:00 PM. Outside on two Pinewood tracks, mayors and village presidents will take part in a unique Mayor's “Challenge” race. Also at 1 PM, Scouts and non-scouts may participate in a variety of exhibits, displays and fun activities, including an Army physical fitness challenge, an Army Humvee, amateur radio, wood carving demo, are being a Monkey bridge, a Raingutter Regatta, a robotic display, pony rides, log sawing, and more. Units and Scout may still attend Scouting On Track, even though they did not register earlier. For a complete schedule and instructions, click here. As Scouting On Track crossing the Finish Line, planning for NWCS's second 100th Anniversary are well underway. ScoutTrek 2010, a day-long event filled with many more Scout activities, will take place in Busse Woods on Sept. 25. Mark your calendars and make this event part of your unit's Planned Program. 1. Visit www.arlingtonpark.com and click on the 'Tickets' tab to the right hand side of the page 2. Choose desired date to purchase ticket for. There is a calendar in the left hand column to navigate to selected date. 3. Click 'Buy Tickets' in General Admission row (picture below displays 'Buy Ticket' button) **Note - General Admission in BOLD RED** 4. You will be navigated to the 'Shopping Cart' page. 5. Click on 'Apply Discount' tab 6. Enter 'BOYSCOUT100' under Enter Discount Code and hit Unlock 7. Select 'Apply Discount' and chose desired ticket price 8. Process to Checkout page 9. Create user profile and enter payment information 10. Guest will have the option to print the ticket or have available for pick-up at the will call window (service fee does apply for will call pick-up) However, if anyone has difficulties purchasing a ticket, they can reach our admission office at 847-385-7500. Troop 495 Scouts visit historic train Union Pacific Railroad recently unveiled its newest locomotive, dedicating it as a tribute to the 100th Anniversary of the BSA. Last month, during Illinois Train Days, six Scouts and four Leaders from Pack 495 in Elk Grove journeyed to Rochelle, IL and visited “UP No. 2010.” For over 30 minutes, Scouts Andy D., John S., Bill W., Erin K., Matt A., and Bradley H, along with Leaders Michael Hurt, Don Dewar, Jim Miller, and Mark Klimek had the unique experience of seeing a working piece of railroad history, talk with train officials and pose for pictures. Decorated with the Boy Scout logo and carrying graphics, “ BSA 2010,” and “Building America,” UP No. 2010 is one of only 12 commemorative locatives built by Union Pacific. Boy Scout Troop 495 is chartered thru Fraternal order of Police Lodge 35 in Elk Grove.  Shown visiting the historical Union Pacific Boy Scout-themed locomotive in Rochelle, IL., are: Johnny S., Andy D., Billy W., Erin K., Matt A., and Bradley H. of Troop 495. Executive Board Member Profile Reggie Lithgow 
Reggie currently serves on the NWSC Executive Board as
ScoutParents Chairman and she was VP for ScoutParents
in previous years. She was responsible for the NWSC "pilot
project" on the new Cub Scout Den Advancement Program
and is the Council's Sea Scouting Representative (Commodore).
She serves as Assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 297 in Pathfinder
District, former Assistant Scoutmaster in Troop 496, and Crew
Advisor for Crew 88. She is a past Okpik Course Director. She
comes from a Scouting family along with husband, Robert and
sons Robert and James.
2010 Popcorn Sale – Units Need to Sign Up Now The exciting 2010 Popcorn sale is 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". Celebrating 100 Years of Scouting 2010 Special Anniversary 50% & Above NWSC Unit Family FOS “3-D”Achievement Patch The NWSC has discovered a fantastic patch available to Councils and is excited to offer this as an “additional incentive” for our 100th anniversary Family Friends of Scouting Campaign! This program is implemented to help Family FOS Presenters, Unit FOS Coordinators and phone-a-thon campaigns further grow our 2010 Family FOS results. How: If a unit has 50% or more of their families pledge $195 or more. Example: 30 youth registered in the unit and the unit's overall FOS result is $2,925. Non typical example: 30 youth registered in the unit and one person pledges $2,925. When: Deadline date September 30, 2010. District Executives need to compile results no later than 9/30/10 and then a one time order of the patches will be placed. Who: All “registered” youth in the unit will be eligible to receive 1 patch. All “registered” adults in the unit will be eligible to receive 1 patch. All individuals that made a donation in the unit are eligible for 1 patch.  PLEASE Speak With YOUR DISTRICT EXECUTIVE DIRECTLY IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS! The Ultimate IndyCar Adventure Welcome to the Inaugural Scout Day at Chicagoland Speedway. Chicagoland Speedway, along with the Boy Scouts of America and Dale Coyne Racing, would like to extend this special ticket offer, good for all Scouts and their families and friends for the PEAK Motor Oil and Antifreeze INDY 300 on Aug. 28, 2010. We invite you to come and support the No. 19 Boy Scouts of America car and its driver Alex Lloyd. There will be more details soon regarding driver appearances as well as other Boy Scout exclusive events. Chicagoland Speedway, the BSA and Dale Coyne Racing hope you can come cheer on the No. 19 car to the Checkered Flag! Make a Night of It Stay at the track overnight in Lower Ridge Campground, Scout-style. Set up your tent and enjoy the night with fellow Scouts. Electricity is not included, so bring your camping gear! 2010 Scout Day Order Form GIFTS-IN-KIND NEEDED The NWSC Office is actually the most used of our three council-owned properties. Most weeks, it is used seven days per week, and also four to five nights per week. Jokingly, we say that there is really no need for light switches as the office is usually open enough that there is hardly time or need to turn off the lights. With this type of usage, the NWSC Office gets a lot of wear and tear. We also use items that you would use in your own home and/or office. With the flow of human traffic in and out of the office, we use a lot of expendable items. You might have some of these items available to you and could donate them for use, rather than us having to raise the money and then actually purchase the items. Below is a partial list that we could use: Reams of standard white copy paper (8.5 X 11) Reams of colored copy paper (8.5 X 11) in yellow, blue, green, tan, and orange Oversized manila envelopes Paper clips - standard size Dry erase markers and erasers Ink pens - blue or black ink Liquid hand soap Dishwashing liquid Paper towels Toilet paper Plastic drinking cups (12 oz.) Foam drinking cups (8 or 12 oz.) Paper or plastic plates - dinner size Paper or plastic bowls - salad/soup size Paper or plastic plates - luncheon/dessert size Plastic utensils Paper napkins Sugar packets Sweetener packets Non-dairy creamer Soft drinks (12 oz. cans) - assorted flavors Coffee for a drip method coffee maker Wooden or plastic stirrers Bottled water Flip chart pads of paper American flag (large) - flies outside 24/7 for six months Illinois flag (large) - flies outside 24/7 for six months Plastic name tag holders |
Key 3 Minute
Smoke Signals “Smoke Signals” lists only Council-level events and dates. For district activities, please refer to the district news pages.
July
August
September Margaret S. Stout, passed away on Thursday, May 20th. Margaret was employed as a librarian and bookkeeper, and worked with and for the Boy Scouts of America Northwest Suburban Council. In her career with the BSA at Northwest Suburban Council Margaret was an experienced and savvy Registrar who worked and guided both volunteers and professionals in different aspects of BSA Membership management. There were literally hundreds of unit leaders and commissioners in Scouting who were 'gently' tutored in the “A, B, C” process of re-chartering units by Margaret. But, beyond her career Margaret was also a dedicated volunteer Scouter who worked in both unit assignments as a leader and later as a commissioner in district operations in the Mount Prospect area with both the Sauk Woods District and later the North Woods District of the NWSC. She was the wife of the late George H. Stout; mother of James H. (Barbara) Stout, Karen (James) Filip and David M. (Joan) Stout; grandmother of eight; and great-grandmother of one. RIP, Margaret… And another great Scouter will be missed…. Robert “Bob” Smeengee died Tuesday, June 22 A Navy veteran of the Korean War, Bob worked for 22 years for Northrop Corp. and had a long volunteer career in Scouting within the old Sauk Woods District, North Woods District and various council positions. An Eagle Scout, Bob served as Scoutmaster with Troop 168. Always an advocate of trained leaders, he served as a staff member and course director on numerous training courses, including Wood Badge. RIP, Bob… Mark Your Calendars for the Membership Kickoff Meeting on August 16 The Northwest Suburban Council will hold a Fall Membership Kickoff meeting on August 16th at 7:00 PM at the Council Service Center. Unit leaders, committee chairs, and membership chairs should attend. We will go over effective recruiting techniques, and veteran recruiters are encouraged to attend to share their success stories. When planning your recruitment event, remember to plan out your promotion of the event as well. Statistics have shown that it takes 7 contacts to reach someone. Plan your recruitment event a couple days before your September pack meeting. Doing this means that any new scout who signs up can take part in a pack meeting with in their first week as being a scout. Plan a follow up night. Not all boys in the school will be able to make your recruitment event. Plan and promote a follow up event before your October pack meeting. Turn in your applications and membership fees in to the council office as soon as possible after the event. Most Importantly…Make the night FUN!!!! Cub Scouts is all about Fun so make sure all families in attendance have fun at your recruitment Ray Okigawa Group VP, Membership Distinguished Citizens' Banquet SAVE THE DATE Mark your calendars for evening of October 6th, 2010 at Stonegate Banquets in Hoffman Estates. This will be our annual Distinguished Citizens' Banquet wherein we'll honor several honorees this year along with celebrating our 100th anniversary. 
100TH ANNIVERSARY NATIONAL HALL OF LEADERSHIP SEMI-FINALISTS
The following nominations have been selected as one of the finalists to represent Northwest Suburban Council in national judging for inductees to the BSA 100th Anniversary National Hall of Leadership. One will be chosen to represent all of the nominees in our council.
Lorenz Bauer Bernie Fischer Bruce Hoffman Patrick Hogan (Scout) Patricia Polities Ken Rogalski Joseph N. Schluep Susan Simmons Richard Stone Chuck Taubman Timothy Wziontka Daniel Zundel (Scout) Judging is now underway by a national judging panel to select a final inductee from Northwest Suburban Council as well as other BSA councils from across the country. Final inductees will be announced July 25th as part of an induction ceremony to be held following the BSA Centennial Parade in Washington, D.C. Congratulations to all the semi-finalists selected you demonstrated leadership, and the impact you had on the lives of others. Northwest Suburban Scout Shop  Trading Post Tidbits Patches commemorating Scouting's 100th Anniversary are now available at your Tradin Post.  |