National Annual Meeting - May 28, 2010

The master of ceremonies for the Americanism Breakfast was Theodore Roosevelt reinactor Joe Wiegand to did a fantastic job of not only playing TR, but working in a number or relationships with the BSA.

The speaker at the breakfast was Steve Holcomb, Eagle Scout and Olympic Gold Medal driver of the Night Train, USA 1 Bobsled.

Some other information from the meeting:

- There have been questions about how to register 18-20 year olds in a troop with the upcoming training requirements.  There is a registration category of "College Reserve" that can be used for those new adults that does not have particular training requirements.

- A new "Be A Scout" program will be rolled out this summer which works with Google to put a Cub Scout, Boy Scout, or Venturing logo for a pin on Google Maps so someone looking for a unit in your area can find out where all the units are in the area.

- I heard that the Scouting Community is no longer working on any updates or modifications.  Nothing on what the future plans are.

- A new quality program is being developed for next year that should be out this fall.  It will take the place of the Centennial Quality program which ends this year.

- The national strategic plan was presented.  The plan has seven pillars with objectives under each and goals under each objective.  The seven pillars are: Impact & Participation, Resources & Finances, Building our  Brand, Dynamic & Relevant, Innovation & Technology, Advocacy & Relationships, and Leadership & Culture.

National Annual Meeting - May 27, 2010

The opening day of the National Annual Meeting started with John Gottschalk opened the meeting wearing a hat from Lord Baden Powell University.

The session covered an update of the 100th Anniversary activities, Hispanic Initiative, BSA Motorsports, and a financial report.

I made progress on several things.  Made contact with the group that has the Coyne Racing to see if we can get one or more of the Indy racing cars out to Aircamp.

I met with the national relationships person and got a copy of the Diabetes video to him to view and see if the BSA would be willing to help with the distribution.

Below is a map of The Summit, the new Jamboree site.

The sessions I attended today included the use of Eagle data being gathered by Harris Connect and the strategic planning tools.

I also got to meet with the national person responsible for relationships to give him a copy of the Diabetes video to see if the BSA will help with distribution.

BSA National Annual Meeting, May 26, 2010

Arrived today at the National Annual Meeting and went to the exhibit hall after checking in.  Don Kinney is in the center of this display.

The copy of the new BSA Indy Car is on display in the Exhibit Hall.

Took a trip to the National Scouting Museum in Irving.

It has a lot of great exhibits including a lot of Norman Rockwell paintings.

We got some good information today.  Including some material on the historical merit badges.  The Signalling MB is not as difficult at first expected.  The BSA is clarifying that the scouts only need to be able to send messages at 35 characters per minute and send 35 words in total.  The BSA words are not the five character words that the ham radio operators use, but can be any number of letters.

Wood Badge, Tour de Blackhawk, Camp Properties Workshop, Training, Jamboree

Lots of activity this past weekend.  On Friday Ed and I were at the Wood Badge Staff Development held at the Boeger Leadership Lodge to practice our presentation on Scouting Generations.  A new session that deals with understanding the differences between the various generations represented by our volunteers.

Saturday morning I had breakfast with John Wurtzel to discuss the stage show for the Tour de Blackhawk on June 11-13.  It should be a good show.  If you haven't signed up yet you'll want to get your units registered at http://www.blackhawkscouting.org/2010Events/TourDeBlackhawk/TourDeBlackhawk.htm.  Besides having rides available from 8 to 100 miles there are three bike rodeos planned along the trials for Cub Scouts to participate in.

Next was a session at Pecatonica High School to plan the future of our camps.  We are gathering information to update our strategic plan as well as other plans for the camps.  We had over 30 volunteers participate in the session which lasted into the afternoon.  Thanks to Bob Gingras for organizing the session.

Then it was back to Camp Lowden where I got to stop by and visit with a large group that was taking the BALOO (Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation) and WLOT (Webelos Leader Outdoor Training) and with some of our Jamboree participants.  The big event was the Wood Badge Reunion Dinner that saw 100 of our past and future Wood Badge trained volunteers come out to catch up with one another at the Boeger Leadership Lodge.

Adventure Base 100 & Canyon Camp Work Day

Another busy weekend last week.  It started with a bus ride into Chicago to support the Adventure Base 100 stop at Douglas Park.  Steve James helped organize the Blackhawk Area Council contingent.  We received compliments from the Chicago Area Council staff both the number of volunteers and how we handled things.  I received an email that showed the Chicago stop had the second highest turnout behind only the Pasedena Rose Parade stop over New Years.  There was just shy of 13k visitors.  Great job by everyone involved.

As it turns out the requirements for another new merit badge, Scouting Heritage, were just released and a visit to Adventure Base 100 meets one of the requirements.  So those Boy Scouts that came out to visit or help have a start on earning that merit badge.

Last weekend was also the Canyon Camp work day sponsored by the Monroe Kiwanis.  I was out on Sunday and helped finish up the new tent platforms that were started on Saturday.  They had over 50 people out on Saturday and got a lot of work done.

This weekend is also a busy weekend with the Camp Properties Workshop, BALOO & WLOT training sessions, Jamboree Shakedown, and the Wood Badge Reunion Dinner.  I hope to see some of you around.

Tour de Blackhawk, Silver Dollars, Pinewood Derby, Galena, Johll Bead Ceremony

Don't miss out on the early registration discount for the Tour de Blackhawk which ends this week (May 1).  All the information can be found at www.blackhawkscouting.org/2010Events/TourDeBlackhawk/TourDeBlackhawk.htm.  John Wurtzel and his committee are putting together a great event.  There is something for everyone with rides from as few as 8 miles to about 100 miles.  There are also some bike rodeos planned for the Cub Scouts.  This is something completely different that Blackhawk Area Council has never done before.  If you are available to help on the day of the event John is looking for some volunteers for various duties.  Just fill out the volunteer form (http://www.blackhawkscouting.org/2010Events/TourDeBlackhawk/TourStaffApplication.pdf) or send John a note.

The BSA Silver Dollars are selling out.  The uncirculated dollars are already gone and there is less than a week's supply of the proofs left.  Don't miss out, by law the mint can not make more.

Two weekends ago the Council Pinewood Derby was conducted by Bob Gingras and his team, which seemed to draw a lot from the Mighty Pack 5, put on another great event.  I received a number of compliments about the event while at the Winnebago Culvers on Saturday.

I even got to race my car on the Worlds Longest Track ... well at least part of it. It wouldn't all fit in the building.  My car took a big lead at the beginning before being passed on the straight by Jerry Coots' Wanchanagi Key 3 car and Rick Sanner's super special.  Unfortunately for them their cars were both disqualified for having illegal wheels.

Last weekend was the U.S. Grant Pilgrimage in Galena.  There was a tremendous turn out for the event this year far surpassing last year's attendance.  The Pilgrimage committee did a great job adding a number of new things this year.  There was a new Venturing Trail Hike, which was more challenging, a GPS Trail Hike, and some new activities like a zip line.  The OA had lines of Cub Scouts participating in an ever growing list of activities that included a monkey bridge, knot tying, bear bag toss, and compass work.  We had nine Generals this year that participated in a scavenger hunt.  If you got all nine you could get a special scavenger hunt pin.  The Army Golden Knights parachute team was present but unable to jump because of the low ceiling.  They did march in the parade and had a signing session following the parade.  I stayed at Canyon Camp with the Sycamore District Venturers which is slowly becoming a tradition for all the Ventuers to stay together.

Sunday I was in Cuba City, Wi (just north of Galena) for Greg Johll's Wood Badge Bead Ceremony.  As part of Greg's ticket he developed an informational video about Diabetes that can help educate volunteers.  We had four of his grandchildren (two Boy Scouts and two Cub Scouts) help with the ceremony.  I hope to get a copy of that picture to post.

Now its time to get ready for Adventure Base 100 on Saturday.  The BSA traveling exhibit will be in Douglas Park in Chicago this weekend and Blackhawk Area Council will be working there on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.