Annual Meeting Notice

The Annual Business Meeting of the Bay-Lakes Council will be held on Monday, April 18, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. at LIBERTY HALL, 800 Eisenhower Drive in Kimberly.

Hors de’ oeuvres will be served at 6:30 P.M. followed by the Annual Meeting, election of Officers, Executive Board Members, Advisory Council members and National Council Representatives. 

If you have individuals you would like to recommend to serve on the Bay-Lakes Council Board, please forward their names and contact information to the Center for Scouting – attention Council Nominating Committee Chair, by January 15, 2016.

 

Silver Beaver Award

 Deadline for nominations is approaching quickly - December 31, 2015

Nominate someone you know who is deserving of this award. The Silver Beaver award is the highest award of recognition that may be presented to an adult volunteer by a local council. The Bay-Lakes Council has a rich and proud tradition of recognizing top caliber individuals for their unselfish and dedicated work and commitment to Scouting in northeast Wisconsin. The selection process is taken very seriously ensuring the award maintains its status and prestige.  

To nominate a deserving volunteer for this award, click here.

 

Museum News

The Scouts from Pack 3948 took an idea from the past and made it their own today. Their Den Leader Julie Klinzing saw this old vest at the Fall Mom & Son event at Camp Rokilio in September and took pictures.

   

This is what Julie said about the Scouts, "The boys worked hard. They had a Friday off of school and spent the whole day together making vests and working on adventures. Roofing nails and hammers were used for the holes. By the time we finished, they were pros. A few tender thumbs, but none worse for the wear." Julie precut the pattern for each boy. They used Bonnie Craft Cord for the stiching.

Julie was one proud leader once they had finished. Best of all, it was great seeing the excitement over their own accomplishment!

 

Want to Leave a Legacy?

The Heritage Society has been established by the Bay-Lakes Council, Boy Scouts of America, to recognize those who believe in preserving the tradition and values of Scouting, as well as perpetuating its future for generations to come.

The Heritage Society is a program for individuals that include Scouting in their Estate Planning or make an outright gift to the Endowment Fund of the Bay-Lakes Council, Boy Scouts of America. For more information about how you and/or your family camp preserve Scoutings future click here.

 

Year-End Finances

Please help us finish the year strong by fulfilling your 2015 Friends of Scout Pledge or by making a year-end gift to support Scouting in Bay-Lakes Council.

2015 has been another great year for programs and activities, but for the first time in many years, our financial position is very tight. We’re relying on the pledges from earlier in the year to be paid to meet our income need. If you’ve already given, thank you! And if you’re in a position to make an additional gift for 2015, it would be greatly appreciated.

We want to lead by example and be good stewards of the investments made by you and others throughout the community by living within our means and having a balanced budget. We’ve been able to manage our expense and when our outstanding pledges are paid, we will be able to report another positive financial year – but we need your support!

Pledge payments should be sent to the Center for Scouting PO Box 267 Appleton, WI 54912. Additional gifts can be mailed in to the Center For Scouting as well, or you can make a donation on-line by clicking here. As a reminder, gifts need to be postmarked no later than 12/31 in order to claim them on your 2015 taxes; but help us know where we stand by sending in your donation today!

 

Youth Protection Training

DEADLINE IS APPROACHING FOR YOUTH PROTECTION TRAINING MANDATE

In order to be able to process a charter renewal all adult leaders must have current Youth Protection Training on record within the last two years before the deadline of December 31, 2015. For more than 100 years, Scouting has been a special place for children, both literally and figuratively. Even in today’s world, Scouting is one of the safest places for a youth to be involved. We want to make it easy for each unit to contribute to keep Scouting safe for everyone, youth and adults alike. To ease this process, the Bay-Lakes Council has provided all of the Youth Protection Training videos and links to E-learning sites on our website, located at:  www.baylakesbsa.org. Click Training and then Click Youth Protection Training. You may also access youth protection training in the E-Learning section at my.scouting.org.  

 

Council Training

The Council Program Committee and Training Committee feel so strongly about about “Trained Leaders” including protection of youth members that they have mandated that all leaders be current in Youth Protection Training by recharter time on December 31, 2015. Those leaders that aren't YPT trained at recharter time will not be renewed. They will be notified that they are no longer a registered leader along with instructions on how to renew their YPT so that they can regain their volunteer status. In the meantime, the application will be pulled or removed from the recharter pending the renewal of YPT.

Parents expect us, the Bay-Lakes Council, to provide quality programs and keep their children safe at events and with their respective leaders. The background check done on all leaders along with YPT training ensures that happens. See the Council training website page for detailed directions on adult leader training. For more information, click here.

 

Charter Renewal

Internet Charter Renewal is the BSA’s web-based method for units to renew their charters from any online location—at home, the office or anywhere you have internet access. It’s easy, convenient, and accurate because you enter the information yourself! Access information at www.baylakesbsa.org. Click on Resources, Click on Volunteer Support and Click on Internet Rechartering to access all of the necessary tools to complete your 2016 charter renewal. Access the Internet rechartering information by clicking here.

 

Help a less fortunate Scout through Ethan’s Giving Tree

 

The Bay-Lakes Council is providing an opportunity for the Scouting community to help local Scout members who may be in need of uniforms and uniform items.

This help will be done through The Ethan Giving Tree program starting November 14 through December 19, 2015. The Ethan Giving Tree program works on a donation basis. An Ethan tree (similar to an Angel tree) will be set up at the Bay-Lakes Scout Shop and Bay-Lakes North Scout Shop with Ethan cards on it. Each card will have the first name of the Scout along with the uniform items that they need. There will also be a space for other items they may want such as books, crafts, camping items, etc. Customers and Scout supporters can purchase the item(s) in the Scout Shop and give them to the store staff to collect for each child.

Name of the individual(s) will remain confidential. As the donations are collected you will be contacted to arrange pickup.

We need your assistance to make this project a success. Please click here to print out a request form and return to Brian.Robb@Scouting.org. If you have any additional questions please contact Brian by email or phone at 920-734-5705.

 

While Supplies Last

We wanted to insure everyone who wanted to purchase a Farewell to Camp Maywood Wilderness Patch, Back Patch or T-shirt  was aware that a few still remain and are available at the Center for Scouting.

Standard Patch - $2.00

Back Patch - $6.00

T-Shirts $10.00

For availability contact Sheri Doege at the Center for Scouting: (920) 734-5705 or Sheri.Doege@Scouting.org

 

BSA Anniversary

February 8, 2016 is the official birthday of Scouting and the 7th  - 13th is Scouting’s Anniversary Week. Make it special for the entire community. Here are some more ideas:

• Do a large community service project
• Have Cub Scouts attend school in uniform.
• Conduct a Court of Honor and invite the local officials, teachers, past unit leaders and Eagle Scouts, and other members of the community to attend
• Hold a Pack Blue and Gold Banquet and plan for each den to do a skit or work on a project during the month to share and do a the pack meeting that is related to the history of Scouting
• Take lots of pictures and get them in the local newspaper and share them on Social Media

Whatever you do, please do something and make it as big as it can be. Make it special, make it fun and enjoy the moment.

 

Scout Sunday/Scout Sabbath

Scout Sunday is February 7, 2016 and Scout Sabbath is Saturday, February 13^th. Every Unit in the Council should plan now to be part of a religious service either at a church/synagogue that is the chartered organization or somewhere else in the community where the unit exists. There are many ways a Unit can participate that include but are not limited to:

 

• Having all youth and leaders in full uniform seated at the front during service
• Have Scouts hand out bulletins as parishioners arrive
• Have leaders serve as ushers
• Be part of the service by reading scripture
• Ask the lead clergy person to use the Scout Oath and/or Law as part of the message
• Have the Chartered Organization Representative (C.O.R.) present the unit with its charter
• Ask for time for the COR or leader to speak briefly about the activities the unit has done.
• Schedule a service project in or around the church that day/week
• Have a pot-luck after the service in honor of Scouting/Hold a Court of Honor
• Schedule and Eagle Ceremony for after the service
• Invite family and friends who many not have a religious affiliation to attend in honor of Scout Sunday/Sabbath

 

Help Scouting be seen for the Positive force for good that it is!

Doing a Good Turn Daily is the hallmark of Scouting. Help us spread the good news about what your unit is doing to provide invaluable support to other community organizations. We want to make it simple to track our impact providing community service throughout the Council. To date, we’re behind last year and need everyone to take a few minutes during this busy time of year to log your community service hours before the end of the year.

You can still log your hours at https://servicehours.scouting.org/UI/Security/Login.aspx with your user name and password if you like; however using this link, Service Hour Report link, you can complete a simple form with your Unit number, date and name of the project, # of youth and adults participating, and the total hours. It’s that simple and will help Scouting in Bay-Lakes Council be better recognized for our work throughout the area.

Thanks in advance for your commitment to teaching the importance of service to others and demonstrating the Scout Slogan – Do A Good Turn Daily.

 

Fun for the Whole Family

Resch Center Events

 

Want to know the latest on New Units, Eagle Scout recipients, Leader Recognition and Religious Emblem recipients?