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 31, 2016.

 

Updated Version of Scouting’s Barriers to Abuse Now Available

The BSA has adopted policies for the safety and well-being of its members. These policies primarily protect youth members; however, they also serve to protect adult leaders. Parents and youth using these safeguards outside the Scouting program further increase the safety of their youth. Scout leaders in positions of youth leadership and supervision outside the Scouting program will find these policies help protect youth in those situations as well. Click here to view document.

 

Deadline Past for Youth Protection Training Mandate

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. 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. The deadline of December 31, 2015 for completion is now past. If you still need to complete training please do so immediately.

 

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.

 

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?