Friday, February 26, 2010

March 13, 2010 - Pacific Life Pac-10 Tournament Scout Day

Pacific Life Pac-10 Tournament Scout Day
Saturday, March 13th at 3 pm
Staples Center

Come join your fellow Scouts at the Championship Game of the Pacific Life Pac-10 Men's Basketball Tournament this March!

Groups of 10+

  • One free ticket for every 10 purchased
  • Savings off individual ticket price
  • Preferred group seating
  • Troop welcome on Jumbotron

Tickets start at $25


For more information or to purchase seats call
Nicole Musso at (213) 742-7396 or email nmusso@aegworldwide.com

Monday, February 22, 2010

April 18, 2010 - Soap Box Derby

Triunfo YMCA Announces 2010 Soap Box Derby and Healthy Kids Day

  • Soap Box races again open to the public to enter
  • Healthy Kids Day to promote healthy living for the children
  • Boy Scout BBQ, attractions for the whole family, and more

February 21, 2010 - Westlake Village, CA - Triunfo YMCA has announced the return of Soap Box Derby and Healthy Kids Day in Westlake Village. Sponsored by the City of Westlake Village, Farmers Insurance, and others, the event is set for Sunday, April 18th, 2010.

The Soap Box Derby is being held alongside Healthy Kids Day, with an Antique and Classic Car Show, and "family fun day" with a BBQ.

These are real Soap Box Car races (e.g., cars the kids ride inside unlike Pinewood Derby). The race is for kids from 7-17, and this year again is open to all in the area to participate. In prior years, there were as many as 125 kids registered to race, and a race was completed every 1.8 minutes for 4+ hours.

Everyone is invited to attend, and the community is invited to participate as well in both the Soap Box Derby as well as the car show.

Event Date: Sunday, April 18, 2010

Event open: 11am - 3pm
Races: 11am - approx. 3pm
Car Show: 11am - 1:30pm

Location:
Farmers Insurance Building Parking Lot
Opposite City of Westlake Village City Hall
31051 Agoura Road, Westlake Village

An event like this cannot happen without the generous support of our sponsors, including:

  • City of Westlake Village
  • Farmers Insurance Group
  • Milestone Car Society of California

For more information, contact the Triunfo YMCA at (818) 707-YMCA, or see pictures of last year's event, get more information, or register to drive in Soap Box Races at the Soap Box web site.

Anyone that wants to build a soap box car and race, should look at the above web page for information on kits, forms, etc.

Fly Fishing merit badge

Learn to fly fish by attending the free Casting School classes and campout presented by Sierra Pacific Fly Fishers and merit badge counselor Rob Kassan (Troop 485).  These classes are open to all Scouts, adults and friends.

Dates and Times:

  • Saturday, March 20, 2010 @ 8:30 am - Registration and Orientation
  • Saturday, April 3, 2010 @ 8:30 am - Late Registration and Class #1
  • Saturday, April 10, 2010 @ 9:00 am - Class #2
  • Saturday, April 17, 2010 @ 9:00 am - Class #3*
  • April 30 to May 2 - Graduation and Fly Fishing Trip, Owens River

Registration and classes are held at Reseda High School (18230 Kittridge St., Reseda, CA 91335).  Enter the parking lot from Kittridge.  Look for the Sierra Pacific Flyfishers banner.  Park, then walk to the auditorium.  Please be on time.

*For those attending Las Colinas Camporee on April 17, there will be a make-up class for this session - date TBA

You will cover all ten requirements for the badge with the instructors and adult leaders, learn to fly fish, enjoy the outdoors, and be able to go on a great camping-fishing weekend.  Many of the requirements are also requirements of the Fishing merit badge.  You can work on the two badges simultaneously.  Don’t have your own gear?  No worries - fly fishing and fishing equipment is available to borrow.

RSVP to Dr. Rob Kassan at rkassan@smbp.com or call him for more information at (818) 735-0398

Or contact Brett Meissner, Troop 485 First Class Scout at (805) 493-2778

Also - please visit Sierra Pacific Fly Fishers website for more detailed information about the casting classes.

Please RSVP by March 10th.  Don’t miss out on this great opportunity!

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

February 27, 2010 - Matthew Muir's Eagle project

This is a great way to satisfy the community service requirements for merit badges, especially Citizenship in the Community.

Matthew Muir's Eagle Scout Service Project
Volunteers Needed!

Date: Saturday, February 27, 2010

Time: 8 am through 4 pm (or until done)
(Breakfast and Lunch will be provided)

Place:
Our Lady of Perpetual Help School (OLPH)
23233 Lyons Avenue
Santa Clarita, CA 91321
(OLPH school is located at the back of OLPH church)

Supplies needed: Please bring paint brushes, hammers, and safety gloves. Also, wear clothing that can get dirty.

Service Project: We will be building, staining, and planting planter boxes.

RSVP: Please contact Matthew Muir at: (661) 753-9464 or at Mmsq2313@aol.com

March 20-21, 2010 - Evan Burman's Eagle project

Eagle project:
Camp Josepho
Cleaning out the path into and on the way to the Camp
Saturday and Sunday March 20/21
If anyone can donate money and work equipment that would be very helpful.

My contact information is Evan Burman
email: evanburman@gmail.com
telephone: (818) 909-9978

Saturday, February 13, 2010

2010 Boy Scouts of America Centennial Commemorative Coin

The Boy Scouts of America Centennial Commemorative Coin Act (Public Law 110-363), signed into law on October 8, 2008, authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue up to 350,000 silver dollar coins in commemoration of the centennial anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America.  As authorized, the United States Mint will produce silver dollar coins in proof and uncirculated qualities.

Surcharges from this commemorative coin program are authorized to be paid to the National Boy Scouts of America Foundation, which will make funds available to local councils in the form of grants for the extension of scouting in hard-to-serve areas.


We expect this limited quantity of coins to sell fast!  While orders cannot be placed in advance, beginning at noon (ET) on March 23, 2010 orders can be placed through the United States Mint at www.usmint.gov or at (800) USA-MINT.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Boy Scouts of America to be featured on Jeopardy!

The Boy Scouts of America is proud to announce that we will be a featured category on the February 25 episode of Jeopardy!. This is a tremendous opportunity to extend our brand footprint to a nationally televised audience during our 100-year celebration.

Jeopardy! has been the top-rated television game show for several years. Having the opportunity to align our brand and movement with such a highly visible platform is strategically sound and organizationally exciting.

Be sure to stay tuned for the entire show, including the commercial breaks, because the BSA will be spotlighted during the first or second commercial break.

Brand Management would like to thank Scout Executive Jim Martin and the staff at the Golden Empire Council for supporting this effort.

Please check your local listings for stations and times in your area.

If you have questions, please contact Eric Moore at the BSA national office at eric.moore@scouting.org.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

In Memory: G.W. "Bill" Hunt, 1927 - 2010



G.W. (Bill) Hunt passed away yesterday in Santa Cruz with daughter Catherine and son John at his bedside. Bill was 82 and a member of our Scout Executive Board for many years. He was a long-time Scoutmaster for Troop One in Santa Monica after resurrecting it in about 1961. He was awarded the Silver Beaver and was Council Commissioner. Bill was truly the spirit and financial muscle behind the Josepho Pool, completed in 1991. In addition to his daughter and son, Bill leaves behind daughter-in-law Teresa Clayton, two grandchildren (Meghan and Rylan), and son-in-law Tom Alspach. As a Past President of the Rotary Club of Santa Monica he entertained often with his quick wit and "Boom Bass" music. He will be truly missed.

Kent Colberg



Bill was an incredibly warm and positive guy, and always had a joke, and a good one. His Scouting trademark was the Baden Powell full brim hat and Scout staff, and he was large enough to be BP. But he was larger in life, particularly in his lifelong support of Camp Josepho, the pool and pool house and his tireless fundraising for those projects.

In later years, he often attended St. Matthews in Pacific Palisades, always asked me about the Council and Troop and always had a word of encouragement and a positive suggestion for the cause.

I miss him!

Mike Lanning

Scout completes Eagle Project of monumental proportions

The Boy Scouts of America organization marked its 100th anniversary Monday, and a young man from Woods Cross completed a remarkable eagle project to coincide.

The pedestal from Unlimited Designs is based on a Norman Rockwell painting. It weighs 2,500 pounds. The design of the Scout is based on a drawing by Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting.

The new monument stands 17 and a half feet tall.

Monday, February 8, 2010

April 10-11, 2010 - Fishing trip

To All Scout Leaders, it's time for us to have a little fun.  It's time again for our Adult Leader fishing trip.  We are doing an overnight ocean fishing trip to the outer Channel Islands.  We will be fishing on the Pacific Islander, one of the best overnight fishing boats around.  Boat leaves on Saturday night April 10th at 10:00pm and we fish on Sunday.  Everyone will have their own individual bunks with blankets and pillows included.

We will be fishing for bottom fish and anything else that may be around.  This is the best time to fish since January and February are closed to fishing and April 1st is the opening of Ling Cod season - and there are a lot of big ones out there who can't wait to go home with you!  If you've never gone ocean fishing before this is the perfect trip - we guarantee you will catch fish!!!

This trip is for those Scout leaders and parents 18 years or older.  If you have a friend who wants to go with you that will be OK based on space available.  This trip sells out each year, if you want to go send in your money quickly to guarantee your spot.  Glenn and I are only taking limited load of 25 22 on this large boat so there is lots of room to fish.  Price is only $150 $135 which includes $10 towards your galley tab.  First-paid first-fishing, get your money in ASAP to reserve your spot.   Rod rentals and fishing licenses are available at the boat, but it is a good idea to pick up your license locally, sometimes they sell out.  We have a blast on this trip, just ask anyone who's gone before.  Send me an email if you are interested or for any other info you may need.  Hope to see you on board...........Paul and Glenn

May 21-23, 2010 - High Adventure Boy Scout Cycling

Antelope Valley District and Troop 737 present
The Big Ride
High Adventure Boy Scout Cycling

Three fantastic rides:
  • 25 Miles
  • 50 Miles
  • 100 Miles


Earn one of the great High Adventure Cycling Awards
or do your 25- or 50-mile Cycling Merit Badge ride

Just Added!
25 km Webelos Cycling Award Ride

May 21-23 (Friday through Sunday)

Will J. Reid Scout Park
4747 Daisy Avenue, Long Beach
Camping Right next to the LA River Bike Path!

$19.00 gets you:
  • Maps
  • Refreshment stops during the ride
  • Overnight Camping
  • Saturday night Campfire
  • Event Patch

For registration info - Contact:
Vance Pomeroy (661) 361-5619 punchbowl4@earthlink.net

Hurry! - Space is limited
First paid, first reserved

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Boy Scout tells leaders why he stayed 25 years

Richard and Claudia Coleman are the leaders of Troop 409 - a troop for Boy Scouts with special needs in Pensacola, Fla. Richard joined the troop in 1987. He had two daughters, so his time with the troop became a "night out with the boys." Claudia was the troop's assistant scoutmaster.

Trail's End photo contest winner from Troop 356

Congratulations! 

Your photo has been chosen as a winner of the 2009 Trail's End Best Popcorn Pix Contest.  Thanks to your Scout's creative photo and use of Trail's End popcorn, he'll be receiving a Nintendo DS-Lite direct from Trail's End Popcorn Company.  Scouts entered over 1,400 photos via BestPopcornPix.com and his photo was considered one of the best by a panel of popcorn experts!

Thanks for being a part of this exciting contest and for selling Trail's End Popcorn.  Be sure to look for the new packaging next year with some of the winning Scouts' photography.  Over 35 winning photos will be featured on the artwork!  All 100 winning photos will be posted online at trails-end.com.

We hope you have an excellent year in Scouting!

Trail's End Popcorn Company

Leave No Trace: Boy Scouts get shipping-container cabins in California

For thirty years, L.A.-area Boy Scouts have been convening on Catalina Island for wilderness retreats. Naturally, when it came time to overhaul their Army-style bunkers, the organization wanted to minimize its environmental impact. So they turned to Gensler, which produced the EcoCabin, a cabin-in-a-box solution using shipping containers.

February 27, 2010 - Jamboree Troop 830 Merit Badge Midway and Adult CPR class

Western Los Angeles County Council
Boy Scout Jamboree Troop 830
Merit Badge Midway and Adult CPR Class

Saturday, February 27th
9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Sylmar High School
13050 Borden Avenue
Sylmar, CA 91342

For Information:
Erik Freeland (661) 755-7195 erik.freeland@gmail.com
Marty Kasman (626) 688-0355 m.kasman@ca.rr.com

Cost: $5 per Scout

Lowe's Pinewood Derby car workshops

Lowe's Home Improvement Stores are having a workshop each Saturday at the stores where Cub Scouts and their parents or other adult mentors can come and work on the Scouts' Pinewood Derby racer using the store's Dremel tools, etc. free.  The workshop at our local store is from 11 AM to 1 PM.  If you don't have a Pinewood Derby kit, they carry the Dremel Pinewood Derby Truck Kit for $19.97.

There are helpful craftsmen at Lowe's who are willing to give pointers on using their tools and seem to be very supportive of Scouting in general.

Chuck Byers
Bill Hart District

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

February 20-21, 2010 - Troop 92 Webelos Overnight

Experience the Path to 1st Class Scout
February 20 - 21, 2010
Oak Park
901 Quimisa
Simi Valley, CA
(805) 527-6886

Check-in at 10am on Saturday, February 20th
Check-out at 12 noon on Sunday

Cost for the overnight for all food:

  • Webelos (1st and 2nd year) - free
  • Adults - $10
  • Siblings - $7

Advanced reservations required

Call Troop 92 Scoutmaster (Norbert Soski) at (818) 360-5159 or e-mail at norbsoski@yahoo.com

Webelos must be accompanied by one parent (or guardian) for the overnight.

Please provide the following:

  • Name of Webelos
  • Name of parent (or legal guardian)
  • Address
  • Telephone number
  • E-mail address

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Troop 513 spring merit badge clinics

Troop 513 will hold its 2010 Spring Merit Badge Clinics on the following dates:

  • February 22
  • March 8
  • March 29

Place

OLPH Church Hall
23233 Lyons Avenue
Newhall, CA 91321

Merit Badges

Attendance from 5:30 to 6:30 pm on all 3 dates is required.

  • Citizenship in the Community
    • Requirement #7 - Volunteer hours scheduled for
        Saturday, February 27th - 8am
        OLPH Church/School
        23233 Lyons Avenue
        Newhall, CA 91321
  • Citizenship in the Nation
  • Journalism
  • Pets

Merit Badges for Initial/Final Consultation with Counselor

Scouts can come between 5 and 6 pm on any of the 3 dates listed above with their worksheet for Initial and Final consultations only.  Scouts can stay and work on their paperwork from 5:30 to 6:30 pm.

  • Family Life
  • Personal Management
  • Reading
  • Public Health
  • Scholarship

Those First Class/Star scouts needing service hours for rank advancement can also sign up to help the counselors run the classes.

Notes

  • It is very important that Scouts bring a copy of the most current merit badge book that they will be working on.
  • There will be book reading sessions during clinic classes.
  • A Scout can only work on one merit badge at a time (with the exception of initial/final consultations).
  • Class A uniform is required.
  • Each Scout should have a blue card signed by his Scoutmaster.

This clinic is free.

To sign up for merit badge requirements, it is important that interested scouts email Jocelyn Reyes (Scoutmaster) at jreyes98@aol.com prior to February 22nd, 2010.

Thank you!

Jocelyn Reyes
Scoutmaster - Troop 513
(661) 367-6455

May 29, 2010 - Memorial Day Flag Placement

Again this year the Scouts will be placing flags on the graves at the
Los Angeles National Cemetery in West Los Angeles
950 South Sepulveda Blvd.

Parking will be in the Veterans Administration facilities through the tunnel on Constitution Avenue as it was last year.

We will start at 8:00 am; you must be there by 7:30 am in order to get signed in and receive your location map.  Sign in starts at 7:00 am.

Do not remove any of these flags from the cemetery grounds.

All Scouts and adults must be in full Class A uniform, including hats.

Leaders are expected to explain to their Scouts the reason for the Memorial Day ceremony.  The Scouts must be made aware of appropriate behavior while at the cemetery.  Do not let the Scouts make any unnecessary noise or run around while in the cemetery.

Do not bring any food onto the cemetery grounds.

Each troop or pack should bring their unit flags with them, as they will be displayed in front of the assembly facing the stage during the presentations.

In an effort to show reverence and respect to our fallen heroes, as well as to conduct ourselves in a manner befitting the Scouting organizations we serve, the following rules and guidelines are to be observed by all who participate:

  • Adults and senior Scouts should instruct any of the youth for whom they are responsible as to the rules and guidelines, and should be aware of and correct any misbehavior that may occur.
  • Participants should walk, not run in or around the cemetery grounds.
  • Participants should be respectful of the cemetery, its staff, and other Scouts.
  • Do not climb, sit or stand in or on trees, poles, monuments and/or the cannon.
  • Quiet service is a worthwhile goal; there should be no unnecessary noise.
  • Food should not be brought onto the cemetery grounds. Bottled water is the only refreshment allowed. There should be no coolers, coffee, donuts, etc.
  • The Cemetery is not a park or playground. Balls, Frisbees, AirSoft guns, handheld computer games, music devices and other electronics are prohibited.
  • Flowers should be respected and not picked. Do not throw anything.
  • Pets or animals are not to be brought onto the cemetery grounds (with the exception of a seeing-eye dog or other assistant to humans).
  • Respect the flags you will be given. Treat them with great care. Protect them and keep them in the cemetery.
  • Please assign one or two Scouts or an adult leader from your unit to pick up flags at a flagbox nearest to your assigned area. You will be issued 1 or 2 bundles per person participating with your unit.
  • Distribution of the flags will be done in an organized and orderly manner; please respect the Scouts and Cadets who will be issuing the flags. There should be no fighting for nor hoarding of the flags.
  • This is neither a race nor a contest. Please walk slowly and deliberately from grave marker to grave marker.
  • When you are ready to place the flag, address the grave marker, read the name(s) of the person(s) buried there, and place the flag directly in front of the grave marker so that the flag is between you and the grave marker.
  • The flag should be placed 2 inches firmly into the ground and 1 foot in front of the grave marker, taking care that the flag stands straight and true.
  • Only one flag should be placed at each grave marker, regardless of how many names are on the grave marker.
  • Once the flag has been placed, stand up, observe a moment of silence, and salute.
  • Once your area has been completed, please report back to the sign in area so that you can be checked out and receive further instructions.

Yours in Scouting,

Richard A. Marcus
West Los Angeles County Council - Boy Scouts of America
Chairman - Memorial Day Activities Committee
(310) 397-4696 (home)
(310) 721-9908 (cell)
ramarcus99@aol.com

Monday, February 1, 2010

May through September 2010 - Wood Badge training

I want to make everyone in our Council aware of an opportunity to attend Wood Badge for the 21st Century in 2010.  Our neighbors in the Los Angeles Area Council are offering a course May 6-8 and June 10-12, 2010 (Thursday-Saturday), as well as another later in the year August 20-22 and September 18-20, 2010.


Wood Badge is a wonderful leadership training program that will have a positive impact on the boys you serve and the adults you interact with.  I will be serving on the staff of the May/June course and am happy to answer any questions you may have.  If you are interested in attending this course, please contact me at Eric.Miele@gmail.com or the Course Director, Lincoln Hyde, at Lincoln@pacbell.net

Regards,
Eric Miele
Balboa Oaks District