The Trailblazer Newsletter

October 2015 Moraine Trails Council The Trailblazer Newsletter

Youth Protection Training- Scouting Safe Program for our Youth _____Popcorn Sale 2015! Youth protection is the most important program for our youth that the BSA has developed and is mandatory to be a Scouting leader no matter With the loss of more than $17,000 in United Way funding, the Moraine the registered position. Leadership commitment Trails Council staff and board members deeply appreciate our local units pro- to the established BSA Youth Protection Pro- moting and conducting this year’s popcorn sale. So far, over a dozen units gram is essential in keeping youth safe and a have picked up more popcorn to sell as the show n sell campaign has been part of a successful life changing program. going very well. Below are key dates for October including the Take Order Youth protection only works when EVERYONE in sale fill a sheet drawings for three weeks for prizes. Don’t forget to send in a Scouting has been trained in the Youth Protec- unit photo for our Show n Sell display table contest! See the Council website tion Program and then holds every peer ac- for details. countable when delivering the program. Key Dates: MyScouting.org is an online resource to take October 9, 16, 23 Take Order Sale “Fill a Sheet Program” prize drawings! online Youth Protection training. The Council also supplies Youth Protection DVD’s to units for Scouts scan, fax or mail a copy of their take order form filled with sales to free and has computers at the Scout Service [email protected] or fax to 724-287-0400. Center for use in taking the online training. October 29 Please make an appointment if you need these Show n Sell product return deadline. Only full cases of products may be re- resources. turned, but must be returned prior to or on this day. NO RETURNS ACCEPTED Leadership selection: chartered organizations AFTER THIS DAY. $500 product return limit. must interview potential leaders, check references, and have the unit committee review the * POPCORN TAKE ORDERS DUE ONLINE OR TO COUNCIL SERVICE CENTER. application as well to ensure only the best people are being selected, people who will follow * PRIZE ORDERS DUE ONLINE to qualify for bonus commissions. the procedures and be FULLY TRAINED as leaders. Create barriers to child abuse: leaders and unit * SHOW ‘n SELL PAYMENT DUE to qualify for bonus commissions. committee members, as well as Council and district staff and volunteers, create barriers to abuse by enforcing the youth protection poli- cies. _____ONLINE SELLING, ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY Reporting improper behavior is the next step in identifying offenders and removing them from FOR SCOUTS the program and having the authorities inves- tigate. Youth can be trained in how to report and respond to perpetrators through the Cub The top scout seller in the Moraine Trails Council will win a PS4 or may Scout video “A Time to Tell” and the Boy Scout choose a $200 Walmart gift card. The unit must e-mail the top online selling and Venturing “It Happened to Me” videos. Go scout to [email protected] by October 29, 2015. to Scouting.org for more information on these resources. More than $16,000 in online sales occurred in our Council 2013-14. All incidences need to be reported to the Scout Service Center immediately so offenders can be The online unit commission is 35% for all sales. How Scouts create an account: reported to authorities and removed from Scouting. Again, shared involvement at all lev- 1.Go to www.trails-end.com. els of our Scouting program will best achieve 2.On the upper right side of the home page click on scout. our number one mission, keeping youth safe. 3.On the upper right side click on create account. 4.You will need to know the following to create the account: Your Council is Moraine Trails Your district selections are: *Continued on the next page.* Moraine Trails Council The Trailblazer Newsletter October 2015

Cont’d from page 1: ONLINE SELLING, ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR SCOUTS

Glacier Ridge (Butler County) King Beaver (Lawrence County) River Valley (Armstrong and Westmoreland Counties)

Your pack, troop, or crew number A scout e-mail and parent e-mail (CANNOT BE THE SAME EMAIL) Create: Scout puts in his first name, last initial, email, make a user name and password (if it does not accept it then it is being used, pick another), use the drop down menu on the right side of page to select the council, district, and unit information required to link to the unit. Click on SIGN UP at the bottom. Click on “Spread the Word” on the top menu to send e-mails: add the persons e-mail and click on the continue button. Personalize the message from the drop down menu. Click continue Review message. Clicking continue sends the e-mail message. Repeat the process.

_____Charter Renewal Plan

During charter renewal, October, November and December, the intent is to reregister units on time with no, or minimal, losses in membership and adequate leadership. The commissioner and unit committee must conduct a thorough membership inventory of currently registered youth and adults. Contact all inactive members and attempt to reactivate them. Eve- ry effort should be made to recruit additional youth and adults so that the unit can reregister with no loss in membership. Also, be sure to register any youth who are participating but are not yet registered.

Using the information collected during the membership inventory, the unit’s Committee Chair will renew the charter online (Internet Rechartering). Committee Chairs will visit the Council’s website, complete the steps through the submittal process, and print a revised charter renewal application to bring to the unit’s charter renewal meeting for review, discus- sion, and approval. The charter renewal application and applications for new youth and adults are checked during this meeting. All forms and fees are then delivered at the district’s turn-in event at least 30 days before the charter renewal date. The Council will hold a turn-in event at Camp Bucoco – Preston Center on November 21, 2015 from 9am – Noon.

Adhering to the process will ensure units and members remain active. If a unit is separated from Scouting, it CANNOT le- gally operate in any capacity. An expired unit has no status with BSA, and as such, no BSA insurance to cover members or the chartered organization. Youth and adults cannot earn awards or recognition. Scout advancements or achievements - including Eagle Scout Rank - stops. An expected outcome of following the charter renewal process is that all unit charter renewal applications will post before charters and membership expires.

New for this year is a lower insurance premium cost. Units who have a combined total of $1,000 in direct support to the Moraine Trails Council through both popcorn sales and Friends of Scouting will not have to pay the $5 per registered member insurance fee.

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_____Fall Open House & Family Camp

OCTOBER 16th-18th, 2015 Mission to Camp Agawam!

BB, Archery, Slingshots, Cubmobiles, Paddle- boats, and much more! New Scouts are FREE Scouts $10 Family $30 Activities are from 9am-3pm All Day Satur- day, 10/17/15.

Also don’t forget your Rocket! There will be a limited supply for sale at the Trading Post.

CAMP AGAWAM 3956 Frew Mill Rd New Castle, PA 16101 Morainetrails.org 724-287-6791 [email protected]

We got to go back, “’Pack’ to the Pumpkin Patch!” Fall Family Camp and Open House at Camp Agawam is just around the corner on October 17, 2015. You’re welcome to camp Friday night through Sunday morning. There are all sorts of fun activities to participate in at our Family Camp/Open House. Bring your Rocket into Scouting Rockets to launch at Camp Aga- wam, if you have a returning scout you are welcome to bring your own rocket, engine and ignitors. We will have a very limited amount of prebuilt rockets available in the trading post for $5.00 each that include one launch. We will also have some new activities to take part in such as Electromagnets and Ga-Ga Dodgeball, as well as some old favorites including Cubmobile racing and Tie-Dye shirts (Bring your own white shirt).

We will also be bringing back the Pumpkin Catapult to stop an alien invasion. Your pack will also have the opportunity to build your own alien scarecrow, we will supply clothing, straw and basic materials but you are welcome to bring other supplies to put your packs special touch on your alien. Friday night the activities will get underway around 7:00 with our walk up movie playing “Back to the Future” Part 1 and Part 3 at the Mine, bring your blankets or chair and enjoy this clas- sic movie just in time for Back to the Future Day on October 21st 2015. Please register with Cindy in the Scout Shop at 724 -287-6791 by October 9th so we can assure we have plenty of program supplies.

Onsite registration will be from 6:30pm-8:00pm on Friday and 7:30am-8:30am on Saturday. Our Programs run from 9am- 3pm. Please bring a list of scouts with their rank to onsite registration in order to schedule your time for shooting sports. We look forward to seeing you there! Any questions or to volunteer to help with the day’s events please contact Bob Seman at [email protected] or at 724-216-2310.

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_____Council Recognition Dinner _____Service Hour Entries

Join your peers for a night out on Thursday, No- The National Office is requesting that our Council keep a vember 5th at 6:30PM at the White Barn in Pro- listing of service hours for every pack, troop and crew project. spect. This year’s Council recognition dinner is a mix of good food and fellowship as we recognize When your unit has completed a Service Hour Project, please the 2015 Silver Beaver award recipients. In addi- have the Project Leader send Pat [email protected] tion, we will recognize local unit achievements the following information: with regards to membership growth, popcorn sales, Journey to Excellence Gold units, service 1. The total number of scouts that worked on the project hour achievers, and more! The reservation form is 2. The total number of leaders that worked on the project on your unit program DVD or the Council website. 3. A description of the project You may also call Betty at the service center to call 4.The total number of hours it took to complete the project in your reservation. Ph. 724-287-6791 If your unit did service hours for an organization please give Email: [email protected] the name of the organization. Thank you very much for your help in this matter. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact Pat. _____Membership Ph. 724-287-6791

Added focus! Excitement! Energy! Three words that describe the latest trend in our Council’s results for the Rocket into Scouting membership plan! During the month of September Packs throughout the Moraine Trails Council recruited over 300+ new families into the Scouting program. Congratulations to the following packs for reaching their 5% membership goal: -Glacier Ridge: Pack’s 19, 20, 30, 31, 51, 217, 380, 406, 413 & 482 -King Beaver: Pack’s 733, 746, 757, 762 & 806 -River Valley: Pack’s 507, 525, 680

One thing that we can’t forget, is the ability of current Scouts to recruit their friends! We are extending the FREE rocket deadline for peer to peer recruitment through the end of October.

If your Pack’s sign-up night didn’t go as planned, let us know. We are willing to work with your unit to recruit enough new Scouts to help your unit succeed. Special promotions, including extending the Rocket into Scouting plan are available. Please contact your District Executive for additional details.

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_____Brookie Brotherhood

Brookie Brotherhood is our first event of the “New Year!” This event allows the lodge to meet to perform service, induct brotherhood members, and to have fun! This year’s theme will be Halloween, so bring cos- tumes! Information will be distributed on the new lodge officers and chairmen. November 1 will be a Business Meeting. Registration will begin Friday @ 7:00PM and the event will end Sunday around 11:00AM. Register for this event at the Council Ser- _____The Lodge Needs You! vice Center. Those who register at the Council Office by October 23rd will receive a free copy of the Lodge’s Blue Book. We will also outline plans for Conclave. Kuskitannee Lodge is only as successful as our membership. Our mission involves cheerful service and promotion of Camp Bucoco ($20.00 member, $38.00 those taking camping, but we do so much more! We hold elections for brotherhood) October 30, 31 and November 1 new members, numerous ceremonies throughout the year, dance and rum shows, service within the council, host re- gional events such as Conclave June 10-12 at Camp Bucoco… and the list goes on. To be successful, we rely solely on active membership and dedicated service. Did you know: Our dues paid membership has dropped by 85 members since 2013? We have dozens of new members inducted each year, so why do our numbers not keep growing to reflect that?

Please take time to discuss Kuskitannee Lodge with the youth and adults in your troop who are members, and be sure to send the sincere message that we need their help, their support, and we want to see them at events. The Lodge asks that each member make a commitment to be active, even at the most basic level and ensure they have their dues paid each year. We also ask members to attend as many events as they are able, and start with that commitment to support the lodge to the best of their ability. We have exciting plans on the horizon, and we want all those able to be part of them!

_____Did You Know… The OA Pocket Device

The OA Pocket device (catalog item number 604942) signifies that the wearer was called out into the Order of the Arrow. The pocket device can be worn with or without the local lodge’s flap/patch. Those Scout and Scouters who gained membership into the Order of the Arrow, but are no dues paid members in a local lodge, should wear the pocket device only. The pocket flap/patch of the local lodge is reserved for wear only by dues paid members of that Lodge.

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_____The Passing of Alex Stockmal _____Council Position Specific Required Training Policy & Upcoming Training We are saddened at the passing of Alex Stockmal, a longtime member of our Executive Board. Alex passed away on September 21. He was a staunch "Every Boy deserves a Trained Leader & Every Leader de- supporter of Boy Scouts. He was a veteran of the Ma- serves to be Trained." rine Corps specializing in avionics. He obtained a de- As a reminder, the Council's position specific training policy gree in physics from Saint Joseph’s University in Phila- takes full effect with this years recharter. All Adult Volunteer delphia. Through his career, he worked on many pro- leadership who is currently registered or who will be register- jects for companies contracted to the Department of ing as members of the Boy Scouts of America must have their Defense, the Department of Energy and NASA focus- youth protection and position specific training completed prior ing on highly sensitive projects primarily dealing with to recharter. Adult Volunteers who do not have their training optics and lasers. Alex was an avid amateur radio completed will unfortunately not be re-registered. enthusiast. He served as Scoutmaster for Bethel, CT. Troop 54. He received the Silver Beaver Award in There are several upcoming training opportunities in place to 2005. He was a life member of the Institute of Electri- help relieve the burden of finding a training course. cal and Electronic Engineers, Laser & Electro-Optic Society, American Physical Society, Optical Society of BALOO Training - October 10, 2015 9AM-5PM Preston Cen- America, Board of Directors of the Armstrong County ter (Camp Bucoco) $15 Chamber of Commerce, Armstrong Co. Educational Trust, Armstrong Co. Manufacturing Consortium and Scoutmaster & Assistant Scoutmaster Training - October 9- Indiana University of PA/Kittanning Campus Electro- 10, 2015 6PM Friday - 6PM Saturday $50 optics curriculum development committee. Alex Cub Leader Specific Training October 13, 21, 29, 2015 7:00 thought of himself as a good “corporate citizen”. He PM- 8:30 PM Location specific to District FREE will be missed by many. Can’t attend the in person trainings please visit the e-learning center at myscouting.org. For more information please contact Irv Gable at the Council Service Center at (724) 287-6791 ___Scoutreach or email [email protected].

Scoutreach is just getting ramped for the 2015-2016 school year. The core value for September is Coopera- tion so our first week the kids took part in cooperation games to work on their team building skills. We also worked on basic map reading skills with the kids, teaching them how to locate locations on a map using the index and also worked on some basic trip planning skills. We are looking forward to another exciting year of scouting adventures for the kids in the scoutreach program.

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___Memorial and Tribute Gifts ___Council Key 3

Thomas M. Shea

J. Fred Rentz Frank Girandi Council President The Bruce Family Doug Benninger Dr. Ted Casele Council Commissioner

Bob & Lin Reed Raymond Tennent Diana & Jack Reed Council Scout Executive [email protected] Merle D. Brown

Lester Hauschild

Alex Stockmal

Diana & Jack Reed ___Council Contacts

Lester Hauschild

Eric Bloom Email: [email protected] Web: www.morainetrails.org

Council Service Center & Scout Shop Hours of Operation Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5:00pm

_____Scout Store News Council Office Staff: Betty Bopp Office Manager, Bookkeeper Email: [email protected] OCTOBER operating hours for the Scout Store are as follows: 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Pat Hanford Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Registrar, Camp, Eagle’s THURSDAY EXTENDED HOURS: 8:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. on October 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 Email: [email protected] SATURDAY EXTENDED HOURS: 9 a.m. until noon on October 17, 24 and 31 Cindy Myers The Council office will be CLOSED Monday, October 12 in observance of Columbus Scout Shop Manager Day. Email: [email protected] I would be happy to assist you with any questions you may have about our merchan- Glacier Ridge District dise or to help you place an order. Please feel free to contact me at either cin- Dist Director: Irv Gable [email protected] or at the Council office at 724/287-6791. Email: [email protected] Thank you for your business and I look forward to serving you in the near future.

King Beaver District STORE ORDERS: We accept cash, check and all credit cards with the exception of District Executive: Alan Baldarelli American Express. Email: [email protected] Payments can also be made from Pack and Troop store accounts. REMINDER: All orders need to be River Valley District paid in full before either leaving the Vacant store or being mailed. Email:

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_____September Eagle Scouts

Troop First Name Last Name Sponsor 6 Derek Scott St Paul Roman Catholic Church 19 Chad Pakozdi Meridian Vol Fire Co & Relief Assoc 31 Nicholas Christie Concord Presbyterian Church 39 Mark Etzel Sportsmans Supply Co 53 James Turner Methodist Men Of Nixon United Methodist 58 Nathaniel Beckstead Glade Run United Presbyterian 1606 Helman Tillotson LDS-Cranberry Twp Ward

_____Eagle Scout Preparation Class

The Moraine Trails Council, B.S.A. will be holding its quarterly Eagle Scout Preparation Class - Wednesday October 28, 2015 at the Preston Center at Camp Bucoco from 7:00-8:30PM.

Our goal is to help all Eagle Scout Candidates understand the Eagle Scout workbook, the project approval process and the Eagle Scout board of review. The specific items to be dis- cussed in the class are:

 Finding a good Eagle Scout project.

 Approval of the Eagle Scout project.

 How to properly fill out the Eagle Scout leadership service project workbook.

 Importance of Requirement #7 on the Eagle Scout rank application.

 Procedure for sending written references to all names listed on Requirement #2 of the Eagle Scout rank application.

 Expectations of the Eagle Scout Candidate at an Eagle Scout board of review.

 The Scoutmaster and Unit Committee’s role in the Scouts Eagle project.

 Helping Scouts with special needs.

 Proper usages of merit badge cards.

 Changes in required merit badges.

If you plan to attend the Eagle Scout Preparation Class please RSVP to Cindy at the Council Service Center at (724) 287-6791 or email [email protected]. If you have any questions regarding advancement please contact Len Strella at (724) 355-2781 or (724) 528-1824.

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_____Shooting Sports Committee

September 2015

The fall scouting season is beginning and here are the highlights of the shooting sports schedule. The NRA instructor and Range Safety Officer certifications are required to run BSA shooting sports activities. With these certi- fication scout leaders can organize and run events at the Troop level. Cub leaders can assist us at family camps and when you cross over to Boy Scouts can run events at the Troop level.

October 2-3 – Moraine Trails Council Camporee – Moraine State Park – Tomahawk throwing October 17 – Cub Scout Family Camp – Camp Agawam – BB gun, archery and slingshots October 23 –24 - Venture Weekend – Camp Bucoco

BSA Scouts and Scout leaders can take the following: Scouts can take rifle, muzzle loader, and shotgun NRA and merit badge class Scouts with the rifle and shotgun merit badges can take the NRA Associate Instructor course with scoutmaster rec- ommendation and parental approval. Leaders can take the NRA instructor courses in rifle, shotgun, muzzleloader and pistol Leaders can take the NRA Range Safety Officer Course

November 7 – NRA Basic pistol, rifle, muzzle loader, and shotgun courses open to the general public December 5 – NRA Basic pistol, rifle, muzzle loader, and shotgun courses open to the general public December 6 - Refuse to be a Victim Course open to the general public as a community service January 8 – Refuse to be a Victim Course open to the general public as a community service January 9 – NRA Personal Protection in the Home as a community service (Not a BSA event.) January 10 – NRA Personal Protection in the Home Instructor course (Not a BSA event.) February 5 - Refuse to be a Victim Course open to the general public as a community service February 6-7 - NRA Personal Protection Outside the Home for instructors candidates and open to the public as a community service (Not a BSA event) February 27-28 – NRA Personal Protection Outside the Home Instructor Course (Not a BSA event.) March 19 - NRA Basic pistol, rifle, muzzle loader, and shotgun courses open to the general public April 23-24 – NRA Rifle, shotgun, Muzzleloader, pistol Instructor course April 24 – Range Safety Officer Course *If you have questions about these activities please contact Dave Gemperle at [email protected].*

Visit Our Facebook Page!

We are pleased to announce the creation of an enhanced Facebook page. So please visit the new Moraine Trails Council page soon and please be sure to LIKE us!!!! www.facebook.com/morainetrails The www.morainetrails.org website still remains the primary source for news and information about Moraine Trails, but the new Facebook page, which will be updat- ed with content from around the Council, will provide yet another avenue for those who wish to share experiences and ideas with others and stay connected to our Page 14 events and programs.