VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 FALL 2013 Scout Sentinel NEWS, EVENTS AND Western Los Angeles County Council OTHER IMPORTANT IN- FORMATION RELATED The Official Newsletter of the WLACC serving the Antelope Valley, Balboa TO SCOUTS AND SCOUT- Oaks, Bill Hart, Cahuenga, Crescent Bay & Las Colinas Districts ING IN THE WESTERN LOS ANGELES COUNTY Eagle Scout Self-Administers Life-Saving Aid COUNCIL OF THE BOY Brian Ludmer, a Cala- Given the traumatic injury www.youcaring.com/ SCOUTS OF AMERICA basas High School teach- to his leg, Brian fashioned medical-fundraiser/help- er and Eagle Scout (from a tourniquet from a brian-get-back-on-his- Lake Forest, ) was sweatshirt using “his old feet/102787 Special Points of Interest injured in the shooting Boy Scouts training,” ac- incident that occurred on cording to Las Virgenes Eagle Scout Injured in November 1, 2013 at Los Schools Superintendent Angles International Air- Dan Stepenosky. LAX Shooting (See Sto- port. ry at Right) Ludmer has undergone at Ludmer, 29, was at LAX least two operations and Wood Badge Training to fly to a friend’s wed- faces additional surger- ies. Luckily he suffered on Page 2 ding. When the shooting started in Terminal 3, Bri- minimal nerve damage, See Anatol Josepho’s an turned to run and but unfortunately has not This photo, provided by dived away, but was worked for the school Photo on Page 4 the Calabasas Courier, a struck in both legs, signifi- district long enough at student publication of Cal- cantly injuring his legs. Calabasas High School to First Aid Training Pays abasas High School, accrue the medical insur- shows teacher and Eagle Off: Page 8 The performing arts ance or paid sick days he Scout Brian Ludmer in teacher dragged himself now needs to recover. An September 2012. Ludmer, Scout Store Infor- into a closet, closed the online fundraiser to help 29, was the lone civilian mation: See Page 12 door and waited for law Brian with medical ex- wounded by gunfire in the enforcement to secure the penses is available at shooting rampage at LAX scene. youcaring.com: on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013.

Inside this issue: Season’s Greetings From Scout Executive Jim Rushton Season’s Greeting 1 hosted by the members of about the future, it is im- our Council throughout the portant to reflect on fami- Commissioner’s Corner 2 year. ly and faith.

2013 has been a chal- As we near the holiday Camping News 3-4 lenging—and successful— season, I wish you the best As we approach the holi- year. As you will read in of a beautiful holiday 5 days and I look back at this newsletter, you will season and a new year 2013, I have been very see both our successes of peace and happiness fortunate to meet so and learn of future plans. shared with family and In Memoriam: 8 many of our wonderful friends. Ranger Joe volunteers, parents and 2014 will be no less am- Scouts as I travelled bitious a year for our Yours in Scouting, Eagle Scout Alumni 9 throughout the Council council. Big plans abound Jim Rushton and attended many var- from Emerald Bay to Scout Executive Endowment Award 10 ied activities, events, Camp Whitsett. Courts of Honor and oth- er important functions Even as I am excited Page 2 Council Commissioner’s Corner I am thrilled to be part of the West Los Angeles County Council’s inaugural newsletter, the goal of which is to improve communications by providing regularly recurring, timely and relevant information. As the Council Commissioner, it is my responsibility to work closely with each District Commissioner, who in turn works with their Unit Commissioners. The purpose of commissioners quite simply is to help units succeed. We also want to help units continually improve. As such, we have established commissioner goals. I would like to share the following ones with you: Wood Badge Training Available Every unit has a commissioner – If you do not have a commissioner or at Camp Josepho in 2014 do not think you are adequately being served please contact your Early Bird Course Fee Set District Commissioner, District Executive, or me. Ideally, your Unit Com- missioner comes from a different unit then yours. The Council invites you to challenge yourself at Wood Badge in 2014. Increase participation and performance under the Journey to Excel- The Wood Badge experience exists lence (“JTE”) – JTE is a program to encourage and reward high levels to strengthen Scouting in our units, of achievement and continuing improvement at the unit level (as well as districts and council. The program the council and district levels). It works because it focuses on the metrics provides dedicated Scouters with that are most relevant to success (e.g. advancement, retention, pro- the concepts, tools and methods gram, etc.). needed to be effective leaders. The Wood Badge program is a six- Leadership Training – Our council’s stated goal is 100% trained lead- day course occurring over two ex- ers. We are here to help correct or update your training records if tended weekends at Camp Josepho. necessary, as well as help you find the appropriate training for your The course is built on a foundation position. Keep in mind that there are a myriad of training opportunities of five central themes including available online. “Tools of the Trade” and “Leading During the year, the Unit Commissioners do their best to help their units with to Make a Difference”. best practices on topical issues such as recruiting, summer camps, advance- ment, program, and rechartering, to name a few. The first session has been scheduled for November 14-16, 2014 with the Now is the time for rechartering! Our goal, is to have every unit submit second session occurring on Novem- their online recharter by November 30, 2013. Our commissioners are here ber 21-23, 2014. While this event to help! occurs late next year, given the Some of our districts need additional Unit Commissioners. The responsibili- commitment of time, the Council de- ties of this position really can be accomplished in little more than the pro- sired to provide this substantial no- verbial “hour per week”. Please raise your hand and volunteer! tice. Additionally, while the course costs $250.00, an early bird dis- Finally, if I can ever be of service please contact me at count of $225.00 applies if you [email protected] or (818) 386-9485. register and pay by April 30, 2014. Your Council Commissioner, The fee covers the program and training materials, all food for the

first weekend, a participant t-shirt

and cap and a Wood Badge

Larry Turner presentation kit for each graduate. Page 3 2013 Camping Success 2013 was a phenomenally successful year in which the three camp properties owned by the Western Los Angeles County Council served a total 22,157 youth and adults. Our three facil- ities are Camp Emerald Bay, on the West End of Catalina Is- land, Camp Whitsett, in the Sequoia National Forest, and Camp Josepho, in the Pacific Palisades. 8,161 of our guests were Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts attending Summer Camp over the 2013 summer. They came from 418 units from as far as Texas, Wash- ington, all parts of California, and even Beijing, China. Our facil- ities are not just for Scouts and not just for summer trips. 13,996 of the guests came with YMCA weekends, church groups, outdoor education classes, retreats, or off-season Boy Scout events in the Fall and Spring. The Camping Department extended $66,222 in financial aid, through camperships, to help 457 Scouts attend one or more of our summer camp programs. Keep your unit involved in all of the camping events at all three of these properties in our 2014 Camping Guide (http:// bsa-la.org/camping/2014_Camping_Catalog_Digital.pdf) online or by picking one up from your local service center. Also, each one of these facilities is available to rent during the rest of the year for special events, retreats, men’s and women’s religious groups, and YMCAs. Email [email protected] to get started.

Camp Emerald Bay: Gearing Up for 2014 Registration for Camp Emerald Bay is currently open for 2014, and campers are pouring into all nine weeks of summer camp program. New on the horizon for the upcoming summer: an expanded paddle boarding program, new tents and campsite layouts, and revamped environmental education programs. Rugged Programs like Rugged Explorers and Rugged Canoe will continue to explore hidden corners of Cata- lina Island, while Rugged Scuba programs will continue exploring the depths and allowing participants to push deeper and further than before with advanced and Rescue certifications—at no other Boy Scout Camp could you practice surfacing an unresponsive diver, removing his equipment, performing rescue breaths and towing him to shore and calling for help—all simultaneously! Traditional summer campers will also have a new opportunity to see Emerald Bay from a whole new vantage point— Stand Up Paddleboards! Camp Emerald Bay is tentatively planning on breaking ground on December 1, 2013 on six new large residential cab- ins for full-time staff and Academy Season visitors to camp. The cabins will be able to accommodate many guests with their 4-bedroom, 2-story floor plan. The cabins have indoor plumbing and views overlooking the Bay. Bring your unit out to Camp Emerald Bay or come provisionally in 2014 before the early bird discount ends on December 1, 2013, and don’t forget that Emerald Bay also hosts Cub Scout Family Weekends once each Summer, Spring, and Fall!

For more information on Emerald Bay go to www.campemeraldbay.org Page 4 Camp Whitsett Readies for 67th Consecutive Year Camp Whitsett registration is open for 2014, when Scouts will return for the 67th consecutive summer of High Sierra Adventure. Last year Camp Whitsett hosted its fourth year of Webelos Resident Camp during the summer, which was more popular than ever before. This year, the program has expanded into two sessions, June 29-July 2nd and July 3rd -6th. Webelos will camp side-by-side with Boy Scouts and participate in BB gun shooting, archery, swimming, and campfires while working on advancement pins like Aquanaut, Athlete, Forester, Geologist, and Outdoorsman. Register for this event before it fills up at www.campwhitsett.org! One program in particular that has thrived in recent years is the Pathfinder program for new Scouts. This is a half-day program that challenges young Scouts through orienteering hikes, knots and lashings, first aid, and nature. The dedicated Pathfinder staff are experts in all of the things that young Scouts need to succeed throughout their Scouting careers in a comfortable environment with peers their same age.

The camp will be seeing a major facility improvement with the construction of new shower buildings that will be larger than the current shower buildings. They will have single stalls, a dramatic improvement in comfort and privacy for visitors to the camps. The facilities will replace all of the current shower facilities and will expand them significantly. Bring your unit out to Camp Whitsett or come provisionally in 2014 before the early bird discount ends on December

1, 2013 .

Camp Whitsett on the Web: www.campwhitsett.org

Camp Josepho Experiences Substantial Growth in 2013

Camp Josepho saw substantial growth in 2013—hosting Boy Scout Pro- grams over the summer that focuses on Robotics, Programming, Game Design, and Filmmaking as well as the third year of growth in the We- belos Resident Movie Camp. Look for three merit badge clusters to be offered at Camp Josepho once again this summer—The Robotics, Programming, and Game Design Cluster, The Cinematography Experience, and the First Year Scout Pro- gram. These are inter-disciplinary courses that integrate the require- ments of several merit badges into a four-day project like designing a game or making a short film. Best of all, these are provisional programs that Scouts can register for without their larger troop—those Boys that have the greatest interest in these technology-based merit badges can sign up and attend on their own! Cub Scouts have plenty to stimulate them year-round at Camp Josepho, from Webelos Resident Camp (where Scouts make their own short Mov- ies!) to Crescent Bay Day Camp and Cub Parent Weekends. Cub Fami- Camp Josepho’s namesake, Anatol Jo- ly Weekends have operated at Josepho for more than seventeen years, sepho was an inventor and Russian and they bring Scouting families from across Southern California for a émigré. He came to America seeking two-night campout with activities like monkey bridge, table tennis, crafts, his fortune. He sold the plans and a archery and BB shooting. These events happen several times in the fall prototype of the first photo machine (above) in 1925 for a million dollars! and spring of each year and should be an essential part of each Years later, he bought the land that WLACC pack’s annual itinerary. became Camp Josepho to provide a Scouting environment for his children. Want More Information on Camp Josepho? www.campjosepho.org Page 5

Scoutreach Growth Continues Providing Crucial Scouting Alternative Beyond traditional Packs This unique program serves mostly Hispanic youth living and Troops, an alternative in hard to serve areas of the inner city where gangs, exists for Scouting in areas drugs, and violence are the controlling forces in the com- munity. Because most parents have little time to spend of our council where tradi- with their children’s activities we need paid program tional Scouting faces aides to deliver Scoutreach in schools, community centers, unique challenges. This youth clubs, and apartment buildings that have been alternative is known as identified as the best delivery sites for the program. Scoutreach. Scoutreach currently provides a Scouting opportunity for nearly two- thousand boys in forty locations. The Scoutreach Division is an after-school based program that gives boys ages 6-10 years old the opportunity to be a part of Scouting. The program emphasizes team spirit, group cooperation, leadership, physical awareness, char- acter development and citizen training. This after-school program sparks an interest in Scouting in these hard to reach youngsters. The program then channels the boys into appropriate existing traditional Scouting units in nearby communities.

BSA Lifesaving Medal Awarded for Scouts Swift, Swiftwater Actions

On Memorial Day weekend in 2008, Troop toward the river as well. Chris, although an 371 participated on a two-day backpack- athletic boy and a good swimmer, was sur- ing and river rafting trip in the Kern River prised at the strength of the whirlpool and Recreation area. The scouts had completed the hike for the day and were enjoying found no river bed beneath him – the bank free time after setting up camp near the actually sloped backwards underneath the river. It had been raining most of the day rock and Chris was immediately in over his and things were generally wet. head. His right hand, grabbing Carlo’s boot, was the only thing keeping him from being Four of the boys, Senior Patrol Leader Chris Belanger, 2nd Class scout Carlo Ramirez, sucked down. 2nd Class Scout Gio McKinnis and Scout The strong current pulled Chris downriver Juan Carlos Gonzales, were about 50 yards from the campground. Carlo and while the whirlpool pulled him underneath the Chris were sitting on a steep rock when rock at the same time. Adding to the danger, Chris decided to look at the whirlpools there was a rocky outcrop immediately more closely. He slipped on the wet rock downriver with vegetation stuck underneath it, and slid into the river. waiting to trap him. Taking immediate action on the steep rock, Carlo called out for help; Gio ran over, Carlo laid down, avoided reaching for grabbed Carlo from behind and kept Carlo Chris with his hand, and instead stuck out his from sliding in. Juan Carlos grabbed Gio in foot; Chris grabbed it desperately after submerging over a chain and the three attempted to pull Chris from the his head in the whirlpool. Carlo grabbed a small part of river. However, the steepness of the rock and the suction the rock to hold himself but soon found himself slipping of the whirlpool made it difficult for the team to make

...continued on Page 6 Page 6

Lifesaving (continued from Page 5) much progress. The current was ing Carlo’s and Mr. Belanger’s flowing fast and Chris began to outstretched hands as Chris held feel his grip slipping off of Carlo’s onto both shoes for dear life. boot. Inch by inch, the four were able Gio and Juan Carlos called out to to pull Chris out of the water. Mr. Belanger to come over, but he Worried about hypothermia, the didn’t understand the urgency of boys had Chris remove his wet the situation until he got closer. clothes and got him into a sleep- ing bag. Within 20 minutes, Chris Chris was in desperate need of had warmed back up. It was help, but Mr. Belanger didn’t only then that he realized the want to go in himself and make close call he had experienced. matters worse, so as carefully as he could, he slid down the steep The boys’ prompt, carefully con- rock next to Carlos and stuck out sidered and meritorious actions his boot for Chris to grab with his saved a life and Carlo Ramirez, Carlo Ramirez, Chris Belanger and left hand. With effort, Chris Gio McKinnis, Juan Carlos Gon- Peter Belanger shown with their grabbed his father’s shoe and zales, and Peter Belanger were stabilized himself somewhat. The awarded the BSA National Life- BSA National Lifesaving Medals. situation was still very dicey so saving Award for heroism. Gio and Juan Carlos began pull-

Order of the Arrow Ta To Ka Dan packages to individually named United States Armed Forces members who are deployed in hostile regions. Chapter Holiday Toy Drive Packages are also shipped to children left behind, vet- Currently running through the middle of December, you erans, first responders, Wounded Warriors and care- can help the Ta To Ka Dan Chap- givers. Annually, about 100,000 care packages are ter as they strive to make an impact in our community delivered. The millionth care package is anticipated with charitable service! The Chapter is hosting a toy this year!! drive in the Antelope Valley area that benefits disad- vantaged youth around the holiday season. Locally, the OA Chapter will be collecting Beanie Ba- bies to be distributed in care packages. In efforts to Last year, the Chapter collected and delivered several combat the unorthodox warfare found in Afghanistan, carloads of brand new toys to the Grace Resource the small plush toys are sent to soldiers and given to Center in Lancaster. The Center is a shelter that pro- local children, who assist our troops by pointing out vides food, shelter and support to people of all ages in locations of Improvised Explosive Devices, or IED’s. need year-round. The goods included toy sporting equipment, several bicycles, dolls and action figures for The local support through both Operation Gratitude and all ages among other toys. the Chapter Toy Drive directly saves lives and continues In association with their mission statement, our local Or- to benefit those who need help in our community. We der of the Arrow Chapter consistently strives to meet ask that everyone interested in supporting our local the service needs of our community. The toy drive was Order of the Arrow chapter bring toys to our local An- th Scout-run and coordinated, and allowed the Arrowmen telope Valley Service Center, located at 42402 10 the opportunity to see how their initiative combined Street West, Lancaster, CA 93534. If you have any with volunteer generosity provided a tremendous im- questions or would like to find out more, contact the pact to those in need in our area. Alongside the toy office at (661) 942-0582. drive, the Arrowmen also contributed to Operation Gratitude, a nationwide movement that sends care Page 7 Holiday Cards for Heroes Fishing for Memories Each year, the American Red Cross collects holiday cards Cub Scout Pack 333 has enjoyed a host of truly epic sent by tens of thousands of Americans, repurposes them camping trips, including Cachuma Lake, Sea World, and delivers them to active-duty service members, Camp Josepho, Lake Casitas, and more. Each trip veterans and military families at installations and always has activities that Cubs and their parents hospitals around the world. The cards and their have enjoyed, including projects like hand-made Na- personal messages provide a welcome "touch of home" tive American drums, panning for gold, and making for our troops during the holiday season. fishing poles from bamboo sticks.

In fact, somehow, the hand-made bamboo fishing poles seemed to catch more fish than the store- purchased poles brought from home! It's amazing how quickly Cub Scouts and their parents can fall asleep after an action-packed day during a Pack 333 camping trip!

Service members around the globe receive Red Cross holiday cards prepared by Scouts and oth- ers.

Los Colinas District Cub Scout Pack 333 has enlisted the help of its 105 Cub Scouts, and also invited other kids from the community to join in, and help bring holiday cheer and support to the troops. Pack 333 has designed and printed 10,000 holiday cards, and each one has a hand-written, personal note in it- all by the Cub Scouts and their invited friends and classmates. In a few short Cub Scout Pack 333 fished with hand-made weeks, the cards will be in the hands of a service bamboo poles recently at Las Casitas—with member somewhere in the world! great success in terms of fun AND fish!

Did you know that the WLACC partners with Cars 4 Causes? If you are planning on donating a car or boat (or other vehicle) to charity, please consider using Cars 4 Causes. When you mention the West Los Angeles County Council of the BSA, the Council receives 70% of the profit from any sale. They offer free, fast pickup of your vehicle—-in run- ning condition or not! They take care of all paperwork and you get a tax deductible receipt!! You can call them at (888) 493-9186 or reach them on the web at www.cars4causes.net. Don’t forget to mention the WLACC! Page 8 Scout First Aid Training Pays Off for Newhall Scout During a recent local business trip, John Godley called vinced that had it not been for the first aid training his wife Vicky to say that his right foot was feeling Thomas had received through Scouting, and especially numb. He attributed it to the excessive driving he had through his instructor Kymmer Crookston, John may not been doing at the time and was unconcerned. An hour have gotten the medical attention he needed in time to later, John called again to say his leg was going numb. make a difference! Again, he attributed it to the driving. Still later in the day he called to say he was feeling light-headed and a little dizzy, so he was just going to quit for the day and come home. John’s son, Thomas—at the time a Life Scout with Troop 498—said it sounded like his dad was having a stroke. Vicky dismissed it because all the stroke signs she had ever been warned about referenced that any numb- ness came on quickly and it also involved facial numb- ness and the slurring of speech. John slept all the next day, but the numbness and dizzi- ness persisted. In the meantime, Thomas kept saying he thought it was a stroke. The following morning, Thomas went to his mother and told her that John was writing an email and not only wasn’t he spelling any words correctly, he was also adding numbers to the words. Thomas’ continued concern prompted his mother to insist that Mr. Godfrey went to his doctor. The doctor too suspected a stroke and sent John direct- ly to the ER. In the end, John was having a stroke, just like Thomas, the Life Scout had said. Vicky was con-

In Memoriam: Joe Madruga DaSilva 1962-2013 It is with much sadness that we note the passing of Joe Madruga DaSilva at the age of 51. Joe passed away Saturday, November 9, 2013 after an extended illness. Born in Portugal, he came to America in 1976. He attended schools in Tulare, California and held various jobs throughout his life. Most recently he was a Camp Ranger at Camp Josepho. Joe married Rosalie Bal- andran on February 14, 1999. They lived in Tulare before moving to Pis- mo Beach in 2001. Joe is survived by his wife Rosalie DaSilva of Pismo Beach, California; his son Mathew Hernandez of Tulare; parents Aires & Maria Madruga DaSilva also of Tulare. Ranger Joe was a friend of the West- ern Los Angeles County Council and the Scouting community as a whole. Joe was buried in the Tulare Cemetery at 900 E. Kern Street in Tulare. A memorial tribute may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com. Rosie has asked that in lieu of sending flowers, donations be made to Camp Josepho in Joe’s name, where a staff cabin will be named in his honor. Page 9

Eagle Scout Alumni Association Reconnects Hundreds of Eagles in Region Consider for a moment that Boy Scouts within the WLACC earn an average of 300 Eagle Scout Badges annually and have been doing so for years. There are over five thousand Eagle Scouts from the Council and ten-thousand additional Eagles who earned the honor in other areas of the nation (and world) who now live within our Council. The po- tential for action, mentoring and socialization is end- less.

Bob Hudson, shown here with his wife Margo, was the guest speaker at the October Eagle Alumni Event. thing for every Eagle. Given the broad range of ag- es (16-83) and the equally broad range of careers and interests, having the chance to mingle and inter- act with the Eagle Scouts of our region is a critical op- portunity. The Association is on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. If you are an Eagle Scout—of any age—and want to get together with our fellow Ea- gles, please see the Facebook page and/or call our coordinator, Council employee David Lasher at (818) 933-0104. He can be reached by email at da- [email protected]. David is planning a Dodger Board Member and Eagle Scout Bob Gaby (left) is Eagle Recognition Day early in the 2014 Dodger sea- joined by fellow Eagle Seth Grossman who, with his son among other fun, exciting events! wife Lolly, enjoyed the fellowship of nearly eighty Eagle Scouts at the October gathering.

The Eagle Alumni Association is harnessing this poten- tial and energy under one roof. The Association has VS. been holding events during the year—and this fall especially. From social mixers to any upcoming USC vs. UCLA Football viewing party and a Back-to-Camp Hey Eagles! Don’t miss the USC vs. Josepho Day, the Association strives to provide some- UCLA Football viewing party, Novem- ber 30, 2013 at Buffalo Wild Wings in Eagle Alumni Association Internet Links: the Sherman Oaks Galleria. See the Facebook page or call David at (818) 933-0104 for more information! James E. West Fellowship Award Recognizes Page 10 Financial Contribution to Local Endowment Efforts Currently available via the Western Los Angeles County Organizations or individuals may contribute an award in Council, the James E. West Fellowship Award is a national honor of someone--an Eagle Scout, a Silver Beaver recipi- award for individuals who contribute $1,000 or more in ent, council president, or district chairman, or in memory of cash or securities to their local council endowment trust a departed loved one, business associate, Scout or Scouter. fund. This contribution is in addition to, and does not dimin- ish or replace, the donor's annual gift to the Council's Sus- taining Membership Enrollment or Friends of Scouting Campaign.

The award is named after the first of the While recipients of the award are categorized by different who exem- giving levels, all recipients receive a personalized 8 x 10” plified Ralph Waldo Emerson's certificate (suitable for framing and presented in a bound observation that "an institution is presentation folder), an embroidered square knot and a the lengthened shadow of one distinctive lapel pin. man." Scouting today is the "lengthened shadow" of more Those who donate $1,000-$5,000 receive a Bronze Level than three decades of the farsee- Pin (far left, above). Donors of $5,000-$10,000 receive a ing and dedicated leadership of Silver Level Pin. Contributors making a gift of $10,000- Dr. James E. West. $15,000 will receive a Gold Level Pin. James E. West, the first professional Chief Scout Those who are recognized by the Those making a donation of more than $15,000 receive a Executive of the BSA James E. West Fellowship Award Diamond Level Pin. Additionally, contributors who gift more will cast their own "lengthened than $25,000 become Second Century Society members! shadow" as they help ensure the Scouting legacy for fu- ture generations of young people and create the financial Additionally, donors may make cumulative gifts to reach stability of the program in the twenty-first century for their the higher levels of James E. West Fellowship Awards. local council.

District Operations Committee Detailed The Vice President of District Operations is a fairly new position, filled by our Council, just a few years ago. The objec- tive of the District Operations Committee is to support the districts and the district chairs in delivering the Scouting pro- gram at the local level throughout the Districts.

Our focus this year has been on expanding membership. We know that Scouting is a great program and there are many more potential Scouts out there that we have yet to reach. Another area of focus has been strengthening our district committees so they are better able to serve the community. We want to keep Scouting fun (with a purpose!) and that means many more hands to make the work lighter. The Committee is working with the districts on forming nominating committees to help fill all the committee positions. Last- ly, we are working with the districts to celebrate success in the many areas of the Scout- ing program measured by Journey to Excellence and assisting as needed in those areas which remain opportunities for improvement. The district chairs are a wonderful resource for each other, sharing their best practices and brain storming on ways to meet their challenges.

Lisa Alexander, Vice Presi-

dent of District Operations All of the district chairs sit on the Council Board and have the full support of the Council whenever help is needed. The job of the Vice President of District Operations is to coordinate council support of the dis- trict chairs, recognizing that the districts have “boots on the ground” with respect to the delivery of the Scouting pro- gram. Page 11 Important Events and Dates

The is Annual awarded at this event. This cov- Executive eted award was introduced in 1931 and is a council-level dis- Board Meeting tinguished service award.

The Executive Board Recipients of this high honor are annual business meeting registered adult leaders who is scheduled for January 21, 2014. have made an impact on the lives of youth through service All board meetings are held at the Ameri- given to the Council. The award can Jewish University (off of Mulholland at is given to those who implement the 405 Freeway) and commence at 12 the Scouting program and per- form community service through noon. hard work, self-sacrifice, dedi- cation, and many years of ser- vice. It is given to those who do Annual Adult Leader not actively seek it. Recognition Dinner For further information on the The annual Adult Leader Recog- annual Adult Leader Recognition nition Dinner will be held on Dinner, please contact Maricela January 30, 2014 at the Odys- Orendain at (818) 785-8700. sey Restaurant (15600 Odyssey Drive in Granada Hills).

often combined with the Cub Scout Leader Pow Wow, which is a similar event for Cub Scout leaders.

Boy Scouts from Troop 911 provided an Both are training conferences honor guard, performed a flag ceremony that take place in a festive at- and presented an American flag at the mosphere. This super-sized train- funeral of Eagle Scout Paul Bennett. Mr. ing event is an incredible oppor- Bennett, 86, passed away on October 14, tunity to take sessions on the spe- cific areas that you need help 2013. with right now. Following his graduation from UCLA, Mr. University of Scouting Bennett became a respected mechanical This is a day of fun-filled, action- packed hands-on supplemental engineer who designed large HVAC and The annual University of Scouting training sessions for adult leaders plumbing systems for clients of his own firm. event is slated for January 25, to help us better deliver a fun The Boy Scouts in the honor guard were 2014. University of Scouting is and exciting program to our proud to perform an annual get-together of lead- youth. The cost is $15.00 with ers in Boy Scouting and Ventur- lunch included! Call (818) 785- the white-glove ing from the entire council. It is ceremony and the 8700 to register today! family of Mr. Ben- nett were touched Recognize this Square Knot Award? by the Scouts rev- This is the Arrow of Light Square Knot, erence and recognizing adults who earned the presentation. Arrow of Light as a Webelos Scout. Page 12

Have you been to a Scout Store lately?

Stop by and check out the new apparel items, camping equipment and much more!

There are four stores within the Council for your convenience:

Van Nuys: 16525 Sherman Way, C-8 in Van Nuys

Antelope Valley: 42402 N. 10th Street West, Suite F, Lancaster

Bill Hart District (Trading Post): 24338 Walnut Street, Newhall Van Nuys Scout Store Employee Crescent Bay District (Trading Post): 10131 National Boulevard Francisco Ramirez displays some Suite A, (West) Los Angeles of the new tools and supplies

Check out the WLACC Website:

http://www.bsa-la.org

Boy Scouts of America Western Los Angeles County Council 16525 Sherman Way, Unit C-8 Van Nuys, CA 91406 818-785-8700 www.bsa-la.org