E Version Through Is Still Valid for That

The Chachalaca

Boy Scouts of America, Rio Grande Council

Electronic Issue 6 Spring 2012

Inside This Issue: ASTRONAUT MIKE FOSSUM PROMOTES STEM PROGRAMS IN SCOUTING Page 2: Council Calendar Council President The Rio Grande Council hosted a Page 3: press conference on March 24th to Eagle Scouts release the new Science, Technol- Surfboards ogy, Engineering and Math (STEM) NESA programs that are being introduced Page 4: to the Scouting Merit Badge pro- Jamboree - Summit grams. Announcing the new initia- STEM / NOVA tive were Scout Executive Ernesto Page 5: Memorial Fund Carballo, Jr., and the Valley’s home- Winter Camp grown astronaut Mike Fossum. Page 6: Friends of Scouting Fossum recently returned from the Page 7: International Space Station and is Planned Giving now working to help promote the Page 8: STEM program in Scouting and local 2012 Wood Badge school districts. A local boy who Page 9: earned the Eagle rank as a Scout in Desk of the SE troop 7 in McAllen, Fossum went on Voice of the Scout to Texas A & M University, the US Air Force, and NASA. He is someone that Page 10 local Scouts can relate to and those Cubs and Scouts attending the press con- Recognition Dinner Page 11 ference had a chance to ask questions to Astronaut Fossum about education, Texas YPT Training NASA, and his experiences in the Boy Scouts of America. Several Scouts had Page 12 been present at Camp Perry last summer for the video link with Fossum from Commissioner’s the International Space Station during which he said that “Camp Perry is one of Laguna Station my favorite places on earth.” Page 13 Skeet and Trap The BSA has introduced a collection of STEM Merit Badges including Architec- Tournament ture, Automotive Mechanics, Aviation, Chemistry, Composite Materials, Com- CP Paver Project puters, Electronics, Engineering, Environmental Science, Metalwork, Nuclear Science, Radio, Robotics, Space Exploration, Veterinary Medicine, and Weather. These merit badges will be offered at Camp Perry during Summer Camp Op- erations. Page 2 Electronic Issue 6

From the Council President:

Dear Fellow Scouters,

COUNCIL I wanted to take this time to share with you the successes that our council has been having in the CALENDAR 10 months that I have been serving as your

council president.

MAY Last fall we had a great fall round up and we were able to grow our membership by 3 Roundtable 12.8% over the prior year. This mean more young people learning and un- 8 Executive Committee Meeting derstanding the Scout Oath and Scout Laws. Our Exploring programs in- 9 Scout Day with the Vipers 12 BALOO Training creased last year by 2.9% over the prior year and more co-ed teens learn- 12 Commissioner Meeting ing about a possible future career.

JUNE The year ended with more net assets, that’s funding able to be used in the operations of our council. This translates into more distinct executives in 1-3 Cub Resident Camp the field, more resources to train adults and better facilities at our camps. Camp Perry 2 3rd Annual Trap and Skeet Classic At the end of the year our council was able to achieve the gold level in the Tournament “Journey to Excellence”. This is a great achievement for the Rio Grande 7 Roundtable Council and I am very proud to be serving a council growing in a solid 10-16 Camp Perry Staff Week 17-23 Camp Perry Camp Week manner.

JULY A few weeks ago we had an annual progress review as part of our Charter Review. We received both the 2012 charter for the Rio Grande Council 5 Roundtable and the Leaning for Life programs. Just like units are chartered to a council, our council is chartered by the national organization.

We have many more exiting programs underway and I expect we will fin- ish in the gold once more!

Yours in Scouting Andy Hagan

Check out the complete calendar on the Website at: www.riograndecouncil.org

THE MISSION The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetime by instilling them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. Electronic Issue 6 Page 3

EAGLE SCOUT SURF BOARDS WANTED FOR CLASS OF 2012 LAGUNA STATION

Laguna Station has need for surf boards for its high ad- Eagle Scout is the highest rank a Boy Scout venture base program this can earn. A warm congratulations and summer. If you’ve got a surf best wishes to the following Scouts who board collecting dust in the have earned Eagle since the last issue of garage, or you know of someone who could donate a the Chachalaca: previously used surf board, 2012 Eagles contact Rayburn MacNelly at Unit Name 956 545 9963. 2101 Garcia, Jacob D. 1889 Bowers, Arlan W. 142 Boe, Tyler J. 206 McDonald, Shane 59 Taylor Jr., James R 112 Lestartpe, Alain 76 Golnick, Lewis D 78 Martinez III, Alvaro 11 Arista, Phillip A 76 Atkins, Lucas 11 Brodden, Devin 1776 Jacob A Boen 6 Jonathan M Burlette 84 Victor G De Leon 78 Mauricio Diaz 206 Zachary Garcia 999 Edward D Hernandez 12 Francisco J Perez 61 Stephen D Truman 999 Jacob D Oestreich 100 Ricardo Flores

National Alumni Association Everyone can now join out new Alumni Association. Click here for more information: http://www.scouting.org/alumni.aspx ElectronicPageElectronic 4 Issue Issue 6 6 Electronic IssuePage 6 Page 4 4

WANTED

Could you be one of those few good Scouters WANTED to serve as Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster for the 2013 JAMBOREE? The Rio Grande Council is planning to send two troops to the Jamboree which will be held July 15-24, 2013, at the new Summit Bechtel Reserve is West Virginia. The Council is recruiting eight adult leaders to lead the troops to the Jamboree.

If you are interested and would like to be one of the leaders to this first Jamboree of BSA’s second century, you should apply on-line immediately. Go to www.riograndecouncil.org and register. Your application auto- matically doesn’t guarantee any position in the team. A committee will review applications, interview appli- cants, and select the adult leadership. So if you want to be one of the WANTED, start the process now.

Need further information from those who did it before? Contact Michael Key at 956-342-1440, 956-607-1601 or [email protected], or Harsha Puttagunta at 956-792-5992 or [email protected].

Scouting Quotes: “Camp Perry is one of my favorite places on earth.” Astronaut Michael Fossum

STEM AND NOVA AWARD PROGRAM

What is the Boy Scouts of America Science, Technology, engineering and Math (STEM) Initiative?

A partnership with ExxonMobil Corporation has resulted in the company’s commitment to support a variety of programs that encourage active interest by youth in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Exxon Mobil has generously agreed to fund the development of the program within Scouting through a special multi-year grant. The BSA STEM program is designed to bring a Scouting focus to skills that are relevant and needed in our competitive world, increasing the value of Scouting to families and communities as it supports the development of these critical skills in youth. The program provides opportunities for youth at all lev- els of Scouting to develop an enhanced interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and to recognize their achievement in these areas via the NOVA Award program. Learn more about the STEM and NOVA Award Program by clicking on the link found on the council web page www.riograndecouncil.org.

Chachalaca is a publication of the Rio Grande Council, Boy Scouts of America. An electronic edition is planned for Summer of 2012. Comments on this electronic publication of the Chachalaca may be sent to [email protected]. Electronic Issue 6 Page 5 RIO GRANDE COUNCIL MEMORIAL FUND

Has someone passed on who you want to remember in a special, lasting way? Flowers are such a beautiful and warm token of condolence for the passing of loved ones or friends. They, along with words, too often fall short of the innermost feelings of the heart. A gift to the Boy Scout Memorial Fund speaks to the high character of the person who has passed on, an honorable tribute and a lasting gift. A memorial fund gift touches and warms the heart of all involved, crosses all lines of religion and wealth, a perfectly acceptable gift.

DONOR: IN MEMORY OF: Rayburn W. MacNelly Enola M. Boudreaux Stephen & Dorothy Vassberg Emil Golnick Stephen & Dorothy Vassberg Norman J. Mungerson Anita & Chris Boswell Sam Sparks Stephen & Dorothy Vassberg Salvador Villegas, Jr. Stephen & Dorothy Vassberg Roger Findahl

Scout Memorial booklets are available at the Scout Service Center, or may be mailed to you on request. Please call the Boy Scout Office – (956) 423-0250.

RIO GRANDE COUNCIL #775, BSA P. O. Box 2424 Harlingen, Texas 78552 Phone (956)423-0250 Web Site: www.riograndecouncil.org

WINTER CAMP AT CAMP PERRY

The 16th winter camp was held at Camp Perry December 26-30, 2011, and the weather was perfect. More than 130 Scouts and leaders representing 17 troops spent some of the nicest days ever learning Scout skills and working on merit badges which are not normally offered at summer camp. Some 40+ merit badges were offered during the week and about 350 were completed. Scouts hailed from the following troops: 142, 76, 61, 2101, 84, 6, 604, 34, 80, 41, 1889, 59, 11, 83, 1954, and two troops from Kingsville. Winter camp was possible because of the commitment of 50 volunteers, too numerous to list here, who taught merit badges, help- ing Scouts achieve in the Scouting Program. . Electronic Issue 6 Page 6

Thank you to all of the families and community business leaders that have made an investment in the youth of the Rio Grande Valley through the councils 2011 Friends of Scouting Campaign. The income received from the Friends of Scouting Campaign make Scouting a reality for so many young people that would not have had a chance to be a part of the Scouting program. If you have not already had an opportunity to make a gift to the Rio Grande Council it is never to late.

The Council Vice President of Finance: Sandra Langley

Friends of Scouting District Updates As of 5-4-2012

District Goal Percentage Chairman Tip-O-Tex $35,000 36.1% Ruben Pena

Arroyo $70,000 50.9% Sharron Cavazos

Arrowhead $70,000 49.9% Al Beltran

Rio Bravo $15,000 44.5% Erin Wise

Soccer and Scouting $10,000 44.6% Susan Rosales

Executive Board $45,000 88.5% Andy Hagan Electronic Issue 6 Page 7

PLANNED GIVING TO THE RIO GRANDE COUNCIL

You have to be wealthy to make a planned gift to the Boy Scouts Rio Grande Council Endowment.

I do not have anything to give to the Boy Scouts Rio Grande Council Endowment, my wife and I are just starting out in our careers.

I need to keep my assets for when I am retired. As much as I would like, I cannot help future Boy Scouts in the Rio Grande Council.

These are statements that could be heard from possible supporters of Scouting in South Texas. While they may ring true in the speaker’s ears, they are misconceptions if you consider an often overlooked planned gift. Life insurance can be a great planned giving idea by which you lever your premium dollars into a future five, six or seven figure sized gift to benefit future generations of Boy Scouts. Assuming you are insurable, we will help you and your insurance agent, tax and legal advisors to structure such a planned gift. Even if you are not presently insurable, you may have an existing policy that you no longer need that can be transferred to the Endowment for this purpose. Premium payments can be made or set up as a single premium policy. You can even take out a second to die policy with a spouse which may reduce the premium cost. The premiums may even be tax deductible, depending on your individual tax situation. You would need to consult your above advisors. Call, write or email us today to find out more specific information about a planned gift of life insurance to benefit the Boy Scouts Rio Grande Council Endowment. Contact us by email at [email protected]

Page 8 WOOD BADGE for the 21st CENTURY

Volunteer training has catapulted forward in the Rio Grande Council with the completion of Wood Badge course S3-775- 12-1. Forty-eight participants formed into 8 patrols to spend two weekends at Camp Perry learning how to be more ef- fective in their respective jobs in Scouting. Wood Badge is the highest level of volunteer training in the BSA, and those who completed the course have only to work their ticket to receive their wood badge beads. Our hats off to these volunteers who cared enough about Scouting to take the wood badge training. The patrols were comprised of the following Scouters:

Beaver Patrol Bobwhite Patrol Eagle Patrol Vickie Lyle, Troop Guide Oscar Garza, Troop Guide Cheri Huerta, Troop Guide

1. Cynthia Martinez 1. Cassandra Tovar 1. Veronica Macias 2. Michelle Timmer 2. James Fullingim 2. Francisco Arevalo 3. Larry Cress 3. John Ramirez 3. Jeremy Geiger 4. Milton Beadle 4. Raul Cerda 4. Juan Moya 5. Steve Donovan 5. Ronald Camacho 5. Leonardo Torres 6. Michael Leinweber 6. Anthony Alcazar 6. Frank Stubhart

Fox Patrol Owl Patrol Bear Patrol Marion Velarde, Troop Guide Rick Gray, Troop Guide Cecily Dyer, Troop Guide

1. Sarah Souffrant 1. Ana Gaxiola 1. Gregoria Torres 2. Israel Cetina 2. Matthew Enos 2. Aaron Escobar 3. Mike Wilson 3. Luis Macias 3. Henry Presas 4. Alberto Miranda 4. Stephen Fankhauser 4. Jose Jara 5. Noe Luevano 5. Gabriel Jara 5. Juan Treviño 6. Andy Peavler 6. Edgar Gonzalez 6. Danielle Bates

Buffalo Patrol Antelope Patrol Marco Cavada, Troop Guide Lisa Odaffer, Troop Guide

1. Doug Timmer 1. Sylvia Cruz 2. Abel Rivera 2. Alvaro Martinez 3. Juan Sauceda 3. Jorge Elizondo 4. Laura Warren 4. John Clint 5. Brian Hansen 5. Amado Moreno 6. Miguel Rodriguez 6. Juan Gevara

The course cadre of dedicated and experienced Scouters was lead by Course Director Harsha Puttagunta. Course staff members spent more than a year in preparation and included the following volunteers: Marion Velarde, Robert E. Lyle, Patricia Garcia, Marty Martin, Michael Henry, Richard Sanchez, Rick Gray, Vickie Lyle, Marco Cavada, Cecily Dyer, Cheri Huerta, Lisa Odaffer, Oscar Garcia,Heather Blakemore, Tom Goodman, Dave Enos, Roy Sheneman.

A group of COWs (Crusty Old Wood Badgers) were recruited to cook for the staff and participants and they included: Mike Key, Bill Hubbard, Jim Franz, Mike McCully, and Larry Jokl.

The course closing lunch included Astronaut Mike Fossum who address those attending about how Scouting has influ- enced his life, and how important Scouting can be in the lives of boys. Fossum’s NASA patch includes a scene of a boy sitting on a hillside gazing up into the sky. He told the group that boy was he himself on a troop campout to Falcon Dam, taking some time in the evening looking up at the heavens and thinking that he would like to “go up there someday.” He described his Scout troop leaders with great admiration and stated that he could never repay what they had done for him, but that he could pay forward. His NASA biography says that his main hobby is serving as Scoutmaster of a Boy Scout Troop. Fossum filled the group with enthusiasm and urged each and everyone to do all that they can to provide Scouting opportunities to youth. Electronic Issue 6 Page 9

From the Scout Executives Desk Dear Scouters and Parents,

Boy Scouts of America enters into a second century of Scouting in the Rio Grande Valley

For many years pictures and Scouting items have been dropped off or left in the council office. They have sat in the dark of a storage closet and a few times a year they have been pulled out. Last year I visited the Weslaco Museum of History and Art, and began to have a dialoged about the display of these items.

In the last few months we have established a time line and a display concept. This past week the Rio Grande Council conducted a district fundraising Gala to honor Terry Barbee and Hernan Gonzalez. A Portion of the funds raised have started the process of creating an exhibit that will highlight the Boy Scouts of America in the last century and the pictures, patches, and materials used by all of the Scouting Programs.

The exhibit will be available later this summer at the Weslaco Historic Museum. The interactive displays will show Scouting and will be portable. The idea is that this exhibit can travel to other museums in the Rio Grande Valley and share the history of Scouting here in the Area.

As the exhibit is finished, we will provide days to view the displays and the date for a grand opening. We are still looking for companies and individuals to contribute funds for finishing this great partnership between the Rio Grande Council and the Weslaco Mu- seum of History and Cultural Art.. For Sponsorship information please contact the Council office at 956-423-0250.

Yours in Scouting, Ernesto Carballo Jr.

VOICE OF THE SCOUT

In 2012, the Journey to Excellence performance recognition system will undergo changes. The most impactful change will be the addition of Voice of the Scout (VOS) as an optional crite- rion. VOS is a continuous feedback system based on the experiences of our Scouts, parents, volunteers, and chartered organizations that is designed to positively impact retention and growth. These surveys will increase interaction with our members, so councils have the opportunity to assess the program and opt in for 2012 to earn bonus points in the JTE system. In 2013, VOS will be a national program. To see more information please visit http://www.scouting.org/filestore/mission/pdf/VOS_Final_FAQ.pdf Page 10

2012 ANNUAL RECOGNITION DINNER

The Rio Grande Council’s Annual Recognition Dinner was held at the Marine Military Academy in Harlingen on Saturday, February 11, 2012. Master of Ceremonies Larry Jokl opened the dinner with a special white rose in remembrance of Troop 76 Assistant Scoutmaster Emil Golnick. The program included recognition of volunteers on the council level for their Scouting work in the Rio Grande Council. New Vigil Honor members in the Order of the Arrow Heather Blake- more and Ryan Lechtenberg were recognized. Haydn Jones and Donald A. Drefke were presented with Order of the Arrow Founder’s Awards, and Charles Keller, Robert E. Lyle, Jr., and Vickie Lyle were presented with the James E. West Fellowship Award.

The evening ended with the presentation of the Silver Beaver Award to three outstanding council volunteers: Emil Golnick was notified of his having been selected for the Silver Beaver shortly before his passing in December, 2011, and his wife Melissa and son Luis accepted the award on his behalf. Robert E. Lyle, Jr. and Stephen H. Shimotsu were each presented with the Silver Beaver. The Silver Beaver, the highest award that a local council can present to a volunteer, is in recogni-

QUOTABLE “Our nation is lacking: integrity, ethical behavior and personal responsibility. Scouting is teaching this.” Rex Tillerson

Proud Sponsors Electronic Issue 6 Page 11

New Camp Youth Protection Policy State Decision Affects 2012 Camping Season

The state of Texas now requires all Scouting staff members 14 years and older plus all Scouting adults 18 years and older to complete a classroom facilitated Youth Protection Training course in order to attend our staff licensed Summer Resident and Summer Day Camps in Texas. This comes after a state review found that the BSA online course does not cover all the required material.

To satisfy this state requirement, our council will offer classroom facilitated Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Youth Protection Training several times, including camp staff development sessions and on the first day of all affected camps. Special classes before camp are at the council office on these dates:

• If you are attending Camp Perry (only) May 16th, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. – Raimond Service Center 6912 W. Expressway 83, Harlingen, TX 78552. If attending any other summer camp in the State of Texas - May 30th, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. – Raimond Service Center 6912 W. Expressway 83 Harlingen, TX 78552

Licensed camps (camps of four or more days) that are affected: • Boy Scout Summer Camp at Camp Perry • Laguna Station High Adventure Base Summer Adventures • Winter Scout Camp at Camp Perry • Summer Adventure Camp at Camp Perry Cub Scout Day Camp or Twilight Cub Camps

Person affected (at licensed camps): • Adults attending Summer Adventure Cub Scout Camp with a youth • Adults staying in campsites during Boy Scout Summer Camp All staff (volunteer and paid)

Persons NOT affected: • Adult carpool drivers who do not stay at camp • Delivery drivers who do not stay at camp • Vendors presenting special programs who do not stay at camp • Adults attending camp closing ceremonies Adults who are not attending a “licensed camp”

This new requirement does not affect: Weekend camping or one day activities

DOES THIS MEAN MY ONLINE YPT IS NO GOOD? You have to complete Youth Protection Training prior to turning in your BSA adult membership. The online version through www.myscouting.org is still valid for that. The difference now is, adults attending or staff (volunteer or paid) working licensed camps have to take the classroom facilitated version of the course. In the future, you can apply the classroom facilitated version towards your membership renewal through re-charter: it’s good for two years from the date of completion.

WE’RE NOT CAMPING AT CAMP PERRY DO WE STILL HAVE TO DO THIS? This is state law, not ours. So, if you’re coming to any Scout camp that’s at least four days long in Texas, you’re going to have to complete the classroom facilitated Youth Protection Training course. You can take the course in our council and apply it to what- ever other council’s camp your unit is attending this summer. Page 12 COMMISSIONERS’ CORNER

“The role of the unit commissioner is to help every unit be successful. Unit success is defined by the unit achieving Journey to Excellence status and demonstrating an improve- ment in the retention of its members.”

Congratulations to the District Commissioners who have signed up for another hitch: Charles Keller (Arroyo) and Robert Lyle (Rio Bravo), and to the new District Commissioners Marion Velarde (Tip- O-Tex), and Tanya Gantt (Arrowhead). These dedicated Scouters, along with the Commissioners in each district, will work to contact unit leaders, make unit vis- its, and help improve Scouting in the Rio Grande Valley. Please give them your support.

A group of participants in the latest Wood Badge class have re- solved to “work their tickets” around Commissioner Service. Hats off to them. Training for new commissioners will be held on Saturday, May 12, 2012 at the Scout Service Center. Regis- tration is available now on the council web site.

Did you know??

That a new Chess merit badge has been approved.

LAGUNA STATION A SECRET NO MORE

Have you noticed the Laguna Station ad in the last 3issues of Scouting Magazine? The council’s high adventure sea base is a secret no longer. Scouting magazine is a publication which goes to every adult leader in the BSA. The ads have sparked interest from across the USA about spending a week on South Padre Is- land at Laguna Station, and registrations are up, over last year. Laguna Station offers a unique high adventure experience with programs which in- clude: fishing, sailing, scuba diving, island adventure. If you want more information on Laguna Station go to www.lagunastation.org Electronic Issue 6 Page 13

3RD ANNUAL TRAP AND SKEET CLASSIC

The Rio Grande Council is happy to announce the start of the 3rd Annual Trap and Skeet Classic shotgun tournament. The Tournament will be held on June 2nd at Loma Alta Trap and Skeet Club, located in Brownsville. We are looking forward to having a great year with many teams participating in the fun.

We are excited to hold our 3rd Annual Tour- nament in 2012 at Loma Alta. For more information on team registration and event sponsorship opportunities please contact the Rai- mond Scout Service Center at 423-0250. Corporate Sponsorships available for advertis- ing.

CAMP PERRY PAVER BRICKS

Would you like to be remembered at Camp Perry? Do you want someone who helped you along your Scouting path to be remembered? You can now achieve both through Camp Perry paver bricks which will be seen by everybody who goes to camp.

The Rio Grande Council is soliciting dedicated bricks for the flag plaza and the area around the R.W. Liston Bowl at Camp Charles F. Perry. The first phase of the paver brick project has already started with 200 dedicated bricks installed. Each paver brick is carefully baked with the name and other information of individuals who dedicated to time and resources to Scouting. Proceeds from the sale of the bricks go towards improvements at Camp Perry, and you could be a part of it.

Order your brick's now and be a part of the next grouping to be ordered and installed. Find an order form on the RGC website under the “Our New Stuff” section: www.riograndecouncil.org.

Raimond Scout Service Center Shop the Scout Shop

Get your back to school Scouting needs met at the Scout Shop!!!

The Scout Shop Summer Hours are: 10 AM-6 PM M-F Sat. & Sun. closed

Come visit the Scout Shop and Stock up on all of your Scouting needs. Be sure to get your all of your uniform parts before Summer Camp at Camp Perry.

Store Closed: May 28th , July 4th

Rio Grande Council Web Address: www.riograndecouncil.org

RIO GRANDE COUNCIL # 775, BSA P.O. BOX 2424 HARLINGEN, TX 78551-2424 PHONE (956)423-0250 FAX (956)421-4950 Email: [email protected] Web Site: www.riograndecouncil.org

E-mailed to all Unit Leaders, Assistants, Den Leaders, Unit Committee Chairmen, Chartered Organization Representatives, District Committee Members, and Commissioners.

RIO GRANDE COUNCIL OFFICERS— 2011-2012 Council President...... Andy Hagan VP Administration...... Col. Glenn Hill VP Membership...... Dr. Roberto Robles VP Finance...... Sandra Langley VP Properties ...... Richard Jaross VP Program...... Dr. Alex Fiegel Council Commissioner ...... Stephen M. Vassberg Treasurer ...... Rayburn MacNelly Asst Treasurer ...... Steven H. Shimotsu Asst. Treasurer ...... Lowell Holmes VP Endowment ...... Hon. Christopher H. Boswell Immediate Past President...... John Herrera Scout Executive ...... Ernesto Carballo Jr. WEBSITE OF THE MONTH : www.facebook.com/pages/Rio-Grande- Council-BSA/110006835701981