February 2012

GATEWAY AREA COUNCIL

BOY SCOUTS Gateway Today OF AMERICA The Gateway Area Council Inside this issue: 2012 Annual Recognition Dinner

We invite you to join us at the 2012 Annual Recognition Dinner to be held Saturday, March 17, 2011 at UWL - Valhalla Hall.

Events 2-4 This is a special evening to say “Thank You” to some very Training 5-7 deserving people who help make our communities a little brighter. We look forward to seeing you there!

Seven Rivers 8 Annual Recognition Dinner Winding Trails 9 This invitation is extended to all the Scouting volunteers who helped make a difference in the lives of our area’s youth. Join us for an evening of fun and Soaring Eagle 10 fellowship. Camp Decorah 11 Date: Saturday, March 17, 2012 Woodbadge 12 6:00 pm Registration and Social 6:30 pm Dinner and Program

Location: UWL Valhalla Hall Scout Shop 13 Cost: $22.00 per person Scouts in Action 14 Purpose : To bring together scouts and scouters in recognition of the individuals who Staffing 15 have impacted the lives of young people in the Gateway Area Council. ------Gateway Area Council, Boy Scouts of America 2012 Annual Recognition Dinner Special Guest Registration

Reservations due by Friday, March 9th, 2012 Please Reserve ______Tickets

Names: 1.______2. ______

3. ______4. ______

5. ______6. ______

Contact Information: ______

Events Page 2 Page 3 Scouting for Food Page 4 Page 5 Training Page 8 Page 7 Page 8 Seven Rivers District Hello Seven Rivers District! We are well on our way into another Scouting year. Seven Rivers is thriving and will continue to do so with the help of all of our great volunteers! As you all know, it is time again for the Friends of Scouting Campaign season. FOS is an extremely critical financial source to keep Camp Decorah and the Gateway Area Council going strong. Seven Rivers’ FOS campaign is flourishing thanks to all of the Troop and Pack leaders welcoming us into their spring ceremonies and thanks to the volunteers who are investing their time and efforts into giving FOS presentations. Another big happening for this time of year is Re-chartering! I know a lot of people dread re-charter time but it really is an easy task especially DISTRICT KEY with having the ability to re-charter online. Rip it off quick like a band-aid! Get it done as soon as the charter packet gets into your hands! I am available for any THREE questions that you may have. Spring has (almost) Sprung! District Chairman Now is the time to get your spring and summer camping plans locked down if you John Parkyn haven’t already! I encourage every unit and leader to consider supporting the 608-788-7004 Gateway Area Council this year by selecting Camp Decorah as your summer camp [email protected] destination. Matt Hein and camp staff are always working hard to continually improve and create new camp experiences. Just as spring brings camping and new District Commissioner experiences, it brings new Scouts! Spring recruitment is almost upon us. Get your Chester Hilton Tiger den up and running in time to enjoy all of the exciting events coming up such [email protected] as the Hike-a-thon, Loggers event, and day camps! Thank you all for everything that you do for the youth and the community. District Executive Chris Schabow (Interim)

Looking Forward Hike-a-Thon [email protected]

Mall Show/Pinewood April 14 June 2nd 2012 608.784.4040

Spring Tiger Recruit May The Second Annual Hike-a-Thon event is 2012 Mall Show and District coming back bigger and better! Last year Pinewood Derby! Boy Scout Camporee May 4-6 was TONS of fun and at the same time a April 14th, 2012 Cub Camporee May 11-12 huge fundraising event for your unit! Hike-a-Thon June Packs, Troops, Crews and Posts Pledges for this event will be gathered by prepare yourself for taking over the participating youth and the split for the Valley View Mall! We want you... their hard work will be 50/50. Half of This is your chance to show off for the proceeds will go to Camp Decorah your skills, activities, gear, Roundtable and the other half will go to the boy or achievements and anything else! the unit. This is a great opportunity to Ideas and more information at Monthly gatherings for training, Roundtable. raise money for youth activities and District Pinewood Derby will also discussion, and information support their camp as well! continue on the second Thursday be held at the Mall Show. There It’s a great event for the whole family. will be 3 divisions: Pack champs, of each month, from 6:30-7:30pm Your participation is needed! open Pack, and open to All. Fee at St. John’s Church More information to come at the March to participate is $3. Please pre- Market St & West Ave, La Crosse register and pre-pay at the office. Roundtable Kick-off event! Each Roundtable will have a new valuable Cub Scout/Boy Scout training presented by Scouting for Food - March is National Scouting for Food different units each month! Month. This year the flyer and bag drop-off is Saturday, March 3rd John Wiltenger holds an OA and pick-up is Saturday, March 10th. This is a great way to promote Scouting meeting each Roundtable. in your community and offers people a chance to see Scouting in action. All Commissioners meet @ 6! food collected stays in your local community and greatly aides those in need. Page 9 Page 10 Soaring Eagle District

Hike-A-Thon! Scouts can earn their way to camp You don’t want to miss this excellent opportunity to raise significant funds for your scout’s camping experience and support your local council. Make sure you don’t miss your chance to participate in the action packed day of fun and celebration. More info available at the Round Table meetings or by contacting your District Executive. SUMMER CAMP AT CAMP DECORAH Friends of Scouting • Sites are filling fast! Thanks to those of you who have hosted or are • Camp Director Matt Hein and Program Director scheduled to host a Friends of Scouting Aaron Craig have an excellent program in place. presentation. Those units who have yet to sched- • Please inform us of your summer camp inten- ule one, please contact me at 608-797-5974 or tions. We hope that Camp Decorah is in your [email protected]. plans. If not, please let us know where you are going. So far, we have raised $4095, and our goal is • Please contact the District Executive if you need $15,000, which puts us at 25.5% of our goal. Great an electronic copy of the 2012 Summer Camp job! Leadership Guide Re-Chartering Time! Its that time of the year again! Part of being a quality unit is to have your unit chartered Scouting for Food on time. If you have not yet received your March is National Scouting for Food Month. This year the re-chartering information, contact me flyer and bag drop-off is Saturday, March 3rd and pick-up ASAP. These are due by the end of the is Saturday, March 10th. This is a great way to promote Don’t Forget! Round Table Meeting are Scouting in your community and offers people a chance to see Scouting in action. All food collected stays in your held every 2nd Thursday of the month at local community and greatly aides those in need. 7:00pm at Christ Lutheran Church in Arca- dia. Greetings! DISTRICT KEY THREE

My name is Mark Medinger and I would like to take the opportunity to introduce myself as the new Soaring Eagle District Executive. Growing up in Holmen, and having spent all District Chairman of my life in the greater La Crosse area, I am excited to be able to serve this District in Peter Schaffner which I am already very familiar with. I am a graduate of the University of -La [email protected] Crosse with a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration. So far, I have heard nothing but great things about the scouting units in the Soaring Eagle District, and am eager to join all of you as a part of the Boy Scouts. I am looking forward to getting to know eve- District Commissioner ryone and learning how each of you contributes so much of your personal time and ef- forts to this great Organization. Please do not hesitate to call or email me regarding Welcome Jeff Frank! district and council information, questions, and feedback. District Executive Mark Medinger Soaring Eagle District Executive Mark Medinger 608.797.5974 [email protected] Page 11 Camp Decorah

Greetings Scouters,

Spring is around the corner! Camp Decorah will be green before we know it.

Camp Decorah will again host the Spring Work Day on April 28. Troops and Crews are invited to spend the weekend out at camp. More information about this event will be sent out when the date nears.

Camp Decorah’s summer camp program will begin on June 10 th . The most current camp sign-ups are listed here, please double-check your troop’s registration or find the week and campsite that will fit your schedule best. During the off-season, camp sign-ups are taken in the council office. This is going to be a great summer out at camp, so we hope to see you and your troop. In addition to our excellent mainstay programs, we will again be offering the Peak of Adventure Program.

Don’t forget your $100 per boy deposit so you can sign in to the website on March 15!

There is still plenty of time to plan a unit campout, so get a reservation form and come on out!!

Yours in Scouting,,

Matt Hein Aaron Craig [email protected] [email protected] 608-526-6418 608-561-2267 Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Current Campsite June 17-22 June 24-Jun 29 July 8-13 July 15-20 July 22-27 Sign-Ups We have had an Arapaho T-13 La Crosse T-68 New Berlin T-457 Bloomingdale, IL

excellent sign Blackfoot T-18 LaX T-33 La Crescent T-31 DeSoto T-5 Tomah T-71 Genoa, IL up’s this year, but we still have Lenape A-B T-15 LaX T-46 Bangor T-168 Ona T-22 LaX a few sites Lenape C-D T-117 Seymour T-21 LaX T-22 LaX available. The Sioux T-64 Arcadia T-76 Marshall T-99 Wayne, IL T-110 CFC chart to the right shows are Mohawk T-78 Whitehall T-550 Council Bluffs T-61 Galesville

current sign Iroquois T-72 Tomah T-1 Winona T-145 Cottage Grove ups. If your troops sign up U. Apache T-68 Onalaska is not correct L. Apache T-67 Preston or you are in- L. Comanche T-82 Platteville terested in sign- ing up please U. Comanche T-82 Platteville T-51 Caledonia call us at: Winnebago T-9 Hixton T-54 Alma (608) 784-4040 Chippewa T-186 Rochester T-75 Naperville T-18 Lewiston

Cherokee T-186 Rochester T-75 Viroqua T-75 Naperville T-111 Stoddard Page 12

Woodbadge

Come one, come all to the

Annual Woodbadge dinner

This year’s dinner will be held on February 25, 2012 at the Dahl Family dining center at Camp Decorah.

It will start with a social time at 5:30 and dinner at 6:30.

This will be potluck, so bring your favorite dish or if you’re ambitious, bring more.

We anticipate that several of the participants of the last course, C-10-10 will receive their beads that evening.

If anyone would like to put a skit or song together to entertain the group, it would be enjoyed by all.

If you could contact either Chester Hilton ([email protected]) or leave word at the scout office if you are planning to attend, it will give us an idea of how many tables and chairs to set up. Spouses, children, friends, and strangers you meet on the street are all welcome.

Page 13 Scout Shop News Ready, Set, GO! Rev-Up for Pinewood Derby 2012 Patches, cars and all the cool accessories are ready for purchase at the Scout Shop. Check out the Ultimate Pinewood Derby website: www.PinewoodDerby.org (Gateway Pinewood patch quantities are limited)

Wheels, medals, decals & accessories galore!

Now Available: Alumni Items Event Registration: Eagle Scout We are a very busy Council with Supplies! Many events, PLEASE Use the registration forms and rosters when registering your scouts for an event. They contain needed information to make your check-in run smoother.

PLEASE If you cannot bring your registrations to the scout center, DO NOT CALL IN YOUR PARTICIPANTS We need the forms filled out and sent in. Please email or fax your event registra- tions to: [email protected] Or 608-784-4047 Award Kits Greeting Cards Programs Neckerchiefs Your cooperation is Slides Gifts Appreciated by all.

Scouts in Action Page 14

State of Wisconsin-Office of the Governor issues Proclamations Honoring Scouting in Wisconsin

2/1/2012 MADISON, WI-Eagle Scouts from 7 Council’s including the Gateway Area Council helped restart the tradition of an Eagle Scout from Wisconsin presenting a “Boy Scouts of America Annual Report” to the Gover- nor during the first week of February. Special thanks to Alex Metry, Eagle Scout from Troop 48 charted to La Crosse Valley View Rotary Club in Seven Rivers Dis- trict for representing the Gateway Area Council. Alex highlighted Scouting’s success in the Coulee Region and presented Governor Walker with a one and only OA pillow made by Pat Johnson, one of our great leaders from Warrens. Alex was accompanied by his father, Mark Metry, Council President Glen Danielson and Scout Executive Sean Henneman.

In honor of the 100th anniversary of the first Eagle Scout, Arthur R. Eldred, and the restarting of the “Boy Scouts of America Annual Report” the Governor pro- claimed 2012 as the Year of the Eagle Scout throughout the state of Wisconsin.

After presenting each Council’s annual report to the Governor, the Eagle Scouts got a chance to talk with Supreme Court Justice Ann Walsh Bradley and take a tour of the state capital.

Alex’s View…. On Wednesday, February 1, 2012, I, along with one Eagle Scout from each of the seven other Wisconsin councils – , Chippewa Valley Council, Glacier’s Edge Council, Samoset Council, Three Harbors Coun- cil, Blackhawk Area Council, and Bay-Lakes Council – met at the capitol to meet the governor, Scott Walker, and pre- sent each council’s report to the state. The day started out at 8:45, when the scouts from each council met on the fourth floor of the capitol. From there, we walked to the governor’s conference room in the east wing. After Scott Walker walked in, every Scout read off the report for their council. The speech I read stated how the Gateway Area Council has assisted the disabled population of the La Crosse Region. In it, I mentioned the Gateway Area Council’s partnership with the City of La Crosse. It pro- vided a weeklong summer camp in 2011 – at the council’s camp, Camp Decorah – to the disabled population of La Crosse who partake in the recreation department programs for the city. To end the meeting with the governor, we shook hands and took pictures. After visiting the governor, we moved on to meet with the Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Ann Walsh Bradley. While there, we discussed the politics of the Supreme Court, together with questions asked about being a justice. Finally, to end our day at the Capitol, we took a tour, going through the Rotunda, the Governor’s Conference Room, the State Supreme Court, the State Senate, and, finally, the State Assembly, along with a wonderful lunch to end the morning. Overall, the day was a wonderful experience; I enjoyed it a great deal. It was remarkable to meet the governor of the grand state of Wisconsin.

Alexander Metry Gateway Area Council Representative Page 15

GATEWAY AREA COUNCIL Staffing

BOY SCOUTS Would you like to work at Camp Decorah? OF The Gateway Area Council hires 30 enthusiastic camp counselors annually to serve on the Camp Decorah AMERICA Summer Camp Staff. Positions include shooting sports assistants, lifeguards, climbing staff, trading post clerks, and kitchen personnel. Staff members serve for 6-8 weeks while living at Camp Decorah. Young 2600 Quarry Rd. men age 15+ are invited to apply. Adult positions also available for men and women, spend your summer LaCrosse, WI 54601 with a great organization! Why apply for a Camp Staff position? Phone: 608-784-4040 Feat ured • Positio Make new friends n Ope Fax: 608-784-4047 • nings B (age): • usiness Spend a summer in the great outdoors Manag • er (18+ Hea ) • Develop skills that will last a lifetime d Cook • (21+) Kitche • Be a crucial part of an effective and efficient team n Staff • (16+) Healt Council Staff • Learn how to lead and apply leadership skills h Offic • er (18+ C ) • limbin Live in an environment based on the Scout Oath and Law g Direc • tor (21 Sean Henneman Life +) • guards Give back to a great program • (16+) Scout Executive Tra • ding Po [email protected] For your first job; we hire young men starting at age 15 • st Cler ks (16+ Progra ) Please contact Aaron Craig for instructions to complete the m Staff (15+) Tammy Schmitz—7 Rivers online application. District Executive [email protected] Contact information is listed on the Camp Decorah page.

Mark Medinger-Soaring Eagle District Executive Mission Statement [email protected] The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare Mary Freybler—Winding Trails young people to make ethical and moral choices over District Executive [email protected] their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the

Nikki Burk Scout Oath and Law. Registrar Scout Law [email protected] Scout Oath A Scout Is: Stacy Franken On my honor I will do my best Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Account Specialist To do my duty to God and my country Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, [email protected] and to obey the Scout Law; Thrifty. Brave, Clean, and Reverent. Terri Einer To help other people at all times; Scoutshop To keep myself physically strong, [email protected]

Matt Hein Camp Director/Ranger [email protected]

Aaron Craig Program Director [email protected]

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