Heart of America Council, Boy Scouts of America ADVENTURES IN SCOUTING www.hoac-bsa.org October/November 2011 In This Issue… Self Honored Council volunteers and KU Coach Bill Self is surprised with the Sil- staff aid in Joplin relief 4c ver Beaver Award at his Annual Boy Scout efforts (page 3) Golf Classic. Council announces top honors (page 5) Remembering 9/11 Scouts pause for a moment of silence on the 10th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks. Play Ball! Star Scout, John Adams, from Troop 261 in Parkville, MO throws out the first pitch at Local Scouts find adven- Scout Day at the K. ture overseas (page 6) Lights, Camera, Action! Pack 3777 Scouts stop by NBC Action News to promote School Night for Scouting. Smartphone Scouts get a kick at Interactive Livestrong Sporting 1 Heart of America Council, Boy Scouts of America ParkOct (pageober/November 6) 2011 FROM THE SCOUT EXECUTIVE COUNCIL CALENDAR A call was made to the school and they were informed that October Do a Good Turn Daily…. the Heart of America Council would cover the remaining 1 OA Vigil Banquet expenses for Samir’s burial. A meeting was scheduled and a As we all know very well, part of the Scout Oath is “Do a check was presented to the school/foundation and to Samir’s 1-2 Woodbadge Good Turn Daily”. Of course we never know when or mother. During the presen- 2 Shooting Sports Banquet & Auction where this opportunity will tation Mrs. Clark said that present itself, but I think it is 5 Council Day Camp Meeting Scouting was the best thing to safe to say not a day goes by that 12 West Fellowship Ambassadors Meeting ever happen to her son and she each of us cannot do a “Good remembered fondly his days at 12 Distinguished Citizen Award Dinner Turn” for someone we come in the Bartle Scout Reservation. 13 Bartle Draw contact with. She wished that more inner 15 Bartle Draw Last week I was forwarded an city youth had the opportunity 14-16 Naish Mini Camp Weekend to participate in Scouting. e-mail that originated from Uni- 17 Council Executive Committee Meeting versity Academy in Kansas City. The family and spirit of Scout- 18 Mic-O-Say Dinner & Auction It was in reference to the tragic On behalf of the Heart of America Council, Kenn Miller ing is everywhere. What was shooting death of Samir Clark. and Bob Hamlin, present a $5,000 check to the family 18 Rotary Camp Staff Meeting your “Good Turn” today? After gunfire erupted outside of of Samir Clark. 19 Council Coordinated Meeting Samir’s home he jumped into As always, if you have any 20 OA LEC Meeting action to protect children inside. Samir was struck by a stray questions, concerns or ideas let me know. I am proud to serve 22 Skilled Trade Work Day — Bartle bullet and was killed. as your Scout Executive. 22 Naish Draw Samir was a graduate of University Academy and an Eagle Kenn Miller 22 VOA Haunted Trails Scout from the Heart of America Council. Last year Samir 4c Scout Executive 25 Jamboree Committee Meeting was recognized with an Urban Scouting Scholarship pre- [email protected], W: (816) 569-4980 sented to him at the Council’s Distinguished Citizen Award 25 Commissioner Meeting Dinner. This scholarship was to provide Samir $2,500 a year 26 Council School Night Report Meeting for up to four years of his college education. Samir had just 28-30 Naish Mini Camp Weekend completed his first year of college and was looking forward to 29 Skilled Trade Work Day — Naish returning to school this fall. 29 Council International Committee Meeting The e-mail I received originated from the University Acade- 29 Popcorn Sale Ends my Foundation. Samir’s family did not have the funds needed 31 Popcorn Orders Due to cover the funeral and burial expenses, about $10,000. The Scouting & Social Media foundation was working to raise the funds needed and help November It’s an exciting time to be part of the BSA for many reasons. the family through this very difficult time. After contacting One of those is that new communication vehicles now 2 Council Day Camp Meeting the foundation we learned that they were still $5,000 short. enable Scouts and Scouters to communicate directly with 4-6 OA National Leadership Seminar & Lodge If ever there was a time to do a “Good Turn,” this was the Advisor Training opportunity. each other about Scouting. Online social media tools such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube have made it possible for 5 University of Scouting anyone to discuss Scouting 10 Council Philmont Contingent Meeting and share stories, photos, vid- 11 Popcorn Distribution ADVENTURES IN SCOUTING eos, and other types of media. 11-13 Naish Mini Camp Weekend Published February/March, April/May, June/July, August/September, This can be a very positive 12 Popcorn Distribution October/November, December/January by the Heart of America Coun- vehicle for Scouting, but the 12-13 OA Lodge Leadership Development cil, Boy Scouts of America. This issue and past archived issues can be creation and maintenance of found on the Heart of America Council website, www.hoac-bsa.org. 15 Council Risk Management Committee Meeting these channels requires fore- 16 Council Annual Recognition Banquet PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENTS TREASURER thought, care, and respon- Terry K. Miller Chief James D. Corwin Stephen M. Clifford sibility. For that reason, the 17 OA LEC Meeting Marc E. Elkins COUNCIL LEGAL COUNSEL Boy Scouts of America has 19 Naish Work Day Lester D. Ham COMMISSIONER David W. Frantze developed guidelines to help James W. Hayes 21 Council Board of Directors Meeting James R. Bernard, Jr. you navigate the use of social Clifford W. Illig SCOUT EXECUTIVE 22 Rotary Camp Staff Meeting RIchard L. Martin Kendrick J.E. Miller media channels. 24 Scout Shop & Council Service Center Closed Michael A. Merriman EDITOR Hon. Keith W. Sickendick Matt Armstrong To review the BSA social 25 Scout Shop & Council Service Center Closed Charlie M. Tetrick media guidelines go to www. 29 Commissioner Meeting Delvin L. Wilkinson GRAPHIC DESIGN Tammy L. Bosley hoac-bsa.org and click on the council news tab. 29 Council Membership/Relationships Meeting 2 Heart of America Council, Boy Scouts of America October/November 2011 COUNCIL NEWS From the Commissioner… Council Scouts and Staff Aid in Last month, this column dealt with recruitment and in particular School Night for Scouting. Joplin Relief Efforts We all know we will continue to bring new youth into Scouting, but 12 months On August 6 hundreds of Scouts, Scout leaders, and staff from the Heart of Amer- from now, will those youth still be involved in Scouting programs? ica Council made their way to Joplin, Missouri to clear debris left by the May 22 tornado. Scouts and volunteers Some would say that retention is not one of the roles of the commissioner. braved the staggering heat to help This may be technically true in that it’s a well-planned program that helps retain youth. But a the Joplin School District ready commissioner, through their unit visits, can observe the program being offered, the leadership classrooms and buildings for being exhibited, and the involvement and interest of the youth. Our commissioners have a the coming school year. Projects considerable amount of experience and should be able to offer suggestions or tips on how to ranged from clearing debris to engage the youth. The commissioner may also see a training opportunity for the leaders, so mulching to basic cleaning. In learning what training is available is important. It has been said that a commissioner visit can total, more than 1,000 Scouts from “take the pulse” of a unit. Commissioner visits will help you identify potential challenges and 7 different states helped in the ways to address them before it’s too late. clean-up efforts with volunteers Retention doesn’t happen once or twice a year, it’s a year-round process. Regular visits will help compiling an your units provide the best program possible to keep the youth engaged and interested, and estimated 6,000 therefore remain involved in Scouting. hours of service to the Joplin Thanks, my fellow commissioners, for your dedication to the Scouting programs. Scouts and staff from the Heart of America community. Council clear the way for change in Joplin BW Yours in Scouting Jim Bernard, Council Commissioner New Units Veteran Awards Big Muddy Crew 2675 Odessa VFW Post 5675 David Allen 60 year Pioneer Trails Council Pack 4832 SWC at Metropolitan Missionary Richard Brack Pack 4834 SWC at St. Mark’s Church 30 year Pack 4835 SWC at Morning Star Baptist Church Thunderbird Pack 4836 SWC at Derrick Thomas Academy Pack 4837 SWC at Covenant Presbyterian Donald Weinstein School Night for Scouting 50 year Troop 1103 HA KC at Riverview Gardens Trailhead Campaign Going Strong Troop 1831 SWC at Zion Grove Missionary Baptist Troop 1832 SWC at Metropolitan Missionary The 2011 School Night for Scouting Campaign kicked off Troop 1833 SWC at Swope Parkway Church of Christ on August 14 with one single school. Since then, the council has conducted 417 School Nights over an eighteen Troop 1835 SWC at Morning Star Baptist Church day period. The campaign is slated to end in late October. Thunderbird With the support of our great coordinators and organizers, over 3,600 new Cub Scouts have been recruited into our Scouting family. Pack 4413 Belvidere Heights Baptist Church Troop 1621 First Baptist Church of Peculiar Ryan Watson, the 2011 Council School Night Chairman, has appeared on television with some of our youth promoting recruitment efforts and has conducted one of three planned School Night Conference Calls with our district volunteers.