Winter Issue 2016 THE SamosetVoice A newsletter for families and leaders of Samoset Council Congratulations Silver Beaver Class of 2015 Samoset Key 3 Message The Silver Beaver Award is one of the most prestigious awards given by the page 3 Boy Scouts of America. The award is the highest award that Samoset Council can bestow on a volunteer for rendering outstanding service to Scout Youth. Council News The 2015 recipients are John Strojny, William Washburn, Lorrie Rindfleisch, page 4 Peter Weber, and Jackie Denny. STEM Scouts Samoset Council is proud to page 7 present its highest honor, the Silver Beaver Award, to these Training volunteers in recognition of their page 8 distinguished service to youth within the Samoset Council Advancement (continued on page 5). page 10 Camping page 12 Samoset Ranks 3rd in Journey to Excellence Council Calendar page 15 Samoset Council had a remarkable year in 2015. The final Journey to Excellence rankings are out and Samoset Council ranked #3 out of 273 councils in the country. This marks the fourth time in the past five years the council has ranked in the top 5! What an incredible reflection on the work of the volunteers and staff. Congratulations Samoset for a fantastic year. WWW.SAMOSet.ORG | 800-303-2195 The Samoset Voice COUNCIL RESOUrcES Page 2 Samoset Council Staff Ready to Serve our Scouting Volunteers & Families 1. Ahdawagam District - Serving the communities of Adams, Arkdale, Babcock, Friendship, Grand Marsh, Nekoosa, Pittsville, Port Edwards, Rudolph, Vesper, Wisconsin Rapids Dan Schmit | 715-409-6155 | [email protected] 2. Mushkodany District - Serving the communities of Almond, Amherst, Amherst Junction, Bancroft, Custer, Junction City, Milladore, Mosinee, Plover, Rosholt, Stevens Point Dean Bushey | 715-409-6637 | [email protected] 3. Ojibwa District - Serving the communities of Abbotsford, Athens, Auburndale, Blenker, Colby, Edgar, Hewitt, Marshfield, Spencer, Stratford, Unity, Withee James Peterson | 715-409-6486 | [email protected] 4. Rib Mountain District - Serving the communities of Birnamwood, Gresham, Hatley, Hewitt/Texas, Kronenwetter, Maine, Marathon, Rib Mountain, Ringle, Rothschild, Schofield, Stettin, Wausau, Wittenberg Christopher Fischer | 715-409-6487 | [email protected] 5. Northwoods District - Serving the communities of Boulder Junction, Butternut, Gleason, Medford, Merrill, Minocqua, Park Falls, Phillips, Prentice, Rib Lake, Stetsonville, Tomahawk, Woodruff Steven Lowe | 715-409-0819 | [email protected] 6. Crystal Lake District - Serving the communities of Antigo, Crandon, Eagle River, Elcho, Harshaw, Land O’Lakes, Laona, McNaughton, Newbold, Phelps, St. Germain, Rhinelander, Three Lakes Steven Lowe | 715-409-0819 | [email protected] Jeff Ottosen - Scout Executive/CEO Deanna Pellegrino - Administrative Assistant 715-355-1450 | [email protected] 715-355-1450 | [email protected] Adam Freund - Field Director Lois Watford - Registrar 715-409-9415 | [email protected] 715-355-1450 | [email protected] Scott Domino - Director of Program & Support Lanette Lemmer - Accounting Assistant 715-490-2241 | [email protected] 715-355-1450 | [email protected] Erin Straw - Cub Scout Director Kristin Woller - Scout Shop Manager 715-490-0450 | [email protected] 715-355-9680 | [email protected] Amanda Flannery - STEM Executive Ron Stange - Camp Phillips Ranger 715-409-6690 | [email protected] [email protected] Troy Seehafer - Camping Executive Elvis Bauman - Crystal Lake Scout Reservation Ranger 715-218-8245 | [email protected] 715-490-1742 | [email protected] United Way Partner Thank You Spectra Print Samoset Council is pleased to be affiliated with the Samoset Council thanks Spectra Print Corporation for United Way in its 13 county area. their very generous donation of printing The Samoset Voice. It is because of this support, that Samoset is able to provide such a high quality publication to our Scouting families and supporters. Samoset Council, Boy Scouts of America The Samoset Voice COUNCIL NEWS Page 3 Samoset Key 3 Message looking forward to new activities for Cub Scouts, A Message to our Amazing Volunteers Boy Scouts, Venturing youth and more. • We will continue to build on what has been an What an incredible incredibly successful launch of the STEM Scout time to be involved program in 2015. Stay tuned for more information in Scouting in the about additional labs starting next fall. Samoset Council. • We will continue to expand Scouting Outreach Once again in programs making it possible for all youth to 2015 the Samoset participate in Scouting throughout the year. Council has ranked • We are excited to expand our camp scholarships among the top five in 2016 to include opportunities for adult leaders to councils in the Boy attend training like Wood Badge and the training Scouts of America. center at Philmont. This amazing accomplishment is a testament to the Scouts, families and especially the remarkable Thank you for all you do! volunteer leaders throughout the Samoset Council. Thank you for serving with us on behalf of youth in our Your friends in Scouting: communities. John Mabry | Council President We remain committed to our primary goal of reaching [email protected] more youth and families with the incredible experiences Scouting provides. We recognize it is dedicated Bob Berg | Council Commissioner volunteers that make those experiences happen. As [email protected] we begin a new year of Scouting we are thrilled to update our volunteers on some of the exciting events Jeff Ottosen | Scout Executive happening in the Samoset Council. Here a just a few: [email protected] • In 2016 we will be investing more than $250,000 into capital and program improvements at Crystal Lake Scout Reservation. Be sure to look for announcements about new program features at camp this summer. We know “Camping is King”. • We have added a new full-time Camping Executive to our staff who will lead our effort to expand programming opportunities year-round at the Crystal Lake Scout Reservation. We are Samoset Council Board of Directors Jeff Ottosen John Mabry Bob Berg Scout Executive Council President Council Commissioner Alan Panek Jeremy Thompson+ Nigel Cooper + Thad Brockman Bill Jenkins+ Jon Lanctin Pat Wallschlaeger Todd Schroeder Brian Bennett+ Kevin Crooks Randy Winter Bridget Wenman Larry Foltz Reid Rayome Dr. Frederick Prehn Marcia Tepp Rick Radloff + District Chair Eric Wangen Marita Hattem Roger King * Treasurer Greg Koepel Margaret Donnelly Steve Lammers * ** Youth Representative James Wanserski Matt Jaworski ** Terri Franson Where Camping Is King The Samoset Voice COUNCIL NEWS Page 4 Samoset Strategic Plan and the public through concentrated efforts to 2016-2018 Objectives communicate Scouting’s positive impact and service to the communities making up Samoset As we begin the year we are excited to launch our Council. newly developed council strategic plan. Thank you to 6. Practice Sound Stewardship of Council the many volunteers who provided input into the plan. Resources: The long term stability and security of The end result of this volunteer led process is detailed Samoset Council is dependent on our ability to be plan focusing on six strategic pillars. Within each pillar wise stewards of our resources. We are committed there are three to five goals and specific, measurable to sound stewardship of all our resources, objectives. We encourage volunteers at all levels of including; council-owned properties, finances and the program to review the plan. As we work together the countless hours of time contributed by our we will make a greater impact on youth in the Samoset amazing volunteers. Council. Below are the six strategic pillars. A full copy of the plan is available on the Samoset website. 2016 Journey to Excellence 1. Strengthen Our Units through Exceptional What’s in it for Your Unit Service: Samoset Council and its districts exist to Why should your unit serve youth and families in our communities. Our participate in the Journey top priority is to provide exceptional service to each to Excellence program? Scouting unit to assist unit leaders in delivering Isn’t this just another quality programs to youth and families. form the Boy Scouts are 2. Deliver High Quality & High Value Program: asking me to fill out? Samoset Council will mobilize its resources to While we are asking all units to fill out the form, there carryout district and council level programs and are very good reasons for it. These reasons include activities for the benefit of youth and their families. planning, evaluating and recognition. Council and district programs will focus on building stronger unit-level programs for youth and their Every unit needs to spend time planning in order to families resulting in fun challenging outdoor put on an effective program. Journey to Excellence is experiences that instill values, self-reliance and a great supporting tool to help in the yearly planning self-confidence. process. The JTE standards are based on what successful units do each year; incorporating JTE in 3. Develop Leaders at All Levels of the Council: your planning process can help you become a more The highest quality programs require the most successful unit. passionate and highly trained volunteers, youth leaders and staff. We will provide ongoing The JTE program is an excellent way to evaluate your leadership development and training opportunities program by providing tangible measurements in all for volunteers, youth leaders and staff through the key areas of a successful program. Journey to basic training, advanced training and ongoing Excellence tracks planning, membership, program supplemental training. This includes development and leadership. Each one of those areas impacts the of leadership, teamwork and life skills in the youth experience scouts have in your program. that we serve. 4. Extend the Reach and Impact of Scouting in Lastly JTE is a great way to recognize your unit. Our Communities: Scouting makes its positive Your unit can earn the bronze, silver or gold level impact on our communities one youth and one of achievement.