Elizabeth River District
Last updated 06/30/08

Where to Get Help

District Chairman: Mark Sawyer, 482-1528 eriverchair@cox.net

District Commissioner: David Stealey, 547-4085 dstealey@cox.net

Boy Scout Roundtable Commissioner:  Joe Branco, joebranco@cox.net

Cub Scout Roundtable Commissioner: Bruce Bodge, kbodge@cox.net
Advancement Chairman: Jimmy Gwinn; 482-6801 jamesrgwin@cox.net
Advancement: Melanie Rust, 545-6798 cougarbs@computermail.net
Membership Chairman: Currently Recruiting

Order of the Arrow Chapter Advisor: Robbie Henderson, 421-3637, rahender@hotmail.com

Finance Chairman: Currently Recruiting

Camping Chairman: Michael Clasing, 421-3284, stoicmike@hotmail.com

Activities Chairman: Currently Recruiting                                 

Training Chairman: Currently Recruiting

District Director: Sam Kowalski, 497-2688 x 30, skowalsk@bsamail.org

July

4 - Independence Day

August

5 – District Commissioners meeting

5 – District Committee Meeting

11 – Council Fall New Member Night Kick-off for District Key 3, Training and Membership Chairs

14 - Cub Scout Roundtable (Program Kick-off)

14 – Boy Scout Roundtable (Program Kick-off)

19 – Council Coordinated Meeting, for District Key 3, Training, Advancement, Membership, Activities, Camp Promo and Camp Development

22-24 – Cub Scout Family Campout

30 Scout Shop Closed

Notes from the District Chair

A Camporee and Webeloree for the fall are in the works. Anyone interested in working on the fall events should contact the District Chair.

2008 Centennial Quality Unit Commitment

All units were asked to turn in a 2008 Centennial Quality Unit Commitment form for 2008 when they turned in their charter. Many have done so but some have not. The units that have turned on the form are listed below: If you are not listed below, please contact your unit commissioner, the District Commissioner or your executive to make sure the form gets turned in.

Crews 48

Packs 6, 42, 48, 55, 57, 320,413, 421, 444, 462, 862, 888, 934

Troops 6, 48, 55, 57, 320, 413, 444, 462, 703, 824, 934

Popcorn Sale 2008

Yes, we are gearing up for the 2008 popcorn sale. We have had many units already signed up to participate in the sale. Full details of the sale will be out soon. Watch the EK and Website for information as it becomes available.

The following units have said that they would participate in the sale.

Packs 6, 42, 48, 55, 320, 824, 828, 862, 910, 934

Troops 6, 42, 48, 55, 57, 320, 462, 828, 901

If your unit is planning on selling popcorn, please contact the District Executive, Sam Kowalski.

Note from the Elizabeth River Popcorn Sale Chair

The popcorn information on http://eriverpopcorn.tripod.com/ has been updated for the 2008 sale.

There are changes in products, bonus, and prizes for the 2008 sale.  Please get your 2008 popcorn guide book http://tidewaterbsa.com/forms/2008%20popcorn%20book.pdf

I have not yet gotten confirmation from Lowe’s or Border Station, but it will be posted as soon as I do.

Please ask the popcorn coach from each unit to contact me by e-mail at ERiverpopcorn@aol.com

It would be most helpful if you could note what unit, the name and contact information for the coach.

If the coach is new to the sale please direct them to the above web site.  The Popcorn Coach Guide section is where all the training has been loaded.

Even if you have registered with the Council, or Sam, Please forward the information to me so I have it on file.

Thank you,

Donna Bennett

543-6115

E-River Popcorn

Cub Scout and Boy Scout Roundtables

Roundtables are held the Second Thursday of each month at, Oak Grove United Methodist Church, 472 Battlefield Blvd N, Chesapeake, VA 23320, at the intersection of Battlefield and Great Bridge Blvd’s.

In addition to other subjects covered, the August Roundtable will be the time we handout the program planning materials for the coming months

Your roundtable staff is here to serve you.

Recently several unit leaders provided the District Commissioner with some valuable feedback concerning unit expectations in the sharing of ideas at roundtable meetings. The Roundtable Staff took this feedback and created a new format for Roundtable meetings.  It is our hope to provide you with information that is both useful to your unit and an opportunity to share ideas with other district Scouters. The following service matrix was developed to provide all units with an opportunity to share in offering a better program for the youth in your unit(s) by providing timely information, effective tools, and fresh ideas for all to use.

We need your ideas and input! 

Are you interested sharing in this new format? Do you have an idea for a topic or a suggestion to improve how we can serve your needs better?  Send your ideas, comments and suggestions to Joe Branco, BSRT Commissioner email: joebranco@cox.net .

Let Joe know if your unit can help with the next opening/closing or Interest Topic!!

Boy Scout Roundtable

 Services Offered by Roundtable Staff

·        Provide supplemental materials and instructions to prepare Troops, Teams, and Crews for District Scouting events.

·        Contact and information/ideas exchange with other unit leaders and resources in the District and Council.

·        Provide an open forum to address common unit needs and issues.

·        Present awards to Adult Scout Leaders of Troops, Teams, and Crews.

·        Provide news and advance details on upcoming District and Council events ranging from the latest awards and advancement opportunities to Summer Camp.

·        Unit mail delivery of all important documents and event fliers needed to run a unit successfully.

·        “Hands-On” Fun! Serious Refreshments (when scheduled)!

Service Responsibilities
Opening: The opening should be creative and not necessarily be your troop's usual opening. One of the purposes of the ceremony is to learn new or different openings. Boy Scout Roundtable staff will provide the American flag. Troops assigned are responsible for supplying other props, handouts, etc. Buddy troops should coordinate their assigned tasks.

Monthly Theme: BSRT Staff will provide information on the BSA monthly theme as supplemental information for each unit.  This portion of the roundtable may include guest speakers and vendors when available. 

Outing Review: This is where your unit can give a personalized view of one of your unit's recent outings. It can be an unusual site or activity, a review of its facilities, attractions, lessons learned, extra or special preparation needed, etc. Let's share our knowledge of where we can take our youth to keep them active in the program.

Clean-up: "A Scout is Clean." This job involves making sure we leave the meeting area cleaner than we found it!

ALL: Adult leaders of troops, teams and crews (uniformed and non-uniformed; scoutmasters, committee members and parents) are encouraged to attend and participate in every Roundtable and as temporary Roundtable staff. Second year WEBELOS leaders are encouraged to attend to better understand Boy Scouting as their dens prepare to transition into Boy Scouts.

Yours in Scouting,

Joe Branco

Roundtable Attendance

Boy Scout Roundtable attendance for May.

Marc Leonetti            T 6

Jerry Bottum              T 42

Rob Winokur              T 48

Robbie Henderson   T 413/District

Gerald Brown            T 462

Shani Selby               T 703

John Stahler               T 828

David Stealey            District

Thank you to the following Scouters that attended May’s Roundtable

Doug Montgomery                P6

Ron Riffle                               P 42

Geoffrey Burke                      P 42

Jim Roth                                 P 48

Charles Ridings                    P 55

Sherry Morrison                     P 320

Rick Campbell                       P 828

Dave Nelson                          P 862

Rex Guinn                              P 901

Eric Dunbar                           P 901

Bruce Bodge                         District

Fall New Member Nights

Yes school is just barely out for the summer. But that means it’s time to start planning our fall membership campaign. We already know some of the things that work. For instance each pack should appoint a person to coordinate the drive for their organization. The pack coordinator should contact each school in the pack’s area and find out when the Open house(s) are going to be. These are the dates that the school will be open to new students (these usually take place before Labor Day) and get permission to set up a table for recruiting at these events.

The coordinator will also want to find out when the September PTA meeting is going to be and get permission to set up there as well.

Talk to others in your pack and see who you can get to help on these nights. You will want to have two or more adults if possible. Scouts in uniform are also good to have along to help interest the youth that you are trying to recruit in scouts.

We will also be scheduling special sign up nights in each school and printing flyers and door hangers as we have in the past.

Pack coordinators should also work with the Boy Scout troop as much as possible. We know most boy scouts come from Cub Scout packs. So troops should be a good source of help in recruiting. They can distribute door hangers and yard signs and help with sign-up nights. Boy Scout leaders should also take an interest in making sure that the packs have a good sign-up night because those cubs will eventually be looking for a good troop to join.

Look for more information on the Fall New Member Nights in upcoming editions of this newsletter.