Brazos Valley District
April 2020 Newsletter
No Round Table or LHC Activities Until Further Notice - We miss you!
From the District Chair
1- BRAZOS VALLEY DISTRICT AWARDS BANQUET UPDATE: We are waiting for the lifting of group gathering restrictions so that we can reschedule the Brazos Valley District Awards Banquet!!!! We want to officially and professionally recognize our two District Award of Merit recipients and those volunteers that helped make the 2019-2020 Brazos Valley District year a memorable one. PLEASE KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR MORE DETAILS AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE.
2- Plan to participate in the Virtual District Committee Meeting, Tuesday, April 14, 2020 at 7:00pm. We will be running this meeting using ZOOM. There will be 2 Zoom notifications sent out. One will be for those members of the District that are designated as voting members. That Zoom Notification will be coming from Jason Buescher and Andy Brice directly to those that can vote for the new District Leadership that the Nominating Committee will be presenting. At the same time, another Zoom meeting will be opened for those that are not voting members but want to participate in the follow-on District Committee Meeting. The Zoom information for that meeting is:
https://scouting.zoom.us/j/574246012?pwd=c1l1eU1nQnJkZVRqdGh4M3gzRmNlZz09
Password: 051446
Or Telephone: Dial: USA 636 651 3182 or USA 8778738018 (US Toll Free)
Conference code: 785832
NOTE: Those voting members will need to be logged into the ZOOM meeting notice that Jason provides so that your electronic vote can be counted…dialing into the one listed above or just calling in will not allow you to vote. Once the Nominating committee and voting is over, the voting ZOOM line will be closed down and you can dial into the one listed above and we can proceed with the normal District Business meeting.
3- If you were not aware, the Brazos Valley District maintains a calendar of upcoming events that is accessible to all. The link to the calendar can be found here BVD-21 Calendar.
4- 2020 Unit Service Hour Challenge. I would like to request all units to provide a minimum of 100 hours of Service to their Chartered Organization by June 30, 2020. We owe our Chartered Organizations a lot of thanks for hosting us and this is one way to show our appreciation. Service Hours have to be entered into the MyScouting.Org Service Hour section as they are not automatically transferred from Scouting apps. I am attaching a form that you can complete and send to my attention and I will ensure your unit is credited with the Service Hours. Let’s shoot for 100 hours in ½ Year in 2020.
5- National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution Eagle Scout Recognition and Scholarship Program is offering opportunity for College Scholarships (1st Place - $10,000, Runner Up - $6,000 and 2nd Runner Up - $4,000). Application year is January 1 to December 31. Eagle Scouts currently registered in an active unit and who have not reached their 19th birthday during the year of application can submit. For more information contact Dr. Art Munford at goaggies@suddenlink.net or Jack Wilkes at BVD21Chair@gmail.com
6- Once District Meetings can start back up, we will be moving our Round Table (May 7, 2020); District Commissioners Meeting (May 12, 2020) and District Committee Meeting (May 12, 2020) to meet at Grace First Presbyterian Church, 606 Mockingbird Ln, Weatherford, TX.
7- Attached is an updated map of the Weatherford District 44 that reflects all of the units that will be in the new District come April 5, 2020:
The Longhorn Challenge
We know many of you want to keep on scouting during the stay at home orders, and do not know where to start.
Aside from the obvious “working on ranks”, there have been a number of initiatives started around the country and the Council Activities Committee is proud to announce the “Longhorn Challenge” which gives ideas for Scouting during these times when we cannot meet in person as units.
See the attached link for great ideas on what your Scouts can do to keep Scouting without meetings!
Challange
Group task Using Resources Within or To the Group
Read the Hand-out - Choose a leader and give your group a name
Construct a sturdy and stable tower which should be over 24 inches tall using the “Resources” available to your group using the information in the hand—out. Tower should remain standing at least two minutes.
Upon completion of your tower, post your flag and shout out with a cheer your group has composed.
First to complete the tower wins a prize. Tallest standing tower wins a prize.
From the Camping Committee
Hopefully, everyone is making progress in “Scouting from Home” I don’t know about the rest of you, but I am ready to hit the trails and camps again!
In light of the uncertainty around the Covid-19 virus, Longhorn Council has plans in place to refund or move pre-paid registration fees, camp fees, etc for Scouts and units planning to attend Council Camps summer of 2020 if they are canceled due to ongoing Covid-19 restrictions. This applies to ALL Longhorn Council Day Camps, Resident Camps, Summer Camps, and High Adventure Camps!
If not signed up already sign up your Scouts NOW for Our Longhorn Council Summer camps with no worries about losing deposits or camp fees!
If your Scouts are in need of a Campership They are scheduled to be reviewed at the Camping Committee meetings in April and May provided meeting restrictions are normal by then.
Here are the links for those applications.
With the current situation, they can be digitally signed or just attach and email of support.
Request for Longhorn Council Day Camp Campership
https://www.longhorncouncil.org/wp.../Day_Camp_Campership_Form.pdf
Request for Longhorn Council Summer Camp Campership
https://www.longhorncouncil.org/.../campership_request-longhorn_council_ summer_camp.pdf
Camperships need to be turned in to the Council office with 50% of the camp fee.
BSA Safety Moment
From the Training Chair
May training's are still on as of the current updates, May 2 and 3 for IOLS and BALOO https://scoutingevent.com/662-TT31_IOLS
May 9 at Arborlawn church for specifics courses Pack and Troop https://www.eventbrite.com/o/brian-moon-29827294685
Flyer attached with info on training's as well
As always the Wood Badge upcoming courses and Powder Horn has openings and will be available this summer and fall.
Yours in Scouting,
Brian Moon
District Training Chair - Brazos Valley
ASM-Logistics S2-662-20-4
Assistant Scoutmaster Troop 76
817-655-4895
IOLS Training
When: May 2nd-3rd
Why: Because it will be FUN!!
And, because “Every scout deserves a well-trained leader.”
Where: Camp Holland – Weatherford
How much: $30 (includes patch)
You need to complete Hazardous Weather and SM Specific completed to receive the “trained” patch.
· IOLS is a hands-on training
· Focus will be on the skills needed for Scout through First Class.
· Experts in each field will be there to share their scout knowledge.
· No Adulting!!
· Food is SCRUMPTIOUS
But wait, there's more. You can CHOOSE ONE of the following…
· OPTION 1 Scoutmaster Specific course the night before on May 1st 6:30 PM so you can get FULLY trained all in ONE weekend! And, you are only required to take this course ONCE! Unless, you want to come back and be on staff!! https://scoutingevent.com/662-TT31_SM_Training
· OPTION 2 Dutch oven cooking Friday night May 1st $10 per a person with a limit of 16 attendees. (6:30-9:30 pm) https://scoutingevent.com/662-TT31_Dutch_Oven
· OPTION 3 Complete SM Specific online and register for the Dutch Oven class.
ALL TROOP SPECIFICS CLASSES WILL BE AVAILABLE ON MAY 9TH AT ARBORLAWN. Please register on EVENTBRITE for Troop Specifics and we will get you COMPLETELY TRAINED!!
So, come one, come all and get that coveted "trained" patch to put on your uniform!!
I hope to see you in May or if you can't make our course, look on the council website and find one that fits your schedule and get trained.
I promise you will have a good time and learn something worthwhile.
Please email if you have any questions. Register here: https://scoutingevent.com/662-TT31_IOL
Crystal South
Trinity Trails Training Chair
Brian Moon
Brazos Valley Training Chair
IOLS - Scan here to register
Wood Badge Training
2020 COURSES
Greg Brayfield – 2020 Spring Course Director
S2-662-20-1 at SR2. Two Weekends Required.
New Dates Coming... Stay Tuned
Robin Roller – 2020 Summer Course Director
S2-662-20-2 at Lakeview Lodge, SR2
Five Day Course: Monday 7:30 a.m. to Friday 5:00 PM, June 29-July 3
Mikel Shelton – 2020 Philmont Course Director
S2-662-20-3 at Philmont Scout Ranch 17 Deer Run Rd, Cimarron, NM 87714
Five Day Course: Sunday 6:00 PM to Friday 5:00 PM Sept. 20-25
Gary Goldstein – 2020 Fall Course Director
S2-662-20-4 at SR2. Two Weekends Required.
3-day Weekend #1: Sept. 25-27, Friday 7:30 a.m. to Sunday 5:00 PM
2-day Weekend #2: Oct. 24-25, Saturday 7:30 a.m. to Sunday 5:00 PM
NYLT - Twin Arrows
TA-217 Course – 6 Day Course, Mon–Sat. Fee: $175 Out of Council Fee: $225
July 13-18, 2020. Scoutmaster: Mr. John Cuccaro. TA217@twinarrowslhc.org
Location: Sid Richardson Scout Ranch
TA-218 Course – 6 Day Course, Thu-Tue. Fee: $175. Out of Council Fee: $225
December 26-31, 2020. Scoutmaster: TBD. TA218@twinarrowslhc.org
Location: Camp Tahuaya
Register Here: https://www.longhorncouncil.org/training-2/twin-arrows/
Brazos Valley District
Email: djkerrigan@att.net
Phone: 817-716-1790
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bsabvd