Your Trail Runner Newsletter

	Colonial Trail District Committee
Dean Gould District Chairman [email protected] Marc Leonetti District Commissioner [email protected] Zachary Oman District Executive [email protected] Margie Wiley Finance Vice-Chairman [email protected] Marsha Smith Membership Vice-Chairman [email protected] Andrew Smith Program Vice-Chairman [email protected] VACANT Civic Service Billy Gardner Training [email protected] Jim O'Briant Advancement [email protected] VACANT Camping Promotion Tommy Gehring Assistant District Commissioner for Roundtable [email protected] Charles Lawrence Boy Scout Roundtable [email protected] David Willis Cub Scout Roundtable [email protected]

	FUN SCOUT FACT What were the top 5 Merit Badges earned in the Colonial Virginia Council in 2015? What were the 5 Merit Badges earned least in the Colonial Virginia Council in 2015? (Answers at Bottom) Friends of Scouting 2016
$31,845/$62,000 51.36% Making a gift to Scouting leaves an impact on your local Scouting program. Where does your gift go: CLICK HERE Contact the District Chairman, District Commissioner, or District Executive about making a gift or scheduling a presentation about Scouting. Thank you to all those who have already made a gift to support Scouting!

District Profile

Communities Served:

Suffolk, Isle of Wight, and Surry

Number of Youth Served:

648

Number of Adults Serving:

348

Number of Units:

Eagle Scouts in 2015


COLONIAL VIRGINIA COUNCIL SERVICE CENTER 11834 Canon Blvd, Suite L Newport News, VA 23606 Find us on Facebook Click Here To Subscribe, or have questions, contact District Executive Zach Oman [email protected] FUN SCOUT FACT ANSWERS TOP 5: Cooking (223) First Aid (222) Swimming (185) Citizenship in the World (182) Citizenship in the Community (180) BOTTOM 5: American Business (0) Bugling (0) Programming (0) Signs, Signals, & Codes (0) Surveying (0)

TRAIL RUNNER

Official Newsletter of the Colonial Trail District

1ST Quarter ISSUE 7 2016

"Have I done and have I dared

Everything to be prepared"

For those who make all the difference

Each year the Colonial Trail District and Colonial Virginia Council take a break from our busy program year to recognize those who make a difference every day. Scouting is for the boys and Volunteer driven, which does allude to the act of driving our scouts to their meetings and activities.

Every year exceptional Scouters give of themselves to provide a quality program to our Scouts. This year we recognized many Scouters, four in particular.

This year the Colonial Trail District presented two Awards of Merit:

--Jesse Valachovic is well known through out the district for his service to Cub Scouting. It was Jesse that brought back the District Cuboree and Webeloree when he saw the hole we had. His events were always filled with enthusiasm and his service on the unit and district level is always over the top.

--Rick Rose is the Cubmaster of Pack 911 and has also served as the Director for the District's Day Camp. Each year he has been Director we have seen leaps in the number of Scout's participating. That is a sure sign of the awesome program he has put together with the staff he has worked with. Providing a quality program on the unit and district level has distinguished him as an exceptional scouter.

This year the Colonial Virginia Council selected two of our Scouters to receive the Silver Beaver Award, the highest award which a Council may present to a Scouter:

--Doug Rose is a longtime scouter out of Windsor, VA. He started his Scouting adventure as a Cub Scout and has been involved ever since. He has given back to scouting by previously serving on Summer Camp Staff, National Jamboree Staffs, Wood Badge Courses (as well as a Director), as well as District and Council positions. Mr. Rose considers himself a "Scout for Life" something we can all look up to.

--Marc Leonetti is an Eagle Scout who has served Scouts and Leaders in many ways. He has served scouts in three different Councils, is a Philmont Master Tracker, has served on Wood Badge Staff, and has staffed and served as the Dean of Boy Scouting for CVC's University of Scouting. He is currently serving as our District Commissioner.

Scouting is all about developing young men and women into citizens of character who will live by the values of the Scout Oath and Law. At the same time, it is important for us to always remember those who deliver the program and make it all possible.

Thank you all for all you do to provide the greatest possible program to our scouts.

FROM THE DESK OF THE CHAIRMAN
"Be Prepared"

Scouters, can you believe it is spring already, this scouting year is flying by. We are through recharter, Klondike, pinewood derby, and arrow of light ceremonies. Coming up is Cub-o-ree, Spring Camporee, and of course Day Camp. All these events are part of the scouting program. They are the big highlighted events that all the scouts look forward to, and take a lot of time to plan for. But the meat of the program, that is your weekly Den, Troop, Crew, and Ship meetings.

This is where and the reason the scouts will remain or leave the movement. How much time do you take to prepare for the meeting. The Scout Motto is "Be Prepared." We always use it when we go camping or talking about hurricane prep, but are you prepared for your meeting. Themes are provided for Cubs, the PLC determines the troop meeting subjects, but did you fully plan the lesson, demo, scout skill, or merit badge class. Make it exciting and keep them enthralled and wanting to come back for more.

Thank you for all you do for the youth of the district,

Deano

District Chairman

COMMISSIONER'S CORNER

Make an Impact by Reducing Your Environmental Impact

Winter is over and summer time will soon be upon us. It is a great time to be outdoors. As our units spend more and more time outside we must remember that a Scout's duty is more than just to leave the place better than they found it, they must also be committed to preserving the environment by reducing the impact which humans have made on our world.

The World Conservation Award and William T. Hornaday Award reflect exemplary efforts by conscientious scouts seeking to make a difference in our environment. The next time you see a youth or adult wearing one of these awards, please make a special effort to commend them on their accomplishment. Be earning these awards, they have taken specific and significant steps to be helpful towards Mother Nature and we all owe them a debt of gratitude.

Yours in Scouting,

Marc Leonetti
District Commissioner

EXECUTIVE'S MINUTE

A Scout is Courteous-Mr. Peterson and the First PLC

Growing up in the Scouting program, I have had many experiences from camping trips, historic trails, service projects, and leadership responsibilities. Each of those events, those moments have helped to shape me into who I am today, especially the various Positions of Responsibilities I held. My favorite position as a scout was as Senior Patrol Leader. I still consider those 8 months as the best time of my time as a Scout, but it did not start that way.

My first experience after being elected was our monthly Patrol Leader's Council. This being my first time in the position I asked that all Patrol Leaders, Assistants, as well as Troop Support Staff (Quartermasters, Scribe, Librarian, Guides, Instructors, etc). The room had right around 20 of the Troop's Leaders. Small room, lots of Scouts, what could go wrong?

That first PLC was rough, we did not get much done, tempers were lost, and the next few months did not look bright. It was after the meeting that Mr. Peterson, the advisor to the PLC, sat me down and we discussed what happened that night. We went over the highs, the lows, what could be improved, and even ways to do so. The coaching I received that night helped to guide me through the next 8 months, and my team and I had an exceptional time leading the troop during that time.

Being a coach or mentor is a great experience. The little bit of time that Mr. Peterson shared with me that evening has reminded me to always be courteous and had inspired me to want to serve as a coach and mentor for others. As Scouts and Scouters we can always learn something new or learn how to improve from those around us. It does not matter if it is a Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Venturer, Sea Scout, Explorer, Volunteer, or Professional, the time we spend working with each other helps us grow and better understand and respect each other.

Happy Scouting,

Zach Oman

District Executive

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

JOIN US OR VISIT FOR THE DAY

______________________________________

SAVE THE DATE

Friends of Scouting and Hometown Heroes Breakfast

Wednesday 4 May at 8am

at the Hilton Garden Inn in Downtown Suffolk

Honoring Mr. Ronald H. Williams Sr

Achievement in Leadership Award

If you are interested in attending or sponsoring

contact Zach Oman by 5pm Tuesday 26 April

____________________________________________

April

6------------------------------------------------District Committee Meeting

7pm, Oakland Christian Church

13------------------------------Assitant District Commissioner's Meeting

6:45-7:30pm, Oakland Christian Church

13--------------------------------------Order of the Arrow Chapter Meeting

7pm, Oakland Christian Church

13-----------------------------------------------------------------------Roundtable

7:30pm, Oakland Christian Church

15-17------------------------------------------------------------District Cuboree

Mattanock Town (formerly Lone Star Lodge)

18-----------------------------------------District Commissioner's Meeting

7pm, Magnolia United Methodist Church

May

4------------------------------------------------Friends of Scouting Breakfast

8am, Hilton Garden Inn, Downtown Suffolk

4-------------------------------------------------District Committee Meeting

7pm, Oakland Christian Church

6-8---------------------------------------------------------------District Camporee

Mattanock Town (formerly Lone Star Lodge)

11--------------------------------Assitant District Commissioner's Meeting

6:45-7:30pm, Oakland Christian Church

11---------------------------------------Order of the Arrow Chapter Meeting

7pm, Oakland Christian Church

11------------------------------------------------------------------------Roundtable

7:30pm, Oakland Christian Church

16-------------------------------------------District Commissioner's Meeting

7pm, Magnolia United Methodist Church

June

1----------------------------------------------District Committee Meeting

7pm, Oakland Christian Church

8----------------------------Assistant District Commissioner's Meeting

6:45-7:30pm, Oakland Christian Church

8------------------------------------Order of the Arrow Chapter Meeting

7pm, Oakland Christian Church

8---------------------------------------------------------------------Roundtable

7:30pm, Oakland Christian Church

11-----------------------------------------------------------Eagle Quest, Part 1

Ebenezer United Methodist Church

20----------------------------------------District Commissioner's Meeting

7pm, Magnolia United Methodist Church

20-24--------------------------------------------------Cub Scout Day Camp

Nike Park, Carrollton