Honor a fellow volunteer leader by nominating them for one of these special awards: ¡Scouting...Vale la Pena!, Silver Beaver, William H. Spurgeon III, and Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Awards. Nominations are due December 1. Make plans to attend the special reception honoring this award recipients, taking place on Saturday, March 24, 2018, at the Frank Fickett Scout Training and Service Center. Find nomination forms and more information about the reception at www.bsacac.org/awardsreception.

November is "Good Turn" month in Scouting, and Scouts of all ages are encouraged to focus on service during the month of November. Did you know that your pack can find hundreds of opportunities to serve through our partner, JustServe? Visit their site, enter your zip code, and then click on "+more search options" and check off "Suitable for all ages". Take pictures of your Scouts in action and share their "Good Turn" activities on our council Facebook page!

Travis County Sheriff's Office's Brown Santa program needs older Scouts (14 and up), Scouters, and parents to help sort toys, load trucks, and wrap donations for its upcoming holiday deliveries. Brown Santa is specifically requesting the assistance of BSA! This program provides assistance to underprivileged children and their families in Travis County and senior residents of local retirement centers. Hundreds of volunteer spots are available, many in the evening and over the holiday break(s) when school is out. CLICK HERE to visit our service partner JustServe.org's website and sign up for a volunteer shift.

Looking for a great way to spend you Winter Break? Come out to Lost Pines for fellowship and fun while earning merit badges! We still have slots available for second session (January 2-6, 2018). CLICK HERE for more information.

Fewer than a dozen spots remain for the upcoming National Youth Leadership Training, our most popular youth leadership course! Don't wait; register today! December 27-January 1 at Camp Green Dickson. CLICK HERE to learn more and find registration links.

Here are courses that cover the basics of your volunteer leadership position or specific outdoor skills. The links below will either take you to an online course registration or send an email to the course director:

November 18 - Training The Chartered Organization Representative (Buda UMC)

November 18 - Merit Badge Counselor Orientation (Buda UMC)

November 18 - Troop Committee Challenge (Buda UMC)

November 18 - Texas Camps Youth Protection Classroom Training (Buda UMC)

December 1-2 - Shotgun Instructor Training (Fickett Center/Lost Pines)

December 2 - Trainer's EDGE

December 27-January 1 - National Youth Leadership Training

February 24-25 - Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (Lost Pines)

Save the date: University of Scouting will be back on January 27, 2018! Watch for more details in December in this newsletter and on our web page.

Mark your calendars and register for the 2018 Report to State on Saturday, February 3, 2018. Help turn Congress Avenue into a river of Scouts as we march from the Congress Avenue/Ann Richards Bridge, up to the south steps of the Texas Capitol. Plan to tour the historic Texas Capitol, visit monuments and other venues in Austin to make the event memorable one for youth, parents and Scouters. Registration is now open. CLICK HERE for details and to register.

Sea Scouts interested in applying for the national boatswain, the regional boatswains, and the area/flotilla boatswains positions for the 2018-2019 year may do so by completing one application, available HERE. The deadline for submission of the application for national boatswain is February 15, 2018; regional boatswain is March 1, 2018; and area/flotilla boatswain is March 15, 2018. The complete package for the application can be emailed, or mailed to the Office of the National Director in Irving, Texas. The address is on the application.

Be a part of the 2019 Philmont council contingent. The two week expedition will depart Austin June 23, 2019, and return July 6, 2019. The price will be $1,368 per participant and $16,416 per crew. We will accept "Provisional crews"; groups of less than 12 participants that will work with other partial units to fill an entire crew. The deadline for registration March 15, 2018. CLICK HERE for more information.

You can now sign up to take part in the 24th World Scout Jamboree, happening July 22-August 2, 2019, at the Summit Bechtel High Adventure Base in West Virginia. CLICK HERE for FAQs page with links to more information and to register.

Please save the date for the Order of the Arrow Tonkawa 99 Lodge annual banquet on the evening of Saturday, January 13, 2018. More details and location will be announced in the December issue of this newsletter as well as through the OA email distribution list.

The following individuals or organizations have made generous memorial/honorary contributions in support of local Scouting:

In memory of Rusty Turley
The Soule Family
Lolla Page
Paul and Martha
Walter Bissex and Christina Shaheen
Mark Hagerty
William Nalle
Erika Nieman
The members and staff of Austin Country Club
The team at Antonelli's Cheese Shop
Atchley and Associates

In memory of Richard Newell
Dorothy Miller

In memory of Robert N. Watson
Mr. and Mrs. William Watson

In memory of Eric Wade Johnson
Mr. and Mrs. Sam Jones

In memory of H. William Davis
Rod Coffin

Our regular hours are Monday-Friday, 9am-5:30pm, and Saturday, 10am-2:30pm. If you have questions please feel free to contact us via email at cacshop@scouting.org or by phone at 512-617-8630.

Harlem Globetrotters

• Friday, January 26, 2018
• 7pm
• Frank Erwin Center
• Discounted tickets for Scouts and Scouting families
• Discount on pre-game "Magic Pass" program
• CLICK HERE for a flyer
• To purchase tickets, call 512-232-4343 or email groupsales@erwin.utexas.edu (deadline 3pm January 25)