Greetings!
As Autumn begins with warm weather, we look forward to cool, crisp days ahead and the possibility of seasonal rains. During this month of Thanksgiving, it is important to express thankfulness for the benefits of Scouting for our youth and in our families, and for our freedom to participate in the civic responsibility of the right to vote. We also need to remember awareness and compassion as we participate in community service through Scouting for Food to help those who are less fortunate, and gratefulness as we celebrate the holiday with families together during a year of uncertainty and social change.
At Marin Council, we continue to offer a number of interesting program ideas for our Scouting families as noted below, and online resources to support learning and entertainment for all. Keeping our Scouts engaged in character-building programs during these challenging times is our top priority. We look forward to seeing you all soon through a virtual event or with small-unit camping and outdoor activities up at Camp Tamarancho!
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Cub Scout Speaker Series - the First Wednesday every month! |
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Join us this Wednesday, November 4 at 5pm for our very popular Cub Scout Speakers Series. Our next presenter is Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Maria Robles, who will tell us all about the exciting duties of an emergency responder, and her first-aid experiences in our local communities.
All Scouts who attend can earn credit towards rank advancement. Email District Executive Nancy Rozell right away to register your Cub Scout for this special event later today!
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Council Roundtable Meeting - the First Thursday every month! |
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Our regularly-scheduled Council Roundtable meetings are held the first Thursday of every month, September through June. This Thursday, November 5, we will be meeting again online via ZOOM. The Roundtable will start at 7:30 sharp with current announcements and important presentations until 8:30pm. We have some valuable updates to share regarding Scouting for Food, annual unit recharter, and so much more!
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Please see program-specific log-in details below, and forward the invitation to other Scouters in your local units to make sure everyone is represented!
ZOOM Meeting ID # 826 1598 5928
ZOOM Meeting ID # 899 2821 5193
VOA & Venturing Rally
The Scouts in the Venturing Officer's Association have been holding meetings via the
Google Hangout call-in method for the Crew Presidents and other VOA members. There is no quarterly Venturing Rally scheduled this month, but will be scheduled next in December.
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Annual "Scouting for Food" Community Service Campaign |
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Together, we can help end hunger in Marin!
A staggering one-in-five of your Marin County neighbors was in need of food assistance during this past year and into the pandemic! Join Marin Council volunteers for our annual door-to-door community service campaign throughout assigned neighborhoods to pick-up food donations and transport them to the SF-Marin Food Bank in San Rafael.
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Information was sent out to all unit leaders this week; click on the following links for further details about this important community service event!
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BALOO Training for Cub Leaders
(Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation)
Great News for all Marin Cub Scout Packs! We are hosting this important training course over the weekend of November 7-8 at nearby Camp Tamarancho. Details are posted on the Council website page for Leadership Training, and you can register here!
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The Autumn months are the traditional period for new membership recruitment and registration, followed by the annual unit recharter process in November. While this may be a bit more challenging during the CoViD pandemic, BSA has streamlined several processes online. To help new families find their way to local Scouting, don't forget to first update your unit-specific profile at BeaScout.org!
If you need additional support with completing the BSA online registration paperwork, click here for further details! In addition, all recharter materials were sent out by email to unit leaders over ten days ago, and the BSA online recharter portal opened on Sunday, November 1. Hopefully, your assigned recharter specialist has started the process of verifying your current unit charter. If you need further assistance, don't forget to register for our ZOOM help sessions or contact your Marin Council professional staff here!
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Support Scouting in Marin . . .
We are all working hard to ensure that Scouting in Marin remains vibrant and continues to provide excellent programs for youth even during these unusual times. The Marin Council is one of the few Councils in the Bay Area that has been able to safely offer family and unit camping and move forward with a traditional Scouting for Food collection drive.
Of course, keeping these programs consistent requires funding and with the loss of our major camping revenues, the support of donors is more important than ever.
To ensure we are able to continue to provide exceptional service to Scouts and volunteers, preserve and improve our camps, and build our capacity to grow Scouting in Marin, we need a strong finish to the year. As we enter the last two months of 2020, we invite you to consider a gift, or an additional gift, to support the Marin Council by clicking here.
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Merit Badge Counselor Training
Saturday, December 12
Is there some hobby that you love to do? Do you have subject expertise you'd love to share with an eager Scout? If so, then this training session is for you! Join Council Advancement Chair Jesse Barnett who will lead Merit Badge Counselor Training via ZOOM on Saturday, December 12 at 4:30pm. You'll learn the BSA methods for you to deliver the Merit Badge program to Scouts interested in your vocation, or avocation. The training will last about 90 minutes, and result in your permanent certification to counsel Scouts on Merit Badges of your choosing. Register by contacting District Executive MJ Andrews today!
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2020 "Of the Year" Nominations (OTY)
One of the favorite local events of the year is the annual Marin Council Recognition Dinner, held annually in March. The reason it's so popular is that we recognize dozens of outstanding Scouts and leaders at that time. Scouts, Explorers, and adult leaders from all over the county attend this wonderful event.
Now is the time to begin to consider individuals for those 2020 OTY nominations. Please note the following important dates in this process. Don't miss this opportunity for recognition!
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Tuesday, January 12, 2021 - Scout youth nominations are due at the Council office.
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Thursday, January 28, 2021 - all Scout youth nominees will be interviewed via ZOOM by a panel of adult leaders.
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Monday, February 1, 2021 - Adult volunteer nominations are due at the Council office. Adults nominees are not interviewed, but are selected from all the nominations by the Council Recognition committee.
All Scouts and adults will be recognized at the Marin Council Recognition Dinner in Spring 2021, conditions permitting. This is a great opportunity to see the width and breadth of what is happening in Scouting throughout Marin County! Updated nomination forms will be available soon, to be emailed to all unit leaders and to download from the Council website.
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Marin Trading Post Announces New Store Hours Effective 11/02 |
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The Marin Council Trading Post is open for inside sales with regular hours under the following considerations:
- Store hours are Monday through Friday, 10am to 4:30pm, and Thursday evenings until 6pm.
- Inside sales, curbside walk-up sales, as well as orders placed in advance can all be accommodated by our staff.
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We recommend that large orders be placed in advance by calling (415) 454-1081, or emailing BOTH Mary Vasser and Cynthia Mueller.
- Clothing cannot be tried on before purchase.
- Credit/debit card, check, or unit account charges are preferred forms of payment.
- Please wear a facemask when visiting the Trading Post; hand sanitizer is provided.
- Practice physical distancing if waiting in line (only 4 people can be inside at any time).
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Important Adult Leader Training Continues with Online Access |
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The Scouts in your Pack/Troop/Crew deserve TRAINED adult leaders. This will help develop a better Scouting experience for your sons and daughters, improved preparedness if or when something goes wrong, and it fulfills an important adult volunteer requirement for our units.
For now, the best way for your Pack/Troop/Crew to maintain "Trained" adult leaders is to complete the important online courses from BSA at my.scouting.org. Especially when considering your unit recharter, Scouting’s most important training for adult volunteers is the mandatory Youth Protection Training (YPT). YPT must be renewed every 2 years and many of us are due to renew by December since the last major update announcement was in Summer 2018. YPT must be maintained in order to continue as an adult leader and positively influence your unit recharter process. Please see instructions below:
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Youth Protection Training, Cub Leader Position Training, Scoutmaster/ASM Position Training, and Venturing Advisor Position Training: all are available online for free! Follow these steps to register and complete your training:
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Create or log-in to your personal account at my.scouting.org;
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Next, to renew your Youth Protection training (YPT), click on the YPT logo at the upper right side of the screen;
- Or, click on "BSA Learning Center" to find the online version of the Leader Specific training courses listed above.
Hazardous Weather training is also required to be considered a trained leader and wear the "Trained" patch on your uniform. It's only 30-40 minutes online and you will learn some great information for your next outing! Just click on the title and the link will take you there!
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Enjoy Tamarancho with Scout Family or Small-Unit Camping |
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During the past several months, many individual Scouting families were able to enjoy a unique opportunity to get out of the house for local tent camping and day-hiking along scenic Fairfax Ridge. Now, dens and patrols or small packs, troops and crews can join the fun! As current County restrictions related to CoViD-19 have been adjusted, the Marin Council is again able to utilize Camp Tamarancho for daytime outdoor activities and small unit groups (up to 16 people total, with maximum 14 youth and 2 adults) for overnight camping. To register for your event, please contact Office Manager Cynthia Mueller for campsite availability . . . Ranger AJ will be awaiting your arrival!
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Summer Camp @ Camp Marin Sierra
Well, Summer Camp 2020 didn't happen for obvious reasons, but we are already planning for 2021 to make up for lost time! Top priority is updating all our Council info, website and forms, which should be completed by November 15.
Register your troop for the best Sierra Scout camp experience you can provide your troop, or join the best Summer Camp staff a young person can enjoy! Now is a great time to consider what campsite to reserve, or applying early to insure you get a place on staff and perhaps even the job you desire. Stay tuned for further details!
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BSA High Adventure Base Programs 2021-2022
Marin Scouts and adult leaders understand that a high-adventure base trek can be an ultimate experience in a youth's Scouting tenure. Now, the BSA’s Outdoor Adventures team is gearing up to welcome Scouts and Scouters to high-adventure bases for the 2021 and 2022 seasons. To help you manage registering for these life-changing expeditions, you can log on to a new Find Your Adventure info portal.
Still looking for a 2021 adventure? Individual treks are available at Philmont Scout Ranch and crew slots are still available at the other three bases. Also, registration for 2022 is now open for Philmont Scout Ranch, Florida Sea Base, Northern Tier and the Summit Bechtel Reserve. Through the new portal, you can review and register for any of the BSA’s high-adventure bases all from one site. Differing from the previous system, you will be required to log in with your my.scouting.org credentials.
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Talako Lodge News Bulletin --- Order of the Arrow Members |
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The OA Talako Lodge leadership has several important announcements and events in November for all Arrowmen!
Monthly Lodge Meeting
We are conducting the Talako lodge meetings through our virtual gathering on ZOOM; this month at 7pm, Wednesday, November 11. During this meeting, we will be holding our Lodge Officer elections! This is a very important function during the year because of the transition of leadership on the Lodge Executive Council (LEC). If any Talako member is interested in being a candidate for the LEC positions (Lodge Chief, Vice Chief - Program, Vice Chief - Membership/Ceremonies, Treasurer or Secretary), you need to complete this Lodge Officer Letter of Intent. You can reach out to Lodge Advisor Kenn Moynihan or Lodge Chief Joshua Holzer for further details.
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In Cheerful Service
Talako Arrowmen are being invited to assist with the annual Scouting for Food donation collection from 10:30am to 2:30pm on Sunday, November 15 at the SF-Marin Food Bank in San Rafael. At the next Lodge meeting, we will discuss the service shifts, CoViD group pods, and special directions for this important community service event.
Annual Lodge Banquet
The LEC and adult Lodge Advisors are still planning to hold the annual Lodge Banquet on Sunday afternoon, December 5. There will be discussion at the Lodge meeting about further details for this grand event during CoViD times.
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Annual Lodge Registration and Dues
If you are a Talako Lodge member of the Order of the Arrow, and you know that you have not paid your dues this year for 2020-2021, please use the link below. Paying your dues helps the Lodge grow, and if you want to attend events or purchase our new PATCHES, then you have to be a member in good standing!
Currently, we have available the new No-NOAC 2020 patch sets shown. They can be ordered when you are completing your annual registration and dues payment online. Also, there is a new link for the Talako Lodge Trading Post where you can order other OA swag!
If you have any questions about the National Order of the Arrow organization or the local Talako Lodge in Marin, please email Lodge Chief Joshua Holzer.
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Restarting Local Scout Unit Meetings and Activities Safely |
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As a reminder, under the continuing Marin County Public Health directives, social distancing and face masks are required. Our Risk Management Committee has produced several important documents to assist with determining your response for planning events and activities. These include Marin Council guidelines and FAQs, as well as a valuable unit restarting guidebook loaded with details and available by clicking on the image at right . . .
Other Helpful Links and Resources on CoViD-19
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Marin Council Service Center: Offices Status Updated
The Marin Council offices are now open to the public! Our office staff is still available to support you almost anytime. Please be aware:
- Council staff is onsite and available by phone Monday through Friday, 9am to 4:30pm.
- Staff may still be working remotely on some days, so if you need to visit a specific staff member in person, it is suggested you schedule an appointment or arrange a phone or ZOOM meeting.
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No matter what . . . Council Executive Staff are always available via email here: (Michael Dybeck, Nancy Rozell, and Michael "MJ" Andrews).
Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding during these novel times; please contact Scout Executive Michael Dybeck with any questions or concerns in this regard.
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Scouting . . .
Prepared. For Life.
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At the Marin Council, we will continue to do our best to keep you informed of changes in our program calendar as the weeks pass. We will also strive to highlight new ways for your family continue to enjoy and benefit from Scouting-at-home under these unique circumstances.
Please check our Council website homepage regularly for the most current information updates and event calendar, and the frequent social media activity on our Instagram and Facebook pages linked below, as well as our individual Camps Tamarancho & Marin Sierra.
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