Commissioner's Corner

October is Rechartering Season in the Lafayette District.  Here is some information for Unit Leaders to help them with the rechartering process.

RECHARTER PACKETS   will be available for pickup at the District Roundtable on Oct. 10th. This will take place at J P Mascaro's (upstairs), 2650 Audubon Road, Audubon, PA 7:00PM - 9:00PM
 
YOUR UNIT MUST  provide 3 choices as to when someone will attend Recharter Day or The Make-up Recharter Day or a Recharter Evening. Full details are in the attached form (see next topic).
 
PLEASE COMPLETE   the 2019 "Charter Pickup Receipt", downloadable here, and bring it to Roundtable to exchange for your Recharter packet. If you neglect to bring a completed form, a blank form will be provided. You will need to complete the form, including the 3 choices, in exchange for your Recharter packet.
 
WE ARE ASKING   that you provide a date for the 2019 FOS campaign. This would usually occur during January to March.
 
AGAIN THIS YEAR   - A completed Journey To Excellence (JTE) form is required to process a Recharter Application.
 
If you have any questions or concerns about any of this information, please contact me directly. Thank you for your cooperation and all that you do for the youth of Lafayette District.  My cell number is 610 310-0468 (leave a message please) or email [email protected] 


TRAINING RECORDS - Cubmasters, Scoutmasters, Crew Advisers, Committee Chairs and Charter Organization Representatives have access to their Unit's Youth Protection and Position Specific Training Records on my.scouting.org.  These reports have been accessible for years now, but recently were made easy to access, download and much easier to understand.

PA Background Check validity is updated daily and a report for the District can be accessed daily. This is a live link that you may obtain through your Unit Commissioner.

Do not hesitate to contact your Unit Commissioner for assistance with obtaining training records and PA Background checks. Your Unit Commissioner is your first point of contact with Lafayette District. If your Unit Commissioner cannot assist you they will direct you to the person who can best provide the service you require.

Yours in Service,
    Ken Houseal

Lafayette District Commissioner
Cell 610 310-0468 leave a message please or email [email protected]
Counselors Needed for Merit Badge College 2019

Merit Badge College is tentatively scheduled for January 26, 2019.  Mark your calendars!

COUNSELORS ARE NEEDED - PLEASE LET LAURIE LITTLE KNOW RIGHT AWAY IF YOU ARE INTERESTED.  We have only heard from a dozen, and it will take at least 50 to fill the needs.  Please consider helping us out if you can.

New YOUTH PROTECTION TRAINING IS MANDATORY to recharter, and you must be chartered as a Merit Badge Counselor to teach in January.
 
COUNSELORS should send Laurie Little the information at [email protected] as soon as possible so that we can get the Scouts started on their pre-requisites right away. Remember, many of the Eagle Required badges take 3 months of planning and effort for the Scouts to earn the badge.

WE NEED TO PUBLISH THE CLASSES AND PRE-REQS BEFORE HALLOWEEN!!!

SCOUTMASTERS: Please ask the youth if there is a badge that they would like to have offered. We usually have to rely on what the counselors are willing to teach, but we can seek out a qualified counselor if there is interest in a specific badge.

Many more details will follow - and the best place to get up-to-the-minute info is to attend ROUND-TABLE MEETINGS on the second Wednesday of each month!

Thank you,

Laurie Little
Lafayette District
Merit Badge Dean
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Lafayette District Camping News

Here is Lafayette District Camping News from James Sontag, our Lafayette District Camping Coordinator.

  • The final COPE weekend is October 19th to 21st at Resica Falls.  For more information, call the COL Council Camping department at 484-654-9218.
  • Cub Scout Fall Fest at Musser Scout Reservation. Dates: Oct 20th, 21st, 27th & 28th, Nov 3rd, 4th, 10th & 11th 2018. Free for new Cubs. Register at colbsa.org/fallfest, or call 484-654-9218.   The cost is $25 per Cub Scout and $8 for non-participants. Lunch is included in price.           *** Volunteers are needed for staffing of these events.  Please contact the COL Council Camping department at 484-654-9218 to sign up. ***
     
Red Cross Memorial Blood Drive for Bobby Natalini, Jr.

In Memory of Bobby Natalini, Jr., a member of the former Troop 622 in the Lafayette District,  the American Red Cross is hosting an upcoming blood drive. Please join their life saving mission and schedule an appointment today!

Blood Drive Details:
 
Site: St. Titus Roman Catholic Church
Address: 3006 Keenwood Road, Norristown, PA, 19403
Room Name: Hall
Date: Wed Nov 21, 2018
Time: 1:00: PM - 7:00: PM
Coordinator Name: American Red Cross

 
ALL PARTICIPATING DONORS WILL GET A FREE T-SHIRT!

The need for blood is constant, and only volunteer donors can fulfill that need for patients in our community. Nationwide, someone needs a unit of blood every 2 to 3 seconds, and most of us will need blood in our lifetime.
Thank you for supporting the American Red Cross blood program!

Klondike Derby 2019 News

The date of the 2019 Klondike Derby is confirmed as 1/18/19-1/20/19 at Camp Hart.  Cabin request forms and information was sent out to all troops.  Requests are due back to Tim Little at [email protected] by November 15, 2018.
Spring Camporee 2019 News

The Spring Camporee for 2019 is tentatively scheduled for 5/3/19-5/5/19.  We are looking for a troop to step up and organize the event, and are willing to help get them started planning and working through the event if necessary.  Please contact Tim Little at [email protected] as soon as possible. The sponsoring troop can pick location and change date to suit them if necessary.
Scouting for Food
Scouting for Food 2018

Scouting for Food 2018 is rapidly approaching.  This year we will be using hang tags on doors instead of bags.  Pick up your unit's hang tags at the October 10 Roundtable.  Units will distribute the hang tags on 11/10/18, and will pick up the food donations on 11/17/18.
Join the Adventure in a Lafayette District Venture Crew

Is your teen in search of Adventure?  Venturing is a program of the Boy Scouts of America that is open to youth, both boys and girls, ages 14 to 21.  Venture Crews are co-ed, youth-directed organizations that enjoy outings such as rock climbing, bike riding, canoeing, white water rafting, shooting sports, snorkeling, camping, and much more!  Rank advancement is also available.  Youth can be a member of a Troop as well as being a member of a Venturing Crew, and many Crew members are members of both.  More information about the Venturing program is available from the BSA by clicking here.

The Lafayette District has three Venture Crews:  Crew 623 in Limerick, Crew 7155 in Collegeville, and Crew 724 in Jeffersonville.  Click here to download the flyer at the top of this article to find out more about our District's Venture Crews so your teenager can Join the Adventure!
Order of the Arrow Lodge Unami One News

Unami Lodge, One Scout Memorabilia Show - Friday, October 19th & Saturday, October 20th
 
The 2018 Greater Philadelphia Scout Memorabilia Show will be held at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Pottstown.  Come on out to buy, sell, trade, learn about or just check out all kinds of Scouting memorabilia -- patches, flaps, neckerchiefs, badges, photos, knives and more. In addition to vendors from around the country, this year we are providing space for scouts to lay out their patches and trade like they do at Jamboree, NOAC, etc.  We encourage you to bring your patches to show and trade.
 
Admission is free to youth 18 and under.  Adults - $5.  Proceeds from this event will directly benefit the youth in our Lodge.
 
Our kitchen will be open for food and drinks throughout the event.
 
The show runs from 6:00-10:00 PM on Friday, and from 8:00 AM- 3:00 PM on Saturday.  Emmanuel Lutheran Church is located at 150 N. Hanover St. in Pottstown.   
 
You can download a flyer by clicking here.  Please share it with any who may be interested.
 
If you are interested in assisting with the show, please contact [email protected] .  We'll welcome any help setting up, tearing down, assisting/serving our vendors, or in the kitchen.
 
 
Update your Troop calendar!
 
The 2019 Lafayette District Klondike Derby will be held at Camp Hart on Saturday, January 19th. Your Lafayette Chapter OA scouts and leaders have begun to make plans for this grand annual Scouting event.  If you would like to contribute ideas, assist with planning or help with the event itself, please come out or send your Troop Representative to our OA Chapter meetings, which are held in conjunction with our District Roundtable - this month's is on Wed. 10/10 @ 7:00 PM.
 
 
Unami Lodge, One  -  Lafayette Chapter
 
There are still a few troops who haven't had OA unit elections.  If you wish to have the Order of the Arrow come out to your troop meeting to discuss what we do, how we can assist your unit and/or conduct an election for eligible scouts in your troop, please contact [email protected].
 
OA Troop Representative is a troop position of leadership.  We would love to have a representative within each unit in the Lafayette Chapter.  Please contact us for more detail on this position and how we can make it work for your troop.  If you have an OA Troop Rep, please send them to our meetings to get them more involved and active in their position. Having a troop representative at our meetings will help your unit better communicate with the District, Chapter, and neighboring units.
 
We will be holding OA Chapter Officer elections in the next couple months.  If you know of a scout who might be interested in getting more involved at this level, please have them contact us and encourage them to come to our Chapter meeting.  We'll be electing a Chief, Vice Chief and Secretary who will run our Chapter in 2019.  They'll have the opportunity to make a real impact on scouts and scouting in our area and will be heavily involved in our annual Klondike Derby.

THE LAFAYETTE DISTRICT'S OCTOBER ROUNDTABLE 

When:  Wednesday, October 10, 7PM - 9PM

Where: J.P. Mascaro & Sons-Corporate, 2650 Audubon Rd, Audubon, PA 19403, USA ( map),  2nd Floor Meeting room. ( Please note the Front Doors get locked at 7:15PM)


October Roundtable Highlights

*** October is going to be a busy scouting month. It is important that at least one member of each unit attend this month's Roundtable meeting ***
 

1-Scouting for Food - Door Hanger Pickup   
Please send a representative from your unit to pick up your door hangers ( No Bags this year ) and to record your units Scouting for food locations on our Map. 

2- Rechartering -  Packets and Access codes  
Please send a representative from your unit to pick up Your recharter Packet and your access code.   You will need to fill out a "Charter Pickup Receipt" form to get your packet.  Please see the "Commissioner's Corner" section at the top of this newsletter for more information on Rechartering and a link to download the Charter Pickup Receipt.

3- Youth Protection Training - In Person Training at Roundtable
Our District will be conducting an In-Person Youth Protecting training class at Roundtable. Persons taking the training need to be at Mascaro's to begin training promptly at 7PM. There will be a required written test. You must pass the written test in order to be considered trained. Gerry Myers will our trainer. Any questions concerning the training please email Gerry at [email protected]
 
Remember the deadline for being Youth Protection Trained passed back on October 1st.  Please emphasize to your leaders and parents that they need this training to attend events involving youth. 

4- Roundtable Big Rock
Our Big Rock topic will be a Roundtable discussion about Professional Responsibility and District Responsibility. Bring your "District" and "Council" questions. 

Adam Smith, our District Director, and Ken Houseal, our District Commissioner, will be our presenters. 

5-  Applications for Membership  
A reminder that all new Scout and Scouter applications must be turned in immediately after they are received, and must have the appropriate signatures. 

Failure to turn in your application in a timely fashion can put your chartered organization and your unit in jeopardy, as the New Member or Leader will not be covered by the BSA's liability and medical insurance**. Please note that the pro-rated membership fee should be attached to the application unless the unit has money in their account at the council office.

**New applications should not wait for recharter to be turned in. 

The BSA has adopted the following policies for the safety and well-being of its members. These policies primarily protect youth members; however, they also serve to protect adult leaders. Parents and youth using these safeguards outside the Scouting program further increase the safety of their youth. Those who serve in positions of leadership and supervision with youth outside the Scouting program will find these policies help protect youth in those situations as well.
  • Two-deep leadership is required on all outings. A minimum of two registered adult leaders - or one registered leader and a participating Scout's parent or another adult - is required for all trips and outings. One of these adults must be 21 years of age or older.
6- Hazardous Weather Training
 In order to considered position trained, Direct Contact Leaders must have completed Hazardous Weather.

Q. Is this a membership requirement like Youth Protection training?
A. No. This is a Direct Contact Leader positioned trained requirement effective April 30, 2018.

Q. Is this a new requirement?
A. No. Since 2008, at least one person on any tour or activity has been required to have hazardous weather training.

More information regarding Hazardous Weather can be found here.


Lafayette District Roundtable resource tools:

Our District Roundtable Facebook Page:


Our District Roundtable has its own Webpage:



Our District Roundtable has an online calendar to help you:

STAY CONNECTED:
Cradle of Liberty Council, Boy Scouts of America