Commissioner's Corner

Here we are at rechartering time once again. Every year there is a new challenge to overcome. This year it is the new Youth Protection Training and the Weather Hazards Training.

In checking training records it is obvious that many leaders do not read any communications from here in their District, from Council or even BSA National. Or perhaps they just choose to ignore the information?

Everyone was notified multiple times since February that they would need to complete the new Youth Protection Training by Sept 30th in order to register in 2019.

Unit Leaders were urged to have their Leaders take the training. Some Units are 100% ready to go, but many have very few Adults with YPT and will not be able to recharter until their Leaders are YPT trained.

The Weather Hazards Training requirement was a bit more stealthy. Once we learned of it we notified everyone. If this is the first you heard of it and you are a Direct Contact Leader, that is - Cubmaster, Asst Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, Asst Scoutmaster, Crew Advisor, Asst Crew Advisor, Den Leader, Asst Den Leader, Tiger or Lion Leader you need to take this training. Again, no Weather Hazards training, no registration, no rechartering.

Advice - Login to my.scouting.org and take the training as soon as possible.

You often hear, "Every Scout Deserves a Trained Leader."  A good reason for this is the fact that You, as a Scout Leader, are entrusted with what every family considers their most prized possessions, their children. It's a huge responsibility, protect yourself, protect their children, take the training, get registered, get your Unit rechartered.

Thank you.

Yours in Service,
    Ken Houseal

Lafayette District Commissioner
Cell 610 310-0468 leave a message please or email [email protected]
Counselors Still 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.  Please consider helping us out if you can. ***

The list available here shows the prerequisites for the merit badges that we will be offering this year. We want the boys to have enough time to complete the 12 week requirements for the Eagle Required badges if they are going to be working on those badges. Some classes have a question mark as to what time they will be offered, as well as a few with missing prerequisites. Once I have the rest of the information, I will update the list and provide it directly to the troop leadership.

There are substantially fewer options this year than in previous years. Despite several attempts to recruit additional counselors, there have been no additional volunteers. As a result, we don't have as many classes. This means that there will be fewer seats available for the boys. I have to limit the size of the classes based on the seats in the rooms; therefore, we cannot exceed 225 scouts. When that limit is reached, I will close registration. Late registrations will not be considered. 

Last year, there were 321 scouts registered. Clearly, we would need more counselors to meet the needs. If you, or someone you know, is available and willing to teach a class, please reach out to me via email as soon as you can. Please let me know what time slots you would be interested in teaching and what prerequisites the boys should complete to earn the badge in the allotted time. 

In addition to the reduced seats available, the price of the event per scout will likely increase to cover the expense of renting the building. This will be determined at the next District Committee meeting on November 19. This meeting is open to all. If you are interested in attending and contributing, please contact a member of the District Committee for an invitation.

I will update the list of prerequisites for the Elective badges as soon as I have more information.


Thank you,

Laurie Little
Lafayette District
Merit Badge Dean
Advancement News

Just a reminder that as of 1/1/2019 Scout Book will be free to all units.
 
As of February 1, 2019, the Boy Scouts of America will be admitting girls into Scouts BSA.
 
All units should have received the forms for The Distinguished Leader Award through e-mail. There are many deserving leaders in Lafayette. Please take the time to think about the leaders in your unit and all the time and effort  that they give and the leaders that are always there when you need them and go the extra mile. I have already received two applications and hope to receive more.
 
There will be forms at Roundtable for the Eugene Holladay Award, District Award of Merit and the Marque Award.
 
There is a conference at Florida Sea Base January 20 - 26, 2019. The program is "Leading and Strengthening New Troops".  It is for Scouters of new and current troops that want to learn the keys to establishing a successful and sustainable unit.
2019 Lafayette District Pinewood Derby

Mark your calendars! The 2019 Lafayette District Pinewood Derby will be held on April 27, 2019 (time TBD).  The event will be hosted by Pack 230 at Crossroads Presbyterian Church, 10 W. Cherry Lane, Limerick, PA, 19468.

Also, Pack 230 is giving away a FREE 4-lane wooden Pinewood Derby track.  The track must be picked up.  If interested, contact Kristen Kuehler at [email protected].
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.  All available cabins have been reserved.
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 here already.  This year we are using hang tags on doors instead of bags.  Units should have distributed the hang tags on 11/10/18.  Units 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


Update your Troop calendar!
 
The 2019 Lafayette District Winter Camp-O-Ree is scheduled for 1/18/2019 to 1/20/2019 at Camp Hart.  The Klondike Derby will be held at Camp Hart on Saturday, January 19th.  
 
Musser Scout Reservation cabin & campsite reservations can be made now and online registration for the Klondike should be available by the end of the month.
 
Your Lafayette Chapter OA scouts and leaders are finalizing 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, Wed. 11/14 @ 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.
 
"THANK YOU!" to all who contributed to the success of our Scout Memorabilia Show last month.  Save the dates of Friday, October 18 & Saturday, October 20, 2019 for next year's show. 
 
 
 
In Cheerful Service,
 
  Stuart Earl Bowman
  Lafayette Chapter Advisor, Unami Lodge One
  484-369-1307 

THE LAFAYETTE DISTRICT'S NOVEMBER ROUNDTABLE 

When:  Wednesday, November 14, 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)


November Roundtable Highlights


 

Philadelphia Rock Gym will be our guest speaker for our November Roundtable. The Rock Gym has an entire program for scouts, including a class that will lead to completing the climbing merit badge. The Philadelphia Rock Gym  also does Troop and Crew climbs, as well as parties. It will be a very informative evening. If time permits, we will also have breakout sessions for Cub and Boy Scouts. Please plan to attend to learn how you can include the Philadelphia Rock Gym in Oaks into your program plan for your Pack, Troop or Crew.



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