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Welcome to the Lamplighter, the official newsletter of the W. D. Boyce Council!
While our publication was on hiatus, Scouting has not! And it’s our goal to bring you – and keep you – up to date on the latest happenings, with information you can use whether you’re a parent, Scouter, charter organization representative, donor or any other friend of Scouting. We appreciate YOUR support in whatever role or roles you play.
This newsletter is being distributed to all registered Scouters in the W. D. Boyce Council. Know someone else who might appreciate receiving it? Forward this to them!
Did you receive this from a friend or colleague? Subscribe here!
Have a question, idea or something you want to see in an upcoming issue? Please email Charlie Zimmerman, Council Field Director, at charlie.zimmerman@scouting.org
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Welcome to Scouting
This is the season when we welcome MANY new Scouts – and their parents – to Scouting. And if you’re one of those parents, your head may be spinning just a bit with all of the new terminology and information being thrown at you. And even non-parents may feel like there’s a lot they may not know. To quote Dorothy: “Lions, Tigers and Bears – Oh my!”
We can help! Whether you’re brand-new to Scouting, coming back after a few years away or just interested in a refresher, check out our new Welcome page at https://wdboyce.org/welcome/. You’ll find information about our Council, the Boy Scouts of America, Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA and more.
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Membership Is On the Grow!
More than ever before, kids need Scouting and the benefits it provides for their health development. The leadership training, character development, citizenship, and social-emotional strength Scouting provides is critical to the success of our next generation of leaders. You’re a part of making Scouting available to thousands of youths in our community.
Fifty-five Cub Scout Packs and Scouts BSA Troops have already surpassed 2022 year-end membership totals and continue to grow. (Shown below as “Year-End Growth” being over 100%)
Extra kudos to Packs 3991, 3411, 3799, and Troop 888 which have doubled in size in the last 10 months. How did they do this you ask? By offering a great program, and by working together with their District Executive to implement our membership recruitment plan.
Find out more about recruiting at https://wdboyce.org/recruiting-resources/.
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Honoring Those Who Share Scouting Values
Save the Date for the Distinguished Citizen Award Dinner on Saturday, November 18th at Jump Trading Simulation & Education Center. The W. D. Boyce Council will be honoring Dr. Stephen and Patti Bash in recognition of their noteworthy and extraordinary leadership, significant contributions to the growth and vitality of the Central Illinois community, and shared belief in Scouting's leadership, determination, and values.
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Would your business or employer like to support Scouting as an event sponsor? If so, contact Priscilla Slaughter, Director of Development, at priscilla.slaughter@scouting.org.
For tickets and more information, please visit: https://donations.scouting.org/#/council/138/event/467
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Every Scout Deserves a Trained Leader! (And it’s fun, too!)
Being a Scouting volunteer is a service. And just saying that conjures up the idea of hours spent helping kids have their best Scouting experience, driving them to and from events, providing instruction and guiding them as the push through frustrations to achieve great success. Sure, it’s work.
But in addition to being rewarding – and for some of us a calling – Scouting can also be A LOT OF FUN – even for adults! And something that helps makes Scouting fun for adults is Adult Leader Training. Whether it’s online classes that help us know what we’re doing or in-person training that can take us outside and teach us those outdoor skills that may be a little rusty, training can be FUN!!
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A great – and really fun! – opportunity is coming up this month: A combined IOLS and BALOO training session is being held October 21-22 at the Morton Optimist Cabin. IOLS stands for “Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills” and BALOO stands for “Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation.” Sign up TODAY here: https://scoutingevent.com/138-2023IOLSBaloo
Are You a New Den Leader?
Or maybe you’re a parent in your child’s den who’s willing to help? We’ve got YOU covered, too! Check out the Cub Scout Den Leader and Assistant Training page at https://training.scouting.org/learning-plans/1055
There are also position-specific training plans for Cubmasters, Pack Committee Chairs and Pack Committee Members – each taking only two hours or less to complete. Click here to learn more!
But Wait – There’s MORE!
From Youth Protection to Merit Badge Counselors, Scouts BSA leaders and District Committee roles, and much more, you can find all sorts of additional adult training classes at https://training.scouting.org/
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It’s Popcorn Season!
Scouts around the council have been actively selling popcorn since the first of September, and our sale continues through the end of the month.
Congratulations to Our Winning Units From the First Weekend of the October Blitz!
Right now, we’re in the midst of the “October Blitz” – a two-week challenge for Scout units to work at “storefronts” around the council. 25 “mystery shifts” have been identified, and if those shifts are worked, units will receive a $100 Scout Shop Gift Card. The five units below were our winning units for the first weekend!
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Troop 918 Casey’s in Normal (Beech Street)
Troop 920 Blain’s Farm & Fleet in Ottawa
Pack 3058 Casey’s in Farmington
Pack 3165 Nena Ace Hardware in Germantown Hills
Pack 3352 Casey’s in Canton
Why Popcorn?
Selling popcorn is an important part of our fall program. Not only does it help Scouts and their units defray the costs of their Scouting program, it also helps fund the operations of our council, including Ingersoll Scout Reservation. Whether you’ve already purchased popcorn or not, please consider buying a bag or box the next time a Scout approaches you. Remember, too, that over 70% of every purchase goes directly to Scouting on the local level, helping the Scout, their unit AND the Council.
Want to find out more about this awesome fundraiser? Visit https://wdboyce.org/popcorn
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Why Do Scouts Wear Uniforms?
The Boy Scouts of America has always been a uniformed body. Its uniforms help to create a sense of belonging. They symbolize character development, leadership, citizenship training, and personal fitness. Wearing a uniform gives youth and adult members a sense of identification and commitment. Wearing the uniform is not mandatory, but it is highly encouraged.
Sale: Through October 29, the BSA Scout Shop is offering 10% off matching uniform bottoms with the purchase of a uniform top – online and in-store. The Peoria shop also has many uniform bottoms on sale right now, and both the Peoria and Bloomington shops offer sewing services so you don’t have to struggle to put on patches. So stop on by!
For locations and hours, visit https://wdboyce.org/scout-shops/
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Caterpillar Volunteer Service Match Program
For every 10 hours an eligible Caterpillar participant volunteers to an eligible charity and records, the participant may request the Foundation to provide a $100 USD grant to an eligible charity designated by the participant. A maximum of $1,000 USD (up to 100 hours) per calendar year may be granted per participant. Scouting volunteers can select W. D. Boyce Council, Boy Scouts of America as their designated charity to support our local council and programs! Not only that, but when you participate in this program by reporting your service hours to Caterpillar, we’ll send you this exclusive W. D. Boyce Council Caterpillar Foundation Service Match Patch!
|  | Important Note: Even if your unit's Charter Organization is eligible for volunteer service grants as a nonprofit or school, it should not be selected for Scouting program volunteer hours. IRS guidelines prohibit any charity from accepting gifts that are "passed through" to a person or unrelated entity. Per Fiscal Policies and Procedures for BSA Units, gifts made to councils or Charter Organizations cannot be passed through to the unit. | |
Help Wanted!
We’re currently looking for a new Development Coordinator, responsible for leading key fundraising activities in the Peoria and Bloomington/Normal communities as part of the annual fundraising plan to support the growth of Scouting programs in Central Illinois.
Responsibilities include:
- Manage the fundraising efforts of existing special events and campaigns.
- Effectively organize, operate, and promote council fundraising events as assigned including luncheons, dinners, golf outings, and receptions.
- Achieve fundraising goals and manpower recruitment with a special emphasis on engaging new donor relationships through events and/or campaigns.
- Expand the network of donors and sponsors by cultivating corporate community leadership to increase the existing donor base.
If you or someone you know would be interested, please check out the job description here, which includes a link to apply!
| Thanks for reading and for your support of Scouting! |
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