Greetings!
Some thoughts on 2020 and the New Year from our Scout Executive . . .
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I recall a decade ago when just this past March we were gathered together for our Council Recognition Dinner. We bumped elbows instead of shaking hands, not realizing that over the next few days our lives would change immeasurably. Many have suffered greatly and many still are --- our hearts go out to them.
During the early weeks of the pandemic we weren’t sure how to position Scouting. We weren’t sure what families needed, but we knew that with kids not in traditional school and our worlds turned upside down, that families and our Scouts needed something. We spent a good amount of time recrafting activities to take advantage of technology all the while sticking with Scouting values and programs to build self-reliance. We launched a Speaker’s Series for Cub Scouts, Merit Badge Midways, cooking contests, and a virtual Webelos Woods. Packs and Troops conducted remote backyard campouts connected by ZOOM and eventually dens and patrols were able hike --- socially-distanced and masked, but hiking.
While sadly we were not able to hold our traditional Summer camp programs, we took advantage of the time to work on property improvements and then opened our campgrounds to our Scouting families followed by a few months of small-unit campouts. And before we knew it, the decade long year of 2020 came to a close.
2021 has just begun and we are not out of the woods yet. However, vaccinations are starting and by late Spring and Summer we can all hope that we will be closer to getting back to “normal” with camps taking place, meetings occurring, and friends joining together again. While it might seem back to “normal”, we know we will be forever changed. Let’s make sure that some of those changes for the better remain, for while the isolation has made our world more self-reliant, it has also ironically made many far less self-involved. That is a change that should be maintained not just for 2021 but beyond.
On behalf of the Marin Council Executive Board and your Council Staff, I wish you all a Happy and Safe New Year and we look forward to seeing you all again soon!
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Cub Scout Speaker Series - the First Wednesday every month! |
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Join us this Wednesday, January 6 at 5pm for our very popular Cub Scout Speakers Series. Our next presenter is Brendon Woods with the Alameda County Public Defender's Office, who will tell us all about the importance of fairness and balance in our legal system, and the exciting role of vigorously advocating for the rights of individuals facing criminal charges in our adult and juvenile courts.
Scouts who attend can earn credit toward rank advancement. Email District Executive Nancy Rozell or your Pack leaders to register your Cub Scout for this special presentation!
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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, January 7, 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 our Virtual MB Midway success, annual unit recharter follow-up, ScoutBook training for your unit, and so much more!
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Please see program-specific log-in details below, and forward the invitations to other Scouters and parents in your local units to make sure everyone is represented!
ZOOM Meeting ID # 826 1598 5928
ZOOM Meeting ID # 876 9735 4639
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VOA & Venturing Rally
The Venturing Officer's Association has been holding meetings via the Google Hangout call-in method for the Crew Presidents and other VOA members. The next quarterly Venturing Rally is planned for the first Thursday in March; please contact Venturing Commissioner Monica Kainz for details here.
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Meet with US Congressman Jared Huffman via ZOOM! |
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The Marin & Redwood Empire Councils are fortunate to share a special ZOOM meeting scheduled at 4:15pm Wednesday, January 13 with US Representative Jared Huffman of California's 2nd Congressional District. Scouts will have the opportunity to listen to our Congressman speak and ask him some questions. This special event is geared toward those Scouts working on Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, or any other advancement requirements where you must meet with a government representative.
EVERYONE is welcome! PLEASE take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to ask questions about what is going on in our Nation! Click on Jared's photo for the ZOOM link details! Do keep in mind that Congressman Huffman’s busy schedule is subject to change, and we will do our best to keep you posted of any changes on the Council calendar.
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2020 "Of the Year" (OTY) Award Nominations
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. Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA youth, Venturers, Explorers, and adult leaders from all over the county normally attend this wonderful event.
Now is the time 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 - Youth nominations are due at the Council office.
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Thursday, January 28, 2021 - all Youth nominees will be interviewed by a panel of adult leaders via ZOOM.
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Monday, February 1, 2021 - Adult volunteer nominations are due at the Council office. All OTY Leaders will be recognized. For the other Adult volunteer awards, the honorees are selected from among each group of award nominations by the Council Recognition committee.
All Scouts & adults will be recognized at the Marin Council Recognition Dinner in Spring 2021, conditions permitting. This is a great opportunity to see all that is happening in Scouting throughout Marin County! Updated nomination forms have been emailed to all unit leaders, and are available to download from the Council website here: Documents & Forms.
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Pinewood Derby Workshop - Saturday, February 13
Cub Scouts Sign-up for your Pit Crew Position NOW!
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This fun activity helps Cub Scouts and their parents who need assistance building a Pinewood Derby car. Bring your own car kit purchased from our Marin Council Trading Post stock, and already have a design in mind. Council adult volunteers and OA Talako Lodge Arrowmen will be socially-distanced onsite to assist with directing traffic, managing check-in and working with power tools and other equipment to help you rough out the shape.
Due to the popularity of this annual Marin Council event and the necessities of our CoViD-19 response, for your convenience we have moved this year from the Camp Tamarancho woodshop to the upper parking lot behind the Elks Lodge @ 1312 Mission Ave in San Rafael. For more details, or to register your Cub Scout, please click on the PWD Workshop image above. As a reminder on that Saturday, February 13, please wear a facemask the entire time you are on the Elks property. Thanks for your support!
Also, if you are looking for ideas about how to safely hold a Pinewood Derby race event this Winter in your local Pack, click this link!
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What's New at the Marin Council Trading Post?
Pinewood Derby Car Kits are well-stocked just in time for the Winter racing season; only $4.49 each! Please call ahead to purchase a bunch to hand out at your Den or Pack members.
The Trading Post is open for inside sales with these considerations:
- Hours open Monday to Friday, 10am to 3:30pm, and Thursday evenings until 5pm.
- 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.
- Currently, clothing items cannot be tried on before purchase.
- Credit/debit card, check, or unit account charges are preferred for payment.
- Please wear a facemask while visiting; hand sanitizer is provided.
- Practice physical distancing if waiting (only 4 people can be inside at any time).
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Virtual Merit Badge Midway - Holiday Week Wrap-up |
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Building on a very successful program last Summer that was attended by over 300 Marin Scouts, a group of dedicated Marin Council Merit Badge Counselors volunteered for 7 afternoons during the holiday week to offer 21 MB topics with 127 Scouts BSA youth participating via ZOOM! Well-attended sessions during the school break included Emergency Preparedness, Engineering, Medicine, and "Citizenship Sunday".
In addition, we held a Merit Badge Counselor training session via ZOOM back on December 12, ably-led by Council Advancement Chair Jesse Barnett, and now have 19 newly-trained adult volunteers from a variety of troops to support this important part of the Scouts BSA program.
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Annual "California Prepared Code Red" Update
Scouts BSA Troop 1 in Mill Valley is planning to host a virtual "Code Red" event later this Spring, likely in April. Further details will be announced in the coming weeks! We thank you for your patience and look forward to working with all Marin Troops to make the best of this important emergency-preparedness activity!
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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 & daughters, improved preparedness when something goes wrong, and it fulfills an important adult volunteer requirement for unit programs.
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. Scouting’s most important training for adult volunteers is the mandatory Youth Protection Training (YPT). YPT must be renewed every 2 years online, and your YPT status must be maintained in order to continue as an adult leader. 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 easy 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, renew your Youth Protection training (YPT) by selecting the YPT logo at the upper right corner of the screen;
- For the primary Leader Specific training courses noted above, click on the "BSA Learning Center" icon to select the online versions you need for your position.
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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Wood Badge Training: this is an advanced, BSA National leadership training course open to all Scouting volunteers. If you’re a registered adult and have completed YPT, then you’re eligible to attend Scouting's highest adult leader training! Scheduled dates are the weekends of September 10-12 and 25-26, 2021 at Camp Tamarancho in Fairfax. Find more information about the 2021 Wood Badge course here.
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Cub Scout Camping in 2021 - our Committee Needs YOUR Help! |
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After the many challenges of 2020, we look forward to having "in-person" Cub Scout camping events again this year. It takes many hands to produce these events each year, from planning the festivities to staffing the actual activities themselves. A BIG thank you to these folks for their efforts throughout the year. As we look forward to 2021, we could use your help! Please consider joining our Cub Camping committee by contacting Chair Ron Poggi or SDE Nancy Rozell.
Also, Marin Cub Scout Day Camp dates have been set for Camp Tamarancho! The theme is "Under the Sea", and registration will open soon. NOW is the time for Scouts BSA and Venturing youth to apply to be on our staff; please download the application here. It's all about having more fun outdoors with our younger Scouts!
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Summer Camp @ Camp Marin Sierra
Well, Summer Camp 2020 didn't happen for obvious reasons, but we are already well into planning for July 2021 to make up for lost time! Our Camp Marin Sierra forms are being updated, and the Council website has all the details to plan your week of Scouts BSA resident camp.
Click here to register your troop for the best Sierra summer camp experience you can provide your Scouts! Or click here to apply for the best seasonal Camp staff a young person can enjoy! Now is a great time to consider what campsite to reserve, or apply early to insure you get a place on staff and even the job you desire! If you don't see what you're looking for, please contact District Exec/Camping Director MJ Andrews 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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Important January Reminders
Our first meeting of the year will be held at 7pm January 12 via ZOOM. Let’s endeavor to start the year strong --- everyone is encouraged to log in. Next, Arrowmen mark your calendars for the annual Pinewood Wood Derby Workshop Day being planned for Saturday, February 13 at the San Rafael Elks Lodge. Subject to COVID restrictions, a sign-up will be coordinated at a later date.
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December Highlights
We held our annual Lodge "banquet" on Monday, December 7 with key lodge members social-distancing outside on the large patio at the San Rafael Elks Lodge. By streaming live via ZOOM, dozens of other Arrowmen and family members were able to join virtually for the annual awards ceremony. We presented several Lodge awards, transitioned the new officers of the LEC, and recognized their predecessors for their many contributions to the Lodge this past year.
Talako Chief’s Award: Grayson Everage, Ryan Hagerman, Will Hartung, Zach Holzer, Gina Schneider, and Staff Adviser Mr. Michael "MJ" Andrews
Talako Arrowmen of the Year: former Lodge Chief Joshua Holzer and Mr. Marcus Holzer
OA Founder’s Award: Joshua Holzer and Lodge Adviser Mr. Kenn Moynihan
OA Vigil Candidates: Joshua Holzer and Bryce Hanson
Alex Perry, Lodge Chief (Troop 1)
Jamey Schnasse, Lodge Vice Chief of Program (Troop 73)
Sam Silvestri, Lodge Vice Chief of Membership (Troop 73)
Jack Hagerman, Lodge Treasurer (Troop 73)
Zach Holzer, Lodge Secretary (Troop 1)
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Annual Lodge Registration and Dues
If you are a Talako Lodge member of the Order of the Arrow, and you have not paid your dues this year for 2020-2021, please use the link below. Paying your $15 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 Lodge Trading Post where you can order other OA or Talako memorabilia and swag!
If you have any questions about the National Order of the Arrow organization or the local Talako Lodge in Marin, please contact Lodge Chief Alex Perry.
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Continuing Local Scout Unit Meetings and Activities Safely |
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As a reminder, under the 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: Office Status Updated
While the Trading Post is open weekdays for limited hours, the Marin Council administrative offices are not accessible to the public. However, our office staff is still available to support you with Scouting inquiries almost anytime. Please be aware:
- Council staff is onsite and available by phone Monday through Friday, 8:30am - 3:30pm.
- 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 conference 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 for the New Year. 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 those for Camps Tamarancho & Marin Sierra.
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