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Welcome to The Lamplighter, the official newsletter of the W. D. Boyce Council!
This newsletter is distributed to all registered Scouters in the W. D. Boyce Council. It’s our goal to 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.
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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
| With thanks for all you do to support Scouting in the W. D. Boyce Council throughout the year, we wish you a happy, safe and healthy holiday season. May it be a time of fun and relaxation with family and loved ones. | Exciting Changes for 2024! | |
The Cub Scout experience is getting a big boost in June of 2024, with the roll-out of some exciting changes!
Over the past several years the National Cub Scouting Committee has identified four areas to improve the Cub Scout program to ensure that it is fun, simple, and easy. These updates are based on feedback from over 23,000 parents and Cub Scout leaders through various surveys and data. Over the past year these improvements have been socialized to thousands of individuals with overwhelming support, and last month they were officially announced.
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Key changes include:
· Cub Scout Adventures have been improved to make it easier to deliver the program to multi-rank dens or as a Pack. To earn each rank in Cub Scouting will require a Cub Scout to earn the six required Adventures and two elective Adventures. Required Adventures reflect the aims and focus areas of the BSA. Also, the number of elective Adventures increases.
· Webelos and Arrow of Light will be separated. Webelos becomes the 4th-grade program in Cub Scouting. Arrow of Light becomes a stand-alone badge of rank for 5th graders and will no longer be associated with Webelos. Arrow of Light will be the program that prepares Cub Scouts to join Scouts BSA.
· Cub Scouts Awards will be reimagined as Cub Scout Adventures. Topics like camping, STEM, and range and target sports will remain and are reimagined into elective Adventures that can be used towards earning a badge of rank.
For more information, visit this great Aaron on Scouting blog entry that includes the #CubChatLive announcement video : https://bit.ly/2024-Cub-Changes
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The close of one year and the anticipation of the year to come make this the perfect time to make a financial gift to the W. D. Boyce Council. Especially as many of us consider our blessings during this season, your gift now can help raise up Scouting in 2024.
From a personal finance perspective, your tax-deductible gift now can help lower the taxes you’ll pay in April, and it can also ensure that you take full advantage of your employer’s generous matching program for charitable giving.
It’s easier than ever to make such a gift. Simply visit https://wdboyce.org/give-to-scouting/ or contact Priscilla Slaughter (priscilla.slaughter@scouting.org) in the W. D. Boyce Council to discuss various giving options and specific council needs.
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Please plan to join us in congratulating this year’s outstanding class of Eagle Scouts, who will be honored at the 2024 Eagle Scout Recognition Brunch, to be held February 3, 10 am to 12 pm, at the Par-a-Dice Hotel in East Peoria. Tickets will be available shortly at https://bit.ly/wdb-eagle24
| Mark your calendars NOW and plan to attend the 2024 Council Annual Recognition Dinner on March 16. Join us for an evening of fellowship as we celebrate recent Scouting accomplishments and recognize the newest recipients of the Silver Beaver award. Details coming in the January Lamplighter! | 🎄 Scout Shop Inventory and Holiday Breaks 🎄 | |
The end of the year means it’s time to take inventory and a holiday break for our Scout Shops. Please be aware of these dates when our Scout Shops will be closed, and plan your visits accordingly!
Peoria: Closed December 21 – January 3
Bloomington: Closed December 16 – January 1
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Safety Moments are exactly what the name implies: opportunities to prepare for an activity, review safety measures and report incidents correctly. Topics can include incident reporting helps, safe use of medication in Scouting, weather-related safety, winter activity, and winter sports. Safety is a critical component of good Scouting, and taking the time at every meeting to share a Safety Moment helps embed a “culture of Safety” in the Scouting movement.
Need some ideas for Safety Moments? You’re in luck! The BSA has prepared Safety Moments for a wide ranges of topics, and they’re all available here:
https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/safety-moments/
| Help Wanted for Two Positions! | |
We’re currently searching a new Development Coordinator, and Lowanue District Associate to join our team.
Development Coordinator: Responsible for leading key fundraising activities 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.
District Associate: Responsible for Unit Service, Membership Growth and volunteer support in the Lowaneu District (Bureau, Putnam and La Salle Counties.)
Duties of this part-time position include:
- Work with a volunteer committee and other community leaders to identify, recruit, train, guide, and inspire them to become involved in youth programs.
- Achieve progress towards specific goals and objectives which include: program development through collaborative relationships, volunteer recruitment and training, fundraising, membership recruitment and retention.
- Assist leadership with campaign efforts to meet the financial needs of the organization.
- Ensure that all programs are served through volunteers, regular leader meetings, training and activities.
If you or someone you know would be interested, please check out the full job descriptions here, including directions to apply!
| Thanks for reading and for your support of Scouting! |
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