GREATER ALABAMA COUNCIL, BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA/LEARNING FOR LIFE,  INC

www.1bsa.org

November 21, 2006

The staff of the Greater Alabama Council wishes to take this opportunity to wish all of our Scouts, Volunteers and Parents a safe and Happy Thanksgiving Holiday!

DIGITAL EAGLE - IMPORTANT MEETINGS AND DATES TO REMEMBER

Council Offices and Camps Closed for November Holidays

Council Offices and Camps will be closed November 22-24 for the Thanksgiving Holidays.

MARKETING FOCUS GROUP MEETING SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 28, 2006

Over the past few months volunteers from across the council have been invited to serve on several focus groups designed to evaluate the many aspects of council operations. On November 28 at 6:30 PM, at the Charles T. Clayton Service Center at Liberty Park, we will hold a Marketing Focus Group to openly evaluate and discuss opportunities in which the council and districts can improve our internal and external marketing efforts. A few of the items to be discussed will be the effectiveness of the council newsletter, our website, media relations and ways we can improve public awareness of Scouting throughout the twenty-two counties we serve. If you would like to serve of this focus group, contact Keith Williams at kwilliams@1bsa.org to confirm your attendance at the meeting on November 28.

POPCORN- SECOND SALE OPPORTUNITY

The second popcorn order due date has been changed to November 27th. This will give scouts, parents and leaders a chance to sale to family members during the Thanksgiving Hoilday. Second orders are due in the Council Office by 3 PM.

Please encourage all units to place a second order for their Popcorn Sale.

• Second Sale Commitment Form - Use this form if your unit is participating in the Second Sale.
• Second Order Unit Settlement Form - Use this settlement form for Second Order.

The  second order pickup is scheduled for December 7, 2006. The second order commission is 30%. Second order sales do not include a prize plan.

Second order pickup locations are:

• Council Service Center Huntsville - 2211 Drake Avenue - 266-883-7071
• Council Service Center Birmingam - 516 Liberty Parkway - 205-970-0251
• First Order Money is due in full by December 1, 2006.
• Second Order Money is due in full by December 27, 2006

Contact your District Executive to make arrangements for Pick-up.

Please turn your second order forms into the Huntsville or Birmingham office or you can fax your orders and prize forms to 206-970-0251. Contact Jackie Pettit at jpettit@1bsa.org with questions.

Your districts contacts for questions are listed below:

CUB SCOUT LOCK-INS

Hey Mom and Dad! Need time to do some last minute holiday shopping, or take some time to enjoy a day or night out together? We have the KEY! Mark your calendar and leave your Cub Scout with us! Its time for the 2006 Greater Alabama Council Cub Scout Lock-in! Bring your Cub to one of the locations below for a Lock-in full of fun, crafts, advancement, movies, popcorn and excitement.  Space is limited to only 100 Cubs per location so sign up early! Some lock-ins are scheduled as all day events while others are scheduled as overnighters. Be sure to attend your District Roundtables and check out our website at www.1bsa.org for your district details on Cub Scout Lock-ins 2006!

The cost for the Lock-in vary by district based on duration of programs and activities. Contact your District Executive or click to download the registration fliers below.

HEY CUB SCOUTS! Recruit a friend into Scouting and bring him to the Lock-In and receive a $15 discount! All participants will receive a special patch designed especilly for the 2006 Lock-ins!

Lock-in Locations and Dates are listed below and you can click on your district name to download the regisration form!

Arrowhead District - Central United Methodist Church -December 1-2, 7PM - 7AM - Cost: $30

Birmingham District - 1531 4th Avenue West - Birmingham - December 1-2, 6 PM - 7 AM - Cost: $25

Cheaha District - Location TBA

Cherokee District - Location TBA

Choccolocco District - YMCA 14th Street Anniston - December 2, 8 AM-6 PM - Cost $25

Etowah District- Carnes Recreation Center - Attalla- December 8 - 9,  6PM-7AM- Cost: $25

Mountain Lakes District - Location TBA - December 8-9, 7PM-7AM- Cost:$30

Mulberry District- Lester Methodist Church- December 9-10, 7PM-7AM- Cost:$20

Northeast District- Eastminister Presbyterian Trussville - December 9, -  9AM-5PM

Sequoyah District- Fort Payne Recreation Center- December 2, 7AM-4PM- Cost: $20

Shelby District - Location TBA

Talakto District- Holy Spirit Catholic Church- December 2, 8AM-4PM- Cost: $35

Vulcan District- St Marks United Methodist Church- December 16, 8AM-5PM- Cost: $25

Westmoreland District- Flowers Hall, UNA- December 2, 8AM-4PM- Cost: $20

WINTER BLAST 2006

The Greater Alabama Council started Winter Blast at Camp Comer several years ago and it has been growing ever sense.  Basically Winter Blast is just like Summer Camp except that the weather can vary between warm and very cold.  We may or may not have snow.  Obviously we do not offer swimming, lifesaving or any of the boating merit badges.  Additionally individual Scouts may attend as Lone Scouts.  They will be placed with a Troop that is attending with two adult leaders in residence or several Lone Scouts may be placed in a campsite with two volunteer Camp Site Scoutmasters in charge of the campsite. Winter Blast will start on Tuesday, December 26 at 12:30 PM and checkout will be the following Sunday December 31 by 11:00 AM. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

WINTERFEST 2006

WINTERFEST is an exciting competitive events activity for all Posts and Crews.  The 2007 weekend is set for January 27th - January 29th in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, located in the heart of the Smoky Mountains.  Over 2,300 participants are expected for the 2006 WINTERFEST!  The Greater Alabama Council Contingent will be staying at the beautiful Glenstone Lodge which is conveniently located for access to all scheduled activities and recreation areas. Visit the Glenstone Lodge website at www.glenstonelodge.com.

The Competitive events usually include the following: Talent Show, Volleyball, Fire Fighting, Climbing Wall, Law Enforcement, Mock Trial, Engineering Design, First Aid, Advanced Medical, Shooting Range, and much, much more.  New for 2006, we will have an event called Crime Scene Investigation.  In addition, there are two dances - one Friday night and one Saturday night. A detailed competitive event information packet will be available to all Crew and Post Advisors in mid October. There are also plenty of non-competitive activities available to your Posts and Crews, including snow skiing (weather permitting), shopping, museums, movies, and many local restaurants and eateries.  Winterfest is sure to be the highlight of the year for your Post or Crew. For more information contact Antiqua Cleggett at 1-888-490-8955 or email her at acleggett@1bsa.org.  DOWNLOAD THE WINTERFEST FORM AND REGISTER TODAY!

WOOD BADGE 2007

Wood Badge will be Feb. 8-10 and March 8-10, 2007 at Camp Comer.  The cost is $195 and you must be trained in your current position to attend.  The course is limited to 48 participants so please get your application in ASAP.  Wood Badge is not only a great training course to go through is a great experience that will help you in life as well as Scouts.  If you have any questions about Wood Badge please contact Wayne Jackson at 256-253-2620 or email at wayne@nbiz4biz.com. Download registration form here.

Space is limited at each location so SIGN UP NOW! 

BIRMINGAM BARONS SCOUT ACTIVITIES ANNOUNCED

Scout Campout at the Met- Mark your calendar for May 4th for the 2007 Campout at the Hoover Met. Look for details in upcoming issues of the Digital Eagle and at the Council Website at www.1bsa.org.

Family Night at the Met- September 1, 2007 has been scheduled for Barons Scout Night! Mark your calendar and bring the whole family to this fun night at the Hoover Met. Look for details in upcoming issues and at our website at www.1bsa.org.

DIGITAL EAGLE - IN EVERY ISSUE!

YOUR DISTRICT EXECUTIVE IS THERE TO SERVE YOU! 

Your District Professional is trained and certified by National BSA and given ongoing training to serve you to insure a quality Scouting experience in the district. We encourage you to attend your Roundtables and other district events and meet your District Executive. Below are a list of our GAC District Executive Team and their email addresses. Please contact them should you have questions about activities and programs in you district. They are there to serve you!

ARE YOU GETTING YOUR DIGITAL EAGLE ON TIME?

The Digital Eagle is emailed to individuals who are in our email database. If you are receiving your Digital Eagle Email from someone who is forwarding the email to you, you may be receiving it late. To keep this from happening, please register to get your Digital Eagle sent directly to you by clicking here and entering your information.

COUNCIL IN NEED OF COMPUTERS

In an effort to improve the council’s technology and to help enable us to provide our volunteers and Scouts with quality and timely communications and service, we are respectfully asking that individuals within our council who own or work for companies that have access to used, new, or remanufactured computers that they might consider donating to the council to use at our council service centers and camps to contact Keith Williams at kwilliams@1bsa.org or by phone at 205-970-0251. The Greater Alabama Council is a 501c3 nonprofit organization and donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

We hope that the computers donated meet the following requirements:

Computer and Processor - PC with 300MHz or higher processor recommended (233Mhz minimum required) Single or dual processor system; Intel Pentium/Celeron family, or AMD  K6/Athlon/Duron family, or compatible processor recommended.

Memory – 128 MB of RAM or higher recommended. (64 MB supported)

Hard Disk  - 1.5 GB or available hard disk space

EARN THE NEW-UNIT ORGANIZER AWARD

The new William D. Boyce New-Unit Organizer Award recognizes volunteers who organize one or more traditional Scouting units. The award is a square knot worn above the uniform left pocket, with three colors representing Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, and Venturing.

The BSA Relationships Division administers the program, and local councils present awards.

When the certification of completion is approved and recorded, the New-Unit Organizer Award will be presented to the volunteer at the district level. Requirements include an organizer being approved by the district committee and completing the organization of a Cub Scout pack, Boy Scout troop, Varsity Scout team, or Venturing crew, following procedures outlined in "New-Unit Organization Process" (No. 34196). These include ensuring that new unit leadership is trained, unit program is organized and has begun, the unit committee is functioning, a unit commissioner is assigned, all paperwork for the new unit is completed and processed, and the unit charter is presented to the chartered organization. Organizers of additional units can wear up to three program devices (pins) on the square knot, representing the types of units organized.

NEW RECRUITER PATCH OFFERED

Recruitment is key to troops welcoming Webelos Scouts and recruiting new boys. Any Boy Scout who recruits a new boy into his troop can earn the Patch. This collectable patch can also be used as an incentive for those Scouts working on their 1st class badge

Effective Jan 1, 2006, an additional requirement was added to the requirements for First Class rank in Boy Scouting.

New Boy Scout Recruiter Patch requirement tests Scout’s persuasive communications skills and can help make  Scouting available to more boys. It reads: "Tell someone who is eligible to join Boy Scouts, or an inactive Boy Scout, about your Troop's activities. Invite him to a Troop outing, activity, service project, or meeting. Tell him how to join, or encourage the inactive Boy Scout to become active."

ONLINE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

Its that time of year again when we welcome new Scouts, parents and leaders into the Greater Alabama Council Scouting family. It is everyone’s job to make each one of these individuals feel welcome and appreciated. One important thing we can do to insure a quality Scouting experience for our new family members is to properly train our leaders.  Fast Start Training is now available at the BSA Online Learning Center. This site provides access to online courses that may be taken for credit by our members. You can also take the Youth Protection Training course here as well. It is strongly advised that every registered adult leader be youth protection trained.  GET TRAINED TODAY!                                                                                                               

PLEASE REPORT YOUR SERVICE PROJECT ON THE GOOD TURN FOR AMERICA WEBSITE

Whether you are selecting a Good Turn for America project, ready to report your service hours, or somewhere between those two points, we have the resources to help you accomplish the task. Units and Scouts all over the Greater Alabama Council are out living by the Scout Oath and Law by providing service to their communities. The success of Good Turn for America is dependent on support from our Scouting units. If you are just getting started with a Good Turn for America project or are looking for resources, we have them. Resources include service pro, , , , ject ideas, tips for getting started, service proje, ct promotional assistance, tips for telling your story through your local media, and help in reporting your service hours. Log on to Good Turn for America and register your Good Turn TODAY!

ONLINE ADVANCEMENT

Use Internet Advancement to record awards, ranks, and merit badges to youth from any online location, including at home or at the office. Internet Advancement allows you to register once as a first time user and then to log in as a returning user to submit ranks and awards for your unit members. If you are using third party software, there is now an option to upload your data into BSA’s Online Advancement!

Submitting Reports is EASY! Units set their own schedule for submitting reports. We recommend submitting a report every month. Each December a final report with anything not already recorded for the year should be submitted before month end. Register to use Online Advancement TODAY!

ONLINE RECHARTERING

What are the benefits of Internet Rechartering?

The two key benefits from using Internet Rechartering are more accurate member data and renewals are validated against BSA membership rules before submission. These benefits are two sides of the same coin. When the unit does data entry for charter renewal this leads to more accurate member data and ensures data integrity.

We are now approaching our rechartering season. Most of our units will recharter during the months of November, December, January and February. November units should be receiving their recharter packets beginning in September, December in October, January in November, February in December, etc. In your recharter packet you should have your username and pass code to log on to the online rechartering site. If for some reason you are unable to locate your units online recharter information and require assistance, contact Penny Griffin at pgriffin@1bsa.org or by phone at 1-888-490-8955.

ONLINE TOUR PERMITS INSURE CORRECT DATA AND FAST APPROVAL

The new online assistant to help units complete the National and Local Tour Permit Application forms is designed to prevent some of the common problems (such as missing or illegible information) that can delay the authorization of your tour permit. Please note: completion of the application form via the Web does not guarantee approval - the application will be reviewed and approved at the discretion of the council and/or regional offices - but the online assistant is helpful in the task of completing the application form.

Using the Tour Permit Online Assistants

The online assistants will guide you through a six-step process of providing all the information required for the Tour Permit Application. If any information is missing, you will be prompted to provide it. The process should require not more than 30 minutes if all the information is at hand. It may be helpful to review a copy of the National Tour Permit Application or the Local Tour Permit Application to ensure you've gathered all the details you need before you begin. Due to the sensitive nature of the information the form requires - names, phone numbers, drivers' license numbers - this data is not stored on the server (see our privacy notice for more details), so you must complete the application in one sitting. (Note: if your modem disconnects, your data will not be lost if you can reconnect without quitting your Web browser application.)

LOCAL TOUR PERMIT Website

NATIONAL TOUR PERMIT Website

BOOKMARK THESE OFFICIAL BSA LINKS TO HELPFUL RESOURCES AND INFORMATION!

Scouting Friends  Reconnect with Scouting. Get back in touch with the program that helped shape your life and holds so many fond memories. The Scouting Friends site can help you stay informed about the activities and programs at your local council.

BSA Online Learning Center  GET TRAINED! This site provides a variety of materials, from quick references to complete courses, all designed to help our members improve leadership skills and deliver a quality program.

Scout Stuff  SHOP ONLINE FOR BSA MERCHANDISE! Operated by the national Supply Division, this site is your official online source for information about camping equipment, uniforms, handbooks, pinewood derby supplies, and other essential Scouting merchandise

Scouting Magazine  Scouting is the national family magazine for the adult leaders and committee members of the Boy Scouts of America. Their Web site contains a complete archive of past editions going back to 1998.

Boys' Life Magazine  Published by the Boy Scouts of America, Boys' Life is the magazine for all boys. Their Web site contains information about the current issue, games to play, projects to download, and more.

National Eagle Scout Association  Information about the National Eagle Scout Association, including a section for NESA members.

Fieldbook Companion Site  This Web site is a companion to the BSA's Fieldbook.

Scouting - Vale La Pena  The official Spanish-Language Web site of the Boy Scouts of America.

Scoutreach Division  Scoutreach is, the BSA's commitment to making sure that all young people have an opportunity to join Scouting, regardless of their circumstances, neighborhood, or ethnic background.

Join Cub Scouting  This site provides information about the Cub Scout program to prospective members, including boys, parents, and organizations that may be interested in starting a pack.

The Scout Zone  This site provides information about the Boy Scout program to prospective members.

Soccer and Scouting  Soccer and Scouting teaches soccer skills and provide exciting competition, and at the same time boys will be Cub Scouts and learn the life-long values taught in the Scouting program.

National Scouting Museum  The National Scouting Museum is a tribute to the rich history of the Boy Scouts of America. The size of a football field, this massive state-of-the-art facility features a Norman Rockwell art gallery, virtual reality adventures, hands-on learning experiences, and a historical collection that traces the Scouting movement from its beginnings.

Legal Issues Web Site  This site was developed on behalf of the Boy Scouts of America to inform the public about the issues that confront the Scouting movement.

Good Turn for America  Today, America needs the service of its citizens more than ever. Hunger, lack of adequate shelter, poor health—these are issues that affect all of us. The Boy Scouts of America believes that we can do something about these issues—if we all work together.

Program helps for Cub Scouts  Click here for helpful information fir Cub Scout Activities.