Council, District and Unit Commissioners

Daniel King, Council Commissioner

 

 

The Commissioner's Corner

Webelos to Boy Scout Transition Requirements

 

IMPORTANT changes to BSA Youth Protection Training Policies

Click here for unit insurance coverage

Unit Re-charter system will be turned on November 1st. Your unit registration
Code will be available at October Roundtable.

 

 Internet Re-chartering

Remember to add $1 per person (Youth and Adult) for group accident insurance.

RECHARTERING PROCESS....the annual program and membership inventory every Cub Scout Pack, Boy Scout Troop, and Venture Crew completes to verify providing a quality youth development program while retaining a majority of youth member and adult leadership.  The objective of rechartering is also to update individual youth and adult information so as to have accurate and current records.

Every Unit Committee Chairperson should be the person responsible to involve the other unit leadership in this process.  The GOAL to complete all the paperwork and turn-in the required fee should be done well-before the Thanksgiving holiday. (Remember to include your Unit Commissioner for assistance during the process.)

As of November 1st the Unit Committee Chair can go 'on-line' at the "winnebagobsa.org" website and click on 'Commissioners' then 'Internet Rechartering' to begin updating the unit roster information.  Remember to have at your side the pre-printed unit roster (with your Unit Code Number in the upper right-hand corner); received at the October Roundtable or shortly afterwards from your Unit Commissioner or District Executive.  This 'worksheet' roster should be used to make pencil-corrections on. READ ALL INFO CAREFULLY!!!  To begin the actual 'updates on-line' click "First Time User", and off you go to complete the Annual Recharter Process.

Three things to note:
1. You may print out a 'Draft Copy' to preview, then a 'Final Copy' of the roster to acquire the necessary signatures.
2. Do Not forget to add the $1.00 per person insurance fee to your total yearly registration fees of $15.00 per person and of course the $20.00 unit recharter fee. (Boys' Life subscription is an additional $12.00 per person per year.)  Submit one check for the entire fees made out to Winnebago Council or Boy Scouts.
3. Also attach completed applications of any youth and/or adults that you may have added to your roster that were not listed on the website roster.

And finally, SUBMIT the newly-updated ROSTER with all required signatures (Executive Officer or Chartered Organization Representative, Unit Leader (Cubmaster/Scoutmaster/Venture Advisor) and Unit Commissioner or District Executive) and FEES to the Winnebago Council Service Center before the holiday season!!

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

C.C.C.

What: Council Coordinated Committee

Where: St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church
              200 South Main Street
              Charles City, Iowa

Who: District Operations, Commissioners, Activities, Advancement, Training, Inclusion, Membership, Marketing, ScoutReach, Relationships, Venturing, and Exploring Committees

When: November 29, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.

Format: Open with entire group, then each group meets separately for 30-45 minutes.  Close with a short report from each committee.

Why: Information sharing

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

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The Commissioner’s Corner

Daniel F. King – Winnebago Council Commissioner
November, 2011

See Commissioner's Corner Archive

A commissioner's primary mission is "to help all units succeed."  This mission statement is purposefully rather vague, because the needs of each unit we serve are different and unique to their situation.  Unit commissioners need to be competent in almost every aspect of Scouting, and be able to adjust our approach to best serve the units.  Remember this- being a commissioner has more to do with relationships than anything else.

Commissioners truly are the ambassadors of the BSA, and we must always remember this as we interact with unit leaders, parents, and the public.  There is a need for Unit Commissioners, contact your District Commissioner.

Wood Bade (Training/Practical phase) C1-173-11-1 is now in the history books.  It will be exciting to watch what is accomplished during the application phase.  Thanks to the participants and staff for a great course!  It was my pleasure and honor to serve as your course director.

For those Scouters unable to attend this year: Winnebago Council BSA is Planning a "Sunday Friendly" Wood Badge cluster course that will be held in 2012.

Course Dates: April 12-14, 2012 and April 26-28, 2012
The Course will be held at:
Boy Scout Camp Wakonda - Howard Cherry Scout Reservation, Central City, Iowa

More information will be available soon.  Paul Empie will be the course director.

Planning is also in progress for the next Winnebago course.  Watch the Scouter for news.

I can be reached at MTCRET@MCHSI.com or KingDanielF@JohnDeere.com or through the COuncil Service Center at 319.234.2867.  I will make every effort to keep regular office hours at the council center from approximately 2:45 until 3:30 PM every Wednesday.

Yours in Scouting,

Daniel F. King
Winnebago Council Commissioner
Pehachpamhangick Achtyou (Seafaring Antelope)

　　

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Webelos Transition Responsibilities Cub Scout Pack   Boy Scout Troop    Commissioner 1a) Develop a working relationship with the leadership of a Boy Scout troop or troops in the community. Most troops should have either an assistant Scoutmaster or a committee member assigned to new Scouts. Your unit commissioner can help put you in contact with troop leaders. 1b) Compare calendars of troop and pack activities to coordinate activities. Community events can be done together, and planning can help prevent conflicts in use of equipment and facilities. 1c) Work with troop leaders to secure den chiefs for each Webelos den and Cub Scout den. 1d) Work with troop leaders to plan and conduct Webelos overnight activities. 1e) Work with troop leaders to plan visits to troop meetings. Never show up without first calling in advance. 1f) Invite the Scoutmaster and troop youth leaders to special pack activities. This will help create familiarity and a level of comfort for the Webelos Scouts and their parents as they ease into the troop. 1g) Plan a meaningful crossover ceremony at the pack's blue and gold banquet. Include troop leadership to be present to accept the Webelos Scouts as they graduate to Boy Scouting. The local Order of the Arrow lodge can often be a valuable resource in conducting ceremonies. 1h) Webelos leaders should be strongly encouraged to move into the troop with the boys, either as assistant Scoutmasters or troop committee members. This will give the new Scouts a familiar face at troop meetings and a connecting link to Boy Scouting. 1i) If a troop does not exist in your community, discuss with the head of the pack's chartered organization the possibility of organizing a troop. A graduating Webelos den can form the nucleus of a new troop. 2a) Select Scouts to serve as den chiefs for each Webelos Scout den and Cub Scout den. Arrange for Den Chief Training. 2b) Serve as a resource for overnight activities. The troop can be of service to provide equipment, leadership, and logistics for Webelos parent-son campouts. 2c) Conduct an orientation in the Bear Cub Scout dens to explain the changing role as boys become Webelos Scouts and then again as they become Boy Scouts. Explain how being a Webelos Scout will help prepare them for Boy Scouting. 2d) Webelos den/Scout troop campouts should show Webelos Scouts and their parents what to expect when they move into the troop. The troop should cook and camp by patrol, and use skills that the Webelos Scouts can participate in. 2e) Arrange for Webelos dens to visit a troop meeting. This should be planned several weeks in advance. 2f) Provide each Webelos Scout a copy of the troop's activities for the upcoming year. 2g) Work with Webelos den leaders to encourage them to plan to move into the troop with their Webelos Scouts and to serve either as committee members or assistant Scoutmasters. 2h) Conduct a Scoutmaster conference under the guidance of the Scoutmaster or the assistant designated by the Scoutmaster. This conference should cover the meaning of the Scout Oath and Law, the advancement program, troop camping, the patrol method, summer camp, and personal equipment. 2i) Work with the Cubmaster in planning a meaningful crossover ceremony at the pack's blue and gold banquet. Coordinate the ceremony and arrange for each Webelos Scout to receive a troop neckerchief and Boy Scout Handbook along with his Arrow of Light Award. Members of the Order of the Arrow may assist in the ceremony. 3a) Be a catalyst in developing good relationships between troop and pack leaders. 3b) Promote communication by scheduling a meeting of key volunteers.  3c) Help plan a Webelos den visit to a troop meeting and other joint activities.  3d) Keep the pack and troop on schedule as plans develop for the crossover ceremony at the blue and gold banquet.  3e) Attend the crossover ceremony. 3f) Be sure new Scouts have completed a Boy Scout application, that they have a copy of the troop's activities, and that they know when and where the troop meets.  3g) Work with the pack and troop in their charter renewal process to help ensure Webelos Scouts are moved from pack rosters to troop rosters. 3h) Work with the Webelos transition chair to follow up on boys who have not yet joined a troop. Make sure they are invited to join a troop. 3i) Be sure Webelos Scouts join a troop in time to prepare for Boy Scout summer camp.