Conquistador Council

Archive for the ‘News’ Category

Winter Camp Use- Reservation Sept. 18 Wood Cut

First winter camp use reservations will be accepted at the Wehinahpay wood cut.  Participants will have priority choice of dates.

A chart will be posted after the wood cut for further information about remaining available dates.

Order of the Arrow Ordeal-Brotherhood

September 17-19 is the fall Ordeal/ Brotherhood ceremony at Wehinahpay.  Candidates and Arrowmen will have several service projects to improve the camp.

Register by contacting the council service center (575-622-3461), by email conquistador@scouting.org.

More information is available on the Kwahadi Lodge website.

Council Staff Update

The council has two district executive vacancies, with the recent resignation of Frank Cordova,  Oil Patch District and El Llano Grande District.

To earn the National Quality Council Award, the council must have a full staff by December 31.  The budget forecast at this time shows a $30,000 deficit for the year which limits the ability of the council to fill the positions until mid-December.

Guy Eichsteadt and Jim Bethel will share responsibility to support district volunteers in member and leader recruitment, new unit organizing, popcorn sale, charter renewal, and preparing for next year’s Friends of Scouting enrollment.

The council financial position results from weak Friends of Scouting support, the cost of year-round camp operations, and reduced funding from two of the United Ways.  The expenses are under control.  For many years the council has balanced the budget by reducing staff. 

The council is looking for qualified applicants for the two staff positions.  A four year college degree is required, good physical health to meet the rigors of the outdoor program, and a strong interest in the Scouting program are some of the job requirements.  For more information about a professional career with the Boy Scouts of America contact the council service center at 575-622-3461 or check out www.scouting.org.

The council leadership is committed to “delivering the promise” to the chartered partners to provide the full level of service for their Scouting programs.

Frank Cordova Leaves Council Staff

Frank Cordova, El Llano Grande district executive, resigned from the council staff, effective September 13, to accept employment as a government contractor.

Frank is to be commended for his professional leadership.  With his guidance, the district volunteer structure reorganized with James Burns and Gene Weber, roundtable programs improved in both program and attendance, commissioner service improved, and community relations became stronger.

The district was recognized in June 2010 for having more youth members than the prior June, and for increasing retention of youth members and units.  This is achievement is due to the district volunteers and Frank’s support and guidance of their efforts. 

Frank Cordova served for two seasons as the Wehinahpay camp director.  Under his leadership, Wehinahpay expenses were kept under control, achieving a summer camp budget surplus for the first time in several years (the total camp operation still produced a $30,000 deficit), and was on track to achieving the council long-range plan of the camp operation being self-supporting. 

During the two seasons, based on camp evaluations, the customer service remained high, food service was good, and the program provided was rated very high.  The camp staff is very capable and well-trained, providing a memorable experience to all campers.

The council leadership wishes Frank and his family “buenos suerte” in his new position, and is looking forward to his continued involvement as a volunteer Scouter.

“BeAScout”- Critical Unit Leader Role

New From BSA:  ““BeAScout””– The Unit Leader’s Role

Unit Leader’s Role: How to populate the pin

 Unit leaders have a very important task “populating” their unit pin so that useful information shows up on the Google map.

 So how does a unit leader place information about their unit on the Google pin?

 Initially, the unit leaders who can access “BeAScout” to set up the pin are the Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, or Crew Advisor along with the unit committee chairperson and the chartered organization representative.

 1. They will log into MyScouting and select “BeAScout” from the Unit Tools section on the left. There are two options:

• Unit Pin Management: Unit Leaders use this to edit pin information.
• Unit Lead Management: Unit Leaders use this to manage incoming requests for information from parents interested in Scouting.

 2. The unit leader should first complete the Unit Pin Management screen. They will notice two important items on this view.

• At the bottom right in the box outlined in red is a preview of the Google pin. This is what the parent will see.
• At the bottom left is the “Fields Displayed on Goggle Pin” area. The Pin preview box will only display the information that the unit leader selects in this box.

July2010

“BeAScout”- Set Your Contact Info in “My Scouting”

New From B SA:  “BeAScout”– Setting Your Contact Information

   Contact People are the Glue!

 Recruiting campaigns depend on personal contact for success. It’s important to not only make the contact but to also follow up on all your leads. Contact people are the glue to keep the campaign cohesive and efficient!

 The Contacts for “BeAScout”

 In BeAScout, both councils and units can be notified when a parent makes contact with a unit. So both unit leaders and district executives can be contacts and receive e-mails from interested parents.

 Pin Management and Unit Contacts

 A unit leader can set contact information using Pin Management (available from MyScouting > BeAScout link). Initially the Pin Management screen can be accessed by the:

• top unit leader
• unit committee chairperson
• chartered organization representative

 These leaders can change the pin from council information to (unit) contact person mode and designate unit leaders to be contacts — one primary and two alternate contacts (either themselves or other registered leaders of that unit). These primary and alternate contacts will also have access to Pin Management, and they will receive e-mails from leads.

 Action Item:   Unit leaders can set Google pin information with the contacts that will help to make the “BeAScout” campaign a success.

 

July 2010

Cub Scout Literature Updates – June 2010

Development of materials to support the rollout of Cub Scouts 2010 is well under way, and we are now in a position to confirm that the leader materials and training needed to support the change in delivery method will be completed and in local council service centers by May 7, 2010.

  The resources affected include the following:

 

  Literature:

 2010-2011 Cub Scout Roundtable Guide New

 Den & Pack Meeting Resource Guide (printed) New

 Den & Pack Meeting Resource Guide (online*) New

 Cub Scout Leader Book Revised

 Webelos Leader Guide Revised

 These items are now in the council Scout Shop.

*The Den & Pack Meeting Resource Guide will be available online in two forms: a no-fee download of individual den and pack meeting plans via www.scouting.org or a for-fee purchase of the full resource via www.scoutstuff.org. Both versions will be accessible from scouting.org.

 

Training:

 Fast Start Training (online) Revised

Position Specific Leader Training with CD (literature) Revised

 As discussed previously, there will be a new version of Position Specific Leader Training which will be available online via the E-Learning Center at myscouting.org.  

Please note:  While on line training is convenient, it does not provide the most complete training, as taught in a group setting by experienced leaders.  On line training also does not provide important council information.

  

 New covers on many of our other Cub Scout leader publications will provide a unified look for the brand. New covers will start appearing for the following publications as the Supply Group needs additional inventory. Note, however, that the content remains the same.   The new cover does not make the “old” version obsolete.

  Cub Scout Leader How-To Book

 Cub Scout Academics and Sports Program Guide

 Cub Scout Ceremonies for Dens and Packs

 Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation  (B.A.L.O.O.)

Membership- El Llano Grande Leads The Way

July 2010– El Llano Grande District, ably led by district chairman James Burns, district commissioner Gene Weber, and district executive Frank Cordova, is leading the council in membership growth, meaning more boys are getting the Scouting program!

El Llano Grande District, at 361 members, has 11 more than year-end 2009.  The district is down 2 units.

Chisum Trail District is down 51 members from year-end 2009, is +2 units, and in good position to achieve the 3% growth target this year.  The district “Key 3″ are district chairman Greg Sahd, district commissioner Bob Perry, and district executive Matthew Corp.

Oil Patch District is down 24 members, is +1 in units, and is also in good position to achieve the year-end growth target.  All three key district leadership positions are currently vacant.  A nominating committee is meeting to select the new district chairman and district commissioner. 

Rio Hondo District is down 131 youth members and is  minus 8 units, but ably led by district chairman Richard Gilliland, district commissioner Chip Fly, and district director Jim Bethel, the Rio Hondo should recover this fall and achieve the goal.

Danny Fulkerson, VP- Membership reports that the Conquistador Council has achieved a membership gain, July 2010, compared to July 2009,  of 15 Cub Scouts, a gain of 18 Boy Scouts, a loss of 5 Venturers, a gain of 8 Explorers, and even with 98 units.  The council achieved a 3% gain in membership over July 2009, and has 1,332 members.

Update on Training Revisions

Update on BSA Training 2010 (National Meeting)

 

REQUIRED LEADER TRAINING

 There are some new rules on Youth Protection Training.  New leaders will take the online training before submitting their applications, print out the completion certificate, and attach it to their application when they submit it.  At charter renewal time leaders who are not up to date on their Youth Protection Training (within the previous two years) will not be reregistered.

 Required training is coming but the pilot programs are being extended a year to ensure the results are being measured accurately.  There have been numerous problems with scoutnet and BSA is moving to a learning management system, far more user friendly, for recording training. In the mean time we should be working hard to get out training records as accurate as possible as that information will the initial input for the new system.

 

SUPPLEMENTAL TRAINING

 The new “slightly” revised National Youth Leader Training syllabus for 2011 will be available at the Course Directors’ Conferences this year.

 Kodiak is not being “relooked” yet.

 Powder Horn is being revised and taking away links to Ranger requirements.  Changes should be out soon.

 

CUB SCOUT LEADER TRAINING

 The new Cub Scout training is moving ahead.  The changes are in how the program is delivered and there is little change to the program itself.

 The first two fast start programs (Den Leader and Cubmaster) are on line and getting rave reviews.  Position specific training will be out on June 20th.

 If you go to www.scouting.org/cubscouts you can download (free) the den meeting plans and get more information on the new delivery model. 

The new Den and Pack Meeting Resource Guide is available at the council Scout shop.  

Our best new source for getting Cub Scouting questions answered is to go to program.content@scouting.org.  They are promising answers within one to two days.

 Posted 5 July 2010

2010 Youth Protection Training- Now Required For Renewal

Youth safety is the No. 1 concern of the BSA.To increase awareness of this societal problem and to create even greater barriers to abuse than already exist today in Scouting, the Boy Scouts of America is implementing several important changes to further enhance its Youth Protection policies.

Effective June 1, 2010: – Youth Protection training is required for all registered volunteers. – New leaders are required to take Youth Protection training before they submit an application for registration. The certificate of completion for this training must be submitted at the time application is made and before volunteer service with youth begins. – Youth Protection training must be taken every two years. If a volunteer’s Youth Protection training record is not current at the time of recharter, the volunteer will not be reregistered.

To ensure these policies are fully implemented, please take the following steps: – If you have not taken Youth Protection training within the past two years, please log on to MyScouting and take the training. Be sure to have your member ID number. The number can be found on your Boy Scouts of America membership card. – If you do not know your member ID number, contact your unit leader or committee chairman. Your council can also assist. – A person does not have to be a registered volunteer or have an ID number to take Youth Protection training. To take the training, log in to MyScouting and create an account. From the MyScouting portal, click on E-Learning and take the Youth Protection training. Upon completion, print a certificate and submit it with an application or submit to the unit leader for processing at the local council. – If you have taken Youth Protection training online but did not input your member ID number, please log on to MyScouting and input your member ID in the My Profile section so the training will be linked to your records. – If you have taken Youth Protection training within the past two years but did not take the course online, log on to MyScouting to ensure your records are up-to-date, or contact your council for verification that your Youth Protection training records are accurate. – Finally, please share these important changes with other Scouters.

To find out more about the Youth Protection policies of the Boy Scouts of America and how to help Scouting keep your family safe, see the Parent’s Guide in any of the Cub Scouting or Boy Scouting handbooks, or go to http://www.scouting.org/Training/YouthProtection.aspx.