May 28, 2008

The Lodge and Conference Center at Geneva State Park

The 2007 Silver Beaver Recipients are: Dr. Jim Snelson, Beth Harnishfeger, Barbara Taraska, Ken Fortuna and Dave Klender.

Further information and on-line registration can be found at the link below:

Annual Meeting and Silver Beaver Recognition

Volunteers and Background Checks

Since April 2003, the BSA has conducted a criminal background check (CBC) on all new adult volunteers.
There are BSA adult volunteers who have been consistently registered since April 2003 in the same position. These dedicated volunteers have not had a criminal background check conducted by the BSA. To continue to provide a safe environment for youth participating in the Scouting program, the National Council will address this situation by providing a vehicle for having a CBC conducted on those volunteers.
Volunteers who have not had a CBC conducted will receive a letter from our Chief Scout Executive, Bob Mazzuca. Exploring volunteers will receive a letter from the director of Learning for Life, John Anthony. The letter will recognize them as valued volunteers and explain the need for criminal background checks and our continued efforts in youthprotection.
Those letters are scheduled to be mailed by June 2, 2008. The letter will include their BSA member ID number, as well as a unique password and contact information for their local council. The letter will direct volunteers to a Web site specifically established to give consent for the CBC. The letter will also direct the volunteers to contact their council service center if they do not have Internet access or require assistance.

New on MyScouting

Enhancements were made to the MyScouting account-creation process, which includes upgrading a former E-Learning account to a MyScouting account (and transferring the E-Learning history), as well as transferring the E-Learning history of previously created MyScouting accounts. The training certificates from E-Learning for persons completing Youth Protection Training or Venturing Youth Protection Training were updated to include a notice that the training is valid for two years from the date completed.

A new Weather Hazards training course is available on E-Learning. Effective January 1, 2009, it will be mandatory that at least one adult on each tour complete the Weather Hazards course.

"Countdown to 2010" Area 4 Program Conference - October 25, 2008

Jim Kern, Area 4 Program Chairman and Dale Holbrook, Area 4 Director, invite you to attend this year’s Area 4 Program Conference entitled “Countdown to 2010” (BSA 100th Anniversary).  Perhaps you have already heard about this event, but here are the specifics:

WHERE:           North Terrace Church of Christ, Zanesville, OH

WHEN:             Saturday, October 25, 2008

                        Registration opens at 8:00 a.m. – Opening Ceremony at 9:00 a.m.

COST:              $20.00 per person (payable at the door)

Advance registration helps us plan for course materials and refreshments for this popular event.  You can either telephone me to register at (630) 983-6730 or you can register via e-mail at ctrocewi@netbsa.org.  Please provide your name, council affiliation and your 2 morning session selections by number and time slot, along with your afternoon workshop choice.  For example, A1 & B2, W4.

Please see link below for more information, including a list of sessions and workshops being offered along with a brief description of each.  We hope to see you there!

2008 Area 4 Program Conference Flyer

Health Alert

MRSA – Sound like a new rap group? No such luck. MRSA is a very potent and dangerous infection affecting millions of Americans. It can happen to you! This infection is contagious.
Prevent contracting the infection by:

• Washing your hands, especially after using the bathroom and before eating;
• Not sharing – sport mouth pieces, towels/washcloths, razors;
• Wiping equipment with alcohol based cleaner before using;
• Covering your mouth with your sleeve covered hand when coughing.
• Covering cuts, sores, burns or wounds.

Be Prepared and Be Safe!

Eagle Scout Rank Application

The new printing of the Eagle Scout Rank Application, No. 58-728, has a notable change. Now, under Requirement 5, the name of the candidate’s Eagle project is required, as well as the grand total of hours devoted to it (from page 10 of the Eagle Scout Leadership Project Workbook). The new application will be required beginning May 1, 2008.

The information about Eagle projects will be entered along with other information from Eagle Scout rank applications, and will be stored on our database and accessed through PAS. Councils will be able to run reports at the district or council level. This new database of Eagle projects will also be available at area, region, and national levels.

2008 Resident Camp Standards for Resident Camp Programs Held on Council Owned or Controlled Properties. 2008 Resident Camp Standards for Resident Camp Programs Held on Council Owned or Controlled Properties Scouting Safely Web Site Health and Safety along with Risk Management has launched a Scouting Safely section on BSA's web site, www.scouting.org. Click on the Scouting Safely link (to the right of the Youth Protection link) at the top of the main page. Scouting Safely will provide risk management, health, safety and youth protection information pertinent specifically to Scouting. There are links to resources, training and forms. Check it out! New Boy Scout rank requirements effective January 1, 2008 The National Youth Protection Committee recommended additions to Boy Scout rank requirements that were approved and will become effective January 1, 2008. These changes will help us advance the importance of Youth Protection training beyond the initial Boy Scout joining requirements, and keep youth informed and actively engaged in understanding the key elements of personal safety and protection. Tenderfoot Rank Revised requirement 9: Explain the importance of the buddy system as it relates to your personal safety on outings and in your neighborhood. Describe what a bully is and how you should respond to one. Second Class Rank New requirement 8b: Explain the three R’s of personal safety and protection. First Class Rank New requirement 12: Describe the three things you should avoid doing related to use of the Internet. Describe a cyberbully and how you should respond to one. The changes will be represented in the 2008 Boy Scout Requirements book and the revised ninth printing of the 11th edition of the Boy Scout Handbook. KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE BACKGROUND SCREENING The Boy Scouts of America and ChoicePoint will be conducting a pilot program that will give new applicants for volunteer positions the opportunity to review their background report through an online Web site at the same time the report is given to the Boy Scouts. Beginning March 19, 2007, a new applicant, once their application has been processed, can go to www.applicantreview.choicepoint.com and review their report if the background check has found a possible criminal history. If the report comes back clear or there is a non-criminal issue raised, the applicant will only be told that the report has been forwarded to the Boy Scouts for their review. Prior to gaining access to any information each applicant will be asked to take a brief identification quiz. This helps to ensure no one except the applicant will gain access to sensitive and personal information. If they pass the quiz, the applicant will be given the chance to provide any relevant information, e.g., misidentification, dispute of criminal history, or an explanation, the Boy Scouts should know. The information flier explaining these procedures will be made available through the attached pdf link and is available to each new prospective applicant to take advantage of this opportunity. This 60-day pilot program will allow new applicants to take a quick and personal approach in reviewing, updating, and acting on a criminal report should the need arise with a minimum of local council intervention. ChoicePoint Flier THE VALUE OF SCOUTING Across the country, Scouts are making a difference. We hope you enjoy these brief photo essays on Scouts and Scouters who are making America a better place for all of us. Please share these great stories with people you know! The Value of Scouting UNIT GIFTS AND TAX EXEMPT STATUS  UNIT GIFTS AND TAX EXEMPT STATUS Boy Scouts of America Issue of Tax Exempt Status The Boy Scouts of America is a public charity, tax exempt under IRC Sec. 501 (c)(3). An IRS group exemption allows us to extend this tax exempt status to “subordinate organizations” – this includes all BSA local councils and approved local council trusts. It has been the long-standing position of the IRS and the BSA that units – such as packs, troops, teams, posts, and crews – are NOT covered by the BSA’s group exemption, and that the BSA’s tax exempt status under IRC Sec. 501(c)(3) does NOT extend to units. Units are not, in themselves, legal entities. They are chartered to partner organizations of the BSA such as churches, PTAs and civic groups. Since a unit is “owned” by its chartering organization, each unit takes its tax status from that organization. Units are NOT subordinate organizations of the Boy Scouts of America.* For more information download the Updated Policy: Tax Exempt Status The Garden Wall The Garden Wall is a memorial honoring the service of those who have given selflessly of themselves. The Garden Wall give you an opportunity to be a part of the new Coleman-Miller Council Service Center of the Greater Western Reserve Council. Purchase a brick in The Garden Wall in honor or memory of the service of a loved one, Scout Leader, Eagle Scout, etc. Service to God & Country Recognizing the first part of the Cub Scout Promise, the Scout Oath, and the Venture Code, these 8" X 8" bricks will be placed on the face or rear of the wall itself. Each brick may have up to six lines of text with twelve characters per line. Contribution - $250 each. Service to Others Recognizing our second obligation to service, that of service to other, these 4" X 8" bricks will accomodate up to three lines of text, (twelve characters per line). They will also be mounted on the wall itself. Contribution - $100.00 each Service to Self Recognizing an obligation to care for ourselves by keeping "physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight," these "paver bricks" will be found surrounding the wall as you walk up to it. These 4" X 8" bricks will also accomodate three lines of text of twelve characters. Contribution - $50.00 each Greater Western Reserve Council #463 Boy Scouts of America 4930 Enterprise Drive Warren Ohio 44481 Phone: (330) 898-8474 or (800) 234-7268 Fax: (330) 898-8476 or (888) 386-8138. Council Office Map Council Office E-Mail: gwrc@bsa-gwrc.org Let us know what you think, send suggestions, submissions and comments on this web site to: baden@mail.bsa-gwrc.org We have much more to come, but we want to know what you want to see!

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