Phoenix Newsletter

The Phoenix roundtable newsletter is a monthly newsletter that contains information about upcoming district and council events and activities and becomes available the first Thursday of the month. The electronic newsletter is sent on a weekly basis and is in addition to the roundtable newsletter.       

  Phoenix District Calendar for June 2018 - July 2019

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Phoenix District Roundtable

February 7, 2019   |   7:00 pm

Stay Informed, Attend Roundtable graphicRoundtable is a district monthly meeting typically held the first Thursday of the month at Klein LDS Center (16535 Kleinwood Dr, Spring, 77379) at 7:00 pm to help unit leaders plan and carry out their own program. Roundtable is a form of supplemental training for volunteers. The objective of Roundtable is to give leaders program ideas, information on upcoming events and trainings, and an opportunity to share experiences and enjoy fun and fellowship with other Scouting leaders. As a result of the Roundtable experience, unit leaders will be inspired, motivated, informed, and able to provide a stronger program for their Scouts. Follow our Facebook page.

Roundtable breakouts are a great place for leaders and parents to come together to share what you know so we can all learn more about Scouting. Interactive and interesting… it’s designed for you. Units will be all the better for your time spent… promise! 

Cub Scout breakouts are focused on the needs of leaders and volunteers in packs. You're not on your own out there and you don't have to reinvent the wheel. Come to a meeting to find out how much work has already been done for you. There are tons of resources available to help you put together a top-notch program. February breakout agenda:

  • Awards and recognition for youth and leaders
  • Being a thrifty treasure

Scouts BSA breakouts are focused on leaders and volunteers in troops, crew, ships to share quality resources, knowledge, and skills that enable and motivate leaders to deliver an outstanding program. Parents and leaders of Webelos Scouts crossing over into troops are also invited to explore Scouting.  February breakout agenda:

  • Tents, backpacks and lanterns
  • Camporee

Award Nomination Forms

Due January 20, 2019

Nominate Scouters who have served Phoenix District youth above and beyond the call of duty. The deadline for submitting nominations is January 20, 2019. Awards will be presented at the District Dinner being held on February 2, 2019.

  • Community Leadership Award is presented annually to a community leader who has provided outstanding support to the Scouting program in our district. 
  • Chartered Partner Award is for chartering organizations who demonstrate outstanding or distinctive relationships beyond the normal expectation. The chartering organization should provide noteworthy service to youth, contributing to increased youth participation, cooperates with the district and/or council, involve the instructional head in the selection of quality unit leadership, and causes a greater comprehension in the use of Scouting within the community organization. 
  • District Award of Merit is a council award presented by districts. The award is available to Scouters who render service of an outstanding nature at the district level.
  • Family of the Year Award is presented annually to a family who has, as a group, provided outstanding support to the Scouting program in our district.
  • Jack of All Trades Award is for that unit Scouter whose unit always seems to turn to when there is a need within the unit.
  • Rising Phoenix Award is for that Scouter whose unit always seems to turn to when there is a need within the district.
  • Unit Service Award recognizes exceptional BSA leaders who work with youth at the unit level. Each unit is strongly encouraged to consider leaders in their unit for nomination.

District Dinner

February 2, 2019  |  5:00 pm

District Dinner is an opportunity for a night of fellowship and great food as we acknowledge and thank our adult volunteers for the hard work and dedication that made this year incredibly successful. Phoenix District’s outstanding leaders at the unit and district levels will also be recognized.  All volunteers in Phoenix District are invited. Bring items to decorate your dinner table. The event is being held at Klein LDS Center (16535 Kleinwood Drive, Spring, 77379). The registration fee is $15.00 payable online. After 1/26/2019, a late fee of $3.00 will apply.

Learn More and Register

Pushmobile

March 2, 2019

Pushmobile is a relay race using simple, homemade, Cub Scout-powered cars. Cub Scout dens make their own pushmobile. Four to eight youth work together as a team to push their pushmobile through the course to the finish line. The purpose of this event is to have fun, promote participation in a team effort, and to provide an activity where "doing your best" is most important. Trophies are presented to the top three teams per rank and to the top three packs. The event is being held at Lone Star College (30555 Tomball Pkwy, Tomball, TX 77375). Teams are formed by Scout rank (kindergarten - 5th grade), often organized by dens. Teams need to be a minimum of four Scouts. The ideal team size is eight Scouts. Teams with less than eight Scouts may add Scouts from other ranks (as long as they are a lower grade) or packs. Every Scout will receive a patch. Registration is $8 per Scout. Late registration is $10 per Scout beginning 2/7/2019. Onsite registration is $10.

Learn More and Register

Camporee

March 29 - 31, 2019

Camporee is a weekend camp out for troops full of competition to test Scouting skills. Patrols compete in various competitions and are judged on leadership, teamwork, skill demonstration and Scout spirit.  The Iron Horse and Phoenix District Chapters of the Order of the Arrow will be hosting a joint camporee. The event is being held at Camp Brosig (1893 Trenckmann Road, Sealy, TX 77474).

Patrols will compete in rank specific contests in archery, tomahawk throwing, fire building, first aid, pioneering, orienteering, and nature study.  Troops will be competing in the grand skills relay. Scoutmasters will demonstrate their skills in a specialized cook-off. Saturday night will end the night at a wonderful campfire full of awards, songs, and skits. 

Every troop must send a representative to the February and March roundtables to help plan the camporee. Every troop needs run a part of the camporee (e.g., competition, facilities). This year’s camporee promises to challenge the youth leadership, as well as stretching everyone else’s comfort zones. These events cannot happen without each Scout’s competitive spirit and participation.

The registration fee is $10 per Scout and $5 per adult. Registration is completed by the unit leadership. Members of the Order of the Arrow who are volunteering to run stations can attend free of charge; contact the chapter chief to volunteer to help.

Registration is a two-step process. Troops need to RSVP with an approximate head count for planning purposes by February roundtable. Additional Scouts and adults can be added before payment is made. 

Learn More and Register

Training

Training is an important part of learning to become an effective leader. Trained leaders impact the quality of programs, leader tenure, youth tenure, and a whole lot more. A trained leader is better prepared to make the Scouting program all it can be! Every Scout deserves a trained leader. See the council training schedule for a list of additional trainings offered around the council. For more information about training, contact Tamela De Maranville.

What to Bring to Training            Council Training Schedule

Date Course
(click on title for course description)		 Location Time Cost Register
April 26-27, 2019 Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS) Spring Creek Park
15012 Brown Road
Tomball, TX 77375		 Fr at 6:30 pm - 
Sat at 9:00 pm		 $31.50 Register
April 26-27, 2019 Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO) Spring Creek Park
15012 Brown Road
Tomball, TX 77375		 Fr at 6:30 pm - 
Sat at 9:00 pm		 $31.50 Register

The Scouting Trail

The Scouting Trail is a monthly handout provided to units at roundtable describing upcoming council events for the next quarter. This is a great resource for Scouters and parents.

The Scouting Trail: January 2019

Scouting for Food

January 26, 2019 (hanger drop off)
February 2, 2019 (food pick up)

Scouting for Food is a council-wide service project to care for people in our local communities who are hungry and those in need. In partnership with the Souper Bowl of Caring, the project begins Saturday, January 26, 2019, as Scouts distribute door hangers in their neighborhoods to announce the upcoming food drive. Scouts return the following Saturday, February 2, 2019, to pick up and deliver donations to their local food banks and pantries.

A Cub Scout and a Boy Scout promises "to help other people at all times." There is no better way to show our Scouting spirit than by participating in the annual Scouting for Food drive! Now is the time to show our community the Scouting values of being loyal, helpful, kind and cheerful.

Scouts will help make a difference to fight hunger. Scouting for Food is the leading service program for Boy Scouts of America and is a part of the national BSA program - Good Turn for America. The unit representative should register the unit for Scouting for Food.

Learn More        Unit Participation Sign-up

Scout Fair Coupon Books

Scout Fair coupon books are a brilliant way for units to raise money and prepare Scouts to earn their own way! The Scout Fair coupon book offers great savings for the buyer, while Scouts earn commissions for every $10 coupon book purchased. Buyers support the Scouting program while receiving hundreds of dollars in valuable savings from partners. All units receive a 30% base commission for each $10 Scout Fair coupon book sold, for funds turned in on or before April 6, 2018. Participate at Scout Fair with a booth and earn an additional 10% commission. Units can also take advantage of early bird turn-in dates offering 5%, 3% and 1% additional bonus commissions. In addition, your Scouts will qualify for prizes once they sell 15 coupon books. Please refer to the Scout Fair prize brochure for prizes and sales levels. 

Scouts and the entire family will enjoy visiting hundreds of booths with fun activities and crafts, learning Scout skills, meeting new friends and tasting the delicious outdoor cooking. Meet leaders and Scouts from your neighborhood. Sample the amazing dutch oven creations and other delicacies in the outdoor cooking area. Watch demonstrations, interact with participating booths from our community partners and pick up free offers. The unit leader should sign-up the unit to sell Coupon Books.  The kick-off meeting for the unit representative is being held on January 24, 2019.

 Learn More      Sign Up to Sell Coupon Books

New Scouts BSA Brand Guidance Training

As the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) welcomes girls into Cub Scouts and older girls into the Scouts BSA program starting on February 1, it is important that families understand the program or organization they are joining.

There have been some instances where our volunteers may have inadvertently used the name or trademarks of the Girl Scout of the USA (GSUSA) brand in spreading the word that girls are or will soon be part of all BSA programs. GSUSA recently have filed a lawsuit asserting that these instances have caused confusion. While we don’t believe there has been any such confusion, we respect and support the GSUSA and their rights to their brand.

To ensure that we promote our programs in a clear and Scout-like manner, we have developed resources to make sure our leaders are aware of the do’s and don’ts in promoting BSA programs.

The Scouts BSA Brand Guidance Training is one of the efforts underway to be sure Scouters have a clear understanding of what they can do. This builds on the infographic, and the guidance provided to councils in April.

Scouts BSA Brand Guidance Training     Infographic 

This training should be shared with all volunteers to bring this understanding to all parts of our community. While our goal is to encourage youth to join our program, we must always be clear in our communications about the program they are joining.

  • We are The Boy Scouts of America.
  • The Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of the USA are different organizations.
  • We support all other youth organizations and do not disparage them.
  • We encourage parents to enroll all youth in a character development program that meets their needs – and the BSA is certainly ready to welcome them.

To aid you in this effort, councils and volunteers are encouraged to use these intro talking points as you host info sessions and launch efforts for Scouts BSA. Additionally, please use this resource to help address any questions you might get in the community about this matter.

Learn More

Adams Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award

January 18, 2019, deadline to submit

Do you know a Scout who conducted a great service Eagle Scout service project? Then nominate them for the Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. This is a program of the National Council is designed to recognize the valuable service of an exceptional nature by an Eagle Scout to a religious institution, a school, community, or other entity. The award recognizes the Scout for his Eagle Scout leadership service project, which is part of the requirements for earning the Eagle Scout Award. 

Every 2018 Eagle Scout service project is eligible.  Parents, mentors, or leaders of the Eagle Scout can complete the form on behalf of the Eagle Scout. The top six Eagle Scout service projects from the council will be recognized at the New Eagle Scout Reception on May 5, 2019. 

Nomination Form for Adams Eagle Scout Project of the Year 

Scout Days

Scout Days are awesome opportunities to get your Scouts, friends and family together for some exciting experiences around the area with other Scouting families. All Scout Days are offered at a discounted price of admission. Also, many of our partners offer merit badge classes and advancement workshops for Cub Scouts and Webelos.

Learn more about Scout Days

Donate to Scouting

SHAC CSP with car keysHelp ensure the success of Scouting in the Sam Houston Area Council with meaningful gifts including donating cars, trucks, RVs, trailers, boats, motors, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, securities, uniforms, camping equipment, memorials and tributes, planned giving and yes, even services.

Many corporations match employee contributions made to the Boy Scouts. Some companies even make financial contributions for volunteering time to Scouting. Numerous local companies recognize volunteer time through the donation of cash grants to non-profits in which their employees volunteer. This means that for each hour of volunteer time, employers donate funds to support the Sam Houston Area Council, Boy Scouts of America. Volunteer time is money with volunteer grants.

Employment Opportunities

The Sam Houston Area Council is continually searching for potential career employees who would like to work in a profession that has a meaningful, rewarding purpose. Bring to the BSA your varied life experiences, education, and perspective, and in return, have an opportunity to combine those skills and experiences in a career that values and respects others. Scouting is a profession with a purpose!  

Job Openings

 

Help us Promote Scouting

SHAC FacebookThe Sam Houston Area Council is focusing on leveraging the power of social media through Facebook.  The more Scouters share and repost, the more powerful our marketing can be.

We are compiling a list of unit social media sites so we can work together to spread the word about Scouting by tagging, liking commenting and sharing each other posts. 

Learn More          Take our Social Media Survey