|
May 5, 2020
The Scout Office and High Desert Scout Shop are CLOSED through May 15
in response to the New Mexico "Stay at Home" restrictions.
The Scout Office & High Desert Scout Shop will also be closed on Monday, May 25th in observance of Memorial Day.
|
The Great Southwest Council is a small business that is being heavily affected financially by the cancellation of activities, events, and Friends of Scouting presentations. We need your generous donation now to help keep our Council operational during this difficult time.
Our staff have families to support just like you do.
You can make a contribution now or anytime by clicking
the "Donate Now" button below.
Thank you for your support throughout the year. Your generous gift makes a difference in the lives of Scouts in the Great Southwest Council.
All Friends of Scouting donations made to the Great Southwest Council are used to provide funding for support of local Scouting in New Mexico, southwest Colorado, and the Four Corners region exclusively.
Join the Gondola Patrol in 2020
Join the Great Southwest Council's recurring gift club, the Gondola Patrol, by contributing $15 per
month via your credit or debit card.
Recurring gifts are convenient to donors and provide financial stability to the Council. If you would
|
|
|
Service Center and High Desert Scout Shop Hours
|
GSWC Service Center:
Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm
Closed Sat & Sun
High Desert Scout Shop:
Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm
Sat 9am-1pm
Closed Sunday
|
Use Your Smith's Rewards Card to Give Back to Scouting
Give back to Scouting with the gas and groceries you already purchase every week! Follow these simple instructions to enroll your Smith's Rewards Card and begin earning dividends to help grow Scouting in the Great Southwest Council. Enrollment in the Smith's Community Rewards program will not affect the fuel points you earn while shopping. Don't have a Smith's card? No problem! You can register a digital rewards card when you enroll at their website by clicking HERE.
|
The Official Blog of the Scouting Movement
Visit the Scoutingwire site any time for the latest news from around the United States by visiting
www.scoutingwire.org
|
|
Scoutbook - Online Record Keeping for your Unit
|
Tracking the Scouting Experience from Tiger to Eagle Scout
From the first knot tied to final hours of service performed, the Scouting experience is a journey like no other. Scoutbook ensures not a moment is missed - tracking advancement, milestone achievements and all the fun along the way. Starting January 2019 Scoutbook is free to all units.
Click here to watch a video of how Scoutbook can improve your Scouting experience.
|
My.Scouting.Org is an awesome resource with many great tools. Below are some of the great things you can do at my.scouting.org
|
Take Training
There are many required and supplemental trainings available at my.scouting.org. You can take Youth Protection training, but there is so much more. Cub Scout leaders can take all required trainings to be considered "trained" for their position. Boy Scout and Venturing leaders can take supplemental trainings such as Weather Hazards, Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat - all from the comfort of your home!
To take online trainings, please follow these steps:
- log in to your account
- in the upper left corner, click home
- click "my dashboard"
- click "training center"
|
Print Membership Cards
Your unit's Key 3 (Unit leader, Committee Chair, and Chartered Organization Representative) have the ability to generate and print membership cards for anyone registered in your unit. No need to call the Council Service Center - this functionality is there any time you need it!
- click "menu" in the upper left corner
- click the ">" next to your unit's information
- click member manager
- below "Roster Details" click one of the options
- click the rectangle icon with a fleur-de-lis below the words "Roster by Person"
|
|
 |
|
Every Scout Deserves a Trained Leader
"If you had a magic wand, would you use it to make the Scouting program better and more fun for youth so they stayed in Scouting longer, so it had a larger impact on their lives? What if the same magic wand made leadership roles easier, more rewarding, and led to better retention among adult leaders? Would using that magic wand be a top priority?
Well, such a magic wand does exist-in the form of the learning programs for leaders.
A trained leader is knowledgeable and more confident in the role being performed. Trained leaders impact the quality of programs, leader tenure, youth tenure, safety, and a whole lot more. A trained leader is better prepared to make the Scouting program all it can be!" [Excerpted from scouting.org]
Cubmasters and Den Leaders! Are you trained for your position? If not, join us at 7 pm Wednesday, May 13, for a virtual training.
Email Mary at mary.mazza-andersen@scouting.org for the Zoom meeting invite.
|
|
Virtual Merit Badge Teaching
The one thing I really don't want to happen is for our Scouts in the Great Southwest Council to miss out on any advancement opportunity. Social distancing and stay at home directives can make it very difficult to teach Merit Badges. Given the fact our Scouts may not have the opportunity to attend an in-person summer camp to work on Merit Badges, we need to keep our Scouts motivated and continue to work on their "Trail to Eagle."
When I was Scoutmaster of Troop 285 in Albuquerque, I always told my Scouts; "Know and use your resources." Well, you are my resources.
I know many of you are teaching Merit Badges using today's technology and I'd like to pick your brains. Please let me know how you are doing it. I am sure you have some creative ways to do this and I'm open to suggestions. Along with the BSA National guidelines, together we can find the best paths forward for our scouts.
With the increase in virtual meetings, and the uncertainty of when we'll be able to meet in person, I want to develop a virtual Advancement Program for use in our Council as quickly as possible. With your input and the guidelines set forth by National, I will craft a program that ensures that the Scouts have every opportunity to advance while meeting the requirements of YPT. We will use a blend of virtual technology and the evolving social rules to find the most efficient balance for scout advancement. Time is of the essence, so please send me your ideas as soon as you can.
Thank you for your help.
For the Scouts,
Rick Mondick
Great Southwest Council
Advancement Chair
|
|
SCOUTING AT HOME
BY: Lily Bray
In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been asked to limit our person-to-person contact. We realize this does not come without challenges for our Scouting community.
We want to continue to offer this amazing program for our community's youth. Keeping our Scouts and their families active in their Scouting activities will not only keep them on track for advancement but offer great opportunities for the Scouts to learn outside the traditional "Scout meeting." Their families, their Akelas, can learn and grow along with them during this time. Scouting can take place anywhere - even in the comfort of your home!
Our Scouting community doesn't begin or end here on a local level. We have great resources in other districts, councils, national and even the world when it comes to sharing ideas for Scouting at home.
Our goal is to make it easier to deliver the Scouting program by sharing ideas and plans with our leaders and families. We would like to remind our leaders to stay in touch with their Scout's families during this time. We encourage all leaders, if possible, to hold virtual meetings and activities.
Parents, please remember to reach out to your leaders about online resources or ideas for activities your family can work on at home. It is important to always adhere to the current youth protection guidelines already in place for digital communications.
Here are some ideas and great resources to continue Scouting at home:
- If your unit uses Scoutbook, utilize the communications features in Scoutbook to keep in touch with families and for youth and adults to track accomplishments.
- Follow the Great Southwest Council Facebook page for new ideas on Scouting at Home.
- For a limited time, get an entire year's worth of Boys' Life issues for free! Find projects you can create at home and stories that will take young readers' minds on adventures all over the world. Download the app for access from the App Store or on Google Play.
- Follow BSA blogs and social channels, as well as #ScoutingAtHome.
- Don't forget the Outing part of Scouting. Here's a List of Museums, Zoos, and Theme Parks offering Virtual Tours
- Merit badges for social distancing: 58 badges Scouts can complete at home
- Fun projects for kids that you can do from home
- The Alamo Area Council has shared a wide variety of Facebook live videos and online Merit Badge clinics
The steps we are taking in these unknown times reinforce the many ways - big and small - that Scouting empowers character and leadership today and for generations to come.
|
Jack Links Jerky Fundraiser
Help your Scouts earn money for 2021 Camp!
We still have some awesome Jack Links kits here in the council office. This is a great opportunity to earn money for your unit before the fall popcorn sale. The item is a kit with five Jack Links jerky products. The kit sells for $15 retail.
Your unit earns 40% commission. This is a great fundraiser for Scouts to earn money to go to summer camp, Cub Scout day camp, or high adventure activities for the 2021 season. Round up your contacts and let them know how delicious Jack Links Jerky is!
This fundraiser also helps units progress towards their Partnership for Scouting goal; 26% of total sales is applied to the Partnership goal.
If you want to reserve some of these kits for pick up, please contact Caryl Sharpe at 505-503-2385 or caryl.sharpe@scouting.org
|
2020 Popcorn Campaign: Here's the Scoop!
More Information to Come, Stay Tuned!
|
Eagle Boards of Review and Advancement Updates
BY: Rick Mondick, GSWC Advancement Committee Chair
Yes, it is very hard to have an Eagle Board of Review when public health authorities tell us to stay home. We all know that an Eagle Scout candidate has 90 days after their 18th birthday to have their Eagle Board of Review. But what if your 90 day period ends, while we are still under quarantine?
Under normal circumstances a "request for a time extension" is sent to the BSA National Office, and only the National Office can make a decision to grant additional time. The request for a time extension form can be found on the BSA website,
In a directive from the BSA National Office dated March 25, 2020, an Eagle Scout candidate can request a time extension, using the proper form 11.2.0.0, from the Council's Advancement Chairman. The Great Southwest Council's Advancement Chair can approve these extensions until the last day of September 2020. After that date, requests for time extensions are submitted back to the National Office.
The time extensions approved by the Council's Advancement chair only apply if the Eagle candidate's progress to the Rank of Eagle is hampered due to the COVID-19 virus. These "time extensions" are to be sent to Rick Mondick, the Council's Advancement Chair, in care of the Council office. Should you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact Rick at
distarrick@yahoo.com
or by telephone (505) 239-1590. Remember, Rick can only approve these time extensions until the last day of September 2020.
More Notes about Advancement Updates...
The BSA has a message to young people concerned that the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak will prevent them from completing Eagle Scout rank requirements before their 18th birthday: Don't worry; we've got your back.
Click HERE
for details and more information.
|
Will your Pack, Troop or Crew Become
a Partnership Unit in 2020?
The Partnership for Scouting was established in 2017 to strengthen the ability for the Council and Units to provide the best Scouting experience possible for participating families. By working together and pressing toward this common goal of better Scouting, the Council and its Units can make best use of limited resources. One of the key factors of this Scouting Partnership is improved communication between the Council and its Units.
The benefits for becoming a Partnership unit are listed below. As you can see, the savings a Unit can receive are significant.
Partnership Benefits Savings per Person
-
Free Cloth & Card Rank
Recognition
$3.00
-
10% Resident Camp Rebate
$34.00
-
10% Day Camp Rebate
$8.00
-
Free Eagle/Summit Award Kit
$25.00
-
10% NYLT/Brownsea Rebate
$32.00
-
Insurance Rebate
$25.00
-
10% Wood Badge Training Rebate
$30.00
-
Pinewood Derby Cars $4.50 each
-
Free JTE Patches for participants and adults $2.00 each
Total Potential Savings Per Scout
$163.50
Plus
-
10% off camping gear purchased at the Scout Shop
5% Bonus Commission on Popcorn Take Order sale.
Will your Pack, Troop or Crew qualify as a Partnership Unit in 2020, and reap the benefits in 2021?
To qualify your unit must raise a goal equal to $175 x number of Scouts (registered on January 1, 2020), attend Cub Scout day camp or summer camp at Gorham Scout Ranch within the past three years, and earn JTE bronze, silver or gold at recharter.
Congratulations to the Packs, Troops and Crews that earned Partnership for Scouting status in 2019. These units are eligible for the benefits above throughout the 2020 year.
Packs 12, 17, 22, 23, 68, 85, 88, 114, 116, 166, 174, 179, 185, 442, 495, 508, 702, 714, 990 & 1974
Troops 2, 7, 17B, 24G, 116, 152, 174, 175, 185, 211, 215, 220B, 285, 286, 324, 395, 410, 417B, 417G, 444, 459G, 465, 501, 505, 538, 640, 702, 703, 708, 1919 & 1974
Crews 20, 325 & 612
For more information concerning Partnership for Scouting, please contact Dale Balmer at
dbalmer8@comcast.net
.
Thank you for continuing to support the Great Southwest Council.
|
Eagle Scout Application Verification Reminder
Once the Scout has completed all requirements and the Unit Approval for the Eagle rank, the following items must be submitted to the Council office for verification:
Eagle Scout rank application, completed project workbook and signed letter of ambition/life purpose. Please allow three days for staff to review Eagle items for accuracy and completion. Once staff has reviewed the Eagle items, whoever turned in the Eagle items will be notified. At that time, the Eagle Board of Review can be scheduled with the District Advancement Chair.
|
|
National Eagle Scout Association Expansion Program
Click HERE for more information.
Looking for Eagle Projects?
Click HERE for more information
|
In response to the lack of interest and registration/deposits received,
the Great Southwest Council has cancelled its contingent for the
2021 National Scout Jamboree.
|
PRINTING CHARTER CERTIFICATES & MEMBERSHIP CARDS
The BSA is committed to streamlining basic operations by putting tools in the hands of volunteers. For several years now, individuals and unit key 3 have had access to print membership cards through my.Scouting. In addition, functionality has been added to my.Scouting to enable members of the unit key 3 to print their unit Charter Certificate. This "self-service" functionality allows volunteers to print membership cards and the unit charter certificate in a timely manner and enhances the onboarding experience for new youth and adults.
Click HERE for directions to print unit charter certificate.
Click HERE for directions to print units membership cards.
|
AmazonSmile: Shop Amazon and Support Scouting
AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon with the same products, prices, and shopping features as Amazon.com. The difference is that when you shop on AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to the charitable organization of your choice.
Every item available for purchase on www.amazon.com is also available on AmazonSmile (
smile.amazon.com
) at the same price. You will see eligible products marked "Eligible for AmazonSmile donation" on their product detail pages.
The Great Southwest Council is a charitable organization that is available for you to support by making purchases on AmazonSmile. For more information about the AmazonSmile program, go to
http://smile.amazon.com/about
.
|
Please Support our Merit Badge Sponsors
The following businesses and groups are Scouting supporters that will also provide opportunities for Scouts to earn merit badges
related
to their occupational field or interest(s).
Railroading Merit Badge
Electricity Merit Badge
Law Merit Badge
Digital Technology Merit Badge
Entrepreneurship Merit Badge
Horsemanship Merit Badge
Dr. Steven Komadina
First Aid Merit Badge
Automotive Maintenance Merit Badge
Plumbing Merit Badge
Dentistry Merit Badge
Riverpoint Family, Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry
Please Support Businesses in our Community that
Support Scouting!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Copyright © 2016. All Rights Reserved.
|
|
|
|
