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Tamanend
District
August 2026
| WASHINGTON CROSSING COUNCIL | | | |
Come to Roundtable!
If you’re a new Scouting leader or you’ve recently changed roles, welcome! I can’t wait to get to know and to partner with you to deliver the best possible Scouting program.
One of the most important things your commissioner team does is put on the monthly roundtable. This is a great way to learn new things and exchange best practices when it comes to Scouting. While national resources and training do a great job of getting you started, you get best practices from your fellow Scouters, most often at roundtable!
I’m excited to share that we’re starting to implement some new approaches to how we handle roundtable. For starters, I want to reiterate that while the field uniform (commonly called “Class A”) is always appropriate, it is absolutely not required. I often attend in the activity uniform (commonly called “Class B”), but if you want to attend in Scout-appropriate casual or work attire, please feel free to do so.
Most importantly, we’re going to have a lot more subject matter experts joining us for roundtables this year, whether in person or virtually. I’ll be the first to admit I don’t know everything about a topic. Some of our best roundtables of last year were when we had presentations from people who knew about something that could help make your Scouting program better, and we are going to be doing more of that and fewer videos.
To that end, our September roundtable is going to focus on Scoutbook, the free-to-use program that helps with managing your pack, troop, crew, post, or ship. We will be joined by the project manager for Scoutbook at the National Service Center, William Bennett, who will give us all of the hottest tips and tricks for using this program and will be answering your questions. You won’t want to miss it.
We’re just getting started, too! Future guests planned this Scouting year are two United States Secret Service Special Agents who will talk about how to address online safety with your Scouts, a fireside chat with our new Scout executive, and a chat about marketing with Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Scouting America Michael Ramsey. There’s more on the way, too!
As you can see, we are stepping up our game this year. My ask of you is very simple: make sure your unit is represented at every roundtable this year. This is a great way to get a new parent involved, as they can attend, get the information, and report back to the unit
As always, please reach out to your commissioner team if we can help your unit.
Yours in Scouting,
Joe Donahue
Tamanend District Commissioner
| | District Executive Minute | | |
It's Time to Recruit!
Hope everyone enjoyed their summer. But the change of season is rapidly approaching. It is time to switch gears and get ready for one of the most important times in the Scouting Calendar: Fall Recruitment! Traditionally, we realize the greatest bump in our membership at the start of the school year. It is important to know how to get the word out about your unit into your local schools. Some districts provide the mechanism to send electronic fliers home through the virtual backpack. Others allow community organizations to staff a table at new student orientation or back to school nights. Whichever recruitment opportunity is in front of you, now is the time to embrace the Scout Motto: Be Prepared.
As a reminder, Washington Crossing Council is here to help! You can find a lot of great resources on the WCC membership hubs for Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA. Place your orders today for Membership Fliers and Yard Signs using the WCC Request Form. It takes up to two weeks to fulfill your order during peak season! If you are facing issues with school access, Tamanend District has compiled a list of fall festivals that provides great opportunities to get your unit in front of your local community. Furthermore, our Tamanend Membership Committee has assembled folders with additional recruitment materials to support your table or booth. For more information, please contact Katie Pargola (katie@pargola.net) or myself.
Make the best of the recruitment season for your Cubs and Scouts!
Thanks,
Greg House | Tamanend District Executive
greg.house@scouting.org
C: 267.393.4139
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Popcorn is Here! Get Ready to Sell!
Popcorn pickup is this week! Make sure your unit signs up for a pickup time and is ready to get product into the hands of your Scouts for the first big weekend of selling. Once you have your popcorn, hit the ground running with storefronts, wagon sales, and your online store. A strong first weekend can set the pace for your entire sale!
Haven't Ordered Popcorn Yet?
It's not too late!
We have product available and can help your unit get started. Reach out to the Council office and we’ll help you get what you need to join the sale.
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Bacco Centro
Date: September 15
Time: 4:00 - 8:00 pm
Location: 890 Second Street Pike
Richboro, PA 18954
Take the night off of cooking and support Scouting in the process! Visit Bacco Centro from 4-8 PM on September 15 and present the adjacent flier or mention that you're there to support Scouting, and a portion of your check will be donated to the Washington Crossing Council. Whether you're grabbing a quick bite for yourself before a Scout meeting or bringing the whole family, this is a great way to support Scouting and grab some delicious food!
Valid for dine in or takeout orders placed directly with the restaurant. Orders placed through third party platforms like GrubHub, DoorDash, or Uber Eats do not qualify
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Membership Rally
Date: August 20
Time: 7:00 - 8:30
Location: (Mercer Area District)
| Join fellow Scouting volunteers for an evening focused on building successful recruitment campaigns for Cub Scout programs. This rally will cover community marketing strategies, school and event recruitment, presentation techniques, joining night structure, and methods to improve family engagement and retention. | | |
Membership Mixer
Date: September 29
Time: 7:30 - 9:00
Location: (Mercer Area District)
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New Member Coordinator
This unit role is key to turning interested families into engaged, long-term Scouts by making sure new parents are welcomed. Units with a strong New Member Coordinator see better retention, smoother onboarding, and stronger family involvement.
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From out Selection Committee Chairman
With mixed emotions, I am pleased to announce the Selection Committee has completed its authorized process to select a new Scout Executive/CEO to succeed our retiring Scout Executive/CEO, Magne Gundersen, who will retire on September 30, 2026.
Over the past two months, the committee conducted a comprehensive search process that culminated on July 29, 2026, with a full day of candidate interviews, deliberations, and the final selection. I am pleased to announce that Mr. John Gliot, currently serving as Scout Executive/CEO of the Anthony Wayne Area Council in Fort Wayne, Indiana, has been selected as the next Scout Executive/CEO of Washington Crossing Council.
John will join Washington Crossing Council on September 1, 2026. Please join me in extending a warm welcome as he begins this exciting new chapter with our council.
John has dedicated more than 30 years to the Scouting movement. He began his professional Scouting career in 1995 as a District Executive and later Senior District Executive in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, where he served until 2001. He then joined the Central New Jersey Council as Program Director before being promoted to Chief Operating Officer/Assistant Scout Executive in 2006. In 2011, John became Scout Executive/CEO of the Anthony Wayne Area Council, where he has served with distinction ever since.
John graduated from Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania with a degree in Secondary Education. He is a Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow, as well as a recipient of the Founder's Award. He is the proud father of three Eagle Scouts.
I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to the members of the Selection Committee. Their countless hours of meetings, preparation, research, discussion, reference checks, interviews, and thoughtful deliberation ensured a thorough and successful search process. Their dedication and commitment have positioned our council for a successful future, and I am deeply grateful for their outstanding service.
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Selection Committee Members:
Chris Cattie
Kevin Cornwall
Ron Davis
Heath Dumack
Mary Hanson Fatzinger
Barry Frank
Marcia Karrow
Steve Kaufhold
Pete Liptrot
Bill Pfundt
Chris Phelan
Blair Rush
Mike Shavel
Mark Zaba
I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our Territory Director, Matt Adams, for his guidance and leadership throughout this process. His counsel, insight, and steady support were invaluable to both the committee and our council.
As we prepare to welcome John, we also remain deeply grateful to Magne Gundersen for his exceptional leadership and dedicated service to Washington Crossing Council. We look forward to celebrating his many contributions before his retirement at the end of September.
The future of Washington Crossing Council is bright, and I look forward to the next chapter in our council's history.
Yours in Scouting,
Terry McCarty
Chairman of the Selection Committee
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Updates to Council Websites and Event Registration Platforms!
Over the next two months, our council will be transitioning our websites, online forms and event registration system over to a new product: CouncilWare. After a nine-year relationship with Tentaroo, the vendor has decided to cease operation as of October 31st. We will begin migrating fall event registrations to the new platform. Some events are already live. The goal is to have all October events through the new platform.
Our online giving forms will move to a product from Bonterra called EveryAction provided through the Scouting America national office. This change should occur by September 1st. We are still evaluating alternatives for generic forms which do not require payment processing. The last part of the project will be moving the two websites (www.wccscouting.org and www.ockanickon.org) to hosted WordPress sites. The goal is to launch by October 1st.
What can you do to prepare for the coming change? In CouncilWare, you will want to create a MyCouncil User Login – This User Login will give you access to various features in the system. It will remember your event registrations and other orders you place and will give you access to those registrations so you can make payments, manage changes and other similar items. It will also give you access to Unit and Event DashBoards if you have a specific role. If you were using Tentaroo previously, you used both unit logins and user/family logins – In CouncilWare, each person uses a single login that can make registrations for both units and individuals. There are no “unit logins”
Create your MyCouncil User Login at https://mycouncil.wccscouting.org – click Create Login – Enter your first and last name, your email address, and your password and that’s all there is to it!
Add more functionality to your User Login… After your login has been created, click the Account button in the top blue bar of MyCouncil and update your profile – Add your Scouting Member ID, phone number, address and other personal information. The system will allow you to pull this information into your registrations so you wont have to type them all out each time you register for an event.
Add Saved Registrants for even more convenience… In your profile, you can also add “Saved Registrants”. Are you a parent and have children in Scouting? Add their information as a Saved Registrant and you will be able to pull this information into registrations without having to type all the data out each time.
Unit DashBoards… Currently each unit in the council has been setup with the unit leader (i.e. Cubmaster, Scoutmaster) set as the key leader. We will be adding youth rosters shortly. The key leader will be able to add additional adults to the unit and grant permissions such as “Unit Administrator”, “Registration Manager” and “Membership Manager.” We will cover in more details in a future newsletter.
Questions? Reach out to events@wccscouting.org
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Make Sure Families Can Find You on BeAScout!
Fall recruitment is here, and BeAScout is often a family's first look at your unit! Take a few minutes to review your Unit Pin and make sure your meeting information, fees, contact information, and other details are accurate and up to date. An updated BeAScout pin makes it easier for interested families to find your unit, know what to expect, and take the next step toward joining.
| Silver Beaver Nominations | |
Thank a Volunteer!
The Silver Beaver is Scouting's award for distinguished service. Recipients of this award must be registered Scouters who have made an impact on the lives of youth through service given at the council level. All Scouters are encouraged to think of someone deserving of this honor.
Completed nominations are due to the council office by September 11. They may be submitted by email to Anna Marie Pepper or submitted to Washington Crossing Council, 1 Scout Way, Doylestown, PA 18901, Attention: Silver Beaver.
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As a reminder, all adult leaders in PA Units must have a current copy of their PA Clearances on file at the Council office. Reports are valid for five years from the date on the report. WCC is required to “suspend” registrations for leaders with expired clearances until a current report is received in order to be in compliance with PA-15.
If you know your clearances are about to expire, you can access the necessary links to renew them at https://www.wccscouting.org/pa-act-15.
Unit Key 3 members should remind new Leaders who are registering through the online portal to submit their clearances prior to registering. If clearances are not received, the new Leaders registration will be suspended until clearances are received.
If you have questions regarding the status of your clearances please contact our Registrar, Anna Marie Pepper.
| | Range & Target Activities | | |
Throughout the year, the Council Range & Target Committee offers several different activities for Cub Scouts. For all activities, an adult is required to be present to satisfy the 1-to-1 adult participant ratio. Fall registration opens September 1.
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Click on links below to register:
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NYLT - November 6-8 & November 20-22
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Click on links below to register:
| | Stay connected with the latest updates, events, and Scouting news — join us on Facebook! | |  | Looking for a previous newsletter? Archives are on our Council website under the ABOUT tab. | | |
Commissioner Meeting
6:00pm on September 3
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Committee Meeting
7:00pm on September 3
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Roundtable
7:30pm on September 9
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