Tamanend

District

October 2026

WASHINGTON CROSSING COUNCIL

Commissioner Corner

It's Time for Unit Renewal!

As the air gets crisper and Scouting activities get more fun, for the overwhelming majority of our units, it also means making sure unit renewals are completed on time. Unit renewals begin on November 1, 2026 for units expiring in December.

Tamanend District is committed to supporting you in whatever way possible with your unit renewal. To help make that happen, we had unit renewals as our roundtable topic to talk about the various changes. There is a Unit and Membership Renewal page on the council website with plenty of resources and answers to common questions. We’ll also be hosting two Unit Renewal Office Hours in November to help you get your unit renewals completed on time and resolve any issues you may have. On November 16, 2026, we’ll be at the Northampton Township Library in Richboro, and on November 17, we’ll be at the Grundy Library in Bristol. Both nights we’ll be there from 6-7:45 PM, so feel free to stop by!

Don’t forget these important reminders:

Unit Renewal is moving to February. Unit renewals are transitioning to February 2028. New-member proration begins in January 2027, and renewing-member proration begins in March 2027. The first common renewal for units and members will be February 2028. More timeline info is here and resources from National are here.

The lapse period is ending. October 2026 expirations have a two-month lapse period; November expirations have one month. December 2026 and later expirations have no lapse period. Units and memberships that have expired will lose insurance coverage immediately at this point.

Make sure you have your requirements. Packs need six different positions filled: Chartered Org Rep, Committee Chair, Cubmaster, Den Leader, and two other committee members. All others need five different positions: Chartered Org Rep, Committee Chair, Unit Leader, and two other committee members. Make sure you have these adults in place and that they have current Safeguarding Youth Training and PA Act 15 clearances; these will block renewals from posting on time.

Unit renewal does not renew individual memberships. Review member expiration dates throughout the year and communicate with families about who will process and pay for each renewal.

Complete the Annual Charter Agreement. This agreement, which must be signed by the Chartered Organization and returned to the council service center, is separate from the online renewal process and must be filed with the council for the renewal to post. Most units have their charter agreement form here. Units chartered to Catholic institutions (parishes, Catholic schools, etc.) should use this version.

For the best possible experience, I recommend getting your renewal completed by Thanksgiving. Nobody wants renewals hanging over their heads during the holidays, plus this gives you time to ensure any issues with renewals are resolved before the unit expires.

Please reach out to your commissioner team if we can provide any assistance. Thank you for all you do for Scouting!

Yours in Scouting,

Joe Donahue

Tamanend District Commissioner

District Executive Minute

It's Time for a Autumn Adventure!

Autumn has always been my favorite season of the year. There is nothing like enjoying fall activities on crisp sunny days surrounded by trees exploding into spectacular colors. I treasure memories of hot apple cider and pumpkin spice cookies after picking apples at the local orchard. The moderate temperatures should linger a bit longer, allowing camping for one or two more weekends. Many of our troops use these outings as opportunities to give thanks by celebrating Scoutsgiving. Closer to home, our packs have similar Packsgiving feasts. November is also the month that Tamanend units support humanitarian efforts such as Scouting for Food. Canned goods are collected across local neighborhoods, drop off points, and at holiday parades. Partnering with your Charter Organization in their annual charitable activities is a great way to continue to foster goodwill.

Scouts and Cubs alike are encouraged to participate in Veterans Day remembrances on or about November 11. Tamanend communities organizing ceremonies and/or parades include Lower Makefield, Yardley, Morrisville, Washington Crossing, Wrightstown, Newtown, Richboro, Langhorne, Middletown, Falls Township, Bensalem, Bristol Township and Borough. Washington Crossing Council is sponsoring a number of upcoming fall events. Arrow of Light and Webelos are invited to stay overnight at Camp Skippy next weekend (October 24-25). All cubs are welcome to attend Bee-A-Scout Fun Day at Ockanickon Scout Reserve on November 1. America 250 Camporee that features Revolutionary War Reenactment and Colonial Era Camp Activities will be held November 13-15 at Macclesfield Park in Lower Makefield. Take advantage of the early registration rate until October 29.

Don’t miss these great opportunities to have a Autumn Adventure!

Thanks,

Greg House | Tamanend District Executive

greg.house@scouting.org

C: 267.393.4139

Council Recognition Dinner

Join us for an evening of fellowship, great food, and celebration as we recognize outstanding service to Scouting. The evening will feature the presentation of the Distinguished Eagle Scout, Silver Buffalo, Silver Beaver, and Veteran Status awards, as well as recognition of James E. West Fellowships.

It will be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the dedication and service of those who continue to make a difference in Scouting.

Date: November 10

Time: 6-9pm

Location:

Giuseppe's Pizza & Family Restaurant

990 2nd Street Pike, Richboro, PA 18954

Purchase Tickets Here!

The Distinguished Eagle Scout Award (DESA) is the highest honor given by the National Eagle Scout Association to adult Eagle Scouts for extraordinary national-level professional eminence and community service.

Congratulations to John Severino on this outstanding achievement! Your dedication, leadership, service, and commitment to Scouting and the community are truly inspiring. This well-deserved recognition reflects years of extraordinary service and positive impact.

The Silver Beaver Award is Scouting America’s highest council-level distinguished service award. It recognizes adult volunteers who have provided exceptional service to youth through Scouting and to their communities, demonstrating dedication, self-sacrifice, and sustained service over many years.

Congratulations to Sandy Johnson, John Ponzuric, Lou Schmid, and Jill Wahl on receiving the 2026 Silver Beaver Award! This prestigious honor recognizes their outstanding leadership, dedicated service, and lasting contributions to Scouting and our community. We are grateful for the time, talent, and commitment they have given to helping others and strengthening the Scouting program.

Roundtable Announcement

It's Time to Transition!

Hello Scoutmasters and Committee Chairs,

Washington Crossing Council is inviting every Tamanend District Scouts BSA troop to participate in the AOL & Webelos Transition Faire during the November Roundtable. The Transition Faire will give fourth-grade Webelos and fifth-grade Arrow of Light Scouts an opportunity to meet the troops in their area, learn about their programs, and begin preparing for the next step in their Scouting journey.

Event Details

7pm on Wednesday, November 11, 2026

Troop arrival and setup beginning at 6pm

St. John’s Evangelical Church

1203 Pine Grove Rd

Yardley, PA 19067

Each participating troop will have a table where it can share information about its meetings, camping program, activities, traditions, and what makes the troop unique. We strongly encourage troops to bring youth representatives so visiting Scouts can hear directly from the Scouts who make the program happen.

Please Register Your Troop by November 9. Thank you for helping Webelos and Arrow of Light families discover the opportunities available through Scouts BSA!

2026 Popcorn

TAM Popcorn Sales Pass $159K!

Tamanend Scouts have recorded $159,373 in popcorn sales through October 18! Leading the district are:

Troop 46 B: $80,848
Pack 19 F: $20,346
Pack 120: $19,572
Pack 280: $18,378
Pack 1681: $14,902

Thank you to our hardworking Scouts, kernels, and families! Keep sharing those online stores and working toward your next reward.

Scouts BSA Events

Cub Scout Events

Camp Skippy Information!

Bee-A-Scout Fun Day Information!

New Member Coordinators

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.

BeAScout Reminder

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.

Check Link Here!

PA Clearances

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.