Last month I was fortunate to attend the Order of the Arrow Section Conclave at our own Camp Baker. With nearly 500 Scouts and leaders in attendance, Arrowmen were treated to delicious meals, outstanding stage shows, competition and skill developments. Members of our own Tsisqan Lodge served as hosts and Scouts from across the Pacific Northwest left Camp Baker with a good experience. Both the section leadership and our lodge leadership should be commended on their outstanding accomplishment.
This time of year I’m often asked about our relationship with various United Ways throughout our council. Most people probably know United Way support of Scouting has dropped significantly over the past 5 years (about 50%) which makes your United Way gift ever so important. When asked in your place of employment to make a gift, please do so as your gift supports a whole array of agencies providing critical support to thousands of citizens. In some cases, you can designate your gift to a certain agency. I recommend you ask in your community if this option is possible.
At a recent troop court of honor, I was reminded of how many different activities our troop participated in during the last six months. There were backpack trips, campouts, fishing trips, two Eagle Scout projects, an evening volunteering at Food for Lane County, bike rides and swim parties. Nothing, however, compared with our week at Scout camp where our Scouts earned plenty of merit badges, experienced new challenges and tested their mettle. Next summer we’re headed to Camp Melakwa and expecting another week of advancement and adventure. All these reminders of outdoor activities reinforce what so many of us already know—get kids outdoors and camping. If we keep this simple thought in mind, boys will stay in Scouting longer and our values will be engrained a little deeper. So, we’re headed to Camp Melakwa next summer and I suggest you get your camp reservation too as popular sites are going fast. See you on the hill next summer.
2009 Jambo & Rendezvous Will Kickoff the Scouting Centennial Celebration
October 9-11
All Scouting units should plan now to participate in the “Scouting Event of the Year.” 2009 Jambo & Fall Rendezvous will feature exciting activities and unforgettable shows at a council-wide Jamboree at Oxbow Bend, south of Springfield on the Coast Fork of the Willamette River.
Come celebrate the 100th anniversary of Scouting at this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with exciting activities for Scouts and Scouters of all ages.
Activities planned include mountain man demonstrations, flint knapping, woodcraft, beadwork, dutch oven cooking, hide tanning, Pow-Wow dancing and drumming, obstacle course, HAM radio, NW Civil War re-enactment, “Fort Webelos” with archery, BB guns, games and more, and “Baloo’s Village” featuring crafts and advancement activities.
We have all heard about how technology is going to change the way we live, communicate, work, socialize, and basically change the world!
Already this year, Oregon Trail Council has started emailing Trailsmoke, rechartering will be online, online event registration continues as does online trainings and more. Change is happening and it is happening fast.
What hasn’t changed is the mission of the Boy Scouts of America:
“… to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.”
To accomplish this mission, young people have to become involved in Scouting programs. We all know that youth are attracted to Scouting because of the fun, friends and adventure that it promises. Parents value Scouting because it is proven to help their child become a responsible, participating citizen who is guided by strong values.
Since you have received Trailsmoke, you and your family are already into Scouting. Ask yourself: “Do my friends know about all that Scouting has to offer?” or “Have I shared with the parents of my son’s friends the story of Scouting?”, and finally “Have I invited a family to come and join my Scout group?”
This is where technology can help. Kids and parents are used to getting information from the internet and in their in-boxes. Check out this email template for inviting potential Cub Scout families to a join night “Cub Party”:
Resources like this are available through scouting.org (search “Words to Live By") or click the image to the right. This template can be customized and emailed to your contacts, or maybe your school would email it to families (like a flyer inserted into a “take home packet”).
Tools like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube can all be effective in helping your pack, troop or crew promote its activities, invite new families, and engage a broader community with Scouting. Oregon Trail Council has a Facebook page, and you can follow us on Twitter, and our website is full of great info.
Let’s all use technology to help us get more young people into Scouting programs. But once they are there don’t forget to unplug and get back to the basics of fun, friends and adventure.
And don’t forget to become a friend of OTC at facebook.com/otcbsa.
Give Your Cub Scout A Great
Weekend Camping
This Fall at a Fun with Son Weekend
If you know a Cub Scout who is looking for fun and adventure, then Fun with Son is for you. Cub Scouts with their adult partner will have the time of their lives at Camp Baker just south of Florence on the Oregon Coast. Our next Fun with Son is October 30-Nov1.
Don’t worry about missing Halloween at home. We are planning a great haunted camp and trick or treating like you’ve never seen!
You may attend one or both weekends. Both weekends are open to all Cub Scouts.
Fun with Son adventures include sleeping in a tent or Adirondack at Camp Baker, shooting BB guns, bouldering wall, archery, disc golf, sling shots, row boats, and arts and crafts. These are just some of the great activities for Fun with Son participants. All meals will be served in the Camp Baker dining hall, including a Friday night cracker barrel, breakfast, lunch and dinner on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday.
Cost is $45.00 per person.
For more information and to register, contact the Scout Service Center at 485-4433 or (800) 801-4430, or click here for info.
University of Scouting: Has Something For Every Leader,
At Every Level
When: Saturday, October 17
Registration begins at 8:30 am, Opening program 9:00 am, ends 4:30 pm
Where: LDS Church, 3500 W. 18th Street, Eugene
Cost: $10. (if pre-registered by October 10. After October 10, cost is $15.) Includes lunch and your training resources.
Cub Leader POW WOW:
Are you ready for the next step in great Cub program? Pow Wow is an annual get-together of Cub Scout leaders from the entire council. Pow Wow is a "convention" for pack leaders—the Cubmaster should take all leaders to this learning extravaganza. There are sections on games, crafts, skits and puppets, ceremonies, administration, den management and a lot more. It's a time for leaders to share ideas and see what the other packs are doing. (Please complete Cub Leader Basic Training before Pow Wow)
Troop Leader POTLATCH:
What’s a "potlatch"? A potlatch is a festival ceremony practiced by Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast. The word comes from the Chinook Jargon, meaning "to give away" or "a gift". Our Troop Leader Potlatch is an opportunity for us to come together and "give away" our knowledge and talents and share our experiences; creating good will and better Scouting for our entire community. Dutch Oven Cooking, Gear Exchange, Pioneering, Patch Swapping, Outfitting for High Adventure, Venturing Crews and Scouting, Leave No Trace and Your Troop, Wilderness First Aid, Scouting with Disabilities
BASIC LEADER TRAINING:
The Best programs start with passionate leaders who have been trained to deliver the best Scouting has to offer. If you’re new to our community, you owe it to yourself and your scouts to get the training to make your job easier and your program more fun! University of Scouting offers:
• Cub Leader Basic Training
• Scoutmaster Fundamentals
• Varsity Couch Basic Training
• Venture Advisor Training
With these courses, you will receive the basics needed to deliver Scouting ideals to your Scouts.
REMEMBER TO TAKE: YOUTH PROTECTION & THIS IS SCOUTING ON-LINE. For more information, Click Here
NEW DISTRICT FORMS
Last month, the Executive Board of Oregon Trail Council approved the consolidation of Evergeen and Applegate Trail districts to form the Greenwood District.
The decision was made after volunteers from both districts gathered in July to discuss how best to serve our Lane County units and chartered Partners. Our council leadership sees this as the most efficient way to serve our membership and advance Scouting. Rob MacLuan will serve as Senior District Executive.
DISTRICT COMMITTEE Meeting: Fourth Tuesday - 7:00pm at the Scout Service Center.
DISTRICT ROUNDABLES: First Thursday - 7:00pm
at 450 N. Danebo LDS Stake Center.
New Council President elected at Annual Meeting
Longtime Executive Board member and former Greenwood District Chairman, Gary Wildish was recently elected as Council President effective September 15, 2009. In this position Gary will give leadership to the Council Executive Board, its many operating committees and council officers. Mr. Wildish served 5 years as District Chairman, has been our Scouting For Food Chairman for many years, is a Friend of Scouting enroller and recently served as Owners Representative during the construction of the new Scout Service Center. Gary is a Silver Beaver Recipient, President’s Award Recipient and in 2007 was recognized as our council’s Eagle Scout Class Honoree. In addition to Mr. Wildish's election, the following new Executive Board members were elected:
Gino Grimaldi,
City Manager, City of Springfield
Christian Papé,
Manager of Corporate Development & External Affairs, The Papé Group
Also joining the Executive Board are Corwin Lewis, CPA and Partner, Wooten, Mischel & Lewis LLP and Jon Ruiz, City Manager, City of Eugene.
Oregon Trail council welcomes these fine men to our Executive Board.
2010 National Scout Jamboree
The 2010 National Scout Jamboree, celebrating 100 years of Scouting, will be an exciting event reflecting the skills of Scouting – physical fitness, environmental conservation, our national heritage, and the true spirit of Scouting. Scouts will have the opportunity to try rappelling, discovering scuba, experience trap shooting & archery, bike-a-thons, confidence courses, and much more. The arena shows are a highlight for all participants. The jamboree is Scouting at its very best! All Boy Scouts meeting the age requirements are invited to attend this once-in-a-lifetime event.
Beginning January 1, 2010, the youth and adult registration fee will be $15.00 per year; that’s just $1.25 per month; still a bargain to join America’s greatest youth movement.
National membership fees support our national organization, including national marketing, high adventure bases, general liability fees and direct council support to name a fee.
The National Council is committed to providing added benefit to local councils and volunteers including new user-friendly Web-based resources such as MyScouting, online training, internet rechartering and advancement, as well as tour permit, social networking and future new member registration via the internet. This is the first fee increase in six years.
Camp Melakwa Weekend Camping
Help save the Council thousands of dollars in federal forest lease fees by taking your troop, team or crew to Camp Melakwa this fall for a weekend of camping adventure.
Oregon Trail Council pays the Forest Service an annual lease which is reduced by the number of users so it is important to get Scouts and leaders using Camp Melakwa, even if they are not camping there for summer camp.
Camp Melakwa is an outstanding site for weekend camping with a great lake to fish, trails to hike and makes a great base camp for more high adventure treks.
Complete a weekend camping form, and submit it to the council office (2525 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Eugene, Oregon 97401) and plan now to help reduce our annual lease and give your Scouts an exciting weekend (or day trip).
Scouting for Food Make Difference In the Battle Against Hunger
The council-wide Scouting for Food Drive is November 7. Please plan on participating and encourage Scouts to wear their Scout uniform. It is important that we continue to give back to our communities, and that our communities can see us in action. It is important that every unit participate in this council-wide event. Let’s be a solution and make sure that no one goes hungry this holiday season. Sign up at your District roundtable or contact your District Executive for more information.
Popcorn Sale includes great incentives for Scouts and Unit Kernels
1. PRIZES - Scouts may choose a prize from the catalog provided by Trail’s End, based on their total sale. Prizes are based on individual sales. Each Scout may select one prize from the sales level reached, or from a lower level.
2. OREGON TRAIL COUNCIL WEEKLY FILL IT UP DRAWING - Each week Oregon Trail Council will conduct one drawing for $25 from the forms we have received.
a. Drawings will be held September 16, September 23, September 30, October 7, October 14, and October 21.
b. Once your form is turned in, you do not need to re-submit it for the remainder of the drawings. You have a chance to win every time we do a drawing; you will be entered once for every order form you fill up. You will not get credit if the ENTIRE bottom portion of each form is not filled out completely and correctly.
3. For every Fill It Up Form a Unit Kernel turns in from their unit, the Unit Kernel will be entered into a bi-weekly drawing for a $50 gift certificate at a restaurant of their choosing.
4. OREGON TRAIL COUNCIL FILL IT UP DAY ! – Oregon Trail Council will host a day of activities for all Scouts who submit at least one “fill it up” sheet of sales. The Scout and a parent will choose the event from two locations. (Last year’s event was a day at the football game at O of U or OSU). Complete details are to be announced and the event will occur between January and March.
5. SPECIAL GIFT CARDS- Scouts who sell $1,500 and more will receive a $50 gift card from Trail’s End. This reward is in addition to any other prize or gift card you earn, and it will be shipped direct to your home from Trail’s End.
6. COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP MONEY- Scouts who sell $2,500 or more are eligible for a Trail’s End Scholarship. Trail’s End will create an account for each qualifying Scout and deposit 6% of the Scout’s total sale into the account. Money will stay in your scholarship account and grow until he’s ready for college. Please see www.trails-end.com for full details.
****BREAKING NEWS****
Week 1 Fill It Up Winner ($25 Gift Card):
Ben Knapp, Pack 24, Eugene
Week 2 Fill It Up Winner ($25 Gift Card):
Khristoffer Loftis, Pack 777, Florence
First Unit Kernel Fill It Up Winner ($50 Gift card):
Pete Knapp, Pack 24, Eugene
Important Popcorn Contacts and Dates:
Here is a list of district popcorn kernels who can help answer your questions:
• October 1: Deadline for submitting calendar, budget, leadership list, and family email list for 5% bonus commission
• October 23: Units submit online or turn in to District Kernel: Unit Order & Settlement Form, Prize Order Form, and Unit Master Record to District Kernel
• November 14: Units pick up popcorn from assigned delivery location
• November 14-December 1: Scouts deliver popcorn to customers and collect payments
• Money is due at your District Roundtable in December
34th Annual Scouting Golf Classic Tees Up A Great Day To Support Local Scouting
Thank you to our sponsors:
Shelter Care Pumpkin Display at the Fith Street Market
CALLING ALL JACK-O-LANTERNS!
On October 24th, ShelterCare is hosting Jack-O-Lanterns on 5th : A Festival of Monstrous Proportions. All Scouts are invited to contribute to what will be the largest collection of jack-o-lanterns ever seen in Oregon.
Bring your carved, painted, or otherwise decorated pumpkin to the Fifth Street Public Market on Saturday, October 24th between noon and 9:00 pm. Events including pumpkin seed spitting and costume contests begin at 4 pm.
Registration for individual pumpkin entries is $2.00 per pumpkin. There is no admission to the event itself. If your pack or troop can commit to bringing at least 10 pumpkins (preferably many more!) ShelterCare will designate a space for your jack-o-lanterns and the $2.00 registration will be waived. Advance registration will be required in order for us to reserve a group space and we request that you deliver your pumpkins all at the same time.
All proceeds benefit ShelterCare. Join our battle against homelessness by registering pumpkins at Jack-O-Lanterns on 5th. To register and for more information, visit our event website at www.jackolanternson5th.com, or contact Brad Bassi, 686-1262, bbassi@sheltercare.org.
New Eagle Scouts
Benton Joshua Richard Woods
Josiah Wai
Cascade Steven Ray Trammell (Clevenger)
Chinook Jacob Eli Adamson
Doug Fir Corey Chase Williams
Greenwood Casey Douglas Huntington
Jordan Santosh King
Zachary John Litchfield
Scout Shop News
Show your Scouting Pride as we celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Scouting! These emblems and much more are now available at your Scout Shop!
Oregon Trail Council
2525 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Eugene, OR 97401
Telephone: (541) 485-4433
Scoutshop: (541) 284-4381
Fax: (541) 484-3080
1-800-801-4430
email: office@otcbsa.org
Web: otcbsa.org
Service Center hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (Except UO Home Football Games & Holidays)
New Council President elected at Annual Meeting
taking your troop, team or crew to Camp Melakwa this fall for a weekend of camping adventure. 
