SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY

Boys' Life Reading Contest

Enter the 20th Boys' Life Reading Contest Now!

Write a one-page report titled "The Best Book I Read This Year" and enter it in the Boys' Life 2007 "Say Yes to Reading!" contest. 

The book can be fiction or nonfiction. But the report has to be in your own words—500 words tops. Enter in one of these three age categories: 8 years old and younger, 9 and 10 years old, or 11 years and older.

First-place winners in each age category will receive a $100 gift certificate good for any product in the Boy Scouts Official Retail Catalog. Second-place will receive a $75 gift certificate, and third-place a $50 certificate.

Everyone who enters will get a free patch like the one above. (The patch is a temporary insignia, so it can be worn on the Boy Scout uniform shirt. Proudly display it there or anywhere!) In coming years, you'll have the opportunity to earn the other patches.

The contest is open to all Boys' Life readers. Be sure to include your name, address, age and grade on the entry. Send your report, along with a business-size, self-addressed, stamped envelope, to:

Boys' Life Reading Contest, S306
P.O. Box 152079
Irving, TX 75015-2079

For more details go to www.boyslife.org

Entries must be postmarked by Dec. 31, 2007

National Den Award

Now is the time to gear up your program so your Cubs will have a great year.  Why not plan your program to meet the best standards and have your den earn the National Den Award ??  I am sure the boys in your Den will be proud when they can say they did their best and were recognized with this National Award.  CD

The National Den Award recognizes dens that conduct a quality, year-round program. Service projects, Cub Scout Academics and Sports, field trips, character development, and Cub Scout camping are areas that are emphasized. Dens earn the award as a team, not as individual den members. The recognition is a ribbon for the den flag or den doodle.

To earn the National Den Award, a Cub Scout den must

A.      Have at least 50 percent of the den's Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, or Webelos Scouts attend two den meetings and one pack meeting or activity each month of the year.

B.      Complete six of the following during the year:

1.       Use the denner system within the den.

2.       In a Tiger Cub den, use shared leadership and rotate the boy/adult host team.

3.       Have 50 percent of the den go on three field trips per year. A field trip may be used in place of a den meeting.

4.       As a den, attend a Cub Scout day camp, Cub Scout or Webelos Scout resident camp, or a council family camping event with at least 50 percent of the den membership.

5.       Conduct three den projects or activities leading to a Character Connections discussion.

6.       As a den, participate in at least one of the Cub Scout Sports programs.

7.       As a den, participate in at least one of the Cub Scout Academics programs.

8.       Have 50 percent of the den participate in a den conservation/resource project.

9.       Have 50 percent of the den participate in at least one den service project.

Once the requirements are completed as stated, the signed National Den Award application is sent to the local council service center where the ribbon can be obtained.

An application for the National Den Award may be downloaded from National’s Website at the Cub Scout forms page.

Knot of the Month

PACK TRAINER AWARD

Southwest Michigan Council, BSA

http://www.bsaswmc.org/

Here is an important person to your Pack’s success that you do not want to forget.  Make one of your best the Pack Trainer and help them make sure all your leaders are trained.  My Mom held the forerunner to this position for many years after my brother and I had graduated from cubs, Boy Scouts, High School and …The position was Den Leader Coach but my Mom was humorously and good-naturedly called the  “Den Mother Superior”  CD

TRAINING:

1.       Fast Start training for the Pack Committee

2.       Complete NLE and be familiar with & able to explain the key elements of Leader Specific Training for all volunteer positions in the pack.

3.       Complete Youth Protection Training

4.       Participate in a TDC.

TENURE:

1.       Complete 2 years as a registered Pack Trainer

Note: tenure and performance requirements for this award may begin no earlier than September 1, 2006,

PERFORMANCE:

1.       Participate in a CS leader Pow Wow or University of Scouting during each year of tenure for this award.

2.       Have CS Roundtable staff certify your attendance for at least 30% of the roundtables during each year of your tenure for this award.

3.       Attain 100% trained leadership within the pack for the committee chairman, Cubmaster and all the den leaders.

4.       Have a working plan in place for delivering Fast Start training to new leaders within 48 hours of their joining your pack.

5.       Have a working plan in place for helping leaders who have not taken basic training to attend New Leader Essentials and leader specific training.

6.       Keep and update training records of all leaders in your pack.

7.       During the pack annual program planning meeting, be available to answer questions about training courses.

8.       Review ongoing pack leadership training status and provide leaders with updates on any available supplemental training.