SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY

The National Summertime Pack Award

It is not too late for your Cubs to earn their National Summertime Pack Awards and for the pack to earn it, too receive their attractive, full-color certificate, and National Summertime Pack Award streamer for the pack flag.   Dens with at least 50 percent of their members at the three summertime activities receive a den participation ribbon.  Check it out at www.scouting.org .

And look at how they have spiffed up the pins - there is a different color ring on the pin for each year, coordinated with the slide color!!!  No more, "I don’t care, I got that pin last year!!"

Heck out the June 2008, H2Ohhh!! theme, issue of Baloo for more details on the Summertime Pack Award!!  (I wonder when it stopped being the Summertime Fun Award?? CD)

You can download the form with all the instructions and requirements from National’s Website at

http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/33748.pdf

And when the summer is over,
have all your Cubs go out and earn a

Recruiter Strip

www.usscouts.org

Since all packs are involved in recruiting, I thought it would be appropriate for September to remind you about an incentive award for boys to get their friend to join Scouting.  See Pack Admin Helps for ideas for Spring Recruiting. - CD

Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts may be awarded, and wear, below the right pocket on their uniforms, the Recruiter Strip shown above

There are NO formal requirements for these strips.  Each Unit establishes the procedure for awarding the strip.  Usually, a Recruiter Strip is awarded to a Cub Scout or Boy Scout the first time he is successful in getting a friend, relative, classmate, or other acquaintance to join his unit.

Typically, only ONE strip is awarded to a boy while he is a Cub Scout, and another may be awarded while he is a Boy Scout.  But there is no official limit.

From time to time there are special Recruiter Patches issued.  I have seen Football Helmets, Garfield, and others. 

Just remember – A boy has to be having fun in Cub Scouting before he will ask his friend to join.

Boys’ Life Reading Contest for 2008

SAY ‘YES’ TO READING

Enter the 2008 Boys’ Life Reading Contest

Write a one-page report titled “The Best Book I Read This Year” and enter it in the Boys’ Life 2008 “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

­  11 years old 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 winners will receive a $75 gift certificate and third-place winners a $50 certificate.

Everyone who enters will get a free patch like the one shown above. (And, yes, the patch is a temporary insignia, so it can be worn on your Cub Scout or Boy Scout uniform shirt, on the right pocket. Proudly display it there or anywhere!) In coming years, you’ll have the opportunity to earn different patches.

The contest is open to all Boys’ Life readers. Be sure to include your name, address, age and grade in school 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

Entries must be postmarked by Dec. 31, 2008 and must include entry information and a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

For more details go to www.boyslife.org

Knot of the Month
Veterans Recognition

Baloo

Have an experienced leader you would like to honor - This is a great way to recognize their years of service.  They are available in 5 year increments  CD

The Veteran Award is an adult recognition. However, tenure earned as a youth may be included in the total number of years registered.

After 5 years of registered service in the Boy Scouts of America, an adult may, upon application, receive the designation of “Veteran,” provided the person agrees to live up to the Scouting obligations; to keep local Scouting authorities in the community in which residing informed as to availability for service; and further, to be as active in the promotion of the cause of Scouting as circumstances and conditions permit. Service in Scouting organizations other than the Boy Scouts of America does not count toward veteran recognition.

An individual must currently be a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America in order to receive an award.

An adult designated veteran shall pay the regular registration fee if desiring to continue to retain active connection with the movement.

Scouters desiring recognition as 5-, 10-, 15-, 20-, 25-, 30-, 35-, 40-, 45-, 50-, 55-, 60-, 65-, 70-, 75-, or 80-year veterans must have maintained an active registered relationship for the required number of years, paying the annual registration fee.  The pin is for civilian wear only. 

The records of the national office and local councils shall determine eligibility.  The periods of service claimed for veteran recognition need not be continuous.

Application should be made to your local council.  I was unable to find a form to apply for the award on National's Website (www.scouting.org)  I did find several council's with forms posted but none had a number I could locate on National's site.  Some Council sites with forms are:

http://www.gpc-bsa.org/FormsLinks/stuff/VeteranAppl.pdf

http://www.directservicebsa.org/pdf/28-701.pdf

http://www.utahscouts.org/training/adultawards/VeteranApplication.pdf

http://www.hvcbsa.org/advancement/docs/veteran_application.pdf

This is a great way to recognize long serving members of your unit or district.  Most people do not know this Award is available.

Next few Months -
Earning your Trained Patch and Service Stars!!