Dan Patch District

Feb 2010

District Executive’s Corner

 Volunteerism is a cornerstone of American and Minnesotan success.  Simply put, that the success of a community can be greater if everyone steps forward and offers to do what they can to help despite having their own responsibilities to themselves, their jobs, and their families.  Scouting is built on this concept, that a group of highly motivated and determined volunteers can achieve success in building young men of the highest caliber.  This is not universal, although many of us are accustomed to it, in places like Europe, Scouting is lead by people paid by the government.  Of course, their taxes are significantly higher than oursJ

We find ourselves, in Dan Patch, at a point where we need volunteers to step forward and take on some critical tasks at the district level.  These are jobs that are vital to the success of the Packs, Troops, Teams, and Crews in our communities, the one’s that our children are currently members of.  And the need is not small, because it is not enough to fill a committee with one person, we need many to make the work light.

 So, if you find yourself seeking a new challenge or the next level in Scouting volunteerism, or you are approached and asked to consider a position on the district committee, please consider stepping forward to help us support a great program as it strives for great success.

Venturing Shooting Sports Award Showcase

Heather Smith, a member of Crew 449, received the Venturing Shooting Sports Award at the Dan Patch District roundtable on January 7^th, 2010.  

While working on the Ranger Shooting Sports elective, Venturers are required to complete one of the following disciplines: air pistol, air rifle, archery, muzzle-loading rifle, shotgun, or small bore rifle. However, Venturers who go beyond the basic requirement and complete five of the seven disciplines will earn the Venturing Shooting Sports Outstanding Achievement Award.   

Heather’s skills are archery, muzzle-loading rifle, shotgun and small bore rifle and she will continue to work on these skill areas in 2010.  Shown in the photo are Heather Smith and Aaron Nicklay, Dan Patch District Director.

District Dinner

Save the date for the Dan Patch District Dinner!   We are scheduled for Friday March 12^th, with details coming soon.  Nomination forms for district awards are on the website at http://danpatch.nsbsa.org/

Re-Charters

The re-charter season is in full swing with Troops and Crews finishing their paperwork up prior to the January 31^st deadline.   Pack paperwork will be available at the January Roundtable.  This is a full two months ahead of their due date of March 31^st.

The re-charter is the annual reconciliation of rosters, leadership positions, charter organization sponsorship, and the time when annual dues for each member are due, as well as Boys Life annual subscription fees being due.

On time re-charter is REQUIRED in order for your unit to be recognized as a 2010 Centennial Quality Unit.  All re-chartering is done online for simplicity and ease, and the online system will communicate directly with TroopMaster and PackMaster software.

Questions?  Call Aaron Nicklay at 763-231-7225 or email at anicklay@nsbsa.org

Klondike!

Scouting is for all seasons, and all sorts of weather, and here in Minnesota, we CELEBRATE the cold and the snow!  We downhill ski in light coats, and ice fish in carharrt bibs and t-shirts, we camp in the winter, and most importantly, we gather together to compete in the Klondike Derby.

In celebration of those hardy explorers who loaded their possessions on a sled and struck out in search of gold and other treasure in the frozen north, and armed only with their wits, skills, and said items on a sled, we as Scouts will assemble at Moir Park on March 6^th to compete in events to test our wits, our skills, and the supplies we have brought on our sleds. 

For more information or to register, get the flier from http://danpatch.nsbsa.org/   (Events page)

Friends of Scouting

Over the course of the next several months, your Pack, Troop, Team, or Crew will have, at their Blue and Gold or Court of Honor, a presentation by a Friends of Scouting representative.  Please contact Aaron if you have any questions.

Friends of Scouting is one of the ways in which we can make this great program affordable for all to be a part of.  The $15 registration fee and the $100 or $200 for camper fees that you pay for your son don’t come close to covering the costs associated with providing the program we all see.  Training support, new facilities, maintenance and upkeep, quality staff at the office and at camps, all are things that Friends of Scouting help to support. 

Our communities and their leaders have come together, in December, to help kick off our campaign for 2010, and even in a year of economic instability, unemployment, and loss, these community leaders have given us a mandate that Scouting is critical to our communities, and they want to be the first to make sure that it is supported throughout 2010, and beyond. 

At two breakfasts in early December, our community leaders pledge $875,000 to the 2010 campaign, and the week before, two different foundations made donations to the capital fund totaling $4.5 Million.  While this brings the capital campaign close to it’s finish, our 2010 campaign still has about $2 Million to go, so let us take on the challenge put forth by the leaders in our communities and businesses in December, and finish our campaign strong.

Pinewood Derby

Cub Scouts Packs should make sure that they sign up their top 10 Pack Pinewood Derby winners for the Dan Patch District Pinewood Derby Race!

Scheduled for Saturday, March 13^th, 2010, the District Derby will be held at the Shakopee Area Catholic School.  Registration forms and Derby rules are on the district website at  http://danpatch.nsbsa.org/  (Events Page)

A big thanks to Shawn Neri and Bob Beck, and their team from Pack 916 who are hosting this years derby!