The Past, Present and Future

Fellow Scouters,

It is hard to believe that I have been serving you all for a year now. I thought I would take a moment and reflect back on what we have accomplished in the past 12 months. To help you understand what your Friends of Scouting gifts support, and what are future plans are.

1. We have retained our entire staff. The DE you have now, you had 18 months ago, and that stability is a good thing. We also successfully recruited Regina Jeffries back to the team.
2. 8 new Executive Board members have joined the team.
3. Council finished Silver in the Journey to Excellence in 2017.
4. Developed a new website and camp management system.
5. Upgraded the council newsletter (The Council Compass) (You can register here if your not currently receiving it)
6. Developed and printed an Annual Report and professional Friends of Scouting literature.
7. Developed and printed the Unit Program Planning Calendar.
8. Restarted Camping Committee, Endowment Committee, Nominating Committee, Hi Adventure Committee. 
9. Kicked -Off a capital campaign to raise funding to build a dining hall at Knox Scout Reservation
10. Held first Creek River Day Camp program. 
11. Improved the annual council budget process.
12. Cleaned, painted and organized the council service center.
13. Replaced the roof at Camp Daniel Marshall.
14. Provided Ranger Greg with a new efficient mower for camp.
15. Added storage shelving to the Schwaab Maintenance Building
16. Cleaned and renovated the Knox Camp Office
17. Built 6 mile long bike / hiking trail. (In progress)
18. Developed and implemented the Camp Master program.
19. Purchased 10 mountain bikes for camp.
20. Added Electricity to boat house at Knox Scout Camp.
21. Named all campsites, and built campsite bulletin boards at Knox.
22. Bought new trap thrower for trap range.
23. Added storage at Rifle Range.
24. Successful launch of Camp Card program that provided over $15,000 in funding to units. 

That is a pretty exciting list. So what do we have in store!

1. Effective NOW, we have an automated Merit Badge Counselor system! This system has been in development since December and has gone live just this week. Scouts and Leaders can easily find available Merit Badge Counselors, and MB councilors can easily recharter each year. 
2. June the Family Program goes live with girls joining the Cub Scouts for the first time!
3. July 14th is a council wide Cub Scout Leader Training Opportunity. 
4. We will continue to raise funds for the dining hall project, and plan to have it up and running in 2019. 
5. In 2020 we will celebrate our 100th anniversary. 
6. We plan to add campsites to Camp Daniel Marshall, and renovate the chapel to become a training center. 
7. At Knox Scout Reservation we are working to increase our Aquatics Programs, Shooting Sports Programs and add a biking program. 
8. We are working to become the 2nd local council camp in America to be SCENES Certified by the World Scout Bureau. 
9. Feb 2019 we will see girls begin their quest to become an Eagle Scout. 
10. We have many exciting councilwide programs coming, the 2018 Spookoree, Webelos Camp, Scout Camporee's training opportunities and early in 2019 we will hold the University of Scouting. 

Your support of Scouting makes a major impact. Your time, talent and treasure are all critical to the success of our shared mission of helping prepare young people to make moral and ethical decisions over their lifetime by instilling in them the Scout Oath and Scout Law. 

We have done an excellent job with our Friends of Scouting campaign thus far this year, having raised over $175,000. We remain about $50,000 from our goal. If you have not yet donated, and would like to you can do so here, or feel free to give me a call here at the service center. 

I have enjoyed getting to know you all, and I am impressed with what we have accomplished in the past 12 months. I look forward to working with you as we move forward. 

Yours in Scouting,

Dan Rogers

Scout executive. 

Council Banquet, University of Scouting and Summer Camp

2018 Council Banquet

The 2018 Council Banquet will be held on March 20th at 6 PM at Trinity on the Hill United Methodist Church. We are very excited to share with you that 3 more great Scouters will join the ranks of the Silver Beaver that night. Please plan to join us as we celebrate the volunteers of the council, and congratulate Dawn Diver, Julie Thornton and Clarence "Hoss" Wright on their selection as Silver Beavers.
Also on the agenda for the night, we will recognize several Scouters with a James E West Award, this years District Award of Merit recipients, District Journey to Excellence recognition's, 2017 Eagle Scouts, Eagle Project of the Year, and a National Outstanding Eagle Scout award will be presented.
The Commissioner of the Year will be recognized, the President's Award and Fred C Davison Award will be presented, along with 2 lifetime achievement awards, a Hornaday Award and several 2nd Century Society Donor awards. As you can see, we have much to celebrate in Scouting for 2017, and your presence at the banquet will make it that much better. The cost has been reduced to $20 per person. Registration can be completed online here.

2018 University of Scouting

The 2018 University of Scouting program is set. Just 10 days away, I encourage all Scouters to register now for this important training event. 

WHEN: Saturday, March 3, 2018 7:30 am – 4:00 pm 

WHERE: Greenbrier High School 5114 Riverwood Pkwy, Evans, GA. 30809

COST: $15.00

Registration form can be found here. 

2018 Knox Scout Reservation Summer Camp Program

Staff positions are being filled and new program items are being added. We look forward to providing our Scouts with more opportunity in 2018! We will add additional sailboats, mountain biking, low COPE, Pistol Shooting and some other exciting additions this summer! 

Merit Badge Registration will go live on the morning of April 2nd. Units that are registered prior to April 1st will receive a FREE KNOX T-SHIRT. All Scouts and Scouters who attend camp from those units will receive a shirt. Units that register on or after April 1st will not receive a free shirt. also, units that register after April 1st will be behind other units in the opportunity to select merit badges, so don't delay, get your troop signed up now. 

Instructions on how to register for summer camp can be found here. 

Notes from the Scout Executive Jan 2018

Journey to Excellence

I am pleased to share with the Scouters of the council that our JTE Score climbed from 1075 points last year to 1,425 this year, and a Silver Ranking. Overall in Area 5 we placed a respectable 5th of 10 councils. The JTE program is designed to help units, districts and councils measure critical aspects of running an effective program, and then focus on steadily improving the overall program that is being delivered. If your unit has not completed their 2017 JTE Report, talk to your Unit Commissioner and they can help you.

                     Area 5 JTE                                     Georgia-Carolina District JTE

     

District Journey to Excellence

For the 3 districts, congratulations go to Creek River and Kiokee River, both of which achieved a Silver Ranking. Creek River led in points, 1,450 to Kiokee River's 1,445. Yamasee, while improving in several areas was not ranked in 2017, and finished with 700 points. 

Council Banquet

On March 20th we will hold the annual Council Banquet. The price has been reduced from last year to $20. We will be recognizing numerous Scouters for their dedication to the youth in our community with Silver Beaver Awards, James E West Recognition and a variety of other awards. It is a time of great fellowship and Scouting fun and I personally invite you to come out and celebrate Scouting with your peers. Registration and details can be found here.  

University of Scouting

University of Scouting is still on. The Merit Badge University has been postponed. There will be a special edition of the Council Compass released soon with full details about the U of Scouting. 

Fellow Scouters, there is simply no better training course in Scouting than Wood Badge. Many of those who go through become life-long students of the program, and happily serve on future staff's and share their Scouting knowledge and energy with other leaders. 

If your interested in leadership training that will serve you not only in your Scouting role, but in your other roles in life, Wood Badge is that opportunity. Paul Korinko has put together an outstanding staff for this years course, and registrations are coming in strong. Don't miss your chance to join in the fun. Units that can afford to help pay the fee to train their leaders should consider the investment. 

Wood Badge Registration can be found here. 

Augusta Scout Shop

If you have never been to the Scout Service Center, or the Augusta Scout Shop, it is worth a visit! Did you know the Scout Shop sells more than uniforms and rank badges. They carry a wide variety of books, family camping gear, unit recognition items, pinewood derby, space derby and other craft kits. They also carry a variety of Scouting shirts, hats and other fun stuff your Scout is sure to love. Open M-F from 9-6 and Saturday from 10-2, stop and by and see all the exciting Scouting items available. 

What's Greg and Jay Doing out at Camp?

Greg and Jay have been hard at work making improvements to the camps. Last fall we replaced the roof on the chapel at Daniel Marshall. We have also added electricity and water to the boat storage house, replaced 400 feet of old water line, built a 6 mile long bike trail (That still needs some touching up), added storage shelving to the maintenance building, built signs for each campsite, which will be installed this spring, and improved the storage at the rifle range.

Remember, the second Saturday each month is a camp service day. Come alone, bring a friend, bring your unit ... we always have plenty to do at camp!

2017 Summer Camp

If your Troop has not registered for summer camp, the time is certainly arrived. We are offering a free camp t-shirt to the Scouts and Scouters for all units that make their reservation prior to March 31st. The online registration process is simple, just log into the council website. Detailed directions to register can be found here. 

Happy New Year!

Fellow Scouters,

Happy New Year! It is exciting to make new plans for the coming year, and to think of the many great adventures we will have with our Scouts. I wanted to share a few notes about wrapping up 2017, and opportunities that await in 2018.

2017 Wrap -Up

As a Unit Leader the 2 main wrap-up duties you have for 2017 include your unit recharter and completing your unit's Journey to Excellence Scorecard. Your Commissioners and District staff can help you with both of these tasks.

Completing the JTE scorecard is important, even if you think you may not qualify for Bronze or above, as it helps your unit identify areas in which you can strengthen your unit, providing an even better program experience for your Scouts.

JTE Scorecards can be found here. 

New for 2018

Reduced Camp Fees

Effective January 1st, 2018 Knox Scout Reservation and Camp Daniel Marshall have streamlined their camp use policies, reducing the cost to camp there. Reservations can now be made online. The fee to camp has been reduces to just $1 per person /night. Full details for camp use fees can be found on the website, or use these links.   Knox Scout Reservation                Camp Daniel Marshall

Also, a detailed tutorial on how to make an online reservation can be found here. 

For those that like paper registrations, here is the paper form. 

Summer Camp Registration

As I sit here looking at the ice outside with the cold of winter covering us, I feel like Olaf, dreaming of all things summer. Summer camp is just around the corner, and the time to register is upon us. We are working to bring you an outstanding staff with some new program opportunities such as mountain biking, COPE and an expanded waterfront program. Indeed summer camp is the highlight of the year for any Boy Scout, or Venturer. We would love to help your unit deliver that promise. If you have not registered yet, please do so soon. If your unit has not been to summer camp in the past year or two, make 2018 you get back. Please call me personally if the council can be of help to your unit in keeping this most important program piece of Scouting alive in your troop. 

Summer camp reservations can be made online, using the same process as year around camping, just select the week of camp you wish to attend. Also please note units that have made their reservation and paid the fees due through the end of March will receive a FREE camp t-shirt for those registered. 

The online system your create your registration with will also be the same system you use to register your Scouts for merit badges beginning in early April. 

Friends of Scouting

The 2018 Council Friends of Scouting campaign has kicked off. Please work with your Unit Commissioner and District Staff to set your family FOS date. As we embark on the capital campaign to build a dining hall at Knox Scout Reservation, maintaining the funds needed for normal operations is critical. Your support makes all of the difference. 

Camp Cards

Just as the council needs funds to operate, so do units. The council staff has been working hard to bring you another great opportunity to help provide funding for your unit. Beginning March 1st we will begin a Camp Card Sale. The process is pretty simple, your unit takes the camp cards and sells them for $5.00 each. upon completion of the sale the unit pays the council $2.50 per card, keeping the balance as operating funds for the unit. Details will be shared at roundtable this week, and can also be found on the camp card page on the council website. 

We have secured several great discounts which will be on the cards from great companies like: 

The Camp Card Program is designed to help your unit get your kids to camp. Scouts can earn their way, can earn a FREE trip to camp, or can win a weekly drawing to attend camp. If you use the popcorn sale to fund your unit, and camp cards to fund summer camping programs, your unit will be on solid financial ground!

Council Banquet / Silver Beaver Award

The council banquet will soon be here as well. Now is a great time to take a moment and nominate a deserving Scouter to be recognized with the Silver Beaver Award. Nominations are due no later than February 28th at the service center. A list of previous recipients can be found here. The nomination form can be found here. 

Registration for the banquet can be found here. 

Indeed, summer is coming. Our preparation now will make our Scouts summer experiences a reality. I thank each unit leader for your dedication, and look forward to Scouting with you in 2018. 

Dan

Dining Hall  On November 15^th the Council Executive Board approved to begin a capital campaign to build a dining hall at Knox Scout reservation. The approval allows the council to raise up to $1,750,000 for the project, and all funds raised will be used specifically on the dining hall project. The goal is to raise the money and have the dining hall opened no later than summer camp 2020, our council’s 100^th anniversary. The campaign is still being developed, but one phase of the campaign will allow Scouters who want to contribute to do so at the $1,000 and $2,500 levels. Donations by Scouters at these levels will be recognized with your name on a plaque in the completed building.

Journey to Excellence   The council is currently ranked Silver in the national Journey to Excellence scorecard. We finished October with 1,625 points, ranked 2^nd in total points in Area 5. Of the 17 categories, we finished October showing improvement in 14 of them compared to 2016. We project we will end the year ranked Silver, with points in nearly every category.

The Creek River and Kiokee River districts are also both ranked Silver in October, with Yamasee showing improvement, but not yet ranked.

As we come closer to the end of the year, I encourage every unit to complete their unit Journey to Excellence report. This is a valuable tool in helping unit leaders and committee’s identify strengths and opportunities to improve their unit operation. Your Unit Commissioner or District Executive will be happy to help you if you need assistance. 

JTE Scores

Ranger Crew Day  A camp improvement day has been set for December 9^th at Knox Scout Reservation. The projects we plan to work on that day include:

Ceiling rifle range

Doors and frame rifle range

Work firebreak (bike trail)

Pick up wood debris (ecology)

Build fire ring (ecology)

Fix arrow and paint

Finish painting gate at waterfront

Clear brush at amphitheater

A complete list of camp projects can be found on the camp pages of the website.

2018 Camp Operations We are currently taking applications for staff at Knox Scout reservation for the 2018 season. This is a great opportunity for Scouts and Scouters to spend part of your summer at camp, and still have time to do summer activities later in the summer. The staff application is on the camp webpage, or follow this link.

In addition, all units that have registered to attend camp prior to March 31^st will get a free t-shirt for all campers that attend this year. This year’s registration will be completed online. Every in-council unit has a unit log-in username and password. If your unit has not received yours please contact the council office. When you log into the website, you will then be able to select the week of camp you wish to attend. You will also make merit badge selections from this same website, and have access to your camp records as well. Our goal is to camp about 120 campers a week for 3 weeks, to provide our campers with a program experience that allows personal attention, and time to do the activities you come to camp to do. Tired of standing in line to shoot 5 shots at the range, come see us at KSR where you will get more time Scouting and less time wishing you had a speed pass!

Staff Application

World Jamboree The 2019 World Jamboree is just around the corner! All applications are completed online.  Scout friends, this is indeed a once in a lifetime opportunity. The last time the World Jamboree was in United States was 1967 in Idaho. Our council has no allotted spots, but is part of a larger Area 5 contingency.

World Jamboree Application

Camp Activities The Georgia Carolina Council currently operates 2 camp facilities, Knox Scout Reservation, Camp Daniel Marshall. Did you know that in addition to the 21 campsites at Knox, we also have a low COPE challenge course that can be used by units, we have a variety of boats including canoes kayaks, sail-boats, jet ski’s and other craft units can use. We also now have mountain bikes, and a bike trail is currently being built. So for Troops and Crews, Knox is a great destination for year around camping and program fun!

While Packs are also often seen camping at Knox, did you know at Camp Daniel Marshall we have 2 bunkhouses, with hot showers and comfy beds, great for pack outings! Your unit can reserve either facility anytime using the online reservation system on our website.

Giving Tuesday First Black Friday and then Cyber Monday .. now .. today is giving Tuesday. For those who are considering a late year donation, the Georgia Carolina Council is a great investment you can make in our youth. Please follow this link to make your donation today.

https://forms.tentaroo.com/view.php?id=2065538

Yours in Scouting,

Dan Rogers, Scout Executive

Girls Approved to Join Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM OUR SCOUT EXECUTIVE

This afternoon we received word that the BSA's board of directors unanimously approved welcoming girls into our Cub Scouts program and delivering a Scouting program for older girls that will enable them to advance and earn the highest rank of Eagle Scout. It is important to note that the program will remain a single gender program. Cub Scout Packs will have an option of being an all boy pack, and all girl pack, or a mixed pack with boy and girl dens. At the troop level, there will be all male troops and all female troops, it will not be a co-ed program.

From feedback we have received from our own constituents, this is a good thing! We have observed that overall, those in our Scouting family are in favor of the idea to include girls in Scouting.

The timing of the change will allow for Cub Scout aged girls to join beginning with the fall program year, around September 1^st. The Boy Scout program option will become available in 2019.

The BSA thoughtfully evaluated how to bring the benefits of Scouting to the greatest number of youth possible and adapt to the changing needs of today’s families — all while remaining true to our mission and core values, outlined in the Scout Oath and Law. It evaluated the results of numerous research efforts, gaining input from current members and leaders — as well as parents and girls who have never been involved in Scouting — to understand how to offer families an important additional choice in meeting the character development needs of all their children.

So, starting in the 2018 program year, families can choose to sign up their sons and daughters for Cub Scouts. Using the same curriculum as the Boy Scouts program, the BSA also will deliver a program for older girls, which will be announced in 2018 and projected to be available in 2019, that will enable girls to earn the Eagle Scout rank. Again, Boy Scouts remains single-gender.

Linked below are some resources about today’s decision, for which there is also a media contact at pr@scouting.org. I can also be reached at dan.rogers@scouting.org if you have questions or concerns.

Official BSA news release
scoutingnewsroom.org

As always, the volunteers and staff at Georgia-Carolina Council look forward to supporting our families and Scouters in new ways with these expanded program offerings.

Yours in Scouting,

Daniel Rogers

Scout ExecutiveWeclome 

Scouting Opportunities Abound!

Fellow Scouters,

Let me start by sharing with you the Georgia Carolina Council enjoyed a tremendous;y successful September. We finished the month #1 in Area 5 for membership growth with a 9.6% increase! Hats off to the district and membership teams, as well as the recruiting efforts done by the units, and a hearty Scout Welcome to the several new units.

We have also been blessed by a substantial endowment gift from Bill and Cathy Neal to fund campership programs going forward. The goal of this gift is to continue to grow the principal in the endowment to allow for funding to help any Scout who wants to attend camp to attend. This includes Day Camp Webelos Resident Camp, Summer Camp National Youth Leadership Training, Philmont, sea Base, Northern Tier and The Summit program. This gift will have an impact on Scouting in the CSRA for eternity. If you would like to discuss how you can also make an endowment gift please contact Dan Rogers.

Also, we have plenty of program opportunities coming up ...  Links to a few

IOLS Oct 13-14

BALOO / OWL Oct 13-14

Spookoree Oct 20-22

Annual Council Golf Tournament October 27

Annual Fleur-de-Lis Fundraiser November 10

Webelosree November 10-12

National Youth Leadership Training January 2018

Wood Badge April 2018

2018 Summer Camp Registration at Knox Scout Reservation