Central Region Venturing Newsletter - the Central Point - December 2013

The Central Point Newsletter of Central Region Venturing | BSA December Newsletter 2013

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We Want More Friends! —Recruiting New Members Hey Venturers!

One of the main things Venturing crews tend to be concerned with is how to keep their crew’s membership up and thriving. Obviously, the way to do this is through ample recruiting. Recruiting can come in many shapes and sizes: From Peer to Peer to Crew open houses, there are many ways to recruit. Here’s a helpful list of a few ways you can recruit to get you thinking about ways to recruit for your crew:  Peer-to-Peer recruiting with resources from scouting.org  A Crew open house, with Crew members asking their friends and schoolmates to attend via email, Facebook, or fliers posted at their schools  Invite friends to a regular Crew event! A lot of times, when people get a taste of the fun to be had at a Venturing event, they find themselves coming back for more.  A Crew bonfire, similar to the open house, but with a more outdoorsy feel.

These are only a few ways to recruit for your crew; there are so many more options out there! For more unique recruitment ideas, go to: http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/membership/youth_recruitment/ events.aspx. Make sure to check out all of the other additional resources www.scouting.org has to offer on recruiting, particularly the Venturing Recruiting Toolbox available at: http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/ Marketing/Recruiting2/VenturingToolBox.aspx ~ Dagny Gargas

In This Issue: Recruiting

1

See Our Venturing— Resources Tab

2

Area 3 Venturing Conference

3

Fundraising for Your Crew

3

Area 2 Venturing Planning Conference

3

Sea Scout Update

4

Area Pages

5

President’s Corner

6

Venturing Oath: As a Venturer, I promise to do my duty to God and to help strengthen America. To help others, and to seek truth, fairness, and adventure in our world.

See Our Venturing—Resources Have you ever needed information on a Venturing—related topic, but couldn’t find the information anywhere? Check out the Resources tab on the Central Region Website (www.crventuring.org) for Venturing information galore!

Did you know that you can find a listing of many crews in the Central Region? Click on the Resources tab, then click on “Crew Links” under the Links heading. If your crew is not listed there, submit it using the links on this page!

Did you know that there is a PADI Dive to Adventure Scholarship!? If you like to Scuba Dive, then this page is for you. Go to the Resources tab, click on Scholarships and Grants and then on the “PADI Dive to Adventure Scholarship” link.

If you have ever had a question about where a patch or award goes on your uniform, click on the Venturing Uniforming link under the Resources tab. There is also a listing of the available position patches.

Is your crew traveling out of council soon? Do you need to file a tour permit? No worries! You can find a link to this form under the Resources tab. Just click on “Forms” and then on “Local Tour Permit.”

There are tons of resources like the ones mentioned above under the Resources tab. Take a quick peak at this tab to find out more about all of the resources available to you. If there is a resource that you are looking for that you cannot find under this tab, check out the National Scouting website for Venturing (www.scouting.org/venturing) and let us know so that we can add it to the website!

Did You Know… 

  

31 million people are active in Scouting across the world—that’s equal to the population of Peru!

Registration of Scouts began in 1913 with a 25 cent annual fee.

11 of the 12 astronauts who walked on the moon were Scouts.

During the first Scouting for Food in 1988, over 65 million containers of food were collected.

Name That Camp!!

Each edition of the Central Point will feature a photo from a Boy Scout camp in the Central Region. Can you name that camp?

This Month:

Last Month:

Buckskin Scout Reservation Marlinton, West Virginia Offers: Backpacking, camping, cycling, ecology, fishing, hiking, swimming, and canoeing Lodging: rental tents, rental cabins For more information: click here If you would like your photo to be a “Name that Camp?” clue, please email it to Emily Mausshardt at vp-communications@crventuring.org.

Area 3 Venturing Conference Whether you are looking for new adventures for your crew, want to know more about high adventure opportunities, or are confused about how to be a boatswain, the Area 3 Venturing Conference has something for you. From the beginners to the more experienced, the Area 3 Venturing officers, advisors, and committee members have a course that will fit your needs. Four treks will run throughout the day, but you can take any combination of courses, and even split up from your crew members to get the most information.

The Area 3 Venturing Conference will take place on January 11, 2014, at Calvary United Methodist Church in Normal, IL. Registration is open and can be found on the Central Region website Area 3 page. (http:// www.crventuring.org/cal_popup.php?ID=974) It is only $18 before the first of January or $20 until the conference. ILSC and VLST will also be offered on Friday night for those interested and looking for an extra edge.

Don't miss out on what Area 3 has to offer! Complete your registration now to be included in the event. You can even pick up an Area 3 shirt at the conference! We'll see you there. ~ Lizzie Schneider

Fundraising Ideas for Your Crew Money is tight nowadays, especially with the holiday season coming up. There are many ways in which your crew can help fundraise money, so that your not fretting over the prices of activities you wish to attend. Try a local fast food place or car wash. See if they can cut a deal with your crew, such as if you dress up as their mascot and advertise their business, they will give you a percentage of every order. Or find a local flower shop and see if they will cut a deal where you sell their flowers and you get a percentage of what they make.

There are many possibilities out there, you just have to do a little research and ask around. Below are a few ways in which your crew could earn money.  Sell popcorn  Sell flowers  Car wash advertisement  Sell coupons for a local store  Hold a chili cook-off  Hold a parents night out  Bake sale  Make homemade jewelry ~ Kim Legg

Area 2 Venturing Planning Conference January 10th—12th will bring Area 2’s Venturing Planning Conference held in Lansing Michigan. Come learn about the latest Venturing program information, training, and events.

Registration closes on January 2nd, 2014, so be sure to register soon to guarantee your spot! For more information, go to: http://crventuring.org/ cal_popup.php?ID=991.

"We should all realize that every right implies a responsibility, every opportunity an obligation, every position a duty, and that the most effective sermon is expressed in deeds instead of words." - Waite Phillips

Caption Contest Last Month’s Picture:

“Secret Agent Man” demonstrates left handed archery sighting to a passing penguin. Watch that posture, Agent! ~ Caption Submitted By: Karen Hudson

This Month’s Picture:

“Always the brave one, Cindy decided to be the first to take her date out to the dance floor at the annual Fir Tree Mixer.” ~ Caption Submitted By: David Peacocke

We know you can do better than this caption! Send in your caption, name, and council you are from to vp-communications@crventuring.org. If you win, your caption will be featured in next month’s newsletter and on our Facebook page. Check back next month to see who wins.

Sea Scouting Update Sea Scouts was started over 100 years ago as a stepping stone for boys who wanted to go into the Navy. Sea Scout Adult Leader Basic Training will be held at the 2014 University of Scouting. This is will be on January 25 at Fox High School in Arnold, Missouri.

Sea Scouts have also recently come up with a new uniform which is easier to obtain. You can get the uniform and other necessary patches from the Scout Shop and also www.scoutstuff.org Area 3 Venturing ConferenceSea Scouts in Area 3 are presenting two courses, Gilligan's Island themed, about Sea Scouting at the Area 3 Venturing Conference in January 2014. The first, "If Gilligan had been a Sea Scout," where you can learn about Sea Scouts, and what you can do in the program. The second, "Boatswain's Academy on Gilligan's Island," where you can learn about being a good leader in Sea Scouts.

NAYLE at Sea BaseHave you ever been sailing? Have you ever gone to NYLT and heard of NAYLE? Well there is a opportunity for you to combine both experiences and have an amazing time doing it.

This Spring, National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE) will be held at Sea Base in Florida. The sessions will be March 15-21 and April 12-18, 2014. It's open for Venturers, older Boy Scouts, and Sea Scouts. You will be able to learn to sail, snorkel and most of all, enjoy the fun of NAYLE! For more information: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/20874669/ Sea_Base_NAYLE_Flyer_2014.pdf Central Region RendezvousStart gathering your swim suits, the Central Region Rendezvous is soon approaching! It will be on May 16-18th, 2014.

Located on Lake Springfield in Springfield Illinois, the Rendezvous is for any scout; Sea Scout, Venturer, or Boy Scout at least 14 years or older. The Rendezvous is a fun-filled weekend that will have many events including sailing, cardboard canoe races, sailing triathlons and much more. For more information, go to: https://sites.google.com/ site/crseascoutrendezvous/ Lake Huron High Adventure Sailing ExperienceOn July 16th-20th, 2014, you have the chance to crew and sail a racing yacht back home after it races in the annual Macinac Race. You will get a handson learning experience while having a lot of fun sailing with experienced captains and a crew of youth. Contact Bill Hamilton at whami9@aol.com or Wayne Hastings at lwhastings@yahoo.com if you are interested in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. ~ Katie Bruton (Central Region Boatswain)

Our Crew is awesome because...

What makes your crew the best crew out there? What have you done recently that was fun and exciting? Submit your story to vpcommunications@crventuring.org and it will appear in the next edition of the Central Point!

Has your crew ever played a live version of Where’s Waldo?

How about dressed up like superheroes to go bowling?

Submit a short story or even a longer one about your crew’s activities! If you have pictures, please include those, too!

Submit your Venturing event on the Central Region Website!

Go to http://crventuring.org and click on the “submit a calendar event” button on the lower left side of the page. Fill out the form, and now you will be able reach thousands of Venturers to come to your event!

Area 1

Area 2

Upcoming events:

Upcoming Events:

August 17-23rd, 2014, ArrowPower2014, Trego, WI September 5th-7th, 2014, Powderhorn, Haugen and Rhinelander, WI

January 10th-12th, 2014, Area 2 Venturing Planning Conference, Lansing, MI January 24th-26th, 2014, Venturing Winter Biathalon, Gregory, MI February 21st-23rd, 2014, Area 2 Venturing Kickback Weekend, Twin Lake, MI

President: Mikaela Boston

President: Jasmine Dittel

Advisor: Chris Sandberg

Advisor: Jeff Geralds

Area 3

Area 4

Upcoming events:

Upcoming Events:

December 28th, 2013, STEM University, St. Louis, MO January 10th-11th, 2014, Area 3 Venturing Conference, Normal, IL January 14th, 2014, Webinar for Professionals Also, check out Area 3’s YouTube page! http://www.youtube.com/user/CRVenturingArea3 President: Elizabeth Schneider Advisor: Bob Vogt

December 30th, 2013, Whirly Ball, Bedford Heights, OH May 9th-11th, 2014, Area 4 Whitewater Weekend in the New River Gorge, Fayetteville, WV August 1st-3rd, 2014, Powder Horn-HoOC, Wakeman, OH August 30th-31st, 2014, Powderhorn-BC, Kensignton, OH President: Henry Gunther Advisor: Duane Zobrist

Area 5

Area 6

Upcoming Events:

Upcoming Events:

No upcoming events. If you have an event you would like listed here, please submit it to http:// www.crventuring.org/event_submission.php.

President: Mallory Ware Advisor: Julie Dalton

No upcoming events. If you have an event you would like listed here, please submit it to http:// www.crventuring.org/event_submission.php.

President: Mandi Forsythe Advisor: Carla Gargas

Area 7 Upcoming Events: January 18th, 2014, Snowstorm 2014, Rosecoe, IL March 1st, 2014, Area 7 Venturing Conference, Gurnee, IL April 11th-13th, 2014, Powder Horn, Oregon, IL June 30th-July 5th, 2014, National Youth Leadership Training: Eagle Claw, Morris, IL

President: Katlin Adams Advisor: Kris Zahrobsky

President’s Corner Hey Central Region!

Happy Holidays to you and your family! I hope you all are enjoying this great time to relax from school or work. Even though we are in the holiday season, it’s time to start thinking about next year!

Have you ever thought about running for a youth officer position above the council level?

There are President and Vice President positions at the area, regional, and national level that are calling your name.

Serving as a youth officer on the area, region, or national level is like nothing you’ve ever done before. There is a lot of responsibility to serving in these roles, but the experiences and memories you gain will last a life time. It’s your time to step up and serve the hundreds to even thousands of Venturers in the Central Region while having a great time!

Some of the really cool opportunities that I’ve had as the Central Region Venturing President consist of visiting areas and councils around the region to help enhance their Venturing program while meeting new Venturers and friends. I was able to help give insight on Venturing for the Membership Impact Taskforce and meet many national professionals this past fall in Salt Lake City at the Region Board Meetings. My favorite part by far is being able to see how I can help impact Venturing in the Central Region by getting to work with other youth around the region.

If you are interested in serving in a position like this at the area, region, or national level don’t hesitate to email me with questions at cr.venturing@scouting.org. It was other youth that got me excited to serve at these levels. Applications are now available for area, region, and the national level positions at the following link: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/ venturing/pdf/VTPresidentNominationForm.pdf. All submissions are due by February 1, 2014 for National Venturing President, February 15, 2014 for Region Venturing President and Vice-President positions, and March 1, 2014 for Area Venturing President and Vice-President positions. More information about these positions and qualifications is available at: www.scouting.org/ venturing.

I hope you will take the next step and apply for a youth position! ~ Christina Vogt

Central Region Venturing President: Christina Vogt president@crventuring.org Central Region Venturing Advisor: Keith Gehlhausen venturing-chair@crventuring.org Central Region Venturing Vice President of Communications: Emily Mausshardt vpcommunications@crventuring.org Central Region Venturing Associate Advisor for Communications: Deb Keyes communicationscoordinator@crventuring.org

About Our Organization...

Venturing is a Scouting program for male and female youth ages 13-21 that lets youth experience new activities, build leadership skills, earn awards, make new friends, and of course have fun.

The Central Region is one of four regions of the Boy Scouts of America. This region includes the states of: Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and West Virginia.