Newsletter of the Central Region | Boy Scouts of America November Newsletter 2015
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In this Issue…
#ThankfulforVenturing
#ThankfulforVenturing……… 1 College Crews……….............. 2 Area 5 Update…………………. 3
What made you fall in love with the Venturing program? What skills, memories, and friendships through Venturing are you thankful for? On Wednesday, November 25, we want to read your reasons why you are #ThankfulforVenturing. Maybe you are thankful because you have had the opportunity to travel around the country or maybe because you have learned life skills in the program. Whatever your reasons may be, we want to read about them on social media! So on November 25, use #ThankfulforVenturing and #CRVenturing and let us know! We will feature some of our favorites in the December edition of the Central Point. Lead the Adventure! -Jenny Bullock, CRV Vice President of Communications
Seabadge…………….………… 4 Advisor’s Minute……………… 5 Area Pages…………………….. 6 President’s Corner…………… 7
Lead the Adventure!
College Crews Things are very exciting here at Venturing Crew 365 based out of The University of Evansville in Southern Indiana! We recently had our open house where 80 new people came to get more information on Venturing and how to register. We are now up to about 100 registered members with more on the way! We enjoy this success due to support from the Student Government Association on campus and connections with other crew and Boy Scout troops in the Region. As a registered organization, we receive benefits of advertising and funding. We receive money to provide trips for all of campus, but also to offset travel costs, advisor fees, and risk management expenses. We also have a space on campus where we can store all of our tents, sleeping bags, and other gear that members and other organizations on campus can rent. Our first event of the year was a canoeing and kayaking trip to Bluegrass Fish and Wildlife Area. 50 of our new members spent quality time on the lake, eating delicious food, and playing entertaining games. Our next trip will be to Lincoln State Park and Lincoln’s Boyhood home. We also have a trip planned over Fall Break to go to camp Roy C. Manchester to go sailing, kayaking, and canoeing. If the water levels are right, a mud fight might be in order as well! Both of these trips are part of our 4-year plan. This is our way of providing diversity of trips and experiences for our members over their four year careers at college. It guarantees that students will not go on the same Fall or Spring Break trip. It also helps the officers plan trips! To finish off the semester, we will participate in a campus-wide volunteer day, an extreme hayride, and rock climbing. We are excited for this year and all of the adventures it holds! If you are interested in starting a Venturing Crew at your university, we would love to help you get things set up and support you through the years. Happy Venturing! -Alex Schmitt, Crew President of Venturing Crew 365, Buffalo Trace Council, Area 6
College crews can be such a rewarding experience during your college years. Are you part of a college crew? What tips and tools do you have for other college crews or for youth wanting to start one on their campus? Email vp-communications@crventuring.org and be featured in next month’s edition of the Central Point!
Hey Central Region! The Area 5 Leadership Conference is going to be held on November 20th-22nd at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas! Keep an eye out for registration, we hope to be have it open very soon. This conference will include ILSC, Goal Setting and Time Management, Project Management and more trainings for youth and adults! It will also include more information about VOAs and their roles at the Council, Area, and Regional levels. To keep updated with Venturing throughout Area 5 and Central Region, look out for posts made by our VP of Communication Matthew Bippes on the Central Region Area 5 Facebook group and our Council VOA groups. Lastly, our next Council VOA call is on November 8th, an agenda will be sent out to Council VOA Officers and Advisers. Lead the Adventure! -Russell Seibert, CR Area 5 President
Save the Date! November 20-22, 2015: Area 5 Leadership Conference
Area Spotlight!
Area 5 Update!
Updated CSVE Form! The updated CSVE form has just been released! Follow this link to check it out and help your Council earn the Council Standards of Venturing Excellence Award! Seabadge is an advance leadership development experience for Sea Scout adult leaders (21 years and older) and other adult Scouters at the Unit, District, Council, Area, Regional, or National levels who support or are interested in the Sea Scout program. Seabadge is a participatory experience. There is intense involvement of participants and faculty in seminars, workshops, role-playing, discussions, and activities. The program, Ship operations, leadership development, team building, and motivation. Additional topics include instructional techniques, communications, goal setting, planning, and recruiting both youth and adults.
http://www.scouting.org/scoutsour ce/Venturing/Awards/Excellence.a spx -Nate Steele, CRV VP of Administration
Name that Camp!
More than half of the 31 Participants were from Michigan. They were joined by Participants from WV, OH, IL, WI and MO. Staff members included representation from MI as well as OH, IN, IL, WI and MO and included three former Course Directors. This was truly a Central Region Seabadge. The Participants and Staff meshed unbelievable well. The atmosphere was electric during the entire weekend. The Course evaluation was filled with positive comments. Many indicated that this was the most fun they ever had at a training course. While most Participants were Sea Scouts, we were joined by Venturing Leaders, Council and District representatives, a few Scouters and even a Cub Scout Leader. This afforded us a great opportunity to exchange ideas across Programs. During Seabadge, we conducted a Change of Watch ceremony (a transfer of authority) between our outgoing Central Region Commodore Dr. George H. McNeal and our incoming CR Commodore John T. Paprocki. Mac was honored by a gift and citations presented by National Boatswain Edward Campbell on behalf of National Sea Scout Director Keith Christopher and National Sea Scout Commodore Charles Wurster. -Jay Montgomery, Course Director SB-22-MI-2015
Last month’s camp was Beaumont Scout Reservation. Can you name this month’s camp? Find out the answer in next month’s edition of the Central Point!
Advisor’s Minute Happy November, Central Region! As we enter into the 11th month of the year, and the beginning of the holiday (and shopping) season, we are called for a bit of introspective investigation. Certainly, with a holiday like "Thanksgiving", it is pretty clear that we should be extending our gratefulness to our creator, family, and friends. I have had some amazing opportunities to join many of you in action all across our Region. What really amazes me the most isn't what activities you plan and host. (Which are incredible, by the way!) Rather, it is the sense of family that so many of you have with each other. I not only get to observe your Crews in action, but also see the unending bond that is created between everyone involved! Through trials and tribulations, each member of the family pulls their own weight to make sure the entire team succeeds and has an incredibly fun time doing it. One example I would like to highlight is this year’s annual Fall Fun Rally. Of course, many of you know what a time-honored tradition this event is in St. Louis, MO. But, many might not realize just how many people it takes to put it on! What was just mind-blowing to see was how many people come together to make this event just an overwhelming success. With over 1200 people, how can you not love that? Our group was invited to participate in the Osage District Dinner on Saturday night. While we attempted to be the most helpful of Scouts, and the most humblest of guests, District leadership insisted that we couldn't assist. So, instead we had a chance to observe and talk with many of the over 175 people in the city of tents that had popped up in one of the fields at the camp. Besides amazing food, want to know what we saw? Scouters together as a family. Helping and pitching in. Serving, clearing, and cleaning. Youth helping adults, and adults helping youth. It was amazing, and is everything that defines Scouting! I know I have thanked each and everyone one of you in the past, and I will continue to do so. Our movement is stronger each day because of your efforts.
I wish you a very happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! See you in December!
Kris Zahrobsky Central Region Venturing Advisor
Events to Look Forward to‌ Area 1
Area 2
Upcoming Events:
Upcoming Events:
November 13-15, 2015, Area 1 Venturing Leadership Conference, Menomonie, WI
February 5-7, 2016, Celebrating the Winter Adventure Woodbade, Jeddo, MI
January 22-24, 2016, Area 1 Fun Event: Ice Age, Haugen, WI
President: Jacob Hardy
President: Rachel Cruse
Adivsor: Jeff Geralds
Advisor: Helen Lockwood
Area 3
Area 4
Upcoming Events:
Upcoming Events:
January 29-30, 2015, Area 3 Venturing Leadership Conference, Normal, IL
November 20-22, 2015, Venturing Star Wars Weekend, Peninsula, OH April 22-24, 2016, WorldFest 2016, Kinsington, OH
President: Chris Mausshardt
President: Michael Gunther
Advisor: Bob Vogt
Advisor: Duane Zobrist
Area 5
Area 6
Upcoming Events:
Upcoming Events: June 29-July 9, 2016, SeaBase Scuba Adventure, Seabase, Florida
November 21, 2015, Area 5 Leadership Conference, Topeka, KS President: Russell Seibert Advisor: Julie Dalton
President: Amber Richter Advisor: Carla Gargas
Area 7 Upcoming Events:
March 5, 2016, Area 7 Venturing Conference, Gurnee, IL President: Kaia Ball Advisor: Rachel Zahrobsky
Summer’s Last Bash August 5-7, 2016 Camp Illinek, Springfield, IL
President’s Corner
Central Region Venturing President:
Brian Parro
Hey Central Region! I can’t believe it’s already November! Thanksgiving will be here before we know it! Thanksgiving is such a remarkable time. I love gathering with my friends and family and getting to spend quality time being grateful and thankful for all I have in life. All of the food, parades, and football help bring everyone together and kick off the holiday season. While we’re in this season of thankfulness, let us think about what we are thankful for in the Venturing program. The time I have spent a part of this program, and really all of my time in the Boy Scouts of America, I have had numerous opportunities and memories made that I don’t take for granted. I have had the opportunity to travel all over the country, meeting Venturers and Scouters from all over. I have had the opportunity to travel to Japan and meet Scouts from all over the world. This is one of my favorite parts; meeting and getting to know people who have the same passion for Scouting as I do. I am incredibly grateful for the life skills I have learned through Scouting as well. From knot tying to communicating with others, Scouting has had an impact on my life. I want to find out why you are #ThankfulforVenturing. So, on November 25, share your reasons all over social media. But don’t stop there. Invite at least 1 non-Scouting friend to like our Region Facebook page and follow us on all of our social media, so they can find out why everyone is #ThankfulforVenturing. I can’t wait to read all about it
Yours in Venturing,
Brian M Parro Central Region Venturing President
president@crventuring.org
Central Region Venturing Advisor:
Kris Zahrobsky venturing-chair@crventuring.org
Central Region Vice President of Communications:
Jennifer Bullock vp-communications@crventuring.org
Central Region Venturing Associate Advisor for Communications:
Deb Keyes communications-coordinator@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 the 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.