Scouts in Action
Scouts Tyler G., John C., Sydney C., and Zachary G. met with Mayor Bobby Dyer to discuss the state of Scouting in Virginia Beach.
On October 29, Arrow of Light Scouts from Pack 374 and Scouts from Troop 374 and Troop 504 met with Kimberly Melnyk, the School Board Vice Chair for Virginia Beach City Public Schools. Volunteer leaders Erika Wuest and John O’Flynn led the Scout group.
Mrs. Melnyk spoke with the Scouts about her role as a government leader. The youth voiced their concerns and offered solutions. They were an engaged audience… that’s the kind of citizens we need in our future!
Scouting is in full fall swing in Albemarle district, with our latest Fall Jamboree on the Air Camporee and units camping at some of their favorite locations.
The Rovers gathered on October 16 to make the Good Turn Tree to help local Scouts in need.
Stop by the Scout Shop to check it out! Simply select a tag from the tree, purchase the item, place it under the tree, and it will be given to a local Scout in need.
Scouts and leaders of Pack 117 supported the community by performing a flag ceremony at the Outer Banks Seafood Festival.
Another event connecting autistic youth with Scouting! The Autism Summit, hosted by the Autism Foundation, had a great turnout, with organizations including the BSA. We spoke with many families interested in Scouting for their children. For more information about working with special needs youth, attend Pow Wow on November 16 and sign up for the “Inclusivity! Working with Scouts on the Autism Spectrum” class. Additional information is available on the Scouting Disabilities Awareness webpage.
Scout Executive Jamie Parnell held three Fireside Chats to meet Scouting volunteers and share his vision for Tidewater Council. Please join us for the fourth Fireside Chat on November 6 in Chesapeake. Together, we will be successful in delivering Scouting to our community!
Cub Scouts from Pack 127 in Currituck, NC, along with members of the Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast, wore their uniforms to school on October 16 for National Bullying Prevention Month.
Cub Scouts believe in helping other people at all times, doing Good Turns, and being helpful, friendly, and kind. By wearing their uniforms to Moyock Elementary School, they showed their classmates who they can turn to for a kind word and a good friend.
The Tidewater Council Executive Board honored retired Admiral Chuck Kubic as a Diamond Level James E. West Fellow. Thank you, Chuck, for your generous endowment gift and selfless support of the future of local Scouting!
We want to hear from you! Send stories, photos, and videos of your Scouts in action to alison.harrison@scouting.org (with parental permission, of course).
Upcoming Events
Darden Gala - November 2
Join us tomorrow night for the annual fun-filled charity auction benefiting the Boy Scouts of America, Tidewater Council. Great food, games, music, and dancing!
Fireside Chat with the Scout Executive - November 6
Our new Scout Executive, Jamie Parnell, wants to meet you! We want to hear about what is working well now and how we can strengthen and improve local Scouting for the future. Join us on Wednesday, November 6 at 7 PM at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, 621 Cedar Road, Chesapeake, VA 23322.
Southern Region Venturing Event - November 8-10
There has been an awful accident at a neighboring power plant, but you and your friends still wanted to have a camping weekend. The power plant isn’t going to affect us, is it?
Venturers from throughout the area will gather for a weekend at Pipsico Scout Reservation and participate in themed activities.
Register now – registration ends November 2.
Veterans Day Parade – November 11
The Hampton Roads Veterans Day Parade is the only Department of Veterans Affairs certified parade in the region. Please bring your den, patrol, or unit to this annual event honoring our veterans. The Scouts line up at 17th Street Park, watch the parade go by, and then fall in at the end. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required.
Registration closes on November 4.
You can pre-order commemorative patches, which will be distributed at January Roundtables.
Cub Scout Leader Pow Wow – November 16
Calling all Cub Scout leaders to save the day! Join us for Superhero Training Academy at Renaissance Academy in Virginia Beach.
Pow Wow is the best training event for Cub Scouts leaders. This one-day supplemental training provides a variety of den, pack, and outdoor planning courses to help manage the fun and adventure of the Cub Scouting experience. All adults interested in the Cub Scout program – den leaders, committee members, Cubmasters, parents – are welcome!
Course offerings include:
- Cooking with Cub Scouts
- Scoutbook Basics
- Working with Scouts on the Autism Spectrum
- Fundraising!
- What’s Your Web Presence?
- You’ve Taken the Online Training, Now What?
- and many more!
Enjoy a Blue and Gold lunch with keynote speaker Kim Stumbo, author of The Adventures of the One Arm Wondermom. Registration includes lunch, a reference binder, and a patch.
Remember, every Scout deserves a trained Superhero…. that is, Leader!
Eagle Scout Service Project Open Invitation - November 16
For his Eagle Scout service project, Jacob C. of Troop 490 will lead a group to install a marker on a deceased Scout’s grave, provide benches for the child section of a cemetery, and place flags on veterans’ graves.
Jacob invites Scout families to attend a brief ceremony and prayer service to dedicate the stone. If you can attend the ceremony on November 16 at 9:45 AM, please call 757-506-5015. The cemetery is located at 8100 Granby St., Norfolk, VA 23505.
Zomboree - December 6-8
A zombie outbreak will threaten civilization as we know it. The inhabitants of Pipsico City will hunker down to survive… You must band together with your closest friends to form a team of incredible skill and talent. Using your advanced Scout skills and teamwork, you must run through Pipsico avoiding the zombie hoard, eventually making your way to the sanctuary bunker that is fully stocked with supplies you’ll need to re-create human civilization.
There will be a cracker-barrel and competitions for all participants Friday evening beginning at 9:00 PM. Another cracker-barrel and an awards ceremony will take place on Saturday evening. No other food is provided, so participants should plan and bring their own meals. Event patches and recognitions will be distributed at the awards ceremony. The Zomboree is structured as a competition, “camporee” style event that will test your teamwork and Scouting skills in order to survive a zombie outbreak. Teams may compete for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, or simply participate for fun. This event is open to Scouts BSA, Venturers, Sea Scouts, and Explorers. Teams should have a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 8 youth. Teams may be composed of Scouts from the same or different units. For example, Scouts who wish to participate as an Order of the Arrow team or inter-unit team may do so. Participants may be considered youth through age 20; however, registrants aged 18-20 may register as adults if they are supporting youth in the capacity of a “BSA Adult Member.”
10th Annual BSA Day at Nauticus - December 7
Tickets are available at the Scout Shop for the 10th Annual Scout STEM Day at Nauticus.
Slimy sharks, roving robots, and a giant battleship are all part of the Nauticus experience. Scouts will participate in hands-on STEM activities while earning award requirements! Explore simple machines aboard the Battleship Wisconsin. Learn about ship communications. Touch a shark or horseshoe crab. Build an underwater robot. Meet local maritime career professionals. Honor the 75th anniversary of the USS Wisconsin (BB 64) and the 78th anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day.
A limited-edition (250) commemorative patch can be pre-ordered and will be available for pick-up at the event.
Wreaths Across America - December 14
Each December, Wreaths Across America coordinates wreath-laying ceremonies at more than 1,600 veteran cemeteries in all 50 states, at sea, and abroad. BSA units are invited to participate in this project. To register, contact:
Arlington National Cemetery: Bre Kingsbury, 619-887-9455, bkingsbury@wreathsacrossamerica.org
Suffolk Veterans Cemetery: Dean Gould, 757-869-8622, dean.gould@cawg.cap
Coin Collecting Merit Badge - February 8
At the October Virginia Beach Coin Show, twenty Scouts from thirteen different troops earned the Coin Collecting merit badge with the support of the Tidewater Coin Club.
The Tidewater Coin Club will sponsor the Coin Collecting merit badge again at the February Virginia Beach Coin Show. The program takes place at the Virginia Beach Convention Center, 1000 19th Street, Virginia Beach, VA 23451. Please contact Brian Wierzbicki at 904-607-6973 for registration or additional information.
Scout Shop News
Shop Local! The Tidewater Council Scout Shop is the only place where you can purchase official BSA merchandise and have the proceeds stay in our Scouting community.
The fall weather has finally arrived, with cooler temperatures just right for our jackets and hoodies. We still have some of the BSA hooded jackets in stock ($17.99 for youth sizes, $19.99 adult sizes), but the supply is limited. The Cub Scout zippered hooded jackets and pullover hoodies (both $24.99) are perfect for this weather, available in youth sizes small – XL. Come in and shop!
NEW SALE – Thorlo socks will be on sale beginning November 17 through January 4. Buy two or more pairs of Thorlo Socks and get 25% off all of them. Stock up and your feet will love you!
PINEWOOD DERBY gift edition cars are once again available. The boxes appear to be gift wrapped, convenient for holiday stocking stuffers. Buy 10 or more cars and get 25 cents off the regular price ($4.49) of each car. The savings add up the more you buy!
Need something for the budding scientist in the family? Check out our large variety of science kits, covering topics including weather, chemistry, radio, geology, robotics, eco science, and more. Prices vary from $5.49 to $19.99 per kit.
The GOOD TURN TREE located in our lobby is a wonderful gift idea for a Scout in need. Simply take an ornament from the tree, purchase the item in the Scout Shop, then place the gift under the tree with the ornament. Each item has been specifically requested by a local Scout who needs your help.
With the gift giving season quickly approaching, now is a good time to browse the Scout Shop for ideas. If you have something in mind that isn’t in stock, we can get it from National Supply within the week. We also have gift certificates for any amount, and several items that can ONLY be purchased at our Scout Shop. Contact us for any questions regarding our inventory.
Don’t forget that we ship orders by USPS. You may call the Scout shop (757-497-2688) or email polly.fugate@scouting.org to place an order. We accept VISA and Mastercard and will ship for the minimal amount possible.
We will be CLOSED on Thursday, November 21 from 2-4 PM. For Thanksgiving, we will be closed November 28-30.
Charter Renewal
Youth Protection Training and Charter Renewal
It is Tidewater Council’s policy that Youth Protection Training (YPT) must be valid throughout the charter year. That means that your YPT must expire on or after December 31, 2020. We recommend completing this training as soon as you are able to avoid any delays with your charter renewal package. If you have any problems or would like to request a group session, contact your district training chair.
Connect with the Rovers
Rovers is a local pilot program for young adults, ages 21 through 34.
Upcoming Gatherings
November 5 at 11 AM at Applebee’s, 5750 Virginia Beach Blvd., Norfolk, Virginia 23502
November 21 at 7 PM at Young Veterans, 2505 Horse Pasture Rd., Virginia Beach, Virginia 23453
8 Ways to Support Scouting
- Check out our AmazonSmile Charity List and share it with your friends. It’s a convenient way to donate needed ideas to Tidewater Council.
- If you shop on Amazon, choose Tidewater Council to receive an AmazonSmile donation. There is no extra cost to you.
- If you participate in the Combined Federal Campaign, designate your gift to local Scouting with campaign identification number 94511.
- Designate your United Way of South Hampton Roads gifts to “Tidewater Council, Boy Scouts of America.”
- Designate your Albemarle Area United Way gifts to “Boy Scouts of America – Tidewater Council (4004).”
- Donate your birthday to Scouting with a Facebook fundraiser.
- Make a memorial or tribute gift in honor of a loved one.
- Report your service hours. Tidewater Council reports Scouts’ service hours to United Way and other charitable organizations, and this information impacts the amount of their financial gifts. Scouts are already doing a Good Turn daily – it just takes a few minutes more to record their community service.
Popcorn Incentives
November Incentives
It pays to pay on time! Your unit has the chance to win prizes for paying your popcorn balance and turning in your military donations! (See the flyer for more details.)
November 4 Deadline
Blue and Gold Planning
Food and fun - but don't forget the advancement!
The annual blue and gold banquet may be months away, but now is the time for packs to plan. Advanced planning ensures the Cub Scouts and their families get the most out of this annual celebration of the founding of the BSA in 1910 and the Cub Scouts in 1930. Successful banquets may take two to three months to plan.
- Ensure all families are involved.
- Both Cub Scouts and their leaders should be recognized.
- Invite special guests—especially those from the pack’s chartering organization.
- Even if your pack holds the Blue and Gold as its February pack meeting, be sure to consider specific details, including date, location, time, decorations, menus and serving arrangements, engaging activities, and programs.
- Remember that the Blue and Gold is a special opportunity to motivate and encourage Cub Scout advancement.
- Look at the needs of the individual Scouts in the pack. Consider the Cub Scout adventures – perhaps an activity could promote advancement. For example, Tigers could put on a magic show, celebrate their cultural heritage, or perform a puppet show. Bears could put on a carnival and help with leader recognition. Wolves and Webelos could celebrate their hometown heroes, while an Arrow of Light den might share information on the World Friendship Fund and Scouting in other countries.
Scoutbook Den Leader Meeting Planning Resource
Den leaders have a new tool for den meetings and recording advancement. With a few clicks in Scoutbook, den leaders can set up the program year with required adventure den meetings. What to do before, during, and after each den meeting is all laid out. Using the attendance feature, advancement is automatically updated. Absent youth are notified of the requirements to be completed at home. Want to test this Scoutbook tool out? Click here and select one of the “test” users found in the upper left corner.
Cyber Chip
Online safety is an important part of youth protection. The Cyber Chip webpage has information on earning the Cyber Chip and Recharges, as well as the Protect Yourself Rules Adventure for Cub Scouts. There are additional resources and ideas for integrating web safety lessons into your unit’s Scouting program.
Youth Protection Policies for Merit Badge Counselors
The BSA National Council has released a clarification on a youth protection policy for merit badge counseling.
If a female Scout is meeting with a male merit badge counselor, her parent (male or female) may be the second adult required for youth protection purposes. If the parent is male, there does not need to be a registered female adult present.
Merit Badge Counselor Lists: A Primer
Guide to Advancement Sections 7.0.2.0 through Section 7.0.2.3 describe the various council, district, and unit policies and procedures for merit badge counselor lists. In a nutshell:
- It is the responsibility of the district advancement committees to maintain a current list of registered and approved counselors.
- The district counselor list is reproduced for distribution to troops, crews, and ships. (Scouts should not have access to this list). Tidewater Council publishes this list in Scoutbook.
- Units may establish their own list of counselors, who may or may not opt to work with youth in other units. (For counselor privacy, these unit lists should also not be made available to the Scouts).
- All merit badge counselors, including those serving only one unit, MUST be registered and be approved by the district advancement committee.
- Web-based counselor lists should only be placed on official council websites that conform to the National Council guidelines. Concern for protecting counselor privacy is a must. Scouts should not have access to these lists.
- To locate a copy of the council or district merit badge counselor list, your district advancement committee is the first place to ask.
Florida Sea Base Conference
Advancement is recognized as a key indicator of a successful unit. Learn how to enhance Scouts’ advancement opportunities during a weeklong conference at Florida Sea Base in January.
Cub Cruises
Sea Scout Ships 42 and 64 are offering an opportunity for Cub Scouts to go sailing. A Cub Cruise usually lasts 2-3 hours and, depending on which boat, can accommodate a total of either 10 or 20 passengers (Cub Scouts and parents). The Cub Scouts will observe the Sea Scouts piloting the boat and performing all deck duties. Cub Scouts, under the supervision of the Sea Scouts, will take turns at the helm and learn the basics of sailing and safety at sea!
The Council Commodore, Victoria Lavarias, and the Council Boatswain, Heather T., lead Tidewater Council’s Sea Scout program. To learn more about Sea Scouts, Cub Cruises, and Day Sail opportunities for troops, crews, and posts, contact Victoria and Heather at TWCSeaScouts@gmail.com.
Let’s go sailing, Scouts!
Development Corner: Charitable Lead Trusts
Maintain wealth while giving income
The charitable lead trust is a gift of income to Tidewater Council. You select the assets to place in trust, and the length of time that your trust will last. Income from the trust is paid to Scouting for the length of time and purposes that you specify. When the trust terminates, the assets (the trust principal) are returned to you or distributed to whomever you choose.
This trust is a specialized estate planning tool. It is especially valuable if you have substantial estate and gift tax liabilities because it allows you to achieve several goals through one gift. You can make a significant gift that can be used now for Scouting, and transfer assets to subsequent generations with reduced or eliminated estate, inheritance, and gift taxes.
It is possible that the trust income will be excluded from your annual taxable income for the duration of the trust. Though this is not always possible with a charitable lead trust, we would be happy to discuss how to structure a lead trust for maximum benefit to you and your family. Call Susan Miley-Petrehn at 757-284-0796.
The lead trust is generally a lifetime gift; however, you can establish a testamentary lead trust that would provide benefits to your estate similar to those you would enjoy during your lifetime.
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