Signal Hill District Roundtable

February 2, 2012

Welcome New Folks and Returning Leaders!

Tonight’s Activities 7:30 - Opening – Pledge of Allegiance and Welcome

7:35 – District/Council Announcements

7:55 – 8:45 - Boy Scout/Cub Scout Leaders Joint Session

7:55 – Service – Mary Hoy

8:10 – Operation Blue Bird – Pete Conglis

8:20 – Discussion Topic of the Month – Ceremonies•Why Ceremonies?•Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts ideas•Discussion 8:50 – SM Minute Idea of the Month

8:52 – Scout Leaders Networking Time

Tonight’s Announcements• District Dinner Recap

• Friends of Scouting Update

• Journey to Excellence Update

• Scout Sunday – Feb 5

• Registration Update

• Rechartering Clinic Feb11th 10am to 12 pm Immanuel Lutheran Church

• Troop 209 Pancake Breakfast - Feb 11 7am to 12 pm First United Methodist Church - $5 

Tonight’s Announcements

•Adult & Child CPR/AED and First Aid - Sat Feb 11 Maine Township Town Hall 1700 Ballard Road; Park Ridge – 9:00 – 4:00

•Woodbadge Dinner at Trinity Lutheran Church 2/18 right after trainers edge

•Woodbadge training course begins  Aug 5 pre-course meeting, Aug 17-19 & Sept 15-17

•Great Starts Woodcarving – Sat Feb 18 - NWSC Council Office – 2 sessions - 9:00-12:00 and 1:00-3:00

•The Trainer’s Edge – Sat Feb 18 -Trinity Lutheran Church Rolling Meadows - 8:30-5

•Scout Day with the DePaul Blue Demons - Sat Feb 18 – Allstate Arena •Scout Night with the Chicago Slaughter – Fri Feb 24 – Sears Centre 7:35

Cub Scouts Additional Announcements

• Cub Scout Advancement Seminar – Sat Mar 10 9:00 – 12:00 – NWSC Office

• Baloo training March 31 Barrington United Methodist Church on Algonquin & 59 – 9:00 – 4:00 PM 

• District Pinewood Derby April 14th Harper College 

Boy Scouts Additional Announcements

• Catholic Religious Emblem Feb. 19th 1:30 pm at St. Teresa (Only open to Boy Scouts)

• Scout to Life Rank trail Sat Feb 11th 9:30-12 Council Office

• Spring Camporee April 20-22

Tonight’s Topic – CeremoniesCeremonies have an important and traditional place in the Pack and Troop

Three essential factors. . . S S SShort

Simple

Sincere

Tonight’s Purpose

• Share ideas on Scout Ceremonies

• Encourage you to make Ceremonies a regular part of your Unit activities

• Inspire you to try new things!

10 COMMANDMENTS OF CEREMONIES

•Thou shalt have one every month.

•Thou shalt keep it simple, make it fun.

•Thou shalt not repeat a ceremony, no matter how many adults want to (or how good you look in an Indian Headdress.)

•Thou shalt not ask Cub Scouts (or adults) to memorize or read a lot of big words.

•Thou shalt be heard and be seen by all.

•Thou shalt include both child and his parent.

•Thou shalt not forget Webelos Activity pins; make them important, also.

•Neither shalt thou ignore the Tigers for they are small and easy to forget.

•Thou shalt understand Cub Scout Advancement and how important it is to the boys.

•Thou shalt use thy brain to come up with new ideas

CUB SCOUT CEREMONIES

PURPOSES OF CEREMONIES

• To establish a regular plan to present awards promptly, as soon as possible after they are earned.

• To emphasize the Character Connections in Cub Scouting. • To focus attention on the accomplishments of Cub Scouts. • To provide high points in the advancement plan. • To make visitors and guests welcome and by making them a part of the

program. • To honor pack leaders and parents. • To give special recognition to Cub Scouts and parents for recruiting, service

projects and special activities. • To promote parent participation.• To improve the program by making a beginning and end to both den and

pack meetings– helping to provide a change of pace.– indicating when something important is coming. – getting and maintaining control at meetings.

• To be a vehicle for the make believe that Cub Scouts love so much.• To encourage attendance and participation. • To say thank you for a special job. • To create an incentive for others so that they too may be recognized.

THE NECKERCHIEF CEREMONY

My first Scoutmaster taught the importance of the Scout Oath and Law using the Neckerchief. He would hold the open neckerchief in his hands and remind the young scouts of what the last item of clothing they put on when they were getting dressed for the meeting was, his neckerchief.

He said that it was no coincidence that the neckerchief had 3 sides, just like the three parts of the Scout oath. He would run a side through his fingers and say "On my honor, I'll do my best. To do my duty to God" The first and longest side is to remind you of your long standing duty to God. This whole side is hidden from view, just as your faith is deep inside you. But with out that faith, there is no strength for the rest.

Holding on to the neckerchief by the point he would run the next side through his fingers and say "To help other people at all times...." This shorter side is to remind you of your duty to help others. Remember it is some of this duty that shows to others, just like part of this side of your neckerchief shows. So do your duty to others well so that people might see the good work you do in the name of Scouting.

The last side also shows. He would say "To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight." This last side is your duty to your self. This shows to others as well. They will know that by seeing your uniform, you are a young man who is physically fit. Has a strong moral foundation and who is not apt to fall into the temptations of drugs and alcohol. He would then say that this was a means by which we could remember the Scout Oath, every time we got dressed in uniform. He also gave us a means by which to remember the Scout Law.

While wrapping the neckerchief up for wear, he said to wrap it tight in small twists, 12 in fact. And to repeat the 12 points of the Scout Law as you did so. Then as you placed your neckerchief around your neck for wear, the elements of the Scout Oath and Law were with you. They were in fact part of you.

Source: rt492.org

ADVANCEMENT - EXPLAINING THE RANKSNeed: 11X14 cards picturing the rank badges. Tape these little explanations of

rank on the back of the appropriate card. 5 Cubs represent each rank.Have the 5 Cubs come forward, hold up the cards for the audience to see as they

read the explanation on the back.

THIS IS MY COUNTRYBOY 1: This is my country. I will use my eyes to see the beauty of this land. BOY 2: I will use my ears to hear its sounds. BOY 3: I will use my mind to think what I can do to make it more beautiful. BOY 4: I will use my hands to care for it. BOY 5: I will use my feet to serve it. BOY 6: With my heart, I will honor it.

Cub ScoutsAdvancementBlue & Gold Leader RecognitionArrow of LightDen RecognitionBridging

Boy ScoutsAdvancementCourts of HonorLeader RecognitionNew Leader InductionOrder of the ArrowReverence/Scouts OwnSr Patrol Leader Induction

Examples of Scouting Ceremonies

Flag RetirementFriends of Scouting

Other???

Scouting Ceremonies – Web Sites

http://macscouter.com/Ceremony/

http://www.boyscouttrail.com/boy-scouts/boy-scout-ceremonies.asp

http://usscouts.org/ceremony.asp

http://www.scoutorama.com/ceremony/index.cfm

If you don’t like surfing the net. . .

Next Month Roundtable – March 1, 2012

Topic: Camping

•Camping ideas and menus

•Leave No Trace

Boy Scout Taps

The Day is Done

Gone the Sun

From the Lakes

From the Hills

From the Sky

All is well

Safely Rest

God is Nigh