Button Gwinnett District Unit Leaders!

We need your help!
Please let me know how many Scouts and Adults, between 9/12012 and 8/31/2013 have:
Troops/Crews/Teams/Ships: attended any Out-of-Council Summer Camps, High-Adventure or has any Scouts serving on any sort of Staff Experience (Summer Camp, High Adventure or Jamboree;
Packs: has attended any Out-of-District or Out-of-Council Family Camping Programs, Out-of-Council Summer Resident or Day Camp, or Out-of-Council Webelos Woods type event.
This does not include Unit short-term or Pack family camping.  That information will be reported on your Unit’s Journey to Excellence spreadsheet.
We can gather the information about your unit’s participation in AAC Summer Camps and the BG District Day Camp.
Every year we calculate the statistics for the District and Council Journey to Excellence (JTE) spreadsheet starting in August for submission to the National Council during the fall.   Each year we tend to underreport the Summer Camp attendance because we don’t get accurate reports from our Out-of-Council partners, which can underreport the number and percentage of Scouts we are actually serving with this invaluable outdoor program resource.
During the summer I will send targeted reminders to gather this information.  I want to ensure the information we provide to the Council does include all our units and scouting experiences.
Please send me any information or direct any questions to camping@gwinnettbsa.org.
Thank you for your service and support:
Fred Carroll – BG District Camping Chair

Button Gwinnett Scouters - I hope all of you have had a fantastic week.

I am on my flight home this evening after spending the last two days in suburban Washington DC, working with clients. I was fortunate to be home Tuesday night and participate in our first Quarterly District Conference. Jim Gilpatrick, our District Commissioner and his commissioner staff and many members from our District Committee held the first combined meeting.

I hope all of you are doing well and that you had a fantastic Memorial Day Weekend! I was so happy for the fantastic weather. All the rain has definitely been a blessing, but a little dry sunshine mixed in with the liquid sunshine helps to keep moods in moderation! I'm in New York City this evening as I write to you. I have a flight home early tomorrow morning, and I'm eager to get home because an Assistant Scoutmaster and I are hosting an instructional camping trip for our troop's new Scouts. It's going to be a fantastic trip and the boys will get to learn a lot of new skills!

Would you like to honor a special Scout Leader for years of outstanding service?  Is there an outgoing Leader who has served your Unit well and deserves recognition for a job well done?  Do you know of a new Eagle Scout, Wood Badge or Silver Beaver recipient who you would like to recognize? Would you like to provide a lasting memorial for a special person who has passed away?

This award is named after James E. West who was the first Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America.  Dr. West exemplified Ralph Waldo Emerson's observation that "an institution is the lengthened shadow of one man."  Those who are recognized by the James E. West Fellowship Award will cast their own "lengthened shadow" as they help ensure the Scouting legacy for future generations of young people and create the financial stability of the program for the Atlanta Area Council.

Qualifications
The James E. West Fellowship Award is a national recognition for individuals who contribute $1,000 or more in cash or marketable securities to the Council's Endowment Trust Fund.  This gift must be in addition to and not replace or diminish the donor's annual Friends of Scouting support.  In addition to the certificate and pin, the James E. West Fellowship Award embroidered square-knot insignia is worn above the uniform left shirt pocket, indicating a Scouter is a James E. West fellow.  Click herefor more information.

I hope all of you are doing well! Can you believe that we are well into Spring??? I can't believe it as well. General Beauregard Lee was correct that our Spring did arrive a little late this year. But when it finally arrived, it did so in full force! The grass is green, all of the azaleas have bloomed to their full glory and my need for Zyrtec, Sudafed, and a daily shot glass of apple cider vinegar have arrived!