Monday, March 23, 2020

Most Scouting avtivities suspended during NYS mandate

Due to the New York State mandate that all non-essential businesses close their facilities, we regret to inform you that our retail locations, service centers, and camps will be closed until the mandate is lifted. The New York State regulations also mean the suspension of all in-person meetings until the mandate is lifted.

The New York State Department of Health website provides daily updates: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home

We're still allowed to have some of our personnel work from home, so if you have questions about anything Scouting related please do not hesitate to email Jesse.Markel@scouting.org; Alvaro.Ferreira@scouting.org; or Jim.McMullen@scouting.org

We wish you well in these strange times and hope for the very best in physical, emotional, and financial health for you and your family.

We encourage units, dens, and patrols to continue to meet virtually during this hiatus using video or phone conferencing wherever possible. This is also a great time for Cub Scouts to work on electives and for Scouts BSA to work on individual merit badge requirements. The Council will continue to identify resources and content to help you with your virtual meetings and will share them with you as they become available. If you have virtual programs you develop and are willing to share, please send them to us and we will make them available to others.

Status of Council Events 
We are consulting with Niagara Chocolates and the Virginia Nut company to determine a plan for what will almost certainly be a delayed distribution of products. We will directly update the leaders of units that have sold candy & nuts as soon as we have useful details to share.

And, please remember this: While the government might not consider Scouting to be "essential", we all know that it is....it's VERY essential. It's the very best youth program on the planet and it has been instrumental in helping to instill character, leadership, life skills, and preparedness. During the event, and whatever it looks like on the other side, you will find that what you learned as a youth in Scouting will benefit you, your family, your employer, and your community immensely.

So, when we get out of this, let's keep doing what we have been doing for years as volunteers and staff -- in our units, offices, and summer camps -- to make sure today's youth are given those same tools to succeed in good times and bad.

Monday, March 16, 2020

Our message on COVID-19

Dear Scouting Families,
 
As always, your safety and the safety of all our members, volunteers, and employees is our top priority. We know there are questions and concerns about how COVID-19, commonly known as the coronavirus, will affect local Scouting programs in the Iroquois Trail Council. Please know that we are monitoring developments regarding COVID-19 with our local health departments and county governments and through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) .

The following information regarding events and prevention measures is based on the latest available guidance. As this is an evolving situation, this information is subject to change. We will continue to update you on relevant developments, and we appreciate your understanding of any necessary adjustments in the interest of health and safety.
 
In the past two days each of our local counties has declared a state of emergency and made the decision to temporarily close schools and limit the size of public gatherings in an effort to slow the spread of the virus. For many Scouting units the closure of schools will take the decision of whether to meet out of your hands. For all others, our recommendation is that you follow the lead of your local school district and charter organization and temporarily postpone or cancel upcoming group meetings and activities. 

We encourage units, dens, and patrols to continue to meet virtually during this hiatus using video or phone conferencing wherever possible. This is also a great time for Cub Scouts to work on electives and for Scouts BSA to work on individual merit badge requirements. The Council is working to identify resources and content to help you with your virtual meetings and will share them with you as they become available. If you have virtual programs you develop and are willing to share, please send them to us and we will make them available to others.

Status of Council Events  
At the present time our Council Service Centers in Oakfield and Lockport will be open regular hours. The following events have been cancelled or postponed:
  • March 19 Towpath District Roundtable has been cancelled.
  • March 21 Merit Badge College in Geneseo has been postponed. Registrants will be notified when new details are available.
  • April 4 Towpath District Pinewood Derby is still under consideration with a decision to be made later this week.
  • We will advise you as to the status of events scheduled in April as more information becomes available.

You may monitor event updates here: www.itcbsa.org  
Should you have any questions or concerns about a specific upcoming event or activity, please reach out to Scout Executive Jim McMullen or your district executive. We will do everything we can to answer your questions using the information available to us.

BSA Polices to Prevent the Spread of Illness
The Boy Scouts of America continues to have policies and procedures in place that help protect participants from contracting an illness at large Scouting events. These include the Annual Health and Medical Recor d and the Pre-Event Medical Screening Checklist .
 
Everyday Preventive Measures
Even with those important policies in place, it is critical that we all take these everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases:
  • Stay home when you feel sick.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, and wash your hands before and after doing so. 
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve/elbow, not your hands.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe. 
  • Do not share personal items such as cups, water bottles, eating utensils, etc.
  • Avoid shaking hands.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
  • If you have a fever, cough, or other symptoms associated with COVID-19, or if you believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19, you should isolate and not attend any Scouting events. People who think they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should contact their healthcare provider immediately.
  • If you test positive for the virus, please share that information with your local unit leadership.

Monday, December 16, 2019

Open house celebration







Camp logo design contest

Camp Logo Design Contest - Due December 31!!

Winning Design Could Win A Session of Camp For Summer 2020 along with bragging rights!

Have your Scout enter today. Designs must be submitted, or post marked by December 31st, 2019 to Scout Service Center, 102 S. Main Street, Oakfield, NY 14125 or email alvaro.ferreira@scouting.org

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Open house for new HQ

Next month there is an open house and grand opening celebration for the Iroquois Trail Council's new headquarters in Oakfield, just north of Batavia. Thank you to all the donors of funds, materials, and time who have made this possible. It's exciting that the Scouts and Scouters of the Council finally have their own space for training, the Scout Shop, and administration in a location near the center of our sprawling 5-county Council.


Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Membership fees are going up

Several weeks ago, BSA alerted local councils that it would be necessary to increase the annual membership fee effective January 1, 2020. Below is a message from the National Council, BSA with details of the new fee structure.

The Iroquois Trail Council serves more than 2,500 youth in our 5-county area. We understand the hardship this may pose some units with this announcement coming so late in the year, especially after many units have planned their budgets for 2020. While the Iroquois Trail Council cannot delay the implementation or collection of the fee, we do offer fundraisers throughout the year to help your Scouts cover these fees as well as camp fees. The next fundraiser on our schedule is the peanut sale, set to begin in February. To learn about this fundraiser and others that are available, please reach out to your unit commissioner or the council office. The Iroquois Trail Council will continue to bring Scouting to our communities and families through our camping and training programs and supporting our local Scouting volunteers.

Scout Executive Jim McMullen, Council President Bob Confer, Council Commsioner Paul Fleming



A Message from the National Council, BSA

As we continue the Scouting mission, it is important that we keep pace with an ever-changing world. While costs to the organization have increased every year, the Boy Scouts of America national organization has worked to keep the annual membership fee as low as possible by subsidizing core costs as part of the National budget, including liability insurance we must carry to cover all official Scouting activities.

Unfortunately, it is no longer possible for the National organization to subsidize at the level it has in the past, especially as the cost of insurance has increased dramatically. BSA has kept the cost low to make Scouting available to as many young people as possible, but keeping the cost artificially low for many years now magnifies the impact of changes.

No portion of the annual membership fee is retained by the Iroquois Trail Council. However, to ensure that BSA has the resources to fulfill the promise of Scouting despite increasing operating costs, the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America has made the difficult but necessary decision to increase the annual membership fee effective January 1, 2020 to:

- $60 for youth members in Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouts,
- $36 for youth members in Exploring, and
- $36 for adult members

Every dollar of the national membership fee will go toward the cost of essential services, including liability insurance for those participating in approved Scouting activities, program resources, safety standards, youth protection and personal safety training, and services to councils nationwide to sustain Scouting.

The National organization will also continue to develop and improve resources that support our volunteers and youth members such as online registration, Member Care, and Scoutbook , which now includes the Den Leader experience to ensure the safe and consistent delivery of Cub Scouting; as well as improvements aimed at simplifying the annual renewal process.

For more than 100 years, Scouting has helped build future leaders by combining educational activities and lifelong values with fun and adventure in the outdoors. At Boy Scouts of America, we are dedicated to developing leaders of character by preparing young men and women for life by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law. The timeless ideals of the Scout Law, such as being trustworthy, helpful, kind and brave, make up the foundation young people need to address and overcome challenges in their lives and the issues facing their generation.

Across the country and in our own community, we know that Scouting remains one of the most valuable investments we can make to support young men and women today so they can become the leaders we will turn to tomorrow. From once-in-a-lifetime adventures to merit badges that spark interests and future careers; from campouts under the stars to service projects that leave a lasting impact on our communities; Scouting’s year-round program expands horizons and provides young people with a safe and welcoming place to learn, grow, and thrive.

That is why we are committed to ensuring that all youth can experience the character-building benefits of Scouting regardless of their financial situation. In addition to our existing council and unit membership assistance, we have established a national Growing Future Leaders Fund , which is funded entirely through donations, to provide additional financial support to those who need it.
Thank you for your continued role in empowering a generation of future leaders of character through Scouting programs.

FAQ

Q: Why are the fees increasing now?
A: While costs increase every year, the Boy Scouts of America has worked to keep the annual membership fee as low as possible to make Scouting available to as many young people as possible by subsidizing core costs, including liability insurance we must carry to cover all official Scouting activities. As the organization’s financial situation has shifted over the past several months, it is no longer possible to subsidize at the level we have in the past, especially as the cost of insurance has increased dramatically.

Q: The Iroquois Trail Council charges an additional annual fee of $7 to cover insurance. Does this change mean that fee is no longer necessary?
A: No, the liability insurance that we need to carry for all Scouting activities at the national level is different from local fees that are collected to address local needs, which include local property insurance and accident insurance.

Q: Does this National Membership fee apply to all youth members and volunteers?
A: Yes, the new fees apply for youth and adult members. Effective January 1, 2020, the new fees are:
- $60 for Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, and Venturing youth + $7 local insurance fee
- $36 for Exploring youth + $7 local insurance fee
- $36 for adult members + $7 local insurance fee (adult fee includes the cost of criminal background checks and Scouting Magazine )
- $60 for unit charter fees (flat fee per unit)

Q: Will the national membership fee continue to increase?
A: Although no decision about future increases have been made, the cost of operating our organization and services increases every year. Should it be necessary to increase fees in the future, the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America has agreed to evaluate the needs and make such decisions, whenever possible, at the National Annual Meeting in May or early in the summer so that they can be announced with as much lead time as possible to allow for councils and units to be able to plan accordingly.

Q: Is Scouting still a good value?
A: Absolutely! While most extracurricular activities are seasonal, Scouting is a year-round program that remains one of the most valuable investments we can make to support young men and women today so they can become the leaders we will turn to tomorrow. For most of our youth members, the new registration fee amounts to $5 a month, which is an enormous value when you consider that many seasonal extracurricular activities often start at $100 for programs that last a few weeks.

Q: What will the money be used for?
A: Every dollar of membership fees will go to cover the cost of essential services, including liability insurance for members participating in approved Scouting activities, background checks for adult leaders, program development and training resources, continuously updated youth protection and youth safety training, improved IT/digital experiences and services to our councils nationwide.

Q: Is this increase being implemented to cover the cost of the additional background checks?
A: No, the cost of background checks is not prompting the fee increase.

Q: Why is this being announced now?
A: We recognize the timing of this fee increase creates challenges as units have already begun collecting fees for their 2020 registration renewal process, and we would not make this difficult decision if it were not absolutely necessary. Unfortunately, the cost of liability insurance we must carry to cover all Scouting activities has increased dramatically over the past several months, and the organization is no longer able to offset the cost of insurance. We are committed to supporting you through this process and are making necessary adjustments to the online rechartering system to ensure units can carry out the recharter process.

Q: Does this increase cover financial challenges the organization is facing?
A: The increase was prompted because the cost of liability insurance we must carry to cover all Scouting activities has increased dramatically over the past several months, and the organization is no longer able to offset the cost of insurance. The national membership fee also enables us program development and training resources, continuously updated youth protection and youth safety training, improved IT/digital experiences and services to our councils nationwide.

Q: When will this increase take effect?
A: The new membership fees will take effect starting January 1, 2020 for the 2020-21 program year.

Q: Is financial assistance available?
A: We are committed to ensuring that all youth can experience the character-building benefits of Scouting regardless of their financial situation. In addition to the many existing council and unit membership assistance funds, we have established the donor-funded Growing Future Leaders Fund to provide financial support to those who need it.

Q: What measures has the national organization taken to offset the financial challenges?
A: In addition to ongoing efforts to streamline and simplify the organization, the national organization has taken a number of steps in addressing its financial challenges, including the recent elimination of more than 35 positions at the National Service Center and ongoing consolidation of departments for the most effective utilization of resources in support of Scouting.


Questions? Contact Us.
Iroquois Trail Council, Boy Scouts of America
585-343-0307 info@itcbsa.org

Monday, July 29, 2019

Rock star visits Eagle project

A few years back, for his Eagle project, Jacob Dawson saved some headstones that had been misused as a sidewalk. Recently, Bobby Strickland -- who is in Todd Rundgren's band as the saxophone player -- visited the project to find the burial site and headstone for his 5x great-grandfather.

https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/local_news/hidden-graves-links-to-the-past-in-pendleton/article_751988bb-d57e-5c9f-a097-973f53729e47.html

Monday, January 14, 2019

Book your calendars for the BoyPower dinner


We're excited to announce that we have booked the speaker and the date for our annual BoyPower dinner. It will take place on Thursday, May 30th at Batavia Downs.

The keynote speaker will be Bob Duffy.

Bob is currently the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce and he has a long, distinguished career of service to the community.

He joined the Rochester Police Department in 1976 and became its Chief of Police in 1998, a role he held until 2005. In 2006 he became the Mayor of Rochester and served in that role until 2011. He was New York's lieutenant governor from January 2011 to December 2014.

Bob's diverse background in public service, and his collaborative nature in those roles, will provide some excellent lessons about leadership that we can take back to our packs, troops, businesses, and communities.

Saturday, December 15, 2018

Our statement on the BSA's alleged impending bankruptcy

Dear Iroquois Trail Council Families,

By now you have may have read or heard about the recent Wall Street Journal article speculating on the National Boy Scouts of America’s finances. We want to start by assuring you that Scouting remains strong and steady on the trail to our 2nd century. To address some of the questions and concerns we have been hearing, please review this information. As always, if you have further questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

The most important fact is this: the Iroquois Trail Council is a corporation separate from BSA and maintains its own 501(c)3 status. Business decisions made on this or any issue by BSA will not impact the assets of the Iroquois Trail Council – including our camps and donations made to our local program.

BSA – the national organization – has an obligation to its members to remain strong. As such they are exploring all options for best management of their assets. Sometimes this involves contacting outside experts. No decision has been made or is imminent at this point about BSA’s national finances.
It is important to note that the Iroquois Trail Council is governed by local volunteers who provide strong oversight on budget development, fundraising, spending, and investment.

During the past decade, our Council has routinely balanced its budget, made substantial capital improvements to Council owned facilities, and ensured the future of local Scouting through growth in our Council’s endowment fund. The Iroquois Trail Council is also debt-free and has no pending litigation. This diligent governance from our volunteers keeps us a well-run and financially viable organization.

Through the continued support of our generous volunteers’ time and financial resources we are able to provide a high-quality Scouting program to more than 2,500 Scouts and 1,200 adults in our 5-county area.

Our Council has much to be grateful for this year. An outstanding summer camp season, tremendous enthusiasm for the launch of Family Scouting, and strong growth in the Lion program are just the beginning.

We are poised to see Scouting nationally return to a position of strength and growth and must not let any potential financial restructuring by the national organization distract us. Scouting long has been, and continues to be, the most relevant and robust character and leadership development program for youth and families. Let’s keep it that way!

Thank you for your participation and support of local Scouting.

Yours in Scouting,

Bob Confer, Council President and Jim McMullen, Scout Executive

Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Spook-O-Ree help wanted

Calling All Troop Leaders!

Is your troop looking for a fun event to help out at on Saturday, October 13th?

Iroquois Trail Council's 2018 Spook-O-Ree is scheduled to be held on the early afternoon on October 13th. Spook-O-Ree is held at the Genesee County Park, in East Bethany.

We are looking for troops to help out with setting up our Spook-O-Ree area, and running one of our fun filled Halloween-type stations for the day.

No matter how big or small your troop is, we can your help on Saturday, October 13th

Bring your Scouts in costumes, or come as you are.

For more information, Please contact Terri Martinez.

Terri's email is: tmartine@brockport.edu

Telephone #: 585-474-6380

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Wood Badge 2019



Wood Badge is a Scouting leadership program for adult leaders. Wood Badge courses aim to make Scouters better leaders by teaching advanced leadership skills and by creating a bond and commitment to the Scout movement. Our Council will be offering Wood Badge in 2019, for the first time in years. We are very excited about the opportunities that Wood Badge brings!

Download the flier here:

http://www.itcbsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/2019-Woodbadge-N3-376-19.pdf

Thursday, September 13, 2018

Save the date: Town hall meeting about older girls

Earlier this year we held a town hall meeting to discuss the nuances of adding girls to the Cub Scout program. We will be holding a similar town hall for those who have interest in adding older girls to the Boy Scout age program. The meeting will be held on Saturday, December 8th from 10:00 AM till 11:30 AM at Room T119 in the Technology Center at GCC.

Towpath Roundtable is September 20th

On Thursday, September 20th, the Towpath District will hold their first Roundtable of the new season.
WE ARE IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION AT DESALES!! We will be in the old library on the second floor. This is a much more comfortable room and out of the traffic flow. Please enter through the door at the TOP of the driveway ABOVE the cafeteria parking lot. Follow the CUB SCOUT signs.

We’ve got lots to cover at Roundtable, things like:

Popcorn,
Webelos Woods
Taste of Scouting
Camp Kickoff
Camporee and Klondike Derby
YPT
Position Specific Training

The Scouting BSA Breakout session will introduce you to our new Advancement Chair, Ray Kline, who will explain procedures for Eagle projects, Boards of Review, etc. There have been some changes to the process, so Scoutmasters and Advancement Chairs should plan on attending. If you’re doing “double duty”, representing both Pack and Troop, PLEASE arrange to have someone attend this session, but also have someone attend the

CUB SCOUT Breakout – which will begin addressing the AOL to Scout transition. This is an important time for your AOL Cubs as they get ready to cross over to Scouting BSA and their new Troops! BOTH PACKS AND TROOPS SHOULD PLAN ON SENDING PEOPLE TO THIS SESSION! Packs need to develop relationships with Troops that will fit their Cubs’ schedules and personalities and Troops need to be ready to “show off” for visiting Cubs. Learn some secrets to a successful transition by attending this session!

Roundtable begins at 7PM and will end before 9.

Thursday, August 16, 2018

A summer camp success story: Tyler Calmes


Here's a summer camp success story!

At Camp Sam Wood 2017 (Session 2), Tyler Calmes picked up a bow and arrow for the first time and needed assistance on how to shoot it.

When he came home from camp he told his parents that he wanted a real bow and arrow for Christmas, which he received.

His dad started taking him up to a cousin's archery shop to learn how to shoot. He was getting quite good and they recommended that his parents take him to a shooting event so he could shoot at 3D targets. He truly enjoyed it, so they took him to more.


He qualified for the IBO State Championships and came in second place for his age group this year!

Way to go, Tyler! To go from being a beginner to a major player in archery in less than one year is really impressive!