Fall Camporee at Camp Dittmer

If you haven't signed up for the Fall Camporee at Camp Dittmer, please do so now. It will be a great flag-themed event with a camp-wide game of capture the flag, flag football and many more activities! 

NYLT at Camp Dittmer --- it's not too late to sign up!

Silver Lake Golf & Tennis Classic

The Council's 34th annual Silver Lake Golf & Tennis Classic will take place on Monday the 27th at Silver Lake Country Club. If you would like to participate in this popular, fun-filled event, download the flier here:

http://itcbsa.org/Joomla/images/Forms/2015/2015BSAGolf-TennisTourneyFlier.pdf

Pete's last summer at camp

When you go to Camp Dittmer this summer, please thank Pete Scarborough for everything he's done four the camp and our scouts. This is his 16th and final season as a member of the camp staff. What a run it has been -- he has impacted so many young lives.

A change to your Camp Dittmer routine

For unit leaders and parents who, on their way to or from Camp Dittmer, had grown accustomed to getting gas or ice cream at the Byrne Dairy next to Midlakes High School in Phelps, we are sad to report that Byrne Dairy burned down overnight and is a total loss. The story from WHEC...

http://www.whec.com/article/stories/s3844884.shtml

Tyler Davis: Our first-ever youth board member

We recently announced that we were creating a position on the Council’s executive board that will be manned by a scout who is not the Order of the Arrow chief. We want the boys represented on the board, and who better than a scout – one of our “customers” - to offer insight on what we are doing or what we could be doing for our scouts?

We have our man -- Tyler Davis.

Tyler is a member of Troop 4027 in Caledonia who will be entering his junior year at Caledonia Mumford High School.

An Eagle Scout, he has an accomplished Scouting career.

In 2012, he was selected to become a member of the Order of the Arrow. In 2013 he was selected to be the Ceremonies Chairman of Ashokwahta 339 and earned Brotherhood membership. Later that year, he was asked by Section NE-3A Section Chief Kyle Piper to become the Council Vice-Chief of Native American Affairs where his duties included securing a Native American Dance team to dance at the 2014 and 2015 conclaves.

He has also completed the Northeast Region National Leadership Seminar. In 2014 he was elected as the Ashokwahta Lodge 2nd Vice Chief. In 2015, he planned the centennial conclave and was elected as the Vice Chief of Service. At the Conclave he ran for Section Vice Chief and got elected.

This August he will be attending NOAC 2015 at Michigan State University. In 2016, he intends on going to Philmont, in 2017, the National Scout Jamboree, and in 2018 Sea Base and Northern Tier. He hopes to be lucky enough to attend the 2019 the World Jamboree at the Summit. Tyler aspires to one day become a professional scouter to bring the same impact scouting had on his life to others.

Tyler's duties on our board will run from July 2015 to June 2016, when another youth -- be it a scout, venturer, or explorer -- will assume that role.

This is an excellent opportunity for Tyler --- it will give him experience on an executive board at relatively early age; it will look good on his college application and professional resume; and, most importantly, it will give him the chance to give back to an organization – the BSA -- that has hopefully contributed a great deal to who he is.

Likewise, it's an important opportunity for the board --- there's a lot we can learn from this young man and we're certain he has many great ideas to help advance our council and Scouting in our communities.

Endowment campaign

Here is a message from Thomas J. Madejski M.D. who is overseeing our endowment campaign...


Fellow Scouters and Families,

The Iroquois Trail Council has embarked on a fund-raising campaign to double the size of our Council endowment. The Council Board of directors continuously reviews the financial situation of the ITC. We also attempt to meet certain benchmarks based on the performance of similar size councils. Our current endowment fund is approximately $ 750,000, about half of the recommended size per national standards. The income generated from this fund is used to fund camperships and Council operations. We have a need to generate an additional $36,000 annually in order to secure and operate a new Council Office due to expiration of our lease at our Batavia site.

Based upon those considerations, our goal is to double the endowment fund to $1.5 million over the next 5 years. This would allow us to generate earnings of $30,000 to $ 60,000 annually, and help us secure the future and independence of our Council and our camps.

Prior to the start of the campaign we have secured pledges of over $150,000 towards our goal.

There are many ways to make a gift, including by check, gifts of stock, or through various methods of planned giving or estate planning. Gifts at all levels are helpful and appreciated.

To learn more details about our campaign please review the Campaign Overview available our our Council website:

http://itcbsa.org/Joomla/images/Forms/EndowmentCampaignOverviewIroquoisTrailCouncilBSA.pdf

For details and to learn more about contribution options please contact Scout Executive Jim McMullen (585) 343-0307 or jim.mcmullen@scouting.org.

Thank you for your consideration.

Yours in Scouting,

Thomas J. Madejski M.D.
Iroquois Trail Council President Emeritus

A new face at the Lockport scout shop

The Iroquois Trail Council welcomes the newest member of our team. Marylou Maier has joined us as the clerk at our Lockport Scout Shop. Local Scouters may know Marylou from her volunteer roles with Pack 3071, Troop 82, and the Lockport Day Camp. Stop in to say hi and browse our newest selections M-Th 2-6 and Fri 8-Noon. Marylou is also surveying our customers regarding the Lockport Scout Shop hours, so stop by to share your thoughts!

Eagle Scout alumni event

Board position available for a scout (revised)

Over a month ago, we posted a "help wanted ad" looking for a scout who, as a high school senior, would be interested in serving on the Council board. There hasn't been any applicants, and I believe that's because our search required too narrow of a demographic. As boys get older, they tend to be less involved in Scouting, maybe due to the rigors of the senior year, and the "fumes" -- perfume, gas fumes, and grill fumes (or girls, cars, and jobs). So, there are too few high school seniors in Scouting.

We have expanded the search and allow anyone who will be a high school junior or senior in 2015-2016 to apply.  

Here is the modified request...

We will be creating a position on the Council’s executive board which will be manned by a scout. We want the boys represented on the board, and who better than a scout – one of our “customers” - to offer insight on what we are doing or what we could be doing for our scouts?

This position will be available to an active scout regardless of rank (he does not have to be an Eagle) who will be a high school junior or senior during the 2015-2016 school year. His duties will run from July 2015 to June 2016.

The board typically meets 6 to 8 times a year on the fourth Tuesday at 7:00 PM at the Batavia service center. On the off month, the much smaller executive committee, which he will not be a part of, meets in place of the full board. We typically have August off for summer break, and this year we will be having our first ever board retreat at Camp Sam Wood on July 18^th and 19^th at which board members will receive training, work on strategic planning and conduct a service project. Beyond those meetings and get-togethers, the scout might find himself interested in helping out with any of our various committees (finance, membership, properties, etc.).

This is an excellent opportunity for the scout who will be selected…it will give him experience on an executive board at relatively early age; it will look good on his college application and professional resume; and, most importantly, it will give him the chance to give back to an organization – the BSA -- that has hopefully contributed a great deal to who he is.

We will be accepting applications until June 21st from which we will select one scout. Interested parties should send a letter via email to Scout Executive Jim McMullen (jmcmulle@bsamail.org) and Council President Bob Confer (bob@conferplastics.com). In that letter, please give us a brief bio and a rundown on your scouting history, tell us why you are interested in the board position and please describe how active you currently are – and will be -- in Scouting.

Jamboree registration is now open

It might be 2 years away, but it's time to start thinking about the National Jamboree. The Council will be sending two contingents to the event. Sign-up is open now. If interested, apply and budget accordingly. It shows a $975 fee on the Jamboree website -- that's just National's fees. There will also be travel fees, side trips, council shirts & patches and more, so the total cost will likely be around $1,500 (more on that later this year). We will begin our team-building and preparation exercises in the summer of 2016.

Here is the link for registration:

http://www.summitbsa.org/events/jamboree/overview/

The Bittners: NIagara County's Distinguished Citizens

Jim and Margo Sue Bittner will be recognized as our Niagara County Distinguished Citizens at Thursday's BoyPower Dinner. Here's a nice write-up about them from the Lockport Union Sun & Journal:

http://www.lockportjournal.com/news/local_news/a-role-model-couple/article_f92f6af9-9124-5834-baab-a8cdb2a687d9.html

Offices closed on Memorial Day

Both Council service centers will be closed Monday, May 25th in observance of Memorial Day. Enjoy the unofficial start of summer with your families and PLEASE take the time to recognize the true meaning of Memorial Day...quietly and genuinely reflect upon and appreciate the accomplishments and lives of our military men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Camp Dittmer work weekends

Please join us for the May 30 or June 20 Work Days at Camp Dittmer. A variety of projects are slated to be done, and both skilled and unskilled labor will be helpful! For details & to let us know you will be joining us, please email Bob Drury: rdrury@bsamail.org

A family of Eagle Scouts

How's this for an awesome story: Four brothers, FOUR EAGLE SCOUTS.

Check out the nice report in the Lockport Union Sun & Journal:

http://www.lockportjournal.com/news/local_news/four-eagle-scouts-in-one-family/article_09d608f5-5af2-5da3-b55c-97e685659cf2.html

June 15th golf tournament

The June 15  'Character Counts' Golf Tournament is a brand new event that will be held at the Livingston Country Club in Geneseo. Join us for a day of golfing, dinner, and auction.

Details here:

http://itcbsa.org/Joomla/images/Forms/2015/2015LivingstonGolfFlier.pdf

Save the date: Fall Camporee

Troop Leaders - save Sept 18-20 to for the Fall Flag Fest Camporee at Camp Dittmer. The BIG EVENT will be a camp wide game of CAPTURE-THE-FLAG. Other activities will include a large scale Flag Retirement Ceremony, a Short-Squad Rapid-Fire Flag-Football Tournament, and multiple stations where you can earn your own Morse Code Interpreter Strip or complete the requirements for the new Signs, Signals & Codes merit badge.

Darien Lake Scouting Days - June 11 to July 1

Scouting families and friends can take advantage of great savings over the gate price at Darien Lake during these special Scout Days. Tickets may be purchased at the Batavia or Lockport Scout Shop after April 27 or online from Darien Lake.

Board poistion available for a scout

We will be creating a position on the Council’s executive board which will be manned by a scout. We want the boys represented on the board, and who better than a scout – one of our “customers” - to offer insight on what we are doing or what we could be doing for our scouts?

This position will be available to an active scout regardless of rank (he does not have to be an Eagle) who will be a high school senior during the 2015-2016 school year. His duties will run from July 2015 to June 2016.

The board typically meets 6 to 8 times a year on the fourth Tuesday at 7:00 PM at the Batavia service center. On the off month, the much smaller executive committee, which he will not be a part of, meets in place of the full board. We typically have August off for summer break, and this year we will be having our first ever board retreat at Camp Sam Wood on July 18^th and 19^th at which board members will receive training, work on strategic planning and conduct a service project. Beyond those meetings and get-togethers, the scout might find himself interested in helping out with any of our various committees (finance, membership, properties, etc.).

This is an excellent opportunity for the scout who will be selected…it will give him experience on an executive board at relatively early age; it will look good on his college application and professional resume; and, most importantly, it will give him the chance to give back to an organization – the BSA -- that has hopefully contributed a great deal to who he is.

We will be accepting applications until June 14^th from which we will select one scout. Interested parties should send a letter via email to Scout Executive Jim McMullen (jmcmulle@bsamail.org) and Council President Bob Confer (bob@conferplastics.com). In that letter, please give us a brief bio and a rundown on your scouting history, tell us why you are interested in the board position and please describe how active you currently are – and will be -- in Scouting.

A nice history about the Dittmer family and Camp Dittmer

For those who would like a nice historical perspective on Camp Dittmer, the Dittmer family, and more, check out this webpage at "Find a Grave" about Arthur Dittmer. It looks at his professional career and his contributions to our Council. It's an interesting read:

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=132476877