Scouts Filled the Food Banks!
Scouting for Food wrapped up last weekend and we are well on our way to exceeding last year's collections. Reports are still coming in; keep a look out for our totals report coming soon.

A big thank you to all the Scouts, parents and leaders that donated their time and energy for such an important service project.

Order of the Arrow, Venturers, and Boy Scouts
collaborate at Bellevue Hopelink.

50th Eagle Scout Recognition Banquet
The Chief Seattle Council is celebrating it's 50th Eagle Scout Recognition Banquet on Wednesday, May 12, 2011. To honor the accomplishments of new Eagles (Class of 2010-2011) along with fellow Eagles, please join us at 6:30pm for dinner and program at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue.

These new Eagles will have the opportunity to attend the banquet for FREE – thanks to other Eagles and businesses that will serve as sponsors. Parents and guests will also get an opportunity to view the program over a seated three course dinner at a discounted price of $50/pp. Invitations have been mailed out to all new Eagles and their parents.

The night promises to be one that will be remembered forever and treasured by all. There will be mystery Keynote speakers to add to the excitement!

The council is calling out to all past Eagles from the area to join the celebrations and make it a Gathering of Eagles. If you would like to sponsor a new Eagle Scout over dinner or, as a past Eagle would like to attend the Eagle reception, please make reservations on the Eagle Banquet Website. Reservations are required in advance.

Scholarship Opportunities
All Eagle Scouts from the Chief Seattle Council in their junior and senior years in High School also have an opportunity to apply for four college scholarships varying from $3,000- $5,000. All complete applications need to be mailed into the Scout office by TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2011. Click here for the application.

For any questions, please contact Keka Majumdar at 206-902-2329 or email at kmajumdar@seattlebsa.org.

Aviation Day
Third Annual Alaska Airlines Aviation Day is on Saturday, May 21st. This popular and free event fills up quickly, so be sure to register yourself or your entire troop online TODAY at www.alaskaair-aviationday.org. This event is designed for any high school student interested in aviation careers, including but limited to Boy Scouts, Venturers, & Explorers. We'll need aviation merit badge counselors too, so please sign up on line to help out. This free event includes all day program and lunch. Click here for a flyer to pass out to unit members.

A Message From Our Council President
Spring is here and the council is off to a very strong start with our FOS fundraising activities this year. Both the Eastside Luncheon and the Downtown Breakfast surpassed their fundraising targets. The annual business meeting was also held in mid-March and over 100 people attended. Charter organization representatives, district chairmen, Order of the Arrow members, and board members were all present. At the meeting, an important motion was made and approved that all top leaders (Cubmasters, Scoutmasters, Venturing Advisors, Team Coaches, and Skippers) in the council must have completed training or their units will not be allowed to re-charter and they themselves will not be allowed to re-register.

In order to be fully trained, a direct contact leader needs to complete the following: Fast Start Training, Youth Protection Training, This is Scouting, and Leaders Specific Training. Scoutmasters, Assistant Scoutmasters, Varsity and Assistant Varsity Coaches must also complete Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills. Venturing Crew Advisors and Associate Advisors need to complete Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills if the crew has an outdoor program. Certain units were surprised that they were denied a re-charter this year because leaders hadn't taken the Youth Protection Training. Please don't be caught off guard at the next rechartering time. Make sure all your direct contact leaders are trained. You will be doing yourself and your unit a service!

Yours in Scouting,
Tom Pigott

Venturing News
The Venturing Leadership Award is presented by councils, areas, regions, and the BSA National Council to Venturers and adults who have made exceptional contributions to Venturing and who exemplify the Venturing Code.

Qualifications are:

• Be registered and involved as a Venturer or an adult leader for at least one year.
• Hold a leadership position or an office at the unit, district, council, area, region, or national level (as appropriate for the level of the award presented).
• Show exceptional dedication and give outstanding leadership and service to Venturing and to Venturers (on the level appropriate for the award).

• Christopher Gifford, Crew 1504
• Jake Thomas Kvistad, Crew 1042
• Brody Lee Heitmann, Crew 1042
• Casey Burt, Crew 1504
• Christina Gray, Crew 1552

• Marjorie Lyn Zantek, Crew 1042
• Lynn Butler, Crew 1862
• West Niver, Crew 284 & Crew 760
• Mike Heesacker, Crew 1552

Council Exec Shares Her Thoughts
As you may have noticed in our President's article, the council will require all top leaders trained in order to recharter. Top leaders are Cubmasters, Scoutmasters, Varsity Coaches, Venture Crew Advisors, and Sea Scout Skippers. In order to be a trained leader, the following are required:

Cubmasters: Fast Start Training
Youth Protection Training (every two years)
This is Scouting
Cubmaster Specific Training
All these training sessions are online.

Scoutmasters: Fast Start Training
Youth Protection Training
This is Scouting
Leader Specific Training
Introduction of Outdoor Leaders Skills

Venturing/Varsity/Sea Scouts: Fast Start Training
Youth Protection Training
This is Scouting
Leader Specific by position
Introduction to Outdoor Leaders Skills

I would encourage each unit to select one person to serve as the Training Chair who will be responsible for tracking training for all leaders in that unit. The council will work to put a system in place to make the recording/reporting easier and more manageable.

Make sure this doesn't catch your unit off guard. If your Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, Coach, Advisor and Skipper needs training, now's the time to get it done.

2011 Leave No Trace Certification Event

SAVE THE DATE!!
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Camp Parsons

Training materials to prepare for the Certification Event can be found at: Scouting.org and www.ProjectLNT.org. Click on the training button or contact your local BSA Roundtable for Leave No Trace training events.

Event registration materials available at www.ProjectLNT.org. Click on the certification event button.

This is a CERTIFICATION EVENT not a day of training, all participants must come prepared to show their skills!! The Patrol Method is used and patrols are either all Youth or all Adults.

Each patrol must come prepared both individually and as a Patrol using the materials and guidance provided online. For more information, contact us at info@projectlnt.org.

Cub Scout Day Camp
Mark your calendars for a week of summer day camp fun as we celebrate "Cubs at Sea!" As always, we'll have great crafts, games, programs, and activities for all Cub Scouts. Day camp registration packets will be distributed through your district day camp director or district executive beginning in February. Early Bird registration ends May 18, 2011 and the cost is $70. You can attend any open session, in any district. Click here for the Day Camp flyer, or here to visit the Day Camp page on our website.

CAMP STAFF OPPORTUNITIES
Camp staff opportunities are available for Scouts and Venturers to work in our camp program for 2011. Positions are currently available at Camps Brinkley and Sheppard. Click here for an application.

2011 NYLT Now Open
NYLT
Camp Pigott
July 11-26 (Mon.-Sat.)
August 15-20 (Mon.-Sat.)

The 2011 NYLT sessions are now open! The National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) Conference is like Wood Badge for youth. It's an exciting, action-packed program designed to provide youth members of the Boy Scouts of America with leadership skills and experiences they can use in their home troop or Venture crew and other situations demanding leadership of self and others.

CLICK HERE for more information on NYLT, to view the brochure and to watch the promotional video.

Have You Noticed?
The Chief Seattle Council has a new logo! Where do Scouts meet? Here, there everywhere! Please enjoy utilizing the new logo; just be sure to follow these guidelines. New shoulder patch to be unveiled by summer.