Friends of Scouting Breakfast Season

Has Officially Begun!

The 2008 Downtown FOS Breakfast is on Thursday, February 28, 2008 at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center. The breakfast will be co-chaired by Todd Zarfos of The Boeing Company and Fred Grimm of Triad Development. The Boeing Company and Triad Development are both corporate sponsors of the breakfast. Event goal is $350,000 with 1,500 guests.

The 2008 Seattle Seahawks Eastside FOS Breakfast is on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue. The Seattle Seahawks are the title sponsor and will provide the program. Event goal is $350,000 with 1,200 guests.

All breakfasts events begin at 7.00 a.m. and end by 8.30 a.m.

The 2008 Scoutreach Lunch and Golf Social is on Friday, May 9, 2008 at the Golf Club at Newcastle. The luncheon is chaired by former Governors Gary Locke & Dan Evans. Event goal is $150,000 with 400 guests.

Check-in: 11:00-11:30 a.m.

Lunch & Program: 11:30-1:00 p.m.
Driving Range Practice: 1:15 p.m.
Shotgun Start: 1:30 p.m.

For additional information please contact the Development Department at developmentdept@seattlebsa.org

Spring Course:
April 24^th-26^th  and May 15^th-17^th

What is Wood Badge?
Wood Badge is a leadership course designed so every adult  leader for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, or Venturing, as well as district and council leaders and professionals, can take the Wood Badge course within two years of becoming a Scouter (though it is never too late).

*Fall course is September 12-14 and 26-28, lead by Lyle Hall.

How do I find more information & register for Wood Badge?
For Info and online registration:
Spring Course: Click here
Fall Course: Click here.
or contact Brian Lenhart at 206.902.2340

Scout Shop Corner                                      

Wacky Wednesdays

The Puget Sound and Bremerton Scout Shops now have Wacky Wednesdays! Every third Wednesday of the month, many of our items will be marked down 20%, 40%, and sometimes even 60% off! A number of these discounts will increase each Wacky Wednesday, but only until supplies last. So don’t be late and come check out what your local Scout Shops have at these fantastic prices!

Uniform Drive

During the month of February, the Scout Shops will be having a uniform drive. For every uniform shirt, pants, or shorts that are brought in, you will receive $5 off a pair of Boy Scout or Cub Scout Switchbacks. Please note that this is a one-for-one deal. If you bring in three uniform parts, you will receive $5 off each of three pairs of Switchbacks, not $15 off of one pair. This is a great opportunity to help others and get you in the most comfortable and practical pair of scout pants you’ll ever wear.

Centennial Quality Units

If your unit has achieved the 2007 Centennial Quality Unit, know that your local Scout Shop can fulfill your supply needs, whether it is patches, pins, or plaques. Just give us a call or drop on in, and we’ll make sure you get what you need.

Blue and Gold

It’s that time of year again, with possibly the two largest events in Cub Scouting: Blue and Gold and the Pinewood Derby. We’ve got tablecloths, plastic wear, cups, centerpieces, plates, napkins, and whatever else you might need for your Blue and Gold Banquet. Don’t forget to check out this month’s Den Meeting in a Box. This month’s craft is paper lantern kits to go along with the Chinese New Year theme.

Pinewood Derby

When building your Pinewood Derby car, make sure you have what you need to make it the fastest and coolest looking car out there! Weights, lubricant, graphite, wheel alignment kits, decals, test tracks, tips and tricks books are all available at your scouting stores. The Puget Sound Scout Shop can be reached at 206-721-5945 and the Bremerton Scout Shop at 360-373-2569. See you on the racetrack!

Scouts Help Flood Victims

Centralia-Chehalis Flood 2007

Troop 186/Pack 144

Last December 15 and 16th Seattle Scout Troop 186 and Pack 144 went on an emergency work weekend to help flood victims in Lewis County. Sixteen Cubs and Boy Scouts ranging from 10 to 17 years old sorted warehouse donations, drove forklifts, picked up and delivered appliances and mucked out mud from houses. Scouts also brought down 8 truckloads of donations of mattresses, clothes, bedding and appliances. 

Team leaders Scott Campbell (T186) and Mark McGary (P144)had this to say: "We really had no idea. It is like a mini Katrina down there. Over a thousand houses were flooded with muck. They lost all their upholstered furniture, appliances, furnaces... even the wallboard and insulation. Every house we saw on the plains was either down to the studs at the waterline or a total loss. Most houses had had 4 to 10 feet of water in them"

Scout William Sutherland, Eagle Scout, 17: "the second day the Boy Scouts were sent to clear mud. We were running a conveyor belt just to get mud out from under the house and then moving the mud out to the fields by wheelbarrow. The fields on these farms are filled with a foot of mud and thousands of trees washed down from the hills too. I am not sure what these people will do, it is a disaster." Scoutmaster Kevin Sutherland (T186): "It was just before Christmas, a really hard time to go, but we thought "we are having a hard time? What about them?" That made it pretty easy."

Cray Campbell, 15, Life Scout, said: "Our team was sent under a house into an 18" crawlspace. We pulled wet insulation from under the floor boards. The mud was the consistency of a milkshake and 3 to 10 inches deep. We had to hose OUT our clothes. It was sick." A moment later he said: "...but I would do it again. We are going back down in February and getting more people."

To find out how your unit can get involved, click here.

Troop 835: Emergency Services Provided 1,600 Meals!

The Scouts from Troop 835 in the Chief Seattle Council have some real world experience when it comes to doing a good turn. In collaboration with troops from West Port and Fort Lewis they served more than 1,600 meals to families affected by the recent flooding in Grays Harbor County. Using a converted bus as headquarters, the Scouts set up shop at Ocosta High School where families gathered in the gymnasium on December 6-9 for some companionship and a hot meal. Troop 835 is lead by Scoutmaster Dr. Jim Brass, and is sponsored by the Pacific Algona Senior Center, Lowes and Pacific Community Church.

Many of the families receiving help from the Scouts were without electrical power for up to seven days. No other assistance was available until December 8^th, prompting Ocosta School District Superintendent Gail Sackman to comment, “Heck with FEMA – we’ve got the Boy Scouts!” Using generators for power, and propane stoves, the Troops cooked meals, distributed donated food and emergency supplies, and provided basic first aid as needed. In some cases the Scouts delivered these services directly to the homes of those unable to make it to the high school.

As a result of their service Troop 835 has received numerous thank-you letters from grateful recipients. They are currently restocking their emergency services bus in preparation for the next time they are needed. If you would like to support their efforts, donations can be made to the “flood account” at any Columbia Bank.

Troop 835 began as part of a “Scoutreach” effort undertaken in the Chief Seattle Council for the purpose of offering a Scouting experience to young people regardless of economic status or ethnicity. Since their founding one year ago, they have successfully evolved into a traditional Boy Scout Troop, working on merit badges, attending camp, and instilling in each youth the timeless values of the Scout Oath and Law.

To view a thank you letter from the Ocosta School District, click here.

To Here...

Pack 793 Remembers Troops in Iraq During the Popcorn Sale

The Cub Scouts of Pack 793 in West Seattle had a successful popcorn selling season this year. The Scouts surpassed last year's record mark of $9,700 to set a new record of $12,020. In addition to their success, they collected donations from the West Seattle community to send additional popcorn to the troops in Iraq. This was the brain child of Jon (Dad) and Zach (Bear Scout). They made the suggestion to the pack and the rest of the Scouts embraced it. The Cub Scouts sent $710 worth of caramel corn, chocolate caramel crunch and microwave popcorn to Iraq.

One of the Scouts uncle is SPC Rick Wigginton of the 598th Maintenance Company which is doing their second tour in Iraq. They received the popcorn this past week and were very appreciative to receive it. Both Scouts and Troops would like to say thank you to the West Seattle Community for their donation.

West Seattle Boy Scout Troop Provides Northwest Favorite: Coffee to Troop in Iraq

West Seattle Troop 284 in association with McChord AFB WADS unit, is currently collecting donations of ground coffee to send a spring package in March to a medical unit stationed in Iraq.  Ground coffee must be in foil packets or bricks, no cans.  Life Scout Sam Guzzardo can receive emails or your phone calls to make arrangements for pickup of your Troop, Pack, Patrol or Den's donations. Email: samguzzardo@hotmail.com or phone: 206.444.0877.  Donations deadline, February 29th.

The unit is an Army medical unit stationed in Camp Bucca, Iraq. These people are responsible for medical care of some 10,000 to 20,000 Iraqis.

2010 National Jamboree

The 17^th National Jamboree will be held at Ft. A.P. Hill, VA on July 26-August 4, 2010. Chief Seattle Council has requested to send 6 troops. A steering committee, chaired by Lyle Hall, has been formed. Applications for Scoutmasters are now being excepted through the council activities department. Contact Brian Lenhart at 206.902.2327 or email him at blenhart@seattlebsa.org

ESTATE PLANNING NEWS:

"Home is Where the Deduction is"

It is increasingly common for donors to leave their residence, vacation home, or other land to the local Scout council after their lifetime.  This is often done through a bequest in the donors will, but there's a way to do the same thing, and get a current tax benefit for doing it.

A life estate gift gives you an immediate income tax deduction for promising the local council that it will receive your home or vacation home after your death, and/or the death of your spouse or other family member.  You continue to live there and use the property exactly as you do now, and your use is undisturbed until after your lifetime (or that of a spouse as well)

The life estate gift helps you get a current income tax benefit for a gift you may have planned to put in your will anyway.  Contact the Development Department/Chief Seattle Council at 206-725-5200 for more information about this interesting and helpful way to benefit your local council, as well as you and your family.

Many great things have been made possible for Scouting through the use of life estate gifts.  Find out for yourself how your house can be more than a home.