NEW Youth Protection Training
Effective October, 1st 2018 all registered adults are required to have the NEW Youth Protection Training. Those without it will be dropped off of their rosters in this year’s recharter cycle. Please take this training to maintain your BSA registration and to not hold up your unit’s recharter process. This training can be found at www.scouting.org/training/youth-protection. Also, we will offer an in-person YPT training at the October Roundtable (see below).
October Roundtable
All adult Scouters are invited to join us for Roundtable Thursday, October 4th from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Vestavia (1124 Montgomery Hwy, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216). This month’s Roundtable is very important as we will distribute Recharter Packets. Also, we will offer Recharter training and YPT training. Please do not miss this opportunity!
Rocket Academy
Rocket Academy is Saturday, October 13th from 8 am-12 pm at the Hoover Met. New Scouts will have the opportunity to earn their Bobcat and to shoot their rockets that they received from their Unit Leaders after joining. Parents please see your unit leaders or visit www.1bsa.org to learn more.
Veterans’ Day Parade
Veterans are relying on Scouts to carry state flags in honor of them on this special day of recognition.
EVENT DATE: Monday, November 12, 2018
RECRUITING SCOUT FOR THE PRESTIGIOUS STATE FLAG FORMATION: The Greater Alabama Council is recruiting approximately 55 Boy Scouts as Veterans Day parade state flag carriers prestigiously positioned third from the front of the parade formation and leading the Scout contingent. If your troop as a whole or individual boy scouts desire to be flag carriers, please plan on being at the parade assembly area (North end of the City of Birmingham not yet determined) by 12:30 PM in full and correct uniform Monday, November 12th. We will also need eight Scout leaders in uniform to guide the flag formation and ensure safety. Flag carriers and formation leaders are requested to please email the GAC point of contact for the flag formation, Rick DeFilippo, (205) 823-3000 or rick.defilippo@yahoo.com. In your email, please use subject line (all capital letters): “SCOUT VETERANS DAY FLAG FORMATION.”
The Birmingham Veterans Day Parade is a great opportunity to create lifelong Scouting memories by demonstrating our patriotism and love for flag and country in the nation’s largest and oldest Veterans Day parade, started in 1947. Scout Troops and Packs are invited to participate in the parade. The Greater Alabama Counsel encourages maximum participation to retain GAC’s formation at the lead of the parade as state flag carriers.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
PARADE DATE & STEP-OFF TIME: Monday, November 12th starting at 1:30 PM. Flag carriers and scouts are requested to start forming at the scout location (TBD) by 12:45 PM in order to obtain flags and organize the formation; step-off time at 1:30 PM.
PARADE LENGTH & DURATION: Approximately a 1.5-mile slow walk route. The scout formation starts at the beginning of the parade at 1:30 PM and should complete the route by approximately 2:30 PM. The entire parade will finish the route at approximately 5:30 PM
REGISTRATION: Do not register with the parade. The Greater Alabama Counsel will register on behalf of all scouts.
ASSEMBLY: Assemble area will not be the same as previous years due to city construction. When the assembly area is released a supplemental notice will follow.
IMPORTANT PARADE PARTICIPANT POLICY ENFORCEMENT: For several years now the Veterans Day parade organizers have had a policy prohibiting family members from marching/walking in the parade with their affiliated organizations. This policy in response to the parade growing in size to a point where the march lasts upwards of 5-hours. Starting this year only the following GAC members may march/walk in the Veterans Day parade. Families will be encouraged to sit at the sidelines enjoying the parade as spectators. GAC recommendation for families being that after the Scout contingent begins the march, that parents and siblings assemble at the parade end which is expected as in previous years to be close to the parade start in order to easily rejoin their scout as the scout formation reaches the parade route end.
Authorized parade GAC participants: All Troop and Pack leaders and scouts in uniform are encouraged to participate. Packs are authorized to participate in the parade with a vehicle towing a float if they do not desire to walk. The float must be decorated in a patriotic/veteran theme that reflects positively on BSA and GAC. For safety, the float must provide seating within the platform (no sitting on the sides with feet hanging off the float) and adult leader supervision. Floats will be staged at the back of the Scout formation. Please direct any questions to the GAC parade coordinator Rick DeFilippo, (205) 823-3000 or rick.defilippo@yahoo.com. In your email, please use subject line (all capital letters): “SCOUT VETERANS DAY PARADE FLOAT”
UNIT FLAGS ONLY: The flag formation will be followed by troops and then packs. Since the American flag and Alabama flag will be included in the leading Scout formation, please ONLY march with your unit flag.
WATER: Water will be available onsite. There will be a small amount of downtime as the Scouting contingent joins the larger parade. Be prepared with snacks, games, or other activities to keep Scouts occupied.
UNIFORM: The Scout uniform is the only proper attire for those participating in the Veterans Day parade. Marching with backpacks, coolers, etc. is prohibited.
NO CANDY, BEADS, ETC: No one may throw candy, beads or any other item during the parade.
Scouts are needed for Opening Ceremony for the Salute to Veterans Ball.
8-10 Boy Scouts are needed at this event organized by Vettes-4-Vets and the City of Hoover. The event takes place Thursday, November 8th at the Findley Center (Hoover Met). Scouts will need to be there at 4:00 pm in full uniform. They will also reserve a table of 10 and provide dinner for participating Scouts and Leaders. It is a great event for a great cause. The keynote speaker will be Medal of Honor recipient, Bennie Atkins Army CSM (Ret.) Please contact Will McIntyre 205-541-4292 or William.mcintyre@scouting.org for more information or if your scouts would like to participate.
Scoutfest
Please do not let your Scouts miss out on this! Scoutfest is the largest, most exciting event offered by the GAC and it only comes around every 4 years. It will take place at Point Mallard Park in Decatur, AL November 2-4, 2018. We will offer 40 activities for both Cubs and Scouts. There will be a stage show, fireworks, and much more. Please visit www.scoutfest.com to register, learn more, and view exciting footage from our event in 2014. The registration deadline for 2018 is October 18th, so don’t delay!
100-Mile Bike Ride
You won’t want to miss this 100-mile bike ride on the Silver Comet and Chief Ladiga trail.
- November 18, 2018
- Departure: 4 am (breakfast in Anniston)
- Ride: 7:30 am – 4:30 pm
Scouts who want to participate must qualify on one of the 18-mile qualification rides:
- October 14 or 21
- Meet outside gates at Oak Mountain State Park
- 1:30 pm
For the cycling trip, trip organizer Bill Cather will need at least 4 adults to cycle and 6 adults to chase in vehicles with bike racks. Adults should contact Bill Cather to volunteer or get more information.
A special note to Unit Leaders about youth applications
Unit Leaders, if you have additional youth applications still in-hand, please turn them in as soon as possible (Do not wait until Recharter)! This is extremely important as all participating youth must be registered in order to:
- Be covered by BSA insurance.
- Have their achievements and advancements processed.
- Get their free handbooks and rockets.
- Participate in District/Council activities.
If you have any applications please turn them into the Scout Office or email them to Will McIntyre at William.mcintyre@scouting.org
High Adventure Crew Openings
Troop 21, Vulcan District, has three openings for a Sea Base Coral Reef Sailing adventure during Hoover’s Spring Break, March 22-April 1, 2019. The cost is $1,100.00. We would like one adult and two Scouts or three Scouts. Please Contact ASM Kyle Horn 205-329-4497 Hooverhorns.kyle@gmail.com