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Bay-Lakes Council is poised to end the year with membership growth, as individual Packs, Troops, and Crews have retained more youth than usual and are ahead of the game in preparing for a great Fall Recruitment season. Under the leadership of Fall Recruitment Chair, Jay Van Zeeland, districts have already kicked off their campaign at their Program Kick-offs in May. The 2022 Fall Recruitment campaign features quite a few improvements, and new programs to help your unit bring our life-changing program to more local youth.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, August 13, 2022, for the 2022 Fall Popcorn Sale Kickoff Training. The meeting will be held via Zoom from 9:00-11:00 AM. If your unit is interested in raising money to help fund your upcoming adventures, then look no further than the 2022 Popcorn Sale! Attending this training will qualify your unit for a 5% bonus commission. All new units to the popcorn sale get $500 in free popcorn to sell to kick off the annual fundraiser. For more information, contact Kallee Kissling at Kallee.Kissling@Scouting.org.

Give your Pack or Troop an experience they will never forget at a Scout Night and sleepover at the Timber Rattlers stadium! Scouts are invited to participate in a pre-game parade around the warning track and are encouraged to wear their uniform and bring a unit banner. Use the exciting experience of a Minor League baseball game to rally your friends and family for an unforgettable night at the ballpark. Book your tickets through Jon Bellis at jbellis@timberrattlers.com or (920) 733-4152 ext.227.

As we approach the midpoint in our Council’s fiscal year, I want to extend a huge THANK YOU to all of the Scout families, Scouters and friends who have given so generously to support Scouting this year through the Friends of Scouting campaign. Our Packs, Troops, Crews, and Ships are wrapping up their efforts to gather support from their families and reach their goals for the campaign. We have made much progress, but as Robert Frost said, “have miles to go” before we sleep. I am writing this month to ask for your help in reaching our goals and more importantly, helping to sustain our Scouting program in the Bay-Lakes Council.

It is hard to believe that a month has passed since we spent a weekend together at the center of the Scouting Universe -- the Bay-Lakes Council Convention at the KI Center in Green Bay. Together, we celebrated our district accomplishments, our Eagle Scouts, our National Outstanding Eagle Scouts, our Silver Beavers, and how important Scouting is.

When you walk into any Bay-Lakes Council camp this summer, you will see changes; lots of volunteers (for whom we are deeply grateful) are always hard at work to build and to restore, to create, and to recreate.


Part that cadre are members of the Order of the Arrow, Kon Wapos Lodge -- that national "honor society" of scouts and Scouters who dedicate themselves to service and to camping. Rarely do we see less than pristine grounds and facilities. Often unseen, these "arrowmen" cheerly work on projects and the mundane. These first two weekends in June will find them all over the camping properties and celebrating their new members.

Their good deeds are not limited to Bay-Lakes Council. A group of Kon Wapos Lodge Arrowmen collaborated with other lodges in the upper Midwest to provide much-needed ground support for the annual Chippewa Valley Air Show last week outside Eau Claire, WI. Akin to the EAA AirVenture next month in Oshkosh, WI, but on a smaller scale, the Chippewa Valley Council is a lead supporting organization, and OA members helped with parking, ticketing, grounds keeping and numerous other activities

 

Because we do not often see Arrowmen in action, the introduction to the OA's mission and purpose is instructive: "For over 100 years, the Order of the Arrow (OA) has recognized Scouts and Scouters who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. This recognition provides encouragement for others to live these ideals as well. Arrowmen are known for maintaining camping traditions and spirit, promoting year-round and long term resident camping, and providing cheerful service to others. OA service, activities, adventures, and training for youth and adults are models of quality leadership development and programming that enrich and help to extend Scouting to America's youth." Check them out online.

 

And, deep gratitude for their continued service to Scouting and the greater community.


Warren Kraft

Program Development

guide@baylakesbsa.org

   
   

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