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President Ford FSC eNewsletter Issue 27
| Tuesday, February 11, 2014 |
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Scouts continue to take advantage of the excellent winter weather in western Michigan this winter.
Top left: Cub Scouts from Pack 25 in Traverse City pull their sled made from cardboard, duct tape and paint after using it at the 9th annual Cub Scout Winter Wonder event at the Westside Community Church. Top right: Boy Scouts from Troop 105 in Lake Ann pull their sleds up a ramp on North Island on Long Lake; the Troop spent the weekend in a cabin on Oleson Island. Bottom: Boy Scouts from around Lowell participate in a Klondike Derby organized by Troop 102 in Lowell and Troop 71 in Saranac. On the left, Scouts practice signalling, and on the right Scouts push and pull their sled up the long hilly terrain. |
| We are looking for Blue and Gold, Crossover, and Pinewood Derby pictures for our next issue. Please submit your awesome snap shots to Dan at dan.soszynski@scouting.org. |
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Quick News + Links
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Pinewood Derby Workshops at Lowe's!
Dremel and Lowe's are teaming up to help you create the ultimate Pinewood derby car! You also have a chance to have your car displayed in stores for 2015.
Transfer Fee Elimination
Effective January 1, 2014 all registration transfer fees will be eliminated.
Leaders can now upload their Excel unit rosters to their MichiganScouting.org unit home page to be used in conjunction with all unit (contingent) registrations placed on the website including camps, camporees, and cub hikes.
Volunteer Opportunity for Boy Scouts Venturers and Leaders
The Grand Rapids Fire Department's Safety Instructor Ted Jensen is looking for volunteers to teach kids and adults fire safety at the West Michigan Home and Garden Show between March 6-9th in Grand Rapids. Volunteers will be trained in simple safety instruction. Contact Ted Jensen for additional details. |
World Scouting News |
 The speedy sport of luge has been in Tucker West's blood since age 6 when his dad built a track in the backyard for Tucker and his fellow Cub Scouts to race on.Scouting's been in Tucker's blood even longer.
Tucker West is the great-great-grandson of James E. West, the Boy Scouts of America's first Chief Scout Executive.
That link to one of the BSA's pioneers gives us a great reason to cheer on the 18-year-old as he becomes the youngest-ever member of the U.S. Olympic luge team and prepares to compete in Sochi, Russia.
Read More |
Summer Camp Links
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2014 Campership Application Process Now Available
The 2014 Michigan Crossroads Council Campership Application Process is now available.
We are excited to announce online registration for the 2014 Cub & Webelos Resident Camps! You may log on to the Michigan Crossroads Council web site and register your Pack for sessions of Resident Camp in 2014 all from the convenience of your nearest computer.
BSA Pistol Pilot Returns to D-bar-A Scout Ranch in 2014
D-bar-A Scout Ranch has been selected by the BSA's Innovation and Research Group to once again offer the BSA Pistol Pilot program for older Boy Scouts attending summer camp in 2014.
Great Lakes Sailing Adventure - Special Introductory Price
Michigan Scouts are returning to the Great Lakes! We are proud to announce a very special Michigan Crossroads Council program.
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Upcoming Events
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Trainers' EDGE
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| February 15th | February 22nd | February 21-23rd |
| Trainers' EDGE is designed for anyone who wants to improve their skills in training as well as for anyone who would like to be on a training staff. | Leatherwork Merit Badge at the Grand Rapids Scout Shop from 10am-2pm. For more information or to sign up, or if you would like to help instruct this or future Merit Badges contact Christiana | Venturing Kickback Weekend is a fun weekend Venturing centric activities at Gerber Scout Camp. |
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| February 22-23rd + March 22-23rd | Due February 28th | March 1st |
| Pope Pius XII Weekends are being offered for Catholic Scouts + Venturers to deepen their understanding of their faith. (Both weeks are required to finish the program.) | The Silver Beaver Award is the highest award honor a local council can bestow on a volunteer. Please nominate a worthy volunteer that you know today! | Gerber Scout Reservation is hosting aRifle free shoot and merit badge weekend for Boy Scouts who want a chance to get out and shoot! |
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| March 7th | March 8th | March 15th |
| Detroit Red Wings Scout Nights Special night of major league hockey and Scouting this NHL season! | Public Speaking Merit Badge at the Grand Rapids Scout Shop from 10am-2pm. For more information or to sign up contact Christiana | BALOO is required for Cub Scout camping, however it is a ton of FUN for leaders. This session is in Grand Rapids. |
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| March 15th + 22nd | March 22nd | March 26th |
| .Scouting for Food is a great opportunity for a Good Turn! Don't forget to order your door hangers. | 1st Annual Gerber Grand Prix
This is an opportunity for some of the fastest cars from each Pack to race against each other for the chance to be named the fast car of the year! | Save the date for this year's Building Character Celebration where we will celebrate the 2013 Eagle Scout and Silver Award recipients |
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| April 4th | April 5th | April 26-27th |
| Detroit Red Wings Scout Nights Special night of major league hockey and Scouting this NHL season! | Gerber Scout Reservation is hosting aShotgun free shoot and merit badge weekend for Boy Scouts who want a chance to get out and shoot! | Scout and Pal overnights are designed for Parents or guardians to attend with their son. They generally last about twenty four hours and are a ton of fun for both Scouts and their Pals! |
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| April 25-26th | April 26th | May 17-18th |
| Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS) is a great training for Boy Scout Leader that takes leaders from Tenderfoot through 1st Class. There will be sessions at Gerber and in Gaylord. | BALOO is required for Cub Scout camping, however it is a ton of FUN for leaders.There will be sessions at Gerber and in Gaylord. | Scout and Pal overnights are designed for Parents or guardians to attend with their son. They generally last about twenty four hours and are a ton of fun for both Scouts and their Pals! |
United Way - 211 + Tax Filing
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United Way's Kent County Tax Credit Coalition (KCTCC) helps working individuals and families achieve economic success through free tax services and financial literacy courses. Since 2002, KCTCC has generated almost $61.5 million in tax credits for over 50,000 tax payers in our community.
Trained and IRS certified volunteers can help you complete your income tax return and apply for the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a refundable federal income tax credit. For more information, qualifications and directions to one of KCTCC's free tax sites please call 2-1-1.
Other counties have great United Ways and have similar tax services for families in need, dial 211 for more information in your county. |  |
The Address - A Film by Ken Burns
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WGVU is proud to be 1 of 20 PBS stations working with Ken Burns on his new documentary, "The Address". The project is in commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Ken Burns' documentary is about a school in Vermont, the Greenwood School, where each year its students are challenged to learn and recite the Gettysburg Address. In the process it tells a story that reveals the history, context, and importance of President Lincoln's most famous speech. In addition to the documentary, Ken Burns has launched an initiative called "Learn the Address" in which he hopes everyone will record themselves reciting or reading the Gettysburg Address.
The Gettysburg Address is only 272 words, with my personal favorite being, "The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here.." and yet 150 years later these words are engrained into our society and repeated often in movies, literature, and more.
Anyone can submit their recording of the address to http://wgvu.org/theaddress via smart phone, tablet, video recorder, or webcam. WGVU is one of 20 stations working on this project and whoever has the most submissions going through their website will get an hour Skype call with Ken Burns! For more information contact Bo Schaub, Development & Engage Intern atengage@wgvu.org or 331-6793. |
From Our Previous Issues + In Brief
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The Michigan Crossroads Council is proud to announce the NEW Polar Bear Challenge patch and application for Boy Scouts. |
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Scout Shop News + Information |
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The Scout Shop will begin having monthly newsletters on February 3rd. Please contact Christiana to subscribe. To keep connect for great deals check out the Gerald Ford Scout Shop Facebook page.
If you have a gift card for your unit you can now reload them online before coming to the Scout Shop. Just go to scoutstuff.org.
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Scouting History
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The Boy Scouts of America has been around for 104 years and 2 days. In that time, millions and millions of Americans have enjoyed themselves in the pursuit of fun in the outdoors. There are also a ton of fun photos from throughout the years. Each issue of the Proclamation will now end with a historical Scouting photo or item.
Inside the Scout Shop in Grand Rapids there is a framed Merit Badge sash hanging on the wall. Due to a ceiling leak, the frame needed to be temporarily taken down. Due to this unfortunate circumstance, I discovered the owner of this sash had also entrusted the local Boy Scouts with his 1938 Eagle Scout letter, photo, eagle card, and honor certificate. Below is a copy of William Coleman's eagle letter. |
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If you have read this far- Dan would like to apologize for the lateness of this issue. I have been a little under the weather and this has caused me to be a bit forgetful (I accidently left two needed items on my office computer yesterday before I left for home to work on today's tuesday edition of the newsletter). As always, if you have any feedback or thoughts on future issues of the President Ford Proclamation, please contact Dan Soszynski. |
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