tion, the stressed economy and

reductions in some funding

sources are a contributing factor

in mitigating WMC‘s ability to

withstand more years of large

subsidies and losses at camp.

Therefore, we must collaborate

with other visionary, pro-active,

like-minded councils to provide

this service to our Boy Scout

troops.

Does this fit into the Na-

tional BSA Strategic Plan?

The new National strategic plan

includes the following objectives

regarding sharing of services with

other councils: ―Provide special-

ized shared-service models for

use across council boundaries

(e.g., special events, camping,

activities, and production within

a defined area)‖ and ―The Na-

tional Council has piloted and

delivered a useful model for ex-

ploiting economies of scale and/

or the use of shared services to

reduce individual council ex-

penses.‖ In addition, our own

WMC strategic plan calls for

action to ―Consider financial

implications, council subsidy

level, and stewardship of re-

sources regarding camping prop-

erties on a regular basis as rec-

ommended by our National con-

sultant, Mike Watkins. Research

possible scenarios as and when

appropriate.‖ There has also

been serious talk at all levels for

nearly twenty years about using

this shared-services model. Re-

gardless, the over-reaching goal

is to provide the best possible

summer camp program for as

many youth as possible.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

FREQUENTLY ASKED

QUESTIONS:

What are the changes? We

are partnering with other Scout-

ing councils to ensure that our

Boy Scouts receive a quality,

week-long summer resident

camping experience. Boy Scout

Resident Camp will not be held

at Chesterfield or Moses in 2011.

Our other summer programs

(Cub Scout Day Camp, Cub

Scout Resident Camp, Webelos

Weekend, NYLT, Eagle Week,

and Venturing Week) will, how-

ever, be held locally.

Why is WMC making this

change? This is a step that

strengthens the council overall,

and helps lead us into the future.

It is in the best interest of our

council‘s youth to take this step

now in order to be better pre-

pared and positioned for Scout-

ing‘s next 100 years.

What trends led to this

change? In the broad context,

many Boy Scout troops have

sought variety in their summer

camping experiences. More than

one third of our Boy Scout

troops currently camp out of

council or off site. In addition,

there is an over abundance of

Boy Scout summer camp pro-

grams within easy driving dis-

tance to WMC. Many of these

camps offer excellent Boy Scout

resident camp programs like we

have in the past here in WMC.

The future trend will be for a

much smaller number of high-

quality, well attended, and well

funded regional Boy Scout sum-

mer camping programs.

Why us and why now? We

want to be pro-active. The coun-

cil consolidation two years ago

was a big step. This is another

key step in continuing to

strengthen the council. Becoming

a quality operation and a

―Financially Sustainable Council‖

is a key priority. Despite a strong

camp promotion effort and a

very worthy program, our Boy

Scout summer camping program

has been greatly under-utilized,

and therefore, greatly under-

funded for a number of years.

What are the numbers? The

per-Scout council subsidy level

has been very high for a number

of years. In 2010, we had a coun-

cil subsidy level of more than

$100 per camper. Even with

additional cost cutting measures

and further summer program

consolidation efforts, the pro-

jected council subsidy level in

2011 would have been over $100

per camper had we not made

this change. We cannot sustain

this. This would not be fiscally

responsible, and it is not fair to

the other 80% of our members

who do not attend WMC sum-

mer camp and to our donors.

What other factors led to

this change? Both enhanced

camping program standards and

health/safety standards have in-

creased greatly in recent years.

We applaud this. However, when

combined with the increase in

associated costs including staffing

and other items, as well as other

increases, it is no longer feasible

for WMC to offer a Boy Scout

summer resident camp. In addi-

2011 Changes in Camping Programs FAQ

I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :

Recognition

Dinner

2

WMC Pro-

gram Events

3

Training

Courses

4

2011 Summer

Camping

5

WMC Partner

Camps!

6

Stay Updated

On Scouting

8

W E S T E R N

M A S S A C H U S E T T S

C O U N C I L , B S A Be Prepared W W W . W M A S C O U T I N G . O R G D E C E M B E R 1 7 , 2 0 1 0

H I G H L I G H T S

2011 Camping

Changes FAQ at

right.

WMC Partner

Camps for Boy

Scout Summer

Camp on page 6.

“In Recognition of

great Scouting

Volunteers!”

234 is Western Mass.

Council’s official BSA

council number.

WMC Recognition Dinner on Feb. 5th

For Packs, Troops, & Crews

Concept:

To encourage units to grow their membership

over the previous year and reward their success.

Pack Reward:

Pinewood Derby kits for boys registered as of

January 1, 2011.

Troop and Crew Reward:

WMC camp weekend cabin rental (depending on

cabin availability; does not include Training

Lodge).

Evaluation:

Units will be evaluated by the district leadership

on December 31, 2010.

To Qualify:

Units will achieve the following.

2. Host at least one spring recruitment event & net

+2 members over last June by 6/30/10. Also see

Requirement 4 below.

3. Participate in the 3 fall recruitment events includ-

ing a School Night rally, a ―Sizzle‖ Bring Scouting

to the People event, and a Give ‘em Another

Chance to Join event. See page 1 for details.

4. By 12/31/10, show a net gain of +3 members over

last December, or +4 youth if you did not qualify

on Requirement 2.

Contact your District Executive for official registration

numbers and a progress update. Be a winner. Good

luck!

Bordelaise sauce, and Banana’s Foster. A vege-

tarian option is also available. This is an Adult

affair.

Reservations are available at the following lev-

els:

$35 per person

$275 for Table of 8

$340 for Table of 10

Please contact the Chicopee or Pittsfield service

center, or find the reservation form on the

council website www.wmascouting.org.

Please join us in recognizing our worthy Scout-

ing volunteers!

Western Mass. Council’s 3rd Annual Recogni-

tion Dinner will be held on Saturday, February

5th, at the Delaney House, 3 Country Club Rd.

(off Rt. 5) in Holyoke, MA.

Program highlights will include the recognition

of the 2011 Class of Silver Beaver Award recipi-

ents, District Awards of Merit, along with other

Scouting awards.

There will be a 5:00-6:00 PM Social Hour with

hors d’oeuvres, followed by dinner and program

from 6:00-8:30 PM. Dinner will include Tomato

& Mozzarella Cocktail, Combo plate of Bistro

style Chicken & London broil with Mushroom

Last Call: 2-3-4 GROWTH PLAN FOR UNITS! P A G E 2

Coming in 2011:

JOURNEY TO

EXCELLENCE

AWARD

B E P R E P A R E D

Scouting’s Journey To Excellence “Scouting’s Journey to Excellence” is

the BSA‘s new council performance recog-

nition program designed to encourage and

reward success and measure the perform-

ance of our units, districts, and councils. It

is replacing the Centennial Quality Awards

Program as a means of encouraging excel-

lence in providing a quality program at all

levels of the BSA.

Requirements for Packs, Troops, Crews,

Districts, and Councils are available online:

http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/

Awards/JourneyToExcellence.aspx. Also

there are webinars, power points, and addi-

tional information.

Make the ―Journey to Excellence‖ commit-

ment now at recharter time.

PS: Don’t forget to submit your unit’s

Centennial Quality Unit form before

December 31st to qualify for the 2010

recognition!

Boston Museum of Science Camp-In Almost Full!

P A G E 3 D E C E M B E R 1 7 , 2 0 1 0

ATTEN-

TION

CUB

SCOUT

PACKS :

ONLY

30

SLOTS

LEFT!

This is

one of the most talked about

events of the year! Happening

on Sunday, January 16th - Mon-

day, January 17th (Martin Lu-

ther King, Jr. Day) at the Bos-

ton Museum of Science, this fun

-filled experience is for registered

Cub Scouts & Webelos, parents, &

adult leaders. This special program

is designed to inspire cubs to dis-

cover science in fun and educa-

tional ways.

Please note that Western Mass.

Council has been allocated only 500

spots for this great activity, so the

time to register is now!

Full payment of $60 per participant

is required to guarantee your spot,

including cubs, leaders, & parents.

For registration procedures and

additional information, please visit

the Western Mass. Council website

at www.wmascouting.org.

A Survival Manual for this overnight

program will also be provided to

you.

For additional information on the

museum and its exhibits, facilities, &

location, you can visit its website at

www.mos.org.

Thanks, and have lots of fun!

many session are already

closed. More than 375 Boy

Scouts have registered!

Check-in time will be at 8:30 AM.

Morning classes will run from 9:30-

11:30 AM and Afternoon classes

will go from 12:30-2:30 PM.

Please note: There is online

registration only (no mail in or

The Kappa Omicron Chap-

ter of ALPHA PHI OMEGA

is sponsoring the 19th annual

Merit Badge University in co-

operation with Western Mass.

Council on Saturday, March

5th & Saturday, April 2nd, at

UMass Amherst.

MBU is filling up fast, and

phone registrations).

Visit the WMC website today &

regis-

ter

for

your

ses-

sions

now!

WHAT?

Webelos Woods is an adven-

ture designed to introduce We-

belos Scouts and their parents

to the action-packed Scouting

adventures ahead, and help

them make the transition into

Boy Scouts even more exciting.

WHEN?

The weekend of June 3 - 5,

2011 (The weekend after Me-

morial Day).

WHERE?

Horace A. Moses Scout Res-

ervation

MORE INFORMATION?

Additional details will be pub-

lished in future issues of “Be

Prepared” and will be available

on our council website.

MARK YOUR CALEN-

DARS FOR THIS ADVEN-

TURE NOW!!!!!

“A Gather-

ing of the

Tribes”

WHO?

Bears and 1st year Webelos

(3rd and 4th graders) and par-

ents. Den Chiefs are also wel-

come to attend.

Merit Badge University Filling Up Fast for Spring 2011!

P A G E 4

“Every boy

deserves a trained

leader, and every

leader deserves to

be trained.”

Get updated training

info at WMC’s website

www.wmascouting.org.

SPECIAL TRAINING COURSES!

MORE SCOUTER TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

Training Courses for New Volunteers Trained leaders deliver

better programs. Boys

stay in Scouting longer

when their leaders are

trained. The longer boys stay

in Scouting, the more they get

out of Scouting!

Fast Start Training is the

first step, and is presented in

separate formats for Cub

Scout leaders, Boy Scout Lead-

ers, and Venturer leaders.

These sessions are available

online at the BSA‘s Online

Learning Center. You can go

to our council‘s website,

www.wmascouting.org, click

on Training on the left-hand

menu bar, and follow the link

to start your online training

adventure!

This is Scouting has replaced

New Leader Essentials, and

also is available at the BSA‘s

Online Learning Center. This

session is for all new volunteer

leaders.

Youth Protection Training

is required for all leaders

within Scouting.

At all times, youth safety is our

number one priority. Take

this session now at the Online

Learning Center.

Leader Position Specific

Training is based on the vol-

unteer leader‘s Scouting posi-

tion. Separate courses for

Cub Scout , Boy Scout, & Ven-

turer leaders are offered lo-

cally throughout the year, and

now these sessions are avail-

able online as well!

Get trained to provide great

Scouting now!

able at both council service

centers. Go to

www.philmonttrainingcenter.o

rg for details on what to ex-

pect from your Philmont train-

ing experience.

Wood Badge: Two 3-day

weekends of challenging, team-

building and leadership course-

work and practical experience

are only the beginning. Then

Philmont Training

Center: 2011 summer

conferences are now

open for registration.

Spend an exciting week

at Philmont and enjoy a

respite from New Eng-

land‘s heat and humid-

ity. It‘s hot and dry

down there! Course descrip-

tions and schedules are avail-

complete the training over the

next 18 months through your

practical application of the

skills you developed during the

classroom periods. Trained

counselors support you

through the process. Sched-

uled training dates at Camp

Chesterfield are September 9-

11, 2011 and October 8-10,

2011. Registration information

coming soon!

Venturing Leader Specific

Training: on Saturday, Janu-

ary 15, 9 AM – 4 PM, at the

Church of Atonement in

downtown Westfield. Learn

how to advise, not lead, your

teen-age Venturers to exciting

outdoor adventure, personal

growth, and leadership skills

development. Cost is $12 per

person, or, if your Crew is

sending three or more adults,

$10 per person. Submit your

registrations to the Chicopee

or Pittsfield Service Centers.

Boy Scout leader training

sessions: will be available at

Merit Badge University.

You don‘t have to read the

paper in a drafty corridor.

Spend your time wisely, get

training. Youth Protection

Training, Troop Committee

Challenge, Scoutmaster Spe-

cific, Scout to Eagle, First Aid &

CPR are all planned. Watch

for registration materials avail-

able soon.

The Trainer’s EDGE: on

Saturday, January 8, 8 AM – 4

PM, at Herman Hall, Western

New England College, in

Springfield. This is a how-to

course for those who want to

join our council‘s training staff

and is required for those who

will be on Wood Badge faculty.

You can register electronically

through our council web site

or submit a paper registration

to the Chicopee or Pittsfield

Service Centers.

Training

helps you

provide

great

program!

B E P R E P A R E D

WESTERN MASS. COUNCIL CAMP PROMO NIGHTS!

P A G E 5 D E C E M B E R 1 7 , 2 0 1 0

FOR BOY SCOUT

TROOPS & VENTURE

CREWS:

On

Mon-

day,

January

24th,

7:00 PM

at Union

Station Restaurant, 125A Pleasant

St. in Northampton, MA. Refresh-

ments will be provided. Register

by emailing Gail at

gwojtkow@bsamail.org.

Come to get information on Boy

Scout Resident Camp from our

WMC Partner Camps, as well as

details on our local NYLT, Eagle

Week, and Venturing Week ses-

sions!

FOR CUB SCOUT PACKS:

On Tuesday, January 25th,

7:00 PM at Union Station Restau-

rant, 125A Pleasant St. in North-

ampton, MA. Refreshments will be

provided. Register by emailing Gail

at gwojtkow@bsamail.org.

Come to get information on our

local Cub

Scout Resi-

dent Camp

and Cub

Scout Day

Camp ses-

sions!

See you

there in

January!

that is mentioned above!

FOR BOY SCOUTS &

VENTURERS:

National Youth Leadership

Training (NYLT) at Ches-

terfield, June 25-July 1,

Course Director Jim Burke.

Venturers may also attend.

FOR CUBS:

Cub Scout Resident Camp

at Chesterfield, August 7-

12, co-chaired by Ellie Matrow

and Joanne Dempsey. Stay

tuned for details, and please

attend the Camp Promo night

for Cub leaders on January 25th

Eagle Week & Venturing

Week at Chesterfield, Au-

gust 7-13. More details com-

ing soon.

Contact our local resident

camp staff advisor Hunter

McCormick for info on all these

at hmccormi@bsamail.org.

Swift River Sportsman‘s Club.

July 18-22: supported by Sherri

Harrison & volunteers from Spring-

field/Chicopee District, at Chicopee

Moose Family Center.

July 25-29: supported by Elizabeth

Kuzmech & volunteers from Appa-

lachian Trail District, at St. Mark‘s

School in Pittsfield.

August 1-5: supported by John &

Vicki Kornacki & volunteers from

Knox Trail District, location TBA.

You may attend any and all Cub

Day Camp sessions that you are

interested in. Themes and some

program specifics may vary from

week to week, but standard activi-

ties that boys look forward to will

be there, site and weather permit-

ting: archery, nature study, sports

and games, den activities, Friday

afternoon campfire, and more.

Contact Fritz Schmidt for more

information at

fschmidt@bsamail.org.

Plan on your Den & Pack hav-

ing a great time this summer!

Four weeks of Western Mass.

Council’s Leon J. Carman Cub

Scout Day Camp are being

planned now for the summer of

2011. Sites are being finalized, and

programs & themes are being pre-

viewed and tested. More details

will be announced as they are avail-

able, but for Pack and Den planning

purposes, the schedule is as fol-

lows:

July11-15: supported by Laurie

McDonald & volunteers from Post

Road & Metacomet Districts, at

2011 Cub Scout Day Camp Schedule!

Local Resident Camping Sessions this Summer:

P A G E 6

For Boy Scout Summer Resident Camp:

B E P R E P A R E D

Western Mass. Council

is pleased to announce

that we have finalized

cooperative camping

agreements working in

collaboration with the

following councils and

camps for Boy Scout

Summer Resident Camp

in 2011 using the shared-services model. Western Mass. Council’s Boy Scout Troops should re-

view these offerings from our Partner Camps, and register for a great Boy Scout summer camp

experience this summer. Use the information below to get started now!

Your local WMC contact is Field Dir. Bob D’Avignon, Bob.D’Avignon@Scouting.org, or your Dis-

trict Executive. More information will also be available at the Camp Promo Night for Boy Scout

Troops on Monday, January 24th at 7:00 PM at Union Station Restaurant in Northampton.

Twin Rivers Council, Albany, NY.

Rotary Scout Reservation, Averill Park, NY 12018.

Visit: http://bsa.siigroup.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=503&Itemid=75

Contact: Brian Murray (campdirector@rsrbsa.org) (518) 791-9393 or Nancy Harstein

(nancy.harstein@scouting.org) (518) 869-3436. In council pricing for WMC troops, $290 by 5/1,

$340 after 5/1.

CT Rivers Council, East Hartford, CT.

June Norcross Webster, Mattatuck, & Workcoeman.

Visit: www.ctrivers.org/WMC-Partner-Camp

Contact: Deb Miclette (dmiclet@bsamail.org) (860) 913-2711. Lowest rates for WMC troops,

$330 by 5/20, $355 after 5/20.

Seneca Waterways Council, Rochester, NY.

Massawepie Scout Camps, Tupper Lake, NY 12986.

Visit: www.senecawaterways.org/massawepie

Contact: Camping Department (camping@SenecaWaterways.org) (585) 241-8545. Reduced in-

council pricing for WMC troops. For Pioneer, $295 by 5/16, $320 after 5/16. For Adirondack

treks, $350.

WMC Partner Camps!

2011 Changes in Camping Programs FAQ (continued from Page 1)

P A G E 7 D E C E M B E R 1 7 , 2 0 1 0

Isn’t the camping experience

more than just numbers? The

numbers underscore both our ne-

cessity to exercise our fiduciary

responsibility and to achieve our

goal of providing the best possible

Boy Scout resident camping pro-

grams to our troops. We need to

partner with other camps in order

to achieve both. Despite our emo-

tional connections with local Boy

Scout summer camp, this is the

logical solution.

OK, so who are our partner

Boy Scout camps? We have

finalized cooperative Boy Scout

summer camping agreements with

the following:

Albany, NY

(Twin Rivers

Council) Ro-

tary Scout

Reservation,

Poestenkill,

NY. In council pricing for WMC

troops, $290 by 5/1; $340 after 5/1.

East Hartford,

CT (CT Rivers

Council) June

Norcross

Webster, Mat-

tatuck, &

Workcoeman.

Lowest rates for WMC troops,

$330 by 5/20; $355 after 5/20

Rochester, NY

(Seneca Water-

ways Council)

Massawepie

Scout Camps

(Adirondack High

Adventure Trek Center & Camp

Pioneer), Tupper Lake, NY. Re-

duced in council pricing for WMC

troops. For Pioneer, $295 by 5/16;

$320 after 5/16. For Treks, $350.

Where can I get more infor-

mation on our partner Boy

Scout camps? The WMC e-

newsletter ―Be Prepared‖ (see

pages 5 & 6) and our council web-

site www.wmascouting.org will

provide additional information,

links, contact information, and reg-

istration instructions. We also

anticipate that the OA will assist in

promoting our partner Boy Scout

camps as well.

What about Campership sup-

port? Camperships will be avail-

able from WMC for Boy Scouts

camping at any of WMC‘s partner

Boy Scout camps listed above. In

addition, camperships will continue

to be available for our in-council

week long summer programs

(NYLT, Cub Day Camp, Cub Resi-

dent Camp, Eagle Week, & Ventur-

ing Week).

What about weekend camp-

ing? We are continuing to book

reservations at Moses & Chester-

field during the school year.

What in-council summer pro-

grams will be offered? The fol-

lowing programs are planned for

2011.

Webelos Woods at Moses Scout

Reservation, June 3-5.

National Youth Leadership

Training (NYLT) for troop &

crew junior leaders at Chesterfield,

June 25-July 1.

Leon J. Carman Cub Scout Day

Camps at four locations:

Week 1, Belchertown area, July 11-

15. Week 2, Greater Springfield

area, July 18-22. Week 3, Pittsfield/

Berkshire County area, July 25-29.

Week 4, Westfield area, August 1-

5.

Cub Scout Resident Camp at

Chesterfield, August 7-12.

Base Camp Eagle Week for Boy

Scouts needing Merit Badges, at

Chesterfield, August 7-13.

Venturing Week at Chesterfield,

August 7-13.

Will we be having Camp Pro-

motion events? Yes, Camp Pro-

motion Meetings have been sched-

uled as follows:

Boy Scout Troops and Venture

Crews on Monday, January 24th, 7

PM, at Union Station Restaurant,

125A Pleasant St., Northampton.

Cub Scout Packs on Tuesday,

January 25th, 7 PM, at Union Sta-

tion Restaurant, 125A Pleasant St.,

Northampton.

Where else can we talk about

these developments? Council

officers will be visiting district

Roundtable meetings in January and

February to answer any questions.

Will camp staff positions be

available at our partner

camps? Yes. They have already

indicated their interest in inviting

our folks to apply for summer staff

positions as soon as possible.

Will WMC be selling a camp?

We don‘t know yet. This is a sepa-

rate issue. Per our Strategic Plan,

the Properties Committee will be

researching and evaluating possible

future usage and/or future disposi-

tion of camp properties, and will

make any recommendation(s) to

the Executive Board only after

thorough due diligence. The Na-

tional BSA engineer / consultant‘s

recent independent camping prop-

erties report and all other factors

will be studied. Ultimately, the Ex-

ecutive Board will be expected to

make any decision(s) in the best

interest of our council and our

future youth with all emotion and

past loyalties put aside. In support

of transparency, this is where the

camp properties issue now stands.

Send a Letter to a

Soldier!

Use this link for the toolkit:

http://

ww2.scouting.org/100years/100years/

100YearsStamp.aspx

Join our email mailing list:

At top of Western Mass. Council

website homepage. Tell others!

National website:

www.scouting.org

Scouting Safely online re-

sources:

www.scouting.org/scoutsource/

HealthandSafety.aspx

Berkshire Service Center & Store:

31 Wendell Ave., Pittsfield, MA

01201, open weekdays 8:30am—

4:00pm.

Chicopee Service Center & Store:

249 Exchange St., 01013, open

weekdays 9:00am—4:00pm &

Mon. eve. ‗til 7:00pm.

© 2010 Western Mass. Council, Inc., BSA

HAPPY HOLIDAYS to

our Scouting Volunteers!

Merry Christmas

Happy Hanukkah

Happy Kwanzaa

Happy New Year, too!

These local numbers will reach both the

Chicopee & Berkshire Scout Service

Centers:

Springfield (413) 351-2069

Pittsfield (413) 418-4002

Northampton (413) 341-0032

Greenfield (413) 829-2050

Palmer (413) 370-2052

Stockbridge (413) 298-2009

Chicopee (413) 594-9196

Dalton (413) 684-3542

Website www.wmascouting.org

Fax No. Chicopee Center (413) 592-1875

Fax No. Berkshire Center (413) 236-0902

Appalachian Trail District (Berkshire County):

Hunter McCormick X7033 email: hmccormi@bsamail.org

Knox Trail District (western Hampden County):

Bob Gunnells X7013 email: bgunnells@verizon.net

Metacomet District (Franklin & Hampshire Co.’s):

Steve Roberts X7014 email: gtcscouting@aol.com

Post Road District (eastern Hampden County):

Fritz Schmidt X7031 email: fritz.schmidt@scouting.org

Springfield/Chicopee District:

Rory O‘Donnell X7032 email: rory.odonnell@scouting.org

Chicopee Service Center:

Sherry Bowden X7005 email: sbowden@bsamail.org

Berkshire Service Center:

Gail Wojtkowiak X7012 email: gwojtkow@bsamail.org

Accounting & Business Office:

Steven Nelson X7001 email: steven.nelson@scouting.org

Field Director:

Bob D‘Avignon X7034 email: Bob.D‘Avignon@scouting.org

Council Scout Executive & CEO:

Larry Bystran X7002 email: lbystran@bsamail.org

Western Mass. Council, BSA

Stay Updated on the latest in Scouting!