Chairman - Richard Colety
rfc msn.com |
Commissioner - Tom Robb |
Executive -Dan Conniff
dconniff
(914) 773-1135 ext 241 |
Serving: Edgemont, Harrison, Larchmont, Mamaroneck, New Rochelle, Pelham, Port Chester, Purchase, Rye, Rye
Brook, Scarsdale, Silver Lake
Akela Campfire
Algonquin
District will hold the 2008 Akela Campfire at Alpine Scout Reservation on May
17th and 18th. Cost will be $25 per person and includes evening dinner in the
dining hall and breakfast. If your pack wants to cook individually, then please
contact Sean Byrne SByrne bear.com
or Paul Knudsvig Paulpdknudsvig aol.com
As soon as possible.
The theme for the Akeka Campfire this year is to be American Cub Idol and each
Pack must prepare a contestant/contestant to be a Cub Idol. Activities will help
gear the cubs up for their finale. The District will provide a panel of judges
for the "acts". Adults are encouraged to
Timing of the event will be as follows:
Friday May 16th
6:00 PM Camp roads and gates close to all traffic
6:00 PM – 12:00 volunteers arrive and setup camp for the weekend games
Saturday May 17th
7-11 Packs arrive and setup tents, bag lunch in campsite or buy from dining hall
11:45 Opening Ceremony in front of Dining Hall
12:00 Noon Shotgun Start for activities
12-5:00 Afternoon activities
5:00 PM Possible Catholic Mass
5:30-7:00 Dining Hall 2- seating’s. 5:30-6:15 and 6:15 – 7:00
7:15 PM Tiger Crossover at Campfire
7:45 PM Campfire Program
9:00 PM Back to sites
11:00 PM Lights out for all campers
Sunday May 18th
7:00 – 9:15 Breakfast at dining hall
9:30 – 2:00 Campsite cleanup and checkout
For more information please contact Sean Byrne via e-mail SByrne bear.com
Algonquin Akela Campfire
Flyer and Registration Form [PDF,
168K]
Algonquin and Four Rivers District Camporee
Under
a threatening sky, the fun loving Scouts of the Algonquin and Four Rivers
Districts squared off to compete in International Games at the 2008 Camporee
held at 5 Island Park (I still only count 3 islands) in New Rochelle on April
26, 2008. The morning’s games included a Biathlon (bike ride to BB Range and
back), Cabor Toss, Stone Throw, Torch Carry, Drag Race (lash ‘em tight or lose
your guy!), and a non-competitive astronomy station. After the lunch break we
had the honor of hosting an OA Tap Out before the games resumed. The late
afternoon/evening featured the Chef de Cuisine cooking competition, and the
evening schedule included the wildly popular Manhunt!
Our thanks to the dedicated Scouters from the combined Algonquin and Four
Rivers Activities Committee including Charlie DeChamps, Al Tozzi, Anthony
Paterno (who else can get such focus from Scouts demonstrating astronomy
during the DAY!), Bill Langham, Henry Doerr, Andy Maher, Donna Ragusa, Leo
Marks, Brian Webster, Victor Lagama, Tony Blandi, Frank Russo (our
Illustrated Man), Dave D’Lugin, Evan Feldman, and a host of others who
stepped up to make it a memorable day for the boys.
A big OA cheer for Simon & Brad, who came in full Native American regalia
for the Tap Out.
A big atta boy to the brave judges who put their GI tracts on the line to
help with the Chef de Cuisine. Big thanks to Dave D'Lugin, Frank Russo, Fred
Gervat, John Callahan, Roger Stewart, and (Mr. Toque himself!) Bill Langham.
We also thank our professional staff (Tiffany Deygoo, Roger Stewart, Bob
Willett and Dan Conniff) who helped make this event possible.
Yours in Scouting,
Richard Schraudner
Algonquin District
Donna Ragusa
Four Rivers District
Rye Pack 2 Pinewood Derby
Pack 2 Rye enjoys an evening of competition and fun at their Pinewood
Derby held on February 8, 2008. Congratulations to the winners and to all
who participated in this event! Photos by Stefan Radtke


Unit Service is Provided by the District Commissioner
Staff
Volunteers called Unit Commissioners provide direct coaching and
consultation for unit adults to help ensure the success of every Scouting
unit. The most important thing a commissioner does for a unit is to develop
a close relationship with unit leaders to prove that somebody cares about
him or her. This person is the connecting link between the Boy Scouts of America and the unit
leader. This person does at least three things each month for each unit:
1. He or she visits a unit meeting or the unit committee meeting and
stays long enough to give and take information about the unit program.
2. He or she phones each unit leader between unit meeting visits to see
if help is needed.
3. The commissioner makes a thorough appraisal of each unit’s
needs for successful operation and seeks out the resources of the
district to meet those needs.
Additionally, the unit commissioner helps units prepare for charter
renewal and leads them through the process and the Quality Unit application
process.
Currently there are 12 people who are registered Commissioners in the
district. If your unit needs some help or guidance, District Commissioner
Tom Robb may be contacted and he will get one of these unit
commissioners to help support you.
The District Committee Carries Out Four Functions of
District Operations
The Algonquin District has a group of over 20 people assigned to
carry out the following four operational functions to support the program of
the units in the district. These are Membership, Finance, Program, and
Unit Service. Each of these functions has sub committees that carry out tasks
and activities designed to ensure the growth and success of Scouting units
within the district territory. A quick summary of each function is:
Membership: The Membership function strives for growth through the
organization of new Scouting units and growth through new members joining
existing units.
Finance: The Finance function sees that the district provides its share
of funds to the total council operating budget through the Friends of
Scouting campaign.
Program: The Program function concentrates on helping Scouting units with
camp promotion, special activities including community service, training
adult volunteers, and youth advancement and recognition.
Unit Service: The Unit Service function provides direct support to each
unit within the district.
Conservation Resource Guide
Conservation is a basic part of the BSA mission. Scouting embraces
Leave No Trace, requires conservation-related activities for rank
advancement, and encourages conservation service projects to the community.
The new Conservation Resource Guide
identifies Westchester-Putnam agencies engaged in nature and conservation
activities. Organized by District, the Guide is intended to enable ‘one-stop’
access for any Westchester-Putnam Scouts and Scouters seeking sites for
troop conservation projects, nature-related advancements, or outdoor
activities (including William Hornaday Award, Leave No Trace Award, Boy
Scout Rank Advancement Nature Requirements, and Eagle Service Projects).
Webelos to Scout Transition
It should be the goal of the Cubmaster and Webelos Leaders to
graduate every Webelos Scout into a Boy Scout troop. The key to
accomplishing this is to begin promoting Boy Scouting when Cub Scouts are
still in their Tiger, Wolf and Bear dens, and to sell the sizzle of the
great outdoors. Scouting should be viewed as an ongoing adventure, and the
progression should be as normal as moving from elementary school to middle
school.
Boy Scout troops should assign an Assistant Scoutmaster or a troop
committee member to be responsible for new Scouts, which would include
developing a relationship with the Cubmaster and the Webelos Leaders. This
person serves as a resource during Webelos overnight activities and builds
enthusiasm among boys and their parents for the exciting challenges that
await them in Boy Scouting.
Training
Would you send your son to school on a bus whose driver was not
trained? Would you feel comfortable knowing that your child's teacher wasn't
trained? Of course not! Why don't we hold our Den Leaders, Cubmasters, and
Scoutmasters to the same standard. While there are literally hundreds of
possible training courses that you can take in Scouting, to be considered a
TRAINED leader you must complete two courses, New Leader Essentials and the
Specific training for your position.
Roundtables
The Algonquin District Roundtables are held the first Monday of the month at Sts.
John and Paul RCC School, Weaver Street in Larchmont, 8:00 p.m. Each Pack and Troop is
asked to have one or more leaders in attendance. Why?? Because the Roundtable is when the
theme for the next month is going to be discussed, ideas exchanged, announcements made
about future District and Council activities, leader training courses, and recruiting
ideas for units. Adult leaders and parents are always welcome.
Commissioner Corps
The District Commissioner's staff meets the first Wednesday of the month at
St. James the Less in Scarsdale at 8:00 p.m.
A unit commissioner is a friend to the Scout unit - troop, pack or crew - and provides
information and assistance to the Unit Committee. Often, a unit commissioner is someone
who was once involved in a unit, and now has time to share their experience with other
Scouters in their communities. Commissioners provide many services to the units they
serve. Their primary responsibility is to be the liaison between the unit and the
district. They will occasionally attend committee meetings, and also attend unit meetings
at other times. They will always make themselves available for ideas and will be a
resource for help and guidance.
Communities in need of Commissioners:
Harrison
Pelham
Rye
West Harrison/Purchase
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