Planning, Planning, Planning

It is the beginning of May and time for the annual Unit Program Planning Conferences. This year there are a total of five conferences. Details are in the latest edition of The Scouter. It can be found at:
http://www.bsa-gsmc.org/scouter/issue.htm?file=The%20Scouter%2020090428.pdf
The convenience of having five conferences should allow more adult leaders to attend. Every unit should try to send at least two leaders to the conference.

Planning is very important to the health of a unit. To paraphrase a popular saying, a unit that fails to plan should plan to fail. Now is the time to plan, not in the fall. Packs need to spend the fall recruiting and forming new dens. Troops and Crews need to be able to hit the ground running after summer camp and other activities. Spending time now and planning a year out allows time to improve and modify as needed.

Planning should result from input from parents, leaders and most of all the Scouts. Financial planning should also be a part of the planning process. Not only should a budget be developed but also projects for raising money. How much popcorn with the unit sell? Is a bake sale a good option? There must be agreement from all parties in order to be successful. If the leaders plan it and the parents don't buy in, the project may be doomed.

A good year plan can be a great recruitment tool. Parents a very impressed if the unit has a well thought out plan. A calendar can be used for outings and projects. Meeting days and times are overlooked but are very important to new scouting families. Planning can mean the difference between a good unit and a great unit. The choice is yours.

Camp Pellissippi Caboose

I was talking with a fellow Scouter today about Camp Pellissippi and a question came up that I can’t answer. He told me that when he was a scout at Camp Pellissippi, there was a railroad caboose near the entrance of camp. His question, and mine, is what happened to it? When was it removed and where was it taken? Does anyone know? If so, please enlighten the group.

Also to report on some other Camp Pellissippi news, the Anna Bruce Campmaster Cabin is all but finished. This cabin will be used by the Campmaster Corps, a group of trained volunteers who will serve as camp hosts for both Camp Pellissippi and Camp Buck Toms.

On May 23, the 2nd Annual Bikers for Scouts Benefit Ride will take place starting at Tommy’s Motorsports, 2401 Andersonville Highway. All proceeds will benefit the continuing restoration of Camp Pellissippi. Last year’s ride allowed for electricity to be extended to some of the renovated buildings at camp. The Arthur Wood Lodge now has electricity and the Carter Cabin will hopefully have power soon.

As long as we are talking about camp, I want to encourage everyone to consider a $25 donation to the Campership Fund. All proceeds will help send Scouts to camp. In return, the donor will receive a dated limited edition shoulder patch. This is a great program to help needy Scouts. Money is very tight this year and for those needy Scouts, a Campership may be their only way to go to camp.