The Boy Scouts of America celebrate their 100th Anniversary in

2010. To commemorate this occasion, Henry Repeating Arms an-

nounces the release of its Henry Golden Boy “Boy Scouts of Amer-

ica® Centennial Edition” licensed rifle. To mark this milestone,

this special rifle features the Scout Oath, Scout Law, scrollwork and

traditional Boy Scouts of America logo embellishing the receiver,

as well as a 100 Years of Scouting logo and Centennial Edition gold

filled etchings in the buttstock and forearm.

S C O U T E R

NOVEMBER /

DECEMBER

2008

GULF COAST COUNCIL

BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA 9440 UNIVERSITY PKWY

PENSACOLA, FL 32514

(850) 476-6336 OFFICE

(850) 476-6337 FAX

888-GULFBSA WWW.GULFCOASTCOUNCIL.ORG.

AL COBY

COUNCIL PRESIDENT

BETSY WERRE

COUNCIL COMMISSIONER

SPENCER PAGE

SCOUT EXECUTIVE

Escambia County School District 5th grade students will be writing

letters to hospitalized veterans in recognition of Veterans Day.

The "Dear Vet" project will provide students with the opportunity to thank a hospitalized veteran for their service to their country.

The letters will be shipped to one of Florida's veterans hospitals where they will be distributed to the patients.

Laura Snow Learning for Life Executive

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Scouting, the Gulf Coast

Council announces a special offer for all Scouters, shooters and col-

lectors. This limited edition rifle is available through a special

group buy with Jay’s Guns and Accessories for a total price of:

$749.95

To take advantage of this offer send a check payable to the Gulf

Coast Council by December 1st, 2008 to:

Gulf Coast Council

9440 University Parkway

Pensacola, Florida 32514

For more information contact Rick Chapman at

(850)758-7373 or rchapman@bsamail.org

DAVID HUNTER GUTHRIE PATRICK THOMAS BAGBY

BRYAN KARL ROEVER WILLIAM THOMAS BIELENDA III CHAYNE MICHAEL SPARAGOWSKI

SCOTT RICHARD JENSEN SAMUEL JACOB JANICKI BRADLEY RYAN MORSE

CODY ALAN KRISER TIMOTHY CARL DILMORE

CONNOR MICHAEL BARRETTA IAN PHILLIP SMITH

STEPHEN ROSS JOHNSTON TIMOTHY CARL DILMORE

JOSEPH SCOTT FINELLI NATHAN ORION WOLVERTON

JOHN JOSEPH GRAVES SEAN KEVIN GRAVEL

AARON DAVID THEURER TYLER FITZGERALD LAFIN

GOD AND FAMILY LUKE BRASSARD

LOGAN BAXTER

LEVI WALTER

ALEX CHARLESWORTH

JONATHAN EASON

MANSEN MASENBERG

CONNOR PHILLIPS

GAVYN SIMMONS

ADAM SMITH

RELIGIOUS AWARDS

GOD AND ME Jonathan Biggar Avery Pike

David Clark Jacob Meyer

Joshua Baxter David Chandler

Gabriel Collins Branden Hitt

Corey Pitts Tyler Reeve

John Roberts Benjamin Weber

Robert Zerfowski Ryan Bottoms

Jack Cave Kyle Vandermeide

Brady Berres Benjamin Brady

Dylan Carissan Charles Dallas

Nicholas Lang Joseph Lowther

Sam Oswald William Payne

OUR NEWEST EAGLES

STEPHEN ROSS JOHNSTON

DON’T FORGET -

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME ends

November 2nd, 2008 at 2:00 AM

Set your clocks back one hour

And enjoy the extra shut - eye!

COMMISSIONER COLLEGE

I am pleased to announce the following Gulf Coast Council Commissioners have achieved a de-gree from the second annual Commissioner College, held October 3, 2008 at Chipola Commu-nity College, sponsored by Alabama-Florida, Suwannee River Area and Gulf Coast Council: BASIC COMMISSIONER TRAINING COURSE: BACHELOR’S DEGREE: Wallace Brown Bill Payne Mike Dwyer Shandi Payne John Sullivan Michelle White

MASTER’S DEGREE: Jeff Bryant Joel Fairbanks* Kerry Gunn* Erick Hudson Sr Jim Jines Dennis Johnson* Kate Johnson* Georgia McFadden Charlie Ray* Rae Schwartz* Maha Selim Mary Snell Betsy Werre* Randy Werre* Frank Wilson* Winnie Reynolds and Tom Reynolds* attended and completed many courses as well. In addition, Roy Smith * was an instructor of courses I want to thank each of the instructors (*indicates they were instructors as well as students) for doing an awesome job in each of the courses they taught. They did it with fun and sparkle, providing the most up-to-date information and material that can be used when working with their units! Learning is a lifetime activity. In order to achieve a degree, each student must complete a minimum of 7 courses that will enable them to adjust their skills to provide a more valuable service to our units as Commissioners in the Gulf Coast Council. I am proud of each of these Commissioners and offer my congratulations for a job well done and fantastic dedication to and representation of our Council. The third annual Commissioner College will be hosted by our Council in August 2009. Hope to see you there! Betsy Werre Council Commissioner

On Sunday, October 19th all the critters got together for the annual Gulf Coast Council Wood Badge Reunion at Camp Jambo. Betsy Werre was the surprise guest speaker at the event. Thank you to Jeff Kern and the Fox Patrol of SR-915 for dinner.

2008 WOODBADGE FEAST

2008 FALL FAMILY CAMPS

2008 FALL FAMILY CAMPS

THE PROGRAM CORNER Jim Boksa Council Program Director

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER

Just like time, the Program just keeps rolling along. There is always something going on, so please check the council website at www.gulfcoastcouncil.org for up to date information.

We had some great Family Camps this fall, and we have three more scheduled in April and May.

Remember, only 600 people will be allowed to attend so get your reservations in early.

In February we will be having our Tiger Growl at Spanish Trail Scout Reservation. This is an overnight event just for Tiger Scouts and their Adult Partners. Information and registration forms will be avail-able at the November Roundtables.

The council will be chartering a bus to go to Winterfest this year in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Winterfest is the largest gathering of Venturers and Explorers in the Southern Region. You will get a chance to com-pete and meet Venturers from all over the country and get a chance to do some snow skiing there in the Smokey Mountains.

The Order of the Arrow has a big year planned in 2009. Not only do we have the National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC) this summer at Indiana University, the Yustaga Lodge will be hosting the first conclave in our new section on top of the annual lodge events. For more information about the Yustaga Lodge, visit www.yustaga385.com.

All Boy Scouts and Venturers should have received an invitation to be part of one, if not, the greatest ex-periences a boy can have as a Scout and that is a trip to Philmont. Once again this year the council will have crews going out to Philmont in July, so get your reservation in today.

Also, we are taking reservations for the 2010 National Jamboree. Just imagine being with over 40,000 other Scouts and Scouters celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. There are very few slots open, so get your reservation in now. For more information on either the National Jam-boree or Philmont, go to the council website at www.gulfcoastcouncil.org.

Boy did this year fly by! I would like to thank all you volunteers for making 2008 a great year in the Gulf Coast Council, and I am looking forward to an even better 2009.

I would also like to wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday season, and remember that we are doing this for the boys.

LAKE SANDS DISTRICT NEWS SERVING BAY, GULF, HOLMES, WASHINGTON COUNTIES

INTERIM DISTRICT CHAIRMAN JEFFREY GIBBS (850) 277-0665

DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TOM REYNOLDS (850) 769-7517

DISTRICT EXECUTIVE CHRISTIAN SHEPARD (850) 784-1886

LAKE SANDS LEDGER NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2008

LAKE SANDS RECENT HAPPENINGS

Nov 3rd – Please join us for our District Re-Charter Party at Bay County High School in the

Computer Lab. Please enter on the 12th Street entrance. Party starts at 6:00 PM.

Nov 6th - Popcorn Unit Order turn in at the First United Methodist Church of Panama City.

Your District Executive, Christian Shepherd will be at the Trinity Center between

3:00 PM and 7:00 PM to collect order forms. If you can’t make it between these

times, please contact Christian at (850) 784-1886 to make other arrangements.

Nov 7th - 9th Council wide Camporee at Spanish Trail Scout Reservation!

Nov 15th - New Leader Essentials/Specific For Cub Scouts and BALOO training. Remember all

non-BSA camping functions require at least one leader to have completed BALOO

training.

Nov 19th - Popcorn for district is delivered to Buffalo Rock Pepsi warehouse.

Nov 20th - Units pick up popcorn at Buffalo Rock Pepsi.

Dec 5th - Renegade Sports Center Lock-In - 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM.

Dec 13th - Sportsman’s Day at Spanish Trail Scout Reservation.

Dec 17th - All popcorn money due to council office.

NOTES ON MEMBERSHIP

Our Cub Scout School Round-Ups are coming to an end and I am pleased to report that we have had a tremendous year thus far! Last year our District recruited 374 Cub Scouts. I am proud to report that at the time of this publication, we have recruited over 575 Cub Scouts! This success is because of all the volunteers that have made scouting FUN and in-turn has made other boys want to be a part of the Scouting program. It is because of your dedication to our community that these numbers are up dra-matically. We as a district should be very proud of this, as this is a signal of better things to come over the next year!

LET’S GET EXCITED AND KEEP SPREADING THAT SCOUTING SPIRIT!!!

CHOCTAWHATCHEE DISTRICT

DISTRICT CHAIRMAN - JOHN TOWNSEND (850) 865-7762

DISTRICT COMMISSIONER - JEFF BRYANT (850) 729-0928

DISTRICT EXECUTIVE - BRYANT PERKINS (850) 683-0330

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER HAPPENINGS

GREETINGS FROM THE DESK OF YOUR DISTRICT EXECUTIVE:

Dear Scouters of Choctaw District,

I would like everyone to know that this has been an amazing year so far for our District. We are now at a

grand total of 61 units as of October 21st, 2008. By the end of the year we will possibility have 65 total

units. We also have recruited a record number of Cub Scouts this year with over 530 new Cubs regis-

tered. On October 25th we had our Scout Fun Day at the Mullet Festival Site in Niceville. Everyone had a

great time with all the games and booths. Thank you to all of the Scouts that helped make the booths

and games happen. That night we had many Boy Scouts man the “Haunted Tent” that appeared when

the sunset. I hope to see all of the Troops in November at the Council Camporee doing the best job that

the Choctaw Scouts have always done.

We also have a few things that are happening in December. On the 5th of December we are having a

“Lock-In” at the Boys & Girls Club in Fort Walton Beach. We are looking to have another location at the

North end of the District. If anyone has any ideas, please let us know. We will also have the District Ban-

quet in December instead of the December Roundtable. The District Banquet will be the 2nd Tuesday in

December at Shalimar United Methodist Church.

DON’T FORGET

All Scouts that have sold more than $600.00 in popcorn are invited to go to Sportsman’s Day at Spanish

Trail Scout Reservation.

Let’s close 2008 out with a bang and let’s take 2009 to the next level for all Scouts across the District!

Bryant Perkins

CHOCTAWHATCHEE DISTRICT

NOVEMBER 2008 CHOCTAW DISTRICT CALENDAR

Nov 4 Unit Commissioner Meeting 6:15 pm - District Committee Meeting 7:00 pm Nov 6 Recharter Party / Popcorn Order Due Nov 7-9 Council Wide Camporee Nov 8 Council Day Camp Director Mtg Nov 11 Roundtable Nov 12 Recharter Party Nov 13 OA Meeting Nov 18 District FOS Training Nov 19 Popcorn Delivery Nov 20-21 Popcorn Distribution Nov 21-21 OA Vigil and OA Workday Nov 26-30 Council Office Closed for Thanksgiving

DECEMBER 2008 CHOCTAW DISTRICT CALENDAR

Dec 2 Unit Commissioner Meeting 6:15 pm / District Committee Meeting 7:00 pm Dec 5 Cub Scout Lock In Dec 6 OA Banquet Dec 9 District Banquet Dec 11 OA Meeting Dec 13 Sportsman Day Dec 17 Popcorn Money Due to Council Dec 19 Council Unit Recharter Completion Date Dec 24-31 Council Office Closed

LONG LEAF PINE DISTRICT Serving Escambia, Monroe & Conecuh counties in Alabama.

DISTRICT CHAIRMAN - JIM HILDRETH (251) 867-9721

PARA-PROFESSIONAL - PRISCILLA EBY (251) 363-4345

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Fall is definitely here with cooler weather and more fun activities for the scouts of the Longleaf Pine District.

DISTRICT NEWS The entire district came together for a Cub Scout Fun Day, sponsored by Pack 232 in Flomaton on September 27th. Fifty-two Scouts from four packs participated in a full day of outdoor activi- ties at Flomaton’s Hurricane Park. The boys learned about fishing, rigging their own fishing pole, chess, softball, and tennis. Each boy was given the opportunity to earn four belt loops. After a lunch of pizza, the boys each took home their very own cane pole.

Twelve adults participated in NLE (New Leader Essentials) and Leader Specific Training on September 13th at the First United Methodist Church of Brewton. Fifteen adults also took part in a Youth Protection Training during October’s Roundtable meeting on October 2nd. Special thanks to Randy Werre who gave an excellent presentation, as usual, on Youth Protection

Training. Congratulations to the dedicated leaders and parents who are working hard to give their boys the best program possible.

Pack 42 - Pack 42 enjoyed trips to the police station and the radio station.

ADDITIONAL NEWS

Plans are underway to begin restoration of Camp McMillan. Many dedicated parents are

volunteering hours of service to see that the camp will be in operation by summer.

We are also excited to begin planning our very own Day Camp for the Longleaf Pine District. Jaye Jaye Hagan has volunteered to be our Day Camp Director. Thanks Jaye Jaye!

Don’t forget Roundtable for November will be on November 6th, and for December on

December 4th.

Keep your reports coming in and keep up the excellent work you’ve been doing with our boys in the Scouting Program in Alabama.

Pack 224

Pack 224 was visited by Dr John Gridder, a local Veterinarian. Dr. Gridder shared with the boys animal care and safety. He brought x-rays of some of his patients to show the boys, some with broken bones and even a pregnant puppy. The pack presented him with a box of Camp Master Popcorn as an appreciation for his presentation.

Brandon Litzinger of Troop 24

Den Chief for Pack 224

2

0

0

8

SCOUTING

FUN!

Tiger Cubs enjoying learning about chess!

The boys learn the finer points of holding a bat correctly during the softball section.

LONG LEAF PINE DISTRICT

2008 CUB SCOUT ROUNDUP

Forty-eight School Nights for Scouting were held at district elementary schools during the months of Au-gust and September, recruiting more than 980 new Cub Scouts for Pensacola Bay District packs. We’re off to a great start of another exciting Cub Scout year, with several packs more than doubling in size! We would like to give a huge round of applause to all the volunteers that helped make it such a success.

NEW LEADER TRAINING

Every boy deserves a trained leader. Pensacola Bay’s adult volunteers have answered the call and demon-strated their commitment to quality Ccouting by attending training. Thank a trainer when you see them, because nearly 200 new (and some returning) adult leaders have attended one or more of the recent train-ing sessions scheduled for New Leader Essentials, Position Specific Training, Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO), Outdoor Webelos Leader (OWL), Merit Badge Counselor and Chartered Organization Representative training.

Don’t forget – in addition to the formal classes, online training is available through the links on the council website to Fast Start and Youth Protection training. Youth Protection Training (YPT) is mandatory for all adult leaders in Scouting and Merit Badge Counselors. It is easy to take and once completed, you will be instantly documented as YP trained with National BSA Headquarters in Dallas.

POPCORN SALE

Fifty-six units committed to participate in the 2008 Popcorn Sale, units are doing very well, with many Scouts already anticipating a day of fun at Sportsman’s Day on December 13th, having joined the 600 Club, WAY TO GO!

Remember, all popcorn sale unit orders are due into the Council office no later than November 6th. Each unit must submit a single, consolidated unit order form for their entire unit. Individual dens and patrols need to submit their orders to their respective pack / troop popcorn coordinator, or “Kernel” early enough to allow them to assemble a single combined order for the pack / troop and deliver it to the Council by the November 6th deadline. Units may submit their orders online, but remember: the deadline for online or-ders is still November 6th, and once submitted, cannot be changed.

In addition to the unit order form, please be sure to submit your unit prize order form, if you are a Cub Pack or a troop electing the prizes option and 30% commission instead of the 35% commission for troops and Venturing Crews. If you have Scouts who qualified for the 600 Club don’t forget to get their names into the office. Some great prizes have been awarded so far for the “Fill-it-Up” awards, but don’t forget that the top seller in the district wins a NINTENDO Wii.

Your unit popcorn orders will be available for pick up at the Buffalo Rock Pepsi warehouse at Elly-son Industrial Park from 10:00 AM thru 5:00 PM on Thursday, November 20th and 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM on Friday, November 21st.

PENSACOLA BAY DISTRICT

Serving All of Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties

DISTRICT CHAIRMAN: PAUL ENTREKIN

DISTRICT COMMISSIONER: CHARLES RAY

DISTRICT EXECUTIVE: BRANDON JACOLA

DISTRICT EXECUTIVE: BILLY EGAN

PENSACOLA BAY DISTRICT

Serving All of Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties

DISTRICT CHAIRMAN: PAUL ENTREKIN

DISTRICT COMMISSIONER: CHARLES RAY

DISTRICT EXECUTIVE: BRANDON JACOLA

DISTRICT EXECUTIVE: BILLY EGAN

NOVEMBER DISTRICT CALENDAR

11/1 ScoutNet database open for Internet Charter Renewals for all units. 11/6 All Popcorn orders due 11/6 Commissioner Meeting 6:00 PM / Round Table 7:00 PM 11/7-11/9 Council Wide Camporee 11/8 IOLS Training at Camp 11/10 Annual Business Meeting - 7:00 PM @ St Luke Methodist, Nine Mile Road 11/20 Popcorn order pick up for units Buffalo Rock Pepsi warehouse, Ellyson Industrial Park 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM. 11/21 Popcorn order pick up for units Buffalo Rock Pepsi Warehouse, Ellyson Industrial Park 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. 11/21 Silver Beaver Nominations Due 11/21-11/23 OA VIGIL

DECEMBER DISTRICT CALENDAR 12/4 Unit Commissioners’ meeting 6:00 PM - 9th Ave LDS Church, Pensacola Scouters’ Roundtable – 7:00 PM, same location 12/6 Gulf Breeze Cub Scout Badge-o-Rama Gulf Breeze Rec Center 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM 12/6 OA Banquet 12/8 District Committee Meeting - 7:00 PM, Council Office 12/12 Pace/ Pensacola Badge-o-Rama 1st Methodist Church of Pace 1st Baptist Church of Pensacola Time 6:00 PM -11:00 PM 12/13 Sportsman’s Day 12/15 Target for unit charter renewals for calendar year 2009 12/17 Popcorn Money Due to Council 12/19 Unit Recharter Completion Date

THE GULF COAST COUNCIL

WILL BE CLOSED WEDNESDAY,

NOVEMBER 26TH, 2008

THRU SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30TH, 2008 IN OBSERVANCE OF THE

THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY.

WE WILL RE-OPEN MONDAY,

DECEMBER 1ST, 2008.