We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

Leaders

Outstanding Commissioners Recognized at NCAC’s 2020 Virtual College of Commissioner Service

by

At our 2020 Virtual College of Commissioner Service (CCS) held via Zoom from August 28-30, 2020, NCAC’s CCS Dean Julia Mae-Shen Lesko and Council Commissioner Rick Rogers recognized some of our council’s outstanding commissioners.

John A. Mack Commissioner’s Award of Excellence – Ben Overbey

The Mack award recognizes a Scouter who has a distinguished record of consistent excellence and true servant leadership in a way that has profoundly improved our council’s service to units and youth…

This year’s Mack award recognizes a Scouter who has dedicated most of his adult life to Scouting and who has spent a decade being a master teacher for commissioners as an Assistant Council Commissioner. This person, while serving as an Assistant Council Commissioner for Roundtables improved roundtable quality in Maryland and across the council. He moved seamlessly from this role into serving as a model Service Area Assistant Council Commissioner for Montgomery County, where he has been a mentor and friend to at least a dozen council commissioners over the years. Because our council is so large, the Service Area ACC is a key role, and the requirements, activities, and scope of this ACC role are equivalent to what Council Commissioners would do in medium sized councils. In addition, this person distilled his knowledge of the rhythms of commissioner service into an annual calendar which we all use to plan ahead, and he has served as a master teacher for multiple district commissioner orientations and commissioner retreats. Finally, this person has served in our armed forces with distinction, having received the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star as an infantry officer. Without knowing he had been selected for this award back in March, this person further demonstrated his worthiness for the honor over the spring and summer by collecting and disseminating Scouting@Home best practices for our units as the current pandemic has changed the way we do Scouting. It is our honor to present the Council Commissioner’s Mack Award to Ben Overbey. Thanks to Sue Overbey for conspiring with us to present the award to Ben in person.

Robert L. Dise Gold Dean’s Award – Patrick Berney

The gold award recognizes a Scouter who has served as a commissioner for more than 5 years in a leadership role dedicated to education and training of commissioners at the unit, district, and council level. . . .

This year’s gold award recognizes a Scouter who has served continuously as a unit commissioner for over 30 years, while also serving 3 years as the immediate past District Commissioner.  According to the district, this Scouter is known as the quintessential servant leader who strives to help units run a better Scouting program.  This has included filling in the voids caused when another commissioner moves out of the area, and personally visiting unassigned units in addition to assigned units. The district greatly appreciates all the wealth of knowledge and advice this long-time commission shares in educating fellow commissioners, which includes mentoring of the new District Commissioner.  It is our honor to present the Commissioner College Dean’s Gold Award to George Mason District’s Patrick Berney.

Robert L. Dise Silver Dean’s Award – Mark Stoffel

The silver award recognizes a Scouter who has served as a commissioner for more than 3 years and has spent a substantial portion of time educating and training commissioners . . .

This year’s silver award recognizes a Scouter who began commissioner service 12 years ago as a unit commissioner and has continued to serve in that role while also serving the past 3 years as the roundtable commissioner for Cub Scouts as well as the district commissioner.  The district expresses great appreciation for this Scouter’s substantial contributions to education and training, not only for Commissioners, but also for the District’s unit recharter teams, which led to a notable reduction of unit frustration and the highest on-time submission of re-chartered units for the District.  It is our honor to present the silver award to Chain Bridge District’s Mark Stoffel.

Robert L. Dise Bronze Dean’s Award – Josh Willberger

The bronze award recognizes a new commissioner.  Someone who has been involved in Commissioner Service for less than 3 years . . . a shining star. . . 

This year’s bronze award recognizes a Scouter who became a unit commissioner in 2017, and made such an immediate impact providing valuable leadership and guidance to multiple units, that the district now is excited to have this Scouter as their new District Commissioner.  According to the district, this Scouter has brought great energy and enthusiasm to the commissioner staff, and already has increased their ability to serve units.  It is our honor to present the bronze award to Mattaponi District’s Josh Wilberger.

Scoutmaster Seminar on Delivering ILST

by

Join us for the Adult Series Training Seminar: Delivering ILST to Scouts this Wednesday, July 15 at 7pm. Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops (ILST) is the training Scoutmasters deliver to Scouts to teach them to basic leadership skills they need to run a Troop. It’s a great course, but working over Zoom presents many challenges. This 50-minute overview for Scouters will cover some lessons learned from around the Council. (Youth welcome, but material is tailored for at Adults.)

 

Register HERE:

National Youth Leadership Training Seminars

Free Leadership Seminar July 9th at 5pm EST

by

Join us for our third Seminar for youth leaders this Thursday, 7/9 at 5pm, delivered by youth NYLT staff. The topic for this seminar will be titled, “Mastering the Art of Improvement.” Scouting provides opportunities to try new things and take on new roles. But few people are instantly good at something they’ve never done before, like cooking over a fire, or holding a new position of leadership. Learn the tools Scouting gives us to improve after each experience.

Register here today!

Summer Leadership Seminar!

by

Leadership Training is one of the four Aims of Scouting. Through these seminars Scouts will have an opportunity to continue their leadership development despite the cancellation of NYLT this summer. Each seminar will be fast-paced and last about 50 minutes. Content is delivered by NYLT staff and is designed to help Scouts develop as leaders. It is recommended, but not required, that participants are in a position of Unit leadership and have attended ILS(T/C/S) or NYLT.”

The first seminar will be held this Saturday, June 20th at 5pm. This seminar will focus on Planning for Success: Valuing Your Team & Preparing Small Team Events. All Scouts in leadership positions will benefit from this webinar as it will be covering topics and tools to help you execute your role more effectively. The event is FREE, but space is limited so don’t wait to sign up. Early registration is recommended.

FAQ

  1. Is this an “Online NYLT course?”
    A. No. NYLT is a 6-day practical learning experience. We are offering this webinar to help Scouts who have attended NYLT (or are thinking about attending NYLT) focus on a few specific leadership topics in a fast-paced online format.
  2. Will this session be offered again?
    A. This is currently the only time we are offering this seminar.
  3. Is there a certificate of completion I can share with my Unit Leader?
    A. All Scouts will have an opportunity to receive (via email) a certificate of attendance.
  4. Will these webinars be recorded?
    A. Not currently.
  5. When is the next opportunity to take NYLT in NCAC?
    A. We are planning on holding courses in 2021, starting with a Winter course running across two 3-day weekends (MLK and Presidents’ Day). Registration typically opens in October but fills quickly. We anticipate running courses in the summer of 2021 as well.

Sign up today at https://tinyurl.com/y9pre9xc!

NCAC Forms Council Equality Committee

by

The National Capital Area Council, BSA stands firmly with our friends, neighbors and Scouting families in denouncing racism and prejudice in our organization, our communities, and our world.

As Scouts we are guided by the Scout Oath and Law. We firmly believe that by instilling these values through Scouting in young people we are aiding in the goal of ending all systemic racism in our country. Our youth protection and anti-bullying programs and policies are designed to protect Scouts. The Boy Scouts of America stands against racism, violence, bullying and harassment of any kind. It is unacceptable, and it contradicts every single one of our values.

We stand by the statement released recently by the Boy Scouts of America. We also believe we must pair our words with actions. During the past week, leadership of National Capital Area Council has taken steps to create a Council Equality Committee. This committee will be charged with identifying meaningful steps, which will be taken to educate our members and ensure all families know they are welcome in Scouting and will treated fairly and equitably.

National Capital Area Council is pleased to announce that Clarence Crayton will be serving as Chairman of this new initiative. Mr. Crayton is a veteran Scouter and former NCAC Council Commissioner. He is an active member of Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal Church and serves as chartered organization representative for their Scouting units. His knowledge of Scouting and strong community and faith-based background make him ideal for this important leadership role.

This is an important time in our nation’s history. We believe Scouting can play a role in preparing young people to become productive adult citizens, and to eliminate racism and other unacceptable behaviors from our society.

Jamie Frame Becomes the Youngest Shofar Awardee!

by

On behalf of the National Capital Area Council Jewish Committee on Scouting, Jamie Frame received his Shofar Award Sunday morning, June 7, 2020. While we would have preferred presenting the award and certificates to Jamie at our Northeast Region JCoS Annual Conference, the coronavirus pandemic interfered with that. For the past three years, Jamie Frame has served as the Jewish Chaplain at Goshen Scout Camps conducting services weekly.

Attached is an image of Jamie wearing his Shofar ribbon and medal with his parents, Michael and Beth, holding the certificates from both the National JCoS and the NER JCoS. Jamie who is 20 years old is going into his senior year of college in Pittsburgh. I think he is the youngest person to have been awarded the prestigious Shofar Award. We wish him the best in all his future endeavors.

Please consider congratulating Jamie by sending him a message.