National Council Holiday Schedule—
William Lyon Homes Center for Scouting CLOSED

New Orange County Council Hours
Please note our new hours are:

The William Lyon Homes Center for Scouting
M,W,Th, F — 8:30 am - 5 pm
T — 8:30 am - 7 pm
Sat — 9 am - 3 pm
Closed Sundays

The Scout Shop at the William Lyon Homes Center for Scouting
M,W,Th, F — 9 am - 5 pm
T — 9 am - 7 pm
Sat — 9 am - 3 pm
Closed Sunday

Welcome New DEs to El Camino Real and Rancho Del Mar
Please welcome Nnamdi Okafor. Nnamdi is El Camino Real's new District Executive. Nnamdi graduated from California State University Fullerton in 2006 with degrees in both Criminal Justice, as well as Afro-Ethnic Studies. Nnamdi is excited to help further the Scouting program to the youth of our community. Although Nnamdi was never a Scout himself, he understands the mission of Scouting and how it can have a positive influence on our youth. Over the last five years, Nnamdi has become a well-known Spoken Word artist in the California area. He is expected to publish his first book of poetry later this year entitled Writings at Midnight. Nnamdi is also very active with his fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha. for which he has served on the national board. With the small amount of free time that is left, Nnamdi participates in a local step team where he competes regularly—not to forget he is also an active member and leader in his church's youth ministry at Loveland Church in Ontario, California. Please join us in welcoming Nnamdi to the Orange County Council staff!

District Friends of Scouting Ahead of Schedule
Jeff Mathy, Eagle Scout from Troop 93 in Fullerton, spoke to over 400 people at the Council’s Friends of Scouting Kickoff Dinner on February 22. Jeff spoke passionately about his time in Scouting as a youth and shared his experiences climbing the highest summits of the seven different continents.

Congratulations to El Camino Real District who reported achieving their Friends of Scouting goal that night!

Our current campaign progress is:

To give online, visit www.ocbsa.org and select Living/Giving from the menu bar.

Online Learning Center
During May 2006, the BSA developed a new Online Learning Center http://olc.scouting.org a “one-stop shop” for all BSA volunteers and the general public to take online courses related to BSA programs and policies.

The OLC currently contains just a few courses (Cub Scout, Boy Scout and Venturing Fast Start and Youth Protection Guidelines Training), but more will be added over time.

The OLC, via the Internet, will become the portal to all courses and training materials we offer our adult volunteers. In addition to providing convenient, round-the-clock access to information that will help them fulfill their roles in Scouting, this new OLC more reliably tracks users’ completion of online courses, automatically updating records in the member database. Local Council executives have access to course completion records via their MyBSA accounts.Over time, these records can become a powerful management tool for local Council professionals and commissioners.

In the future, additional courses and learning resources will be added to the OLC.  As new materials become available, additional announcements will be made via the Council webmasters’ page at www.scouting.org/webmasters to keep you informed in advance and to enable you to accommodate these changes when necessary.

Board Member Earns Silver Antelope
Nick Franklin, an Eagle Scout and board member, will receive the Silver Antelope award for his continued support of Scouting regionally. Nick has served the Orange County Council as a member of the Executive Board. He has also served as Council President for the Great Southwest Council and as the Area IV President for the South Central Region. In addition, he received the Silver Beaver award from the Great Southwest Council.

The Silver Antelope Award, created in 1942, is granted for outstanding service to youth within the territory of a BSA region. The criteria are similar to those for the Silver Buffalo, with one major difference: A recipient must be a registered adult member of the Boy Scouts of America. The awards are presented in connection with regional meetings or at other public functions within the region. The National Court of Honor bestows Silver Antelope Awards on the basis of the number of registered volunteers in a region.  

The Jamboree provided the Scouts with an opportunity to earn Merit Badges, tour the Academy and directly interact with more than 100 Midshipmen who are Eagle Scouts.

The Jamboree uses the Academy’s resources by offering only rare badges that are difficult to obtain in the Scouts’ respective regional areas including astronomy, atomic energy, aviation, chemistry, computers, electricity, electronics, energy, engineering, fire safety, medicine, oceanography, space exploration and weather.

Interaction between Mids and the Scouts is considered to be the focus of the Jamboree.

A "Plebe" (freshman) at the Naval Academy teaches
soldering in the Electronics Merit Badge class.

Bank of America Is Looking for Student Leaders
Since its inception in 2004, the Bank of America Student Leaders program has recognized more than 600 high school students identified as exemplary young people with a passion for helping their communities thrive. Selected Student Leaders participate in a paid summer internship with a designated local community organization to experience first-hand how they can help shape their communities now and in the future. To maximize their experience, the Student Leaders participate in a series of leadership development and community services activities with local Bank of America executives. The ultimate goal of the Student Leaders program is to nurture our country's next generation of community leaders—for our neighborhoods, our cities and beyond.

For more information, and to apply online, visit the Neighborhood Excellence Initiative section of bankofamerica.com/foundation. The deadline to apply is March 9. View Flyer

TIN Not Necessary for Camps
If you are preparing your taxes and feel you need our TIN (Tax ID number) to claim the Cub Day Camps/Scout Camps as a Dependent Care Provider, please note the following:

On Form W-10: Dependent Care Providers ID Certification:

Under the section called Tax-exempt dependent care provider – A provider who is a tax-exempt organization described in section 501(c)(3) and exempt under section 501(a) is not required to supply its TIN.  Instead, the provider (tax preparer) must complete the name and address lines and write “tax exempt” in the space for the TIN.

Los Angeles Kings Boy Scout Day
Come see the Los Angeles Kings vs. the Nashville Predators on Saturday, March 3, at 1pm at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. Scout packages include discounted game tickets, commemorative LA Kings Scout patch and their Troop or Pack name on Diamond Vision. Order a Block of 15 or more and everyone in your group will get a free Kings hat! Discounted pricing ranges from: $23 (300 Level), $48 (200 Level), and $76 (100 Level).

Special Events:

• Each Troop or Pack will be able to have a group photo taken on the ice prior to the game, or
• Pre-game hockey 101 lesson with Kings Television Commentator, Jim Fox

To order tickets, contact Joey Seymour by phone at 213-742-7214 or by email at: jseymour@staplescenter.com. Visit www.aegtickets.com/boyscouts for more information.

Scout Day with the Los Angeles D-Fenders
Don't miss the hoops, Troops! Scouts of all ages are welcome to attend one of these exciting game dates FREE. To take advantage of this offer, you must RSVP Jason Stock by phone at 310-426-2236 or email JStock@D-Fenders.com. Call now as space is limited! www.D-Fenders.com.

Game Dates:
Sunday, March 18 vs. Fort Worth Flyers—2:30 pm
Sunday, March 25 vs. Bakersfield Jam—2:30 pm
Sunday, April 1 vs. Anaheim Arsenal—2:30 pm
Tuesday, April 3 vs. Albuquerque Thunderbirds—3:30 pm
Thursday, April 12 vs. Anaheim Arsenal—3:30 pm

The Devil Pups Want You!
In 1954 the Marine Corps founded a community character development project to challenge, educate and help young boys and girls, ages 14 to 17, learn self-confidence and responsibility for their actions through good citizenship, self control, confidence, personal discipline, teamwork and respect for others, their family and their country. The United States Marine Corps was given the name “Devil Dogs” in World War I by enemy troops due to their accomplishments on the battlefield and “never give up” spirit. Since its inception, over 46,000 Devil Pups have graduated from the program. 2007 summer program session dates will be July 19 - 28 and August 2 - 11.

An informational meeting about this program will be held at the William Lyon Homes Center for Scouting on Thursday, March 22, beginning at 7 pm.

For more information, visit www.devilpups.com or call Joe De Ladurantey at 949-300-9104 or email jc.del@cox.net. View Flyer.

National High Adventure Bases Canoe Adventures
The Northern Tier National High Adventure Bases has been providing wilderness canoe expeditions for over 80 years. They offer fully outfitted trips into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in nothern Minnesota, Quetico Provincial Park and the White Otter-Turtle River Wilderness in southern Ontario Canada and more! Reservations open for 2008 trips on April 2 at 8 am at 218-365-4811. For departure dates and details, visit: www.ntier.org.

Sportfishing Scouting Program
Newport Landing Sportfishing's Scouting Program offers Scouts the opportunity to set up a fishing merit badge excursion or a trip purely for the joy of fishing. Private merit badge charters allow your unit to have a private boat with dedicated crew and captain.  Along with a private fishing charter, Newport Landing Sportfishing also offers general public trips, which enables individual Scouts to join others on one of our half-day, full-day, or overnight/multi-day trips.

Scouts receive reduced pricing of 40% on private fishing charters and junior rates on all open party trips (half-price for rod rental and tackle). Our mission is to introduce and cultivate the love of fishing.

For more information, call Chris Cunningham at 949-675-0551 or email newportlanding@aol.com. Or visit: www.newportlanding.com

Local Eagle Scout Project in Boys' Life
John Hunsaker of Troop 314 in Westminster has an illustrated feature of his Eagle Scout Project in the February 2007 issue of Boys' Life. John has served his community by restoring the wooden benches in the band shell at Recreation Park in Westminster.

Field Trips for Boy Scouts at SCORE! Educational Centers
Free, educational field trips for Boys Scouts, tailored to individual Troop badge requirements in the areas of technology, education and career exploration, are being offered by SCORE! Educational Centers.Their mission is to have a positive impact on education in the community for kids K-10th grade. Their sports-themed academic centers use an interactive computer curriculum to help students of all abilities build their skills, their confidence and their love of learning. A SCORE! director will work with your unit to create a trip that meets your needs.

SCORE! is currently accepting reservations for winter field trip slots. They require two weeks' advance notice, and they provide permission slips. Please contact Shaheen Ali or Katie Stahle at SCORE! Educational Centers, 29975 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677. 949-363-5367. www.escore.com.

Youth Digital Filmmakers Program
The California Council for the Humanities has announced a new grant program, Youth Digital Filmmakers, to support projects that engage California youth in creating short films about how they see California. Each project will involve a local filmmaker, a humanities scholar and a community-based organization in an effort to create humanities-based media that will be used for community screenings and wider distribution. The application deadline is April 2. To learn more, visit http://www.calhum.org/guidelines/guidelines_ydf.htm

Scouter Development: Spiritual Formation for Scout Leaders
Saturday, March 3 at Santa Clara de Asis Church at 22005 Avenida de la Paz in Yorba Linda. Spiritual formation for Scout Leaders is essential in order to:

• Do your duty to God
• Become a better Scouter
• Become a better Catholic
• Become better at integrating the two
• Become better at serving youth

Please return this registration form and $10 donation to Melodee Hoorebeke, vice chairperson of activities, 12411 Pleasant Place, Garden Grove, CA 714-539-0315 or fax: 714-970-2618.

Donate Your Vehicle
Do you have a car, boat, RV, motorcycle or other property that you no longer need? The Orange County Council is able to pick up your vehicle or personal property and utilize the proceeds to support Scouting programs throughout the county. Simply call 714-546-4990 or submit your information via the Council's online application at www.ocbsa.org under Living/Giving in the main menu.

February Memorials