Red Jacket District Newsletter

Get Ready for a Beach Blast!!

May 18-20, 2012

Show & Do Service Weekend & Leave-no-Trace Camping Adventure

Hosted by the Red Jacket District Activities
& Civic Service Committee

For more information and registration, visit the Spring Camporee Event Page >>

Red Jacket Commissioner Meeting is May 23rd, 2012

Join other Commissioners in the Red Jacket District for a working session to identify challenged units, develop improvement plans and share experiences.  All Commissioners in the Red Jacket District are encouraged to attend and participate.

Meeting starts at 7:00 PM and runs until 9:00 PM.

Meetings are held in the Conference room at the Hamburg Administration Building

For more details, see the Event Page >>

Holland Speedway - Two Great Activities

See fast-paced auto racing from behind the scenes!

Scout Night 2012 - August 25th-26th - Includes a race and breakfast!

  Holland Speedway Scout Night 2012 Event Page >

Scout Field Trip Day 2012 - June 21st - A behind-the-scenes tour of the track and an opportunity to watch racing practice.

  Holland Speedway Field Trip Day Event Page >

Contact Holland Speedway directly for tickets and registration.

2012 Orchard Park Memorial Day Parade

For young scouts, there is nothing like being in a parade.  Being a part of the parade means you get to be the center of attention, wave to your friends and show off your colors.

For unit leaders, being in a parade provides great visibility for your unit.  Showing that you are part of the community and handing out information about your Pack/Troop is a great recuiting tool.

To participate, assemble at 8:30AM behind the Orchard Park Library, 4570 South Buffalo Street. The parade route this year is from Highland Ave, at the library, down South Buffalo Street to the Four Corners, a left onto West Quaker Street and proceed to Veterans Park.

To jump on this unique opportunity, check out the 2012 Orchard Park Memorial Day Parade Information Packet >

Program Launch - June 6th, 2012

• Looking for new ideas to "spice up" your unit program?
• Want to see what others are doing?
• How about some ideas for local activities and adventures?

Then you need to be sure to visit the 2012 GNFC Program Launch!

For more information and registration, see the Program Launch Event Page >

Flag Retirement at Forest Lawn - June 10th

"Spread the Word"

Properly retire your worn, or unusable flag at the fourth annual Flag Retirement Ceremony:

June 10th, 2012
3:00 - 6:00 PM

Forest Lawn
1411 Deleware Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14209

Download the complete brochure and information sheet >

For more information visit www.forestlawnflagretirement.com >

Trainer's EDGE

The Greater Niagara Frontier Council is offering Trainer’s EDGE this next year with two opportunities:.

Two Monday’s (You must attend both for completion of the course)

October 29^th and November 12^th 2012 – 6:30 to 9:30 PM

or

Saturday, March 16^th from 7:45 AM to 4:15 PM

Thank you for your interest in Training!

For more information, contact:

Roberta Wojcinski, Trainers EDGE Course Director
roberta@esmenterprises.com

Unbound: I Blame the Boy Scouts in  National Geographic

"I keep asking myself, “Why am I doing this, again?” Finally I come up with an answer. I blame the Boy Scouts of America."

The story of one man's use of life-lessons he acquired while as a scout and how they impact his life as an adult.

Read the entire article on the National Geographic Site >

Red Jacket District at the Voluteer Recognition Dinner

The Millenium Hotel in Cheektowaga was home to the 2012 Volunteer Recognition Dinner and a number of Red Jacket District volunteers who have contributed to the district were recognized at this celebration of scouting.

Silver Beaver Recipients Recognizing those volunteers who have given noteworth service of exceptional character to the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturers, and/or Explorers of the Greater Niagara Frontier Council Felton L. Davis Martin "Marty" J. Odachowski Paul Lucas
District Award of Merit Recipients Darlene Kihlberg Alan Percy Patti Najm Michael Simkins Kathleen Sullivan Farnsworth

Red Jacket Adult Leader Awards

The Red Jacket District of the GNFC is proud to announce that there were 30 Adult Leader Awards earned by the various leaders in our District since January 1, 2012. This alone reflects the hard work, commitment and dedication of our leaders. Congratulations to all:

Marketing Corner - Taking Photos of the Action

By Alan Percy, RJD E-Communications Chair

"A picture is worth one thousand words"

How true that statement really is - taking photographs of scouts in action and publishing them is a great way to share the fun and hard work that scouts do in their activities and promoting scouting.  You don't have to be a professional photographer to take great pictures that tell a story and are worthy of publication - so what makes a good action picture?

Action - photos of people doing things is a great way to share the story.  Even if they are staged "hey everyone, grab a shovel and look here" is way better than a picture of a hole with a bunch of scouts looking into the hole.

Lighting - be sure the sun or lighting is coming from behind you when you take that photo.  Even if you need to get people to reposition for the photo, having the light on their faces makes a hudge difference in allowing the viewer connect with the people in the picture.

Look at the camera - unless the photo is of an extreme activity, try to get the subjects in the photo to look at you when you snap the picture.  Eye contact in a photo helps further make the connection.  You may have to snap a few photos, but try the old favorite "hey everyone - look here!".

Take notes - using a small notebook, jot down the names of the scouts in the photo and check the spelling.  Knowing who is in a picture is essential with getting permission to publish the photo in the local press.

Get permission - you don't need to carry a stack of talent release forms, but a quick email to the parents of the scouts in the photo is a great way to get permission to publish your photo.  Summer camp and other organized BSA programs include a talent release in their registration form, providing blanket permission for those activities.

Have Fun - make taking and sharing your photos fun.  Your subjects will pick up on your energy and reflect it back into the camera.

Take your camera - and finally, be sure to take your camera on every outing and keep it handy.  You never know when an opportunity will arrise to snap that perfect photo!

Contacting the Red Jacket District Newsdesk

Share your news, successes, community service projects or upcoming events in the Red Jacket Newsletter.  The Newsletter reaches roughly 1,000 scouting volunteers, parents and staff in the Red Jacket District on a monthly basis.

Send your comments, suggestions or news to rjdmarketing@wnyscouting.org >>

Can't wait 'til next month for your news?  Join us in the Red Jacket District GNFC group on Facebook where you can share your ideas or just catch up on Red Jacket District "buzz"?  .  Just click on the logo below to join the fun!

The Red Jacket District GNFC group on Facebook is intended for for the adult volunteers, parents, or friends of the Red Jacket District.   Enjoy responsibly and be sure to follow the BSA policies on Social Media use >>

This newsletter is edited and distributed by the volunteer committee of the Red Jacket District, Greater Niagara Frontier Council of the Boy Scouts of America and is solely responsible for its content.