This month I want to wish all of our Scouts and Scouters a very happy and prosperous new year. I also look forward to a fabulous new year of Scouting that, to me, is full of promise for the future of Scouting around the country and in Oregon Trail Council.
With a new year comes new programs and opportunities. One of the new programs happening in Oregon Trail Council in 2023 is the Board approved requirement for all direct contact leaders to be fully trained in their positions.
Scouting just gets better and better.
With all of our leaders trained, the program that we are providing to our Scouts just gets better and better. It simply means our leaders know what they are doing and, as a part of that, they are having more fun. Fun rubs off. If our leaders are having fun in what they are doing, our Scouts will too. We retained 74.98% of our Scouts in 2022. That was the highest of the 14 councils in National Service Territory 1. With trained leaders that will go up even higher.
Another new program is related to our summer camps. We will have some new opportunities for our units visiting Camp Baker and Camp Melakwa. We are working with a tour company to provide opportunities to visit some areas along the coast during their week at Camp Baker. We are doing the same with Camp Melakwa. A trip to Smith Rock or Black Butte during the week is an opportunity that we can make happen.
I was visiting with a couple of our leaders from Venture Crew 2141 today at the office and they informed me that just last year the youth in their crew provided over 2,000 community service hours. That made me realize what an impact the Scouting community can have in all of our communities. One of the things we need to do in 2023 is record those hours of service so that we can tell the world how we support our communities.
Forty Scouts and leaders will have the opportunity to attend the National Jamboree this year. A once in a lifetime type experience for our Scouts. We currently have 3 patrols of young men and a patrol of young women. We are grateful to Chris Graves, Monique Schaefers, James Braham, and Kaitlyn Mentzer for paying for the opportunity to lead our contingent on the trip.
I am also looking forward to our special events this coming year. Our auction is already amazing with some sports memorabilia that will make many sports fans salivate when they see what is up for auction. The sporting clays event and golf tournament will have some new looks as well.
I almost forgot. Something that I need to mention. RENDEZVOUS IS COMING BACK!! That is right, in the fall of 2023 we will once again have a Council Rendezvous. It will have some new looks with some of the old program still intact. One of the great events enjoyed by all over the years.
I guess that means we are only missing one thing. MORE SCOUTS TO ENJOY ALL THE NEW SCOUTING FUN. However, I look forward to all the new Scouts that will join Scouting in 2023, because they heard from their friends how much fun they are having in Scouting. Just think about what they are learning in the midst of all that fun! I love it!
As always, thank you for listening and for your commitment to Scouting in Oregon Trail Council! We are looking forward to 2023!
Thank you!
