Popcorn Sale

Bulls Night Recognition

On February 2, 2010 Calumet Council recognized its Top Fall Popcorn Salesman at the Chicago Bulls Game.   The top salesman got to go on the floor prior to the game.  And the Scout that sold the most product last fall that attended the game got to go on the floor and get autographs before the tip off.  The event was such a success we are already making plans for next year’s popcorn Bulls night. 

A Gift of Timeless Values

In February 2010, the Boy Scouts of America will  celebrate 100 years as an organization. The  program was founded as an outlet to prepare every eligible youth in America to become a participating citizen and leader. Although the program continues to evolve with the changing needs of today’s society, Scouting’s mission continues to help develop a strong value system and hope for the future.  Scouting teaches young people pride, provides recognition for growth development, and reinforces the lessons of life needed in today’s world.  As we celebrate our first 100 years, we not only reflect on our rich history, but lay the foundation for a strong future as well.  Help to keep Scouting available to youth of future generations with a Centennial James E. West Fellowship Award !

This award is a national recognition for individuals who contribute $1,000 or more in cash to the Councils  endowment fund. Your     contribution is in  addition to, and does not diminish or replace, your annual gift to the Friends of Scouting  Campaign. 

One way to become a James E. West Fellow is to enroll yourself.  You can also honor someone else with this special award.  Your gift is safely    invested in the council permanent endowment trust fund. Only the interest earned from that investment will be used for current programs. The principal amount is never invaded or expended.  Therefore, your gift will last forever and will continue to support Scouting in perpetuity beyond your lifetime.   For more information please contact Ted Karns at the Council Service Center. 

BSA Race to 2010 Jamboree

GOAL: Help Scouts from Calumet Council in Munster Indiana move this pinewood derby Travel Bug® across the nation and into as many Scout and non-Scout hands as possible. This is the first ever nationwide pinewood derby race, and we want to cross the finish line! Prizes will be awarded for cars that travel the farthest, pass through the most hands, and have the most creative route, among others. Help us speed along by moving this Travel Bug. And be sure to visit our online log to tell us about your Scouting memories. Calumet Council provides 4000 youth from the Northeast Illinois and Northwest Indiana area with a strong foundation of leadership, service, and community. Find out how to get involved with Scouting where you live! Visit www.Scouting.org. I want to get to the "Technology Quest" at Fort A.P. Hill in Virgina in time for the Boy Scouts National Jamboree on or before July 21, 2010. Please submit photos of your travels.

About this item:
This Pinewood Derby car was made by a Cub Scout. In scouting, most of the Cub Scouts packs hold a Pinewood Derby race down a track against other Scouts. They are handed a block of wood and wheels to make the car. It is a big event, and an even greater accomplishment for them to see their car win a race. We even have a safe driver award for the slowest car.

Potawatomi Trail Hike

The Potawatomi Hike will take place on Saturday, March 27, 2010, at the Indiana Dunes State Park, 1600 North 25 East, Chesterton, Indiana.  Registration, concession stand, and trail hike kickoff are located at the City West Shelter.  Registration begins at 8:00 a.m.  and the hike kicks off at 9:00 am.  The hike takes place regardless of rain or snow!  Snacks:  The OA concession stand will offer coffee, donuts, pop, hot dogs, chips candy and hot chocolate.  Cost:  No advanced registration is necessary.  See the hike flyer for unit registration and bring the flyer with you to the hike. DO NOT register at the Council office!  The $4.00 registration fee includes the 2010 Potawatomi Trail Hike patch. 
Spring Popcorn Sale
The spring Camp Corn Popcorn Program is a great opportunity to earn extra money for your unit.  It can also be used to help Scouts pay their own way to Philmont, Cub Day Camp, Cub Camp, National Youth Leadership Training, African American Heritage Camp, Troop High Adventure Trips, Boy Scout Summer Camp or the National Scout Jamboree.  Your Scouts will earn 40% commission on each item that they sell.  Spring Products will include:

Spring Popcorn Products
Product Cost / Unit Profit
Military Gold Level $40.00/ $16.00
Cheese Lovers Tin $30.00/ $12.00
Military Popcorn Level $25.00/ $10.00
23 Oz.  Gourmet Caramel Corn w/ Almonds, Pecans & Cashews $18.00/ $7.20
Caramel Corn Light $18.00/ $7.20
15 Pack Unbelievable Butter $15.00/ $6.00
15 Pack Butter Light Microwave $15.00 / $6.00
2.5 Pound Gourmet bucket $10.00/ $4.00

Key Popcorn Dates
March 2010 Roundtable:  Sale Kickoff and Training, also the start of the sale
Monday, April 19, 2010:  Popcorn Orders due to the Council Office
Saturday, May 1, 2010:  Popcorn Distribution for the Entire Council, at
The Stack and VanTil Warehouse
Friday May 14, 2010:  All money due to the Council Service Center. 

2010 Golf Classic

This year we will be celebrating the 26th Anniversary of this event. The Outing will be held on Monday, July 19, 2010, at Briar Ridge Country Club.  Don't miss this opportunity to enjoy a day of fun and fellowship in the great outdoors while supporting local Scouting programs. If you are interested in serving on the 2009 Golf Committee or you would like more information on how you can attend the event, go to www.calumetcouncil.org to download the reservation form, or contact Ted Karns at the Calumet Council Service Center.

23rd Annual Wolf Lake Conservation Project

The Conservation Project will take place on April 24th. Registration will begin at 8am on Saturday morning.  Troops and Venturing are welcome to campout for the weekend.

Council Annual Dinner

Friday, April 16, 2010
Center for Visual and Performing Arts
1040 Ridge Road
Munster, IN  46321

Dinner 7:00 PM
(The Annual Meeting will be included in the Dinner Program)

Silver Beaver Sponsor: $150.00 (Includes two dinner tickets)
Table Sponsor: $300.00 (Includes six dinner tickets)
Individual Ticket: $35.00
Reservation Deadline: Friday, April 9, 2010

Please join in celebrating volunteerism with our annual presentation of the
Boy Scouts’ highest award.

Venturing Note Pad

Hello my name is Dave Blankenship.  I have been around the scouting program for many years, first as a youth (Eagle Scout class 1976) and now as an adult.  I have been fortunate to have held many positions, from Tiger Den Leader to Scoutmaster, along with many others.  Currently I hold the position as District Advancement Chairman along with being a Crew Advisor to a new Venturing Crew #422.
I must confess taking the position of a Crew Advisor and starting a new Crew was something I did with a little apprehension.  I honestly had no idea what to expect from a Venturing Crew.  Being a former Scoutmaster I had misgivings about “taking boys from a Troop”.  Well let me tell you, after taking the training and getting a Crew started, that idea could be no further from the truth.  Let me start by explaining more about the whole Venturing program. 
(Just to introduce you to some of the basic ideals of the Venturing Program here is a citation taken from the Venture Leader Manual #34655B)
What is Venturing?
Venturing is the young adult program of the Boy Scouts of America for men and women 14 (who have completed the eighth grade) through 20 years of age.  Local community organizations, such as professional organizations, churches, and civic groups initiate specific Venturing crews.  They do this by matching the interests of young adults with the people and program resources within their own organizations.
For example, a local scuba diving shop could start a Venturing crew and invite young adults to join.  A church might have adults that could provide leadership and program support to a Venturing crew that does service-oriented projects like building Habitat for Humanity houses or working at day-care centers and retirement homes.  A hobby club associated with a hobby store could provide adult leadership and program resources for young people interested in specific or a variety of hobbies.
The program of the Boy Scouts of America is to provide young adults, through these community organizations, an effective Venturing program designed to build character, promote responsibility by designing its own program around six experience areas.
That’s the factual, outside definition of Venturing.  Let’s look for a moment at Venturing from the inside- at the spirit of Venturing.
Venturing is a catalyst.  It brings together adults and young people, and incredible things have happened and can happen in this coming together.  The experiences that can emerge from this group of people is up to the people themselves and of one another, the more possibilities they have for experiences that they’ll carry with them the rest of their lives.  For example, a crew in Minnesota organized an activity to go sailing off the coast of Africa.  A crew in Houston sent along experiments on a recent space-shuttle mission.  A crew in California spent nearly 10,000 hours making the nature trails of Angeles National Forest more accessible to the visually impaired by installing trail posts in Braille to identify the forest’s flora and fauna.
When ideas and imagination and dreams combine, there is a reaction.  That energy is part of the Venturing spirit.
Venturing is guided discovery.  With discovery, you step into the unknown, into new areas.  You grow.  In venturing, this discovering is guided.  Too often, wonderful energy is simply wasted:  it stays on the drawing board; they happen.  You learn how to go from a dream to reality, to something you actually do. 
Venturing is an empowering experience.  Most of us have some sense of our abilities and strength.  Maybe we haven’t had the opportunity, however, to bring those abilities into the open.  Venturing is empowering because people discover things about themselves they never realized before.  You might be surprised to learn that you are a good negotiator, creative when it comes to program suggestions, quick to react to a change in circumstances, insightful when it comes to reflecting about an experience – these are the same kinds of abilities necessary in any pursuit. 
Perhaps you joined a crew because of a specific interest.  You’ll have the opportunity to pursue that interest, but you will discover, in the process, much more.  It’s this “much more” that probably best describes Venturing.
(Resource:  Venturing Leader manual #34655B 200 Printing)
With each article I hope to shed more light on the Venturing program and answer any questions you may have.
First question I have been asked a many times (in my roles Advancement Chairman) Can a Boy Scout complete his Eagle requirement while in a Venture Crew?
The answer is YES, On the Eagle Scout Rank Application under age requirement eligibility.  Merit badges, badges of rank, and Eagle Palms may be earned by a registered Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, or Verturer.  He may earn these awards until his 18th birthday.  Any Venturer who has achieved the First Class rank as a Boy Scout n a troop or Varsity Scout in a team may continue working for the Star, Life, and Eagle Scout ranks and Eagle palms while registered as a Vernturer up to his 18th birthday.  Scouts and Venturers who have completed all requirements prior to their 18th birthday may be reviewed within three months after that date with no explanation. 
Since taking this position as Advisor I have learned a lot and found so many un-truths.  I hope that I can help answer these.  Venturing is a wonderful experience for our older youth that may otherwise move on from the Scouting program.  This idea of losing these youth saddens me.  Venturing gives these older youth a new prospective, it does not take boys from a troop, it offers them a place to grow even more.  I feel that troops should embrace Venturing and see these young adults as a resource and use them to better their programs and the Venturing program as a whole.
Again I would like to add that with each article I hope to answer as many questions about Venturing that you have.  So please contact me with them and I will post the answers in upcoming articles. 
If anyone has any questions regarding Venturing please e-mail me @
davdebkurb@comcast.net
Yours in Scouting
Dave Blankenship