A reminder: materials from the Cub Scout part of the March Roundtable on planning your annual activity calendar (where to go, what to do, how to organize, how to promote to kids/families), are in the "Cub Scout Month by Month Activity Ideas" page.  Feel free to use the Flyer Template there to create a "take home" handout for kids in the schools in your neighborhoods, so that you attract new members.  If You Build It (your calendar), They Will Come (more kids and parents).  Don't worry if you don't know for sure who is going to "lead" the event.  If you build it, they will come.  If you put it on your calendar and people like it, they will help!  Some of the places to go / things to do listed there are good for Boy Scouts too, but for more tools to allow your Patrol Leaders Council to decide what to do / where to go, see this example survey from a local Troop (email the Webmaster if you want to use this survey tool yourself).  More tools to help you decide what to do are in this Website -- see this for how to find those tools.

This topic is also known as " If You Build It (Your Calendar), They (Scouts and Adults) Will Come".  District Leader's Roundtable on March 15, 7:30 at Woodward's Middle School will cover planning YOUR Unit's activity calendar for the next year.  For Cub Scout Packs, we will have plenty of ideas to create an easy and fun activities calendar that you can take to parents in your Pack, and to prospective parents and kids, to show them the fun things that your Cub Scout Pack will do over the next year.  For Boy Scout Troops, we'll also share ideas on how to get the boys to select activities and "own" their calendar.  Everyone can share their ideas about cool places to go and things to see.  Attendees will get information on specific, easy and fun events, so that you can -- this very night -- start to set your calendar and promote it to your current Scouts and families and then use it to recruit new Scouts and families starting . . . today.  Presenter will be Bert Bender, and those in attendance will receive a packet of useful information to get your program done in the fun and easy way.  Sign up now, so that he knows how many copies to bring.  As at any Roundtable, YOUR questions can be put out on the table, and answered by the collective knowledge of the group (that's what we're here for . . . to support each other). 

Please contact the Derby Commissioner if you have any photos from Derby Daze.  The Initial Photos are here (thanks Bill Lyman!)

Your Feedback on the Derby is invited in this Point and Click Survey.  We can also do different and better, with your help.  And if you worked the Derby, please shoot any “after action” plans to the Derby Commissioner so that we collect your ideas to make it easier for next year.

The Atlanta Area Council has announced a new fundraising program for units called Camp Cards, intended to help Scouts pay for Summer Camp opportunities like Summer Cub Adventure Camp (click here for the sharp new flyer), and other camping opportunites (click on that link, because you'll find out about a LOT of new camping options, like the 2013 Council Encampment for ALL units, a LOT of new Cub Scout Adventures, including one night "Fun with Son" June 23-24; for Boy Scout Troops: Aquatics Camp, Shooting Sports Camp, Winter Camp!, plus good ol' Summer Camp, and for Venturing Crews: Venturing Extreme Summer Camp).  Camp Cards are simple "discount cards" for various retailers in Atlanta, sold for $5.  Discounts include Publix ($5 off $50 purchase -- one-time use), Waffle House (free beverage with meal purchase -- multiple use!), Sports Authority ($10 off $50 purchase -- multiple use!), Meineke (10% off automotive services and 5% off tires and batteries), White Water Express ($10 off an activity or buy one get one free activity!).  Each card is worth many times the $5 they sell for:  one Publix trip covers the cost, and more year-round discounts offered on the back make the sale of this card "the biggest no-brainer in the history of earth”.  Units get 50% commission.  So, Unlike Popcorn, no issue about "extra inventory": You simply return any unsold cards by May 17, 2012 along with payment for all sold cards.  See the Camp Card web page for more details and to register to participate.

The Pinewood Derby "Program" and other details and plans are on the Pinewood Derby page.  For those who are not doing set-up or Pack racing today, please take a few minutes in the comfort of work or home to review.  A few key points to remember:  Everybody Helps.  Tell your parents.  There is no team of "Pinewood Pixies" or "Derby Dandies" that magically puts on a Pinewood Derby for you . . . this is being put on by Parents Just Like You, and those who signed up in advance as volunteers will need to take breaks and let others help too . . . so Parents who have not yet volunteered will be asked to take a turn to help.  Please prep your parents to "say yes" when asked!  Remember: Saturday we will have a Concession Stand (Cash only!) with Donuts, Chick-Fil-A Biscuits (Breakfast only), Chick-Fil-A Sandwiches, Pizza (cheese or pepperoni), hot dogs, Assorted Chips, Candy, apples, bananas, and Cokes, Sprite, Diet Coke, OJ, Gatorade, Water, Coffee and Tea.  This is how we keep this Derby a “free” Derby, to pay for the Patches, Supplies, and District Trophies.