The Ozark Trailblazers District Committee meets on the third Tuesday of every month at Traditions Inn in Farmington. Contact Phil Brockland for more information.

The District Commissioner staff meets on the second Tuesday of each month for dinner in Farmington.  The Commissioner staff is made up of a group of highly experienced Scouters who are willing and able to help with whatever needs your unit may have.  Please don't hesitate to contact your unit commissioner or District Commissioner Steve Topping at 314-725-7652 for assistance.

Be sure to take part in the Commissioners Challenge.  Points are awarded for many of the activities that strong Scout units are already doing (for example, Have a Trained Scoutmaster = 75 pts, a Scout Attends NYLT = 150 pts, Conduct a Pack Family Campout = 100 pts, Earn the Quality Pack Award = 150 pts).  Here's the bonus: At the end of the program year, the winning troop will receive a campout catered by the Commissioner staff and the winning pack will receive a pizza and big-screen movie night provided by the Commissioner staff.  For more details, click here: Pack Commissioner Challenge or Troop Commissioner Challenge.  Updates and scoring will be conducted at Roundtable.

CUB SCOUT DAY CAMPS!
Thanks to all who helped with the 2008 day camps! Directors Sandy Skaggs, Darren Skaggs and Norma Franklin did an outstanding job providing program to our Cub Scouts.

2009 Day Camp Dates

• Ste. Genevieve Day Camp: June 15-18 at the Ste. Genevieve KC Hall
• MAC Day Camp: July 6-10 at Mineral Area College

SCOUTING FOR FOOD
Scouting for Food is right around the corner. Please make plans to participate with your unit!

We will distribute Scouting for Food bags and review maps to determine individual units areas of coverage at the October Roundtable on Oct. 2.

• Bag Distribution: Saturday, Nov. 15
• Bag Pickup: Saturday, Nov. 22

EAGLE BOARD OF REVIEW
Eagle Scout candidates should contact Sharon Carron at 314-420-3493 or skmc@sbcglobal.net to make an appointment at least 10 days prior to the expected Board of Review date. The Boards of Review are held on the third Thursday of every month in the Cinema Room at Mineral Area College. Please make sure that the candidate has all of his materials prepared and that the Scoutmaster attends the Board of Review with the Eagle Scout candidate.  Click here for a copy of the Eagle Project Flow Chart.

FALL CAMPOREE
The fall camporee will take place on Oct. 3-5 at Camp Lewallen. Troop 468 will host the event. Please contact Rob Lorey at 573-768-0626 for more information.

Please note: If your unit would like to host an upcoming camporee or the Klondike Derby, contact District Camping Chairman Mike Libby.  This is an excellent opportunity for your older Scouts to get some leadership experience and for your troop to showcase your talents to other district Scouts and Scouters.

SUMMER CAMP
Now is the time to begin planning for next year's summer camp adventure.  The highlight of every Scout's year is the summer camp program.  Programs are designed for boys of all ages and must be taken advantage of in order to fully deliver the Scouting promise.  Cub Scouts should attend Dad & Lad or Mom & Me (Wolf Scouts), Webelos Mini-Camp (first-year Webelos), Webelos Camp (second-year Webelos) and Adventure Camp for all Cubs.  Boy Scouts attend summer camp; it is the one sure way to keep a boy active in Scouting.  Venturers and Explores attend a week at the Swift Explorer Base; this much fun and adventure can not be found anywhere else.  Please, let's make sure we are delivering the Scouting promise and make sure every Scout gets to camp.  Please don't let your Scouts miss this opportunity.  If you need help getting a Scout to camp, contact Phillip Brockland at pbrockland@stlbsa.org or 573-450-2903.

Wouldn't your job as Cubmaster, Scoutmaster or Committee Chairman be easier if every parent knew the Scouting plan?  Why not encourage all parents to take leader training?  The goal of our training staff is to get every Cubmaster, Scoutmaster and Advisor to attend their respective training course during the upcoming months.  Please plan to attend the course that corresponds to your current position in Scouting.  Training is the single most important thing that adult Scouters and Scout parents can do to ensure the success of their child's Scouting experience and their unit.  Boys whose parents are registered and trained are more likely to earn the Eagle Scout Award. If for no other reason than that, let's work to get all of our Scout leaders and Scout parents to attend a training course.

CUB SCOUT LEADER TRAINING
All untrained Cub Scout leaders should plan to attend an upcoming Cub Scout Leader Training.  All direct-contact leaders (Tiger leaders, Den leaders, Webelos leaders, and Cubmasters) should be trained in order to provide the best program for your Scouts. 

The next Cub Scout Leader Training will take place on Oct. 11 in Ste. Genevieve. Please contact Norma Franklin at 573-631-6354 for more details.

BOY SCOUT LEADER TRAINING 
If you're a Boy Scout leader who has not attended leader training, we need your help.  Many troops are struggling to maintain a strong active group of boys -- why is this?  The main reasons are that troops are not camping on a monthly basis and not all of our leaders have been trained.  Scouting is a tried-and-true program that keeps boys interested and involved, but that depends on the leaders who help to deliver the program.  Make a commitment to your son; help your troop provide the best program possible.  Attend Boy Scout Leader Training. 

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SOMETHING FOR THE TRAIL!

• The key to Scouting success is to offer a challenging, safe and fun outdoor program for our boys.  Fundamental to doing this is to receive the appropriate training.  Please ensure that every untrained leader attends the appropriate training session this year and that every unit sends at least one leader to Wood Badge.
• A huge thank you to all those adults who took the time out of their busy schedules to attend training this year.  Make it your goal to see that another leader from your unit attends an upcoming training.  Also thanks to the training staff for organizing the trainings.  
• Most of all, thank you to all of our adult volunteers for the great job you do. Please take a few moments to think about the impact you are making on the youth of our community and thank your fellow adult leaders. Without you, Scouting would not be possible for our children.