VISTA FLASH June 29th: County seeks Scout volunteers July 3rd to run games, Jambo Totem Pole, Calling All Eagles
Carl Schulz
On Friday, July 3rd, Somerset County will be holding an Old Fashioned 4th of July Picnic on the Courthouse Green. They plan to feature games and activities which were popular in 1909 like sack races, marbles, card games, tag, horseshoes, etc. They would like Boys Scouts from Somerset County Troops to help run these games.
The picnic goes from noon - 4 on Friday, July 3 at the Courthouse Green. There will be an area dedicated to the games on the grass and a cooling tent with water will be set up near there. Somerset County would like the Scouts to be in uniform, although if it's very hot, Class B would be acceptable. They should arrive around 11:30 AM to get ready, and should be done by 4:30. There will be an opening ceremony at noon, so the games won't begin until around 1.
Game materials will be provided by Somerville Recreation Dept. and Somerset County.
This is an excellent opportunity to get service hours while having fun and showing younger boys what Scouting is all about.
Please ask the boys in your Troops to consider participating in this service project. If they are interested, please call or email Ann Osterdale Rosenblum who is chairing the event to let her know and to get details.
Her Phone is 908 766 1575, and her Email is annost...@yahoo.com
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RARITAN VALLEY DISTRICT
PATRIOTS’ PATH CENTENNIAL JAMBOREE
TOTEM POLE
Dear Raritan Valley Scoutmasters,
At the May Roundtable, an announcement was made about an activity added to the Patriots’ Path Centennial Jamboree in October. Each district will carve a Totem Pole for display at the PP Centennial Jamboree in October, after which they will be moved to one of our council’s camps. Our district’s Totem pole will have a designated section for each Troop participating in the PP Centennial Jamboree to carve prior to the Jamboree. The top section of our pole will be carved by the Eagle Scouts in the district.
Historically, Totem poles were not used in this area; they were/are used by Native American tribal members of the Pacific Northwest. Each pole had a theme, tribal members contracted carvers to carve a story about themselves or their clan. A Totem is any supposed entity that watches over or assists a group of people, such as a family, clan or tribe. Since 1910, this best describes Chartered Organizations’ relationship with Scouting. The theme of the Raritan Valley Totem pole will be to tell a story about the local community groups; fire companies, churches, veteran groups, PTO’s, and other civic organizations that provide service to our communities through Scouting. Each group has a symbol or ‘brand’ that is unique to them. Each RVD PP Centennial Jamboree Troop will carve and paint a section of the pole with the symbol of their Chartered Organization.
· The size of each Troop’s section will be determined by the number of participating Troops.
· The pole is 14’ long of which 4’ will be in the ground. All sides will be finished.
· All participating Raritan Valley PP Centennial Jamboree Troops must contact the coordinator by June 26th
· All work scheduling will be coordinated through Dave Mountney.
· All work will be done where the pole is currently stored; the backyard of the District Commissioner’s home in Hillsborough.
· All GTSS policies will be observed, only the active workers should be at the work site, this is a residential neighborhood.
· You must supply your own tools; power will be available courtesy of Barry and Alana Bird.
· Unit numbers can be carved into the work but should not be a focal point.
· All carving and preliminary painting will be completed by Friday, August 28th.
· All finishing work must be completed by Labor Day, Monday, September 7th.
If your Troop is planning to attend the Jamboree and has not yet registered, please do so as soon as possible. Only PP Centennial Jamboree Troops can participate in this activity.
If you have any questions about our district’s Totem pole, please contact me.
Yours in Scouting,
Dave Mountney
Raritan Valley Totem Pole Coordinator
908-526-3208 (H)
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Calling all Raritan Valley Eagle Scouts,
We have a task to perform this summer with results that will enhance one of our council camps for many years to come.
Whether you are a member of a Pack, Troop, Crew, Ship, Post or just the human race your help is needed. If you are 14 or 94 your help is needed.
For more information please Email Dave Mountney with your contact information (phone, unit, town, age group {under 18, 18-30, 31+}). If you are associated with a unit, please delegate 1 Eagle from your unit to act as the contact person for your unit’s Eagles.
Yours in Scouting,
Dave Mountney
Eagle Scout class of ‘79