A new COI request form in filable PDF format:

Request for Certificate of Insurance PDF filable

A Scout is Thrifty…a Scout works to pay his own way…

The National Capital Area Council is in its second year of offering Camp Cards as a way for Scouts to earn their own way to camp. The unit keeps $2.50 for every card sold and $2.50 is turned in. 50% / 50%
This year’s card has over thousands of discounts in the council area and is accessed through the included online and mobile application powered by Entertainment®, the group famous for the large coupon books.
To ensure that every unit knows about the sale, we wanted to include this in the camp mailing with a complimentary card for your personal use. Yes, there are discounts on the front and back of the physical card, but the best part is the mobile app for your phone. You can hit the GPS button and see the discounts close to you.
1. Go to www.BoyScoutsCampCard.com and register with the unique code on your card.
2. Download “Saversguide” from the Apple AppStore or Google Play store and login.
3. The nearby discounts load automatically.
This works nationwide too. NCAC members have already reported savings in Pennsylvania, Florida, Missouri, Utah, New York, and of course, Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC. Sell to family across the nation! Test any ZIP code you want to check.
Please enjoy this gift membership and Camp Card. Please share the mobile app with your unit committee and consider Camp Cards for this year or 2017.

The duties of the District Webmaster include the following:

• Keep the district web site content up-to-date with information needed by district scouters.
• Work with the Marketing committee chair to use on-line media to create a high public visibility of the district and council. (Knowledge of Social Media Marketing is helpful.)
• Maintain the district distribution lists.
• Ensure that information posted on the website is correct and that members’ privacy is protected.
• Work with the District Committee to promote events on the website calendar.
• Work with the District Committee to keep the online records accurate.
• Provide group email distribution.

The webmaster’s duties fall into two broad categories: communication within the scouting community, including promoting events among our members; and marketing  of scouting to families and potential supporters outside of scouting.  The tools available for the webmaster to use include the district webpages (a part of the council website), the district calendar,  the district email provider, and the district Facebook group, all for communication within the community; and a district Facebook page for marketing.  Don’t know the difference between a Facebook page and a Facebook group?  https://www.facebook.com/help/155275634539412?helpref=uf_permalink

The council webmaster,  Amanda Botros, conducted a series of very helpful Webmaster Webinars, which she recorded and posted on the council’s YouTube channel:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsdEb9e3O-M
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGeq68esJT4
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQ6wtMjm8lk
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-lREqqyOMk
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWhm8TOvxDk
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLdENW2-ztY

If you really get serious about marketing, these links can help, although NCACBSA’s current web host software appears to prevent Search Engine Optimization:

https://moz.com/beginners-guide-to-seo/how-search-engines-operate

The Eagle Scout service project coach is the subject matter expert on the process and standards of the service project.  He is the key to success in the councils or district efforts to provide guidance as Scouts fulfill requirement 5, the Eagle Scout Service Project.  The role of the coach:

 A coach’s advice is a key to success.

• Serves as an advisor, consultant, and coach
• Is a resource, encouraging the candidate to fully plan his project, secure resources, and to make wise decisions
• Uses positive adult association, logic, and common sense to help the candidate to reach a successful outcome

Guidance for the Eagle Scout project coach is found in Sections 9.0.2.7 and 9.02.9 in the guide to advancement found at

http://www.scouting.org/advancement.aspx and the NCAC Eagle Scout Procedures Guide found at https://www.ncacbsa.org/advancement/eagle-scout-information/

For Scouts to list a project coach in the Eagle Scout Service Project (ESSP) Workbook the project coach must be approved as an Eagle Scout Service Project coach by the Western Shore District.

 To qualify as and Eagle Scout service project coach

• Be registered with the Boy Scouts of America in any adult position.
• Be current in BSA Youth Protection training.
• Be knowledgeable about the Eagle Scout service project process.
• Be willing to work with and coach Scout–age boys.
• View “The Eagle Scout Service Project Coach” advancement educational presentation (scouting.org/advancement) either online or in an instructor-led presentation, as determined by your council   advancement committee.
• Be approved as an Eagle Scout service project coach, by your district advancement committee.

 Eagle Scout service project coach must agree to:

• Follow BSA policies and procedures as described in the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook and in section 9 of the Guide to Advancement.
• Follow BSA Youth Protection policies at all times.
• Use the BSA method of positive adult association, logic, and common sense to help the candidate make wise decisions.
• Help Scouts develop their project plan by discussing strengths, weaknesses, and risks without dictating changes, withdrawing approval, or taking any other such directive action.

Western Shore District Process.

Those desiring to be an Eagle Scout service project coach:

1. Complete Eagle Scout Service Project  Coach Application is found at
2. http://www.scouting.org/advancement.aspx
3.  Review Eagle Scout Service Project Coach Training is found at
4. http://www.scouting.org/Home/BoyScouts/Resources/advancement_presentations.aspx
5. Submit application with verification of youth protection training to the Troop/Crew District Eagle Representative (DER) found on the WSD website.  DER will review requirements, application with applicant, recommend through signature on the application and submit to the Advancement Committee Chair for approval.

Approved Eagle Scout Project Coaches

Troop            Coach                            email

303             Mark Howe                     mkemhowe@md.metrocast.net

303             Kimberly Howe               kimhowe303@md.metrocast.net

303            Thomas Labor                 tplabor@yahoo.com

303            Thomas Reider                reider@md.metrocast.net

303            Michael Kibler                  novasail@gmail.com

407             Paul Jenkins                   pauljenkinsfamily@comcast.net

561             Edward Balaton              ebalaton@md.metrocast.net

561             Steve Girard                   stevegirard369@gmail.com

777             Blake Jacobson            dnhjacobson@hotmail.com

1792           Kevin Davis                    hopperdavis@yahoo.com

2777           Robert Dunham             dunhamcornelious@gmail.com

Joe Essex
Advancement & Recognition Committee Chairman
Western Shore District, National Capital Area Council
Email

In order to provide a quality Merit Badge Program in compliance with the Guide to Advancement (3.0.0.1) the NCAC Advancement and Recognition Committee has established the following policy with regard to merit badge fairs and group instruction:

• A troop or crew can use group instruction of merit badges within their unit without seeking approval from the council or district.
• If a unit decides to offer a merit badge opportunity to Scouts outside their unit, or if the district sponsors such an event, they must get District Advancement Committee approval to conduct the event.  The District Advancement Committee will review the proposed event for compliance with the GTA guidance on group instruction.
• Council level groups such as Aquatics, Shooting Sports, the Jewish Committee, and STEM must get approval from either the Council Advancement Chair, Council Merit Badge Dean, or NCAC Program Director for the same reason.
• Organizations outside the BSA must always receive council approval from the Council Advancement Chair, Council Merit Badge Dean, or NCAC Program Director.

What Will the District Review

• Are all proposed counselors actually registered as a Merit Badge Counselors and approved for the badge(s) they intend to counsel?
• Is there a limitation on the group size to afford the counselor the ability for every scout to complete the requirements as they’re written within the time frame proposed? Should more counselors be recruited?
• Is the fee charged consistent with the event not being a fund raiser?
• Are any prerequisites defined? Should they be?  How will they be advertised?
• Is there a plan to explain to scouts how a partial completion from the event can be completed?
• Is there a mechanism for anyone with a concern about the event to report it to the Council Advancement Committee?

The District Key 3 

Assistant District Commissioners

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