Many, if not all of you, received an email from National BSA and the Council requesting new authorization for criminal background checks. This form must be completed for all adult leaders and turned in with your unit's 2020 recharter packet. Click "read more" for more information about this new procedure and links to the forms that you'll need to complete.

On April 1, the Tour and Activity Plan was turned off and is no longer required for any Scouting Events. Your unit will still be covered by General Liability and Accident & Sickness Insurance when participating in Scouting Activities that are conducted in accordance with Scouting’s safety guidelines found in the Guide to Safe Scouting. While the Tour Plan form is going away, planning ahead for your tour, outing, or activity is paramount to ensuring a safe and quality program for your Scouts.

Click Here to Learn More Information about the Tour and Activity Plan Termination

The District Committee is excited to announce some changes in leadership at the district level:

Jennifer Kane, who has been a Day Camp Program Director in Silver Comet for many years, has stepped up to become the district Program Chair. In this new role, Jennifer will represent the district on the Council Program Committee and will ensure the delivery of exciting district-level events for Scouts and Scouters in Cub Scouting, Scouts BSA, and Venturing.

Lindsay McVicar has returned to Silver Comet in a volunteer role, and has accepted the position of district Camping Chair. In this position, Lindsay will represent the district on the Council Camping Committee, and will coordinate our Spring and Fall Camporees, and other district-level camping activities designed for our Scouts and Scouters.

We also added several new Members at Large to our Committee at the August District Committee meeting: Jordan Gonzalez and Eddie Lacher who work with the City of Acworth Parks and Recreation Department, and Sharla Stewart, a Silver Comet Scouter who has volunteered to assist with Cub Scout Advancement and Scoutbook.

Please join the District Committee Members in welcoming our newest district-level volunteers!

We currently have 34 volunteers in the Silver Comet District whose YPT certification has expired. Those leaders should not be meeting with youth either physically or virtually until they retake their YPT! Unit leaders, please use my.scouting.org to check if anyone in your unit needs to complete re-certification.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2020 Chris Schornak Eagle Scout Memorial Scholarship.

Applications are due April 18, 2020, and the award will again be presented at the Annual Memorial Day Flag Placement Ceremony at the Marietta National Cemetery on May 23, 2020. Click on "read more" for details and to download the application.

Chris Voigt has enthusiastically accepted the position of District Membership Committee Chair, taking over from our retiring Chair, Bob Griffin, who is taking on the role of Scoutmaster in Troop 7020. Thank you Bob for guiding our District Membership Committee for the past two years, during which we successfully added girls to Cub Scout Packs and Girl Troops to the district. The entire district wishes you success in your new role as Scoutmaster!

Chris is an experienced member of the District Membership Committee, and is well positioned to ensure the smooth transition of all of our District Membership Committee functions and events. Leah Briick continues to provide valuable experience and assistance to the committee, particularly with Webelos to Scout Transition events.

If you have questions or suggestions, or if you'd like to join the District Membership Committee, email Chris at membershipchair@silvercometdistrictbsa.org.

National Night Out 2019, hosted by the Cobb County Police Department, will take place on August 6th at Jim Miller Park (2245 Callaway Rd., Marietta) from 5:00pm till 8:30 p.m.

National Night Out is an initiative by local law enforcement agencies to sponsor a night for the community to come out and mingle with the public safety members that serve their community. The police will showcase all of their toys including the Mobile Command Vehicle, K-9 Unit, SWAT truck, the motorcycles from the Motors Unit, and even the dirt bikes from the Ranger Unit! In addition, CCPD has offered scout units the opportunity to set up a recruiting table at the event.

To sign up your unit, go to: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0544aea82ea6f85-national. For more information about this recruiting opportunity, contact our District Executive, Hubert Snow.

All Silver Comet units are eligible to nominate a deserving leader for the Conductor Award, so make sure your unit's nomination is submitted by this Thursday, February 28th. The Conductor Award is for any adult in your unit that deserves recognition for outstanding service to scouting. Each unit may nominate one worthy adult for every 25 youth the unit serves (1-25 registered youth = 1 nomination, 26-50 = 2 nominations, 51-75 = 3 nominations, etc.).

The nomination form is available here:
https://www.silvercometdistrictbsa.org/system/files/SCD2019Conductornomform.docx

The nominations must be submitted by the Unit Leader, Committee Chair, COR, or Unit Commissioner. Completed forms should be emailed to Clint Pope at conductor@silvercometdistrictbsa.org.

Conductor Awards are given out at the District Banquet, which will be at the Volunteer Service Center on Thursday, March 14th. Check out the banquet page for more details and for registration links.

Silver Comet Pack Leaders, our Membership Team, and our District Executives and Commissioners are off to a great start on Cub Scout Fall Recruiting.
Based on the School Sign up Nights that have already taken place, our Recruiters have some updated advice and guidance that will make your Pack's School Sign Up Night an easier, more pleasant and productive experience for everyone involved.
Listen to our Membership Chair Bob Griffin and District Executive Lindsay McVicar as they discuss these new tips and pointers for a more successful Sign Up Night in the latest Podcast.

And, for a short, concise and fun graphic from BSA National, have a look at this video about How having girls in Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA will change the Scouting experience.

For more detailed answers on all aspects of Family Scouting refer to the latest Family Scouting FAQ from National BSA.

For Membership questions, guidance or advice contact:

Silver Comet Membership Chair - Bob Griffin membership@silvercometdistrictbsa.org
Silver Comet Fall Recruiting Chair - Leah Briick recruiting@silvercometdistrictbsa.org

The Atlanta Area Council is excited to deliver the promise of Scouting this summer to our youngest scouts - the Cub Scouts! Day Camp is going virtual from July 13 - 17, so get ready for a "dino-mite" summer experience with Cub Scout Cyber Day Camp: a Jurassic Adventure with Cyber-saurus! More information is available on the Council's Day Camp page: https://www.atlantabsa.org/daycamp and registration is through Tentaroo at: https://www.atlantabsa.org/admin2/events/4677/18786/Cyber-Day-Camp-2020--Cyber-Day-Camp. As always, Day Camp success is dependent on fun-loving adult volunteers. If you'd like to help the Council with this new adventure, send an email to Charity Drabik at Charity.Drabik@scouting.org and put Cyber Day Camp Volunteer in the subject line.