Alamo Area Council

Unified Focus On Youth

Angel Zuniga Martinez

United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County No Longer Funding the Boy Scouts of America, Alamo Area Council

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why did the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County (UWSA) make this decision to no longer fund the Boy Scouts of America, Alamo Area Council (AAC)? 
UWSA changed their funding model to a RFP (Request for Proposal) allowing non-partner agencies to apply. As an 80-year partner agency, the Alamo Area Council complied with the new grant application process but was not among the agencies selected for funding. We no longer strategically align with how UWSA views its relationships; and, with their move toward supporting agencies that most strongly align with UWSA’s ‘Community Impact’ priorities.

 Is this a National United Way decision or a local one? 
This is a decision of the local United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County.  The Alamo Area Council still submits grant applications and is awarded funding from other local United Ways that serve Comal, Guadalupe, Kendall and Kerr counties for a total of $24,250 in 2018.

 What is the allocation amount to the Alamo Area Council received from United Way last year (2018)? 
$659,748 was received from UWSA last year (Fall 2018-Spring 2019). This comprised 16% of the Alamo Area Council’s budget for 2018. Funding is split over our budget year; $330,000 for Fall 2018 and $330,000 Spring 2019.

 Will the Alamo Area Council receive any money from UWSA this year (UWSA funding period Fall 2019-Spring 2020)? 
The Alamo Area Council will only receive monies from donor designated gifts through workplace campaigns. That projected designations from donors for the 2019-2020 funding period is $106,693; $53,000 for Fall 2019 and $53,000 for Spring 2020. The Alamo Area Council will have to find additional $520,000 to equal funding in 2018.

 Were the Boy Scouts of America, Alamo Area Council the only organization to lose funding? 
No, the Alamo Area Council was not the only organization to lose funding. Some organizations received less than requested, some received more, and others received nothing. For a full list of these organizations, please see the attached PDF of UWSA’s 2020 investment recommendations.

 Can I still give money to the Boy Scouts of America, Alamo Area Council through my United Way workplace campaign?  
Yes, our agency number is #310.
 
UWSA does take administrative fees from any donor designation. You may prefer to give directly to the Alamo Area Council by going to www.AlamoAreaBSA.org/Give, where 100% of your gift goes directly to local Scouting.

 What does this mean for the Council? How will this affect the Scouting program, including the operating budget, scholarships and support for youth needing financial assistance? 
The Alamo Area Council will have to find new sources of funding to support its one-of-a-kind, proven successful, proactive youth program serving over 18,250 boys and girls ages 5-20.
 The Alamo Area Council offers the highest quality program available to area youth.

If new funding is not found, we will be forced to cut expenses, such as:
  •  Loss and/or reduction in Scouting programs, especially its ‘Scoutreach’ and ‘Project Aguila’ programs which are the Council’s outreach efforts to families in lower income communities, currently serving 5,000 youth.
  • Reduction of ‘Camperships’ (Scholarships) for youth and their families who need financial support to join Scouting and attend camp.
  • Property maintenance and improvements to Council Camps – Bear Creek Scout Reservation, McGimsey Scout Park, and Mays Family Scout Ranch – and two service centers.
  • Further reduction of vital staff to the stability and growth of the Scouting movement. 

What can I do to help?
The Alamo Area Council will do everything possible to reduce the impact on youth and family. We ask for your support and action on the following THREE items:

FIRST, please designate your gift to the Boy Scouts of America, Alamo Area Council during the next United Way campaign, agency number 310!  If you do not participate in a UWSA campaign, please give to the Alamo Area Council directly:

www.AlamoAreaBSA.org/Give

OR

Text GIVEADVENTURE to 41444

NEXT, please let your United Way representative know how much you believe in this one-of-a-kind, proven successful, proactive youth program.

FINALLY, please share this message with colleagues, friends and family. And, invite them to invest in Scouting, today!

For additional questions, please email us at LiveScouting@AlamoAreaBSA.org.

To hear about additional ways to give to us directly (such as noncash gifts) visit www.AlamoAreaBSA.org/WaysToGive.

Girls Attend First Summer Camp as Scouts BSA Youth

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information contact:
Angel Martinez, PR Director
(210) 394-9915
Angel.Martinez@Scouting.org 

Young Ladies Ages 11-17 are welcomed to their first BSA summer camp experience

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (July 1st, 2019) – The Boy Scouts of America, Alamo Area Council (BSA) has kicked off their Bear Creek Scout Reservation Summer Camp Program for Scouts BSA youth (ages 11-17). Young women enrolled in the Scouts BSA program made history by joining the roughly 350 Scouts in attending camp and earning merit badges. This is the first summer in which girls are invited to begin working towards the highest rank in Scouting – the Eagle Scout. Media is invited to witness youth participate in a multitude of activities at Bear Creek Scout Reservation throughout various summer sessions. Many female Scouts are also willing to share their historic experience in the Scouts BSA program via interview and/or demonstration.

“I thought it was interesting that everyone had a chance to be a leader, including the younger Scouts that had just come in…like me who’s never had any Scouting experience!” said Morgan Hegemier, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader of Troop 596, from League City who participated in the first week of summer camp at Bear Creek Scout Reservation.

All Scouts and their families are invited to learn more about the program and sign up for remaining Bear Creek Summer Sessions. Events are lined up throughout the summer to welcome new Scouts to the Scouts BSA youth program. Any young lady interested in attending will be able to enjoy a variety of activities, including a BMX track, 1400 foot tandem zip-line, and dual waterslide. Registration is still available for both boys and girls to attend Bear Creek Scout Reservation. Nationally the Boy Scouts of America have registered over 100,000 young ladies within the Cub Scout and Scouts BSA programs. The Alamo Area Council is on pace to serve over 1,000 girls locally.

“The Alamo Area Council works alongside our charter partners and over 5,000 adult volunteer leaders to make significant investments of our time and resources to provide hope. This hope to a Scout youth and their families is the ‘peace of mind’ that their unique Scouting outdoor adventure – like at Bear Creek Scout Reservation – will make their future brighter,” said Angel Martinez, PR Director with the local Boy Scouts.

“Communities need unity to thrive. I am excited to have the opportunity to work together with so many great organizations in this area to make a positive impact on the lives of all our youth. The investments we make with our time, energy and resources to build the character and leadership of our youth is a proven way to strengthen our future. Join us in the Scouting movement to positively impact the lives of all youth!” said Jim Jeffery, President, Alamo Area Council, BSA.

The Alamo Area Council earned the Journey to Excellence Silver Award status based on our performance in membership, program, unit service, district leadership, and finance. 355 Scouts BSA youth achieved the Eagle Scout rank in 2018, contributing over 52,000 service hours with a value equaling $1.28 million invested into our local economy.

To find out more about attending Bear Creek Scout Reservation, visit www.BearCreekScoutReservation.org. To join Scouting, look for or ask about the BSA recruitment flyers and posters at a school near you.  Or, visit the recruitment site www.BeAScout.org to find a unit near your based on your zip code. Or, contact the Scout Service Executive team member in your area by emailing Join@AlamoAreaBSA.org or calling 210-341-8611.

About the Boy Scouts of America, Alamo Area Council

The Alamo Area Council, BSA, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, serves a 13-county area imparting the Scouting program to over 18,000 youth and 5,000 volunteer adults in South Texas. The Boy Scouts of America continues to prepare young people for life by providing the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training, utilizing outdoor activity, citizenship, and sports fitness. The Alamo Area Council manages 1,280 acres of outdoor adventure for boys and girls from 5-21 years of age at three premier camps: Bear Creek Scout Reservation, Mays Family Scout Ranch, and McGimsey Scout Park. Learn more at http://www.AlamoAreaBSA.org.

Scout Youth Honor Fallen Heroes During Flags at Fort Sam

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                       

For more information contact:

Angel Martinez
Communications/Marketing Director
(210) 394-9915 Cell/Text
angel.martinez@Scouting.org
www.AlamoAreaBSA.org

SCOUT YOUTH HONOR FALLEN HEROES DURING FLAGS AT FORT SAM

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (May 24, 2019) – Nearly 1,000 local Scout boys and girls will spend Memorial Day Friday showing appreciation for men and women who served the nation by placing American flags at the headstones of fallen service members. Scouts, Young Marines, active, reserve and retired servicemen and women, VFW and American Legion members, corporate citizens like HEB and USAA, and anyone else wishing to pay their respects are invited to join the Boy Scouts of America, Alamo Area Council at this annualcommunity event. Mediais invited to see Scout boys and girls in action from 5-6:30 p.m. on Friday, May 24th atFort Sam Houston National Cemetery located at 1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd, San Antonio, TX 78209.

“The Alamo Area Council is proud to see our youth do a ‘good turn’ and pay respects to the armed forces as part of our duty to the community,” said Michael de los Santos, Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America, Alamo Area Council (BSA). “Duty to God and Duty to Country play essential roles in the traditions of the Boy Scouts of America.”

“The term ‘good turn’ comes from the Scouts BSA slogan “Do a Good Turn Daily,” and means to do a special act of kindness, big or small towards an individual or the community,” said Angel Zuniga Martinez, PR Director for the local Boy Scouts of America.

Every year, Boy Scouts of America youth and volunteers across the country do service projects together as one way to keep their promise to help other people. While a Scout youth should do his or her best to help other people every day, a group service project like placing flags at Fort Sam Houston help youth learn to work together and do something that’s good for community.

The opening ceremony will begin promptly at 5 p.m. at the Assembly Area located on the east side of the cemetery near the administrative offices. Plan to arrive by 4 p.m. due to high attendance and heavy traffic.

For details or to register your participation, visit www.FlagsAtFortSam.orgor contact the Alamo Area Council staff advisor for Flags at Fort Sam by emailing FlagsatFortSam@AlamoAreaBSA.org.

About the Boy Scouts of America, Alamo Area Council

The Alamo Area Council, BSA headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, serves a 13 county area imparting the Scouting program to over 18,000 youth and 5,000 volunteer adults in South Texas. The Boy Scouts of America continue to prepare young people for life by providing the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training, utilizing outdoor activity, citizenship, and sports fitness. The Alamo Area Council manages over 1,280 acres of outdoor adventure for boys and girls from 5-20 years of age at three premier camps – Bear Creek Scout Reservation, Mays Family Scout Ranch, and McGimsey Scout Park. Learn more at www.AlamoAreaBSA.org.

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SCOUT BOYS AND GIRLS EXPLORE CAREERS AT MERIT BADGE UNIVERSITY

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

For more information contact:
Angel Martinez, PR Director
pr@alamoareabsa.org
(210) 394-9915 text / cell

Alamo Area Council Partners with St Mary’s University and Community Sponsors for Path to Eagle Scout and Future Opportunities for Area Youth

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (May 17, 2019) –

In continued partnership with St. Mary’s University, The Boy Scouts of America, Alamo Area Council (BSA) offers the opportunity at Merit Badge University (MBU) for youth to explore a career while earning a badge on their path to reach the highest rank in Scouting – the Eagle Scout. Media is invited to see the Scouts in action on Saturday, May 18, 2019 from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. at St. Mary’s University located at 1 Camino Santa Maria, San Antonio, Texas 78228.

The organization launched Scouts BSA in February 2019, which serves boy troops and now girl troops, enabling all eligible youth to earn the Eagle Scout rank (Scouts BSA troops are single gender – all girl or all boy). MBU is a bi-annual event hosted by the BSA that gives Scouts BSA youth, ages 11-17, the opportunity to earn merit badges ranging from recreational activities like photography and movie making to Eagle Scout required merit badges like communications and citizenship in the community.  Held in the months of May and November, MBU regularly draws over 900 Scouts and 400 parent leaders. In 2018, the Alamo Area Council produced over 355 Eagle Scouts providing over 52,000 service hours into the local community with an economic impact of over $1.28 million dollars. MBU is also a drop off location for our youth participating in Scouting for Food, the largest one-day food drive for the BSA.

“The Alamo Area Council is proud of the partnership with St. Mary’s University and our community sponsors to encourage Scouts to explore areas that interest them and to learn valuable skills which influences career aspirations and lifelong hobbies…It’s also cool we got to expand this program in 2019 to include the whole family,” said Angel Zuniga Martinez, PR Director with the Boy Scouts of America, Alamo Area Council.

The USAA Foundation, Inc., is the official sponsor of the ‘Personal Management’ Merit Badge. CPS Energy is the ‘Presenting Sponsor’ of the ‘Sustainability’ Merit Badge. And, The Elizabeth Huth Coates Charitable Foundation of 1992 has become the ‘presenting’ sponsor of the ‘Photography’ Merit Badge. 

“Experts from the various Merit Badge disciplines were recruited so that real-life experts could provide instruction to our Scouts; and, this is what makes our program unique and provides an exceptionally rich learning environment,” said John Haines, volunteer MBU Chairman.

There were over 45 Merit Badges offered to Scouts at each past event which ranged from Chemistry, Engineering, Robotics, Climbing, Railroading, Law to Citizenship in the Community, Family Life, Chess, and Emergency Preparedness to name a few. In addition, for the 400 adults, there is leader training to allow them to grow and enhance their knowledge and experience in working with our youth. 

For more information on MBU events, visit the Alamo Area Council MBU page at www.AlamoAreaBSA.org/MBU or email MBU Chairman, John Haines and his team at MBU@AlamoAreaBSA.org.

About the Boy Scouts of America, Alamo Area Council 

The Alamo Area Council, BSA, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, serves a 13-county area imparting the Scouting program to over 18,000 youth and 5,000 volunteer adults in South Texas. The Boy Scouts of America continue to prepare young people for life by providing the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training, utilizing outdoor activity, citizenship, and sports fitness. Learn more at www.AlamoAreaBSA.org.

Cub Master Finds Crying Passion at Wood Badge Training

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On completion of the course, participants are awarded the Wood Badge beads to recognize significant achievement in leadership and direct service to young people. The pair of small wooden beads, one on each end of a leather thong (string), is worn around the neck as part of the Scout uniform.

by Casey McKenzie Smith for the Alamo Area BSA

I took on being a Cubmaster with some reluctance and a big whopping share of insecurity. During the transition, my predecessor talked me into taking this course called Wood Badge. He made it sound like a breezy leadership course that would just be a little inconvenient as far as how much time it’d take, but that was about it.

HE WAS A LYING LIAR WHO LIES! It’s a very intense, draining, out-of-your-comfort-zone course that takes place over six days of camping with strangers and then you CRY.

But it was something I’m glad I didn’t let my fear make me miss out on! I didn’t love every second of it (I’m looking at you, Evil Winning Game), but I came out on the other side with a much, much, MUCH better education about Scouting, camping, adVenturing, leadership, and service. It gave me energy and passion I definitely didn’t have before to bring home and apply to my kiddos and my community, to try to help spread kindness, service, and thoughtfulness.

Best of all, I got to do it with six other people who started as intimidating strangers and ended as sweet, funny, genuine, LOUD, smart, smart-ass, resourceful, irreplaceable friends.

DID I MENTION THEY MADE ME CRY BECAUSE THEY ARE JERKS?”
🙂

History of Wood Badge

In 1911, Baden-Powell, the founder of the Scouting movement, took the first steps in training Scouting’s adult leaders by organizing a series of lectures for Scouters. He made great strides in the following years, culminating in 1919 with the establishment of Wood Badge training. Wood Badge recipients now number more than 100,000 and can be found in all corners of the world. A Scouter participating in Wood Badge has the opportunity to:

  •  Understand Scouting as a family of interrelated, values-based programs providing age-appropriate activities for youth.
  • Recognize contemporary leadership concepts and discover how they are relevant to the Scouting movement.
  • Apply the skills learned as a member of a successful working team.
  • Revitalize their commitment to Scouting by sharing in an inspirational experience which provides Scouting with renewed leadership.

Many Scouters consider Wood Badge to be a peak experience of their Scouting careers. It has served as a source of training and inspiration to thousands.

The Wood Badge

Lord Robert Baden-Powell conducted the first training program for Scoutmasters at Gilwell Park in England, in 1919. Wondering what to award the graduates, he recalled a necklace of wooden beads that he had acquired in South Africa in 1887 during a campaign against the Zulus. Baden-Powell had found the necklace, which had been worn by Zulu Chief Dinizulu, in a tribal camp that the chief had abandoned in escaping capture by British Troops. The necklace, over 3 metres long and made from beads of yellow acacia wood, was a badge awarded to great chieftains and the bravest warriors.

To create the first Wood Badge, Baden-Powell took two of the original beads and strung them on a leather thong given to him at Mafeking. These original wooden beads were then used as a template for beads made in beech wood.

This tradition continues today. Leaders are presented with the Wood Badge upon completion of Advanced Level Wood Badge training.

Click to Learn More or Register for Next Wood Badge

Greehey Family Foundation Supports Scout Youth Endowment

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Dear Alamo Area Council Scouting family,

It is with great pleasure to report on the largest gift to date towards our Adventures for a Second Century Campaign – $1 million dollars from the Greehey Family Foundation for our endowment.

Your Alamo Area Council’s Adventures for a Second Century program is an on-going effort to grow our endowment, identify camp facility needs, develop venue master plans, and to secure necessary funding for our future. With the generous gift from The Greehey Family Foundation, we have raised $1,275,000 for our endowment.

For more information on how you or our community can support our Adventures for A Second Century, please email SecondCentury@AlamoAreaBSA.org or contact Michael de los Santos at 210-341-8611.

The Greehey Family Foundation’s purpose statement is the following: Knowing that we have been abundantly blessed by God’s Grace, the Greehey family is honored to share our blessings and help do His work in the San Antonio community through the The Greehey Family Foundation. In doing so, we will provide funding to improve health and human welfare conditions, to brighten the lives of sick and disadvantaged children, to educate, and to help transform the lives of the homeless.

Thank you Bill and The Greehey Family Foundation for believing in the Boy Scouts of America, Alamo Area Council!

“Strong Families! Strong America!”

Scouting Adventures