As promised, you can download the slides that were presented below. We encourage you to share the information with other leaders and parents in your unit. Encourage your Scouts to continue Scouting! We may be in the middle of a global pandemic, but Scouting is Alive, and with your help Scouting will continue!
Be on the look out for more information to come about our Annual Scouting Expo: A Virtual Experience happening on August 6, 2020 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
The Boy Scouts of America defines roundtable as one of the most important parts of being a Scout leader. “It is a form of commissioner service and supplemental training for volunteers at the unit level. The objectives of roundtables are to provide leaders with program ideas; information on policy and events; and training opportunities. It is a forum for sharing experiences and enjoying fun and fellowship with other Scout leaders…the roundtable experience will inspire, motivate, and enable unit leaders to provide a stronger program for their Scouts.”
This roundtable was all of the above rolled into one. We provided the 188 leaders in attendance with ideas for the upcoming Popcorn sale; shared information in regard to the new membership fee increase, Day Camp in a Box, and family camping; and we provided training on Scout retention. One of the most positive feedback we’ve received was the special guest in the Scouts BSA Breakout session, Senior Patrol Leader (SPL), Star Scout and founding member of female Troop 374, Rachel Pool. Rachel spoke about becoming SPL over Spring Break 2020 and shared with us the resources she uses to be successful. It was truly inspiring and refreshing to hear how this female Scout is making a difference in her Troop.
One thing many people are missing right now is the in-person district roundtables. There is nothing like the real face-to-face fellowship and interaction that was roundtable before COVID-19. The Council announced the hope and possibility to resume district in-person roundtables in September. For now, virtual roundtables will continue next month followed by the annual Council Expo in August. Be on the look out for more information to come.
Members of communities nationwide spend the Friday before Memorial Day honoring the men and women who sacrificed their lives while serving our nation. Here in the Alamo city, that community event is called Flags at Fort Sam. We pay our respects by placing American flags at the headstones of all the fallen service members who have been laid to rest at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. With over 1,000 participants each year, Flags at Fort Sam has been a long-standing tradition for the Alamo Area Council and the Scouting community.
This year, Flags at Fort Sam will look a little different. The Alamo Area Council alongside the National Cemetery Administration (NCA), is committed to observing this Memorial Day in a manner that honors those who sacrificed for our Nation. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the NCA has made the difficult decision to not host public events for Memorial Day. Therefore, the Alamo Area Council has moved Flags at Fort Sam to a virtual event for 2020.
We are asking all Scouts and their families to join us from their backyards, with their bugles and trumpets in hand, at sunset (8:26 pm) on Friday, May 22nd. Honoring our fallen heroes live on Facebook, the distinctive bugle melody TAPS will be played by a Scout of our very own. We invite you to pay your respects with us.
Throughout Memorial Day weekend, the Alamo Area Council will also be posting photos and video clips from previous Flags at Fort Sam events. We’d love to share your photos, video clips and your personal Memorial Day messages in conjunction with the Council’s memoriam. Please send them to FlagsatFortSam@AlamoAreaBSA.org.
On behalf of the Boy Scouts of America, Alamo Area Council, thank you to all those who laid down their life for the safety and freedom of our great nation, and we send our condolences to the family members who were left behind. We are forever grateful for the sacrifice your family made for our freedom.
A Scout is helpful – do a Good Turn Daily…a Scout is kind – strive to save and protect… During tough times, we as Scouts come together. We live by the Scout Oath and Law, and we come together to make a difference in our community and in the lives of others.
That’s why the Boy Scouts of America, Alamo Area Council is pleased to introduce our first ever, “Front Yard Food Drive” May 29th through May 31st.
On behalf of your local Food Bank, we have set up a food drive to help fill the need in our community during this unprecedented time of uncertainty. We are asking all Scouts to participate by placing a large plastic bin (or box) at the end of your driveway. Download our “Front Yard Food Drive sign” below and add it to your bin to encourage your neighbor’s to give non-perishable food items. We’ve also created a family letter to send to your HOA, or local community leaders.
Once you have a full bin, take a photo of yourself in full uniform with your bin, and send it to
Adventure@AlamoAreaBSA.org using the #AACFrontYardFoodDrive. Then drop it off curbside at the Council office on Monday, June 1, 2020 between 10 am and 2 pm. Together we will share some joy across our community!
*If the San Antonio Food Bank is not in your area, please download the “Local Food Bank” flyers.
Fiesta 2020 may have been postponed, but you can still get your official Boy Scouts of America 2020 Fiesta Medal right now! Order yours today for only $10.00!
What year do you need to make your BSA Fiesta Medal collection complete? We currently have our 2019 Taco medal on sale for $5.00. Do you need the 2018 (red or blue ribbon), 2016, 2015 or 2014 medals? We have those available for only $2.00 each.
*Be on the look out for our 2021 Fiesta Medal coming soon!
On Friday, March 13, 2020, the San Antonio Fiesta Commission announced that the 10-day festival, which attracts hundreds of thousands of attendees annually, would be postponed in light of the Coronavirus pandemic. Fiesta was originally scheduled to begin on April 16th, but instead will now take place November 5th – 15th.
Despite the new dates, the Alamo Area Council still plans to participate in Fiesta through the sale of our Fiesta medals, and participation in both Pinpandemonium in November and our favorite Battle of Flowers Parade. With that, we are looking for Fiesta Ambassadors. As a Council Fiesta Ambassador, you will work with our staff advisors to plan and promote our involvement with different Fiesta events. If you are interested in becoming a Fiesta Ambassador, please email the Council’s Fiesta Staff Advisory Committee at Parade@AlamoAreaBSA.org.
If you are interested in participating in the Battle of Flowers Parade, please email our Fiesta Staff Advisory Committee at Parade@AlamoAreaBSA.org.
Scouting at Home, Bear Creek Summer Camp, Day Camp in a Box, Popcorn 2020 and recruiting in a time of social distancing were all topics that were covered at today’s monthly Roundtable.
Scouting is alive and tonight we proved that! More than 220 adult volunteers and professionals came together for one purpose, and despite the current challenges placed before us, this was also a testament to how we are all working together to help move the Alamo Area Council forward.
Tonight we tried something new and invited everyone to District Breakouts. It was a wonderful opportunity to see the volunteers who are making it happen each day as a unit leader, commissioner or as district committee member. You each make a difference in the lives of our Scouts and we couldn’t be more grateful to you!
With ‘virtual’ being our new normal, we were reminded and highly encouraged to continue the Social Distancing guidelines and recommendations laid out by our local and state government officials. We will continue to offer Scouting at Home and provide updates regularly to our web page. Remember, if you are interested in taking part in any of our Facebook Live events, Merit Badge classes or have an idea for our Scouting at Home program, please reach out to Adventure@AlamoAreaBSA.org.
In case you missed it, you can download all of tonight’s presentations below. As of right now, our next Roundtable is scheduled to take place on Thursday, June 4, 2020. Expect more information to be shared as we get closer to this date. Thank you to everyone who attended!
