Position Specific-The wonders of Cub Scout Training

I spent my Saturday going to Cub Scout Training. I was a great refresher course. I had never been to Cub Committee Training. Good stuff! For those of you who have never been to Cub Scout or Boy Scout Training, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND it, especially if you are a Primary president or the counselor over Scouts. (Go to the Cub Committee Training.) We spend so much time encouraging our scout leaders to go to training, but perhaps you have never realized how much you will benefit in your calling and how much your leaders will benefit from you knowing what they are doing. The more you know about scouts the more effective leader you will be. The surest sign that you need to go to training is if you feel overwhelmed at the prospects of learning about scouts. Training is so well organized. After "New Leader Essentials" you'll walk away with a clear understanding of why and how the program works. In the first part of "Position Specific" everyone is combined. Topics like: budgeting, uniforms, advancement, etc. are covered. Then the last part consists of break out sessions for your specific position where you can get more detailed information and ask specific questions.
So, here are the basic courses you should take in order to start as a leader in or over Scouts:

1. Fast Start (Online at: http://olc.scouting.org/?cncl=307 )

2. Youth Protection (Online at: http://olc.scouting.org/?cncl=307 )

3. New Leader Essentials (At Roundtables every month)

4. Position Specific (A couple times in the fall and spring, see below for times)

It's not difficult. In fact, IT WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER! All the answers you are searching for are right at your finger tips. The training staffs are excellent and excited about what they do.

The next "Position Specific" training for Blue Elk will be held on October 28th (Tuesday). Registration begins at 5:30pm. Training begins at 6:00pm. It will be held at St. Mark's Catholic Church on Lees Summit Road north of 39th Street in Independence. There are no fees for this training. (For North Star and Pioneer Trails you will need to wait until next year or go to Blue Elk's.)

You do not need to take these trainings in any order, BUT please keep all of your cards they give you proving you've taken the trainings. (If you take a course online, there is a card to print out at the end of the training. Print and keep it.) If you have not registered before you go to training you will need to submit these cards to BSA so they can mark you as being trained.

Knowledge is freedom. Be free, my friends, be free. :)

Scout Training THIS SATURDAY

I'm not sure if everyone has gotten the announcement that LEADER SPECIFIC BSA Scout Training is being held this Saturday morning 10/18. Registration is at 7:30am. Training starts at 8:00am. It's being held in Blue Springs at First UMC of Blue Springs. It also includes New Leader Essentials.

On Tues 10/28 at St. Mark's Catholic Church (5:30 registration, 6:00 start) the last LEADER SPECIFIC Training for the year will be held. Please plan to attend one.

PLEASE MAKE SURE ALL OF YOU CUB SCOUT LEADERS ARE AWARE OF THESE DATES and help to remind them.

Hallelujah Chorus

I had to laugh at myself for putting Handel's Hallelujah Chorus on the playlist. I just know that someone is going to get onto this blog for the first time, that song is going to start playing, and they will know the heavens are pleased because they finally made it here. So, if you are one of the fortunate that get the Hallelujah Chorus as your welcome...know that we were thinking just of you.

Rosters, Faith In God and Arrow of Light Tracking

You knew it was coming...yes...this is a reminder blog. We need three things from each ward:

1. The Roster with all the children in your Primary arranged by class. (Please hightlight less actives or non-members and note which is which.) If you didn't receive a copy of the blank roster template please let us know. Email the completed form to: stakeprimary2006@yahoo.com

2. We need the names of all the children who have graduated and will graduate from Primary this year. Please tell us which of these children have received their Faith In God award. Please email this information to stakeprimary2006@yahoo.com or return the call from Laurel Brooks.

3. Please give us the list of all your boys who have turned or will turn 11 this year and which ones have received their Arrow of Light Award. Please email this information to stakeprimary2006@yahoo.com or return the call from Laurel Brooks.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU for your help in getting this information to us. (See... that wasn't THAT painful. :)
with love, your sisters,
The Stake Primary Presidency & Committee

Fun, Fun, Fun (Auxiliary Training)

This last Saturday, October 11, we held our semi-annual Stake Primary Auxiliary Training at the Independence Stake Center. We had so much fun. "Fun?" you ask. Yep...it was fun! With the expert brevit of Marissa Carlson :) (2nd Counselor) we got through the "training forms" we had created (and found) for helping Activity Girl and Cub Scout leaders track what activities they've done with their children. (Look for those forms as "Forms created by the Independence Stake" under "Links to Activity Girl Helps" and "Links to Scout Helps" on this blog.) Sharel Olsen (secretary) also helped us by reminding everyone to get their Primary rosters turned in and contact lists updated. (Hint, hint)

Anna Plemons (1st Counselor) spent some time talking about "Love Languages". Each of us have different ways that we feel loved or appreciated. There are five main areas that we talked about: Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Physical Touch, Receiving Gifts, and Acts of Service. Each attendee took a test to see what their preferences were and then shared those findings with their presidency. The whole idea was that we need to share the feelings of gratitude and love we have for the people we work with in ways that are meaningful to them. Just as a missionary learns the language of the country he works in to be able to express his feelings about the Savior and gospel, we need to learn the language of love that will allow us to share the feelings we have for others. The test we used was editted from the test found in the book titled Love Languages by Gary Chapman to be used in a church setting. (I personally tried it out on my family before okaying the use of it in our training and was amazed at how accurate it is. It's been extremely helpful in our own presidency as well.) We hope that you will not feel uncomfortable about taking or sharing the test. It doesn't matter which way you feel appreciated, but it's very helpful if others know what that way is. If you didn't get a chance to take the test or lost your results, look on the right side of this blog page under "Auxiliary Training 2008 Forms"/ "October 11, 2008" for the test so you can download a copy and use it for you and/or your family.

Personally, my favorite part was next. Sheila Bruns, of the Liberty Stake, led us in "Adventure Learning". We adjurned to the Cultural Hall and did a series team-building type activities. As we finished each activity, Sheila would ask us what things we learned and how we could apply that to Primary. She is a master facilitator, evidenced by the fact that we not only learned and had a FABULOUS time (much laughter), but we were also uplifted as we felt the Spirit. THANK YOU SO MUCH SHEILA!!!! We love you!

The last activity we did for the day was make purse-sized "Miracle" Journals. So often we are pressed by the daily cares of administering Primary. The joy of Primary is in the experiences we have with the children and one another. Having a place to remember all of the MANY miracles that are a part of Primary helps us to focus on the positive and track all the good we are doing in the service of God and his children. May you find much satisfaction and happiness as you focus on the miracles all around you.

We missed those of you that were not able to attend, in a way that you can't imagine, but we were so thankful for those of you that came. I am also personally thankful for all of the hard work that our presidency put into making this a beautiful experience.

I love you all!
with love, your sister,
Melissa Longo

Welcome, Welcome

Here's to the maiden post of this Stake Primary Blog. We hope that it will help you as you see the things we are working on. This will also be a place where you can access many of the helps we've already created to help in all you do for your Primary.

Know of our love for you and our devotion to the Lord and to serving you.

With Love,
The Stake Primary Presidency and Committee