In attendance were Wray, Slavin, Klingler, Hauger, Bedford, Bleich, Shetler, Burdick, Wilker, Murphy, Gerhardstein, Kapala, LaBelle, Brune

Discussed Winter Campout, weather was great, Nancy did a great job. Discussed camp rules for future campouts.

Daddy Daughter Dance – very successful, 40 people, DJs did balloon animals gifts etc. Very happy with DJ service. Some balloons were left on the floor etc. Need to be aware of sports next day

Sledding was a hit. Good snow, slightly warm some melting/mud. Hot chocolate was good. Well attended. Expenses less than $20.

Red wings event April 3rd. Chris Wilker mentioned the Alumni room, could do pizza before the game. Also girl’s have pre-event meet with players. Chris Wilker / Sharks sponsoring. Send email to expedition to get headcount, get count to Chris. Chris handling communication with Redwings representitive from here out.

Pinewood Derby. Discussed task assignments RE: Fritz’s orders. Hayley mentioned issue with Saturday 6:30 travel team until 8:30pm. Decided to set up after game. On Saturday we have the meeting rm at 12:15. Need key to YMCA storage unit for track. Checkin should be 2-6 instead of 5 on Sat. Hayley ordered bleachers. Ross Burdick / Harlan handling concessions. Thom says medals have gone up from last year (about 10%). Discussed the year/name plate being addtl cost. Decided to keep the name/year plate. Think we had 70-80 cars registered last year (68 ran per Thom). Ordering same number of medals as last year. Sharks setting up track at 8:30. Need YMCA key. Thom has keys for the boxes. Phil says we borrow the car carrying boxes from the boy scouts every year (enough for 80 cars); he will coordinate. Slavin/Seago/Gerhardstein to handle the judging computer setup etc. Phil to handle patches. Gerhardstein to bring wireless mic and handle speaker, music. Thom to bring projector screen. Hayley reserving projector. Registration should be Saturday only. Thom and Joe to own registration.
Volunteers (2) to assist:
Sequioas 2-3
Bravehawks 3-4
Wildfire 4-5
Palominos 5-6
Compass Bearer to MC. Thom to bring cash box with change for registration, then cash box transitions to concessions. Bleachers to arrive Saturday afternoon. Wildfire will be lead for design judging (plastic cups and poker chips).

Confirmed date for family fun nighter April 17th.

Spring Campout at Timbers. Wildfire sponsoring.

Beachwood Swim Party. Phil to review date and confirm, may be guest fees involved if club is open. Concerned about having it peak day/peak time during season.

Carwash/strong kids fundraiser – Hayley says June 5th is a good date, no sports that day.

Hayley had email from Metro. Starting 10/11 season all dads reqd background check and child safe training. All guide leaders must have them immediately. Hayley to follow up with what this means, cost, etc.

Various circle activities reported by navigators: Bravehawks marshmellow guns fight, Calypso went to Lowes for craft and built jewlery contraptions in the AM, Harlan made paper airplanes, Sharks had a superbowl party for 200, Argonauts went to Henry Ford and saw under the sea in 3d, others.

Communications gave report, all is good.

Finance gave balance, paid out reimbursements. Unfortunately, Pete Bleich (treasurer) is still not on the Guides Bank account due to bank issues; need to correct this asap or go to another bank.

Patchmaster gave report, continuing to run through old patches.

Honor points will be accounted next month.

Webmasters gave report, they were commended for a great job updating the web page.

Chris gave YMCA rep report. Strong kids campaign is the big push this year. Comedy night fundraiser April 30th at the Townsend in Birmingham (Joe Nipote and friends). Chuck Gaidica to MC. Ticket cost etc not determined. Not a kids event.

Thom asked about a scholarship acct for strong kids funds, earmarked money for guides. Hayley mentioned funds in the past. Thom to follow up with Hayley.

Discussed yearbook at 5.50 per copy. Could sell at $5 and cover the difference. Could ask for sponsoring in the back of the yearbook.

Could review having ads on the guides website. Nathan to review.
Pages must be in by late May, looking at 2 week lead. Event pages should be made soon after the event.

Carwash. Sell tickets in advance. Collecting cans for tickets.

Meeting adjourned 8:30.

It’s Derby Time!!

The Birmingham YMCA
Adventure Guides & Princess

2010 Annual Pine Car Derby

Derby Flier (With Official Rules on Page #2)

Car Check-in

Birmingham YMCA
Saturday, March 20th
2pm – 6pm

An official scale, (some) tools and practice track
will be available downstairs in the Preschool Room
for final tweaks before registration upstairs.
See the Official Rules & Spec Sheet
Registration is $7 per car / $10 maximum per family

Race Day

Birmingham YMCA
Sunday, March 21st
Racing begins at 1pm

Food (hot dogs, etc.) will be available for purchase on site again this year.
Concessions sponsored by Harlan Globetrotters
Speed and design Medals will be awarded in all race classes.
Every Guide & Princess Racer will receive a medal.

Tentative Race Schedule:

Derby Sponsored by Sharks

Family Event

Sledding at Beverly Mountain!!

Sunday, February 28th

1:00 – 3:00 PM

Beverly Park

South Side of Beverly Rd (13-1/2 Mile),

¼ mile West of Southfield Road

(Hill is on other side of wooded area from parking lot)

• Cost: $ Free!!!  Bring your own sled!
• Hot Coco will be provided!!

Note: This event is held on a hill that is open to the public, and it is at your own risk! There is a stair adjacent to the hill, so it is generally safer than some other hills where little ones tend to get creamed as they walk up the center of the hill.

Brought to you by the Harlan Globetrotter Circle

Patch Event!!

View Larger Map

1. Plug in your iron on the hottest setting, and your glue gun.  Be sure the steam is turned off on your iron.
2. Set your vest on the ironing board and decide where you want each patch placed.
3. Once the hot glue gun is ready, put a fine bead of hot glue all the way around the back of the patch near the edge. If the patch does not have an embroidered edge be careful to stay back a bit to prevent the glue from squirting out.
4. Cover the back of the patch with a zig-zag pattern of hot glue.  If the patch is not an iron-on patch, don’t be afraid to use extra, it will soak into the patch and the vest (note we’re talking about our open-grain Guides vests, I don’t know if this would work the same on finished leather).
5. Set the patch aside on the newspaper to cool.  Repeat with all of your patches.
6. Make sure there are no “strings” of hot glue hanging off of the patches, these will leave dark lines on your vest.
7. Use the iron to pre-heat the leather where you’re going to place your patches.
8. Place the patches on the vest and cover with the rag (this keeps the bottom of the iron clean).
9. Press down on each patch with the iron for a full minute and a half.  Periodically move the iron slightly to avoid cooking an iron shape into your vest.
10. Remove the rag and let the vest sit without moving while the hot glue cools and sets.
11. Press on the patches with your fingers. If the patch got hot enough to melt the glue, you shouldn’t be able to feel any ridges from the hot glue zip-zags. If you do, bring back the iron and try again.
12. Once the patches cool several minutes, gently check the edges to make sure they are adhered.  Particularly with irregular edged patches (like the campfire flames) the tips may need an additional dot of hot glue and a quick hit with the iron to adhere.
13. Set the vest flat until completely cooled so the edges don’t pop loose.

If you have any comments or suggestions please leave them below.

YMCA Adventure Guides
Dads – Quality Time With Your Kids!
Troy and Birmingham Michigan
ADVGuides.ORG

If you happen to see the ad, don’t click the link!  It costs us money.

Thanks
Nathan

Update: Dave scanned the 06/07 Princess yearbook for us. Anyone who hasn’t seen one, this is a good example (although future yearbooks will be guides/princesses combined).
PrincessYearBook2006-2007

At the council meeting we discussed getting estimates for color/b&w at 50 pages.  Just doing a quick search, I found www.bestvaluecopy.com would do 150 @ 50 pages color on #20 paper, velobound, for $975 ($6.50 each copy).  Again this is the first place I found doing a search, but it makes me think this is going to be doable in color for a reasonable cost.

Copy Type

• - 150 of copies
• - 50 of originals
• - Color Copy Type
• - Double Sided
• - Page Size: 8.5 x 11
• - Paper Type: 20# White Bond
• - Paper Color:

Finishing Options

• - Collation: Collated
• - Binding: Velobinding

In attendance Klingler, Wray, Shetler, Huager, Bleich, Bedford, Murphy, Gerhardstein, Brune

New circle status – One new contact Dave is following up.  Might add him to the Paliminos

Skating, Funnighter were discussed.

75 people signed up as of today for campout.

Need torches for campout – Nimble Blackbears (Fritz will handle)

Riding at winter campout must be paid for at campout

Hayley and Nathan to work on rotations, cabin assignments

Movie was discussed – cloudy with a chance of meatballs.  Nathan to bring speakers, Bedford to bring laptop, camp has projector and screen.  Shetler to check on getting DVD.

Daddy Daughter Dance budget was discussed, guessing headcount at about 40 (?).  Planning on a $5 cover charge.  Details to follow.  Setup beginning at 6.  Flier ready to go.

Sledding the 28th, Harlan to sponsor.  Suggested sledding hills  – Beverly Park on Beverly Road and 13 1/2 (west of southfield).  Also suggested Sylvan Glen or Bower Farm.  Fritz to follow up with Harlan (Ross Burdick).  Will borrow large YMCA cooler jug for hot chocolate.

Pine Wood Derby – need to order cars.  Should be $5 per car.  Hayley to order cars based on last years head count.  Need a flier.  Sponsor is Sharks with Harlan doing concessions.  Assuming the same categories for medals as last year.  Thom Slavin ordered the medals last yearand slated for this year too.  Planning on one bleacher based on last year.  Need to get Harlan a budget for concessions, last year we had extra.  Sharks to do flier.  20th is weigh in 21st is the derby.

Spring campout May 14th at Timbers.  Wildfire to sponsor.

Other events – Discussed carwash Jun 5th Saturday.  Might need to move to Sunday the 6th.  Will do pre-pay tickets and also the option to pay in returnables.

Hike Bald Mountain May 28th.  Details TBD.

Circle meeting status

Attendees reported.  Wildfire put together care packages for Haiti.

Yearbook – need to determine estimate and pricing.  Need to get an estimate for 50-60 pages in color or B&W.

Hayley – nothing addtl to report.

New website went live today.

Finance chair P.Bleich reported.  Still needs to be added to account.  Fritz to follow up on unpaid circles.

Gerhardstein to contact LaBelle about getting more patches for winter campout.

Bravehawks banned electronics from the campout based on results at the boy’s fall campout.  Discussed email to sugest the same for other circles.

Meeting ended 8:15

Meetings are started and ended on time, and do not go longer that 1 1/2 hours.

The dads should agree the calendar and hosts at least 3 months out (preferably for the whole year) so everyone knows the schedule. Example: third Thursday of the month.

The hosts should send reminders at least a week in advance, with directions if needed.

Refreshments are served prior to closing ceremony – giving an official ending to the meeting.

Activities are planned which are understandable to the girls. (The dads can then understand as well).

Circle size is best kept between six and twelve pairs. Large Circles become unmanageable in most homes.

The Circle Navigator (or delegate) attends all Expedition meetings and maintains contact with the Expedition Navigator.

Dads Meetings are called whenever needed, but at least 2-3 times per year.

Dads and daughters sit together during meetings and refreshments.

A Circle has at least one activity and/or meeting each month.

Dad/Daughter pairs work as a team wherever possible (i.e., crafts, games, skits, etc.).

Business and planning should be kept to a minimum during Circle meetings (use email to keep the dads up to speed, and then for the girls, hit the major events like a campout, or parade, or late nighter, but keep it short).

Try for a Circle outing for the entire family at least twice each year. Many of the Federation and Expedition activities are for the whole family.

Circle members evaluate their Circle program and progress as a group regularly.

The Circle has varied activities. For example, Circle meetings may include cooking, 1st Aid Instruction, Scavenger Hunts, and Gift Making. Circle outings may include trips to parks, museums, tours, movies, sporting events and Nation/Federation Events. Circle projects may include service projects, scrap books, photo albums, Circle banners and tribal property. The Circle may also participate in other YMCA programs such as swim lessons, gymnastics, youth sports, or day and resident camping.

Members develop an enthusiasm, esprit de corps, and pride for their Circle.

The Circle accepts and appreciates each member. All members feel needed and important.

Leadership is shared by all dads in the Circle.

Update: I ran a broken links report, pdf here
advguides broken links 20100203

I’m not too worried about any on the archived site but the links page needs some help.

Your best source for new circle members are first and foremost your neighbors and friends.  We need to be aware of opportunities for recruiting where we can set up a display and hand out fliers as well.  For the 2009/2010 school year, I spent one morning doing a 5 minute talk to each of the kindergarten classes.  I handed out the flier below and let the kids bang the drum, it was actually kind of fun and very easy to do.  I sent an email to the principal about a week before and let him preview the material I was handing out and he took care of the details.  I will probably do this at Schroeder again for the 1st graders this year.

I put together this flyer based on an older one that was floating around, if you have an opportunity to hand out fliers you might want to check with the council and see if we have any printed up already.  The full-color PDF and also the source Photoshop document are attached below.

Recruiting Flier PDF

Recruiting Flier Source Photoshop Document (Caution, this is a large download, you must have Photoshop already installed to open this file)