January Newletter

   January is the first month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars and is also the first of seven months to have a length of 31 days. The first day of the month is known as New Year's Day. It is, on average, the coldest month of the year within most of the Northern Hemisphere (where it is the second month of winter) and the warmest month of the year within most of the Southern Hemisphere (where it is the second month of summer). In the Southern hemisphere, January is the seasonal equivalent of July in the Northern hemisphere and vice versa.

Happy New Year Pio Pico District!

Happy New year Pio Pico. Another year in the books for us. I hope everyone had a wonderful end to 2022. I hope it was shared with loved ones and you were able to close out the year with celebrations. It wasn’t too long ago when we merged our districts, Rio Hondo District and Frontier District, together. It took some time and adjustment to get used to the merge. There were trials and errors but we have grown together as one of the best in council. May our new year endeavors be filled with adventures and growth. Speaking of growth, it got me thinking, when we celebrate a new year, we celebrate old memories and welcome in new ones to create throughout the year. It’s a time when we make New Year resolutions, set new goals and new intentions. But why do we feel so compelled to do so? What makes the month of January different then the other 11 months? Is there something special about the first month of the new year that motivates us? Is it because we strive to set goals to make us better than what we were last year, beginning at a new mark? A blank slate some would suggest. What’s that saying, “New year, new me”? I wonder, or maybe we could just add more skills, knowledge, patience and kindness to who we are already are? As youth leaders, I would like to think we all want to improve who we are in the eyes of the youth that we lead. We want to be the best versions of ourselves so that they can mirror us and become better role models in society as they grow older. I’d like think that you can have a resolution any time of year. We always have the choice to become better than what we were.

 Whatever your goals and ambitions may be for this new year, may they be filled with momentum, purpose, and most importantly, a positive outcome.

Big Rocks Theory 

I know most scouters are familiar with the story of “Big Rocks”. This philosophy has been a successful metaphor about prioritizing our goals and I thought I would share it with you.

The origin of the “Big Rocks” concept is unknown, but it was popularized by Stephen Covey in his book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.  Stories can be powerful metaphors, and once you’re heard this one you may find it easier and more intuitive to keep your Big Rocks front of mind.

An expert on the subject of time management was lecturing to a group of business school students, and to drive home a point he used an illustration those students will probably never forget. 

Standing in front of a classroom filled with self-motivated over-achievers, he pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouthed Mason jar and set it on a table. Then he produced a half-dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar. 

When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit, he asked, "Is this jar full?" 

Everyone in the class said, "Yes." 

He said, "Really?" 

He then reached under the table and pulled out a sack of gravel. He slowly began dumping the gravel in, pausing to shake the jar as he did so the gravel could work itself down into the spaces between the big rocks. Then he smiled and asked the group once more, "Is the jar full?" 

Some of the class were starting to catch on. "Probably not," one of them called out. 

"Good!" he replied. Next he reached under the table and brought out a bag of sand. He started shaking the sand in, and it sifted down into all the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the question, "Now is the jar full?" 

"No!" the class shouted. 

“Excellent!" he said, and finally he grabbed the pitcher of drinking water off the desk and began to pour it in, until the jar was filled to the brim. 

Then he looked up at the class and asked, "What is the point of this illustration?" 

One eager student raised his hand and said, "The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard, you can always fit some more things into it!" 

"Nice try," the speaker replied, "but that's not really the point at all. The truth this little Mason jar illustration teaches us is simple but powerful: If you don't put the big rocks in first, you'll never get them in at all."

Recognitions 

If you would like to give a shout out for a newly trained leader, please send me their name and training completed and I will add it here!

 

Adult Volunteer Awards

This Year’s Silver Beaver Award Recipient is Dan Fijan

Dan was recently awarded at the Council Annual Recognition Dinner on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. Congratulation's Dan! Thank you for all your years of service. 

District Award of Merit Recipients for 2022 

• Starlight Garcia
• Salinda Lopez
• Beth McKinney

Awards will be presented at the Pio Pico District Dinner

Saturday, February 18, 2023

At Plymouth Church, 12058 Beverly Blvd, Whittier.

Recruitment Materials

If you want any of the items below, please email me as they are not on the web site yet.  I will need the orders by Monday to pick up from council by Nov 4th while I am there.  Any orders after that I will have to arrange to get for you 😊. 

Pick up will be in Whittier.  There are wristbands, flashlights, stickers, Boys Life minis, and recruitment envelopes (leaders favorite or at least mine so you don’t have to buy the plain ones)

Contact Virginia Wetzel for more details varcourt@twc.com

 

Stay informed at the District Round Table!

Round table falls on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. We are now meeting Hybrid. So, you can now either come down in person or tune remotely from wherever you may be.

Remember, Roundtable is for everyone! Not just unit leaders.

If you would like to join us in person we meet at the First Methodist Church 13222 Bailey St. Whittier, CA 90601. 

If you cannot come in and would like to be on the email with the link for the Zoom Call, please reach out to Tommy Martinez (tlc_martinez@yahoo.com).

We hope to see you there!

Upcoming Events in Pio Pico

SAVE THE DATES:

March 10-12th- Cub Rocket Academy

March 18th  Dutch Oven Cooking Class
March 26th Pio Pico Camporee Service Project
April 14 – 16th- Camporee- Prado Regional Park
June 19-23rd- Cub Scout Day Camp

                    H.A.T Training Corner

Save the Dates:

March 3rd – Scout Leaders Backpack Training Seminar

March 7th- HAT Meeting

March 11 & 12th- Scout Leaders Backpack training Experience

March 17th-19th -B.S.A Level I Climbing Instructor Course

March 25th &26th- Wilderness and Remote First Aid

Council Training Dates:

IOLS (Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skill

Firestone Scout Reservation
03/17-18/2023 IOLS Firestone
Sunday 03-19-2023 12:00 PM PT

Saturday 03-18-2023 7:45 AM PT to

Hubert Eaton Scout Reservation

Weekend 1:

Friday 04-21-2023 9:00 out AM PT to

Sunday 04-23-2023 5:00 PM PT

Weekend 2:

Hubert Eaton Scout Reservation

Saturday 05-06-2023 9:00 AM PT to

Sunday 05-07-2023 5:00 PM PT

Participant Cost: $295