Ben Hayes luckyhayes35@hotmail.com www.crventuring.org

Spring Quarterly Report

You are invited to review Katelyn's final report until Ben files his first report this fall.

GOALS

1. I will advance the infrastructure of the Central Region Areas by lending assistance throughout the process of implementing Area-level TLC/VOAs.
2. I will expand communication efforts throughout the Central Region by utilizing technological resources.
3. I will support membership growth throughout the Central Region by distributing program resources to non-high adventure groups and Crews.
4. I will market Venturing at every opportunity and will place prominent emphasis on 10th anniversary celebrations.
5. I will promote Venturing awards and recognition, and I will work towards earning several of the awards so that I may promote them more effectively.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

1. Collected third quarter reports from all Area Presidents and the CR Boatswain.
2. Held the two Central Region Venturing Youth Cabinet (CRVYC) phone conferences.
3. Continually published a monthly Central Region Venturing newsletter.
4. Continued to expand the Regional and Area Facebook groups.  The Central Region Venturing Facebook group attained the benchmark of 2,000+ members.  I assisted with the effort to create a Council Venturing Facebook group for all 80 councils in the region.
5. Secured the Central Region Venturing Committee's approval for a Central Region Venturing Officer's Alumni Association and recruited officers.
6. Promoted the Central Region website.
7. Assisted and advised Councils on securing Venturing Key Threes and beginning a VOA/TLC.
8. Learned more about conducting Kodiak courses by attending another CDC and acting as an instructor for a Kodiak course.
9. Attended Venturing events and promoted Venturing around the Region.
10. Supported and mentored Area Venturing Presidents concerning their duties and goals.
11. Pursued plans within the CR Areas to conduct Area-wide gatherings for Council Venturing Key Threes for training and support purposes.
12. Promoted and prepared youth officers for the upcoming Central Region Area realignment, which will took effect for CR Venturing websites and Facebook on May 1st, and will take over completely when the new Youth Officer terms begin on June 1st.
13. Participated in the Central Region Venturing Committee conference call.
14. Assisted with and promoted the 2009-2010 Area Venturing President Application process.
15. Participated in the selection process for the 2009-2010 Central Region Venturing President.
16. Promoted the CR Council Standards of Venturing Excellence Award.  This year we had four more councils qualify for this award than last year. This effectively shows how much Venturing has taken off in the CR this year.
17. Utilized the Yahoo groups and Facebook to solicit ideas about Unconventional Crews. Unconventional Crews were defined as Crews that do not specialize in high adventure activities.  These responses were used to make ideas available for new units when considering the program direction.
18. Compiled and formatted alternate requirements for the Arts and Hobbies Bronze Award.
19. Served on an Educational Relationships Opportunities task force.
20. Compiled a list and documents of all known Memorandums of Understanding and Letters of Endorsement between the BSA and other organizations. This are now listed on the CR Venturing Website so that councils, volunteers and potential chartering organizations can easily find them.
21. Converted the Religious Resource Folder to text for the CR Venturing website.
22. Reviewed the Best Practices Survey Page for the CR Venturing website.
23. Pursued the establishment of a Venturing Crew at Ohio State University.
24. Applied to be the 2009-2010 National Venturing President.
25. Attended Sea Scout Officer's Specialized Training.
26. Completed Kodiak X, Ranger Award, Apprentice rank, and Arts and Hobbies Bronze.
27. Publicly promoted the new changes and additions to the CR Venturing website.

EVENTS ATTENDED

January 16-18		Attended the Simon Kenton Council's (SKC) Venturing Arctic Weekend in Delaware, OH.  I participated in the wintertime activities and conducted a special ceremony to induct eight new youth into the Corps of Discovery.
January 24		Attended and presented at the SKC University of Scouting in Reynoldsburg, OH.  I assisted with the Venturing Leader Specific Training sessions and worked at some of the information booths in addition to working with the newly elected council youth.
January 25		Attended and instructed at the Allohak Council Venturing Leadership Skills Course in Athens, OH.  This council is working on building interest in forming a VOA and we discussed the benefits and opportunities associated with council-level Venturing.
Jan. 30 - Feb. 1		Attended Winterfest and observed the Southern Region Cabinet meeting in Gatlinburg, TN.  I traveled to the largest Venturing and Exploring event in the county for the first time.  I was able to spend time with the National Venturing President in addition to the other three Regional Presidents.  I arrived in time to examine the SR Cabinet meeting and left with an expanded unde
February 11-13		Attended and presented at the Central Region Spring Board Meeting in Ft. Myers, FL.  I reported on the status of CR Venturing and attended several board meetings and provided input and updates.
February 17		Attended and acted as a consultant for the SKC VOA meeting in Columbus, OH.
March 6-8		Acted as an instructor for a SKC Kodiak course in Newark, OH.
March 9		Attended an administrative meeting for Kodiak course review in Columbus, OH.
March 13-15		Instructed at the SKC Kodiak Course, weekend two in Newark, OH.  I learned a lot by being an instructor and appreciated the chance to see a different side of the Kodiak program. Alongside a second youth instructor, we led 11 youth through the Kodiak training.
March 17		Conducted a Central Region Venturing Youth Cabinet Conference call.  We discussed Area updates and trouble-shot some similar difficulties.  Within the week following the cabinet call I made individual calls to each of the youth officers to check-in on a personal level.
March 23		Participated in the Central Region Venturing Committee Conference call.  I reported on the upcoming regional and area president selection processes in addition to other various topics.
March 27		Attended a meeting with the Crossroads of America Council professionals about their council VOA.
March 27-29		Attended and gave a regional update at a Kodiak Course Directors Conference in Evansville, IN.  Two additional members of the CRVYC were in attendance and participated in the CDC.
April 3-5		Attended and presented at a Central Region Venturing Leadership Award presentation in St. Louis, MO to Barb Vollmer, the wife of the CR Venturing Staff Advisor, for her dedication and hard work for the Venturing Program.  While there I also presented Joe Vollmer, the CR Venturing Staff Advisor with a retirement gift, for his years of service to the Venturing program.  I also spent that weekend with Ben Hayes, the incoming CR Venturing President, and Amanda Vogt, National Venturing President and past CR Venturing President, planning the goals for the CR for the next several years.
April 17-19		Attended and delivered a speech at the Heart of America Council Banquet and weekend event in Kansas City, KS.  I camped out with a local unit and participated in the weekend's activities.  I met with Courtney Weerts, the 2009-2010 CRV Area 5 President and participated in the celebrations of their council awards dinner.
April 19		Instructed a Youth Protection Training Course in Dublin, OH.
April 25		Attended an outing with a Venturing Crew chartered through Evansville University in Evansville, IN.
April 26		Presented at a Scout Sunday service in Huber Heights, OH.
April 29		Participated in Sea Scout Officer's Specialized Training.
May 2-3		Participated in Kodiak X training.  I went through the training with Ben Hayes, 2009-2010 CRV President, and was under the instruction of Tim Stanfill, the 2008-2009 CR Boatswain.
May 3		Conducted my Ranger project cleaning up the river bed around the historic Santa Maria attraction in Columbus, OH.
May 9		Participated and represented female Venturing in a promotional photo shoot for Simon Kenton Council.
May 18-25		Attending the 2009 Boy Scouts of America Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida.

Winter 2009 Quarterly Report
Fall 2008 Quarterly Report

Biography