Hello Thunderbird Family,
It was wonderful to see so many of you at Roundtable! Our guest speaker did an amazing job on mental health in Scouting, and I have a feeling you’ll be hearing the term “Sunshine Walk” from me more and more because of it. Thank you for showing up, learning together, and supporting one another.
Quick heads-up: I and Central Service Area Director Vicky Rosengarten will have limited availability over the next three days due to our annual planning conference. I’ll still be available in the evenings for emergencies if you need me.
Now to the good stuff!
Roundtable Update
NO Roundtable in February due to the District Awards Banquet on
Friday, February 6 — more details coming soon. SUBMISSIONS DUE JANUARY 23RD
We will still offer Merit Badge Classes on February 5 if a counselor signs up.
I’ll work with Diana to notify the district by the Monday prior if we have instructors.
Sign up to teach Merit Badges:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSePsFPeLQmsEctQxxrMpLL7qlrkKD6XHGE6EC30hgl_JqeyIA/viewform
If you’re a new Merit Badge Counselor or haven’t updated your form in a while, please CC me when you submit it so I can make sure it’s processed in the office and that a new adult application is turned in if needed.
University of Scouting — Don’t Miss This!
The University of Scouting is one of the best training events of the year. Come for just the morning or stay all day—learn serious topics or just have fun!
Saturday, January 24, 2026
8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Austin Community College – Highland Campus
6101 Highland Campus Dr, Austin, TX 78752
$25 (Lunch optional for an additional fee)
There are classes in different “colleges” every year—from STEM to Dutch Oven Cooking to Skits & Songs—and topics you won’t find anywhere else. If you’re a new leader, I highly recommend attending.
Event Page:
https://www.capitolareascouting.org/training/adult/university-of-scouting/
Also, our new director and I will be teaching a Friends of Scouting Presenter Training there. This is the first step toward earning those Presenter Ghost Patches—I’d love to see more Thunderbird presenters join us!
Friends of Scouting Momentum
I want to give a sincere thank-you to everyone who helped in any way with Friends of Scouting. Thunderbird was one of the few districts that came close to finishing strong at 80%—and this year, I fully intend for us to reach and exceed our goal.
One of the most important tools is Friends of Scouting Presentations.
If you haven’t scheduled one yet, please fill out this form:
Schedule a Presentation:
https://forms.gle/wnqFp7FpAXtpjzE18
We’ll be coordinating visits with all units and keeping new commissioners informed of meeting dates as well.
Great news: we are already 25% of the way to our 2026 goal!
If you, your family, or even your business would like to help us get there:
Donate Here:
https://givebutter.com/friendsofscouting
Let’s knock this goal out of the park early!
Thank you all for your energy, commitment, and heart for Scouting. I’m proud of what we’re building together in Thunderbird District—and I can’t wait to see what’s next.
Yours in Scouting,
Sherrick West | Thunderbird District Executive
