Highlighted Titles mean New or Changes Made

TAX ALERT: Charitable IRA Transfers to BSA Councils

At around 5:00 pm last Friday, President Obama signed the Congressionally-approved Tax Extenders into law.  This included the IRA Tax-Free Charitable Transfer provision.  Donors who are at least 70½ years old may now make direct transfers from their IRAs of up to $100,000 (total for the year) to a local council,  or other public charities without being taxed on the withdrawal.  Also, these IRA gifts:

• Must go directly from the IRA to the charity – they cannot go to the donor first;
• Count towards the donor’s annual Minimum Required Distribution;
• Must be outright gifts, but may be designated to specific charitable uses or purposes;
• Cannot go into donor advised funds, gift annuities, or charitable trusts, and the donor may not receive any goods or services in return for the gift;
• Must come out of IRAs, not 401(k)s, 403(b)s or other qualified retirement plans;
• May be made by both spouses, if both gifts come from different and separate IRAs;
• Are retroactive back to January 1, 2014 – but must be made before December 31, 2014, if you have not already made your gift.

Donors do not receive a charitable income tax deduction for these charitable IRA gifts.  These gifts are particularly beneficial for donors who: 1) do not or cannot use itemized deductions, or 2) are limited or already maxed out on the amount of charitable tax deductions they can currently take.  However, even if you do itemize, such a gift may still save you taxes if it keeps you in a lower tax bracket.

Note:  You will have very little time to do this before year end, so please act quickly and contact your IRA plan administrator.   Ask them to withdraw the amount you specify and distribute it directly to the charity or charities of your choice.  [A sample letter to request the funds is attached – or contact us below to request one].   If you can’t take advantage of this type of gift, there are always other, great opportunities for gifts of stocks, real estate, gift annuities, and other types of gifts.

Please talk with your own financial adviser about the impact these gifts may have on your specific tax situation. For questions, contact us at josephdaniszewski@scouting.org  Thank you for your continuing support.

Make Your Tax-deductible Gift to Scouting Today

Dear Friend of Scouting ,

We often ask ourselves how we can help to make the world a better place, and wonder what we can do personally to have an impact on the future. The Boy Scouts of America have for over 100 years made a difference to millions of young men and women through Scouting programs to instill character, skill building, personal achievement and community service. Through its outdoor programs  such as weekend campouts, summer camps and technical training skills events scouting has provided a unique and rewarding experience to the youth of our community.

Do you want to continue the Scouting’s remarkable learning experiences, at world-class facilities and vibrant educational programs? We do, too! Which is why we’re urgently reminding you to make your tax-deductible year-end gift to the California Inland Empire Council Boy Scouts of America.

Your generosity makes amazing things possible for our Scouts:

• Inspiring professional services and life-changing learning opportunities
• Groundbreaking outdoor programs that create the nurturing of individual talents, group interaction and leadership opportunities in every young man and woman in Scouting
• Camp facilities that are safe, clean, and provide a full and rounded camping experience
• Career learning opportunities and a commitment to community service and giving back to our communities.

Please give to California Inland Empire Council Boy Scouts of America and continue the tradition of Scouting.  It’s quick and easy to make a contribution using our secure website DONATE HERE, and there’s no better time to invest in the future of our youth.

If you made a gift recently, thank you. Your support truly makes a difference.

PLEASE take the opportunity to forward this message to friends, family and business acquaintances – we appreciate every donation and building on the Friends of Scouting!

Happy Holidays!

P.S. Did I mention that your gifts to Scouting are tax-deductible? To get your 2014 tax receipt most quickly, make sure to give online by December 31.

Varsity Vision Training

January 9/10, 2015
181 Blaine Street, Riverside (LDS Building and Field)

Why Attend Varsity Vision?
The Varsity Vision training course provides a "hands on" experience for both adult leaders (Coaches) and youth leaders (Captain/Squad Leaders & Program Managers).

You will learn how to form, plan and execute a team meeting and develop a program event. More Info Click on the Registration Form

Scout Shop "Champ Camp"

Winter Blast 2015

Scouts and Scouters!!!

The snow is falling in the mountains!  Don’t miss out on having a winter experience to remember!  Unfortunately, we’ve had to cancel the first Polar Cub session, January 9-11, 2015 due to lack of sign-ups, but the other sessions are filling fast so don’t be the last troop or pack to plan on heading up.

Troops remember to call Pam Caloia at (909) 793-2463, EXT 129 and Packs call Sonja Villarreal at (909) 793-2463, EXT 130.  We have Chef Neil prepared to offer his awesome selection of tasty meals and the warm cabins and winter activities await…see ya in the mountains!

Silver Beaver Recipients

Congratulations to the following Scouting volunteers who have been selected to receive the California Empire Council's highest honor, the Silver Beaver Award. They will be honored at the Council's Annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner on February 7, 2015. The dinner will be held at the Moreno Valley Conference and Recreation Center. You're invited to attend and help recognize these and other deserving Scouting volunteers. Click to Register Online Name District Name District Name  District Linda Bennett Temescal William Dull Tahquitz Patrick Michael Poor Mt. Rubidoux Luis Bravo Arrowhead David Hall Tahquitz Ward Roney Arrowhead Richard Campbell Temescal Nichole Horsley Three Peaks Fred Stieg Arrowhead Guy Chabot Sunrise Darren Nugent Temescal Peggy YaYa Sager Tahquitz Donald Curtis Five Nations Dean Palmer Five Nations Dane Santistevan Tahquitz Laurie Curtis Five Nations Peter Peters Old Baldy Richard Slider Grayback

Council Volunteer Recognition Dinner Silent Auction

As you know the Annual Council Volunteer Recognition Dinner is coming up.

This year we will be having a silent auction. I have been aaked to oversee the auction this year. ALL proceeds for the silent auction go to the Campership fund and helps send a scout to camp.

For this auction we will need items with a value of at least $25. Each district is asked to look in their areas to local businesses and places for donations. Each district is asked to get at least 5 items from their district for the auction. CIEC covers a wide area. Many local businesses are willing to donate. All you have to do is ask. A letter of donation with tax ID number can be used. If needed request one.

Personal donations of items are gladly accepted also. We do ask the value of such be at least $25.

Monetary donations will be gladly accepted.

Let's make this year a success.

If you have any questions, suggestions or are willing to help with the silent auction. Please contact me via Email Divine_durango_diva@msn.com or 951-833-2409

Celebrating Our Volunteers, Christa 'Bubbles' Jenson, Silent Auction Coordinator

Scout Night at Ontario Fury Indoor Arena The Ontario Fury game is for all Scouts, Venturers, adult leaders, family and friends. Scouts of all ages and Venturers are invited to parade on the field prior to the start of the game. There are color guard and national anthem opportunities (if interested contact Kristen (909) 244-5744 to find out how). Eagle Scouts of all generations in game attendance will be invited onto the stage during the 1st quarter to be acknowledged. Post game activities on the field will happen for Scouts and families. Contact Kristen, (909) 244-5744 for exclusive Scout night ticket discounts.

Attention all Scouts and Scouters!

Do you have any outstanding pictures from your 2014 Scouting adventures? (selfies, group shots, candid photos, etc.) We will be making a video presentation for the Volunteer Recognition Dinner on February 7, 2015. If you would like to submit one to be considered for use, please email to michelle.brown@scouting.org. Deadline is January 16, 2015.

Varsity Vision 2014 Even though it was a rainy weekend the California Inland Empire Council held its fifth “Varsity Vision Training” course on November21/22, 2014. The course was attended by 26 Varsity leaders and 34 youth leaders. In this course the youth and leaders were trained by participating rather than lecture. The participants spent the weekend actuality learning the importance of the Five Fields of Emphasis and how they work within the Varsity Team. This course focused on how the Varsity Coach and Team Captain work together to deliver an effective program for their unit. It reinforced the concept that a team is boy-led, and that the Team Captain is the leader and the roles of the Program Managers. In the course the Coach and Program Advisors learned what their roles are to the team. The adult leaders and youth participates came away trained. Gavin Christen is the Council Varsity Training Chairman:  Contact information gavinchristen@att.net Cell 951-218-0990 Home 951-682-4380

Scouting Cartoons from the 1960's

Positive Quote & Prayer
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"Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success. When you do a thing, do it with your might."

    ~  Ralph Waldo Emerson

Our lives are made of days and nights, of seasons and years, for we are part of a universe of suns and moons and planets. We mark ends and we make beginnings and, in all, we praise God for the grace and mercy that fill our days.

Monday Memo is from Scout Executive Joe Daniszewski and contains his reflection on what is happening within the Council. The purpose of Monday Memo is to communicate information about the week ahead, to acknowledge the good things happening around the Council and to address specific issues that the Scout Executive wants to bring to your attention. Joe welcomes any comments, suggestions or recommendations on how to make this memo as helpful as possible. If you have something you want publicized in the Monday Memo, please send it to his attention c/o Monday Memo: Joseph.Daniszewski@scouting.org for Monday Memo Archives Click Here