SILVER COMET ACTIVITIES AND CIVIC SERVICE COMMITTEE
CHAIR: Mike Calvert
Cemeteries/Memorial Day Activities Contacts
RECORDING SERVICE HOURS EXPLANATION
Activities and Civic Service Current Roundtable Announcements
What Service Hours count toward requirements/can they be outside the Troop?
Civic Service Opportunities
ATLANTA AUDUBON SOCIETY
The mission of Atlanta Audubon Society is to protect Georgia’s birds and the habitats that sustain them through education, conservation and advocacy. In 1968 the Atlanta Bird Club, established in 1926, voted to become a branch/chapter of the National Audubon Society, in 1972 the Atlanta Bird Club voted to change their name to the Atlanta Audubon Society.
Volunteer, as well as educational, opportunities exist with the society. You can find out more information by checking out their website at www.atlantaaudubon.org. The website offers two locations about volunteer opportunities. If you select the heading “Get Involved”, then select the Volunteer tab, a list of projects will appear with a contact person link associated with each project. The other location is under the heading “IBA.” When the “How You Can Help” tab is selected, there is a list of other volunteer opportunities available. The IBA coordinator is Charlie Muise. His contact phone is 678-967-9924. There is a great section under the heading “Education.” The selection of the “Youth Education” tab provides an option for Boy & Girl Scout Programs. There are several options listed including specific requirements that are satisfied with that particular project.
Atlanta Audubon Society’s office is located at Blue Heron Nature Preserve:
4055 Roswell Road
Atlanta, GA 30342
(678) 973-2437
BLUEBIRD TRAIL AT GREEN MEADOWS PRESERVE
The Bluebird Trail is located at the Green Meadows Preserve at the corner of Dallas Highway and Old Hamilton Road in west Marietta. The trail itself is maintained by volunteers under the leadership of Jim Bearden. Jim is a Master Gardener. Please contact Jim at beardenjames@bellsouth.net to determine appropriate service projects for your unit.
CENTER FOR FAMILY RESOURCES
It was the vision of our founders that The Center for Family Resources would be a premier place with the best people and programs for strengthening individuals, families, and communities so that they could acquire the resources they need to become independent and self-sufficient, thereby breaking the cycle of poverty. Since 1960, CFR has helped thousands of low-income families with employment, education, and housing services; leadership development programs; mentoring opportunities; and temporary financial and food assistance.
CFR carries out its mission by providing temporary financial assistance to stabilize families in crisis; housing for low-income and homeless families in a safe and secure environment; and education and training to individuals and communities to increase economic capacity and personal growth.
For more information please check out their website www.thecfr.org The contact person is Sarah Tonsmeire. She is very receptive to partnering with the scouting program. Please contact her at AliciaFerguson@TheCFR.org to discuss potential, age appropriate service.
COBB COUNTY PARKS
There are several parks under the supervision of Cobb County Parks. John Purcell is the contact person for Cobb County Parks. He quickly responded to be added to our list of possible service opportunities. He is very interested in working with possible Eagle projects. Please contact him at john.purcell@cobbcounty.org to schedule your unit service projects.
DUE WEST ELEMENTARY
Looking for ideas for a good Eagle Scout or unit service project? At Due West Elementary School we have a 5 year outdoor garden area plan that includes many service projects. It will be up to you to find the right project, but these might give you an idea so what we need at Due West elementary school: Constructing a new Out Door Classroom. Building some raised beds that are workable for wheelchair students, adding elements to our 5 senses garden, creating a pioneer garden – tee pees, work tables, campsite space activities. You will work under the supervision of master gardener Rita Fullick. Her contact email is listed as rfullick@aim.com
GREAT LAKE ALLATOONA CLEANUP
The Great Lake Allatoona Cleanup “GLAC,” and its partners will lead the Lake Allatoona community in environmental stewardship of the watershed through education, preservation, conservation, and volunteerism. For more information, visit: http://www.lakeallatoonaassoc.com/
KEEP COBB BEAUTIFUL
Keep Cobb Beautiful is a nonprofit organization created for the purpose of “assisting the County and Board of Commissioners in establishing, promoting and maintaining a countywide policy for improved environmental and waste management.
Keep Cobb Beautiful is an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful (KAB), a national, non-profit public education organization dedicated to improving waste handling practices in American communities. Keep America Beautiful educates millions of Americans on all aspects of waste handling and solid waste issues.
Our Mission: Promoting stewardship of our communities through litter prevention, beautification, recycling and environmental education.
Check out their website www.kcb.cobbcountyga.gov . For information about service opportunities please contact Terri @ terrilyn.hannah@cobbcounty.org or keepcobbbeautiful@cobbcounty.org .
KENNESAW MOUNTAIN TRAIL CLUB
The Kennesaw Mountain Trail Club is a group of volunteers who assist the National Park Service by maintaining the 20-plus miles of trails in the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. The Club holds monthly maintenance work days at the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. For more information, visit: http://www.kennesawmountaintrailclub.org/youthprojects.php
KEEP KENNESAW BEAUTIFUL
This is a local affiliate of the “Keep America Beautiful Network.” They meet once a month on the 2nd Monday of each month from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the city of Kennesaw courthouse (enter through the bottom back doors). This organization hosts several events annually. Some of the events include Arbor Day and tree planting, special recycling programs and “Paws in the Park.” The contact is Miranda Jones, Director, and she can be contacted at mjones@Kennesaw-ga.gov.
MARIETTA MUSEUM OF HISTORY
The museum is located about one block off of the square in Marietta. There are several exhibits at the museum which show the history around Marietta and it’s growth. There is a large room housing an extensive gun collection dating back to the civil war. For information about service projects, please contact either Jan Galt (jan@MariettaHistory.org) or Christa McCay (Christa@MariettaHistory.org).
SMITH GILBERT GARDENS
At the center of Smith-Gilbert Gardens is the historic Hiram Butler House, dating back over 150 years. The house was once owned by Mr. Butler, a Confederate railroad man, who worked the lines most of his life and was present during the “Great Locomotive Chase.”
In 1970, Mr. Richard Smith and Dr. Robert Gilbert bought the Hiram Butler House and surrounding acreage in Kennesaw, Georgia. Over the following 35 years, they realized their dream of developing the house and grounds, with an emphasis on unique plantings and thoughtfully positioned sculpture.
Now open to the public, Smith-Gilbert Gardens is 16 acres of serene setting with over 3,000 species of plants, several rare in American gardens. United by woodland paths, the Gardens consist of separate groupings with individual elements of fascination. These include the Bonsai Exhibit, Palladino Camellia Garden, tea house and waterfall area, Rose Garden, and Conifer Display.
There are selected volunteer opportunities for your units. For information concerning a service project, please contact Christine Davis at cdavis@kennesaw-ga.gov
CITY OF ACWORTH
For information concerning possible civic service opportunities in the city of Acworth, please contact Jeff Chase at jchase@acworth.org
CITY OF KENNESAW
The city of Kennesaw provides information on volunteer opportunities in the community at www.volunteermatch.org. Registration is required and there is no charge. Go to Kennesaw, GA for a list of events. These events are described and there is a guide as to possible age of volunteer participants.
COBB COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM
The Cobb County Library System consists of 17 locations including the Central Library located 266 Roswell Street, Marietta, GA 30060. There are volunteer service opportunities for members of your unit 15 years of age and older. To become a volunteer check out the website www.cobbcat.org Proceed to the column headed “Support”, and open up the tab identified as “Volunteer Opportunities.” Some specific responsibilities are located at the bottom of the volunteer page. An application must be completed by each volunteer using either the Volunteers Age 15 or Volunteers Age 16 +. In addition to the application, a background check will be completed. As a volunteer, you are able to select your location preference with usual availability at the central location.
The following information relates to various council meetings in and around the Silver Comet District. A scout may need to attend one of these meetings for aRank advancement or merit badge requirement. It may also be possible to schedule your unit to conduct the flag ceremony.
CITY OF ACWORTH
City Council meetings are held on the first (1st) and third (3rd) Thursday nights of each month unless it is a major holiday. The meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. at the Acworth City Hall. The phone number is (770) 974-3112. If you make reservations, are on time for the meeting and in uniform, the mayor will recognize your unit at the meeting. The website is www.acworth.org/local-govt. The address is 4415 Senator Richard B Russell Ave., Acworth, GA 30101.
CITY OF AUSTELL
City Council meetings are held on the first (1st) Monday of each month unless it is a major holiday. The meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. at the City Council Chambers at Austell City Hall. The address is 2716 Broad Street, Austell, GA 30106. For additional information, please contact the City Clerk’s office at (770) 944-4303.
CITY OF KENNESAW
City Council meetings are held on the first (1st) and third (3rd) Monday nights of each month unless it is a major holiday. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Kennesaw City Hall, which is located downstairs on the backside of the city government complex. The phone number is (770) 429-4531. The website is www.kennesaw.org. The address is 2529 J. O. Stephenson Ave., Kennesaw, GA 30144.
CITY OF MARIETTA
City Council meetings are held on the second (2nd) Wednesday night of each month. The meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber located on the first floor of Marietta City Hall. The phone number is (770) 794-5526. The address is 205 Lawrence St., Marietta, GA 30060.
CITY OF POWDER SPRINGS
City Council meetings are held on the first (1st) and third (3rd) Monday in the following months: January, February, March, April, May, June, October and November. City Council meetings are held on the third (3rd) Monday in the following months: July, August and September. City Council meeting is held on the first (1st) Monday in December. The meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. at the Powder Springs City Council Chambers. The phone number is (770) 943-1666. The address is 4484 Marietta St., Powder Springs, GA 30127.
CITY OF SMYRNA
City Council meetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Monday night of each month unless altered by a holiday. The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Smyrna City Council Chambers. The phone number is (770) 434-6600. The address is 2800 King Street, Smyrna, GA 30080.
COBB COUNTY
County Council meetings are held on the second (2nd) Tuesday of each month at 9:00 a.m. and the fourth (4th) Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. unless it is a major holiday. The phone number is (770) 528-1000. The website is www.cobbcounty.org. The address is 100 Cherokee Street, Marietta, GA 30090.
PARADES
ACWORTH
There is one parade annually in Acworth, which is the Christmas parade. Currently, there is not an opportunity for participation by our units in this parade.
AUSTELL
KENNESAW
Santa Parade:
The only parade sponsored through the Kennesaw Parks and Recreation is the annual Santa Parade. This is a great opportunity for your unit to represent scouting in our community. The scouts can register online for the Santa Parade at www.adaywithsanta.com. The website has FAQ’s and much more information.
The city “recommends” that participants enter a “float” or decorated vehicle or trailer, along with any one walking in the parade. There are judges and awards for the holiday themed entries which create a fun-filled atmosphere and scouts can earn badges for being involved in these types of creative endeavors. The rules of the parade are located where the form is to fill out.
Important Information
- Participation is free.
- Parade entry forms must be received by midnight on the deadline date.
- Entry forms can only be submitted online.
- Entry forms will be evaluated and accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis until the maximum number of participants is reached.
- Submission of entry form does not guarantee acceptance in the parade.
- The City of Kennesaw reserves the right to accept or decline any entry for any reason.
- Approved entries will only be confirmed or declined via e-mail the week of November 18.
Big Shanty Parade:
Another parade opportunity in the city is the celebration of the Big Shanty Festival. The parade is held in April during the Big Shanty Festival. Consider allowing your unit to represent scouting in this parade. JRM Management handles this parade event. Their website is www.JRMManagement.com and their office phone number is (770) 423-1330. Please contact any of the people on the website for more information or a copy of the registration packet.
MARIETTA
July 4th
The Marietta Let Freedom Ring Parade is part of the Fourth in the Park Festival, which is held annually. This traditional, old fashioned, non-violent day of family fun is centered on the July 4th celebration, and includes arts and crafts, entertainment, food concessions, carnival games, evening concert and fireworks. The 1-½ mile parade begins at the Roswell Street Baptist Church, travels west on Roswell Street, north on East Park Square and Cherokee Street, and ends at North Marietta Parkway.
Any individual, organization, group, business or other entity that desires to participate in the parade must submit an application. All forms must be completed in their entirety and received by The Freedom Parade Committee prior to the deadline. An applicant is not accepted into the parade until written confirmation is received from The Parade Committee. The Parade Committee will consist of the Parade Coordinator, Recreation Services Manager, Recreation Supervisor and a representative of the Economic Development Office. Approval or denial will be mailed to the applicant no more than 14 days from receipt of the application. All applicants will be notified no later than ??????.
The Parade Committee for the City of Marietta will evaluate every parade entry to determine if it is appropriate for the parade. The Committee reserves the right to reject any entry (at any time prior to assembly, at assembly, or during the parade) it deems inappropriate. Upon acceptance, any and all entries must agree to abide by the rules and regulations set forth by MARIETTA CITY COUNCIL. Parade marshals will be stationed along the route to review and enforce said rules. Immediate action will be taken to correct any rule violations. Corrective action may include dismissal from the parade.
www.formstack.com/forms/cityofmarietta-fourth_of_july_parade
POWDER SPRINGS
SMYRNA
Diversity Awareness Service
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RECYCLING
ShoeBox Recycling is proud to be a for-profit recycler of shoes. Founded in 2011 with a mission to recycle as many pairs of shoes as possible, we know that doing well and doing good go hand in hand. That’s why we are first and foremost recyclers – and oh, by the way, we happen to be an environmentally sound solution for the responsible discarding of your shoes. We believe we all can clean up our closets and the environment by recycling our shoes. Helping the planet is a fabulous benefit from our collective work. Every pair of shoes we collect will be distributed for resale and reuse in its original form at various local marketplaces here and around the developing world.
Your shoes will become someone else’s very first pair, very special pair, or a much-needed pair. And for that reason, we ask you to share your shoe stories and make a connection with their future owners by writing a SoleMate note and placing it in your shoes. It is our hope that you will find your SoleMate, making our world will get a little smaller, a little friendlier and a little greener with each and every pair.
Whether you are looking for an opportunity to earn community service hours for your scouts or use as a fundraiser for your unit, ShoeBox Recycling may be the right opportunity. Remember – if you choose to use this project as a fundraiser, service hours cannot be earned.
For more information, check out their website www.shoeboxrecycling.com or contact Karin Zarin, the Manager of Partnerships, at her email address: Karin@shoeboxrecycling.org.
MEDSHARE
MedShare is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving healthcare and the environment through the efficient recovery and redistribution of the surplus of medical supplies and equipment to those most in need. We collect surplus medical supplies and equipment from hospitals, distributors and manufacturers, and then redistribute them to qualified healthcare facilities in the developing world. We also outfit medical missions and safety net clinics in both the U.S. and abroad.
For all groups in the Atlanta area, please contact Alvaro McRae at amcrae@medshare.org.
MCKENNA FARMS
Get Involved –
Volunteers are a crucial part of McKenna Farms. There are numerous ways to get involved within this organization. In addition, they have events throughout the year that would not happen without the help of volunteers. If interested in learning about volunteer opportunities, please contact Cassi kaiser. Her email address is ckaiser@mckennafarmstherapy.org and her phone number is (770) 443-9672. Their website is www.mckennafarmstherapy.org
TRINITY HORSE RESCUE
There’s no way we could do what we do without you! We are so blessed to have so many helping hands. We sincerely appreciate every man, woman and child who choose to donate their time to make a difference. Thank you so much!
We are always looking for horse lovers who would love to donate their time to help us clean stalls, fill water buckets, dump manure, mend fences, etc. If you are interested in seeing what Trinity Rescue is all about, please contact us at (877) 71-HORSE or send an email to Cynthia@trinityrescueinc.org to set up a time to interview with a Volunteer Coordinator. Please complete and sign our Volunteer Application and the Liability Release forms prior to your arrival.
* Children under 18 will need to have a parent or guardian accompany them for their initial visit.
** Children under 14 must have a parent or guardian volunteer with them at all times.