Western Region DSA Class

Here is a description of the DSA or Distinguished Service Award:

The Distinguished Service Award was created in 1940 to honor those who rendered service to the Order beyond the lodge level. The award is presented to those Arrowmen who have rendered distinguished and outstanding service to the Order on a sectional, regional, or national basis. The award is presented every two years during NOAC. Since the time the first awards were presented, less than 750 Distinguished Service Awards have been presented.

Here are the people who earned the Awards this time around in the Western Region:

• Michael Bliss Mike has served as a Lodge and Section Adviser. Mike was serving as the Area 1 Region OA Vice Chairman before his appointment as the Western Region OA Chairman. Mike serves on the Region and Section Operations Sub- Committee. Mike is an Eagle Scout and Vigil Honor member of the Lo La’Qam Geela Lodge in the Central Point Council in Klamath Falls, Oregon.
• Toby Capps Toby has served as Lodge and Section Adviser. Toby has served as the Area 1 Region OA Vice Chairman. Toby serves on the National OA Committee and works with the Marketing Sub- Committee. Toby is an Eagle Scout and Vigil Honor member of the T’Kope Kwiswis Lodge in the Chief Seattle Council in Seattle, Washington.
• Evan Chaffee Evan has served as Lodge Vice Chief and Section Chief before his election as the 2007 National OA Chief. Evan represented the OA during the 2007 Annual Report to the Nation. Evan is an Eagle Scout and Vigil Honor member of the Wiatava Lodge in the Orange County Council in Costa Mesa, California.
• Tom Fitzgibbon Tom is the Western Region BSA Director. Tom oversees the operations and programs of the BSA in the Western Region. Tom has been serving as Regional Director since 2000. Tom is a member of the Direct Service Lodge and is a past Scout Executive of Denver Area Council
• Mark Hendricks Mark has served as a Lodge and Section Chief before his election as the 2008 Western Region Chief. Mark served on the ArrowCorps5 Icorps staff working and traveling to all five ArrowCorps5 sites. Mark is an Eagle Scout and Vigil Honor Member of the Wa-La-Moot-Kin Lodge in the Blue Mountain Council in Kennewick, Washington.
• Andrew Kuhlman Andrew has served as a Lodge officer and Section Chief. Andrew was the CVC of the Communications Committee at the 2004 NOAC. Andrew is a Eagle Scout and Vigil Honor member of the Kola Lodge in the Longs Peak Council in Greeley, Colorado.
• Bruce Mayfield Bruce has served as a Lodge and Section Adviser. Bruce currently serves as the Area 3 Region OA Vice Chairman and Council Commissioner for the Redwood Empire Council. Bruce is an Eagle Scout and Vigil Honor Member of the Orca Lodge in the Redwood Empire Council.
• Kieran Thompson Kieran has served as a Lodge and Section Chief before his election as the 2006 Western Region Chief. Kieran is an Eagle Scout and Vigil Honor of the Siwinis Lodge in the Los Angeles Area Council in California.
• Jake Wellman Jake has served as a Lodge and Section Chief before his election as the 2008 National OA Chief. Jake represented the OA in 2008 with the BSA Annual Report to the Nation. Jake is an Eagle Scout and Vigil Honor member of the Yah-Tah-Hey-Si-Kess Lodge in the Great Southwest Council in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
• Chad Wolver Chad has served as a Lodge and Section Chief before his election as the 2007
  Western Region Chief. Chad is an Eagle Scout and Vigil Honor member of the Wipala Wiki Lodge inthe Grand Canyon Council in Phoenix, Arizona.
  

Congratulations to all recipients of this prestigious award.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

Quote of the Week- Time Management

Ordinary people think merely of spending time. Great people think of using it.
Author Unknown

Once you have mastered time, you will understand how true it is that most people overestimate what they can accomplish in a year - and underestimate what they can achieve in a decade!
Anthony Robbins

You’re writing the story of your life one moment at a time.
Doc Childre and Howard Martin

This is the beginning of a new day.
God has given me this day to use as I will.
I can waste it or use it for good.
What I do today is important, because
I am exchanging a day of my life for it.
When tomorrow comes,
this day will be gone forever,
leaving in its place something
that I have traded for it.
I want it to be gain, not loss;
good not evil; success not failure;
in order that I shall not regret
the price I paid for it.
Author Unknown

One worthwhile task carried to a successful conclusion is worth half-a-hundred half-finished tasks.
Malcolm S. Forbes

Time is really the only capital that any human being has, and the only thing he can’t afford to lose.
Thomas Edison

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

World Scout loses a Regional Director

Gone home: Kinuthia Murugu, former Africa Regional Director

NAIROBI, 9 July 2009 - The Scout fraternity today woke up to the saddest news of the passing of the former Regional Director for the World Scout Bureau, Africa Regional Office. Maj. (Rtd) Kinuthia Murugu passed away at 3.35 am [GMT +3] at Nairobi Hospital. This untimely and shocking demise is the result of an armed carjacking incident that occurred on 19 June 2009.

Murugu diligently served as the Regional Director for Africa for the World Scout Bureau from 2001 to 2006. At the time of his death, he was Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Sports, in the Government of Kenya. News of his passing comes as a shock to many who knew him. In a message to his friends, relatives and family Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka says that:

“Mr. Kinuthia had performed exemplarily well as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of State for Youth Affairs and lately the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The country has lost a dedicated Public Servant.”The Vice President said he had worked with the late Permanent Secretary for many years in the Scout movement and knew him as a hardworking and focused young leader, who inspired the youth with his leadership qualities and mobilization skills.

As Regional Director, he was instrumental in crafting the landmark blueprint ''Ten Year Development Plan for Africa.'' In line with this plan, he set out to transform Africa into a Scout Region with self-sustaining National Scout Organizations able to contribute to the education of young people and the betterment of African society. In addition, he developed the Jacobs Leadership Project that aimed to equip Scouts with leadership skills. In the area of partnerships, his tenure saw an improvement in the collaboration with other Regions, NSOs and development partners. Projects with the Danish and Norwegian development agencies (DANIDA and NORAD) are a testimony to this observation.

Maj. (Rtd) Murugu had a long and varied engagement with youth organizations and was a major advocate for youth issues in his home country of Kenya. He started Scouting at the Starehe Boys Centre going on to achieve the highest badge for a young person, the Lion Scout Badge, in 1979. He then went on to become a Troop Leader and later a Rover Crew Leader at the University of Nairobi where he graduated with a Degree in Business Administration. Murugu had a strong personal experience and commitment in the development of young people. He also served in a voluntary capacity as an Executive Committee member of the President's Award Scheme, of which he was also a Gold Award holder.

His passing was received with great consternation by many with whom he served the Scout Movement. All in World Scouting grieve his loss and send their condoleances to his family and friends.

May his soul rest in eternal peace.

Please keep his family and friends in your prayers.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

Its official

It is official I have just recently completed my adult leader basic training. Basic training was super easy for me because I have basically lived and breathed scouting for the past 12 years. Basic leader training for the position of Assistant Scoutmaster includes the following three courses:

New Leader Essentials or This is Scout Training

Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster Leader Specific Training

Introduction to outdoor leadership skills

In next couple of posts I will talk about what each course is for those of you who are not familiar with the courses.

I believe that getting trained was a essential part of the adult scouter journey even though I have been in a leadership role in the Boy Scouts since I was 13 years old.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

Journey from JASM to ASM

Well just a little less than a week ago my Troop returned from summer camp on the fourth of july. Summer camp for my Troop was held at our councils primary summer camp facility for Boy Scouts known as Camp Gorsuch. Camp Gorsuch is basically 20 minutes of anchorage, alaska in a little place called chugiak alaska. This camp sits on the Rasmuson Scout Reservation right all Mirror Lake. The camp is relatively small when comparing it to lower 48 Boy Scout summer camps but it suits our council just fine. The Troop had a awesome time their and I think that every scout that went will want to come back next year. The one problem I had was getting the youth to understand that I am know a adult leader in the Troop and need to be treated in a adult like fashion. This is very hard for youth to understand especially when not very long ago I was just one of the boys. The boys really enjoy playful teasing and roughousing so it was sometimes hard for me to establish the boundaries of when it is and is not appropriate to mess around with me. This was hard not only for the boys but for me as well because I want the boys to like me but I also know that I need to grow up some more and take on a full fledged role as a respected adult leader in the Troop.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

2010 Updates

It has been confirmed the price per scout for annual registration exlcuding Boy's Life will be raised to 15 dollars with Boys life the fees required from council will end up be $25 which in truth really is that bad of a price when people compare it to prices of other activities that kids participate in. I know that it comes at a time when the economy is a little unsteady, okay that is a understatement but really is 5 more dollars that much to ask. I want some opinions so lets hear them.

Next lets list the 2010 Rank advancement changes for Boy Scouts which will take effect on January 1, 2010.

2010 Rank Requirement Changes

The centennial edition of the Boy Scout Handbook will soon be available, and with the new handbook come several rank requirement changes that will be in effect as of January 1, 2010.

Tenderfoot

• A Scout must teach another person how to tie a square knot using the EDGE model (explain, demonstrate, guide, and enable). He must also be able to discuss four specific examples of how he lived the points of the Scout Law in his daily life.

Second Class

• A Scout must discuss the principles of Leave No Trace and explain the factors to consider when choosing a patrol site and where to pitch a tent.
• He must explain what respect is due the flag of the United States.
• He must again discuss four examples of how he lived four different points of the Scout Law in his daily life.
• He must earn an amount of money agreed upon by the Scout and his parents and save at least 50 percent of it.

First Class

• An additional requirement to the 10 separate troop/patrol activities states he must demonstrate the principles of Leave No Trace on these outings.
• He must discuss four more examples of how he lived the remaining four points of the Scout Law in his daily life.

Life

• A Scout must use the EDGE model to teach a younger Scout a specified skill.

Star, Life, and Eagle

• Troop Webmaster and Leave No Trace trainer are two new leadership positions.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

Quote of the Week- Strength

A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.
-- Christopher Reeve

It takes more courage to reveal insecurities than to hide them, more strength to relate to people than to dominate them, more 'manhood' to abide by thought-out principles rather than blind reflex. Toughness is in the soul and spirit, not in muscles and an immature mind.
-- Alex Karras

It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength.
-- Maya Angelou

Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power. If you realize that you have enough, you are truly rich.
-- Tao Te Ching

trength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.
-- Arnold Schwarzenegger

The size of your success is measured by the strength of your desire; the size of your dream; and how you handle disappointment along the way.
-- Robert Kiyosaki

We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot.
-- Eleanor Roosevelt

Without the strength to endure the crisis, one will not see the opportunity within. It is within the process of endurance that opportunity reveals itself.
Chin-Ning Chu

There are many qualities that make a great leader. But having strong beliefs, being able to stick with them through popular and unpopular times, is the most important characteristic of a great leader.
Rudy Giuliani

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

Arrowmen in Action

Arrowmen In Action: Living Life To The Fullest

What started out as a great father-son adventure one August morning turned into a quick lesson in emergency preparedness for two Arrowmen last year. Charlie and Hap Stokes, Brotherhood members from Lakeview, Minnesota, were hiking up the 14,259-foot Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado last August when they had to put their Scout skills to use. The two had just completed two weeks at Philmont and were ready to take on a mountain that Hap had wanted to climb since he was a boy. They brought plenty of water, extra clothes and rain gear and even started early enough in the day to reach the peak before the daily thunderstorms hit. “We did everything right,” said Hap of his and his son’s preparations. “But, in this case, it didn’t matter,” he said.

The walk up the mountain was as leisurely as it could be. They stopped to take pictures and admired the well-known scenery along the way. But when they reached to summit of the mountain, the pair noticed dark storm clouds quickly making their way towards the mountain. One of the reasons for making the climb that day was to spread Hap’s dad’s ashes, so they quickly did that, took a few pictures and began their descent back down the mountain. After hiking a little over a mile down the mountain the decided to stop and put rain gear on, something that many of the other hikers on the trail that day chose not to do. A few hundred feet later, they were being pelted by hail and surrounded by lightening. At one point, the hail was hitting so hard that the pair decided to stop with a group of others and seek shelter. "It was hail," Hap told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "I'm bald. It hurt, man. I was getting pelted."

After a while, the father-son pair decided they had to continue down the mountain or risk being sitting ducks in a lightening storm. They led a group of several people down to a shelter and collected other stranded hikers along the way. Once they got to the shelter Charlie and Hap sprang into action, using the skills they had learned in Scouts to help their fellow hikers. “[Scouting] trained us to help those who were less prepared than we were,” said Hap. They emptied their backpacks of the extra clothes and distributed their water. Eventually someone was able to call for help and handed the phone to Hap. The rangers told him that those who could walk down should do so. While Hap encouraged others to leave, he and Charlie stayed behind to help those who couldn’t leave until more help had arrived. Eventually another group of hikers, including two physicians, arrived at the shelter where Hap and Charlie had huddled with others to escape the storm.

The physicians arrived just in time, because Charlie noticed that his dad was starting to experience hypothermia. “He was so busy helping other people he didn’t help himself,” Charlie told the Pioneer Press. Hap credits his son’s leadership abilities with helping to keep him safe. “It was just natural for Charlie to pick up the leadership role,” he said. Charlie immediately ordered his dad off the mountain and the two made it back safely.

For their heroism and actions that day, the pair was awarded the National Medal of Merit at a surprise Court of Honor held by their troop. The honor meant a lot to Hap and Charlie, whose family’s Scouting heritage goes back several generations. Still, Hap credits his action to the training he received as a Scout. “Any number of people are trained to provide service. The real motivation is to just execute that training.”

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

Order of the Arrow HA 2010

What is OA HA you may be wondering? It is Order of the Arrow High Adventure which is a opportunity for arrowmen across the country to visit the National High adventure basess, participate at that base, and then do a service project for that base. So here is the information release statement about the 2010 program:

2010 HIGH ADVENTURE DATES ANNOUNCED – APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE NOW

We are pleased to announce that the 2010 applications for OA Trail Crew, OA Wilderness Voyage and OAWV: Canadian Odyssey, have been posted to the national high adventure website (http://adventure.oa-bsa.org). There will be 9 sessions of each program, including the new Canadian Odyssey Voyage, running from early June through mid-August. The OA Ocean Adventure program is currently in revision to give Arrowmen the opportunity to leave an even greater impact on the areas Sea Base serves, at a lower cost to the participants. Details about the program, as well as the application, will be available later this summer.

Each year the OA's High Adventure programs continue to grow in popularity and have been filled to capacity for four straight years. As such we encourage Arrowmen to apply as soon as possible. For more program information including promotional flyers, videos, participant testimonials, newsletter articles, scholarship form templates, website banners, training syllabi and more, visit the resources section of our website. Past participants can share their OAHA experiences by emailing them to OAHighAdventurePromotions@gmail.com.

For those Arrowmen attending NOAC, we hope to see all past participants and staff members at the OA High Adventure Gathering on Monday August 3rd from 9:30 pm until 10:30 pm at the IU Tennis Center. OA High Adventure will also have informational areas at the Experience, TOAP, and during Founders Day. We look forward to seeing you there.

• OATC: http://adventure.oa-bsa.org/files/applications/2010oatcapp.pdf
• OAWV: http://adventure.oa-bsa.org/files/applications/2010oawvapp.pdf
• OAWV:CO: http://adventure.oa-bsa.org/files/applications/2010oacoapp.pdf
• Resources: http://adventure.oa-bsa.org/index.php?p=resources

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

SIlver BUffalo Awardees

Here are the names of the people who earned the Silver Buffalo Award in 2009. Each awardee will have a link to the profile on National Council's website:

• Kent Clayburn. Click here.
• Randall K Cline. Click here.
• Larry CUnningham. Click here.
• Ronald Migita. Click here.
• Nathan Rosenberg. Click Here.
• James Turley. Click Here.
• CHarles Walneck. Click Here.
• Lance Wickman. Click Here.
• THomas Buffenbarger. Click Here.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

2 Million Eagle Scouts

Here is the story from Scouting.org about the 2 millionth Eagle Scout:

Anthony Thomas to Represent 97 Years of Scouting Tradition and Honor, Serve as Youth Representative at BSA 100th Anniversary Events

Anthony Thomas, Lakeville, Minn.

View the Value of Scouting story.

MINNEAPOLIS – June 17, 2009 – To describe one Minnesota teenager as "one in a million" is an understatement – by half. The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) today announced that Anthony Thomas, 16, of Lakeville, Minn., has been named the 2 millionth Eagle Scout since the first Eagle badge was awarded in 1912.

Eagle Scout is the highest attainable rank in Boy Scouting and requires years of dedication and hard work. Scouts must demonstrate proficiency in leadership, service, and outdoor skills at multiple levels before achieving the Eagle rank. Fewer than 5 percent of Boy Scouts earn the Eagle badge.

Anthony, who will be a junior at Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield, Minn., has been involved in Scouting since age 7. A member of the Northern Star Council's Troop 471 at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Burnsville, Minn., he credits Scouting for his love of the outdoors and commitment to service. Adopted from Korea, Anthony volunteers as a counselor to Korean adoptees at Camp Choson. He also is active in his church and recently lettered in Service at his school. Anthony will spend part of his summer in New Orleans to help with ongoing cleanup work from Hurricane Katrina.

"Anthony represents everything that the Eagle badge stands for: character, integrity, leadership, and service to others," said Bob Mazzuca, Chief Scout Executive, Boy Scouts of America. "It is fitting that we honor the 2 millionth Eagle as we prepare to celebrate 100 years of service to the nation."

As the 2 millionth Eagle Scout, Anthony will serve as a youth ambassador for Scouting by participating in upcoming BSA's 100th Anniversary events such as the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif.; the BSA's annual Report to the Nation in Washington, D.C.; and the National Scout Jamboree in 2010.

"I'm honored and humbled to be selected as the 2 millionth Eagle Scout," Anthony said. "The Eagle rank represents excellence and leadership at every stage of life, and I will do my best to honor those Eagles who have come before me and to encourage other Scouts to pursue the Eagle Award."

In addition to the 21 merit badges required to earn Eagle rank, each Scout must complete an extensive service project that he plans, organizes, leads, and manages before his 18th birthday. For his project, Anthony designed and constructed devices to help train service dogs for Helping Paws of Minnesota, which provides dogs for disabled persons to further their independence. A key component of his project was to raise awareness for the organization and its mission. He accomplished this by arranging a service dog demonstration for his troop and coordinating a kick-off drive to encourage his fellow Scouts to earn their Disabilities Awareness merit badge.

Anthony’s parents, Jim and Cheryl Thomas, are active Scouting volunteers. Anthony also has a younger sister, Allison. In addition to Scouting, Anthony enjoys snowboarding, track, soccer, and playing the guitar.

"The fellowship of Eagles celebrates the milestone of the 2 millionth Eagle Scout," said Glenn Adams, president of the National Eagle Scout Association. "Each Eagle represents a life of service to others and to the communities where Eagles live and work. We congratulate Anthony Thomas and look forward to working with him to help encourage other Scouts to pursue their Eagle."

About the Boy Scouts of America
Serving nearly 4.1 million young people between the ages of 7 and 20 with more than 300 local councils throughout the United States and its territories, the Boy Scouts of America is the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. For more information on the Boy Scouts of America, please visit www.scouting.org.

###

Facts about Eagle Scouts

• The first Eagle badge was awarded in 1912.
• Fewer than 5 percent of all Boy Scouts earn the Eagle rank.
• The 1 millionth Eagle Scout milestone was reached in 1982.
• In 2008, a record-high 52,025 Scouts earned the Eagle badge.
• In 2008, Eagle Scout service projects provided $16 million in service to communities across the nation (based on national volunteer hour value of $19.51).

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

Arrowmen in Action

Arrowmen In Action: Living Life To The Fullest

For many Arrowmen, giving back to the community means picking and completing one project or working closely with a few groups. But for Russell Harrison—an Eagle Scout and Arrowman from Colonneh Lodge in Houston, Texas—giving back means helping many groups with a variety of tasks both big and small. “Being a community volunteer is part of Russell’s life whether it is through scouting or on his own,” says his mother, Susan Harrison.

When Russell is not taking part in troop activities or working with his chapter’s drum and singing team, he is helping elsewhere around the community. A few things he does includes volunteering with Kindergarteners at a local school, working the sound board for his church and taking part in conservation projects to encourage recycling. “These activities he has participated in have grown into an impressive array of support he has shown for thousands,” his mother said. Some of Russell’s favorite volunteer activities include working on the George Ranch, a living history museum, where he can work in the blacksmith shop, the Stock farm or the sharecropper farm. His interest in history has also led him to work with the local railroad museum. He spends so much time that some of their promotional material even features his picture.

His mother says that his motivation comes from his faith. “Russell’s faith is a very big part of his life.” He is active in the youth group at St. John’s United Methodist Church where he helps take food to elderly church members, makes care packages for the homeless and helps host the vacation Bible school, among other things.

Despite his involvement in scouts and his commitment to many other organizations, Russell still uses the power of one to give back to his community…how can you use it to help others?

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

Quote of the Week- Effort

The one thing that matters is the effort. It continues, whereas the end to be attained is but an illusion of the climber, as he fares on and on from crest to crest; and once the goal is reached it has no meaning. ~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Wisdom of the Sands, translated from French by Stuart Gilbert


I've got a theory that if you give 100 percent all of the time, somehow things will work out in the end. ~Larry Bird


The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary. ~Attributed to both Vidal Sassoon and Donald Kendall

Some people dream of success... while others wake up and work hard at it. ~Author Unknown


If a man is called a streetsweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and Earth will pause to say, Here lived a great streetsweeper who did his job well. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.


People know you for what you've done, not for what you plan to do. ~Author Unknown

Success is a ladder you cannot climb with your hands in your pockets. ~American Proverb

Many people think they want things, but they don't really have the strength, the discipline. They are weak. I believe that you get what you want if you want it badly enough. ~Sophia Loren

Be not afraid of going slowly; be afraid only of standing still. ~Chinese Proverb

If you can do a half-assed job of anything, you're a one-eyed man in a kingdom of the blind. ~Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

Just a Little Effort

One of the things that i keep getting complaints about in my Troop is how the adult leaders are always nagging the youth leaders to get something done. I guess in part it is the adults fault because we should be reminding youth leaders of the jobs in more polite ways but after a while the politeness needs to end and we need to get down to the serious side of things that is all we are trying to acomplish. The other part to this problem is that we have youth leaders who think that the adults are there to do everything for them and I mean everything this is not okay and is not suppose to happen in a Boy Scout Troop. So if you have a troop like this sit down with the other adults and try to come up with a solution. If your own Troop's resources can't come up with a solution then get others involved.

I guess the point I am trying to make is that if the scouts would be willing to put fourth a little effort then the adults would be more willing to get off their backs and let them breathe a little easier.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

World Scout Moot Expedition 5: MIRITINI SCOUTS CENTRE -MOMBASA CITY

Mombasa city is the second largest city in Kenya and one of the Africa’s major tourist destinations with some of the best beaches in the world. It is located in Kenya’s Eastern coastline bordering the Indian Ocean. Mombasa is popular for its exotic beaches, diverse marine life, wild class hotels and friendly people. Mombasa is the most diverse town in all of Kenya .Kenyans of all ethnic backgrounds and religions can be found here: native blacks, Asian, Arabs who are Muslim, Christians Hindu and Buddhists. You can get to Mombasa by Bus around 8 hours drive, by air around 45 minutes flight or take 8 hours train. Moot participants will be ferried to Miritini either by bus or by train. Participants will be based at The Miritini Scouts Centre which is a 16 acres piece of beautiful land at the coastal strip. It is approximately 20 minutes drive from the Central Business District .The campsite can host about 2000 campers at any one given time. There is a small forest area suitable for meditation and retreat and the campsite is in a village set up and a diverse cultural neighborhood. There are green toilets and this is the targeted area for the Harambee Costa project where Italian scouts and German scout have on past occasions taken part in the work camps. The project is ongoing .The place is well secure and has a very friendly neighborhood and its becoming a magnificent scout centre that will host both local and international tourists.

Other activities will include:

• Deep sea( Scuba) diving
• Matatu ride
• Fort Jesus Visit
• Visit to Hallal Park ( Mamba Village)
• Taarab dances
• Kaya culture
• Energy saving Jikos
• Tree planting
• Community Service at Mombasa home for for the deaf & Miritini pri. School
• Refurbishing the training halls
• Introduce or learn a new game
• Radio Scouting

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

WOrld Scout Moot Expedition 4: MACHAKOS SCOUT CAMP

Machakos Scout camp is situated on a 10 acre piece of land .It has modern toilets and bathrooms and has a roof catchment natural rainwater .It is next to a prayer centre suitable for all religions .The security is perfect as it is next to a Administration police camp and because of the hilly terrain the place is excellent for expedition and hikes. It is easily accessible from Machakos town which is only 2 kilometers away from the Central Business District .It is also near the Machakos District hospital for any emergencies. Machakos town is 64 kilometers from Nairobi city and is the capital of Machakos District in Eastern province of Kenya. During the MOOT transport will be organized from Rowallan National camp to Machakos scouts camp. There is a place in one of the surrounding hills famous for ‘’Water flowing against gravity ‘’ it will be one of the fun activities for participants who will chose this centre among various other activities.

Machakos is one of the towns known to cater for the PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED and impaired people. Scouts have gone a long way in this aspect and in the department of Extension Scouts Programme by having affiliations to centers such as Machakos institute for the blind among others. The activities for Machakos are listed below, kindly study them carefully to enable you decide on this centre.

Other activities will include:

• Rock climbing at Lukenya
• Hike to Mua hills
• Wamunyu handicrafts
• Exprt Processing Zone (EPZ) Visit
• Cottage industry ( Juakali informal sector)
• Energy saving Jikos
• Tree planting
• Community Service at Machakos children’s home
• Construction Trainers’ cubicles ( 10)
• Introduce or learn a new game
• Kilunda dances/ Traditional dancers
• Radio Scouting

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

World Scout Moot Expedition 3: SIAYA SCOUT CENTER

Siaya Scout center is situated on 2 acre piece of land and is very suitable for camping .The place is next to the Municipals stadium and a police station, hence this makes it to be very safe .The hospitals nearby are Siaya District Hospital and Nyanza Provincial Hospital .You can easily access Lake Victoria From the centre and the place has the best preschool in the District. It has a hostel facility with 8 rooms with a bed capacity of 32 persons. Nyandiwa can also be accessed from the centre, this is where we have one of the major projects by the Italian and Kenya Scouts. The place has a Teachers training College and an Irrigation project with the community. Scouts will have the opportunity to do fishing in Lake Victoria among other listed activities. Siaya is one of the twelve Districts that make up Nyanza province in the western part of Kenya. Nyangoma Kogelo also known as Kogelo village in Siaya is located near the equator, 60 kilometers (37mi) west –northwest of Kisumu, the provincial capital.

OBAMA FAME
Since 2006, the village received international attention, since it’s the hometown of Barrack Obama sr. the father of the current United States president BARRACK OBAMA, Sarah Obama, the paternal grandmother and some of their family members still live in the village. Scouts who chose this centre will get a chance to visit the home among various other activities.
The activities for Siaya are listed below, kindly study them carefully to enable you decide on this centre.

• Expedition in the Equatorial Forest
• Bike Hike
• Harvesting of Water Hyacinth on L. Victoria
• Visit to Obama’s home
• Visit to Kisumu Museum
• Bull fighting
• Energy saving Jikos
• Tree Planting
• Construction of a nursery school classroom
• Community Service at Maranda school for the physically challenged
• Introduce or learn a new game Ohangla dances
• Ajua•

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

World Scout Moot Expedition 2: KAIYABA SCOUT CENTRE -NYERI TOWN

Moot participants will camp at the Kaiyaba Scouts Centre which is situated slightly before you reach Nyeri town. This is a three acre piece of land that can accommodate 1000 campers at any one given time It is one of the newest and most beautiful campsites in Kenya and participants who will chose here will leave an impact to it .Mode of transport is only by road. Nyeri town is a town in central province of Kenya and the administrative headquarters of the country’s Central Province and Nyeri district. The town is situated about 150 kilometers north of the Capital of Nairobi (About 2 hours drive). A number of renowned people have hailed from Nyeri most notably Mwai Kibaki who is the current Kenyan president and patron of Kenya Scout, Nobel peace prize winner wangari Maathai and Catherine Ndereba who is a multiple winner of various marathon races in the world. Nyeri is also the burial place of LORD BADEN POWEL OF GILWELL, the founder of the worldwide fraternity of the scout movement .He and his wife LADY OLIVE POWELL were buried in the same grave in pax tu cottage now a small museum that stands at the grounds of Outspan hotel.

The activities for Nyeri are listed below, kindly study them carefully to enable you decide on this centre.

Activities will include

• Mt. Kenya climb
• White water rafting
• Visit to Treetops( Aderdares National Park)
• Visit to BP’s Grave site and Paxtu
• Visit to Agikuyu Village
• Energy saving Jikos
• Tree Planting
• Community Service at Nyeri Childreb rescue centre
• Construction of Toilet block at the BP park
• Introduce or learn a new game
• Mugiithi/ one man guiter

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

World Scout Moot Expedition 1: ROWALLAN NATIONAL CAMP-NAIROBI

The Rowallan National camp in situated in Nairobi city about 20 minutes drive from the Central Business District .This is where THE WORLD SCOUT BUREAU –AFRICA REGIONAL OFFICE, KENYA SCOUT ASSOCIATION HEAD QUARTERS and THE DEPORT (where we have team building activities being carried out) are located. The beauty of Rowallan camp is in the caves, hike routes, bird watching, friendly monkeys and baboons on site, seasonal river and Ngong sanctuary where we have the most indigenous flora in Kenya. The campsite area occupies a 30 acre piece of land leaving a 60 acre piece of land with a natural forest. The campsites have good running water taps, good toilets and bathrooms, modern swimming pool with excellent facilities, friendship corner where campers can have informal meetings in a good atmosphere, campsite kitchens and a large arena for all outdoor activities. There is also a big conference hall that is also suitable for indoor games, dormitories and Bandas (Small cubicles) for accommodating both large and small groups. Nairobi is the capital city and the largest town in Kenya.

All participants will assemble at the Rowallan camp and after the opening ceremony they will depart to the different expedition centers namely Machakos, Nyeri, Mombasa and Siaya for four days. The remaining days will be spent at the Rowallan camp. This is also an expedition centre and will be Main moot venue after all participants are back from the other expedition centers.

Activities at Rowallan Scout camp in Nairobi will include

* Matatu ride (amazing race)
* Expedition at Hell’s gate
* Nairobi Museum visit
* Nairobi Safari walk
* Maasai village(Boma)
* Energy saving Jikos
* Tree planting
* Community service at St. John’s church Pumwani
* Construction of Trainers’ cubicles ( !0)
* Introduce or learn a new game
* Karaoke night
* Radio Scouting

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08

World Scout Moot 2010 Basics

The World Organization of Scout Movement [WOSM] honored The Kenya Scouts Association to host the 13th World Scout Moot from 27th July to 7th August 2010 on behalf of Africa Scout Region. The Fee for this event will be approximately $600 plus airfare. The Kenya Scouts Association is the largest youth movement in Kenya with over 300,000 scouts and over 20,000 scout leaders. The World Scout Moot is a gathering of young adults aged 19 – 26 years who come together to share experiences and participate in offering of service to communities. If you are older you can attend as IST [International Service Team] staff member. The World Scout Moot is held every four years and has been held twelve times before, the last one was held in Hwalien, Taiwan China in 2004 This event is the first Scout Moot to be held in Africa therefore making it a very special occasion for the whole continent. The event will draw 3000 participants from all over the world. The overall purpose of Rover Moot is to discharge service to their communities. Though it is done in the camping setting, the participants will spend most of their time doing services that respond to the contemporary needs.

Yours in Scouting Service
Mark W
Assistant Scoutmaster
Troop 1616
Great Alaska COuncil
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Member
NSJ '05 WSJ '07 '11 Philmont AA '08