US Mint Reveals BSA Silver Dollar Commemorative Coin Designs

New designs were released for the upcoming BSA Centennial Dollar.

US Mint Reveals BSA Silver Dollar Commemorative Coin Designs

National Hall of Leadership Deadline Approaching

The National Hall of Leadership deadline for nominations is approaching, Feb. 8.  We have had some submissions by not nearly enough when you consider the number of active people in our council.  If you have a story of how someone demonstrated leadership please share the story by going to the website at  ww2.scouting.org/100years/100years/NationalHallofLeadership.aspx and submit a nomination for that person.  We only have until Feb. 4.

Modifications to the Cub Scout Program are coming in 2010

The Cub Scout program is being updated for 2010.  For some early information check out http://www.scouting.org/cubscouts2010.aspx.

Catching Up, Part 2

Sunday, Nov. 15th the morning was spent cleaning and working on the electronics ...

then off to the Wayne Brooks Roast, our recently retired professional. It was a great dinner put on by the volunteers of White Eagle District.

The Executive Committee meeting met on Thursday, Nov. 19 and on Friday it was back out to the Boeger Leadership Lodge. On Thursday Dave had to make some modifications to the slot in the ceiling for the screen and the Great Room had a lot of construction debris. So Mary, Ed and I spent 12 hours cleaning and working down the punch list.

The good part was that Chef Joe Zaranski was there getting ready for Saturday and wipped up a dinner for us that helped re-energize us to get done with setting up everything.

Catching Up, Part 1

Its been a busy month.  I finally have a day off and a chance to catch-up before I need to rake the leaves. 

On Oct. 26 we had a Boeger Leadership Committee meeting to discuss what was needed before the dedication and the dedication agenda.  There was still a great deal of small items to be taken care of before Nov. 21.

Oct. 27 was a breakfast planning meeting for the McHenry County Distinguished Citizens Dinner and getting in a Silver Beaver Nomination by the end of the day.  It's important to get those nominations turned in.  There are many deserving people that don't receive the award simply because no one nominated them.

On Oct. 29th the first of the big deliveries to the Boeger Lodge occurred with the chairs showing up.

On Nov. 1st we were out working on the electronics for the building ...

and the cornices.

The next day the beds arrived.

Nov. 4th was the McHenry County Distinguished Citizens Dinner.  The event went very well and provided some much needed support for the council.  Marty Smith and his committee did a great job of organizing what is becoming one of the premier events in McHenry County.

Nov. 7th was the Next Step training event.  This is a smorgasbord of training providing everything from Cub Scout through Venturing and some district and council training.  It also included training for venturing youth (VLSC) and Den Chiefs.  An added feature was the ability to use the computer lab to do any of the on-line trainings that the BSA offers.  There was a big turn out and Chuck and Don did a great job of organizing everything.

The Jamboree Troops were also meeting to plan for their trip next summer.

After that it was back to the Boeger Lodge with another load of supplies.  The beds had been assembled and signs were starting to go up.

The following day was another work day at the Boeger Lodge.  Curtains were up, new furniture arrived, and we had a deer head donated.  We had our final meeting before the dedication.

Tuesday, Nov. 10 I had lunch at the National Philanthropy Day Awards Banquet where Jim Boeger was honored as Philanthropist of the Year.

Then it was back to the Boeger Lodge that evening working on more of the final details including putting together the shelving in the pantry.  The new doors had been mounted that day.

Friday the 13th was spent in the morning sorting popcorn for Michele with about 25 other volunteers.  That many people made the work go quickly.

Then Ed and I picked up a load of mattresses to take out to the Boeger Lodge to test the fit and to get the Great Room cleaned for the dedication.

On Saturday Ed and I rented a truck and picked up the other 40 mattresses to take to the Boeger Lodge.

We spent the rest of the day on the punch list items like hanging the privacy curtains in the bunk room showers.

See Part 2 for the rest.

Office Makeover Contest

Thank you to everyone who voted for Blackhawk Area Council in the RKDixon office makeover contest.  We were selected for the second place $10,000 award.

Last Day to Vote

FINAL DAY! ... Today is the last day in the contest to win a $20,000 office make over for Blackhawk Area Council.  Make sure you vote today before 5:00pm.

www.rkdixon.com/MMMPRB_2009/Top5_BoyScouts.asp

Vote for Blackhawk Area Council

Blackhawk Area Council is in the finals of a contest being conducted by RK Dixon to supply a $20,000 technology makeover. Please vote by selecting Blackhawk Area Council, scroll to the bottom of the page and select the "vote" button. You can vote once per day per computer, cell phone, WiFi device, or anything that access the internet.  Be sure to vote every day between now and Nov. 16.

http://www.rkdixon.com/MMNPRB_2009/vote.asp

Wetassa Camporee, Boeger Lodge, Eagle Project

Its always something. Last week the power supply on my computer went out and of course an exact match was not available so I had to adapt what they had and finally got back on line this week.

So back to a couple of weeks ago, we had our monthly Anniversary steering committee meeting on Oct. 17. Things are coming along and we should have some very exciting events for the council next year.

The afternoon was spent helping Riley, one of my Life scouts, work on his Eagle project for Troop 152. The project was clearing brush/undergrowth from the forested area between the church and school. We worked until dark and then he had additional help finish up the following day. Now I just need the workbook completed.

Sunday I got an early start as I was determined to finish the chandeliers for the Boeger Leadership Lodge and deliver them to camp. Mary and I made it out to camp before dark and dropped off the chandeliers and a few remaining lights needed for the interior.

Hand crafted partitions were installed in the bathrooms. They really look sharp.

Wednesday that week was the Distinguished Citizens Luncheon in Rockford where we presented the Champion of Youth award to Gordon Eggers, Crusader Community Health Clinic, and Diane Stout, Executive Director of Circles of Learning. Both are very deserving recipients for their support of youth in our community.

October 24 was an early day with a trip to Canyon Camp to visit with the scouts from Wetassa District at their camporee. I missed the activities as they were starting after lunch so their scouts could participate in the merit badge midway being conducted in Arrowhead. They looked to have some pretty neat activities. I'd like to see some pictures. One event was a stretcher obstacle course that looked like it would be a lot of fun.

Since the activities were held later, several of us took a hike up the hill and around the campsite area to check out the terrain. We found one of the geocaches that Mike Condon put out last summer. I'm not sure if finding it by accident counts?

The next stop was the Boeger Leadership Lodge to drop off mattress covers and check out the electricians work installing the chandeliers. The electrician did a good job but there were a couple of places I wanted to touch up.

That would have to wait because I was already behind and wanted to stop at my troop's annual Webelos campout. It's a great one because the food is fantastic with several turkeys and hams on the menu. Unfortunately I couldn't stay because I had to make it to Penny's to pick up a large bedding order for the Boeger Leadership Lodge.

So Sunday was a trip back out to the Boeger Leadership Lodge to drop off a car load of bedding and do the touch up on the chandeliers. The painters were there and had painted the chimney.

Service Center Makeover

Please consider voting for Blackhawk Area Council in the contest below. If we win we will get a $20,000 makeover for the Council office. That will enable more Council funds to be used for Scouting programs!

You can vote once a day between today and next Monday, October 26th..

Here is a quick link if you don’t want to wade through the email below.

http://www.rkdixon.com/MMNPRB_2009/vote.asp

Rockford man's train passion leads to book - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Rockford man's train passion leads to book - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

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October 12, 2009

Wow, I can't believe it has been three weeks since I last updated the blog. I've been so busy getting the chandeliers done for the Boeger Leadership Lodge in my spare time its taken away from my updates. Anyway here's some of the latest.

Work continues on the Boeger Leadership Lodge with the tile and wood floors being completed.

The kitchen equipment was installed last week.

And the lights are progressing.

Which is good because we are now generating power with our solar cells.

I was out at Canyon Camp to visit with representatives from the Natural Land Institute and the DNR about the Wiley property that the NLI recently acquired. We took a tour of Canyon Camp as a part of the meeting.

The weekend before last was the Sycamore District Camporee. It was a different event in that most of the competition was held at night with activities like the rifle and archery ranges and climbing wall were open during the day. Congratulations to Troop 152 who won the competition and Troop 456 that won the spirit award.

Last weekend was a trip to Kansas City with Dave Savone, Dan Banko, and Mike Condon to the Wood Badge Course Directors Conference. I was asked by Dave to help staff the course.

Somewhere in there was a day in the kitchen for the second weekend of the Wood Badge course.