Extreme Service Project – Blackhawk Area Council Anniversary Event

Last Saturday was the date of the Extreme Service Project conducted by the Order of the Arrow, Walupeju Lodge chapters as one of our council 100^th anniversary events.  Since community service is a big part of the Boy Scouts of America it made sense that one of our anniversary events would be a day of community service.  There were five different locations where local OA chapters arranged for service projects.  In White Eagle District, the Mawat Chapter organized a group to work on the perimeter trail around Camp Lowden.

In Wetassa District, the Wetassa Chapter organized a clean up of Krape Park in Freeport.

In Wanchanagi District, the Gokos Chapter organized a clean up of Klehn Aboretum in Rockford.

In Sycamore District, the Kishwaukee Chapter organized two projects, one at Marengo Woods and the other at The Hollows, both McHenry County Conservation District sites.

All together there were hundreds of scouts and their families that came out to help with the projects.

Patches commemorating the event are available for order, please contact me directly if you would like to have some ordered for your unit.

I also had an event flag that traveled to each site and was signed by participants.  If you did not get a chance to sign the flag and want to borrow it for a unit, district, or chapter event contact me and we can arrange for you to borrow the flag.

Adventue Base 100, Boeger Lodge, White Eagle and Wanchanagi Dinners

We've had a lot going on this week.  Monday I was at the Chicago Area Council offices with Steve James working on Adventure Base 100.  Blackhawk Area Council will be supporting AB100 on May 1 from 10:00 A.M. until 3:00 P.M.  We still have a few seats left on the staff bus if anyone would like to help out.
On Tuesday I was at the Sycamore District Commissioners meeting.  Seems like I've had a lot of conflicts with that meeting lately but we had a good discussion and Blair is doing a great job as our District Commissioner.
On Wednesday I met with Steve James and Bill Mugnai to plan out what we'll be doing with the stage show during AB100.  We have the stage during our time on May 1 to do whatever we would like.  So if your unit is coming out and would like to do something special let one of us know.
Thursday I had to miss roundtable for a meeting in Rockford relating to the Fredj donation.  For those that may not recognize this, the Fredj's left a very generous fund that generates revenues for use at our camps.  We were discussion plans as to how to best utilize those funds.  In the coming years you'll see a lot more about the effects this will have improving our camps.
On Saturday it was an early start out to Camp Lowden for an 8:00 A.M. start to work day.  It was a chilly 50 degrees when I got out of the car but you could tell it was going to warm up fast.  There was a good turn out and a number of projects were worked on.  Some of our typical start up things like getting the water on and other projects like putting a porch on the rangers house.  I was assigned to put up shelving that we got from the central region in the basement of the Wienke Handicraft Lodge.  With the help of Ed Allen and Marty Mosca all of the shelving was put up which should help organize the storage.

I left Ed and Marty to finish up as we had the Open House for the Boeger Leadership Lodge.  We had a very good turn out for the open house.  A lot of people drove out to tour the building and visit with Jim and Karen.

Dave Savone got the plaque mounted but I forgot to get a picture.  I'll get that next time.  Special thanks to Carol's family for all of the decorations and food.  They were a big help.

Then it was off to the White Eagle District Dinner in Sterling.  The dinners are a favorite of mine because I get to participate in their celebration of the past year's achievements as well as catch up with old friends and meet new volunteers.  Don Rastedi, one of my Wood Badge troop members, took over the emceeing job for an ailing Jim Pepper and did a great job.

The only down side is that when I get home, about 11:30 P.M, I'm too pumped to sleep.

Sunday was back in the car.  First stop was an ceremony for one of our newest Eagle Scouts, Jeff B.  I've know Jeff's family through scouting for many years and it was an honor to be asked to participate in the ceremony.

Then it was off to Rockford for the Wanchanagi District Dinner and the opportunity to visit with the scouters there.  They had a fantastic year under the direction of District Chairman, Jim Behrensmeyer, another of my Wood Badge participants, and District Commissioner Jerry Coots.

Tomorrow we start again.

February 6 & 7, 2010

It's finally here, the start of Scout Week 2010.  Saturday morning I was in Sycamore District helping with the Tiger Time event.  This is a great activity just for Tigers and their adult partners.  They have a variety of activities and a picnic lunch.  I enjoy this one a lot, this is the 12th year I've helped with the activity.

After Tiger Time I made my way to Machnesy Park for the lighting of the Wanchanagi District Continuous Fire.  The fire is a tradition in the area being lit the Saturday at the beginning of Scout Week and burning until the Saturday at the end of Scout Week.  All the local troops take turns maintaining the fire.

On Scout Sunday I attended the awards ceremony in Rockford for the Catholic scouts that had earned their religious award.  It was held at The Cathedral of St. Peter and presided over by Bishop Doran.

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.