Section SR6 Planning

Our leadership from Section SR6 met over the weekend down at Boxwell Reservation, outside of Nashville, Tennessee to start the motions for all of the business at hand. One Day of Service, Quality Lodge assistance, Conclave, and more.

Court of Honor

Click here for Alex Hill's Picture Gallery.

Memorial Day

Watts Wedding

Todd Watts, Eagle Scout, Vigil Honor member, former Lodge Chief,
long time Staffer at McKee, and a good friend got married today.

Like all good Scouts that grow up and get hitched, there was a patch!

Worldly Belt

I don't know is this leather Order of the Arrow belt and buckle are new or not, but I just noticed it in the printed "Spring/Summer 2009" BSA catalog.

Most of the other Scouting Associations from all over the world use this style of belt.

2009 NOAC Threads

Delegate Flap

2 Piece Set

Circle Complete

Troop 12's Court of Honor awards have arrived and one of my favorites is the 2009 "Good Turn for America" segments. This is the last and final piece to the puzzle.

When Troop 12 started back in 2004, this little patch looked kind of empty. Now that we have successfully served over the years, the circle is complete.

If you aren't serving, then you are swerving, and you had better get it straighten out!

UK Scouting

Our fellow Scouts across the pond have a new Chief Scout in the United Kingdom. Bear Grylls from the Discovery Channel show "Man vs Wild" has accepted the appointment and will lead and inspire their organization.

I've always liked his show and his attitude. A terrific outdoorsman who will go anywhere and eat just about anything.

A good choice in my opinion!

Spring Ordeal

The transition from feathers to turbans began this weekend.

Nontraditional Indian games were played by many.

The new look, looks great!

Mac Hall was 1 of 10 to receive their Brotherhood.

Kawida finally has a dance team and they are awesome!

39 new Ordeal members, along with the Midland Trail District, helped set up camp and had a wonderful weekend. God has truly blessed us all.

Hornaday Award

Elvis The Boy Scout

If Elvis Presley is the King of Rock and Roll, then Elvis Thompson is the King of Scouting Spirit here in the Lonesome Pine.

Have you ever wondered where our great "Scouting Spirit" came from here in the Hills? Let me tell you. It came from Elvis.

We buried a Scouting great today. Dr. Elvis R. Thompson from Pikeville.

Elvis was the driving force in bridging the gap between the old Lonesome Pine Council and the Blue Grass Council way back in 1979. It was a tough time. We had lost our Council and were being made to join the Lexington bunch and their camp up in Mount Sterling. To twist the knife even more, they were selling Camp Shawnee. Many bad feelings around here at the time.

The one shining hope and cheerleader for "Let's join and be a part of the Blue Grass and Camp McKee" was Elvis and his late wife Margy. They both received the Silver Beaver in 1982 for their efforts.

He did everything. Den Leader, Cubmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster, Assistant District Commissioner, Cub Scout Roundtable Commissioner, Executive Board member, Vigil Honor member, and father of 2 Eagle Scouts.

Time heals all wounds, but I am proud to have known and worked with one of the GREATS from here in the mountains: Elvis Thompson.

His spirit carries on still today in all of us.

Arts & Hobbies

Venture Crew 12 worked on a couple of requirements for the Arts & Hobbies Bronze award this afternoon. A golf lesson out at the Green Meadows Country Club, a visit to the local hobby shop- PAGE 3, an ice cream run, and then a full Venturing meeting.

Venturing all over the place today!

Learning the proper technique.

Learning the intricacies of the hobby business.

Knowing that ice cream is good. Welcome to Venturing!

Shepherd Eagle Ceremony

If Troop 12 goes camping on a weekend, it will rain. If Troop 12 holds a double Eagle Scout Ceremony, eastern Kentucky will flood!

Tonight, it was an honor to be a part of Michael and Aaron Shepherd's Eagle Ceremony. A large crowd of Scouts, Scouters, friends, and family joined to watch these two fine young men receive the highest award in Scouting. Both reached this lofty goal in similar, and yet different ways.

Congratulations to Michael and Aaron Shepherd. Troop 12's 9th and 10th Eagle Scouts so far.

There isn't enough paper to record what these guys have done.

A behind the scene view of the passing of the recipe.

The famous Shepherd smoked BBQ ribs and turkey were a big hit.

A little "District Love".

Aaron and Micheal have made it to the top.

NOAC Patches

If you go to eBay and search 2009 NOAC, you will find a bunch of cool stuff that is a preview of what you will see this summer.

Check out the already sold or completed items. Some stuff is going for big money.

I like this Gila Lodge 378 set from El Paso, Texas that has a 5 piece set of camouflaged lizards.

So how do you trade for a set of 5 lizards?

1 of our 2 piece sets and a cold Ale 8?!!

NOAC will be fun this summer and I can hardly wait.

Devin Porter's Eagle Project

Devin Porter did the first part of his Eagle Scout Project today with a 5K run to raise some money for the United Methodist Committee On Relief. A good crowd of walkers and runners showed up at the City Park. Assisting them were the Scouts from Troop 12. Devin did a great job of organizing and directing the event and everything went well. The funds raised will now go for everyday relief kits that will be purchased, assembled, and mailed out.

Wonderful idea for an Eagle Scout Project!

Getting organized.

These guys worked the half way point.

Getting ready to blast off.

I like a project that brings a community together.