Good for Drake!

Everyone who knew him in the past, knew that the military was his calling.

May 2016 Ordeal

Congratulations to C.J. Tackett for keeping the Vigil.

Load it up.

Set it up.

3 new Brotherhood members.

Huge Ordeal class with only 3 adults.

I have taken this picture before!

Lodge Business Meeting in progress.

A Scout is Reverent.

The Dark Side of Scouting

I wish that all of Scouting would be fun and ran like a well oiled machine.  Sometimes it doesn't.

Our Blue Grass Council is at a crossroads.  As an organization of volunteers, Chartered Organizations, youth members, parents, and everyone else who supports Scouting from 55 counties here in Kentucky, we currently have 12 adult volunteers who serve as our Executive Committee.

1.  Dr. Bill Greisner, III

2.  Ernie Sammons

3.  Dan Miller

4.  Mary Quinn Ramer

5.  Alex Waldrop

6.  Buzz Carmichael

7.  Don Combs, III

8.  John Gilbert

9.  Larry Lowe

10.  Steve Ritter

11.  Russ Tucker

12.  Dr. Billy Forbess

To put a very long and tangled story short, there are 2 sides.  One side has formed an alliance and wants to merge with the Lincoln Heritage Council in Louisville, the other side does not want to do that.  Both sides have valid points and strong arguments.  Both sides want to do what is best for our youth.

Currently, it seems our Executive Committee members 1-6 want to merge.  Members 7-12 do not.  That is a tie and it will take a majority to pass.  If it passes, then there will be a vote by the Executive Board to finally determine whether the Blue Grass council stays "Blue" or not.

I would like to remind everyone that when the Lonesome Pine Council merged with the Blue Grass Council in 1979, there were many promises made to us.  #1 that they wouldn't sell Camp Shawnee and #2 that we would be provided a District Executive as soon as the merger was approved.  We did not get a D.E. until 1982 and they sold Camp Shawnee in 1984.  The point is that promises are like good intentions.

If we do merge into 1 Council, there will only be 1 O.A. lodge and will end the great history of Kawida Lodge #480.  The future of Camp McKee is very cloudy.  The other side of the coin, would provide us with a better organization and debt reduction.

"May the Great Scoutmaster of All Scouts" be with these 12 adult volunteers this week, for they are the first step in the future of what we all do and love.

It Looks Good on a Resume

I've been very fortunate to be a part of a large number of Eagle Scout Board of Reviews.  I love all of the questions and especially the answers from the Scouts.

One question that always seems to come up and it is a good one.  "Why do you want to be an Eagle Scout?"  "It looks good on a resume" is a very common reply.  So now, as an adult you have to ask more questions and dig a little deeper.  They all know the answer; sometimes you just have to drag it out of them.  

Thankfully, a lot of employers know the answer too.

Please read this article from a recent 'Scouting Magazine'.

My son Will, who is an Eagle Scout, graduated from college on Saturday and stated working here on Sunday in Lexington, KY.

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It does look good on a resume.  Thank you Bill Marriott for reminding us why!

Arrow Of Light Knot NOT!!!!

I was a Cub Scout in Pack 258 in Bardstown, KY.  I can still remember our Wolf and Bear Den Meetings after school in the Hambley's basement.  Our Pack meetings were once a month at the K of C Hall.  I still have all of my Pinewood Derby cars.  Webelos was a one year program at that time.  We started out with a bang!  My group had been together for 2 years and the Webelos leader was very experienced with 5 years in that role.  I earned a bunch of activity pins along the way.  Then all of a sudden it stopped.  Just a couple of months away from earning the Arrow of Light.

I joined Troop 142 a bit later and had a very good Boy Scout experience.  Eagle Scout, God and Country - Baptist, Philmont, O.A. Brotherhood; but I missed the chance on the Arrow of Light forever.

Fast forward to 1999.  My son Will joins Tiger Cubs with Pack 12.  "I, personally, do not have time to be a leader" (I was wrong).  He had a great year.  As a family, we attended many events and camp outs.  Wolf for Will was even better.  A wonderful Den Leader and a group of around 12 or so.  Then all of a sudden it stopped.  Pack 12 recharters, but nothing on any level is going on.  We move Will to Pack 804 in Mullins for his Bear year.  I help out a bit more.  I was in charge of the Rain Gutter Regatta and it went well.

Now it is the summer of 2002.  I've decided, that since I didn't receive my Arrow of Light, that my son and his friends would.  I starting reading and planning.  One of Will's friends, Aaron Shepherd is over at our house to play.  When his father comes to pick Aaron up, I mention to him about Webelos.  Aaron's Dad, Mike explains to me that his older son Michael, tried Scouts and it didn't work out.

I volunteered as a Webelos Den Leader.  The Cub Master quits 2 days later, and  I became the Cub Master too.  By the way, I finally talked Aaron's Dad into giving Webelos a chance.

This was the 2002-2003 Webelos Den.

This was the 2003-2004 Webelos Den.  Billy Z. Den Chief.

All of the Webelos pictured above earned their Arrow Of Light and joined Troop 12.

B.S.A. Square Knots

This is an older picture.  There are now 36 knots available.

I have earned the following:

1.  Eagle Scout
2.  Youth Religious Emblem
3.  Scout Leader's Training 4x
4.  Professional Training
5.  Webelos Leader (discontinued now)
6.  Cubmaster (discontinued now)
7.  James E. West Fellowship 6x
8.  District Award of Merit
9.  William D. Boyce New Unit 3x
10.  Whitney M. Young, Jr. Service
11.  Scoutmaster Award of Merit (discontinued now)
12.  Cub Scouter (discontinued now)
13.  Silver Beaver
14.  Scouter's Key 4x
15.  International Scouter
16.  Sea Badge
17.  Adult Religious Emblem
18.  Distinguished Commissioner Service
19.  Venturing Leadership 


There is one square knot, that I was close to earning but did not.  It totally changed my life and several other youth and adults.  Stay tuned,...

I've Scaled Back

This is my current uniform look.  Very plain and simple.

This was about 10 years ago.

I get told all the time, that I need a Kawida flap at least, and a Council Strip.  Unit numbers are important.  "You are an Eagle Scout and should wear the knot!"

All of these are true.  Recently, many times, new Scouters will ask me if I just joined?  Maybe I'm not setting the right example.  Our whole "do something for a carrot on a stick thing" seems to have worked well for a very long time.

I am more proud of the patches that our fellow youth and adults have earned, than the ones that I have received.

I will admit though, when a fellow Scouter receives something like the District Award of Merit or Silver Beaver, I am the first one on them as to where is that knot?