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Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

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NCAC Celebrates Juneteenth!

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What is Juneteenth?

Juneteenth is an annual holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, enslaved African-Americans in Galveston, Texas, were informed of their freedom. Now, 155 years later, people in cities and towns across the U.S. continue to mark the occasion with parades, picnics, family gatherings and other celebrations.

Why Celebrate Juneteenth?

For many Juneteenth is a day of reflection and rejoicing. It is a time to see how far the black community has come and just how far we have to go.

Some may ask, why not celebrate it in September, when the Emancipation Proclamation was signed? Unfortunately, many slaves were not informed President Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation freeing them from slavery in 1863. But on June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger, along with two thousand soldiers of the 13th Army Corps, marched through Galveston, TX, reading General Order, No. 3, which stated:

“The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired laborer.”

The ending of slavery was monumental in the black community. It changed the course of their lives from education to employment for generations to come.

Today, state governments and companies are beginning to recognize the importance of Juneteenth for the black community. Twitter and Nike have announced Juneteenth will be an official company holiday, and the state of New York and the Commonwealth of Virginia are currently advancing legislation to make Juneteenth a state holiday.

How Can Scouts Celebrate Juneteenth?

Scouts and Scouters can celebrate by learning the history behind Juneteenth. Good activities for a unit could include:

• Take a virtual tour of a museum.  https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/exhibitions,
• Read a book or visit a website that explains the significance of Juneteenth and lead a discussion. http://www.juneteenth.com
• Visit your local parks and recreations websites to find local events to attend. Please be sure events comply with NCAC’s guidance for resuming in-person activities. http://www.pgparks.com/780/Juneteenth
• Learning about Juneteenth can also help Scouts working on the American Cultures merit badge. 

Did your unit celebrate Juneteenth? Let us know what you did! Submit your stories to weownadventure.com/submit! 

Four Generations of Active Aquia Scouts & Scouters – Now that’s a Legacy! “Dor L’Dor”… Generation-to-Generation

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As a representative of the Greatest Generation, with 83+ continuous years of active Scouting under his belt, Richard “Dick” Haas, affectionately known as “The Ancient One” (TAO) in NCAC, has reached a milestone few can claim this Father’s Day. With active Scouting roles for his Great-Grandsons and their Parents in Aquia District’s Pack 242 – Ronin as a Lion later this year and Stellan as a rising Wolf who just crossed over from Tigers – and TAO’s elder son’s active roles in NCAC Wood Badge leadership training and Aquia District Roundtables – TAO’s active Scouting legacy now stretches across 4 Generations of active Aquia District Haas Scouts & Scouters!!

There’s a Hebrew expression “Dor L’Dor” meaning “Generation-to-Generation” – Our family tree is filled with Scouts and Scouters who are proud to be among the living legacy to the leader of our band. We all want to wish TAO/Dad/Bonnka/Great-Grandpa a very Happy Father’s Day and express how proud we are of our Scouting Patriarch and Scouting Heritage! Happy Father’s Day to “The Ancient One” (TAO)!!

Who is TAO?

There aren’t a whole lot of active Scouters in NCAC who can compare with our TAO’s (Dad’s/Bonnka’s/Great-Grandpa’s) background as a WWII Navy Vet, awarded for life-saving heroism for actions after the war by rescuing the only two survivors from a bus which plunged into the East River in New York City (using Swimming & Lifesaving skills developed through both BSA and US Navy training), AND… AND (ready for this?!) TAO is a Scouter who actually shook the hand of the Founder of Scouting, Lord Robert Baden-Powell, at the Boy Scout encampment at the 1939 World’s Fair in Queens, NY when TAO was a 13-year old Boy Scout! He also met Dan Beard when TAO and his fellow Scouts stopped in at the Scouting Museum while hiking along the Palisades-Alpine Trail on the cliffs above the Hudson River in New Jersey. He also met “Green Bar” Bill Hillcourt, the Scouter who literally wrote the book on the Patrol Method, when Green Bar Bill was a Staffer on TAO’s Wood Badge Course in 1966. So, come on up and shake TAO’s hand and connect with this walking, talking, living history, should your Scouting Trails cross!

In a nutshell, our TAO’s continuous Scouting history is bracketed by meeting Baden-Powell in 1939 and earning Vigil Honors in the Order of the Arrow in 2019, where he earned the Vigil name “Tangitehewi Achgeketum” which translates as “Humble Teacher” = 80+ years of meritorious and noteworthy service! WOW! In 2013, friends and family honored him with a full-sized brick on the Camp Snyder Dining Hall flag patio.

Guess you can say my brother, Alan, and I were born into Scouting in Manhattan, New York City, as our Dad was Scoutmaster of Troop 712 when we were just wee lads. We went on many Troop campouts in all kinds of weather from the time we were about 5-years old until we were old enough to become Cub and then Boy Scouts in both Manhattan and later when we moved to Rockville Centre (RVC), NY. In RVC our Dad became our Scoutmaster again, this time of Troop 40, which turned out to have originally been Troop 1 back in 1910 (before having a lapse in its early chartering years) and this is the Troop that National BSA validated as having produced the first US Eagle Scout – Arthur Eldred. Proud Scouting history seems to find TAO! 😊

When our Dad would take Troop 712 to Summer Camp at Camp Nianque at Ten Mile River (TMR) Scout Reservation in upstate New York, Alan and I would live with our Mom in a wonderfully rustic (no bathroom or running water) cabin at Family Camp at the other end of Lake Nianque. We learned to “Be Prepared” as a way of life from both our Mom and Dad. Later, as Scouts we camped at multiple TMR Scout Camps, hiked the Red Dot Trail around that 26-thousand-acre Scout Reservation and eventually Staffed Summer Camp at Camp Ranachqua on that same Lake Nianque at TMR. When we had our own children, of course we got them and ourselves involved in Scouting – both in Girl Scouts and BSA. As parents, following TAO’s and our Mom’s, Rita’s, examples (Dick & Rita have been married for 64 years!), we got involved with our children in Scouting early on. Since that point, it’s been pretty much an all-hands on deck Scouting journey – our Parents spawned three successive generations of Scouts and Scouters in various Packs, Troops, Crew, Districts, Councils, Girl Scout and Summer Camp activities literally around the globe. A Scouting we will go, HEY!

The Legacy Continues…

TAO continues to inspire, train and impact untold numbers of Scouters and Scouts through his on-going servant leadership roles at monthly Aquia District Scouts BSA Roundtable breakout sessions and on NCAC Wood Badge and Aquia District Bear Claw leadership Courses’ Staffs. What’s Bear Claw? Another example of TAO’s legacy to Scouts across multiple generations. He started Bear Claw in his home District in New York before moving to Virginia and could have just let Bear Claw drop when he moved with his wife, Rita, to Virginia, but instead TAO brought it with him to share, planting new roots in Aquia District. So, his impact now also includes 30 years of Youth-led leadership training in New York and another 11 years (and counting) of Bear Claw in Aquia District. TAO has served on nine NCAC Wood Badge leadership courses and two National Jamboree Staffs. He’s been known to say: “I am entering my 83rd consecutive year in Scouting and am still learning. Keeps me young at heart!” He is active in his religious community at Beth Sholom Temple in Fredericksburg, VA and still golfs and fishes with his buddies from Falls Run.

Like ripples on the water from a powerful Scouting spirit dropped into our lake as a gift from the Great Spirit, TAO’s impact continues to move out in waves that extend beyond his (or our) visible horizon. TAO continues to be invited to speak to Scout units whose leaders want him to share Scouting’s history with their Scouts, Scouters and Parents. When he was presented his 80-year BSA pin at an Aquia District Roundtable during a time of substantial BSA policy changes and challenges, TAO used his time in front of the assembled Aquia Scouters from Packs, Troops, Crews, Ship, and OA Brothers (both Scouts and Scouters), to offer words of encouragement, placing these momentous changes in historical context based on his many decades of service and broader perspective of having lived through many changes in Scouting over that time He expressed support for the changes and assured everyone that Scouting would be just fine. This kind of powerful leadership example and guiding light is emblematic of what TAO brings and will continue to bring to Scouting with all his heart and soul.

As TAO told an audience during a recent Eagle Court of Honor: “So you see, I’m proof that no matter how long you’re in Scouting or how old you get, there are plenty of opportunities to give back to Scouting and the Scouts who are following in your footsteps.”

TAO continued with a challenge for all Scouts & Scouters across all time: “I hope you give back to your Troop and Scouting as long as I have and that you continue on the leadership trail – it can be a life-long journey and I’m proof that it can be done! The only question left is – what will you do next for your fellow Scouts, your communities and your Nation? A true Scout never stops serving others.”

Happy Father’s Day, Dad!! Dor L’Dor!! We all love you very much!!

Aquia District Scouts Serve Stafford County Residents with a Special No-Contact Food Drive

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The Call to Action: “Will you Do your Duty to help others?” This call went out to Aquia District Scouts BSA last month asking them to participate in a No Contact Food Drive held May 16, 2020.

The Answer: “We will Do our Best to Help Other People!” – that’s part of, and the heart of, the Scout Oath well-known by every BSA Scout.

The Results: Scouts and their family members across Stafford County answered the call and collected 5,706 lbs of food and over $2,500 was raised for several food pantries, by Scouts sharing the pantries’ electronic donation links with local churches that had requested that information be provided, as another avenue for community residents to help.

Scouts in Aquia District traditionally participate in Scouting For Food, a BSA national food drive held every November. Going door-to-door in neighborhoods and collecting in front of stores that grant BSA Scout units permission, Scouts work hard. Last November, Scouts collected 24,899 pounds of food for eight Stafford County pantries. In retrospect, that seemed like an easy feat in the face of the current COVID-19 pandemic. The challenge: How to support local pantries and keep Scouts, their families, pantry volunteers and donors all safe?

Before the current crisis, pantries supported by the annual Scouting For Food food drive were regularly feeding anywhere between four to forty families per week depending on the pantry. Corona-virus related job loss and furloughs created a greater need and most Stafford County pantries have remained open on the front lines of the fight against food insecurity. However, as pantries face an increase in clients, they are experiencing a decrease in ways to garner donations of food. Donations of food via food drives are the main source of non-perishables for these food pantries.

Scout units are typically assigned neighborhoods to canvas during Scouting For Food and the publicity is Nation-wide and the event well-known. In a team effort, Scouts band together to deliver sticky notes requesting donations on the first weekend of November and collect food on the second weekend filling their trailers, trucks and vehicles with the generosity of Stafford residents.

However, the mid-year call to fill the pantries due to the impacts from the on-going pandemic required a new approach to get the word out to Stafford residents for this food drive and to gather food safely without physical contact. Aquia District Scouts were asked to participate to whatever extent they could manage that would honor their individual family’s rules for safely addressing risks associated with COVID-19. This ranged from Scouts sharing information about the items needed by the pantries via email and social media or by paper fliers asking neighbors and friends to bring their donations to one of two drop-off points on May 16, to sharing that information with their neighbors on their surrounding streets and then, on May 16, donning masks and gloves and picking up donations from doorsteps and bringing them to the drop off location. Drop off locations manned by Aquia District Scouts were carefully orchestrated to maintain distance between Scouts, pantry volunteers and community bringing in donations. Each station, from holding signs directing traffic to Scouts collecting bins filled with donations to other Scouts weighing those donations, were “self-contained” activities.

Stafford food pantries continue to meet the needs of the Stafford community every week. This No Contact Aquia District Scout BSA food drive showed what Scouts can do even during this tough time. Their efforts helped stock shelves that were quickly emptying. “On My Honor, I will Do my Best, to do my Duty to God and my Country…” is also part of the BSA Scout Oath. Our Scouts did their duty and we should all be proud of their meaningful service to our community.

The need continues as the community struggles with the fallout created by the current health crisis. As one of the pantry workers said: “We believe our Food Pantry is the most important part of the “Service” element of our ’Worship, Witness, Service’ Church mission statement. As the second chapter of James says, ‘Faith without works is dead’. Bless you and all our Scouts and parents for all that you do to help us!” Service remains a cornerstone of Scouting and Aquia District Scouts will pull together again this August to do another food drive.

Are you ready to help others too? To join BSA, go to www.beascout.org to find a BSA Scout unit near you – Cub Scouting serves families with children in Kindergarten through 5th Grade; Scouts BSA serves families with children ages 11-18. There are also BSA programs for families with older Youths, ages 14 – 21, including becoming Venturers, Explorers or Sea Scouts.

The mission of the BSA is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. The Aquia District is part of the National Capital Area Council (NCAC) of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). The Aquia District includes Stafford County, Virginia, and Marine Corps Base Quantico. For more information on Scouting in the Fredericksburg area, including how to donate, join or volunteer, contact Tom Friedel, District Executive, at Tom.Friedel@Scouting.org or call Tom at 301-221-4286.

Summer Leadership Seminar!

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Leadership Training is one of the four Aims of Scouting. Through these seminars Scouts will have an opportunity to continue their leadership development despite the cancellation of NYLT this summer. Each seminar will be fast-paced and last about 50 minutes. Content is delivered by NYLT staff and is designed to help Scouts develop as leaders. It is recommended, but not required, that participants are in a position of Unit leadership and have attended ILS(T/C/S) or NYLT.”

The first seminar will be held this Saturday, June 20th at 5pm. This seminar will focus on Planning for Success: Valuing Your Team & Preparing Small Team Events. All Scouts in leadership positions will benefit from this webinar as it will be covering topics and tools to help you execute your role more effectively. The event is FREE, but space is limited so don’t wait to sign up. Early registration is recommended.

FAQ

  1. Is this an “Online NYLT course?”
    A. No. NYLT is a 6-day practical learning experience. We are offering this webinar to help Scouts who have attended NYLT (or are thinking about attending NYLT) focus on a few specific leadership topics in a fast-paced online format.
  2. Will this session be offered again?
    A. This is currently the only time we are offering this seminar.
  3. Is there a certificate of completion I can share with my Unit Leader?
    A. All Scouts will have an opportunity to receive (via email) a certificate of attendance.
  4. Will these webinars be recorded?
    A. Not currently.
  5. When is the next opportunity to take NYLT in NCAC?
    A. We are planning on holding courses in 2021, starting with a Winter course running across two 3-day weekends (MLK and Presidents’ Day). Registration typically opens in October but fills quickly. We anticipate running courses in the summer of 2021 as well.

Sign up today at https://tinyurl.com/y9pre9xc!

(VIRTUAL) EAGLE SCOUT COURT OF HONOR

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Brother Chase and Sister Sidney served as Masters of Ceremony

Eagles do not flock!  The Eagle soars independently above others.  Yet, an Eagle remains close to their family.  So, it was recently when Clay Dellinger of Troop 1347 in Burke, Virginia celebrated a backyard Court of Honor to recognize his achievement of the rank of Eagle Scout.  Clay and his family are moving to Germany soon, and the Troop was eager to conduct the Court of Honor before the move. Scouts, friends, and family all gathered virtually via internet video conferencing for the unique ceremony.

Scouts know how to improvise.  Even though in-person meetings are not allowed during the pandemic, Troop 1347 is using internet video conferencing for weekly virtual troop meetings and monthly virtual campouts to keep the Scouts connected and to encourage advancement when possible.  As the restrictions against in-person meetings started to overlap with Clay’s move to Germany, the Troop 1347 Scoutmaster and Senior Patrol Leader created a plan to adapt their virtual Troop gatherings into a virtual Court of Honor.

  Clay lead the Troop in reciting the Scout Oath and Law.

The virtual Eagle Scout Court of Honor was conducted in Clay’s backyard using three internet connected devices on an internet video conference coordinated by the Troop Administrator.  The Troop Committee arranged contactless-delivery for the American and Troop flags, a special Eagle Scout podium, and the Eagle Scout medal set provided by the National Capital Area Council.  Clay’s brother, also an Eagle Scout, and his sister, a Star Scout and Girl Troop Senior Patrol Leader were the Masters of Ceremony.  Clay’s parents, both Assistant Scoutmasters for the Troop 1347 Boys and Girls Troops, helped the Scoutmaster and Committee Chair, who were on the video conference, make their presentations.

Clay’s Assistant Scoutmasters Mom and Dad

The majority of boy and girl Troops 1347 logged on to participate in the virtual Eagle Scout Court of Honor for Clay Dellinger.  Dozens of friends and family from Texas, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Colorado, and Japan who might not have been able to attend a traditional in-person Court of Honor were able to view the ceremony over the internet.

 

Troop 1347 proved that Scouts are resilient and innovative by making the best of any situation.  Clay’s “virtual” Eagle Scout Court of Honor, and the Troop’s creative ideas to conduct the ceremony over the internet, is sure to be a unique memory for all.

Scouting with Dad – Ray Posluszny!

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Happy Father’s Day to A.J. Posluszny! We have been Scouting together for over 20 years now and have had many great adventures! Here’s to many more!

I started Scouting 21 years ago as Tiger in Michigan. My mother quickly became involved as a Den Leader and shortly after as the Cubmaster. My dad was much more in the background because of his work at the time. It wasn’t until I was beginning my Webelos 2 year and we had moved to Pennsylvania that he became much more involved. As I crossed over into my first Troop, he was right there with me, on just about every campout with our Troop. He taught me many of the Scout skills that I still know and pass on to others now. He was with me on every step of my Scouting Trail, from Scout to Eagle in 2009.

He was there supporting me in my role with the Lodge as a Chairman of a committee, to serving as the Lowwapaneu Lodge Secretary, to serving as a Section Vice Chief. I received the Vigil honor in 2010, then had the honor of serving as his guide and in his Vigil Ceremony the following year in 2011.

We planned District Events together, we helped build a Native American Program for our Council in Pennsylvania, and we went to Philmont together.

For all of this, you received my Mentor Pin at my Eagle Court of Honor, as well as the Eagle Dad Pin.

We have continued Scouting’s Journey together, even now we support each other in two different Districts in NCAC.

Thank you, Dad, for all you have done for me. I look forward to continuing Scouting’s Journey together going forward as you can now help my son and your Grandson through this amazing program!