We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

Leaders

Assistant Council Commissioner (Exploring/Web), NCAC

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July 20, 2019 marked the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission’s landing on the Moon – the landing of the lunar module Eagle in the southwestern corner of the Mare Tranquillitatis (Sea of Tranquility) on the Moon and the establishment of Tranquility Base.

The first two men to set foot on the Moon, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were Scouts – the first, Neil Armstrong was an Eagle Scout. If you were alive then, do you remember where you were at that moment in history? I was attending the 1969 National Jamboree in Farragut State Park, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. I and 34,000 of my closest friends (all wearing red jackets!) watched as the telecast of the landing was projected on to giant screens. As I recall, there was a lot of cheering (as one might expect). Earlier in the Apollo 11 mission, on July 18, 1969, while flying toward the moon inside the command module Columbia, Eagle Scout Armstrong sent the following greeting to the Jamboree: “I’d like to say hello to all my fellow Scouts and Scouters at Farragut State Park in Idaho having a National Jamboree there this week.” Armstrong carried with him on the voyage, a World Scout Badge. All told, of the 12 Apollo astronauts to have walked on the moon, 11 were Scouts and two of them (Armstrong and Charles Duke of Apollo 16) were Eagle Scouts.

I’m sure the event we commemorate on its 50th anniversary caused me to get ‘stars in my eyes’ and want to be an astronaut. While that dream was never fulfilled, it did set me on a path to get a degree in astronautics and aeronautics and to pursue a career in Naval Aviation. Scouting and the Moon Landing molded my life. It’s exciting to think about what events will inspire the youth we serve today for the future.

Yours in Commissioner Service,

Jeff Schweiger

Unit and Assistant District Commissioner, Colonial District, NCAC
Assistant Council Commissioner (Exploring/Web), National Capital Area Council

Attorney of the Year 2019

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Vince Napoleon, Craig Poland, Tom Curcio, Rob Sterne

Since 2006, National Capital Area Council BSA has honored men and women of great character, leadership, and accomplishment with its annual Attorney of the Year Award. The award is given in recognition of noteworthy personal and professional accomplishments, dedication to the law profession, and because the individual embodies the ideals of the Scout Oath and Law.

On Thursday, June 27th NCAC hosted the 13th Annual Attorney of the Year Good Scout Award Luncheon at the Renaissance DC Downtown hotel. The event was co-chaired by Tom Curcio and NCAC board member Vince Napoleon.

Nicole Smith
Michael Tucker

This year, we had the distinct privilege of honoring our fellow Board Member, Nicole A. Smith, NCAC General Counsel and Shareholder at Vedder Price. Ms. Smith was honored alongside of Michael K. Tucker, EVP, General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer at Avis Budget Group.

Proceeds from this event help to fund and grow DC area Scout programs and provide youth with opportunities such as earning their Law Merit Badge and participating in the Law & Government Career Exploring program. We are grateful to this year’s sponsors! For more information on this event or to learn about sponsorship opportunities for 2020, please contact Tiffany Tomeo at 301-214-9151 or Tiffany.Tomeo@scouting.org

Michael’s Woodshop Hosts Its First Eagle Scout Project

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Michael’s Woodshop at Camp William B. Snyder hosted its first Eagle Scout Project on May 25. Henry Olson of Troop 106, Arlington, VA completed the construction of four benches for an outdoor classroom at his former elementary school. Henry arrived at 8:00am with a pile of lumber and a solid plan and departed at 3:30pm with four very nice benches. He was supported by his parents, Scouts from his Troop and two volunteer Shop Stewards. Henry was very pleased with the facility and the support he received. He said, “It was really fun and the project went very well. I will be sure to spread the word about the shop”.

Michael’s Woodshop is one of the newest additions to Camp Snyder. It is a well outfitted shop with equipment, tools and space to complete almost any wood working project. Since opening in November, 2018, Michael’s Woodshop hosted over 250 Cub Scouts during its Pinewood Derby Days, supported District events and held several Woodwork Merit Badge sessions. Summer events are now open for registration. Michael’s Woodshop may also be reserved for Unit activities (all ages), District events, Eagle Scout projects and other Scouting activities.
Michael’s Woodshop was constructed and is operated by volunteers. In addition, a significant amount of the tools, equipment and building materials were acquired through donations from the local Scouting community. For information about shop capabilities, event registration, reserving the shop or to learn more about volunteering or supporting the shop, please visit the Michael’s Woodshop page on the Camp Snyder website or email Camp Snyder at Camp.Snyder@Scouting.Org

2019 Spring Endowment Celebration

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National Capital Area Council, Boy Scouts of America welcomed nearly 50 recipients of the James E. West Fellowship Award on June 1, 2019, for their 2018 contribution at the annual re-dedication of The Alice S. Marriott Patio and The Robert and Dee Leggett Endowment Garden. The audience listened intently as Scouts exhibited their public speaking abilities earned through public speaking merit badges with finesse some adults would be envious of!

Craig Poland, Lieutenant General Rice, Forrest Horton

The keynote speaker was Eagle Scout, Lieutenant General L. Scott Rice, Lieutenant General Rice is a long time Scouter having served in his sons’ troop together with his wife Nancy. He spoke of the importance of Scouting and the continuity Scouting allowed his family as they traveled throughout his military career.

NCAC is proud to recognize those who contribute at the James E West level over three consecutive years, NCAC Fellows are setting an example of giving that goes above and beyond. NCAC Fellows receive a special council shoulder patch and a council necktie/scarf. The newest honorees are:

Kenneth Feng (left), Julia O’Brien, Aasgeir Gangsaas (not pictured)
Hugh & Cindy Redd

It was an exciting honor and privilege to welcome past Council president Hugh and his lovely wife Cindy to the Second Century Society. The Second Century Society recognizes outright gifts of $25,000 or more payable over five years, or deferred gifts of $100,000 or more, to a local council, BSA foundation, BSA high adventure base, or any BSA entity for operating, capital, or endowment needs.

John Mosby Russell

This year we added an additional award to specifically recognize planned giving efforts in the National Capital Area Council. The first recipient of this award is our most senior and active Eagle Scout in National Capital Area Council John Mosby Russell, thank you John Mosby Russell from over 57,000 Scouts in the National Capital Area Council for choosing to leaving a legacy. You too can make a big impact with a future gift, watch for our next article, How to Make a Big Impact with a Future Gift.

Alexandria Eagle Scout Wins Scholarship

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Joseph Lepak, from Alexandria, VA, a member of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Catholic Community, Archdioceses for the Military Services, USA is one of seven recipients of a service scholarship awarded in 2019 by the National Catholic Committee on Scouting (NCCS) through the Emmett J. Doerr Memorial Scout Scholarship Fund.

Joseph received a $2,000 scholarship. As a military kid, Joseph moved around a lot but the two things that were consistent in his life were Catholic chapels on military posts and Scouts, so they both became very important to him. He says, “as a result of my faith and upbringing, I also have an extreme desire to serve others…It is very important to me that my legacy and my accomplishments in work, affect others for the better. I want the people of this country-and the world-to be better off due to my actions.”

After his dad retired, Joseph was able to stay in Northern Virginia throughout his high school years. He has held numerous leadership positions in Scouting including Senior Patrol Leader, Order of the Arrow (OA) Vice Chief of Finances, Ordeal Master and Area Chief, leading almost 1,000 Scouts in five chapters (Order of the Arrow is Scouting’s National Honor Society). Joseph has also STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) activity leader, secretary, and president of his Venturing Crew.

Joseph is currently Junior Assistant Scout Master of Troop 129 in Alexandria, VA. His Eagle Scout Project involved designing and constructing a new tool shed and improving the gardens for a middle school. He has been a participant in the 2015 World Scout Jamboree and the Inter-American Scout Jamboree in Ecuador. With his Venturing Crew he attended the National Jamboree in West Virginia, Sea Base Bahamas, and Northern Tier High Adventure. Joseph received several awards including the Dr. Bernard Harris Bronze Supernova Award, designed to introduce and encourage further study of STEM.

Through his archdiocese, Joseph has earned all four of the religious awards and has served as an altar server, lector, teen leader for vacation Bible School, assisted with clothing and food drives and with the Adult Education Program.

Always wanting to serve, Joseph has worked with many community organizations, including Wreaths Across America, Alexandrians Living Ecumenically, helping to set up and distribute food to low-income families, Scouting for Food, Park Clean-Up, National Cherry Blossom Festival, Meals on Wheels and Metavivor, a cancer survivor fundraiser swim-a-thon.

Academically, Joseph was selected for admission to T.C. Williams STEM Academy and to participate in their Cyber Security Camp. He has received numerous academic awards and represented his school through his science research. He has been active in “The High School Project Plan”, which aims to resolve issues around growing student enrollment and space at his high school. He also recently joined Community for Renewable Energy (CURE). Their mission is to train school staff and inform students about creating eco-friendly and environmentally sustainable schools. Joseph has been accepted at George Mason University and is interested in studying political science.

To be eligible to apply for the Emmett J. Doerr Memorial Scout Scholarship, the Scout must be Catholic, earned the Ad Altare Dei and/ or Pope Pius XII Awards, and received the Eagle Scout, Summit, or Quartermaster Award. Visit the website for a complete list of award recipients, eligibility requirements and applications.