Aug Eagle's Quill

Leadership: Key 5

District Chair – Pete Walters – peter.j.walters@saint-gobain.com

District Vice-Chair – Greg Wessel – gmwessel@hotmail.com

Commissioner – Karen Goth – kgoth@iquest.net

Executive – Megan Boots – mboots@crossroadsbsa.org

Director – Leslie Anderson – leanders@crossroadsbsa.org

Welcome to the following person for joining the District Committee:

Boy Scout Training Coordinator: Aaron Craig

DISTRICT EXECUTIVE Megan Luecke

Also to go along with that, each unit should schedule and plan next years activities and outings before the School Night in the Fall in order to give parents and new Scouts a calendar so they know all of the fun activities that they will be doing throughout the year. For more information or for training contact Megan Boots at the office at 765-288-0223 . Planning now ensures a quality program for the youth as well as eliminating out of pocket expenses for parents.

Western Rodeo Camporee

2009 Golden Eagle District Spring Camporee

Hello Michael,

Here is the eagle's wings poem you requested.

EAGLES WINGS

MOUNTED HIGH ON EAGLES WINGS

SOARING UP ABOVE THE SKY

I LOVE TO WORSHIP AND TO SING

TO PRAISE GOD I CAN FLY

WHEN THINGS LOOK BLEAK

WITH NO HOPE IN SIGHT

THAT IS WHEN

I MUST TAKE FLIGHT

TO SOAR ABOVE

MY STIRRED UP NEST

OH HOW THOSE WINGS

CAN BRING ME REST

EAGLES WINGS ON HIGH

I SOAR...

TRUSTING, SEEKING

MORE LORD MORE

Did you know?... When it is time for the eaglets to leave the nest and they become a little stubborn to go, the mama stirs up the nest to make it very uncomfortable so that they will leave. Then when they go, she will soar below and let them land on her wings until they can soar alone.

Enjoy!

Wooden Turtle

ps. as I stated, the poems are copyrighted and should be treated as so but... I give you permission to use them in your newsletter.

Spring Camporee ---- Western Rodeo

Well, Cowpokes, we all gathered for a rootin tootin good time at the spring rodeo. Many ranches took part, and they tested their roping, branding, and hawk throwing skills. They also tried their hand at making Indian fry bread from scratch, and learned about the care and feeding of horses.

After a Friday evening of rain, Saturday morning dawned sunny and pleasant. The day started off with breakfast in camp, then a wonderful show by an Indian princess. She told stories, showed us various clothing and accessories, and taught us dances and songs. The skill stations were then open for business, and the patrols kept busy with these until mid afternoon. We were then entertained by a group of skilled pistol shooters that shot from running horseback. They put on an impressive show, gave us magazines about their sport, and let the scouts and leaders talk with them after the show. It was a fine time for all involved.

After dinner in camp, we had the judging for the cowboy bean dishes, the whittling contest, and the ranch flags. A lot of hard work went into everything that was entered in the contests, and the judges had a hard time choosing the winners. We then went to the grandstands where we had the Golden Eagle District Webelos crossover ceremony, the OA callouts, and an American flag retirement ceremony.

Sunday was just as beautiful a day as Saturday, and it was the camp’s good fortune to experience one of the most inspiring Sunday worship services I have seen. After the Camporee awards were given out, we cleaned up the camping area and broke camp for home. Everyone who participated had a fine time indeed!

I want to take this opportunity to thank several folks who made this Camporee a success. First, we were fortunate indeed to have the Delaware County fairgrounds made available to us for this outing. It is always nice to take our troops to new places, and we appreciate the use of these facilities. I also want to say thank you to the outside groups who participated for us. This includes the Indian princess, the horseback shooters, and the lady who ran the horse skills station. Last but not lease, I want to say a big thank you to all the staff that helped run registration, first aid, the stations, and the various ceremonies. Without this group of dedicated folks, we could not have the quality outing that we had.

DISTRICT ACTIVITIES AND CIVIC SERVICE Jay Pugsley

A Word From your District Activity Chair

We are all very fortunate to be members of such a strong, active, and high quality district. The activities that are presented are top-notch, and will enhance and complement your troop program. However, if you choose not to participate, you are taking opportunities for friendship, fellowship, and just plain fun away from your youth. At the recent Spring Camporee, we had 125 registers participants. This makes me very sad and frustrated. This was a quality program event, and there were activities there that were unique and had never been offered in the district before.

I have heard many reasons about why units do not participate in district activities. The boys did not like the theme of the outing. The boys do not like to camp in a field. We wanted to go to ‘fill in the blank’ instead. We did not realize it was that weekend.

Let me be plain spoken. All of these reasons are not the boys talking. This is the adult leadership talking. I am involved in a troop, and my boys are no different than yours. My boys have never said during the annual planning, ‘No, we do not want to do the Spring Camporee this year’. It is an automatic in our planning that we pencil in all three district camporees. The boys enjoy every one of them. It is your job as an adult leader to support the plan that the boys choose. You should try very hard not to pass your opinions on to the youth.

Why would you not want to take advantage of three monthly outings that have the program already built in for you? Ones that the boys enjoy because of the patrol skills and competition, fellowship, and exchange of ideas? Ones that will give your youth the chance to experience new activities and new learning experiences? As an adult leader, you have a large influence over your boys’ Scout experiences. If you have a poor attitude, then this will translate over to the boys.

Of course, this same thinking can be applied to summer camp too. When I hear troops that say the boys did not want to go to Ransburg, and instead chose to go spend a week in a local woods with their troop leadership, I know that is the choice of the troop leadership and/or the troop committee. I personally know a troop that for several years told me the boys always chose to not go to Ransburg, while a the same time several boys in that troop would go to Ransburg with my troop.

What I am trying to say is that Golden Eagle District hosts many quality events for your boys, and you should do your best to encourage them to take advantage of these opportunities. You should work very hard to keep your opinions and preferences to yourself, and support your boys’ choices of activities. After all, your troop is boy-run, and the troop is what makes up your boys’ Scouting experience.

I hope to see each and every one of you at the district camporees, and hope every boy in the district gets the experience of a quality long term camping experience such as Ransburg. Your troop outdoor program is why the boys join. Do your best to make it a quality program and you will keep the boys you have, and grow your troop membership too.

Jay Pugsley , Golden Eagle District Activity Chair

DISTRICT COMMISSIONER Karen Goth

Summertime is when we all kind of kick back and relax. Cubs do their summer things, and go to Day Camp or Webelos Adventure Camp, and Boy Scouts and Venturers usually do a high adventure event and attend summer camp. I know that sometimes this seems like a lot for adult leaders to do, and a lot of responsibility, but please step back for a moment and reflect; summer activities make for some of the best memories these young people have of their youth. Some kids will never get to experience any of the “usual” things we do as scouts if they aren’t in scouts. Boy Scouts and leaders, think about all the things we grow to take for granted: the beauty of a forest in summer, the peaceful sound of the birds singing good morning songs, or water lapping at the shoreline; boys sitting around the campfire at midnight just hanging out and enjoying themselves. Cub Scouts and leaders, consider how much fun you have at summer camp, or at your den and pack meetings, racing your Pinewood Derby Car or trying to sail your Raingutter Regatta boat; baking that special cake for the auction or playing baseball in the park, or even fishing with your dad. Now imagine never having the chance to experience those things. If each boy in our district were to ask a friend to join and that friend accepted, think of how much more fun we could have.

PACKS especially should be working on their program planning for the upcoming year. Fall school nights are just around the corner – do you know who you need to replace as a leader yet? If you do a membership inventory now, before the “rush”, it can make your life a whole lot easier. PLUS you can plan on how you want to pay for the activities your unit wants to do. Popcorn profits are set up differently this year (MAKE SURE SOMEONE FROM YOUR UNIT ATTENDS THE POPCORN KICKOFF MEETING IN AUGUST!) and it will be easier to get the highest profit. Create a “this is our pack” packet to give to new parents and members this fall. Spell out everything you do, who the leaders are, what your calendar is, and how to contact unit leadership. It will simplify things. Additionally, ask us for a MENTOR if you need help. One of the commissioners will be happy to help walk you through things and be your closest friend for as long as you need one.

It’s not too late to sign up for summer camp this year! Packs, Troops, Teams and Crews can attend whatever camp they want, although older boys might have to share a campsite with another unit. Let us know – we can buddy you up with a unit from our district. Cubs – there is plenty of room at both Redwing Day Camp, Kikthawenund Day Camp, Webelos Adventure Camp, or at Camp Belzer . Call the Muncie Scout Service Center for more information.

TRAINING – Check out the resident camps you are attending this summer for adult leader trainings being offered. Several Cub Scout Leader trainings will be offered this fall in our district, and a bang-up Boy Scout Leader training too. Training isn’t just something to put on the back burner – it makes your job as a leader easier. Every leader should be trained. Let’s try for 100% trained leaders in our district before the end of this year – yep, I did say 100%. Better than that, let’s be the FIRST district to have 100% trained leaders. Include trainings in your unit inventories. We can help if you need it.

Lastly, thank you to everyone for making our District a great place to do Scouting in. From parents who really care about what happens with their kids, leaders who always try to do the best they can, to the guys and gals in our programs. You all make it worth while.

Karen Goth

Golden Eagle District Commissioner

765-730-1549

Email: kgoth@iquest.net

Unit Commissioner: Julian Railey

Unit Commissioner: Gary Jennings

Unit Commissioner: Jeff Janney

Unit Commissioner: Gloria Adams

DISTRICT PROGRAM CHAIR Mike Dowd

Summer is an important time for our units. There are many special and fun activities planned for most units -- summer camp, high adventure trips and fun trips. If you are attending a summer camp program outside the CAC, please inform the Muncie office to get it recorded that your unit attended.

August 13 is the Kick-Off program for the Golden Eagle District. It will be at Camp Red Wing, 7:00 pm . Plan to attend and receive your planning information for the next Scouting year. It will be a fun, informative event with the opportunity to chat with the other units in our district. See you there.

Mike

PS. Planning our unit activities for each year is an important part of the Scouting program. Supporting your Golden Eagle District events should be a part of your units yearly plan.

SCOUTMASTERS AND ADULT LEADERS AS YOU MAY KNOW THEIR ARE TWO CO-ED PROGRAMS OF THE BOY SCOUTS.