First Trip to the Summit

I am going to be on the Jamboree Service Team (JST) for the National Scout Jamboree (NSJ) in 2023 at the Summit Bechtel Reserve (SBR) this summer. I will be a member of the commissioner corps for Subcamp Charlie 4 which means I will be working with units to make sure they get that they need from us. It is my first time as a JST member, my second NSJ overall, and I had never been to SBR. That was, until March 31st. 

There was a site visit at SBR for the Contingent Operations team that weekend. Most of the C4 leadership was unable to attend, so I volunteered since the location is not far from me. I was excited the whole time leading up to it because I was looking forward to visiting the property. I'll be honest, when I saw this sign I got very excited. 

When I arrived it was a pretty low-key situation. Things didn't really kick off until lunch, which was Subway sandwiches. We had some introductory training sessions and then I was able to take part in a UTV/ROV training. This is required to drive the vehicles on the SBR property and was a lot of fun, especially given the rain we were dealing with. 

Anyway, the rest of the weekend was a lot of fun with trainings, informational sessions, and fellowship. I also got to visit our campsites for this summer. We looked at the layouts and took stock of the sites to see what maintenance may be needed. 

During lunch, we had an opportunity to get something branded. As I used to be a bear, this was an obvious choice. 

The afternoon was more training and sessions to discuss logistics of the event. Lots of information to take in while the wind kicked up and was blowing small dust storms everywhere since the rain had stopped. The rest of the evening was pretty quiet. Dinner, lounging about, typical conference activities. At least the view was nicer than most conferences I have been to. 

All in all I would say it was an excellent trip to the Summit for my first time. I am looking even more Forward (iykyk) to the summer, especially because it shouldn't be snowing any time while I am there. 

See you at NSJ 2023 if you will be there!

Stalling Out

 I have stalled, both in keeping up with this blog and with the weight loss. A little over a month, now, five weeks ago, I had a cholecystectomy. Otherwise known as having my gallbladder removed. The result of this was being told to take it easy, not lift anything over ten pounds for six weeks, etc., etc. 

Now, I haven't followed these instructions to a T. I have certainly lifted things heavier than I should have by now but it did result in me breaking my behaviors developed since surgery that resulted in my weight loss. I haven't put weight back on, but I have stayed within the same five pounds for a month, now. 

I need to do better. Not just on my activity and eating habits, but also keeping up with this. So I am going to work on that. Right now, though, I am getting ready to leave work so I can see my endocrinologist and then go home and rest. I am very tired, today. Tomorrow is a new day, though. 

Milestones

 Today, I hit a big milestone. The scale read under 250 pounds for the first time for me in well over 20 years. I have been seeing more progress in my sizing than on the scale, but this is a big moment. It's not the "onederland" that many people look forward to, but it is a nice stop on that ride. This journey certainly isn't done, though. 

Thinking Back

Thirty years ago, I was a in the second-half of my year as a Tiger Cub in Pack 42. At that time, Tigers were much like Lions are now. They were kind of Cub Scouts but not officially. It was a weird time. 

My Tiger Cub graduation. Spring 1993.

Thinking back and realizing that 30 years of my life I have been a Scout (though not registered for all of those, long story I will cover another time) causes one to reminisce. I came across something, recently, that made that even more of a thing. 

Everyone associates Scouts with patches. We have them all over the place. I have a blanket with a ton of them on and I have even more to add. What some of the newer folks in Scouting may not realize, though, is that the most common gift for adult volunteers when I was a youth as a mug. Not a sturdy, insulated, travel mug. That would make sense. No, porcelain mugs like you would find at a diner with the patch design emblazoned on the side. That was the gift. My father had quite the collection, which I inherited long before he passed. I also had several of my own. Most of them, though, I have no idea where they have ended up. I have come across one, though, that prompted this post. 

1994 SJAC Spring Camporee Mug

This is a special mug for me. Not because I was a volunteer, or even because my father was. This mug is from the first event I ever went to as a Cub Scout outside of den and pack meetings. The theme of this event was "Gateway to Scouting," and when it came to me that is exactly what it was. I was a Wolf and I spent the day wandering this camporee with my den. We got to see the tent city of troops set up for the weekend. It was held at Augusta Expoland and I remember wander the buildings taking in all of the activities and experiencing all that Scouting had to offer. I was hooked. 

So here I am, 29 years later, serving the youth in the council in which I grew up as a district commissioner for a district that encompasses the area where this camporee took place as well as where my pack was. 

Frustrations

 I am struggling. At a little over two months after the surgery I am falling into the trap of comparing my progress to others. I have had some ups and downs, and it is entirely my fault as I have had days where I have eaten more or eaten things that are not as nutritious as they should have been. 

I just need to keep being active and get back on track with my eating habits. This is just a brief post of accountability for myself. 

Freemasonry and Scouting

 Many people don't realize this, but Freemasonry and Scouting have a history that dates to the earliest days of the Scouting movement. Lord Robert Baden-Powell was not a Freemason, but one of his influences for the program as well as a founder of the Boy Scouts of America most certainly was. Daniel Carter "Uncle Dan" Beard was a Brother in New York state and his writings influenced B-P as well as Brother Beard being the first Commissioner for the BSA. 

In addition to Brother Beard, there were four others we can really consider founders of the BSA. Charles Eastman and Ernest Thompson Seton were highly influential in the founding of the BSA, and Seton was an influence to B-P just as Brother Beard was. 

Brother William D. Boyce was another of the original founders and is credited with bringing Scouting to the United States. There is a tale of Brother Boyce being aided on a foggy London night by one of B-P's Scouts inspiring him to bring the movement across the Atlantic. How true this story is, I am uncertain. What I do know is that Brother Boyce was a major part of the foundations of the movement and started the Lone Scouts of America, which later merged into the BSA. Today, there is an award named after him for organizing new units. 

Another person many consider a founder of Scouting, though there are also many that don't, is Brother James E. West. Brother West was the first Chief Scout Executive of the BSA and was the reason we received the Congressional charter as he set the BSA on the path to be the preeminent Scouting movement in the US. He made the BSA what it is. It's for this reason that the award named after him is for donating to the endowment fund for a local council, something that secures Scouting's future. 

I did not mention an award named after Uncle Dan, and there is a reason for that. The BSA does not have one. What there is, however, is the Dan Beard Award from the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania that is awarded to Freemasons involved in Scouting. This highlights the importance of the relationship between the BSA and Freemasons in the US. There is also the National Association of Masonic Scouters which promotes the continued relationship between these programs. 

This brings us to present day, or at least two days ago. On January 16, 2023, the author of this blog was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason of Rockingham Union Lodge 27. I have only one picture from the evening, and it is a mirror picture of me waiting to begin the process in the room next to the Lodge.

I'm sharing this because I am excited to continue this relationship and legacy of Freemasonry and Scouting. I have known about this connection for many years and two of the men who I consider mentors in my Scouting journey were Freemasons themselves. One at the lodge of which I am now a member and the other at a lodge down the road. The two organizations share many values and I look forward to furthering those. 

Holiday Happenings

 The holiday season is a magical time of year. For Scouting in particular, our units are holding seasonal get togethers, courts of honor, and of course there are community parades and gatherings all over the area. The holiday and Scout spirit overflows and it is a favorite time of year for me. 

I coordinated our district's participation in the Harrisonburg Holiday Parade this year, which is a parade that hasn't happened in the past two years thanks to COVID. The turnout wasn't huge as far as the Scouts were concerned, but being present to take part is the most important thing. We had many people on the sides that cheered us on and cries of "Merry Christmas!" were ringing all throughout the evening. Parades are such a great experience and I love interacting with our communities in this way. 

After braving the chilly air and wrapping up the parade route at city hall, I made my way to our local Masonic Lodge to stash the flags and banner and spend some time with the Brothers and their families. They make it an annual thing to watch the parade from the library in the Lodge which overlooks the parade route. It was great catching up with them as I warmed up before making the trek back to my car. 

Being a district commissioner means I spend a lot of time dealing with adults in the program, which is fine because the ultimate result is improving the program for the youth. But taking part in activities where I get to interact with the youth is so much more fulfilling. Getting to visit a unit meeting or coordinating a parade like this, it's some of the more rewarding parts of being a volunteer. Plenty of things can beat you down as a Scouter, but seeing things like this certainly help lift you up.