Scouting has brought families and communities together for 100 years to prepare Americas youth to live, work, and play with character and integrity. Join the BSA in celebrating the adventure and continue the journey into the next century.
For almost 20 years, Mr. D's Tuxedo and Camping Supplies has been the center of Scouting in the Norco/Corona area. Mr. D's was a BSA National Supply Distributor. Not only could a Scout get well-dressed but also purchase BSA uniforms and equipment. The store was the location for many Eagle Board of Reviews, Scout activity meetings and the place to hang out for Scout leaders.
But it's end of an era as business owner and longtime Scout leader Gary DeFraene closed the store. During its 19 and half years, Mr. D's has been located in stores first at Parkridge, then on Main Street and then again on Parkridge. His last location also had offices for the Corona field office for the council professional staff. Those offices have also been closed.
Gary left the business -- his last day was Jan. 15 -- but he hasn't left Scouting. He is active on the Temescal District committee and once again will serve on Foxfire Youth Leader Training in June.
By Ron Baker
The 3 Peaks District Dinner was held in January in Hemet and recognized the services to the district by many adult volunteers.
Perry, Donna and Cody Hiestand were named Scout Family of the Year. The Award of Merit was presented to Mike Archer, Doug Olsen and Jennifer Lane. The Award of Merit is the highest recognition that can be presented by the district to adult leaders.
Crew Leader of the Year was presented to Kenneth Kas. Brock Baker was named Assistant Scoutmaster of the Year. Perry Hiestand of Pack 46 was named Cubmaster of the Year. Mark McCraken of Pack 310 was named Den Leader of the Year.
The dinner included the presentation of the Wood Badge beads to Barbara Brock. Wood Badge is a national leadership training course for adults.
The 3 Peaks District covers the Hemet, San Jacinto, Menifee and surrounding communities.
Leaders of the Mt. Rubidoux District held their annual dinner on January 29, to acknowledge the exceptional contributions of adult volunteers in support of local Scouting units.
Recognitions included the Silver Beaver Award, District Award of Merit, and Unit Scouter Awards. In addition, the 2010 District Committee was installed. The Award of Merit was presented to Barbara Archibeque, Joe Ortiz, John Querns and Jim Nelson for their exceptional service to the district.
The Mt. Rubidoux District serves the communities of Riverside, Jurupa, Pedley, and Rubidoux.
The council presented the Silver Beaver Award to 13 adult leaders for their service to the Boy Scouts of America during the annual recognition dinner held Saturday, Feb. 6, at the Moreno Valley Conference and Recreation Center.
The recipients are: Larry P. Agre, Michael A. Bentley, Thomas D. Cherry III, Stephen F. Lang, Cheryl Ann Lannon, Dr. C.E. Tapie Rohm, Jr., Suzette Flores Romero, Thomas W. Paulson, Timothy W. Purvis, John D. Querns, Victor M. Torres, Jr., Mark E. Triplett and Ryan R. Williams.
The Silver Beaver Award is the council-level distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America. Recipients of this award are registered adult leaders who have made an impact on the lives of youth through service given to the council. The Silver Beaver is an award given to those who implement the Scouting program and perform community service through hard work, self sacrifice, dedication, and many years of service. It is given to those who do not actively seek it.
By Kurt Wochholz
Temescal District BSA 100th Anniversary Committee Chair
After months of planning and preparation, the Boy Scouts of America for the Temescal District held their Centennial Scout Sunday service on Feb. 7 at Nellie Weaver Hall in Norco.
The attendance by nearly 500 Scouts and Scouters made this event a big success. A procession of scouts was lead into the hall by Scout drummer Joshua Young as they carried their individual unit flags to the front of the stage.
The program was conducted by the scouts themselves as each of over 20 members presented a portion of the program. Scout Leader Keith Armbruster lead the attendees in Amazing Grace with his bagpipes, and, after the closing benediction was read, all members exited the stage in a quiet procession.
The special nature of this commemorative event was felt by all, including Inland Empire Council Executive Joe Daniszewski and his wife. Everyone appeared to walk away with their own exceptional memories of an event that can come only once in a lifetime. Following the service, refreshments were provided from donations by Tampico Beverages and Kraft Foods.
The city of Norco graciously provided the hall and sound system. The event was organized by Roxanne Miller and came off so well because of all of the scouters who pitched in with time, materials, and effort to add to the overall outcome.
The next special centennial activity for 2010 for the Temescal District will be an Environmental Clean-up held on April 24 at the base of the Santa Ana Mountain range in cooperation with Waste Management and the National Forest Service.
For more information, contact Kurt Wochholz at
kurtwochholz@earthlink.net or 949-933-8057
The City of Corona on Wednesday presented its proclamation recognizing Feb. 8 as "Boy Scouts of America Centennial Celebration Day."
The proclamation was received by members of troops, packs, and crews from the Corona area who also presented the colors at the start of the meeting and conducted the Pledge of Allegiance.
The event was carried live on local cable television and on the internet.
Mayor Karen Spiegel presented the document to Roxanne Miller, who led the effort for the Temescal District to procure proclamations from Corona, Norco, Chino, and Chino Hills as well as from the state senate and assembly, the governor, and even former First Lady Nancy Reagan.
This initial phase of the district's Boy Scouts of America Centennial celebration activities will conclude with Scout Sunday on Feb. 7 in Norco at the Nellie Weaver Hall, where Scouts will conduct a service in reverence to this special day.
On April 24 in recognition of Earth Day activities, Scouts will work with Waste Management and the National Forest Service to give back to their community in a large scale clean-up effort at the base of Skyline Drive at the foot of the Santa Ana Mountains. More activities will continue through the end of the year throughout the district.
The Boy Scouts of America turns 100!
Here's a link to the BSA page on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/BSA100years
By Denise Hudgens
This past summer Venturing Crew 283 had its Super Activity at Grand Canyon National Park.
A Super Activity is a week long trip (like going to summer camp) that the teens have planned and raised funds.
Our trip started in Sedona, AZ. We spent the day at Slide Rock State Park, a natural water slide. It was so much fun playing in the water. Next, we moved onto the South Rim of the Grand Canyon where we did some hiking and sight-seeing. We ended by going to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon where we went horseback riding and did more hiking. This was a great trip. I was very proud of our Crew President for planning and executing such an adventurous trip.
Ryan Smith of Moreno Valley has earned the Eagle Scout award, highest advancement honor the Boy Scouts of America offers.
Ryan, 16, received the award Jan. 16 at the Moreno Valley Elks Lodge. The ceremony included presentations by Richard Stewart, Moreno Valley mayor, and Judy Smith, exalted ruler of the Moreno Valley Elks.
Ryan is a member of Troop 214, chartered by Elks Lodge 2697.
To receive the honor, the teen earned 27 merit badges, served in more than eight troop leadership positions and completed a community service project.
His project was to paint a 32-by-24-foot map of the United States on the playground at Calvary Chapel Christian School in Moreno Valley.
He raised funds for the project by selling snow cones and ice cream after school with the help of other scouts.
Ryan and other troop members went on a backpacking trip last summer at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, N.M.
He plans to attend college to study engineering after graduating from high school in 2011.
Ryan attends Calvary Chapel Christian School. His troop is in the California Inland Empire Council.
By Dennis Greene
Lone Scout Counselor-Guide
The Temescal Districts' Andrew Greene and Ian Wilgus - 'The Lone Scout '1' Patrol - will be heading up the Color Guard and leading the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance at the, California Narcotic Officers' Association annual awards dinner on March 11, 2010.
Early in 2009, the CNOA and the Lone Scout '1' Patrol became allied due to the many similarities between the basic principles of Scouting and the CNOA: an abiding respect for duty, honor; adherence to the highest quality of training measures; camaraderie; individual initiative; and an enthusiastic appreciation for the outdoor life.
Ian and Andrew also discovered that a number of CNOA associates had, themselves, been members of the Boy Scouts, and a few of their members had attained the rank of Eagle Scout.
The CNOA is the largest non-profit Training Association in California with more than 7,000 members. Every year it honors the memory of Lieutenant Al Stewart who was killed in the line of duty in 1973.
Al Stewart was head of the county's Regional Narcotics Task Force and one of the founding members of CNOA. The, 'Alfred E. Stewart Memorial Award', was created in 1973 to memorialize Al by honoring the individual achievement of working narcotic officers.
Robert Bradley Jenson, son of Brad and Christa Jenson, received his Eagle Regalia on Dec. 19, 2009, at a Court of Honor held to recognize his achievement in Boy Scouts. Robert started scouts eight years ago as a Wolf Scout in Pack 495.
Robert was a high achiever then and progressed through Cub Scouts to earn the Arrow of Light the highest award in Cub Scouts. Robert moved onto Boy Scouts in Troop 495, where he was privileged to have his father as his Scoutmaster. He moved through Scouts at a rapid pace.
Robert has served as Den Chief for Pack 210 for the past four years. Robert set many goals and he worked through the trials.
He planned an Eagle Project to refurbish an equestrian trail at Lake Perris. This project was very successful, and 180 service hours were contributed to his project.
He has earned a total of 31 merit badges. He passed his Eagle Board of Review on September 23, 2009, whereupon he gained the title Eagle Scout.
He a member of Crew 495 in Moreno Valley and is now working on earning his first palm.
By Tracy Youden
The Boys Scouts of America has appointed council member Robin Hastings of Moreno Valley to District Chairperson for the 5 Nations District, Perris, Menifee and Nuevo.
Hastings stated her goal is to improve the life of a child, improve fundraising efforts and appoint individuals with the same passion to achieve these goals. Hastings believes the Boys Scouts of America should be made available to all youth in the community. Although the organization is facing financial difficulties, Hastings welcomes the challenge of facing those challenges head on; "challenges bring opportunities and I am excited about the possibilities."
Robin Hastings has been a Girl Scouts mom for her daughter and Cub Scouts mom for her son.
"I have always believed in the ideas and values of the BSA organization," she said.
Robin Hastings was sworn in as Moreno Valley Council Member in November 2008. She has worked for elected officials since 1998 and says she has always found the challenges in the field of politics challenging, frustrating and rewarding.
"Everyday is different with new challenges and great rewards," she said.
Hastings believes our community has a responsibility to step up to the challenge in theses difficult financial times to assist a great organization like the BSA maintain its success in improving a child's life. Asked if she had a favorite quote she quoted Riverside County Supervisor Marion Ashley in saying "If you have talent and ability, you have a God given responsibility to share those."
Hastings will be taking that quote from words and placing them into action.
This blog is for Boys Scouts and by Boy Scouts. We're looking for newsworthy items, including coverage of troop events, merit badge days, Eagle Scout projects, summer camps, service projects and everything else that makes up Scouting.
If you would like to participate in this blog, please contact California Inland Empire Council marketing chair Robert Quezada at rquezada777@hotmail.com.
