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Southern Region Report – Spring 2003

Executive Board Report:

The NLAS Executive Board met at the new Boy Scouts of America Museum in Irving, Texas, on Saturday March 15, 2003. Dave Richardson of the BSA National Relationships Division was our host. The museum is a fascinating place. First, all the beautiful paintings by Rockwell and others. Then the many areas of the museum. Danial Beard, the first commissioner of scouting, and Ernest Thompson Seton talk to you through animated life size figures. There are many displays of all levels of scouting from Cub Scouting to Eagle; Venturing, Exploring and O.A... From 1910 to now, and between, it’s all there. A very worthwhile place to visit, about 5 miles from the Dallas airport.

The major topic of the board meeting was sharing Youth Protection, developed by BSA with our partners - churches, schools, etc., and other youth organizations. Four types of abuse were identified – Emotional, Physical, Sexual and Neglect. The materials provided for help in sharing this message include three videos available in every Boy Scout Office. “A Time To Tell” for Cub Scout age youth, “It Happened To Me” for Boy Scout aged youth. And a newly released “Personal Safety Awareness”(AV No. 09V027) for Exploring and Venturing age youth. Share this information with your church.

In addition to the videos, there are two comic book type pieces that have been developed for Cub Scout age youth. One is titled “Power Pack Pals”, BSA Supply No. 33980, and the other is titled “Power Pack Pals, Be Safe on the Internet”, BSA supply No. 33981. If not available at your scout office they can be obtain from the Relationships Division at the National BSA Office.

Additional sources of information are available at the National BSA web site, www.scouting.org(Site Map) Youth Protection and Adult Leadership, Guide To Safe Scouting.

NLAS President –Elect Tom Wilson shared a presentation he made to his church council titled “Why should my church look at its Boy Scout Troop and it’s Cub Scout Pack as integral to our youth ministry?” Although his church does not have a Venture Crew, the material in this presentation would apply equally to this portion of youth ministry.

NLAS membership was discussed – are we serving our current members in the best way possible, and what can we do to retain and attract new members of the association. I CHALLENGE EACH of YOU to INVITE a FRIEND to JOIN NLAS or pay a one year subscription in the NLAS for that friend! The Southern region has the smallest number of NLAS members, we are only 15 behind the Western Region. It would not take a big effort to catch up and pass them!

Regional News:

God’s blessings be with you! I thank each and everyone of you for your efforts on behalf of the youth you help serve and your support of the National Lutheran Association of Scouters. Two of the God and Country Emblem pamphlets have been totally revised, God and Family and now, God and Me. The youth really like them!! The God and Church Emblem pamphlet is now being reworked.

This year had a great start. On Scout Sunday, at the annual Northeast Georgia Council’s Religious Banquet almost 500 people celebrated the recognition of youth receiving their God and Country Emblems. The youths were individually recognized and presented with a gift. Four adults were also recognized for encouraging and helping youth earn those emblems.

Trent Christian, Assistant Vice Chairman for Georgia , just finished helping a group of Cub Scouts to earn their God and Family Emblem. Great work Trent !!

At this years North Carolina women of the ELCA annual gathering there will be a God and Country Emblems Display and two sessions given on “Religious Recognition and Scouting” by the North Carolina LAS. Wow!! What a way to interest churches to get involved with youth earning their God and Country Emblems. The NCLAS had their Lutheran Retreat at Camp Agape, March 29^th.weekend, despite bad weather, the youth worked on the Pioneering Merit Badge in the morning and did a service project for the camp in the afternoon. John Frinak, Vice Chairman Southern Region, was presented with his Lamb Award on Scout Sunday.

So far this year a total of 185 youth have earned God and Country Emblems; 88 earned God and Me, 72 earned God and Family, 16 earned God and Church, 6 earned God and Life and 3 earned Lutheran Living Faith. Seventy of these youth were Girl Scouts. Our star units or churches so far this year for one month: Cub Pack 1333 had 15 and Cub Pack 382 had 1, all of Trinity Lutheran Church, Spring, TX; Girl Scout Troop 1692 had 12, of St Lukes Lutheran Church, Oviedo FL and St Matthew’s Lutheran Church had a total of 12 from Girl Scout Troops 139, 226 and 354.

Douglas H. Gomm, Cape Coral, FL; Dennis Ray Eckard, Hickory, NC; Boyd A. Queen, Lexington, NC and Carolyn T. Summer, Cherryville, NC were presented Lamb Awards. John C. Voris, Columbia, SC, received the Servant of Youth Award..

Our Assistant Vice Chairman for Florida, Frederick J. Oppliger, worked hard for BSA at the World Jamboree in Thailand. He also had the opportunity to visit Myanmar (Burma) and Hawaii. Nice!

This is the news that has been reported to me as of this date for 2003. If you have any news of activities or awards of Lutheran Scouters or units please submit them. Remember the Lutherans YOU know, who have been working with the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts or Camp Fire can only receive the Lamb or Servant of Youth Award if YOU nominate THEM!