Scouters attending the Council’s Centennial Annual Dinner held on February 6, 2010 witnessed approximately one-third of the 248 young men who earned their Eagle Scout award in 2009 accept the Eagle Charge. Eagle Scout Sam Couch delivered this year’s Eagle Charge response (see item below). Scouts and Scouters were treated to five historical vignettes based on paintings by Norman Rockwell and Frank Leyendedker. Each provided a glimpse of the important role Scouting has played in America’s history over the past one hundred years. Welcome new Eagles!

W E L C O M E 2 0 0 9 L A A C C L A S S O F E A G L E S C O U T S ! INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

By the Numbers 2

Challenge Coins 2

New Scouting $1 Coin 3

Centennial Activities 3

Getting Involved 5

Contest Winner 5

Scout Exec’s Corner 4

How Cool is This? 4

Eagles in Flight! Eagles in Flight! Newsletter February 2010

M E E T S A M C O U C H

Sam Couch from Troop 4673 in Hermosa Beach delivered this year’s Eagle Charge re-sponse. Sam’s Scouting ex-perience began when he joined his Tiger Cub pack at age six.

His on-going volunteer work with physically and develop-mentally challenged adults and youth led him to concen-trate on this unreached seg-ment when it came time to

tackle his Eagle project. Over the course of nine months with 600 hours invested, Sam planned and led a one-week summer camp specifically de-signed to provide camping and socialization experiences to children between five and thir-teen. Activities included trips the aquarium, LA Zoo, and Uni-versal Studios. The volunteer organization was so pleased with the project’s success that it is now part of its annual plan. Nice job, Sam!

Special Points of Interest:

Our 2009 Eagle Scout class had 248 new Ea-gles Scouts.

LAAC has 770 Packs, Troops, Teams, and Crews.

Our Boy Scouts earned 7,511 merit badges in 2009.

LAAC ESA is on the web! Look for our groups at www.linkedin.com as well as on www.facebook.com.

Eagles in Fl ight ! Newslet ter

Here are a few interesting facts about Scouting prepared by BSA Research and Evalua-tion Department and LAAC:

62.2 million Cub Scouts registered: 1930-2009.

53.8 million Boy Scouts, Venturers, and Explorers registered: 1910– 2009.

33.3 million unit leader volunteers: 1910-2009.

115.5 million merit badges were earned through 2008.

2,043,375 have earned the rank of Eagle Scout since 1912.

13,345 Heroism Awards, Medals of Merit, and Certifi-cates of Merit have been bestowed on Scouts since 1912.

BSA Honor Medals have been awarded since 1911; since then 2,234 have

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L A A C C H A L L E N G E C O I N S H E L P P A Y F O R T H E C E N T E N N I A L C E L E B R A T I O N !

BY T H E NU M BE R S: WH O KN E W?

an aerial dogfight), forcing him to land behind enemy lines, thus allowing him to be cap-tured by the Germans. The Germans confiscated his per-sonal belongings, but they didn’t take the leather pouch from his neck. In route to a prisoner of war facility he was held overnight in a small Ger-man-held French village near the front. At night, the town was bombarded by the British, creating confusion and the pilot escaped.

Avoiding German patrols by donning civilian attire, he crept across no-man’s land and made contact with a French patrol. But all of his identifica-tion had been confiscated so he had no way to prove his identity. Unfortunately for him, the French had been on

the lookout for German sabo-teurs dressed as civilians. The French mistook the American pilot for a German saboteur and immediately prepared to execute him. Desperate to prove his alle-giance, the pilot pulled out the coin from his leather pouch and showed it to his French captors. One of the Frenchmen recognized the unit insignia on the coin and delayed the execution long enough to confirm the pilot’s identity. Safely returned to his squadron, it became a tradition for all members to carry their coin at all times.

LAAC Challenge Coins are priced at $10 and can be obtained through Paul McNulty:

pmcnulty@denovong.com

Magnificently crafted by Sym-bol Arts®, the “Rolls Royce” of challenge coin manufacturers, these 1½ inch diameter coins come individually packaged in a special protective case. Each coin bears its own unique number from 1 to 1,000.

The origin of Challenge Coins dates back to WWI. Air war-fare was new during World War I when the Army created flying squadrons they were manned with volunteer pilots from every walk of civilian life. Early pilots came from the working class or rural back-grounds; some were wealthy college students who were lured by the adventure.

As the legend goes, a wealthy lieutenant, while serving in France in 1918, ordered small, bronze medallions struck, which bore the squad-ron’s insignia. He presented them to the other pilots as mementos of their service together. One of the pilots in the squadron placed it in a leather pouch he wore around his neck for safekeeping. Later, this pilot’s aircraft was heavily damaged by ground fire (or per other stories, in

“ For the past five years more than 1,900,000 merit badges

have been earned

annually.”

“The French mistook the

American pilot for a German

saboteur and im-mediately pre-

pared to execute him.”

been earned plus an-other 231 with Crossed Palms.

LAAC’s four outdoor facili-ties served 19,384 campers in 2009.

2009 Popcorn Sales generated $309,000 for LAAC Scouting.

16,467 Cubs, Scouts, Varsity Scouts, and Crews participated in LAAC pro-grams in 2009.

Eagles in Fl ight ! Newslet ter

The weaving of thoughts, cul-tures, and ideas into one Ameri-can fabric is stamped into our national identity - E Pluribus Unum, "Out of Many, One." In 2010, the United States Mint will inscribe that phrase onto a new commemorative coin that honors the Centennial of the Boy Scouts of America. Begin-ning March 23, the US Mint will make available for sale 350,000 high quality, modern issue, commemorative silver dollar coins. Like the inscription on the coin, the BSA gathers together youth from all backgrounds. So, it is

fitting that the surcharges from the sale of each coin are au-thorized for use to benefit the BSA National Foundation in its efforts to bring Scouting to un-derserved communities. Sur-charges for the coin sales may generate up to $3.5 million for this very worthy cause. For the first thirty days the proof coin will be offered at $39.95 and the uncirculated coin will be offered at $33.95, after which the prices will rise slightly. Judge William S. Sessions, for-mer Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Distinguished Eagle Scout, is the Honorary Chairman of the

BSA's initiative to promote the Boy Scouts of America Cen-tennial Silver Dollar. Judge Sessions' son Congressman Pete Sessions of Dallas, Texas, also a Distinguished Eagle Scout, introduced and championed the legislation that authorized the BSA to be one of the two commemora-tive coins produced by the United States Mint in 2010.

Ordering begins at noon (EST) on March 23, 2010. Orders can be placed through the US Mint at www.usmint.gov or at 1-800-USA-MINT. Sorry, no pre-sales.

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S AV E T H E D A T E : P L E N T Y O F W A Y S T O H E L P C E L E B R A T E S C O U T I N G ’ S C E N T E N N I A L

T H E B O Y S C O U T S O F A M E R I C A C E N T E N N I A L S I LV E R D O L L A R I S O N T H E W A Y !

Service Program – “Pay It Forward” - This unique volunteer program brings all Scouts together under one roof to provide community service to worthwhile organizations helping people in need. On February 27 and 28, 2010, to help celebrate the BSA Centennial, all Districts of the Los Angeles Area Council will be holding their own Pay It Forward day or weekend. Specific infor-mation will be presented by each District to their Units regarding their local Pay It Forward Pro-jects.

Geocaching Event – Winter through Spring educational and fun-packed event. A high-tech treasure hunting game, Geocaching is played throughout the world by persons equipped with GPS devices. The GPS device directs players to hidden caches (treasures), which contain prizes or additional challenges for the finders. Caches are being deployed at various LAAC locations. [Details forthcoming]

Cen-Ten-O-Ree - Council-wide Jamboree-style Spring Camp-O-Ree! You won’t want to miss the highlight of the LAAC’s programs for the Centennial. Imagine: camping with 5,000+ of your closest friends, programs and events too numerous to mention, 100 unique and fun Trading Cards to collect, and a “Big Show” to crown the Saturday evening. Don’t miss it; we won’t have another Centennial for 100 years!! Revised Date: May 21 - 23, 2010.

Pitch For Scouting (in Association with the Los Angeles Dodgers) – This 2010 Baseball season (April 2010 – Sept 2010) event promises to raise awareness of Scouting, while providing many fun-filled games for thousands of Scouts and Scouters. [Details forthcoming]

2010 National Scout Jamboree – Culmination of the year-long celebration! July 26—August 4 at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia.

LAAC Trail of Fame Leadership Award Dinner — Planned for Fall of 2010 to recognize all to the LAAC Leaders who were nominated to the National Hall of Leadership and the one outstanding Leader who was selected.

“Scouters can choose from A to

Z ways to celebrate

Scouting’s first 100 years!”

Paul McNulty LAAC Centennial Chair

Eagles in Fl ight ! Newslet ter

My personal and speaking theme this year is “On my honor, I’ll do my best.”

Most of us who are Eagles, specifically if you are my age or younger, did an Eagle Scout Service Project. What does a young man learn, in doing his Eagle project, about doing his best?

When I earned my Eagle in 1964, the Eagle project was a brand new concept. My Scoutmaster had no idea what to expect, so he told me I would have to do something so good and extensive that the examiners would have no choice but to pass me.

The project that evolved was one of restoring a slave ceme-tery, literally from a junkyard. It wound up requiring 400 hours of my labor, and thou-sands of hours by others; it is still a lovely park, 46 years later.

When my son came up for his Eagle project in 1989, the project system had evolved a bit. He chose to build an out-door chapel, overlooking a lake, for our church in Virginia, and spent about 100 hours working on it.

This spring, a young friend of mine from Eagle Rock is doing his Eagle project at a mission serving the homeless. He is building a new playground for the children at the mission. The cost was to be $4,300 but he raised $6,000 so the pro-ject has been expanded. Again, he will spend many hours on his Eagle project.

What did I – what did my son Brett – what did my friend Owen learn about doing our best? First, we had to have heart, and be willing to put

that heart on the line for some-one else. We each learned a lot about organizing, about speak-ing, about hard work, as we con-ducted our various projects.

Isn’t it great to know that an-other 250 young men will learn to do their best, as they become Eagle Scouts in the Los Angeles Area Council this year? When you visit the Cushman Watt Scout Center, take a look at the young faces on the bulletin board outside the door of the Scoular Board Room. And imag-ine how great it would be if we had to post smaller pictures because even more young men become Eagles?

It’s a privilege to walk the Scout-ing trail alongside you!

Paul

and Centennial Edition gold filled etchings in the buttstock and forearm.

If you wish to purchase the Henry Golden Boy "Boy Scouts of America Centennial Edition" you must do so from a local gun shop. The company suggests that you order its free catalog which will come with a list of gun shops in your area. Some gun shops may have

them in stock and some may have to special order for you.

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S C O U T E X E C U T I V E ’ S C O R N E R

T I M E L Y T H O U G H T S F R O M P A U L M O O R E

To celebrate the first 100 years of Scouting, Henry Re-peating Arms announces the release of its Henry Golden Boy “Boy Scouts of America® Centennial Edition” licensed rifle. To mark this milestone, this special rifle features the Scouts Oath, Scouts Law, scrollwork and traditional Boy Scouts of America logo embel-lishing the receiver, as well as a 100 Years of Scouting logo

“On My Honor, I’ll Do My Best”

H O W C O O L I S T H I S ?

2333 Scout Way Los Angeles, CA 90026

LAAC Eagle Scout Associat ion

15. Mention LAAC ESA on your blog. Paste a link to our website and social net-work groups.

16. Tell LAAC ESA what you’d like to see the group do/be/accomplish.

17. Send a note to newsletters you re-ceive. Ask them to include a short article to help us find “lost” Eagle Scouts in Los Angeles.

1. Join our e-mail distribution list. Here’s how: http://www.boyscoutsla.org/website/home_page/Eagle_Scout_Association/Info.pdf

2. Invite a friend to join LAAC ESA. 3. Join the ESA on Facebook—www.facebook.com/

LAAC Eagle Scouts 4. Join the ESA on LinkedIN—www.linkedin.com

Group ”Los Angeles Area Council Eagle Scout Association”

5. Wear an Eagle Scout lapel pin—www.scoutstuff.org

6. Bring a Scouting coffee cup to the office. Use it. Discuss with co-workers.

7. Put a tag line on your e-mail and/or website. “Know an Eagle Scout in Los Angeles County?” Have them visit www.boyscoutsla.org.

8. Help organize a social networking event in Los Angeles.

9. Help organize a service project in Los Angeles. Scouting for Food, Pay It Forward, District/Council Campout.

10. Contribute to the Eagle Scout Scholarship Fund. 11. Attend the Council’s annual Eagle Scout and

Silver Beaver recognition dinner. 12. Be a Scout volunteer. Merit Badge counselor,

Committee member, den or pack leader. 13. Contribute to annual “Friends of Scouting” fund-

raising campaigns. 14. Join an LAAC ESA subcommittee or working

group.

WA N T TO GE T MO RE IN VO LV E D?

LAAC ESA Committee

John MacAllister Chairman Brian Curtis Staff Advisor Hannibol Sullivan Staff Advisor Don Crocker Robert Gierat Gary Jones Paul McNulty David Meshulam Greg Mitchell Gerry Morton William Plourde, Jr. John Pollock Rick Richmond Steven J. Rothans Nobby Schnabel Robert F. Scoular Steve Silbiger David Tomblin Bob Ulrich

Volunteers are always welcome!

Our three-pronged charter—Service, Support, and Social—is designed to help southern California young men live the Scouting experience to the fullest. Here are several ways you can get more involved with the Los Angeles Area Council’s Eagle Scout Association:

Thanks for the help, Boyd! Boyd Latimore (Eagle Scout year: 1987) took us up on our request for help in nam-ing the newsletter. After due consideration his suggested name of “Eagles in Flight!” came up a winner. He said it best: “While I like ‘Eagles Nest,’ that connotes that we are at rest - when in fact the whole point of the newsletter is to highlight how we are out and about in both Scouting and the community” Thanks again, Boyd!