Winter 2010/2011 LAAC ESA Newsletter

1. Eagles in Flight! Newsletter
Winter 2010/2011
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: RAREST OF THE RARE!
The Alumni Award 2
Mike Rowe Speaks Out 2
There’s an App for That 3
Come Hear Col. Fer 3
Scout Exec’s Corner 4
Shape the Summit! 4
One Unit; 83 Eagles! 5
Got A Minute? 5
Upcoming LAAC Events:
 February 19 —Cabrillo
Youth Center work day
 March 15—2nd Annual
Youth Development
Breakfast (see p. 3)
 March 22— 39th Annual
Interfaith Banquet Three of the eighty-seven Scouts who participated in the Cabrillo Youth Center Historical Merit
 March 25/27—Spring Badge classes held in November and December display their Carpentry badge projects—handmade
Rocket Academy I tool/nail boxes. These Scouts and others also earned Pathfinding, Tracking, and Signaling awards.
As of the beginning of 2011, these merit badges are once again “retired” and our Scouts join the
 April 1/3—Spring Rocket very few who have met the requirements during the Centennial Year to wear their honors.
Academy II
BOY SCOUTS AND EGYPT
For more information and
registration for these events, As this issue of Eagles in Flight Egypt where Scouting began in
go to www.boyscoutsla.org. goes to press, the citizens of 1914 in Alexandria. Most Scout
Egypt are witnessing their first troops are associated with
regime change in thirty years schools, clubs, mosques and
and in seven months all Egyp- churches. Egyptian Scouts play
tians will cast ballots in the first an important role in community
free and fair election held in service. They are involved in
the country in generations. In projects of desert reclamation,
light of these achievements, it work camps, blood drives, medi-
seemed appropriate to inquire cal care and other projects.
about Scouting in Egypt.
Congratulations to our Scouting
According to the World Organi- brothers and all Egyptians on
zation of the Scout Movement, their new found freedoms!
there are 79,611 Scouts in

2. E a g l e s i n F l ig h t ! N e w s l e t t e r Page 2
NEW AWARD SALUTES ACTIVE ALUMNI
In the coming months, a new the award recognizes accom- tough—and that’s by design,”
patch, the BSA Alumni Award plishments in four areas: said Bill Steele, the BSA’s
knot, will begin appearing on alumni identification and pro- director of Alumni Relations.
some Scouting volunteers’ uni- motion, alumni engagement, “We expect these folks to “The
forms. The red, blue, and gold personal participation, and work just as hard as alumni as
square knot will designate its
wearer as a Scouting alumnus
personal education. Specific
requirements include doing
they did as Scouts and Scout requirements are
volunteers.”
who has helped other Scouting
alumni reconnect with the pro-
things such as helping to plan
an alumni event, convincing
tough . . . .”
Requirements for the award
gram. (A lapel pin is also avail- unregistered alumni to regis-
were posted in January
able for civilian wear.) ter with Scouting, and com- Bill Steele
2011—www.BSAAlumni.org.
pleting online alumni training. All requirements must have BSA Alumni Relations
Developed by the national been completed after June 1,
Alumni Relations Committee, “The requirements are 2009.
MIKE ROWE’S ADVICE TO A LIFE SCOUT
Mike Rowe, an Eagle Scout and time 99 out of 100 people do in home shopping, starring in
the star of cable TV show Dirty the same thing, it's not exactly the school play when the
Jobs responded to a dad's re- a shock. entire football team laughed
quest for help in convincing his at me, and especially earning
son to finish Scouting with only I'm not trying to be cute with a my Eagle, were all choices
a year and half left to go. We bunch of reverse psychology. that required sacrifice, hard
thought you'd be interested in When I was 15, there was work, and delayed gratifica-
his reply: nothing that anyone could tion. I have no idea if you
have said to me that would possess those qualities, or
have inspired me to do some- even envy them. But I can
Kelby, thing I didn't want to do, espe- tell you for certain, that NOT
Your Dad asked me to drop cially a stranger with a TV getting your Eagle, will be one
you a line and say something show. So I'm not going to as- of the easiest things you've “A Scout is
inspirational that might per-
suade you to dig down deep
sume you're any different, or
pretend that I have some influ-
ever done.
clean, but not
and find the determination to
make the rank of Eagle Scout.
ence or insight that you have-
n't already heard from a dozen
Whatever you decide to do
Kelby, it's important to re-
afraid to get
It's a reasonable request, from other people who actually member that the decision is dirty!”
a father who obviously wants know and care about you. I'll yours. Not your Dad's, not
to see his son succeed. But just tell you straight up, that your friend's, and not your
here's the thing - The Eagle doing something extraordinary Scoutmaster's. And you'll Mike Rowe
Award is not really meant for can be very lonely, and most own that decision for the rest Eagle Scout
people who need to be people simply aren't cut out for of your life.
dragged across the finish line. it. Being an Eagle Scout re- Good Luck,
It's meant for a select few, and quires you to be different than Mike Rowe
I have no idea if you have the most everyone around you,
guts to see it through. and being different is really,
really hard. That's why the
Statistically, I suspect you do award is called "an accom-
not. Only one out of a hundred plishment."
Scouts make Eagle, so if you
fail, there will be lots of other Personally, and for whatever
people with whom you can it's worth, the best decisions
share excuses. Quitting now I've made in my own life, are
might disappoint your Dad, but those decisions that put me on
I doubt that he or anyone else the outside of being cool.
will be overly surprised. Any- Singing in the Opera, working

3. E a g l e s i n F l ig h t ! N e w s l e t t e r Page 3
SCOUTING NEWS: MERIT BADGES WILL BE
GOING MOBILE WITH NEW IPHONE APP
Beginning in the first quarter of more,” said Bob Wiermers, team also available through the
2011, Boy Scouts will be able to leader for Publishing & Printing merit badge application for
manage their merit badges with Solutions. $7.99 on iTunes.
an interactive application for
the Apple iPhone (no word on The app’s home screen shows In addition to its native capa-
Android as yet). The application the total number of badges the bilities, the merit badge app
which will be available for Scout has completed and includes a “really simple syndi-
$1.99 through the iTunes Store, started. With a few taps, he can cation” or RSS aggregator that
will let Scouts review merit check the requirements for any pushes Scouting news to the
badge requirement, keep track badge, find links to related web- owner’s phone. The app pub-
of their progress by require- sites and resources, and record lished by Boy Scouts of Amer-
ment, and even share their the requirements he has com- ica joins seven other merit
success on Facebook. pleted. badge and trail-to-Eagle appli-
cations available through the
“Boys are notoriously bad at If a Scout has already purchased Apple iTunes Store.
paperwork and famously good The Boy Scout Handbook—Boy
at technology. This app will Scouts of America app, which
help Scouts keep up with their appeared in 2009, it will auto-
advancement and undoubtedly matically be imported into the
spur them on to achieve even new app. The handbook app is
2 N D A N N UA L Y O U T H D E V E L O P M E N T
B R E A K FA S T S E T O F M A R C H 1 5 , 2 0 1 1
Please plan to join Event Chair Pat Theodora at the Palos Verdes Country Club for an inspiring morn-
ing of network and education. Our guest speaker will be John Fer, Col, USAF-Retired. John Fer was a
highly decorated Colonel with United States Air Force; he began his career as a pilot with the Strate-
gic Air Command flying a B-47. During the Vietnam War he flew 54 combat missions. But on Febru-
ary 4, 196, he was shot down over North Vietnam and spent more than 6 years as a POW where he
was imprisoned alongside future Senator, John McCain. Upon repatriation, he served in various staff
assignments around the world. He holds two masters degrees from Auburn University and University
of South Carolina. John is married with three grown children and remains very active in local San
Pedro community activities. John’s life embodies the Scouting model of personal determination and
life achievement. Among his decorations
are a Silver Star, Purple Heart, Legion of
Merit, Defense Superior Service Medal, and
the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Networking and registration begins at 6:30
a.m. while the breakfast and program
launches at 7:00.
“Please join us for a
For more information and to RSVP, contact
morning of networking
Victor Zuniga at (310) 413-4400 ext. 321. and discussions with
Colonel Fer!
Pat Theodora
Event Chair

4. E a g l e s i n F l ig h t ! N e w s l e t t e r Page 4
SCOUT EXECUTIVE’S CORNER
TIMELY THOUGHTS FROM PAUL MOORE
or promise, called the Admoni- member, whether taking on the
tion. One of the things that weighty responsibility of being a
members promise is to seek to Cubmaster or a Council Presi-
preserve a cheerful spirit, even dent, thank you for all that you
in the midst of irksome tasks do, and may you preserve a
and weighty responsibilities. cheerful spirit as you do your
best!
If you’ve been involved in
Scouting for any length of Paul
time, you have experienced
some moments of great joy,
seeing a boy win a Pinewood
Derby, watching a young
woman evolve as a youth
leader in Venturing, witnessing
a young man becoming an
I love a new Scouting year! Eagle Scout, or seeing the light
come on for a new leader who
We get to celebrate the good suddenly “gets it” as they are
things that have happened, going through training. “On My Honor, I’ll
and also to enjoy the promise
of even better things to come. But we must never lose sight
that those WOW moments
Do My Best”
This year is a great example occur because someone was
of that premise, with all the willing to take on some irk-
good memories of celebrating some tasks, and that others
our 100th Anniversary, and all shouldered some weighty re-
the potential of finding ways sponsibilities.
to be what we need to be.
So this year, on behalf of the
Within Scouting there is a very 25,000 youth who are having
important organization called those WOW moments all
the Order of the Arrow, also across the Los Angeles basin,
known as the Brotherhood of thank you. Whether the irk-
Cheerful Service. some task is balancing a coun-
cil budget or running a unit
Each meeting of the Order of popcorn sale, whether you do
the Arrow starts with a pledge this as a volunteer or staff
W A N T T O H AV E A S A Y I N W H A T S U M M I T
BECHTEL RESERVE OFFERS OUR SCOUTS?
Well, here’s your opportunity to win a cool prize from The Sum-
make The Summit Bechtel mit!
Family National Scout Reserve
the most incredible experience The survey and associated rules
and regulations is located on the
in the history of Scouting!
web at: https://
Now is the time to share your summit.scouting.org/en/
ideas! If you take a brief survey ShapeTheSummit/Pages/
by April 15, 2011, you could default.aspx.
win a special preview trip to the
New River Gorge and The Sum- Active Scouts and Venturers over
mit site in West Virginia! In the age of 13 may submit sug-
addition, if you win, everyone in gestions from the mild to wild.
your troop (or your son’s) could

5. 83 EAGLE SCOUTS DEPLOY TO
LAAC Eagle Scout
Association
I R A Q W I T H U TA H G UA R D U N I T
2333 Scout Way
Los Angeles, CA 90026
The Utah National Guard’s 141st Military Intelligence Battalion deployed to Iraq in
late 2010 and 83 of the soldiers serving are Eagle Scouts. “It’s easy being a battal-
LAAC ESA Committee ion commander of Eagle Scouts, because you don’t have to worry about them,” said
Army Lt. Col. Matt Price, the battalion commander and a Scout leader for his sons,
John MacAllister who include three Eagles. “They have high values, because they have been taught
Chairman that as young men. You can trust them.” The unit’s senior noncommissioned offi-
Brian Curtis cer, Army Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Lofland, echo’s the Colonel’s views. Lofland,
Staff Advisor himself a Scoutmaster, says “we feel like we’re part of the Scout program. To me,
Hannibol Sullivan
the Scout Law is similar to Army values.” Best wishes for a successful deployment,
Staff Advisor
141st!
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!
Got A Minute?
The LAAC Eagle Scout Asso-
ciation is looking for volun-
teers to help round out our
advisory committee. Clever
and enthusiastic Eagle
Scouts (goes without saying,
we guess) are asked to con-
tact John MacAllister at the
offices of Dorado Industries
(310) 544-1316 or Brian
Curtis at the Scout Center
(213) 413-4400.