VALDOSTA — Those who have dedicated their lives to scouting were honored Monday night at the 2010 Annual Recognition Banquet for the Alapaha Area Council, Boy Scouts of America.
In addition to nationally celebrating 100 years of Boy Scouting, the annual banquet handed out various awards throughout the evening as the Alapaha Area Council marks its 50th anniversary.
Valdosta Mayor John Fretti kicked off the evening’s events with a reading of a proclamation declaring Monday, Feb. 8, 2010, as the 100 years of Scouting Day.
Retired Col. Clarence Parker then received the 2009 Eagle Class Honoree award.
Parker served 30 years in the United States Air Force, ending his career as wing commander at Moody Air Force Base in 1971. He has served as a member of the Alapaha Area Council Executive Board for many years and serves as the area council’s representative to the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
Parker, upon receiving the award, congratulated the group of young men receiving their Eagle rank.
No matter where they go in the future, Parker said, they will take the experiences learned in boy scouts with them forever.
Young men from various troops across the 12-county coverage area then received their Eagle rank.
A very special badge, the first of its kind for the Alapaha Area Council was then given out.
Mike Flory, Council Aquatics Committee, presented Jay Turk of Troop 898 with the council’s first ever scuba merit badge.
The badge was only introduced a couple of months ago, Flory said.
This badge will allow boy scouts to explore the waters as they have done the forest, he said.
Anne Barnas, council executive board member then thanked Bob DeLong, Wood Badge Scoutmaster, for his tireless dedication to the Alapaha Area Council.
“Trust is a fragile commodity,” Barnas said. “And only as valid as a person’s integrity.”
DeLong then presented several scouting volunteer’s with the Wood Badge. The Wood Badge provides participants with leadership skills, team development, project planning and skills in how to manage conflict, DeLong said.
All these skills that are useful in a volunteer’s scouting position and in other areas of life, he said.
Ken Ricket from Ellis, Ricket and Associates Architects and Planners presented the audience with initial drawings of a 4,000-square foot training facility that will be built at Camp Patten.
Construction should begin any day know and the facility will feature meeting space, a kitchen, bathrooms, heat and air conditioning and 1,000 feet of covered space outside, he said.
Council President Clay Moseley then passed the presidential gavel over to Andrew Smith.
As the incoming president, Smith then awarded the 2009 Quality Council Award to Moseley and George Burke, 2009 council commissioner.
The final awards of the night went to scouts whose dedication to Boy Scouts have helped make the organization one of the largest youth-oriented programs in the nation.
The Silver Beaver Award is the Alapaha Area Council’s highest honor, said Jerry Jennett, council vice president of administration and council president elect.
Carl Hutchinson, Clay Moseley and Cindy Bookout all received Silver Beaver honors.
During 2010 various activities will be held nationally as well as locally to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America said Jason Moon, 100th Anniversary Celebration Chairman.
Adventure Base 100 will be in Jacksonville, Fla., on March 19-21, which features a 10,000-square foot campus that has a ropes course and hands-on exhibits, he said.
The Generations Connection will be conducted in partnership with the National Arbor Day Foundation. People can go online to scouting.org/100years and purchase a tree in a family member’s honor. For every tree sold another tree will be planted in scouting’s honor, Moon said.
The Alapaha Area Council’s first ever Eagle Scout Reunion will be on Saturday, April 24, with more than 720 Eagle Scouts expected to attend, he said.
Eagle Class of 2009
In attendance Troop Scoutmaster School
Ahston A. Williams Troop 426 Abby Smith Clinch County
Zachary T. Smith Troop 426 Abby Smith Clinch County
Nicholas T. Johnson Troop 426 Abby Smith Clinch County
Ethan C. Guess Troop 426 Abby Smith Clinch County
Zackery A. Handley Troop 426 Abby Smith Clinch County
Branden J. Hillman Troop 426 Abby Smith Clinch County
Jacob R. Smith Troop 426 Abby Smith Clinch County
Drew C. Threlkeld Troop 415 Paul Watson Valdosta High
Jordan R. Jackson Troop 440 Calvin Williams Valdosta High
Matthew W. Hendricks Troop 686 Paul Beeler Berrien County
W. Alex Fletcher Troop 859 Tony Fletcher Coffee County
Nate M. Hall Troop 875 Jim Owens Fitzgerald High
Sean P. White Troop 806 Richard Zimmerman Okefenokee
Technical College
Not in attendance Eagle Class of 2009
Allen W. Muncy Troop 415 Paul Watson
Colton W. Mercer Troop 418 Woodson Witt
Wayne L. Bishop Troop 832 David Leverett
Dean R. Buckler Troop 454 Lawrence Mathews
Alexander Mathews Troop 454 Lawrence Mathews
Trent C. Harper Troop 468 Steve Dansereau
Matthew A. Gruver Troop 426 Abby Smith
Charles A. Gruver Troop 426 Abby Smith
Alexander A. Scheib Troop 454 Lawrence Mathews
Michael T. Hobby Troop 875 Jim Owens
Jad T. Fussell Troop 858 Boyd Heindenreich
Clark R. Heidenreich Troop 858 Boyd Heindenreich
William T. Cutshaw Troop 440 Calvin Williams
