Archive for Current Events

Scouting for the Cure

Posted in Current Events,Occoneechee 104,Scouting News,SR-7B Lodges by John E. Pannell on March 30th, 2011 at 12:46 pm
Occoneechee 104 S79?

Occoneechee 104 S79?

Recently Occoneechee lodge issued a flap to raise funds to support breast cancer research.  Profits from the sale of this flap will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.   A pre-order form for this patch is still posted on the website.  However since the lodge flap has already been issued and is currently available from the lodge trading post, I strongly recommend contacting a lodge brother directly and inquiring about availability, instead of sending in an order.   I know several members of Occoneechee lodge read this blog regularly.

Occoneechee is at least the fourth lodge to have issued patches in support of breast cancer research.   The other lodges are Ajapeu 33 (three flaps), Japeechee 341, (1 flap), and Tahosa 383 (two flaps).

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"Mathematics has beauties of its own -- a symmetry and proportion in its results, a lack of superfluity, an exact adaptation of means to ends, which is exceedingly remarkable and to be found only in the works of the greatest beauty When this subject is properly ... presented, the mental emotion should be that of enjoyment of beauty, not that of repulsion from the ugly and the unpleasant."
In H. Eves Mathematical Circles Squared, Boston: Prindle, Weber and Schmidt, 1972.
J. W. A. Young


One Hundred Years Ago Today

Posted in Current Events,Scouting News by John E. Pannell on February 8th, 2010 at 1:50 am

One hundred years ago today, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) was founded by W. D. Boyce.     The Scouting movement was started in the United Kingdom in 1907 by Lord Baden-Powell.     Boyce brought Scouting to the US after meeting with “the unknown Scout” in London, many legends springing up around this encounter.     From that humble beginning sprang the largest youth movement in the free world.

There are celebrations planned around the country and online on this date.     Scouts and Scouters are being encouraged to wear their uniforms on this date.   The BSA also has events planned throughout the year in honor of its centennial,   with the high point being this Summer’s National Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill.   If   you see any links to coverage of today’s anniversary events, please add them in the comments.     I will try to add some myself as I find them.

Happy Birthday to the BSA!

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    "Since a politician never believes what he says, he is quite surprised to be taken at his word."
    Charles De Gaulle


    Scouter on “Pawn Stars”

    Posted in Current Events by John E. Pannell on January 29th, 2010 at 2:12 am

    Last night while falling asleep in front of the TV with my cats, I was watching “Pawn Stars” on The History Channel.     The show features a Las Vegas pawn shop and the stuff that’s brought in there to be sold or pawned.

    One of the potential customers was an elderly gentleman who visited in complete Scout uniform looking to sell a large accumulation of stamps.     He was looking to raise money to send boys to camp.     He was hoping there would be something of great value in the pile of unsorted used postage stamps still on paper.   He referred several times to a “million dollar stamp”.   The horde, from what could be on TV, was very unremarkable and seemed to be heavy in stamps from the Third Reich.   Those who buy patch collections could sympathize with the plight of someone trying to buy this:   imagine if it was a completely unsorted and unfocused patch collection.

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    "It is with true love as it is with ghosts everyone talks about it, but few have seen it."
    La Rochefoucauld


    Rush Limbaugh, Roger Ailes, and the Boy Scouts

    Posted in Current Events by John E. Pannell on November 12th, 2009 at 11:30 pm

    Wednesday night (11/11/09) Rush Limbaugh was in New York to attend the banquet at the Westchester-Putnam Council.     According to Limbaugh, his good friend, Roger Ailes, chairman and CEO of the Fox News Channel, was presented with the council’s “2009 Good Scout Award”.   Limbaugh introduced Ailes.

    Limbaugh says this about the Boy Scouts:

    …I was a Boy Scout once, for a year.   But one of the reasons I wanted to go was because the values that are the Boy Scouts are American values, traditional American values.   That room last night, as I said in my remarks before presenting Roger, that room was America, and it’s values like that are going to save this country…

    Limbaugh also played on his show Thursday a brief quote from Ailes’ acceptance speech:

    …Every generation gets called to meet a challenge. This generation will as well. I am heartened to know that what the enemies of America don’t know is that someday they will meet the courage, resilience, dedication of these young Americans we are so proud of, and they will keep America free…

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      "Ultimately property rights and personal rights are the same thing."
      Calvin Coolidge


      A Pittance of Time

      Posted in Current Events by John E. Pannell on November 11th, 2009 at 2:29 am

      On this Veterans Day, and the 91st anniversary of the end of World War, please take a few moment to remember those whose service to this country throughout the years helped to preserve and defend this nation.   It’s just a pittance of time.

      (video after the jump)

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        "Adversity makes a man wise, not rich. "
        Romanian Proverb


        Twenty Years Later

        Posted in Current Events,Personal Stuff by John E. Pannell on November 10th, 2009 at 6:30 pm

        The world was a very different place 20 years ago.   Europe was divided between two opposing powers, engaged in a “Cold War” for decades.     Germany was split in two.     A wall split its former capital, helping to make those in East Germany prisoners in their own country.     Then the wall came down and all was changed.

        Last Summer those who attended NOAC were told about the Power of One.     In this case, it was the power of a few:   those who dared to dream of freedom for Germany and Europe and who lead others towards that end.

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          "Those people who develop the ability to continuously acquire new and better forms of knowledge that they can apply to their work and to their lives will be the movers and shakers in our society for the indefinite future."
          Brian Tracy


          Scout Saves Teacher’s Life

          Posted in Current Events by John E. Pannell on October 17th, 2009 at 3:27 pm

          With the news stories lately of BSA members who have run afoul of zero tolerance policies in our government run schools, I thought I would share a bit of good news.

          A 10 year old Cub Scout with autism is credited with saving his teacher’s life.   He applied the lessons he learned in Cub Scouts.   As the teacher says, “He is my hero.”     CNN’s video report on this story can be seen here.

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            "Where there are no tigers, a wildcat is very self-important. "
            Korean Proverb


            On This Anniversary

            Posted in Current Events by John E. Pannell on September 11th, 2009 at 6:05 am

            On this eighth anniversary, here’s   a musical selection for today.     Never forget the “common” man.

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              "Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people."
              W. C. Fields


              OA Founders on Patches

              Posted in Current Events,Scouting News by John E. Pannell on August 5th, 2009 at 6:05 am
              Unami 1 J10

              Unami 1 J10

              Today at NOAC will celebrate the memory and legacy of the founders of the Order of the Arrow with the traditional Founders Day events.       Events center around exhibit and displays from the lodges.   Many of the exhibits highlight items, customs, or traditions from the lodge’s home area.     Many lodges give away small gifts.     In the past food and drinks were also prepared, but new health and safety regulations will curtail this aspect of the event.

              In honor of the founders, I thought I’d share some of the patches that have depicted E. Urner Goodman and Carroll A. Edson.

              For various reasons, Col. Edson is not as well remembered or honored as Dr. Goodman for his role in the founding of the OA.     So, it’s appropriate that the first patch I show is possibly the only lodge issue to picture both founders.   It   is the J10 from Unami 1, issued as part of a set of jacket patches Unami issued for the OA’s 75th anniversary.

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              "Someone told me that each equation I included in the book would halve the sales."
              Stephen Hawking


              2009 OA Distinguished Service Awards Presented

              Posted in Current Events,Scouting News by John E. Pannell on August 4th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
              Kaylene Trick

              Kaylene Trick © 2009 Order of the Arrow, Boy Scouts of America

              Last night at the National Order of the Arrow Conference the 2009 Distinguished Service Awards were presented.   49 brothers were bestowed this honor and recognized for their exceptional service to the Order and bestowed.     I believe one brother in particular earned a special place in OA history last night.   Quoting from the NOAC 2009 Live! section on the National OA website:

              Kaylene Trick
              Kay is a Vigil Honor member of Susquehanna Council and Woapea Sisilija Lodge. She is a member of the Order of the Arrow National Committee. According to her DSA nomination form, Kay’s “service to youth spans more than 20 years and includes leadership to Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Venturing, and the Order of the Arrow.”

              I take this opportunity to extend my sincerest congratulations to Brother Trick and all the other recipients of the Distinguished Service Award.

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              "Today the real test of power is not capacity to make war but the capacity to prevent it. "
              Anne Elizabeth O'Hare McCormick



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