Pack 130

Welcome to the boys and parents of Pack 130.
This evening’s Pack meeting is a very special event. This evening we will recognise those cub scouts that have made advancements, we will recognise our Pack 130 volunteers that are leaving the Pack, we will recognise those taking up new volunteer positions, we will conduct the Arrow of Light ceremony, recognising those cub scouts that have achieved the highest award possible in the cub scout programme, and we celebrate the Crossing Over ceremony for those boys that are moving on to the Boy Scouts.

This evening we have the boy scouts of Troop 130 to join us in the Flag Ceremony, as we celebrate the crossing from cub scouts to boy scouts for five of our Pack.

Flag Ceremony:

I ask the Troop 130 Assistant Scoutmaster Geoff Senogles, who this evening is representing the Scoutmaster Brian Vanderpool to conduct the boy scout flag ceremony to open this evening’s meeting.

Scoutmaster – please conduct the boy scout flag ceremony.

Troop 130 Flag Ceremony

I now ask Bill Van Veen and Den 3 to conduct the Cub Scout flag ceremony for Pack 130.

Pack 130 Flag Ceremony

I ask the Scoutmaster to retrieve the Troop 130 colours and take your position across the bridge in preparation for the Crossing Over Ceremony.

Troop 130 retrieve the Colours

Introductions:

I would now like to introduce two special guests to our Pack Meeting this evening:

Firstly I introduce Cindy Aeilo who has been appointed as the Boy Scouts of America Unit Commissioner for this area. Cindy was a former Den Leader in Pack 130 and the Chairperson for Pack 130.
Cindy, we appreciate the recognition of the BSA to our meeting tonight through your presence.

Secondly I would like to introduce Georges Llanso of the Divonne Archery Club who will be our archer this evening for the Arrow of Light Ceremony

I would also like to present Tom Windmuller who will be representing the Pack 130 Chairman Adam Hartley tonight. As you all know Adam is currently taking part in the Beijing to Paris car rally, and we all wish him well in that great challenge. Tom will be representing Adam in the recognition to our Pack 130 Committee.

Awards
This evening we will only be recognising advancement awards and awards of special merit. Other awards such as belt loops and pins will be given to den leaders to give you. This is because of the time we need for the important ceremonies of the Arrow of Light and Cross Over.

Awards by Den

Special Award
Pack 130 also has a tradition of providing special recognition to any cubscout that completes the entire Webelos programme.
In my last 8 years in Pack 130 this award has only been achieved three times. Before I started in cubscouts no one could remember anyone achieving this.
In the Webelos programme there are 20 Activity badges. To reach the rank of Webelos a cubscout has to achieve 8 of these.
This year we have one cub scout that has achieved all 20 Activity badges, and thus receives the engraved Pack 130 pen knife.

I would like to ask Struan to come forward to receive this recognition of achievement.

Presentation of Pack 130 pocket knife

This is the recognition of special achievement.

This evening, however, in front of us, in Struan, we have something even more remarkable than special achievement.
Additional to achieving all 20 Webelos Activity badges, Struan has also achieved the  remarkable maximum of all 40 belt loops as well as 28 activity pins. Additionally he has achieved the Leave no Trace award, the World Conservation Award, the recruiter strip and  the interpreter strip.
He has taken part in all but one escalade run, all but one summer camp, and hardly missed a single den or Pack event since joining Pack 130 Wolves 4 years ago.

In recognition of this unprecedented and remarkable achievement in cub scouting, on behalf of Pack 130 we present Struan with an exceptional achievement award.

Present exceptional award from Pack 130

I now ask the Unit Commissioner to say a few words:

Cindy recognition speech
Cindy presents signed, framed certificate of exceptional contribution to scouting.

Cub scouting is led by Den Leaders with strong family support. No boy can achieve this level of excellence without a committed Den leader and without strong family support.

I would like to ask Struan’s mother to step forward for special recognition.

Shona is the Den leader of Den 7 where she has another son in cub scouting. She is also a Girl Guide leader. She is also mother of five, has a full time job and is a huge resource to the Pack 130 Committee.
Pack 130 recognises the extraordinary contribution given by Shona to Pack 130 and the efforts made to support Struan’s achievements in cub scouting.

Award Shona the pack 130 pen knife

Volunteering
Scouting only exists through the voluntary efforts of  the cub scout parents. Without you all committing your knowledge, dedication, time and effort to the cub scout programme, we would not have a Pack 130.
This voluntary effort is most explicit in those of you who have taken up the challenges of either leading a Den or joining the Pack 130 committee to provide other services such as treasurer, quartermaster or chairman.

I now invite Tom Windmuller to recognise the Committee

Tom Windmuller recognises the contributions of the committee and recognises the  departing Pack 130 leaders.
Note: absentees: Adam Hartley, Betsy Vanderpool, others?

I would now like to introduce our new volunteer Pack 130 committee members who have taken up the challenge to represent our cub scout programme:

As our new Badge Coordinator I would like to introduce and welcome Monica Gunn Healey.
As our new Quartermaser I would like to introduce and welcome Tara Lissner.
As the new Den leader for Den (?) I would like to introduce …….
and, as our new Cubmaster I introduce and welcome Farquhar Olgivie.

Volunteering does not stop at level of Den and Committee members.

This year we have had wonderful Pack 130 events such as the Blue and Gold banquet, the Pinewood Derby, the Bowling, the Summer Camp, the Escalade, the Kermesse water stand, the Charity support – each of these events has been managed and supported by the parents of Pack 130. In my past years as Cubmaster I have never seen such a broad, competent and professional level of support and commitment by parents to the Pack 130 programme – so I ask all the cub scouts to stand and applaud the wonderful voluntary efforts of the Pack 130 parents.

Arrow of Light
We now recognise those boys that have achieved the highest level of cub scouting – the Arrow of Light.

I ask those boys receiving the Arrow of Light to please step forward.

The Arrow of Light badge is the only badge a cub scout may put on his boy scout shirt, thus recognising the significance of this achievement.
The arrow points the cub scout towards the future of scouting and to the right direction. The sun symbolises the new challenges provided each day by scouting and by life.
The seven rays on the badge coming from the sun remind us of the seven days of the week and our commitment to ‘do a good turn daily’.

The seven rays of light represent our learning as cub scouts:

The first ray represents Wisdom. This means the cub scout uses what he knows to live a better life.

The second ray represents courage. This means you can face danger despite your fear.

The third ray represents self-control. You can choose your own path instead of being persuaded to follow others, and can stop and think before responding to a challenge.

The fourth ray represents justice. This means being fair with others in our play and work.

The fifth ray represents faith. Faith includes belief in God and in things we cannot see, but feel are true.

The sixth ray represents hope. You hope for better things tomorrow but work hard to make them happen.

The seventh ray represents Love. Love of family, home, friends and God. Every kind of love of love is important for a full and happy life.

By living these seven values you can lead a happy and fulfilling life. You are now moving on from cub scouts having demonstrated all the qualities represented by this arrow during your time in Pack 130.
May this arrow remind you to keep these values always in your character, and keep us always in your memories.

I now ask each of you, as your name is called, to step forward to receive your arrow of light badge as the hand-made arrow, with your name engraved upon it, is fired towards the target and fired towards your future in scouting:

Jamie
Robert
Sam
George
Jonathon
Konrad
James
Sam
Stephen
Struan
Luc
Steven
Duncan

We also fire arrows for the Den leaders who have taken you through your cub scout programme:

Adam Hartley
Peter Rees-Gildea

Please collect your arrows, cherish them and look after them.

Boys collect arrows

Cross Over
I now invite you all to celebrate the Crossing Over ceremony.

Cubmaster:
Tonight is a significant event for these five boys, Stephen, Struan, Luc, Steven and Duncan.  Pack130 are losing some loyal Webelos; whereas over on the other side, Troop 130 are gaining in the same measure so “130” is in balance, so all is well.  Pack 130 is proud of your achievements and wishes you well in your new adventure.

Scoutmaster, is Troop 130 ready to receive our cub scouts?

Scoutmaster:
Yes, Troop 130 is ready and is delighted to welcome Stephen, Struan, Luc, Steven and Duncan to join us.

This bridge here in front of us has been built by these scouts using skills they have learnt, especially to carry you safe and dry over to a new chapter in your scouting adventures.  This bridge is a symbol; we could have asked you to simply walk over this bridge on my left which is built of steel and concrete.  That would be too easy; that would be no challenge; there would be no sense of adventure or achievement in doing that…..

It is only when you challenge yourself, and succeed, do you grow stronger, both physically and mentally.  During the course of your scouting adventures you will be challenged and, with effort and with scout spirit, you will grow into fine young men.

Cubmaster:
Can I please ask the Webelos who wish to cross over to Troop 130 and their parents to step forward.
Can I please ask the parents to cross the concrete bridge and stand on the right of the scouts.

Troop 130, I present [in order – Stephen , Struan , Luc , Steven, Duncan ] to you.  He has passed all the Webelos requirements and is ready to join Boy Scouts

Senior Patrol Leader:
[Stephen; Struan; Luc; Steven; Duncan] I congratulate you on achieving the Arrow of Light. Please make the scout sign and say the scout law.

Cubmaster:
[Stephen; Struan; Luc; Steven; Duncan], please take off your Webelos cubscout scarf.

Senior Patrol Leader:
Please cross the bridge.
…..
I welcome you to Troop 130 and present you with the Scout Scarf in recognition of your crossing over.

After all the boys have crossed over:

Scoutmaster:
I believe that we have not yet finished.  I understand we have one more representative of Pack 130 who wishes to cross over and join the ranks of Troop 130.  Is this true Cubmaster? 

Cubmaster:
It is true.

Scoutmaster:
And who is this?

Cubmaster:
It is I

Scoutmaster:
Please advance and cross the bridge to join us.

Cubmaster:
Cubmaster elect, please accept the scarf and symbol of the Pack 130 Cubmaster.

Cubmaster elect:
Pack 130 thanks you and wishes you success in Troop 130.

Cubmaster crosses over

Scoutmaster:
I welcome you to Troop 130 and present you with the boy scout leaders scarf.

On behalf of all the boys, leaders and committee members of Troop 130, I would like to welcome all you new boys and your parents.

Senior Patrol Leader, to close this ceremony please dismiss the troop.

Senior Patrol Leader:
Troop Dismissedl>