Second issue of the Los Angeles Area Council\'s Eagle Scout Association Newsletter

1. Eagles in Flight! Newsletter
February 2010
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: WELCOME 2009 LAAC CLASS OF EAGLE SCOUTS!
By the Numbers 2
Challenge Coins 2
New Scouting $1 Coin 3
Centennial Activities 3
Scout Exec’s Corner 4
How Cool is This? 4
Getting Involved 5
Contest Winner 5
Special Points of Interest:
 Our 2009 Eagle Scout
class had 248 new Ea-
gles Scouts.
 LAAC has 770 Packs, Scouters attending the Council’s Centennial Annual Dinner held on February 6, 2010 witnessed
Troops, Teams, and approximately one-third of the 248 young men who earned their Eagle Scout award in 2009 accept
Crews. 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
 Our Boy Scouts earned Rockwell and Frank Leyendedker. Each provided a glimpse of the important role Scouting has
7,511 merit badges in played in America’s history over the past one hundred years. Welcome new Eagles!
2009.
 LAAC ESA is on the web!
Look for our groups at
www.linkedin.com as MEET SAM COUCH
well as on
www.facebook.com. Sam Couch from Troop 4673 tackle his Eagle project. Over
in Hermosa Beach delivered the course of nine months with
this year’s Eagle Charge re- 600 hours invested, Sam
sponse. Sam’s Scouting ex- planned and led a one-week
perience began when he summer camp specifically de-
joined his Tiger Cub pack at signed to provide camping and
age six. socialization experiences to
children between five and thir-
teen. Activities included trips
His on-going volunteer work the aquarium, LA Zoo, and Uni-
with physically and develop- versal Studios. The volunteer
mentally challenged adults organization was so pleased
and youth led him to concen- with the project’s success that
trate on this unreached seg- it is now part of its annual plan.
ment when it came time to
Nice job, Sam!

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
BY THE NUMBERS: WHO KNEW?
“ For the past
Here are a few interesting  115.5 million merit badges
facts about Scouting prepared were earned through 2008.
been earned plus an-
other 231 with Crossed five years more
by BSA Research and Evalua- Palms.
tion Department and LAAC:  2,043,375 have earned the
rank of Eagle Scout since  LAAC’s four outdoor facili-
than 1,900,000
 62.2 million Cub Scouts
1912. ties served 19,384
campers in 2009.
merit badges
 13,345 Heroism Awards,
registered: 1930-2009. Medals of Merit, and Certifi-  2009 Popcorn Sales have been
 53.8 million Boy Scouts, cates of Merit have been generated $309,000 for
Venturers, and Explorers bestowed on Scouts since
1912.
LAAC Scouting. earned
registered: 1910– 2009.  16,467 Cubs, Scouts,
 33.3 million unit leader  BSA Honor Medals have Varsity Scouts, and Crews annually.”
volunteers: 1910-2009. been awarded since 1911; participated in LAAC pro-
since then 2,234 have grams in 2009.
LAAC CHALLENGE COINS HELP PAY FOR
THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION!
Magnificently crafted by Sym- an aerial dogfight), forcing him the lookout for German sabo-
bol Arts®, the “Rolls Royce” of to land behind enemy lines, teurs dressed as civilians.
challenge coin manufacturers, thus allowing him to be cap- The French mistook the
these 1½ inch diameter coins tured by the Germans. The American pilot for a German
come individually packaged in Germans confiscated his per- saboteur and immediately
a special protective case. Each sonal belongings, but they prepared to execute him.
coin bears its own unique didn’t take the leather pouch Desperate to prove his alle-
number from 1 to 1,000. from his neck. In route to a giance, the pilot pulled out
prisoner of war facility he was the coin from his leather
held overnight in a small Ger- pouch and showed it to his
The origin of Challenge Coins
dates back to WWI. Air war-
man-held French village near French captors. One of the
Frenchmen recognized the
“The French
the front. At night, the town
fare was new during World
War I when the Army created was bombarded by the British, unit insignia on the coin and mistook the
delayed the execution long
flying squadrons they were
manned with volunteer pilots
creating confusion and the
pilot escaped. enough to confirm the pilot’s American pilot
from every walk of civilian life.
identity. Safely returned to
his squadron, it became a for a German
Early pilots came from the
working class or rural back-
Avoiding German patrols by
donning civilian attire, he crept
tradition for all members to
carry their coin at all times.
saboteur and im-
grounds; some were wealthy
college students who were
across no-man’s land and
made contact with a French
mediately pre-
lured by the adventure. patrol. But all of his identifica- LAAC Challenge Coins are
priced at $10 and can be
pared to execute
tion had been confiscated so
As the legend goes, a wealthy he had no way to prove his obtained through Paul him.”
identity. Unfortunately for McNulty:
lieutenant, while serving in
France in 1918, ordered him, the French had been on pmcnulty@denovong.com
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

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
THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA CENTENNIAL
S I LV E R D O L L A R I S O N T H E W AY !
The weaving of thoughts, cul- fitting that the surcharges from BSA's initiative to promote the
tures, and ideas into one Ameri- the sale of each coin are au- Boy Scouts of America Cen-
can fabric is stamped into our thorized for use to benefit the tennial Silver Dollar. Judge
national identity - E Pluribus BSA National Foundation in its Sessions' son Congressman
Unum, "Out of Many, One." efforts to bring Scouting to un- Pete Sessions of Dallas,
derserved communities. Sur- Texas, also a Distinguished
In 2010, the United States Mint charges for the coin sales may Eagle Scout, introduced and
will inscribe that phrase onto a generate up to $3.5 million for championed the legislation
new commemorative coin that this very worthy cause. For the that authorized the BSA to be
honors the Centennial of the first thirty days the proof coin one of the two commemora-
Boy Scouts of America. Begin- will be offered at $39.95 and tive coins produced by the
ning March 23, the US Mint will the uncirculated coin will be United States Mint in 2010.
make available for sale offered at $33.95, after which
350,000 high quality, modern the prices will rise slightly. Ordering begins at noon (EST)
issue, commemorative silver on March 23, 2010. Orders
dollar coins. Judge William S. Sessions, for- can be placed through the US
mer Director of the Federal Mint at www.usmint.gov or at
Like the inscription on the coin, Bureau of Investigation and 1-800-USA-MINT. Sorry, no
the BSA gathers together youth Distinguished Eagle Scout, is pre-sales.
from all backgrounds. So, it is the Honorary Chairman of the
S AV E T H E D A T E : P L E N T Y O F W A Y S TO
HELP CELEBRATE SCOUTING’SCENTENNIAL
 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. “Scouters can
[Details forthcoming] choose from A to
 Cen-Ten-O-Ree - Council-wide Jamboree-style Spring Camp-O-Ree! You won’t want to miss the
Z ways to
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
celebrate
Cards to collect, and a “Big Show” to crown the Saturday evening. Don’t miss it; we won’t have Scouting’s first
another Centennial for 100 years!! Revised Date: May 21 - 23, 2010.
100 years!”
 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 Paul McNulty
fun-filled games for thousands of Scouts and Scouters. [Details forthcoming] LAAC Centennial Chair
 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.

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
that heart on the line for some-
The project that evolved was one else. We each learned a lot
one of restoring a slave ceme- about organizing, about speak-
tery, literally from a junkyard. ing, about hard work, as we con-
It wound up requiring 400 ducted our various projects.
hours of my labor, and thou-
sands of hours by others; it is Isn’t it great to know that an-
still a lovely park, 46 years other 250 young men will learn
later. to do their best, as they become
Eagle Scouts in the Los Angeles
When my son came up for his Area Council this year? When
Eagle project in 1989, the you visit the Cushman Watt
project system had evolved a Scout Center, take a look at the
bit. He chose to build an out- young faces on the bulletin
My personal and speaking door chapel, overlooking a board outside the door of the
theme this year is “On my lake, for our church in Virginia, Scoular Board Room. And imag-
and spent about 100 hours ine how great it would be if we
honor, I’ll do my best.”
working on it. had to post smaller pictures “On My Honor, I’ll
because even more young men
Most of us who are Eagles, become Eagles? Do My Best”
specifically if you are my age This spring, a young friend of
or younger, did an Eagle mine from Eagle Rock is doing
Scout Service Project. What his Eagle project at a mission It’s a privilege to walk the Scout-
does a young man learn, in serving the homeless. He is ing trail alongside you!
doing his Eagle project, about building a new playground for
doing his best? the children at the mission.
The cost was to be $4,300 but Paul
he raised $6,000 so the pro-
When I earned my Eagle in ject has been expanded.
1964, the Eagle project was a Again, he will spend many
brand new concept. My hours on his Eagle project.
Scoutmaster had no idea
what to expect, so he told me
I would have to do something What did I – what did my son
so good and extensive that Brett – what did my friend
the examiners would have no Owen learn about doing our
choice but to pass me. best? First, we had to have
heart, and be willing to put
HOW COOL IS THIS?
To celebrate the first 100 and Centennial Edition gold them in stock and some may
years of Scouting, Henry Re- filled etchings in the buttstock have to special order for you.
peating Arms announces the and forearm.
release of its Henry Golden
Boy “Boy Scouts of America® If you wish to purchase
Centennial Edition” licensed the Henry Golden Boy "Boy
rifle. To mark this milestone, Scouts of America Centennial
this special rifle features the Edition" you must do so from a
Scouts Oath, Scouts Law, local gun shop. The company
scrollwork and traditional Boy suggests that you order its free
Scouts of America logo embel- catalog which will come with a
lishing the receiver, as well as list of gun shops in your area.
a 100 Years of Scouting logo Some gun shops may have

5. LAAC Eagle Scout
Association
2333 Scout Way
Los Angeles, CA 90026
WANT TO GET MORE INVOLVED?
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
LAAC ESA Committee the Los Angeles Area Council’s Eagle Scout Association:
1. Join our e-mail distribution list. Here’s how: 15. Mention LAAC ESA on your blog. Paste
John MacAllister http://www.boyscoutsla.org/website/ a link to our website and social net-
Chairman home_page/Eagle_Scout_Association/Info.pdf work groups.
Brian Curtis 2. Invite a friend to join LAAC ESA. 16. Tell LAAC ESA what you’d like to see
Staff Advisor 3. Join the ESA on Facebook—www.facebook.com/ the group do/be/accomplish.
Hannibol Sullivan LAAC Eagle Scouts 17. Send a note to newsletters you re-
4. Join the ESA on LinkedIN—www.linkedin.com ceive. Ask them to include a short
Staff Advisor article to help us find “lost” Eagle
Group ”Los Angeles Area Council Eagle Scout
Don Crocker Scouts in Los Angeles.
Robert Gierat Association”
Gary Jones 5. Wear an Eagle Scout lapel pin—
Paul McNulty www.scoutstuff.org
David Meshulam 6. Bring a Scouting coffee cup to the office. Use it.
Greg Mitchell Discuss with co-workers.
Gerry Morton 7. Put a tag line on your e-mail and/or website.
William Plourde, Jr. “Know an Eagle Scout in Los Angeles County?”
John Pollock Have them visit www.boyscoutsla.org.
Rick Richmond 8. Help organize a social networking event in Los
Steven J. Rothans Angeles.
Nobby Schnabel 9. Help organize a service project in Los Angeles.
Robert F. Scoular Scouting for Food, Pay It Forward, District/
Steve Silbiger Council Campout.
David Tomblin 10. Contribute to the Eagle Scout Scholarship Fund.
Bob Ulrich 11. Attend the Council’s annual Eagle Scout and
Silver Beaver recognition dinner.
Volunteers are always 12. Be a Scout volunteer. Merit Badge counselor,
Committee member, den or pack leader.
welcome!
13. Contribute to annual “Friends of Scouting” fund-
raising campaigns.
14. Join an LAAC ESA subcommittee or working
group.
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!