November is here and in a blink of an eye
the year 2022 is almost over. There is a lot to be thankful for. Thankfulness
is recognizing the good things that have happened to you and acknowledging the
people who made those good things happen. I am thankful for all the leaders
that serve our scouting community. We come together when our community is in
need and humble ourselves for the greater good. Some leaders have been in
scouting for so many years, even when their own child have grown are no longer
scouting, they still are committed to this movement, to our youth and
community.
The month of November is a transition month, as fall blends into winter. Leaves that were once green, turned to bright orange, yellow, and red. Soon after the leaves turn brown, and nature prepare for the winter cold. On November 8th we had a Total Lunar Eclipse, also referred to as a Blood Moon, coincidentally, this happened to fall on Election Day, this is the first time in U.S. history that we’re enjoying an Election Day Total Lunar Eclipse. It’s never happened before and won’t happen again until 2394. On November 11th, we honored our soldiers. Did you know that Originally Veterans Day was known as Armistice Day and that Veterans Day is celebrated on November 11 because it was on this day at 11:00 a.m. in 1918 that World War I ended.
As the season of thankfulness is upon us, let us look back in gratitude at our Founding Scouters' impactful works. We all have heard of Lord Baden-Powell's endeavors across the world, and his eventual arrival in the US in 1912. However, in 1910, an astute American businessman and outdoorsman, W.D. Boyce, stopped in London. Legend has it that an Unknown Scout doing his "Good Turn Daily" helped Boyce along his way, but we know for sure that Boyce stopped at the Scouting Headquarters there and picked up more information about the local group. Boyce returned to the US and helped incorporate the Boy Scouts of America on February 8th, 1910. His plate being full, Boyce didn't spend much time with the new BSA, and Edgar M. Robinson, of the YMCA, agreed to help nationally organize the BSA, by way of funding.
Board meetings were held then to organized several groups into the BSA; The Woodcraft Indians led by Ernest Thompson Seton, who penned the original edition of the Boy Scout Handbook, The Boy Scouts of the United States headed by Colonel Peter Bomus, The National Scouts of America headed by Colonel William Verbeck, The National Highway Patrol Association Scouts headed by Colonel E. S. Cornell, The Boy Pioneers (formerly known as the Sons of Daniel Boone) headed by Daniel Carter Beard, a Freemason known for his work with youth orders. The BSA's first National Council was formed in the fall of 1910, answering over 2,500 leader applications and 150,000 youth inquiries from 44 states. The council hired James E. West, a lawyer and advocate of children's rights, for one of the Council's first jobs; to re-write and adapt Seton's British-based Boy Scout Handbook for American Boys. The organization also formed a Commissioner Service group, to work with the first local councils that were forming, and in February 1911, their first annual meeting was held at the White House. President Taft and thusly President Roosevelt, were first selected Honorary BSA President's and Vice-President's respectively. West then accomplished his hired task, and the Official Handbook for Boys was published., and his title was changed.
James E. West became the first Chief Scout Executive in November of 1911. The office is the top professional position in the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America. West is also most known for being instrumental in expanding the third part of the Scout Oath: To help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight. Today, the position is held by Roger Mosby. Mosby was not previously a professional Scouter, bucking practice. The board selected Mosby but did not give him the title right away but came to a vote to change and install the title to him. Mosby was a youth Scout, and a longtime volunteer, working on both district and national levels of the BSA. Mosby is the recipient of many distinguished awards for his service. As a board voted on Mosby, it reminds us of the boards that met and voted on the birth of the BSA. November is a month to remind us of our Scouting Heritage, and to give our many thanks to those that came before us.
Calling all Scouts! The city of
Whittier Parks Commission will hold a meeting on Wed Dec 21 at 6PM on
an appeal filed by the Chair of the Urban Forest Commissioner of the
Whittier Conservancy to save 5 giant Ficus Trees that the city wants to
destroy. This appeal hearing
may qualify for Eagle badges Citizenship in the Community and Communications
merit badge requirements of attending a meeting.
For further information or questions please reach out to: Mr. Dickerson at (562) 698-8657 or by email at
attorneydickerson@yahoo.com.
Recruitment Materials
If you want any of the items below, please email me as they are not on the web site yet. I will need the orders by Monday to pick up from council by Nov 4th while I am there. Any orders after that I will have to arrange to get for you 😊.
Pick up will be in Whittier. There are wristbands, flashlights, stickers, Boys Life minis, and recruitment envelopes (leaders favorite or at least mine so you don’t have to buy the plain ones)
Stay informed at the District Round Table!
Round table falls on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. We are now meeting Hybrid. So, you can now either come down in person or tune remotely from wherever you may be.
Remember, Roundtable is for everyone! Not just unit leaders.
If you would like to join us in person we meet at the First Methodist Church 13222 Bailey St. Whittier, CA 90601.
If you cannot come in and would like to be on the email with the link for the Zoom Call, please reach out to Tommy Martinez (tlc_martinez@yahoo.com).
Upcoming
Events in Pio Pico
SAVE THE DATES:
February 11th- Pushcart
Derby TBA
February 18th - District
Dinner TBA
April 14 – 16th- Camporee- Pardo
June 19-23rd- Cub Scout Day Camp
H.A.T
Training Corner
History Corner
By
Lou Smith, Pio Pico District Vice Chair
April 30, 1916 – Scouts Take Part in
Tree Planting (LA Times, Part II, Page 2)
CITY CLUB'S THIRD LIVE OAK IN GKIFFITH
PARK.
Boyle Heights Lads and Their Leaders Furnish Programme;
Hollywood Boys are Escort for Visitors; Week-end Training Camps for Summer
Planned.
Members of Troop Twenty-five of the Boy
Scouts organization of Boyle Heights participated in the annual tree-planting
exercises held at Griffith Park yesterday afternoon by the City Club. T. J.
Housekeeper, scoutmaster, was in charge of the programme, which included music
by the Boy Scout Band.
Judge Meyer of the Superior Court,
president of the City Club, presided and D. W. Pollard, chief scout executive
of Los Angeles, was the principal speaker during the exercises that followed
the planting of a live oak beside the roadway leading from the Western-avenue
entrance Into Griffith Park. It was the third live oak set out there by the
City Club,
Mr. Pollard spoke of the value of the
training developed through the Boy Scout programme. He said there are about
200,000 members of the Boy Scout organizations in the country and more than
1200 In Southern California.
I hope everyone had a
Happy Thanksgiving!
