| 2010 Sweetwater District Awards Banquet |
With the close of the Centennial year celebration of the Boy Scouts of America,
the leaders of the Sweetwater District Scouts celebrated a year of
accomplishments within the District and to recognize the many adult Scouters
who had made exceptional contributions to the youth in the District as well as
the Scouting program as a whole. Thursday, December 2,adult leaders from all
levels of Scouting in Douglas County gathered at the First United Methodist
Church of Douglasville for good times and laughs as well as some moving and
inspirational messages.
the leaders of the Sweetwater District Scouts celebrated a year of
accomplishments within the District and to recognize the many adult Scouters
who had made exceptional contributions to the youth in the District as well as
the Scouting program as a whole. Thursday, December 2,adult leaders from all
levels of Scouting in Douglas County gathered at the First United Methodist
Church of Douglasville for good times and laughs as well as some moving and
inspirational messages.
The banquet opened with a welcome from District Activities Chair, Georgia Deakin and a prayer, led by Program Chair
Johnny Barron. Mrs. Deakin then continued with opening remarks, highlighted by the accomplishments of the year, including
membership numbers, camp statistics and accomplishments of Scouts within Douglas County. Among the accomplishments
was the recognition of the Centennial Class of Eagle Scouts within the Sweetwater District. The Eagle Scout rank is the
highest attainable rank within the Boy Scouts of America. Earning the rank of Eagle shows a great deal of dedication,
enthusiasm and a lot of hard work. Currently, there are around 1 million registered Boy Scouts/Varsity Scouts. Of that
number, only around 5% of Scouts achieve the rank of Eagle. The Sweetwater District is proud of those Scouts who showed
determination and drive to reach the pinnacle of Scouting.
The 2010 Sweetwater Eagles are:
Johnny Barron. Mrs. Deakin then continued with opening remarks, highlighted by the accomplishments of the year, including
membership numbers, camp statistics and accomplishments of Scouts within Douglas County. Among the accomplishments
was the recognition of the Centennial Class of Eagle Scouts within the Sweetwater District. The Eagle Scout rank is the
highest attainable rank within the Boy Scouts of America. Earning the rank of Eagle shows a great deal of dedication,
enthusiasm and a lot of hard work. Currently, there are around 1 million registered Boy Scouts/Varsity Scouts. Of that
number, only around 5% of Scouts achieve the rank of Eagle. The Sweetwater District is proud of those Scouts who showed
determination and drive to reach the pinnacle of Scouting.
The 2010 Sweetwater Eagles are:
Philip Welch, Troop 3
Lans Swafford, Troop 555
Brandon Curlee, Troop 228
Zachary Pittman, Troop 900
Vincent Haines, Troop 900
Anthony Nuccio, Troop 900
Nathan Jones, Troop 900
Lans Swafford, Troop 555
Brandon Curlee, Troop 228
Zachary Pittman, Troop 900
Vincent Haines, Troop 900
Anthony Nuccio, Troop 900
Nathan Jones, Troop 900
Following the meal was the recognition of leaders within the District with the various awards. Leaders within the District can
come from any unit, including Cub Scout Pack, Boy Scout Troop, Varsity Team or Venturing Crew, which includes young men
and women. Each adult leader within the District is a volunteer and receives no compensation other than the reward the get
when they see their hard work make a positive difference in the life of a Scout. The running joke within the Scouting
organization quotes an old line from a time long gone; Volunteering only takes “one hour per week”. All Scouts leaders work
hard to provide a great program. They do this for the love of the Scouts and the belief in the Scouting program. The District
recognized some of these leaders in particular for “above and beyond” accomplishments. This year’s award recipients are:
come from any unit, including Cub Scout Pack, Boy Scout Troop, Varsity Team or Venturing Crew, which includes young men
and women. Each adult leader within the District is a volunteer and receives no compensation other than the reward the get
when they see their hard work make a positive difference in the life of a Scout. The running joke within the Scouting
organization quotes an old line from a time long gone; Volunteering only takes “one hour per week”. All Scouts leaders work
hard to provide a great program. They do this for the love of the Scouts and the belief in the Scouting program. The District
recognized some of these leaders in particular for “above and beyond” accomplishments. This year’s award recipients are:
Cub Scouter Award - Awarded to a Scouter who has actively worked
to promote the Cub Scout program at a pack or district level.
Ashleigh Brown, Pack 900
Boy Scouter Award - Awarded to a Scouter who has actively worked
to promote the Boy Scout program at a troop or district level.
Marilynn Parker, District Advancement Chair
Scouting Family - Awarded to a family who works together to
promote and help deliver the promise of Scouting to their unit and/or
community.
Sandy Hoskinson, Pack 39
Bo Hunt, Pack 39
to promote the Cub Scout program at a pack or district level.
Ashleigh Brown, Pack 900
Boy Scouter Award - Awarded to a Scouter who has actively worked
to promote the Boy Scout program at a troop or district level.
Marilynn Parker, District Advancement Chair
Scouting Family - Awarded to a family who works together to
promote and help deliver the promise of Scouting to their unit and/or
community.
Sandy Hoskinson, Pack 39
Bo Hunt, Pack 39
| Sandy Hoskinson and Bo Hunt, Cub Scout Pack 39 |
Venture Scouter Award - Awarded to a Scouter who has actively worked to
promote the Venture Scout program at a troop or district level.
Jeff Haynes, Crew 39 / District Commissioner
Scout Spirit - Awarded to any registered Scouter who has helped promote
scouting in the district.
Denise Maddox, District Membership Chair
Hands on Award - Awarded to an individual or unit that goes above and
beyond the call to take on a project and see it through without being asked.
Mark Lewis, District Popcorn Kernel
R.A. Fraker, District Communications Chair / Pack-Troop 626
promote the Venture Scout program at a troop or district level.
Jeff Haynes, Crew 39 / District Commissioner
Scout Spirit - Awarded to any registered Scouter who has helped promote
scouting in the district.
Denise Maddox, District Membership Chair
Hands on Award - Awarded to an individual or unit that goes above and
beyond the call to take on a project and see it through without being asked.
Mark Lewis, District Popcorn Kernel
R.A. Fraker, District Communications Chair / Pack-Troop 626
| Georgia Deakin and R.A. Fraker |
Shining Light - Awarded to an individual, business, or
organization that has helped the scouting program on a
district level financially or materially, such as donating
money, facilities, material goods for scout programs and/or
projects.
Draper Cabinets
Kiwanis Club of Douglas County
Ken Carlson Award – This is a Sweetwater District specific
award, recognizing the “above and beyond” achievements of
individual Scouters and the dedication to the Scouting
program in the Sweetwater District.
Johnny Barron, District Program Chair / Troop 745
organization that has helped the scouting program on a
district level financially or materially, such as donating
money, facilities, material goods for scout programs and/or
projects.
Draper Cabinets
Kiwanis Club of Douglas County
Ken Carlson Award – This is a Sweetwater District specific
award, recognizing the “above and beyond” achievements of
individual Scouters and the dedication to the Scouting
program in the Sweetwater District.
Johnny Barron, District Program Chair / Troop 745
| Karmen Thornton with John and Elaine Stone of the Douglas County Kiwanis Club |
District Award of Merit - This is the highest honor that a district can bestow. The recipient
is recognized for noteworthy service to youth in Scouting, outside of Scouting, or both.
Johnny Barron
Cassandra Gardner, Unit Commissioner, Pack 610
is recognized for noteworthy service to youth in Scouting, outside of Scouting, or both.
Johnny Barron
Cassandra Gardner, Unit Commissioner, Pack 610
| Senior District Executive Karmen Thornton with the 2010 District Award of Merit Recipients, Cassandra Gardner and Johnny Barron |
Outgoing District Chair Lenny Draper was also honored for outstanding service to the District as well as the
Boy Scouts Of America.
Boy Scouts Of America.
Earlier this year, both the Sweetwater and Pickett’s Mill Scouts lost a great friend, Roger Allen. Mr. Allen was a dedicated
Scouter who was always there when anyone needed help. His leadership and mentoring of young men throughout the years
inspired countless youth and adults as they grew in Scouting as well as beyond. He was a true friend and a great man who
will truly be missed.
In remembrance of Mr. Allen, the Sweetwater and Pickett’s Mill Districts created a new award in his honor. The Roger Allen
“Cheerful Service” Award is presented to an adult who exemplifies the motto of Scouting’s honor society, Order of the Arrow;
“Cheerful Service”. The nominee can be anyone that shows this continued aspect of Scouting and lives by the principle set
forth by Mr. Allen.
The inaugural recipient of the Roger Allen Cheerful Service Award is Wayne Hicks.
Scouter who was always there when anyone needed help. His leadership and mentoring of young men throughout the years
inspired countless youth and adults as they grew in Scouting as well as beyond. He was a true friend and a great man who
will truly be missed.
In remembrance of Mr. Allen, the Sweetwater and Pickett’s Mill Districts created a new award in his honor. The Roger Allen
“Cheerful Service” Award is presented to an adult who exemplifies the motto of Scouting’s honor society, Order of the Arrow;
“Cheerful Service”. The nominee can be anyone that shows this continued aspect of Scouting and lives by the principle set
forth by Mr. Allen.
The inaugural recipient of the Roger Allen Cheerful Service Award is Wayne Hicks.
| Larry Cohran presents the inaugural Roger Allen Cheerful Service Award to Wayne Hicks |
Following the presentation of the awards, Senior District Executive, Karmen Thornton, addressed the attendees. Mrs. Thornton
is the BSA’s representative to the District and leads as well as assists the adult members in the execution of the program
throughout Douglas County.
A highlight of Thornton’s comments was that, for the fifth consecutive year the Sweetwater District had achieved the
recognition of Quality District. To receive this honor involves a great number of criteria being achieved, chief among those,
growth in the program within the District. In times where other youth oriented programs may see a decline in membership,
the Sweetwater District of the Boy Scouts of America saw record numbers in growth, particularly within the Cub Scout
program. The District saw the addition of numerous units at each level, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Venturing.
As the evening drew to a close, Mrs. Deakin selected a short story from the book “The Scouter’s Way. The story spoke of how
a World War II veteran encountered a present day Scout leader. The veteran spoke of how the training he received from his
Scoutmaster many years ago kept him alive on some forgotten island in the South Pacific. Upon his return home, the veteran
had wanted to visit his old Scoutmaster to thank him, only to find that he had been killed in Europe. The touching story
concluded with the veteran thanking the present day leader for his dedication to helping boys. This is the message that the
Sweetwater District leaders took home. That “one hour” each week is most definitely worth the impact that these and all
Scout leaders have in the lives of the youth within Douglas County and beyond.
is the BSA’s representative to the District and leads as well as assists the adult members in the execution of the program
throughout Douglas County.
A highlight of Thornton’s comments was that, for the fifth consecutive year the Sweetwater District had achieved the
recognition of Quality District. To receive this honor involves a great number of criteria being achieved, chief among those,
growth in the program within the District. In times where other youth oriented programs may see a decline in membership,
the Sweetwater District of the Boy Scouts of America saw record numbers in growth, particularly within the Cub Scout
program. The District saw the addition of numerous units at each level, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Venturing.
As the evening drew to a close, Mrs. Deakin selected a short story from the book “The Scouter’s Way. The story spoke of how
a World War II veteran encountered a present day Scout leader. The veteran spoke of how the training he received from his
Scoutmaster many years ago kept him alive on some forgotten island in the South Pacific. Upon his return home, the veteran
had wanted to visit his old Scoutmaster to thank him, only to find that he had been killed in Europe. The touching story
concluded with the veteran thanking the present day leader for his dedication to helping boys. This is the message that the
Sweetwater District leaders took home. That “one hour” each week is most definitely worth the impact that these and all
Scout leaders have in the lives of the youth within Douglas County and beyond.
| 2010 Activities Chair, Georgia Deakin |
