Introduction

My association with the Boy Scouting movement began as a Cub Scout in
Thomasville GA. My mother was Den Mother as den leaders were called then.
About the time I joined the Boy Scouts (1957) my family moved to Glendale CA
where I became a member of Troop 11, sponsered by the Men's Club of St.
Mark's Espicopal Church.

It was a great troop. The Scoutmaster, Bert Fuqua, had been raised out in
Mojave (CA high desert) and knew an endless number of wonderful places to go
camping. On one especially memorable trip Bert (as we called him) enlisted th
e services of a palentologist from the Southwest Museum (Pasadena, CA) and
took us to a site where the rocks were covered with pictographs, which are
sort of prehistoric graffetti. The palentologist had previously surveyed and
staked what he thought was a village or seasonal camping site used by the
prehistoric Indians of the area. He had us dig (carefully!), two boys per
marked off area, in hopes of finding a kitchen ring. As luck would have it,
the area I was assigned did indeed have a kitchen ring from which the
scientist collected charred pieces of wood to take back for dating. He came
to a meeting about six months later and gave us the results of that dating
(about 2000 bc). What a great experience.

Other trips with Bert were equally unique. Bert and his coleaders were
inclined to emphasis camping and related activities over advancement. There
was only one Eagle advancement while I was with Troop 11 (it wasn't me). On
the other hand, we went backpacking every summer, an activity my family and I
continue with enthusiasm to this day. The person I count as my best friend
was a Scout with me in Troop 11.

In 1960 I attended the National Jamboree in Colorado Springs as a member of
Verdugo Hills Council's Troop 70 (Section 32). After the Jamboree we went
backpacking at Philmont. It was a great trip. I was the only Scout of Troop
11 to go. The Troop bought me film and I gave a slide show and talk about
the experience when I got back.

I moved on to Explorers and was elected to the Order of the Arrow as a member
of Spe-Le-Yai Lodge, #249, Verdugo Hills Council. I served as Lodge
Secretary and then as Medicine Man the following year. I remained active up
until the time I joined the USAF (1967).

Now I am active again. My son is in his second year of Cub Scouts (Bear Den
#5) and I am in my second year on the Pack's leadership team. Last year I
volunteered and served as Awards and Membership Chair. I got tagged with
organizing the Space Derby, and that on one week's notice. The Derby
happened on schedule, but it hardly went as smoothly as it could have. As a
result of that experience I began to ask more questions at the Committee
meetings in hopes of anticipating the coming events and avoiding other
diasters. It became obvious that the Pack's Leadership lacked direction and
organization. The District Representative apparently took notice and so now
I am Committee Chair of Pack 132 of Carmel IN.

That ends my introduction. I'm glad to be involved again in Boy Scouts. My
son is quite enthusiastic about Cubs and that is reward enough for me.
Things are more organized this year but there are still problems. I would
like to air some of them with the group in the next week or so.

I'm looking forward to discussing Cub Scouting with you all,

John
Waidner

(JTWaidner@...)

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