Re: 50th Year Celebration Ideas

Brian,

Ideas you may want to consider for your 50th Anniversary Celebration:

* Display old uniforms
* Display all of the ribbons normally hung on the Troop flag around the
room where each can be seen individually in chronological order
* Display any surviving old flags including patrol flags
* Read old postcards and letters from camp to home
* Relate funny stories from the past
* Invite alumni
* Skits about what it was like way back when by adults and patrols
* Displays of old gear and new gear
* Scrapbooks
* Slide show or video compilation of pictures
* Special honors/awards to veterans
* Don't forget media news releases with pictures
* Invite local dignitaries as guests of honor

One approach that I've seen is for the Troop to have a catered or pot luck
supper followed by awards and presentations and then an historical and
very BRIEF slide show of events over the past fifty years including
some pictures of postcards sent home by the first troop members and the
newest side by side (shows that things change, but still are the same) and
some humorous situations. Keep the pace quick and upbeat. When the slide
show is over - keep the lights out. Light a single large candle in the
front of the room and denominate it the Spirit of Scouting. Explain that
50 years ago there was no Scouting here until so-and-so started the Troop
(First Scoutmaster and Committee). Explain that their efforts led to the
spreading of this spirit. Ask the oldest members to come forward and light
their candles (this takes a lot of candles). Then explain that in
succeeding years their efforts caused the light of Scouting's Spirit to be
passed on and spread. Ask the next oldest group (five years) to stand
and for the first year group to light their candles. Repeat the process
for each five year spread, until all Scouts past and present have had
their candles lit. Conclude with a statement that because of the
selfless efforts of these many Scouts the light has spread and spread
helping young people to grow to successful positions in the community
using leadership and values learned in Scouting. Ask the older alums to
present the current Scouts (pick presenters ahead of time on a one-to-one
ratio) with the 50 year strip to be worn over the Troop number. End with
Scout Vesper in candlelight setting. Dismiss. If you don't get some
teary eyes out of this, the audience is dead - contact a mortician. Grin.

Speaking only for myself in the Scouting Spirit, Michael F. Bowman
Dep.Dist.Commissioner-Training, G.W.Dist., NCAC, BSA (Virginia)
U. S. Scouting Service Project FTP Site Administrator (PC Area)
ftp1 or ftp2.scouter.com/usscouts E-mail: mfbowman@capaccess.org

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