Chanco Courier online archive debuts

Not very long ago DeWitt Holland kindly sent me a copy of The Chanco Chronicles 1952-1992, which was published by Lodge 483 in celebration of their 40th anniversary. It is an impressive document indeed, with fascinating details about the formation of the Lodge and the camps where Old Dominion Area Council Scouts spent many summers. I read the entire document at one sitting and eagerly scanned it and created a PDF version to post online to share with others who might be interested. Before posting it I wanted to find the author, Ben Vincent for his permission.

Some internet sleuthing led me to find Ben in West Virginia and several emails later I not only had his permission to publish The Chanco Chronicles, but also an update that included the history of the Lodge covering the final years until its merger with Kecoughtan Lodge in January of 1996.

I mentioned to Ben that I was interested in finding more information to share about Chanco Lodge, including any newsletters he might have since I only had copies of two. Ben responded with every newsletter that he was able to locate in his research for The Chanco Chronicles, a total of 84 issues in all.

These 84 issues are all now online in PDF format for you to read in a new Chanco Courier online archive that represents nearly 500 pages of news spanning 4 decades. I hope that you will enjoy reading them as much as I did while preparing them.

The archive includes links to each issue as well as pictures of newsletter mastheads throughout the years and a list of Arrowmen who served as editor. As someone who served in that role for my Lodge I have a keen appreciation for the amount of work that goes into a newsletter, but only now understand the role of Lodge historian that an editor fulfills for the many potential readers in the future.

Added another 463 activity patch need

I was fortunate to recently add a long-needed activity patch need from the 1980's with a recent eBay purchase. Now I only need one more to finish up all of the activity patches from this decade. So if you happen to have a spare Kecoughtan Lodge 1988 Summer Ordeal patch I know a good home for it!

Wahunsenakah patches approved for 2009 Conclave

Minutes from the February 8 Wahunsenakah Lodge Executive Committee meeting include the approval of two motions related to Lodge patches:

• Patches motion for premium “restricted”, delegate “trader”, staff, beaver day, approved
• Patches motion 3 patches- 2 premium “restricted”, 1 delegate “trader”, Can sell more delegates to host lodge members, approved

These would appear to indicate that for the upcoming 2009 Conclave Wahunsenakah Lodge will issue 2 different premium flaps with a restricted number allowed to be purchased, a delegate "trader" flap, a staff flap, and a beaver day flap. The beaver day patch is earned by providing a minimum of 14 hours of service during the Lodge's scheduled beaver day events held in preparation of the upcoming conclave to be hosted by Lodge 333 at Bayport Scout Reservation (see Wahunsenakah Beaver Day flap expected).

First 2009 Wahunsenakah Lodge activity patch issued

Wahunsenakah Lodge 333 held their Winter Service weekend (formerly known as the Winter Ordeal) on Feb. 20-22 at Bayport Scout Reservation, and issued the patch pictured above. This patch design was approved earlier with varying backgrounds for all of the Lodge 333 events in 2009 (see Wahunsenakah Lodge 2009 Event Patch Sneak Preview).

The removal of the word "Ordeal" from the patch does not indicate no Ordeal was held, in fact over 90 candidates were expected according to notes from the Feb. 8 LEC meeting. The decision to change the wording to "Winter Service" was to recognize that the Ordeal was only a small part of the weekend and that the greater purpose for all involved was to provide service to the camp.

You will find pictures and descriptions of every Wahunsenakah Lodge activity patch since the Lodge was formed in 1996 through today on the Wahunsenakah Lodge Activity Emblems page.

Wahunsenakah Beaver Day flap expected

Wahunsenakah Lodge 333 will host the first Section Conclave at the new Bayport Scout Reservation on April 24-26, and in preparation for the event they have scheduled no fewer than nine "Beaver Days" at the camp.

According to the official Lodge web site:

The LEC has authorized a special service patch. After completing 14 hours at Camp (all of which must be during Beaver Days), you will be eligible to purchase 1 flap.

No word yet on what the special service flap will look like, but as soon as the details (or a picture) are available you'll find them here.

Colonial Virginia Council Scout Sunday 2009 patch

On February 1st the Chesapeake Bay District of Colonial Virginia Council sponsored their annual Scout Sunday (view flyer) with a 7 AM service at the Yorktown Monument, followed by breakfast at the local US Coast Guard Base.

Larry Johnson previously provided me with many images of the patches that have been issued for this event, and you will find all of them in the District Emblems section of the Colonial Virginia Council Emblems page. This year's version with yellow border and multicolored sunrise is an especially nice addition to this unique set of Scout emblems.

Thanks to Larry Johnson for sending the picture of the 2009 Scout Sunday patch.

2009 Colonia Virginia FOS CSP issued

The 2009 Friends of Scouting CSP for Colonial Virginia Council was recently released. The theme for this year is the sixth point of the Scout Law, "A Scout is Kind." The patch features an illustration of the Birdsong Center at Bayport Scout Reservation, a 16,000 square foot air conditioned multipurpose facility that includes an administration area, dining hall, medical center, trading post, and leader's retreat.

The CSP is available to donors who contribute a minimum of $75.00 to the Council's Friends of Scouting program. If you are interested in making a donation you can download the form here.

You can find pictures and information about each of the Colonial Virginia FOS CSP's on the Colonial Virginia Council Friends of Scouting issues page.

Thanks to Larry Johnson for the picture of this year's FOS CSP.