Wahunsenakah Lodge 2009 Event Patch Sneak Preview

The Pamunkey Chapter Chatter provided a special sneak peek at the Lodge 333 event patches planned for 2009 in their most recent edition. The lead feature of the January 12 edition is Pamunkey artist wins lodge patch design competition and the accompanying illustration displays the patch concept developed by youth member Ethan S. which was approved by the Lodge Executive Committee at their January meeting.

According to the story, "the patches feature a lighthouse flanked by arrows piercing the initials OA. The background color of each patch changes with the season. From left to right above: Winter, Spring, and Summer Service Weekends, Fall Fellowship, and Holiday Banquet."

The changing background for the seasons is a theme honored by Wahunsenakah event patches in prior years, as well, and it's nice to see the tradition continue.

Chanco Lodge 483 online newsletter archive

Ever since I was able to assemble over 100 issues of the Kecoughtan Kryer to create an online archive of the Lodge 463 newsletter I've wanted to do the same for Chanco Lodge. That goal has proven to be a difficult one to achieve because Chanco was a much smaller lodge than Kecoughtan, which means fewer newsletters were printed and distributed. Additionally, since I was in Kecoughtan Lodge the number of contacts I could approach for Kryers was much greater than those who were Chanco Arrowmen.

Larry Smith and DeWitt Holland each provided me with an issue of the Chanco Courier to include on this web site, and they are now scanned and available as PDF files on the Chanco Lodge page. Soon I will add a Chanco Courier page to organize the newsletters from that Lodge the same way I did the Kryers. Former Chanco Lodge Chief Ben Vincent has kindly promised to help me by providing copies of the many Couriers that he has in his possession.

Lodge newsletters provide a unique and valuable glimpse into the Lodge's past, and I am excited at the prospect of adding them to the Chanco Lodge information on this web site to help preserve the history and tradition of that proud Lodge from Suffolk, Virginia.

For now, I hope you will enjoy reviewing the first two issues:

• Chanco Courier, Feb-Mar 1978
• Chanco Courier, May-July, 1970

The Chanco Chronicles 1952-1992 now online

DeWitt Holland recently sent me a copy of The Chanco Chronicles - History of Chanco Lodge 483, 1952-1992, which was issued on the occasion of the Lodge's 40th anniversary. Written by former Lodge Chief (1974-1975) Ben Vincent, this 27 page document provides a wealth of historical information not only about the Lodge but also Camp Waters and Siouan Scout Reservation.

Some internet sleuthing helped me find Ben (now in West Virginia and a member of Lodge 550), and he kindly granted permission to publish his document on my web site, which he has visited before.

The Chanco Chronicles is a fascinating read, and spans the entire history of the lodge with the exception of the last 3 years before the merger with Kecoughtan 463 to form Wahunsenakah Lodge 333.

SR-7A Conclave patch design revealed

Bayport Scout Reservation will host it's first OA Conclave this year when Wahunsenakah Lodge hosts the Section SR-7A Conclave April 24-29. The patch design for this event was included in a recent edition of the Pamunkey Chapter newsletter. The theme for this year's conclave is "Legacy of Brotherhood."

The delegate registration form for the event indicates that the following collectible items are available for order: participant patch, backpatch, hat pin, neckerchief, polo and t-shirts, hoodie, and SR-7A decal. A Wahunsenakah Lodge delegate patch is also available to Lodge members.

Wahunsenakah Lodge (formed in 1996) has only hosted one previous conclave, the 2003 SR-7A Conclave, held at the now-closed Camp Chickahominy.

333 Winter Banquet patch issued

Wahunsenakah Lodge held their annual Winter Banquet on Saturday, December 13, at Chestnut United Methodist Church in Newport News, and issued a colorful 3" round patch to mark the occasion.

The special guest speaker for this year's banquet was Admiral Joel R. Whitehead, United States Coast Guard Commander of the Eighth Coast Guard District, New Orleans. Back in 1970-71 he was better known by his nickname of "Corky" and his title was Chief of Kecoughtan Lodge 463.

In keeping with this year's "cartoon duck" theme the solid-embroidered patch design features three yellow ducks around a candy-cane striped "North Pole." The W's on this patch are ghosted into the design so well you will need to look hard to find them all (they are located at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock positions).

This makes the tenth consecutive year that Lodge 333 has issued 5 activity patches during the calendar year. In 1997 and 1998 (the first two years of the Lodge's existence) the Lodge did not hold a Fall Fellowship event, so only 4 activity patches were issued during those years.

Thanks once again to Larry Johnson for contributing the picture of this patch.