Rotarian Honored at Scout Jamboree

Rotarian honored at Scout Jamboree hen the 36,000 Scouts and Wleaders recently returned home with many fond memories from the 10-day 2013 National Boy Scout Jamboree at the new Bechtel Summit Reserve in West Virginia. Steve Henning of Rockland Township returned with one unexpected fond memory. He was attending a Rotary Meeting at the Jamboree and the BSA’s Chief Scout Executive, Wayne Brock, was the featured speaker. At the conclusion of the Photo courtesy of Randy Piland meeting, Henning was Steve Henning, Rockland Township, presented Silver Wheel for surprised when he was called forward, and even years of service in his own Hawk Mountain Council as well as in more shocked to be IFSR Exhibit booths and as IFSR Webmaster for half a decade. presented the International Fellowship of Scouting Mountain Council, but has Webmaster Wheels that makes IFSR Rotarians Silver Wheel served in IFSR exhibit (http://www.ifsr-net.org) for roll smoothly!” Award, their highest award. booths at national and more than half a decade. international Jamborees and Henning has been a member IFSR International IFSR salutes you, Steve, and Rotary conferences, is the of the Boy Scouts for 48 Commissioner, Brian thanks you for your tireless author of the widely read years and a Rotarian for 23 Thiessen, presented the efforts on our behalf! You and appreciated On My years. He heard about the award, are indeed one of the Silver Honor ... The Hawk IFSR while on staff at the “The Silver Wheel Award is Mountain Council Story “International Fellowship of Scouting for outstanding service to 1908-2010 hardbound Rotarians salutes you, Steve ... You are book, is one of our nation’s the International Fellowship indeed one of the Silver Wheels of Scouting Rotarians over leading experts in years of effort. rhododendrons and azaleas that makes IFSR roll smoothly!” (so much so that his email Steve is not only active in — IFSR International Commissioner, tells it all (rhodyman@) and Brian Thiessen IFSR within his home Hawk has also served as IFSR’s World Scout Jamboree in Prior to becoming a In 2008, Henning was asked Henning noted, “the Boy Korea in 1991 with Brian professional, Henning held to write a book on the story Scouts justifiably received a Thiessen. His 48 years in numerous positions in of Hawk Mountain Council lot of national publicity for Scouting included 13 years Scouting. He served as a for the BSA’s 100th having girls in Venturing, as a professional employee leader with a Whitfield Anniversary Celebration in the BSA’s co-ed older youth at Hawk Mountain Council. Troop. He later became an 2010. program, as participants at organizer and recruiter for He retired in 2002 and has the 2013 National Jamboree, Tigers Cubs, the BSA’s pre- “It was a lot of fun continued to be actively but the publicity was Cub Scout program. He also researching the history of involved in Scouting. incorrect in stating this was worked to save Troops and Scouting and how it came the first BSA Jamboree “I found that Scouting and Packs that were in jeopardy from England to Berks and Schuylkill Counties, but the where girls were allowed to Rotary’s common goal of due to leadership and best part of writing the book be participants. When I was service combined with membership problems. was in interviewing over a on staff at the 1989 National Rotary’s historic support of While serving as a BSA 100 veteran Scout leaders Jamboree at Fort. A.P. Hill, Scouting and other youth professional, Henning and collecting thousands of Virginia, we had a co-ed programs made the served as a District photographs. Every contingent of Explorers as International Fellowship of Executive in Schuylkill photograph had a story to participants including 22 Scouting Rotarians a great County, was on staff at tell,” Henning said. girls. Some of the girls were way to inspire other National and World Scout Girl Scouts that enrolled in Rotarians to be more Jamborees, and served as As a Scouting Rotarian, he Exploring so they could supportive of Scouting and adviser to the staffs for serves as the IFSR attend the Jamboree. From other youth programs,” advanced adult leader and Webmaster, and sets up then until this year, girls Henning said. “And, by the youth leader training. Since Scouting exhibits at Rotary were allowed to serve on retiring, he has served on way, Brian’s comment Conferences and Rotary staff, but were not allowed staff at Trail to Eagle Camp Exhibits at Boy Scout about rhododendrons is to be participants.” and continues to serve on jamborees. He was president because he and I also share staff at National and World of the Mahanoy City Rotary an appreciation Provided by Steve Henning, Jamborees as well as on Club and currently is Club rhododendrons and Hawk Mountain Council, various Hawk Mountain Secretary of the Kutztown azaleas.” BSA, retired, Reading. Council committees. Rotary Club. URL: http://www.berksmontnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130805/LIFE01/130809916&template=printart .

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