MICHIGAN SCOUTER Your resource for Scouting in the Mitten In this Issue 2017 Winter Edition Photo Credit: Alexandra Standal michigan crossroads council, BSA council staff Scout Executive Don Shepard Grant Writing Supervisor Alexandra Standal Grant Writer Angela Jarjis Membership Shared Services Coordinator (Registrar) Birdie Sisco Popcorn Sales Specialist Alanna Bonar MCC Staff Assistant Barb Campbell Chief Financial Officer Michael Chaffee Controller/Human Resources Deb Hartman Sr. Accountant Misty Schalk Photo Credit: Sarah Hotchkiss Accounting Specialist/Payroll Mary Ervin VIEW PAST EDITIONS OF THE MICHIGAN SCOUTER Accounting Specialist/Accounts Payable Lauri Rodgers Table of contents Director, Marketing/ Communications & STEM Program Page 3 Page 4 Kimberlee Manor Page 6 Public Relations Manager Page 7 Jane Parikh Page 8 Graphic Design Specialist Page 9 Ashley Kraft Page 10 Page 12 Marketing Assistant Page 13 Rosalie Petrouske Page 14 STEM Associate, East/Southeast Page 15 Eric Suender Page 16 Page 17 STEM Associate, Central Page 18 Hannah Meitzner Page 19 STEM Associate, West/Southwest Page 23 Bridget Knight Page 34 Page 43 Page 55 2 A message from the key 3 Dear Scouts and Scouters, On behalf of the Michigan Crossroads Council leadership we would like to extend a warm holiday greeting to you and your families this holiday season. 2017 has been a tremendous Scouting year with a wide array of activities, the National Jamboree, excellent summer camping programs and a Fall that blessed the Scouting program with so many new families to share the memories with in the future. We are grateful for your leadership, family involvement and investment in a Scouting program that is unparalleled thanks to each of you and your commitment. May 2018 be an even better year of Scouting throughout Michigan. We look forward to working together to make Michigan Scouting the best it can be for the families served. Blessings to each of you and may you experience a happy Scouting new year! Yours through Scouting, Michigan Crossroads Council Key 3 Ray Davis, Council President Mike Weber, Council Commissioner Don Shepard, Scout Executive/CEO Donald Shepard Brad Murray Melissa Stricherz Victor Pooler Scout Executive/CEO Director of Outdoor Programs Southern Shores Field Service Great Lakes Field Service Council Scout Executive Council Scout Executive 3 There is a place for everyone in Scouting wanted to make him assistant Scoutmaster and he has received registration beyond the age of eligibility and he continues to be part of that group’s opening and closing. For him that’s an important part of his life.” About two percent of Scouts registered with the MCC require registration beyond the age of eligibility and the more significant accommodations that may come with that to complete their advancement work. These are usually Scouts with very severe limitations that may prevent them from participating fully in meetings or fulfilling advancement requirements without a higher level of assistance. “It needs to be pretty significant or pervasive,” Savage said, “like a significant cognitive delay or a severe emotional impairment.” Whether they are eligible for beyond age of eligibility or have special needs, about 95 percent of Scouts are in units chartered by schools and churches. Merit badges have to be done just as the requirements are written, but sometimes there are ways to make accommodations. The Scout may have to master it several times to get through it or may need to be questioned through multiple choice or “yes” or “no” questions or may have A Scout is a Scout, regardless of succeeds,” Savage said. “There to accomplish the requirements by special accommodations they is one young man who is actually demonstrating what they’re may require because of physical 18-years-old. It is unlikely that trying to do. or mental limitations, said Midge Savage, Chairwoman of the Michigan earning Eagle is in his future, “A Scout can have mild learning Crossroads Council’s Special Needs but he loves Scouting, reciting disabilities and would be expected to Committee. the pledge and he loves to participate through normal Scouting be around the group. They channels,” Savage said. “For instance, a “We all benefit when someone child who uses a text to talk computer, 4 There is a place for everyone in Scouting but is getting A’s and B’s in school, quiet time.” had been approved for registration would have a Merit Badge counselor beyond the age of eligibility. who would use text to talk, but would A key part of making the experience not be a candidate for beyond the age successful for Scouts with special “This gentleman thought that we were of eligibility.” needs is making sure leaders are weakening the Eagle and just giving it comfortable working with a young away. He had concerns about breaking Other accommodations could include man with special needs and parents it down into pieces,” Savage said. allowing a Scout on the autism have to be comfortable with the “We explained that the requirements spectrum who may not be able to sit relationship between their child and were being achieved in a segmented, through an entire meeting to come those they will be interacting with. slower way and by the time we were late or require a list of instructions done with the committee meeting, to be broken up into pieces that are Each Field Service Council is they understood. easier for them to manage. Sometimes responsible for processing they can’t stand in a group and need advancement beyond the age of “The adults around us make it a bigger to be in the front or the back and eligibility. Savage’s committee does deal than it needs to be. Kids will this is when, Savage said, the buddy trainings at Scouting University and bring their buddy along and they get system works well. She said these are Roundtables to ensure that every it,” Savage said. “We get caught up in small accommodations that can make Scout gets the full benefit of Scouting. rules and regulations and they just a positive difference. do it. It’s a bond and if other Scouts The committee includes a take the time to respect an individual Some units also have found that it’s psychologist, a therapist, and Scout, that respect leads to growth. helpful to have a quiet area which Units that foster that have successful benefits everyone and not just Scouts a social worker, in addition Scouts.” with special needs. to Savage who is a retired director of Special Education The bottom line for Savage and “Accommodations can be professional. She also has those on her committee is to made that are reasonable and been a long time Scouting make Scouting as accessible as still meet Scout standards volunteer wearing numerous possible so that every youth and there’s more that we can hats. who wants to participate has do,” Savage said. “Everything that opportunity. is on a continuum. Good Making these accommodations has met with resistance from some in Scoutmasters have discovered - Story by Jane Parikh Scouting, she said. Savage said one that kids need rest time and individual was upset that a young man 5 Chance's to Give back items will become gifts for children been a great source of support at a admitted to the hospital. difficult time. “We’re working on setting up a “We’ve cried and taken a bad foundation in Malachi’s name,” Nate situation and tried to make it said. “We’ve done some small things where we had some things crocheted good,” Nate says. “He was a and gave them away in Malachi’s very giving young man. He was name. We’re planning on a cloth always looking to help the next drive to be able to donate different person.” materials to the Sparrow Foundation to make blankets and pillows for kids Even in death that giving support at the hospital.” shined when Malachi became a “Gift of Life” donor. However, the extent of Nate said he has been asked many his many acts of kindness were not Nate Chance said he is keeping his times about where the strength known to his family until his death. son’s memory alive by giving to others. comes from to organize these giving As Chance, his wife, Carrie, and two moments. He said a dedication to Classmates related stories family and a focus on honoring his remaining children continue to mourn to the Chance’s about how the loss of their son and brother, son’s memory has a lot to do with it. Malachi, they are finding opportunities Malachi would befriend those to honor his memory through the “It’s just knowing who he deemed “unfriendable.” establishment of a foundation named was and the type of kid that “He would go out of his way for Malachi and a recent Toy Drive at he was,” Nate said. “We, as to help kids who were being Sparrow Hospital. a family, always try to look bullied,” Nate says. “He would tell me that they need a friend “We want to keep his memory at the positive in everything. so why wouldn’t I be a friend alive and still honor what he Malachi passed away and to them. There was a boy, who would have wanted to do,” there’s nothing we could whenever Malachi would see Nate said. do about it. We have to be forward-thinking about him, he would always say hi to Malachi, a member of Cub Scout honoring his life the best him and that was something Pack 260, passed away on October that we can and we have two we preached to the kids.