On Sunday, a very special award was presented to the United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Men.
Brian Karch, district director of the Boy Scouts, presented the groups with the Chartered Partner of the Year award on the 99th anniversary of the U.S. Boy Scout movement.
“This year, we are recognizing our charter partners in honoring them and appreciating their partnership with us in using the scouting program for the youth in the communities,” said Karch.
“The Ozark Trails Council started a few years ago recognizing our outstanding charters, and every
year have presented a special thank you and recognition for that. The Neosho United Methodist Church has chartered Pack 34 and Troop 34 since 1952. And there is dated before that, there is a charter that Gary Smith pointed out to me, dating back to 1947. But at least since 1952, for 56 consecutive years, Neosho United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Men have sponsored cub scouting and boy scouting here in Neosho. They have also, when the area desired, have had an adventure crew or explorer post and that is for young men and women ages
15 to 21 to continue on and do things with the values of what you heard earlier today.”
Upon receiving the award, Dick Day, president of the Methodist Men, thanked Karch and made a
special announcement.
“When we got our new CLC (Christian Life Center), we had an opportunity to improve the situation for our troops and our cub pack,” Day said. “We never had enough room in this building
(downtown church location) to do a lot of the activities, store equipment, etc., so we took it on as Methodist Men project.”
Day said a year to a year and a half ago, the Methodist Men began work in the unfinished basement of the CLC to provide scouting groups with a meeting location.
“And by using up a lot of materials that were left over during the original construction, that were just out there and buying a few things, and not paying one thing in labor so far, but with hundreds, and hundreds of hours of volunteer work out there, we have a scout room ready to open,” he said.
“The scouts will probably move in there next week.”
Day noted they have put in a bathroom, constructed walls, put in electricity and plumbing, painted, scrubbed floors and done other work to get the scout room ready.
Also in attendance was Gary Smith, chartered organizational representative with Troop 34.
“The support of the Methodist men and Methodist Church has been strong, unwavering,” he said.
“We have had a lot of good scout leaders and a lot of people that have been influenced by scouts.”
Since 1910, more than 110 million people have worn the Scouting uniform. Locally, the Ozark Trails Council has 3,923 adult leaders to help shape the lives of 10,717 youths associated with the program.
“The ideas and values found in the Scout Oath and Law are timeless, and they form the foundation of who we are as a community and a nation,” said Richard Sapp, district chairman, in a prepared statement. “This anniversary is a chance for Scouts and volunteers all over the country to show their respect and dedication to such an important American tradition.”
Neosho, Mo. —
