 |
Adult Leaders of Troop 868 |
|
|
The jobs of Scoutmaster and
Assistant
Scoutmaster are simultaneously demanding and rewarding. Unlike
other adult leaders, the scoutmasters work directly with the scouts at
weekly troop meetings and out "in the field" with scouts on
outings and service projects. One of the primary goals of the
Scouting program is to teach boys to become responsible, contributing
citizens in their respective communities. This is accomplished
under the leadership and guidance of responsible, morally straight men
who live by the principles of the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Such
men provide role models worth emulating. The Troop Committee of
Troop 868 exercises great care in choosing the men selected (permitted)
to be scoutmasters in our unit. At a minimum, ALL Troop 868
scoutmasters have completed all four of the scoutmaster training courses
recommended by the Boy Scouts of America. Several of our
scoutmasters are Eagle Scouts. All have demonstrated extraordinary
dedication to Boy Scouting and a sincere desire to make Scouting in
Troop 868 a safe and rewarding experience for all scouts. |
||
 |
Scoutmaster Bob Meek has been in Scouting over 35 years. An Eagle Scout, Mr. Meek brings a wealth of scouting experience to the troop. A former Cubmaster, Cub Scout Day Camp Director, Assistant Scoutmaster, Webelos Den Leader, and Troop Committee Chairman, Mr. Meek is both WoodBadge trained and a BSA-certified lifeguard. He is married and has three children, including a daughter who earned the Girl Scout Gold Award and two sons who are both Troop 868 Eagle Scouts. Mr. Meek is a member in both the Order of the Arrow and the tribe of Mic-O-Say. | |
|
Assistant Scoutmaster Mike Canchola came to the job somewhat reluctantly. Mike's job supervising bridge construction and maintenance for the highway department required him to work many nights and weekends, so he wasn't very involved in Scouting during his son's first few years in the troop. Then we lured him onto the Troop Committee. Then he took a few training classes. And in the process, he learned that this game we call "Scouting" can be a lot of fun. And once we had him hooked, we reeled him in! And a very good catch it has been. | |
 |
Assistant Scoutmaster Osvaldo (Waldo) Guzman was new to Boy Scouting when the troop was formed. Mr. Guzman served as Chairman of the Troop Committee for several years, ably guiding the unit during its infancy and dealing with all the myriad issues and challenges involved in forming a new troop. Mr. Guzman is retired from the U.S. Army. He is married and has three children, including a son who is a Troop 868 Eagle Scout a daughter who earned the Gold Award in Girl Scouting. Like all Troop 868 Scoutmasters, Mr. Guzman has completed Boy Scout leader training. His dedication to the troop has been extraordinary. | |
 |
Assistant Scoutmaster Jeff Hagerman started out as a Cub Scout Den Leader when his son became a Bear Cub. It was a foregone conclusion that he was destined for Assistant Scoutmastership! Mr. Hagerman is a guy who can quickly size up a situation and think 10 steps ahead --- a skill that's often useful in Scouting. He's also the only member of our scoutmaster staff who can read a map! (Not really, but he is better at it than our "directionally challenged" Scoutmaster!) His quick wit is always entertaining and his patience with the younger scouts is admirable. | |
 |
Stephen Guelda is a Troop 868 Eagle Scout who decided to stick around and give back to the unit. Being an Eagle, Stephen thoroughly understands the program and possesses excellent Scouting skills. He is an outstanding teacher. And, being younger, he is both an inspiration and a role model for the scouts as a young man who truly embraces the ideals of the Scout Oath and the Scout Law in his daily life. As a college student, his time for Scouting is sometimes limited by the demands of school work, but we tries to be as actively involved as possible in both weekly troop meetings and weekend outings. | |
|
|
Assistant Scoutmaster Tommy Guelda was pulled into Scouting by his sons and pushed by his wife! An avid outdoorsman, Mr. Guelda is a natural for the job. A successful businessman, he wasn't sure he could find the time for Scouting until his family ganged up on him. Troop 868 is glad they did. A quiet, thoughtful man who prefers to work unnoticed in the background, Mr. Guelda is one of those guys that does what he says he'll do and makes life easier for the rest of us. His oldest son became a Boy Scout but his two youngest sons are both Troop 868 Eagle Scouts. | |
|
Assistant Scoutmaster Chris Brown is the youngest member of our scoutmaster staff. Chris is another Troop 868 Eagle Scout who chose to stick around and contribute back to the program upon reaching age 18. Chris is a graduating senior at St. Xavier High School in Louisville. As a Boy Scout, he served as a Den Chief to Cub Scout Pack 868 for nearly two years and played a vital role in the successful startup of that unit. He was fortunate to be a member of a Philmont crew in 2008. The degree to which he'll be able to participate as a college student is yet to be determined; but for now, we're glad to have him on our leadership team. | |
|
Assistant Scoutmaster Tom Jacobs brings several years' experience as a Cub Scout leader as well as a talent for making Cajun grilled cheese sandwiches and a rather unique recipe for making hot cocoa. No matter the circumstances, Tom is always grinning and sports a positive attitude. He may not yet be familiar with all the scout skills and traditions of Boy Scouting, but his goals, philosophy, and personality are a great fit with the rest of our scoutmaster staff. Tom's son is one of our younger scouts, so we're looking for him to be part of Troop 868 for some time. | |
| The
Troop Committee consists of interested parents of current and former
scouts and members of the community at large. The Committee
provides oversight of and support for the scoutmasters and the troop's
program in a host of different ways. Committee members support
scouts' advancement by serving as merit badge counselors and/or
reviewers when scouts are ready for rank advancement. Committee
members support the troop financially by organizing and/or assisting
with troop fundraising. They may also support the troop by sharing
special talents or resources such as building or repairing troop
equipment, record-keeping, phone calling, and/or performing hospitality
duties for special programs or events. They may help scouts
acquire uniforms, provide transportation to/from troop activities,
provide counsel/advice, and/or represent the troop at District/Council
functions. An active, involved Committee is a key element of a
successful troop. |
||
|
Troop Committee Chairman Andy Rodabaugh is fairly new to Scouting but has a strong background in management. As the owner of his own business, Mr. Rodabaugh understands the benefits of "working smarter rather than harder" and the importance of communicating with other people. He has a son in Troop 868 and a son who is a Webelos Cub Scout in Pack 868. A third son tried Scouting, but didn't enjoy it. In the relatively short time he has been associated with Scouting, Andy has been a frequent attendee on weekend activities and a willing participant in fundraising events for both units. | |
|
Committee Member Julia Brown is married to Jeff and has a son in the troop who will likely be our next Eagle Scout. Mrs. Brown served several years as a Cub Scout Den Leader in Cub Pack 685. She was deeply involved in the startup of Cub Scout Pack 868 a few years ago and still serves as an Assistant Cubmaster in Pack 868 in addition to her work with Troop 868. She grew up with a father and a brother involved in Boy Scouting, so she was familiar with the program and has always been a believer in it. Mrs. Brown's enthusiasm and active participation are assets to our unit.. | |
|
Committee Member Donna Canchola is another troop mom who didn't know a great deal about the program when her son crossed over from Cub Scouting, but climbed on board and quickly learned the ropes. Mrs. Canchola worked for many years in social services. She sits on monthly boards of review and has taken the lead role in coordinating the Troop's Papa John's Pizza fundraising activities. She is married and has two children, a son and a daughter. Her son has been to Philmont with Troop 868 and is well on his way toward becoming an Eagle Scout. | |
|
Committee Member and Troop Secretary Mike DiEnno came to Troop 868 when his son transferred from another troop as a result of the family's move to Bullitt County. Mike immediately became involved and has accompanied the troop on several weekend camping trips and taken an active role in troop fundraising. Mike is an elementary school teacher in Bullitt County. He is married and has two children, including a son in the troop. | |
|
Committee Member Heather DiEnno is married to Mike. She came to be involved a couple of years after her son and husband but has been a real asset to the team, being a ready and willing substitute secretary if Mike must miss a meeting. Despite having a small daughter at home and working full time as an auditor, Heather still manages to find time to be actively involved in troop fundraising activities. | |
|
Committee Member Melanie Douglas is an experienced Cub Scout Den Leader and former Cubmaster. She came to the troop when her oldest son transitioned into Boy Scouting. A "retired" CPA and foreign tax specialist, she and her husband own and actively manage an industrial cleaning business and a restaurant. She also finds time to serve as a Den Leader in Pack 868, a troop leader for her daughter in the American Heritage Girls program, and is active in her church. We are amazed at her organizational skills and her ability to find the time to do all the things she does. | |
|
Committee Member and long time Troop Treasurer Denise Guelda came to Troop 868 when her youngest son crossed over from Pack 685. Initially just a dedicated parent "willing to help out," Mrs. Guelda quickly became a regular attendee and participant in all Committee functions. In addition to assisting with fundraising, she also frequently assists with conducting Boards of Review. She is married and has three sons, two of whom are Troop 868 Eagle Scouts. She is universally regarded as our unofficial "Troop Mom" and lead cheerleader. She has been a true asset to Troop 868 for many years. | |
|
Committee Member Chuck Hall originally had a foot in both camps --- one son in Troop 868 and one son still Cub Scouting in Pack 868. On the Cub Scout side of the house, he served as one of the Webelos Den Leaders. He is a good example of a parent who is willing to jump right in and get involved with his sons' activities. At this point, both sons are now in the troop and Chuck has taken on the responsibility of co-chairing the Troop Advancement Committee and organizing the monthly boards of review. He is married to Betsy who often assists with troop fundraising. | |
|
|
Committee Member Vickie Jacobs brings with her a wealth of experience from several years as a leader in Cub Scouting. One of the newest members our Troop Committee, she's still trying to figure out just what she may have gotten herself into! We're happy to have her, her son, and her husband Tom as part of the Troop 868 family and look forward to getting to know them better. And, of course, we're also looking forward to putting them to work! | |
|
|
Committee Member Tom Kallin regularly helps with boards of review and troop fundraising activities. A professional machinist, he has accompanied the troop on several weekend camping trips and serves as a merit badge counselor for the Metalworking Merit Badge. He and is wife Vanessa have two children. Vanessa also regularly assists with troop fundraising. Their son is well on his way toward becoming an Eagle Scout. | |
|
Committee Member Sandy Kmiec (pronounced Kah-meck) is married to Steve. Her oldest son is one of our Eagle Scouts and her youngest son is well on his way to becoming one. A chemical engineer by profession, Mrs. Kmiec was also the leader of her daughter's Girl Scout troop for several years. In addition to helping with troop fundraising, Mrs. Kmiec counsels several merit badges and actively recruits other parents to counsel merit badges and assist with the troop's program. She brings a "business point of view" to discussions at Troop Committee meetings. | |
 |
Committee Member Steve Kmiec (pronounced Kah-meck) transferred to Troop 868 with his son from another area unit. Mr. Kmiec is a regular participant at Boards of Review and serves as the troop's adult Quartermaster, working with the youth Quartermaster to keep an accurate inventory of troop equipment and see that broken or damaged items are repaired or replaced. He was a Webelos Leader in Cub Pack 848. Mr. Kmiec is married and has three children. His wife and daughter were both involved in Girl Scouting. His oldest son is a Troop 868 Eagle Scout and his youngest son is active in the troop. | |
 |
Committee Member Patrick McClure came on board when his oldest son joined the troop. An involved father, Mr. McClure has accompanied the troop on several weekend outings and served as the troop's Charter Representative. Mr. McClure is married and has four children. His wife is also an active helper with troop fundraising events. Today, his oldest son is a Troop 868 Eagle Scout and his youngest son just crossed over into the troop from Cub Scouting. We expect several more years of service from the McClure family! | |
|
|
Committee Member Martin Moore has been active in Cub Scouting for several years and he continues to serve as a Webelos Den Leader for his younger son in Cub Scout Pack 686. An Army veteran, Mr. Moore appreciates the value of teaching boys to be self-reliant and resourceful. He joined the Troop Committee when his oldest son crossed over from Cub Scouting into Boy Scouting and selected Troop 868. He is actively involved in troop fundraising, frequently sits on our monthly boards of review, and has gone hiking with the unit. He and wife Margaret have two sons. Martin is a licensed electrician by profession. | |
 |
Committee Member and Troop Treasurer Sean Spalding is one of the newest members of the Troop Committee team. He is married and has 3 children, two sons and a daughter. His younger son is still in Cub Scouting. Sean came on board when his oldest son moved up to Boy Scouting and selected Troop 868 as the place he wanted to walk the Eagle Trail. Two of Sean's nephews are Troop 868 Eagle Scouts and he'd like to see his own sons follow in their footsteps! Since he has taken on the role as Troop Treasurer, we expect him to be an active participant. | |
|
|
Committee Member and Advancement Co-Chair Sandra Vera came as a transfer to the troop with her son from a unit in Virginia. A charter member of the troop, Ms. Vera brought experience and many good ideas from service with her son's former troop. A uniform-wearing Scouter, she has completed the Scoutmaster Fundamentals training course. In her role as Advancement Co-Chair, she purchases the awards and plans the program for all troop Court of Honor ceremonies. She is the proud mother of Eagle Scout Paul Guzman. | |
|
This space is open for any troop parent who has not yet become as actively involved in their son's Scouting career as they could be. You are welcome to a "seat at the table" anytime you say the word. Involved parents make our unit stronger. Please consider sharing your talents and your great ideas as an official member of the Troop Committee. The time commitment is only a couple of hours a month to attend Committee meetings that take place simultaneous with the scouts' regular troop meeting on the third Tuesday of each month. | |
