Back in August we informed you that Detroit Area Council and Clinton Valley Council were going to merge. They did, and became known as the New Michigan Council until a name could be decided. Well that time has come, and the new name is Great Lakes Council.

The new Council decided to solicit new name ideas from its members and received over 300 submissions. Ten people submitted the name Great Lakes Council. The Council naming committee took all the submissions and narrowed it down to 39 choices and they opened up voting. Over 3,000 people selected Great Lakes Council.

The Council will be working on a new Council Shoulder Patch (CSP) shortly.

Source: http://www.cvc-bsa.org/nmc/index.html

Popularity: 2% [?]

On August 4, 2009, Clinton Valley and Detroit Area Council independently approved a proposal to consolidate their Councils. According to the Southeast Michigan Consolidation Study Group, the consolidation will create a robust, new Boy Scout council serving all of Macomb, Oakland and Wayne Counties.

Voting results were as follows:

Clinton Valley Council:
- Proposal 1 (Merge Councils) 188 Yes / 41 No
- Proposal 2 (Change Name) 192 Yes / 32 No
- Proposal 3 (Executive Board) 194 Yes / 35 No

All proposals received the necessary majority of those eligible to vote. All proposals were approved by Clinton Valley Council.

Detroit Area Council:
- Proposal 1 (Merge Councils) 322 Yes / 2 No
- Proposal 2 (Change Name) 316 Yes / 7 No
- Proposal 3 (Executive Board) 317 Yes / 4 No

All proposals received the necessary majority of those eligible to vote. All proposals were approved by Detroit Area Council.

The Way Forward:
- A new Scout Executive will be selected. The Process has already begun, with an announcement expected by mid August.
- Formal Press Release about consolidation and Scout Executive selection planned for mid August.
- A consolidation date will be set for late September / early October. Until then both councils will operate as normal.

Hat Tip: CSP Corner

Popularity: 3% [?]

Each year the National Order of the Arrow Committee provides matching service award grants for a limited number of Lodge projects. The evaluators consider the innovative scope and design of the project, the number of Scouts impacted by they project, and how the project enhances Cub Scouting or Boy Scouting in the Council.

This year, nine lodges were selected as service grant recipients:

Alibamu Lodge, Tukabatchee Area Council #5 received $3500 for construction of a 300 foot elevated trail through a five acre swamp. The trail will open the camp to hiking and other outdoor activities.

Achewon Nimat Lodge, San Francisco Bay Area Council #28 received $2390 build a mountain biking trail and to buy two new mountain bikes.

Kidi-Kidish Lodge, Coronado Area Council #192 received $5000 complete a 2.5 mile hiking and biking trail and improve an area of camp for fishing access in order to offer ecology hikes, biking, fishing and other activities to Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts.

Chippewa Lodge, Clinton Valley Council #276 received $4110 to do a total waterfront restoration at Camp Agawam.

Wah-Sha-She Lodge, Ozark Trails Council #306 received $5000 to build a conservation trail, fishing pond and outdoor education area.

Yah-Tay-Hey-Si-Kess Lodge, Great Southwest Council #412 received $5000 to construct four campsite pavilions. The funding will be matched 1:3 bringing the total to $20,000.

Colonneh Lodge, Sam Houston Area Council #576 received $5000 for post Hurricane Ike projects including replacing a bridge, replacing chapel seating, and repairing pavilions.

Awaxaawe Awachia Lodge, Trapper Trails Council #589 received $5000 to build 112 foot long bridge at Camp Fife to facilitate additional camping sites.

Es-Kaielgu Lodge, Inland Northwest Council #611 received $5000 to construct a new BB Gun Range at Cub Country at Cowles Scout Reservation.

You can view past Service Grant Recipients on the National Order of the Arrow Website Service Grant Page.

Popularity: 4% [?]