Potawatomi Area Council’s Executive Board Search Committee would like to announce that Patrick Scherer has been hired as Potawatomi Area Council’s new Scout Executive. He will become the 13th Scout Executive in the history of the Council and will start his new position on March 9, 2009.

Pat has over 18 years of professional service in Scouting having served in Menasha, WI, Portland, OR and for the last five years in San Francisco, CA. He has held the positions of District Executive, Sr. District Executive, Camping Director, District Director, Finance Director and his current position as the Director of Field Service for the San Francisco Bay Area Council.

Pat and his wife Mara met during their college days at St. Norbert College in De Pere, WI. They have two children Maija (9) and Tyler (7). Maija is in fourth grade and is in Girl Scouts. Tyler is in first grade and is in Cub Scouts where Pat currently serves as Cubmaster.

Born and raised in Manitowoc, WI, he has been a member of the Boy Scouts of America for 30 years. He was a Cub Scout and earned the Arrow of Light. As a Boy Scout he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and earned the Ad Altare Dei Award as a member of Troop 931. He is a Vigil member of the Order of the Arrow, a recipient of the Founder’s Award and has served as a Section Vice Chief.

Strengths from his experiences in other Councils will help propel the Potawatomi Area Council to the next level. The committee was particularly excited about his financial, planning and administrative strength. He is equally strong in field operations with success in membership, traditional program and Scoutreach.

He will be highly visible within the Council as soon as he settles in to his new office. Please take an opportunity to welcome Pat to his new position as the leader of the Potawatomi Area Council.

The following was a news release issued by Potawatomi Area Council.

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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.

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The San Francisco Bay Area Council over the past two summers has invested $1,145,600 in capital improvements at their three camps.

At Wente Scout Reservation these improvements have included new waterlines, the Wishbone shower house with flush toilets, renovation of the Handicraft building, replacement of ten tent platforms, building a new nature building and seating for merit badge classes, a new ranger warehouse and shop, new shade structures at the waterfront, new storage racks for the kayaks, the new Madrone shower house, enclosing the dining hall, adding swamp coolers, a new patio, new trash enclosure, new tables and benches in the dining hall, new septic system for Madrone, Wishbone, and Palfreyman shower houses.

At Camp Royaneh the swimming pool and the Trading Post were renovated, the old septic system was replaced, three new Village cabins were built, camp site improvements were made, a new staff cabin was built, improvements were made to nature glen and a new camp pick up truck was purchased.

At Rancho Los Mochos the swimming pool was renovated with a new liner and the kitchen has been remodeled.

“Much of the labor for these projects has been made possible by the efforts of countless hours by volunteers”, said, Dr. Bert Groat, council Properties Committee Chair. He added, “Their help is priceless!”

New Projects Planned for Summer 2009
To continue to make their facilities the best Boy Scout camps in Northern California for Scouts, parents and leaders to enjoy, many projects are underway. At Ranchos Los Mochos the newly renovated Dining Hall is almost complete and work will begin this spring on the kitchen fire suppression system and upgrading of the electrical service to the dining hall and pool pump house.

At Wente Scout Reservation a new staff cabin, life guard tower restoration, road repairs, and added Mountain Bike Trails are close to completion. The Dining Hall septic system upgrade, kitchen fire suppression system, Mountain Bike building, and five new tent platforms will all be ready by next summer. Much of the construction on the new staff cabin was done by Dave Manly and Mike Cornwall and volunteers from McGuire & Hester Construction from Oakland. Much of the Mountain Bike trail work was designed and constructed by Kevin Smallman and Blair Brown. Photos of the project can be seen at www.flickr.com/photos/2008wentefalltrailproject/

At Royaneh the addition of three more Village Cabins at Frontiersman camp site and construction of new tables for the Dining Hall is well underway. The manpower for these projects is being provided
by the skilled help of the Royaneh Stakeholders group. The relocating of the water tower, finishing the waterlines and five new tent platforms will all be completed this spring in time for summer camp.

“All of these many improvements in our camp properties along with a quality staff are good reasons for every Troop in the San Francisco Bay Area Council to attend our Boy Scout camps.” said, Rich Schempp, Council Camping Chair.

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