Summer 2008, No. 3 - United Methodist Men

July/August/September 2008Torch, Cross and Flame Award winnersVaughn NicholsConference scouting coordinator ledGod and Country retreatGULF BREEZE, Fla.––Vaughn Nichols, scoutingcoordinator for Alabama-West Florida, received theTorch Award for 26 yearsof service to scouting.A graduate ofAuburn University, hecurrently serves as thehealth-care accountmanager for Gulf PowerCompany, and he isresponsible for hospitalsand health-care facilitiesin northwest Florida.His service as a Boy Scout volunteer began in1988, with Troop 102 in Gulf Breeze. He served inseveral scouting offices while his older son, Brian,attained the rank of Eagle. In 1999, Nichols servedas a den leader for Cub Pack 102 with his youngerson, Trey. He also served as committee chair for the90-member pack.In 1998, he was named chair of a districtscouting committee, and in 2004, he became vicepresident for marketing for the Gulf Coast BoyScout Council, a post he still holds.A Sunday school teacher and scoutingministries coordinator at Gulf Breeze UMC, heled a 2007 weekend retreat where a record 24 GirlScouts and Cub Scouts earned God and Countryawards. The church has four scouting units withsome 150 scouts.In 2000, he led a mission team that built athree-mile power line to serve a hurricane-damagedvillage on the island of Guanaja in Honduras.Nearly 250 homes have electricity because of thatmission.Richard SynhorstEditor: Larry CoppockVolume 44, No. 3Scouting coordinator leads troop toraise funds for Katrina reliefGRAND RAPIDS, Minn.––Richard Synhorst,the scouting coordinator for the MinnesotaAnnualConference,received a Crossand Flame Awardfor 48 years ofscouting ministry.Whileleading scoutingministry forthe annualconference,he also led afund-raisingeffort by Troop41, charteredby Grand Rapids UMC. The young peopleraised $200 to help troops that lost equipmentor camp sites during Hurricane Katrina byselling popcorn and chili. The relief effort wascoordinated by the Scouting Ministry section ofthe General Commission on UM Men.The award was presented last year on ScoutSunday by the Rev. Marva Jean Hutchens,pastor of Grand Rapids UMC.Ellen SpallMother of two EagleScoutsFISHERS, Ind. ––FishersUMC presented a Cross andFlame Award to Ellen Spallfor serving as a Cub Scoutand Boy Scout leader whileher two sons passed throughPastor Marva Jean Hutchenspresents a Cross and FlameAward to Richard Synhorst,scouting coordinatorfor Minnesota AnnualConference.Please send ScoutingNews submissions to: Larry CoppockOCYSA • P.O. Box 340006 • Nashville, TN 37203-0006lcoppock@gcumm.orgthe ranks. She served two terms each as a Tiger,Wolf, Bear and Webelos den leader from 1995 to2003. While working with the Cub pack she alsoserved as advancement coordinator and summerday camp coordinator. She also assisted with rechartering,Blue and Gold banquets, popcorn salesand annual picnics.Spall served as advancement chair for BoyScout Troop 109 from 2001 to 2006 while herhusband served as chair of the Troop Committee.She also assisted with re-chartering, the foodbooth at the annual Fishers Festival, the Christmastree lot, the Connor Prairie Wagon Pull, and the“Scouting for Food” drive. She also helped withseveral Eagle projects, including those of her twosons.Betsy BlacklockTrains leader of Cub Scoutsand Boy ScoutsROSEWOOD HEIGHTS, Ill.–– “When I arrivedat St. Paul UMC eight years ago, our Cub Scoutpack had three members,” said Daryl Fansler,pastor of the 550-member congregation. “Today,we have nearly 50 youth involved in Cub Scoutsevery Tuesday night. This growth has come throughBetsy’s recruitment of great volunteers and diligenttraining of those volunteers.” Fansler says sheawarded Betsy a Cross and Flame award for thehours she and her husband, Bob, spent organizingtraining sessions for Cub Scout and Boy ScoutCHINCOTEAGUE, Va.––OnScout Sunday in February, BoyScout and Girl Scout troopssponsored by Christ UMC receivedBishop’s Awards of Excellence forcompleting work on a prayer gardenand encouraging the spiritualgrowth of young people.“Religious activities areencouraged with prayer before mealsand Sunday morning services,” saidMichael Jump, scouting coordinatorfor Christ UMC. He notes that theBoy Scouts have a chaplain’s aidwho assists the Scout master, andthe Rev. Travis DeLoach, pastor ofChrist UMC, conducted God andCountry studies.The application for the awardwas submitted to the GeneralCommission on UM Men by Jumpand signed by DeLoach and BishopCharlene Kammerer.The award is designed torecognize outstanding UM scoutingunits where at least 20 percent of theyouth members are working towardor have completed the appropriatereligious emblem program for theirage level. The units must participatein the Scouting Ministries Sundayand complete at least one serviceproject.45leaders. Fansler presented the award during a ScoutSunday service in February.Richard CoxBaptist layman receives UnitedMethodist awardAKRON, Ohio––A Baptist who led a Cub packand a Boy Scout troop chartered by Park UMCreceived a Cross and Flame Award. Richard Coxserved as a Cub master for three years, advancementchairman for four years, and now serves as troopchaplain. He has served Arlington MemorialBaptist Church as a youth leader, a Sunday schoolteacher and chair of the Deacon board. He alsoserved on the church finance committee andpresident of his Sunday school class.Ronica BowenGirl Scout leaderGREENSBORO, N.C.––A member of GuilfordCollege UMC and a Girl Scout leader for 10 yearsmakes Ronica Bowen an obvious choice for a Crossand Flame Award. She serves on the Staff-ParishRelations Committee and the Building Committee.She assists with children’s drama, Vacation BibleSchool and “Elf Gang” outings. She also teachesan adult Sunday school class and volunteers at thePartnership Village. As the leader of senior andjunior troops, she organizes camporees, fatherdaughterbanquets, “Thinking Day” events, talentshows, and Girl Scout Sunday.Bishop’s Awards presented to Virginia church troops“Are we there yet,” ask Girl Scouts ina troop sponsored by Christ UMC inChincoteague, Va.“We’re ready to go, but where areour canoes.” That appears to be themessage of Scouts in a troop charteredby Christ UMC in Chincoteague, Va.