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Adult Leaders of Troop 868 |
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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. |
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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 Cub Scout Day Camp Director, Assistant Scoutmaster, Cubmaster, 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. | |
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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. | |
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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. | |
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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. | |
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Stephen Guelda is another Troop 868 Eagle Scout who has decided to stick around and give back to the unit as our newest Assistant Scoutmaster. Being an Eagle, Stephen thoroughly understands the program and possesses excellent Scouting skills. He is an excellent teacher. And, being younger, he is 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 will be limited by the demands of school work, but we look for him to be actively involved in most weekend outings and as many weekly troop meetings as possible. | |
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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. | |
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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. |
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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 two sons in Troop 868 and a third son who is a Cub Scout in Pack 868. In the relatively short period of time he has been associated with Scouting, he has been a frequent attendee at weekend activities and a willing participant in fundraising events for both units. | |
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Committee Member Julia Brown is married to Jeff and has a son in the troop. Mrs. Brown served several years as a Cub Scout Den Leader in Cub Pack 685 and is currently assisting with the startup of Cub Pack 868. She grew up with a father and brother involved in Boy Scouting, so she's familiar with the program and a believer in it. We welcome Mrs. Brown's enthusiasm and active participation. | |
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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. Ms. Canchola is a social services worker by profession. She regularly assists with troop fundraising and sits on monthly boards of review. 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. She coordinates our Papa John's Pizza fundraising activities. | |
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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 already accompanied the troop on a weekend camping trip 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. | |
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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, Heather still manages to find time to be actively involved in troop fundraising activities. | |
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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. She works part-time as a professional CPA and foreign tax specialist while she and her husband are growing their own industrial cleaning business. She also finds time to serve as a Den Leader in Pack 868, as 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. | |
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Committee Member and 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 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." | |
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Committee Member Chuck Hall has a foot in both camps --- one son in Troop 868 and one son in Cub Scouts in Pack 868. On the Cub Scout side of the house, he serves as one of the Webelos Den Leaders. Chuck is a newcomer to the Troop Committee and brings a "parent of younger scouts" point of view to discussions. He is a good example of a parent who is willing to jump right in and get involved with his sons' activities. He is married. | |
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Committee
Member Dale Hay served as a Den Leader in Pack 848 when his son was a
Cub Scout. As a business owner who is actively involved in the
local professional association for his industry, it is difficult for him
to attend most Committee Meetings because of conflicting meetings with
that group. Dale often sits on our monthly Boards of Review and
also helps with troop service projects and fundraising activities.
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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 is married and has two children. His son is well on his way toward becoming an Eagle Scout. | |
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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 are both involved in Girl Scouting. His oldest son is a Troop 868 Eagle Scout and his youngest son is active in the troop. | |
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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 fundrasing, Mrs. Kmiec also counsels several merit badges and helps the scoutmaster recruit troop parents to counsel merit badges at weekly troop meetings. | |
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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. In addition to Scouting with Troop 868, Mr. McClure is also a leader in Cub Scout Pack 848 where his younger son is a member. | |
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Committee Member and Advancement 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 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. | |
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Committee Member Clinton Vissers came on board when his son transferred to Troop 868 from another area unit. Mr. Vissers was involved as a Webelos leader during his son's Cub Scouting career and first became aware of Troop 868 when he met Scoutmaster Meek at Webelos Resident Camp. Mr. Vissers served two years as an Assistant Scoutmaster, coordinated the troop's annual popcorn sale and bi-annual candy bar sales, and served one year as Committee Chairman. He is married to Christina and their son is a Troop 868 Eagle Scout. Mr. Vissers is currently serving as the Pack Committee Chairman for Cub Scout Pack 868. | |
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