Scouting in Georgia (U.S. state)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Scouting in Georgia has a long history, from the 1910s to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live. The state is home to many milestones for the Scouting movement. The Girl Scout Birthplace is located in Savannah, and President Jimmy Carter served as a Scoutmaster in Plains.

Contents

[edit] Early history (1910-1950)

Until 1948, some southern councils of the Boy Scouts of America were racially segregated. Colored Troops, as they were officially known, were given little support from Districts and Councils. Some Scouting executives and leaders believed that Colored Scouts and Leaders would be less able to live up to the ideals of the Boy Scouts. The National Office began a program of integrating local councils in 1940, which was largely complete in 1948.

[edit] Recent history (1950-1990)

[edit] Scouting in Georgia today

There are thirteen active Boy Scouts of America local councils that serve Scouts in Georgia.
Active councils, districts, and lodges are shown in green.

[edit] Alapaha Area Council

(Name Active from 1960 to currently active. Council office located in Valdosta, GA.)

  • Circle Seven District
  • Yellow Pine District

OA lodge: Alapaha Lodge #545 chartered in 1960 and still active.

  • Circle Seven
  • Standing Oaks

[edit] Atlanta Area Council

(Formerly Atlanta Council #92 from 1915 to 1939. Council office located in Atlanta, Georgia.)

  • Button Gwinnett District
  • Chattahoochee District
  • [1]Cherokee Pickens District
  • Covered Bridge District
  • East Atlanta District
  • Foothills District
  • High Tower Trail District
  • Milton District
  • Mountain Lake District
  • North Atlanta District
  • (The old North Fulton District was split in 2003 to form the Chattahoochee District and the Milton District)
  • Soapstone Ridge District
  • South Atlanta District
  • South Fulton District
  • Sweetwater District
  • Tara District
  • Three Rivers District
  • West Atlanta District
  • Yellow River District

Egwa Tawa Dee is the Order of the Arrow lodge that serves the Atlanta Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The Council was founded in 1916 and encompasses 13 counties in north Georgia. Egwa Tawa Dee translated from “equa tawadi”, the Cherokee language for "broad-winged hawk" to whose literal translation is “big hawk” and for ease of pronunciation it was spelled out as "Egwa Tawa Dee."

OA Lodge: Egwa-Tawa-Dee Lodge #129 chartered 1950 and still active. Name changed from Broad-Winged-Hawk Lodge in 1950.

  • Achewon Woapalanne
  • Awi-uska
  • Creek
  • Cvmpe Vekiwv
  • Echota
  • Etowah
  • Kenesaw
  • Kennesaw
  • Lowanne Nimat
  • Nagatamen
  • Sagahattee
  • Seven Springs
  • South Fulton
  • Tella Qualla Boundary
  • Thennethlofkee
  • Wachtschu Chuppecat
  • Wesadicha

The Egwa Tawa Dee Lodge, which was founded in 1938, has a membership of over 1200 brothers and is divided into 16 chapters, as well as Collegiate OA chapters at the Georgia Institute of Technology and at Southern Polytechnic State University. The Lodge officers are elected annually at Fall Fellowship, and begin their term immediately. The governing body of the Lodge is the Lodge Executive Committee (LEC), which consists of all the Chapter Chiefs and Chapter Advisers, the Lodge Officers and Advisers, committee chairmen, and their respective advisers. The LEC meets monthly to manage and plan out the business of the Lodge. The LEC’s organization is completely youth run, having the Lodge Chief as its chairman, and all voting is done solely by the youth members.

Throughout the year, the Lodge hosts numerous functions on a very regular basis. The Lodge events, namely Spring Pow Wow, the Ordeal weekends, and Fall Fellowship are the most popular times that Arrowmen from all over the metro Atlanta area have the opportunity to participate in food, fun and fellowship.

Egwa Tawa Dee participates in several Section, Regional, and National events. Our lodge is one of eight that comes together to form Section SR-6 South, an area that encompasses parts of Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee. Over a dozen different Sections from Oklahoma to Virginia come together collectively to form the great Southern Region, with its office located right here in Kennesaw. Altogether four regions combine to what is known as the National Council, with its headquarters in Irving, Texas.

Each year Section SR-6 South hosts its Conclave in April. Conclave is a weekend of fun, fellowship, and training. Native American events are also a key feature at every Conclave. Every two years, the Southern Region hosts an event called the National Leadership Seminar (NLS). When our Section does not participate in the NLS, we have the opportunity to attend the Section’s own training weekend, the Section Leadership Gathering (SLG). NOAC, the National Order of the Arrow Conference, is also held every two years at rotating universities.

[edit] History of Egwa Tawa Dee

  • 1915

E. Urner Goodman and Carroll A. Edson, directors of Treasure Island Scout Camp, founded the Order of the Arrow in the summer of 1915. It grew out of a desire to emphasize that the good Scout camper is not only proficient in the skills of Scoutcraft but also practices the principles of the Scout Oath and Law. It was intended to make these Scout principles more effective in the lives of Scout campers. It focused particular attention on making cheerful service and brotherhood working realities to a boy.

  • 1921

Order of the Arrow lodges were soon organized in other councils. In 1921, representatives from these lodges met together in Philadelphia for the first National Meeting. One year later the Order of the Arrow became an official program experiment of the BSA. The Order became an approved part of the Boy Scout program in 1934, and is used today by all but one council.

  • 1930

During the early 1930s, the staff at the old Boy Scout Camp Bert Adams began promoting the recognition of scouts and camp staff members who were outstanding campers. At the end of each period at camp, the campers and staff would select one scout as “Best All-Around Camper.” This tradition lasted into the late 1930s, even after the establishment of the Order of the Arrow in the council.

  • 1936

In 1936, Camp Director C. H. Westin brought some information about the Order of the Arrow to the camp, which he had received at a Regional meeting. Most of his information pertained to the principles rather than the procedures of the Order of the Arrow, so elections for membership were held each period of the camping season in 1936 and 1937, but no Ordeals or other ceremonies were conducted. During these two years, the group called themselves the Bert Adams Chapter of the Order of the Arrow, although it was not yet officially chartered with the National Council.

  • 1938-1948

During the spring of 1938, the camp leaders made several requests to the National BSA Council requesting an official charter and asking for information on the induction of members. Westin, with the help of the Bobwhite Lodge in Augusta established the Broad-Winged Hawk Lodge without the consent of the National BSA Council, informing them of this action after the fact.

The name Broad-Winged Hawk was suggested by George Dorsey, who was the Nature Director at Camp Bert Adams from 1929 to 1941. He observed that the broad-winged species of hawk was abundant on and around the camp property. When the Lodge was named he translated “broad-winged hawk” to “equa tawadi” in the Cherokee language (literally, “big hawk”), and for ease of pronunciation spelled out as “Egwa Tawa Dee”. This translation was probably used by Lodge members until the early 1950’s, when the name on the Charter was changed to reflect this translation.

Egwa Tawa Dee Lodge functioned as part of the program at Camp Bert Adams from 1938 to 1948. During these years, the Lodge program consisted mostly of inductions during the summer camping season, and camp promotions during the winter and spring months. In 1945, Bobby Ginsberg became the Lodge’s first Brotherhood member when he traveled to a South Carolina Lodge Pow-Wow to participate in their Brotherhood ceremony. Two years later in 1947, Claud Humphries became the Lodge’s first Vigil Honor member, when the Vigil Honor was conferred upon him at the Area Z Fellowship, at Camp Barstow in South Carolina.

In 1945, the Lodge was called upon to install an Order of the Arrow lodge in Rome, Georgia. A Degree Team from Egwa Tawa Dee traveled to the Northwest Georgia Council to found Waguli Lodge 318. Two years later, a Degree Team was sent to Macon to found Echeconnee Lodge 358.

In 1948, the Order of the Arrow was recognized as the BSA's national brotherhood of honor campers and became an official part of the national camping program of the Boy Scouts of America. Until this time, all elections for membership were held at camp, which kept the Order of the Arrow a small, tightly controlled fraternal organization; however, with this change, elections for membership were held by individual troops. This change disheartened many members and caused many of them to become inactive in both the Order of the Arrow and the summer camp programs. As a result, the Lodge did not function actively for an entire year.

  • 1949

In 1949, Andrew Yantis, who was the Indian Lore Director at Bert Adams, decided to incorporate the Order of the Arrow into his Indian program. Very quickly the Lodge became active again, and in 1952 the Lodge held its first Pow-Wow at Bert Adams. In 1953, Jimmy Waters was elected Lodge Chief. In 1954, due to the large size of the Lodge’s membership, chapters were formed in six of the larger districts, namely: Dekalb, North Atlanta, North Fulton, South Atlanta, South Fulton, and Tara. Membership in the other districts remained directly under the auspices of the Lodge. In 1955, Jimmy Waters was elected Area 6-D Chief, and soon after he was elected National Conference Chief of the 1956 National Order of the Arrow Conference. In his term, Jimmy and the National Order of the Arrow Committee began promoting the use of lodge pocket flaps. This prompted Egwa Tawa Dee Lodge to issue its flap during that year to help promote Jimmy’s program.

  • 1960

In 1960, Whit Smith was elected to be the Area 6-D Chief for the coming year. Also in 1960, Camp Bert Adams held its last summer season in Vinings Georgia. For twenty-two years the Lodge had labored during its Ordeal to build an extensive campfire ring, with podiums and seats constructed entirely of stone. This was also the camp where the foundations and traditions of the Lodge had been established. Unfortunately, the encroachment of the city and the small capacity of the camp forced the Council to look for more space farther away from Atlanta. One of the great concerns of the Lodge was the Treasure Oak Lodge building. This building, which was adjacent to the dining hall at camp, was the central meeting place of the Lodge. When the time finally came for the old camp to close, the Lodge paid to have the building moved from Vinings to the new camp near Covington Georgia. In the late 1960s, the Lodge building was abandoned as a meeting place and was converted into a boat storage house. In the 1990s the building suffered a total collapse due to age and disrepair, and it remained at the edge of the lake in lower Gorman Field until 2003 when it was removed in the course of renovation and improvements being made to the camp. In 1962 and again in 1964, Egwa Tawa Dee hosted the Area 6-D conference at the new Bert Adams Scout Reservation.

  • 1970

The 1970s were challenging years for Scouting and the Order of the Arrow. Although the Lodge hosted the 1973 Area 5 Conclave, the controversy over United States’ involvement in the Vietnam Conflict caused a great deal of anti-military sentiment. Because Scouting has similarities to the military in its uniforms and organizational structure, the BSA suffered a significant decline in membership during the early 1970s. In an effort to adapt Scouting to changing times, camping and outdoor experiences were greatly de-emphasized, negatively affecting the Order of the Arrow. The primary accomplishment of the Lodge during the 1970s was the construction of a ceremonial ring that was to have been used exclusively by the Order of the Arrow. The project required several years to complete, but only a few years after its completion, a decision was made by the Council to use the ring for summer camp campfires. This decision adversely affected the mystery of having an exclusive Lodge ceremonial ring, and the lodge subsequently abandoned its use.

  • 1980

In 1980, the council built a new scout reservation near Blairsville, which was named for the longtime Coca-Cola president and philanthropist Robert W. Woodruff. The Lodge held Ordeals at this new camp in its first summer season.

  • 1988

In 1988, a team from Tara received 5th place at NOAC in the ceremonies competition, and at the following NOAC they placed 6th, beginning the Lodge’s longstanding tradition of ceremonial excellence. In August of 1989, a delegation departed from Atlanta for the Philmont Order of the Arrow Trek. While en route to New Mexico, Peter McCarthy, a youth member of the Lodge from Troop 77 was killed in an automobile accident in Arkansas. Upon the delegation’s return, it was decided to name a new ceremony ring at Bert Adams the “McCarthy Ring” in memory of Peter. Also during this time, the Lodge helped to build an Indian Village at Woodruff Scout Reservation. Use of the Indian Village was abandoned in the late 1990s.

  • 1993

In 1993 the Lodge attended the “Final Four” fellowship of SE-4, and then a month later, traveled to its first Dixie Fellowship in South Carolina. At Dixie the very next year, the Lodge took first place in the Pre-Ordeal ceremony competition.

  • 1996

In 1996, the Lodge hosted the Dixie Fellowship for SR-5 at Bert Adams Scout Reservation. In preparation for the conclave, the Order of the Arrow lodge building at Bert Adams underwent major renovation. The lodge building would serve as the headquarters of the conclave. This event was the largest Dixie Fellowship to date in its nearly forty year history, with Egwa bringing 340 members of its own with a total attendance of over 1,100. The National Vice-Chief of the Order of the Arrow also visited the event.

In early July 1996, longtime lodge member William A. (Bill) Funkhouser passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer. Bill joined the lodge in the early 1970s and provided an abundance of continuity and leadership to the Brotherhood and Vigil Honor ceremonial activities from the late 1970s through the early 1990s. Bill was also responsible for naming the Thennethlofkee Chapter and he was an instrumental figure in Order of the Fork inductions in the Georgia OA section. Bill will always be remembered for his quick wit and pleasant demeanor. He was affectionately given the Vigil Honor name Papesu (translated as: the patient one).

  • 1997

At both the 1996 and 1997 Dixie Fellowships, the Lodge received first place in the Brotherhood Ceremony competition. As a result of hosting the 1996 Dixie Fellowship, Egwa Tawa Dee experienced resurgence in both its membership and its activities. During this time, the Lodge’s Drum and Dance team was organized and became an important facet of lodge program. The Drum and Dance team performed at Centennial Olympic Park, and in 1997 at Bert Adams they had the privilege to perform for King Carl Gustav XVI of Sweden at the Fall Fellowship, when the World Organization of the Scout Movement’s annual meeting was held in the Atlanta area. Also during this time, the lodge began regularly sending delegates to the OA National Leadership Seminar, an intense weekend training session for lodge officers and advisers. Several members of Egwa Tawa Dee would also served as staff for the NLS. The Lodge began to hold weekly Brotherhood ceremonies at summer camp at Woodruff in 1998, in an effort to increase both Brotherhood conversion and the Lodge’s presence at Woodruff Scout Reservation.

Section realignments in 1997 moved Egwa Tawa Dee from SR-5 to a new Section 6 South, a section encompassing much of north Georgia and part of southeastern Tennessee. Also at the meeting, it was decided that the Lodge would host the Section’s 1999 Conclave, to be held at Bert Adams Scout Reservation. A leadership position known as the Unit Representative, creating a link between a lodge or chapter and the individual members of a scout troop was established in 1997 as was the Order of the Arrow Troop/Team Representative position which was accepted as an official troop leadership position by the National Boy Scout Committee.

  • 1999

During the 1999 SR-6 South Conclave, the Lodge swept first and second place in both Pre-Ordeal and Brotherhood for the third year. At the Conclave, a member of Egwa Tawa Dee was elected National Chief, the first to serve in that position since Jimmy Waters in 1956. At the NOAC in 2000, the Lodge sent six ceremonial teams for evaluation. Five of them received “Honor” medals for the highest possible ceremonial performance.

  • 2000-2001

In 2000 and 2001, for the first time in many years, the Lodge made a specific effort to reach out to the community. The Lodge sponsored and built a house through Habitat for Humanity, in partnership with the Home Depot. This gave Egwa Tawa Dee and the Atlanta Area Council visibility as a service-oriented organization.

  • 2002

At the Conclave in 2002, an Egwa Tawa Dee member was elected Southern Region Chief, the second to hold national office in three years. Also this year, Egwa again gained national attention for its efforts to reintroduce the “One Day of Service” program.

  • 2003-2004

In 2003 Section SR-6 South held the first event called the Section Leadership Gathering (SLG). It was hosted in the fall by Egwa Tawa Dee at Woodruff Scout Reservation. The first LLDC since 1999 was held at the Volunteer Service Center, staffed by Egwa Tawa Dee officers. Training was given to new Lodge and Chapter officers on a variety of subjects ranging from program to parliamentary procedure. During the winter, great effort was made to streamline the Lodge’s outdated and needlessly complex operating procedure. At the Lodge’s Spring Pow-Wow in March 2004, a freshly updated set of By-Laws were ratified by the general membership and put into effect. The Lodge sent a sizable delegation to the 2004 NOAC at Iowa State University, and again Egwa received recognition for excellence in ceremonial presentation. For the first time in many years this included medals for excellence in the Vigil Honor ceremony presentation.

  • 2005

Egwa Tawa Dee attained National Quality Lodge in 2005. The SR-6 South Conclave was held in April 2005 at Woodruff Scout Reservation and Randy Yates was appointed Lodge Adviser. The year saw nearly 400 additional scouts complete their Ordeal. Two members of the elite OA Service Corps serving at the 2005 National Boy Scout Jamboree came from Egwa Tawa Dee in 2005 (Stuart Michelson, founder of the Southern Polytechnic State University Collegiate OA chapter, and Doug Morin).

[edit] Area and section conclaves attended by Egwa Tawa Dee Lodge

1947 Area Z Host: Muscogee # 221old Camp Barstow south of Columbia, SC
1948 Area Z Host: Un A Li’ yi # 236 Camp Ho-Non-Wah near Charleston, SC
1949 Area Z Host: Atta Kulla Kulla # 185 Camp Old Indian north of Greenville, SC
1950 Area 6- C Host: Waguli #318 Camp Sidney Dew northeast of Rome, GA
1951 Area 6-C Host: Egwa Tawa Dee #129 old Camp Bert Adams north of Atlanta, GA
1952 Area 6-C Host: Tomo-Chi-Chi # 119 Camp Strachan near Savannah, GA
1953 Area 6-D Host: Chattahoochee # 204 Camp McKenzie north of Columbus, GA
1954 Area 6-D Host: Waguli # 318 Camp Sidney Dew northeast of Rome, GA
1955 Area 6-D Host: Semialachee # 239 Camp Silver Lake west of Tallahassee, FL
1956 Area 6-D Host: Immokalee # 353 Camp Osborn northeast of Albany, GA
1957 Area 6-D Host: Egwa Tawa Dee #129 old Camp Bert Adams north of Atlanta, GA
1958 Area 6-D Host: Chattahoochee # 204 Camp McKenzie north of Columbus, GA
1959 Area 6-D Host: Ini-To # 324 Camp Thunder Woodbury, GA
1960 Area 6-D Host: Waguli # 318 Camp Sidney Dew northeast of Rome, GA
1961 Area 6-D Host: Immokalee # 353 Camp Osborn northeast of Albany, GA
1962 Area 6-D Host: Egwa Tawa Dee #129 Bert Adams SR south of Covington, GA
1963 Area 6-D Host: Semialachee # 239 Camp Silver Lake west of Tallahassee, FL
1964 Area 6-D Host: Egwa Tawa Dee #129 Bert Adams SR south of Covington, GA
1965 Area 6-D Host: Waguli # 318 Camp Sidney Dew northeast of Rome, GA
1966 Area 6-D Host: Chattahoochee # 204 Camp McKenzie north of Columbus, GA
1967 Area 6-D Host: Immokalee # 353 Camp Osborn northeast of Albany, GA
1968 Area 6-D Host: Semialachee # 239 Wallwood Boy Scout Res. south of Quincy, FL
1969 There were no Area Conferences held in 1969 in the old BSA Region Six
1970 Area 6-D Host: Egwa Tawa Dee #129 Bert Adams SR south of Covington, GA
1971 Area 6-D Host: Ini-To # 324 Camp Thunder Woodbury, GA
1972 Area 6-D Host: Chattahoochee # 204 Camp McKenzie north of Columbus, GA
1973 Section SE-5 Host: Egwa Tawa Dee #129 Bert Adams SR south of Covington, GA
1974 Section SE-5 Host: Echeconnee #358 Camp Benjamin Hawkins west of Macon, GA
1975 Section SE-5 Host Chattahoochee # 204 U.S. Army Fort Benning, Columbus, GA
1976 Section SE-5 Host: Egwa Tawa Dee #129 Bert Adams SR south of Covington, GA
1977 Section SE-5 Host: Waguli # 318 Camp Sidney Dew northeast of Rome, GA
1978 Section SE-5 Host: Mowogo # 243 Rainey Mountain SR east of Clayton, GA
1979 Section SE-5 Host: Bob White # 87 Camp Linwood Hayne south of Augusta, GA
1980 Section SE-5 Host: Echeconnee #358 Camp Benjamin Hawkins west of Macon, GA
1981 Section SE-5 Host: Wehadkee # 273 Camp Pine Mountain east of West Point, GA
1982 Section SE-4 Host: Alapaha # 545 Moody A. F. B. north of Valdosta, GA
1983 Section SE-4 Host: Immokalee # 353 Camp Osborn northeast of Albany, GA
1984 Section SE-4 Host: Chattahoochee # 204 Camp McKenzie, La Grange, GA
1985 Section SE-4 Host: Pilthlako # 229 Jekyll Island 4-H Center Jekyll Island, GA
1986 Section SE-4 Host: Ini-To # 324 Camp Calvin of the Presbytery Church, Hampton, GA
1987 Section SE-4 Host: Egwa Tawa Dee #129 Bert Adams SR south of Covington, GA
1988 Section SE-4 Host: Mowogo # 243 Rainey Mountain SR east of Clayton, GA
1989 Section SE-4 Host: Waguli # 318 Berry College, Rome, GA
1990 Section SE-4 Host: Echeconnee # 358 Camp Benjamin Hawkins west of Macon, GA
1991 Section SE-4 Host: Alapaha # 545 Moody A. F. B. north of Valdosta, GA
1992 Section SE-4 Host: Immokalee # 353 Camp Osborn northeast of Albany, GA
1993 Section SR-5 (Dixie) Host: Muscogee # 221 Ft. Jackson, Columbia, SC
1994 Section SR-5 (Dixie) Host: Bob White # 87 Camp Linwood Hayne South of Augusta, GA
1995 Section SR-5 (Dixie) Host: Tomo-Chi-Chi # 119 Camp Blue Heron Riceboro, GA
1996 Section SR-5 (Dixie) Host: Egwa Tawa Dee # 129 Bert Adams SR Covington, GA
1997 Section SR-5 (Dixie) Host: Un A Li’ Yi # 236 Camp Ho-Non-Wah near Charleston, SC
1998 Section SR-6S Host: Mowogo # 243 Rainey Mountain SR east of Clayton, GA
1999 Section SR-6S Host: Egwa Tawa Dee #129 Bert Adams SR south of Covington, GA
2000 Section SR- 6S Host: Waguli # 318 Camp Sidney Dew northeast of Rome, GA
2001 Section SR-6S Host: Chattahoochee # 204 Camp Lumpkin La Grange, GA
2002 Section SR-6S Host: Talidandaganu’ # 293 Skymont Scout Reservation Altamont, TN
2003 Section SR-6S Host: Ini-To # 324 Camp Thunder Woodbury, GA
2004 Section SR-6S Host: Coosa # 50 Camp Comer north of Fort Payne, AL
2005 Section SR-6S Host: Egwa Tawa Dee # 129 Woodruff SR NW of Blairsville, GA
2006 Section SR-6S Host: Mowogo # 243 Rainey Mountain SR east of Clayton, GA
2007 Section SR- 6S Host: Waguli # 318 Camp Sidney Dew northeast of Rome, GA 2008 Section SR-6S Host: Chattahoochee # 204 Camp Lumpkin La Grange, GA.

[edit] Past Lodge Chiefs

1938 Floyd Sanders Jr
1939 Arnold Almand
1940 Unknown
1941 Paul Sams
1942 Unknown
1943 John M. Outler III
1944 John M. Outler III
1945 Doug Ellis
1946 Unknown
1947 Frank Rumble
1948 Jack Freeman
1949 Jack Freeman
1950 Unknown
1951 Francis Brown
1952 Goetz B. Eaton
1953 Jimmy Waters
1954 Herbert Entrekin
1955 Jim Collins
1956 David Wilbanks
1957 William Bracewell
1958 Russell Neal House
1959 James Cruz Giglio
1960 Thomas Shoupe Jr
1961 James Drew Jr
1962 Bob Castleberry
1963 William Veatch III
1964 William Howe
1965 William Howe
1966 Nick Herren Jr
1967 Ethan Dougherty
1968 Carson Salyer
1969 Champ Massey
1970 John Kilpatrick Jr
1971 Donald Swift
1972 Louis Jacob III
1973 Kent Knight
1974 Glen Borders
1975 Joe Burch
1976 Steve Kinsman
1977 Mike Briggs
1978 Jim Emmons
1979 Bernie Marino
1980 Tim Crawford
1981 Danny Fancher
1982 Jac Coursey
1983 Anthony Pesce
1984 David Ryan
1985 Scott McClure
1986 Scott McClure
1987 Russell Cutts
1988 David Fox
1989 Chuck Scales
1990 Towner Blackstock
1991 Scott Slaton
1992 Micah Andrews
1993 Steven Danielek
1994 Alan Anderson
1995 Mark Angeli
1996 Mark Angeli
1997 Brian Yancey
1998 David Heaton
1998 John Sims
1999 Brad Ploeger
2000 Kenny Hosley
2001 Frank McMillan
2002 Danny “Ratchie” Ritchie
2003 Ron Kaye
2004 Matthew Holland
2004 Kyle Kleppe
2005 Kenney Barton
2006 Michael Strong
2007 George Snipes
2008 Joseph Hawkins

[edit] Augusta Council

(Name active from 1920 to 1925. Changed name to Richmond County Council #93 in 1925.)

[edit] Augusta Area Council

(Name active from 1929 to 1941. Changed name to Georgia-Carolina 93 in 1941.)

[edit] Aumuckalie Council

(Name active from 1921 to 1922. Disbanded 1922. Believed based in Americus, Georgia and absorbed by Nochaway #100 (later Chehaw) in 1922.)

[edit] Central Georgia Council

(Name active from 1923 to currently active. Council office located in Macon, GA.)

Camp Benjamin Hawkins is a 550 acre scouting preserve situated near Byron ,Georgia.The camp has been in operation since 1927 and has a long history of scouting traditions.It boasts a solid BSA program which includes: a First Year Camper program(Buckskins), merit badges, C.O.P.E.(Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience), BSA Lifeguard, and various other activities. The camp has witnessed a boom in capitol improvements over recent years, including a pedestrian bridge, new camping facilities, and an expanded dining hall.

  • Big Indian Creek
  • Ocmulgee
  • Oconee
  • Pine Forest

[edit] Echeconnee Lodge

Echeconnee Lodge was chartered in 1947. The Echeconnee Creek is a prominent land feature near the Council's Camp Benjamin Hawkins. Echeconnee is of the Creek Indian language and translates to "Deer Trap Creek"

Arrowmen chose the Deer as their official totem of the lodge. Early patches of the lodge had a deer prominently displayed on them. In 1952, the O.A. national committee asked the BSA to approve a lodge emblem which would fit the right pocket flap of the uniform. Lodge members based the design of our lodge flap on the Creek Indians which lived in our area long ago. The border is based on a pottery design used by the Creek Nation, and the mounds in the background are based on those found in the Ocmulgee National Monument in Macon, Georgia.

Echeconnee Lodge has four Chapters

  • Big Indian Creek
  • Ocmulgee
  • Oconee
  • Pine Forest

[edit] Chatham County Council

(Name active from 1923 to 1942. Changed name to Coastal Empire #99 in 1942.)

[edit] Chattahoochee Council

(Name active from 1923 to 1950. Changed name to George H. Lanier #94 in 1950.)

[edit] Chattahoochee Council

Chattahoochee Council serves Scouts in Georgia and Alabama, with the Council office located in Columbus, Georgia. Active from 1964 to present, the council's name refers to the Chattahoochee River, which flows through Georgia, Alabama, and Florida.

  • George H. Lanier District
  • Saugahatchee District
  • Muskogee District
  • Yellow Jacket District

OA lodge: Chattahoochee Lodge #204 chartered 1941 and still active. Absorbed Hiawassee Lodge #333 (West Georgia Council) in 1963. Absorbed Wehadkee Lodge #273 (George H. Lanier Council, West Point) in both 1964 and 1990.

  • Alapaha
  • Apatschin
  • Hiawassee
  • Si-tam-mico
  • Wehadkee
  • Weracoba
  • Wischixin

[edit] Chehaw Council

(Name active from 1939 to 1984 and 2005 to currently active. Changed name to Southwest Georgia #97 in 1984 and back in 2005. Council office located in Albany, GA.)

  • Achewon District
  • Aguila District
  • Blackshear Trail District
  • Flint District
  • Kinchalee District
  • Kolomoki District
  • Northeast District
  • Pathfinder District
  • Pataula District
  • Thronateeska District

OA lodge: Immokalee Lodge #353 chartered in 1947 and still active. (Lodge discontinued chapters in 2003. All chapters inactive.)

  • Achewon
  • Chehaw
  • Gischhatteu
  • Gokhotit
  • Kinchalee
  • Wulihan

[edit] Cherokee Council

(Name active from 1923 to 1923. Changed name to Floyd County #95 in 1923.

[edit] Cherokee Area Council

CherokeeAreaBSA.com

Cherokee Area Council serves Scouts in Tennessee and Georgia, with the council office located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The John Ross District serves Northwest Georgia Walker, Catoosa and Dade Counties. Website: www.CherokeeAreaBSA.com. Skymont Scout Reservation offers year-round and summer camping opprtunities, www.Skymont.org.

[edit] Coastal Empire Council

(Name active from 1942. Council office located in Savannah, GA.)

  • Canoochee District
  • Cherokee District
  • Liberty District
  • Savannah Center District
  • Tidelands District

OA lodge: Tomo-Chi-Chi Lodge #119 chartered 1938 and still active.

  • Blue Heron
  • Canoochee
  • Creek
  • Ogeechee

[edit] Columbus Council

(Name active from 1919 to 1923. Changed name to Muscogee County #98 in 1923.)

[edit] Columbus Area Council

(Name active from 1925 to 1930. Function merged into Direct Service 1930.)

[edit] Flint River Council

(Name active from 1930 to currently active. Council office located in Griffin, GA.)

  • Coweta District
  • Fayette District
  • Pine District
  • Towiliga District
  • Tussahaw District

OA lodge: Ini-To Lodge #324 chartered in 1952 and still active. Name changed from Thundering Spring Lodge #324 in 1952.

  • Coweta
  • Echota
  • Kuwi Wachischu
  • Towaligia
  • Tussahaw

[edit] Floyd County Council

(Name active from 1919 to 1923. Changed name to Cherokee #95 in 1923.)

[edit] Floyd County Council

(Name active from 1923 to 1925. Disbanded in 1925. Absorbed into Atlanta 92 in 1929.)

[edit] Gainesville Area Council

(Name active from 1928 to 1932. Function merged into Direct Service July 1933.)

[edit] George H. Lanier Council

(Name active from 1950 to 1989. Merged into Chattahoochee #91 in 1989.)

[edit] Georgia-Alabama Council

(Name active from 1934 to 1964. Merged into Chattahoochee #91 in 1964.)

[edit] Georgia-Carolina Council

Name active from 1941 to currently active. Council office located in Augusta, Georgia, includes districts in South Carolina and Georgia.

  • Chickasaw District
  • Kiokee District
  • Ogeechee District
  • Upper River District
  • Yamasee District

OA lodge: Bob White Lodge #87 chartered 1936 and still active.

  • Chickasaw
  • Kiokee
  • Ogeechee
  • Upper River
  • Yamasee

[edit] Griffin Area Council

(Name active from 1927 to 1930. Changed name to Flint River #95 in 1930.)

[edit] Macon Council

(Name active from 1919 to 1923. Changed name to Central Georgia #96 in 1923.)

[edit] Mcintosh County Coouncil

(Name active from 1922 to 1923. Disbanded in 1923. Merged into Chatham County #99 in 1930.)

[edit] Muscogee County Council

(Name active from 1923 to 1925. Changed name to Columbus Area #98 in 1925.)

[edit] Nochaway Council

(Name active from 1921 to 1929. Disbanded in 1929 & the counties were run from the national office then in New York City. Rechartered as Chehaw #97 in 1939. Spelled Notchoway in some BSA records and Notchaway in some other places but Nochaway in actual records of the council.)

[edit] Northeast Georgia Council

(Name active from 1922 to 1931. Changed name to Gainesville Area #428 in 1931.)

[edit] Northeast Georgia Council

(Name active from 1935 to currently active. Council office located in Pendergrass, Georgia.)

Camp Rainey Mountain is a Boy Scout camp near Clayton, Georgia. It has 20 campsites, and is owned by the Northeast Georgia Council. The camp is centered around Lake Toccoa, and has a large dining hall, trading post, and a stone amphitheater. There is also a trail leading to Big Rock, a granite cliff used for rappelling. Summer camps are offered from June to August, but the area is available for Scouts to camp all year round. For more information regarding visiting, contact your local Boy Scout troop. The Mowogo Lodge of the Order of the Arrow is based from Rainey Mountain.

Typically, the camp runs for eight weeks out of the summer, with one week as Staff Week when staff members are trained and camp is prepared, and seven weeks for campers (occasionally, the camp will run for a ninth week for campers). Service around the camp is provided by the Mowogo Lodge.

The main activity during camp is the merit badge classes. Classes are typically one hour long, but many classes must cover more material and may take two or three hours. There are currently 43 different merit badge class (two of which cover two merit badges). Also, a program called TNT (The New Trail), which focus on rank advancement rather than a merit badge. There is also a swimming class that focuses on the swimming merit badge, and a class to train and certify lifeguards with the BSA. High Adventure Classes available as well; some of which are hosted week-long by North East Georgia's other camp Scoutland.

The staff hosts organized campfires every Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday nights at the stone amphitheater. Every Sunday night, the staff introduces themselves and put on skits for entertainment. Wednesday night hosts the Order of the Arrow campfire, in which many troops and distinguished scouts of the Order of the Arrow put on skits or induct new members into Order of the Arrow. On Friday nights, awards are given out by the staff to the exemplary scouts of the week, and troops give out staff awards. The Senior patrol leaders (SPLs) of the troops get together and vote on the "Staffer of the Week".

[edit] Scoutland

Scoutland in Gainesville, Georgia on Lake Lanier is Camp Rainey Mountain's High Adventure Outpost. Scoutland Outpost features mainly Aquatic activities as well as Cub Scout Activities. Former notable Camp directors include Daniel Victorio.

[edit] North East Georgia Council

[2]
  • Banks District
  • Barrow District
  • Clarke District
  • Dawson District
  • Elbert District
  • Fannin District
  • Forsyth District
  • Franklin District
  • Gilmer District
  • Greene District
  • Gwinnett District
  • Habersham District
  • Hall District
  • Hart District
  • Jackson District
  • Lumpkin District
  • Madison District
  • Morgan District
  • Oglethorpe District
  • Oconee District
  • Rabun District
  • Stephens District
  • Towns District
  • Union District
  • Walton District
  • White District

[edit] Mowogo OA Lodge

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Mowogo Lodge #243 chartered in 1943 and still active.

Legend of Mowogo Lodge

Many years ago a wise man came to these hills looking for a place to rest. He came to this valley after a long and toilsome life of many hardships. His family had been killed by the white man, leaving him the lone survivor of a dying race. He came to this place we now call Rainey Mountain. He found a faint trail to Big Rock and began the wearisome journey to the top. With each step the climb became more difficult. When he finally reached the top he looked around, gathered many pieces of wood, and found a place to build a fire. It was his time to die. He built a roaring blaze, then raised his hands towards the heavens, and a great ball of fire shot into the sky! The medicine man disappeared, but the shape of a bear appeared in the heavens. Just as the man had come, there was nothing left: no trace of fire, no trace of footsteps, no trace of man. He had disappeared. Many years later a man named Rainey came to these hills, seeking a place to pan gold. He found She Creek which was not yet turned into Lake Toccoa. He saved up enough money to buy the land that is now Camp Rainey Mountain. Rainey started a little farm, built the cabin you see across the lake, acquired a wife, and had several children who worked in the fields during the day. One night as he drifted off to sleep there was a loud crash at the door! He went outside to see what was wrong, but saw nothing until he turned around. There were three huge claw marks on the door. Several nights later there was again a crash at the door. He saw no one, however, this time there were two claw marks on the door. He was extremely puzzled and was becoming frightened, but he did nothing. One night later there was again a crash at the door. This time one claw mark showed, but still Rainey did nothing. A few days later Rainey went out on a hunting trip. When he returned he found a bear had slaughtered his family. He stayed on his land for several years as he sought someone to buy his property. Along came a man called Gordon, Moses W. Gordon. Mowogo Lodge is named after him. When Mr. Gordon purchased the land, he thought this would be a great place for a Boy Scout Camp. He would call it Camp Rainey Mt., and the name lasts to this day. Shortly afterward Mowogo Lodge had its first encampment. The Order of the Arrow members gathered around a fire after a long, hard day of work. They sat and talked about the day's events and everyone was pleased that the work had been well done. Suddenly there were sounds of heavy footsteps. The boys turned to see a great bear. The boys were frozen with fear. The bear rose up off the ground onto its hind legs, and just as the bear had risen, he came down again and walked away. Those boys were more than lucky. They were true Scouts. For it is said that a true Scout, one who is not only a Scout on the outside, but also in his heart will not be harmed by the she-bear. And so, the legend lives ...

History of Mowogo Lodge On June 2, 1934 the National Council approved the Order of the Arrow. Mowogo Lodge, 243 of the Northeast Georgia Council received its name from a good friend of the Council's camping and scouting program, Mr. Moses W. Gordon. The date that the Order of the Arrow first came to the Council is unknown, but it is known that it was not properly organized at first and had turned into a secret fraternity with members selecting candidates. It was also working against the Council camping program instead of strengthening it. The first written account of Mowogo Lodge begins in April of 1949 at which time the Lodge was in a defunct status. At that time J. M. Molder, then the Scout executive, assigned Charlie Bethea, the new Field Executive of the Chattahoochee, Mountain, and Cherokee Districts to reorganize the Order of the Arrow in the Northeast Georgia Council. In 1949, when Mr. Bethea began to work on the project, he could find only three boy members: Charlie Brice and Johnnie James from Troop 26 and Hugh Skelton of Troop 15, both troops from Gainesville. There were only two adult members and they were Al Willis and Harold Brooks, both from Chicopee. These two adults and Mr. Bethea set out to develop plans according to the Order of the Arrow Handbook to recognize and properly charter the Lodge. The three boy members aided with candidate elections. The first unit elections were started in the fall of 1949. The first national chartering of Mowogo Lodge was applied for January 1, 1950 through December 31, 1950 with minimum membership. Mowogo Lodge's first Ordeal was held in conjunction with the Spring Camporee of the Chattahoochee District in April of 1950. At the Friday night campfire the district's candidates were tapped out with all districts participating except Broad River, which was unable to attend. However, Cherokee and Piedmont districts provided a large number of candidates. For the Lodge's first Ordeal ceremony, Hugh Skelton was Allowat Sakima, Charlie Brice was Meteu, Johnnie James performed Nutiket's duties, and Bill Barnes, a candidate from Post 9 of Chicopee, performed the duties of Kichkinet. Due to the lack of current members, Mr. Al Willis and Mr. Harold Brooks served as yeomen and Paul Tweedell and Roy Cromartie, both elected candidates, served as "Ordeal Masters" to supervise work projects. One of the major projects completed was a chapel area at the Chicopee campgrounds, which was then used Sunday morning for the chapel services. The Skyuka Lodge of Spartanburg, South Carolina Council inducted Mr. Bethea into the Brotherhood at its Area 6C Fellowship, and then agreed to conduct the first Brotherhood ceremony for Mowogo Lodge. This momentous occasion occurred at the first Mowogo Lodge encampment at Rainey Mountain Scout Reservation in 1952. Mowogo Lodge hosted its first Area 6C Fellowship at a very primitive Camp Rainey Mountain in April of 1956. A practicing Cherokee Medicine Man, Ammoneto Sequoy attended as a guest and added much to the gathering. Also in attendance was Dr. E. Urner Goodman, the founder of the Order of the Arrow. It was at this fellowship that Mr. Charlie Bethea received the Vigil Honor, making him the first Vigil recipient from Mowogo Lodge. By 1985 Mowogo Lodge was a thriving part of the Council camping program. The Lodge maintained a total of 708 members on its roster and averaged over a hundred new member inductions per year, as well as over 40 Brotherhood inductions. In 1988 Mowogo Lodge hosted the Section IV OA Conclave at Camp Rainey Mt. There were 675 participants from ten Councils in Georgia. The Lodge also won the E. Urner Goodman Award. Every year since 1950 Mowogo Lodge has performed immeasurable, cheerful service for the Council, especially at Camp Rainey Mountain. An example of this is in 1992, when over 4,000 service hours were performed at Camp Rainey Mountain and 2,400 at Scoutland. In 1992 under Chief Kevin Jones and Adviser Dale Anderson the Mowogo Lodge conducted Spring Fellowship at Scoutland. This was a departure from the normal tradition of having it at Camp Rainey Mt. It was determined that there was a real need for services at Scoutland. All told, there were 27 major projects, including 27 new patrol tables, 5 campfire rings, an addition of an activity building, and the removal of diseased trees. Over 400 members and candidates labored until darkness to show a graphic example of what the Order of the Arrow is all about SERVICE. For the 50th anniversary of Mowogo Lodge in 1994 the Lodge had a record year. Let by Lodge Chief Jeff Weller, Vice Chief Kenn Nunnally In April of 1997 Mowogo Lodge was moved into a new section: SR-6S (South). As one of the leaders in this new section Mowogo had the privilege of hosting the first ever SR-6 South Conclave at Camp Rainey Mountain in April of 1998 under the leadership of Section Vice Chief for Conclave Patrick May. In the year 2000 Mowogo Lodge emerged as one of the premier Lodges in the Southern Region. Early in the year Patrick May became Section Chief and at Conclave the Lodge retired both the Quest's Golden Arrow and the Section Recognition Award. At the National Conference in Knoxville, under the leadership of Lodge Chief Andrew Gast, Mowogo was named a Founder's Lodge (one of 23 Lodges honored), and was one of only 16 Lodges in the country to receive the NOAC Lodge Spirit Award. In 2002, Mowogo broke the 1000 members mark and set records for attendance at Lodge functions. The Lodge inducted 312 new members, a record, and converted 107 new Brotherhood members, also a record. Then, in 2003 the Lodge converted 152 Brotherhood members. Meaningful growth continued in 2004 as more than 100 were converted to Brotherhood membership and attendance exceeded the 1000 member mark for the third year in a row. A large contingent was sent to the 2004 National Order of the Arrow Conference and Mowogo took second place nationally in the Ultimate Frisbee competition. In the winter of 2006, severe weather decimated Camp Rainey Mountain as Mowogo prepared to host the Section SR-6 South's Conclave in April and in addition to preparing the camp for Summer Camp in June. Many Lodge members spent countless hours rehabilitating the camp and Mowogo was able to host a most successful Conclave. Mowogo sent a record contingent of 46 Lodge members to the 2006 National Order of the Arrow Conference where again the Lodge took second place nationally in the Ultimate Frisbee competition.

Current Lodge Chapters

  • Ani-gatogewi
  • Canantutlaga
  • Japeechen
  • Jutaculla
  • Lau In Nih
  • Machque
  • Yonah-hi

[edit] Northwest Georgia Council

(Name active from 1932 to currently active. Council office located in Rome, GA.)

Camp Sidney Dew is a Boy Scout camp near Rome, Georgia. It has 17 campsites, and is owned by the Northwest Georgia Council. The camp has two lakes, a swimming pool, a large dining hall, trading post, rifle, shotgun, and archery ranges, and a stone amphitheater. There is also a COPE course built by Georgia Power. Summer camps are offered from June to August, but the area is available for Scouts to camp all year round. For more information regarding visiting, contact your local Boy Scout troop. The Waguli Lodge of the Order of the Arrow is based from Sidney Dew.

The main activity during camp is the merit badge classes. Classes are typically one hour long, but many classes must cover more material and may take two or three hours. There are currently 43 different merit badge classes. Also, a class called Spikebuck, which focuses on rank advancement rather than a merit badge. There is also a swimming class that does not focus on the swimming merit badge, a class to train and certify lifeguards with the BSA, and a free boating class, a mile swim award class, and a week-long trek.

  • Conasauga District
  • Coosa District
  • Sequoyah District

OA lodge: Waguli Lodge #318 chartered in 1945.

[edit] Ococah Council

(Name active from 1922 to 1924. Changed name to Northeast Georgia #101 in 1924.)

[edit] Okefenokee Council

(Name active from 1921 to 1922. Disbanded 1922.)

[edit] Okefenokee Area Council

(Name active from 1926 to currently active. Council office located in Waycross, GA.)

OA lodge: Pilthlako Lodge #229 chartered in 1950. Name changed from Chawtaw Lodge #229 (1943 - 1950).

  • Allogagan
  • Guale
  • Tomo Chi Chi

[edit] Richmond County Council

(Name active from 1925 to 1929. Changed name to Augusta Area #93 in 1929.)

[edit] Savannah Council

(Name active from 1920 to 1923. Merged into Chatham County #99 in 1923.)

[edit] Southwest Georgia Council

(Name active from 1984 to 2005. Changed name back to Chehaw #97 in 2005.)

[edit] Suwannee River Area Council

Main article: Scouting in Florida

The Suwannee River Area Council, active from 1924 to present, encompasses 13 counties in north Florida and south Georgia. The Council Service Center and central headquarters are in Tallahassee, Florida.

[edit] West Georgia Council

(Name active from 1946 to 1964. Merged into Chattahoochee #91 in 1964.)

[edit] Withlacocchee Council

(Name active from 1926 to 1930. Changed name to Okefenokee Area #758 in 1930.)

[edit] Girl Scouting in Georgia

The Girl Scout Birthplace is located in Savannah, Georgia, which was the Gordon family home that now provides tours to thousands of Scouts every year. Upon Juliette Gordon Low's death in 1927, she willed her carriage house, eventually named The Girl Scout First Headquarters, to the local Savannah Girl Scouts for continued use.

As of January 2007 there are eight Girl Scout council offices in Georgia; however, due to a national realignment of councils these will soon become two councils.

[edit] Girls Scouts of Greater Georgia (placeholder name)

The following councils will probably formally merge sometime in 2008.

Girl Scouts, Central Savannah River Council, Inc. Augusta, Georgia[3]

Girl Scouts of Concharty Council, Inc. Columbus, Georgia[4]

Girl Scouts of Middle Georgia, Inc. Lizella, Georgia[5]

Except for Jasper county which will move to the new Atlanta area council

Girl Scouts of Northeast Georgia, Inc. Athens, Georgia[6]

Except for Dawson, Barrow, Walton, and Forsyth counties which will move to the new Atlanta area council

The Girl Scout Council of Savannah, Georgia, Inc. Savannah, Georgia[7]

Where Girl Scouting started in the United States.

Girl Scouts of Southwest Georgia, Inc. Albany, Georgia[8]

[edit] Girl Scouts - Atlanta (placeholder name)

Girl Scout Council of Northwest Georgia, Inc. Atlanta, Georgia[9]

Girl Scouts of Pine Valley Council, Inc. Griffin, Georgia[10]

The Northwest Georgia Girl Scout Council maintains a relationship with the Sakartvelos Gogona Skautebis Asociacia 'Dia' in the Republic of Georgia.

[edit] See also

Scouting Portal

[edit] References

  • World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, World Bureau (2002), Trefoil Round the World. Eleventh Edition 1997. ISBN 0-900827-75-0

[edit] External links

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