October 2010

Chief's Corner
SR-7B Recognized in National Bulletin
One Day of Service
High Adventure Testimonial
Officer Spotlight: Vice Chief of Program
Conclave Update
Communications Award

Fellow Brothers of SR-7B,

As fall descends upon us, so too does one of the busiest and most exciting times of the year within the Order of the Arrow. Fall fellowships, banquets, and lodge One Day of Service projects are all going on. Beyond your own lodge’s events, I would like to take a moment to inform you of some exciting Section programs that are upcoming.

The first, is the first ever Chapter Leadership Training Summit. This is an exciting new training program within our section that promises to be second to none. If you are currently a chapter chief or adviser, and are interested in attending a national caliber training event then this event is for you! Contact your lodge chief for details and registration information.

The next event I would like to bring to your attention is Conclave. Throughout the year, you will continually hear lots of information concerning Conclave. Why is this, you might ask? It is because the SR-7B Conclave is one of the most exciting events you will experience within scouting. It is filled with fun, competitions, training, and fellowship, plus much more. This year’s Cardinal Conclave is no exception! Look for more information in future Apensuwi editions, and at your lodge events.

In Service,

Rob Orr

SR-7B Chief

Due to the hard work of the Arrowmen within SR-7b, The National Bulletin decided to recognize our efforts in their newsletter. Below is the article about what we accomplished, written by Robert Mason and John Garwood.

Over the past few years, the section leadership of SR-7B, serving northern and eastern North Carolina, has explored many ways to improve the section conclave experience for Arrowmen. The Cardinal Conclave, named after North Carolina’s state bird, is full of scouting skills, American Indian events, and lodge competition. In the last two conclaves, however, the brothers of SR-7B have embraced a new activity: service to the community. In 2009, the Council of Chiefs voted to host a blood drive during the morning training. This was a stunning success as they collected 31 pints of blood, well above the goal of 20.The 2010 blood drive was more successful, bringing in 55 pints, five pints more than the goal.

With the success of 2009, the section leadership was inspired to host a larger project which could involve a greater number of participants to accompany the second drive. Some fact-finding ,‘Give2thetroops’, an organization that sends care packages to U.S. servicemen and women serving overseas, was identified, and the section leadership set a goal to create more than 1,000 care packages during conclave. Using funds donated by t he member lodges of SR-7B,section leadership sought donations and discounts on material goods that would bring a bit of home to those giving so much for our country. More than $10,000 worth of goods were collected for the care packages.

During the morning activities, Arrowmen formed an assembly line, placing items such as toothpaste, hand sanitizer, gummy bears, and Oreo cookies in bags. Twenty-six deployed platoons received boxes containing care packages, one for each platoon member, equaling a total of 1,040 packages. Every Arrowmen who assembled a package penned a personal note in the package thanking the recipient for his service. The local leadership for Give2theTroops was amazed that so many Scouts had participated. Huge smiles and joyful tears greeted the Arrowmen who helped load t he packages into vans for transport to the organization ’s office. One soldier wrote to the Arrowman who assembled his care package, saying, “You and your fellow Scouts have brightened our days away from our loved ones, and we would like to say from the bottom of our hearts, thank you.”

One Day of Service is an event that is hosted all over the nation and the Southern Region by nearly all of the Lodges.  Being a "brotherhood of cheerful service", one of our main goals is to seek out ways that we can serve our fellow scouts and community whether it be through One Day of Service or Conclave Service Projects. One Day of Service gives Arrowmen of the Southern Region a chance to have fun while still serving and fulfilling their Obligation to the Order.  

Imagine, all 92 Lodges or even all the Chapters of the Southern Region going out in October and each performing a unique service project to benefit their community. Projects in the past have been a huge success since the founding of One Day in 1996. Projects have varied based on the needs of each community within each Lodge or Chapter.

Some Chapters and Lodges have even gone off to do their own smaller version of ArrowCorps5 by working in state or county parks, and state forests. For example, Occoneechee Lodge went to work on the Mountain to Sea Trail near Fall Lake. Other Lodges have chosen to do things like help in a soup kitchen, participate in canned food drives or coat drives, or even help with Special Olympics. The list goes on and on.  The possibilities are endless. How will you make a difference come October?

Jack Koch
SR-7B One Day Chairman

Hello fellow brothers,

I am Bradley Taylor, SR7B Vice Chief of Program. I am very excited to be serving you this year as the section prepares an extraordinary conclave and support lodge program. It is always a joy to see scouts and scouters having fun doing service, socializing at a lodge event, attending summer camp, and much more. This joy is the energy that drives me lead, guide, support, and serve each of you…the brothers in the Order of the Arrow of SR7B. I am currently a sophomore at High Point University pursuing a major in chemistry and mathematics, but when not in school, I am all about the OA and Scouting!

These two organizations are deep within me because they offer the opportunity for young boys to grow into men with the skills to lead, plan, think on their own, and be successful in their future. There is a deep passion in me for the Order of the Arrow; as Scouting’s National Honor Society we are challenged to live lives of cheerful service toward each other, toward our family and friends, and toward the community we live in. Each of you along with me have taken the challenge and can work together to make our world a better place to live! I am honored to serve you!

-Lodge– Wahissa Lodge #118

-Council– Old Hickory Council

-Years In Scouting– 14 years

-Positions Held– Troop Junior Asst. Scoutmaster, Chapter VCA/F, Lodge Committee Chairs, Lodge Chief, Section VCP 2009-2010, Member of many council committees

-Awards– Eagle Scout with 6 Palms, Vigil Honor, Founder’s Award, Roy M. Hinshaw Award (CRK Historical Assn.)

-School/ Major– High Point University, Chemistry and Mathematics Majors

-Hobbies– Camping, playing the piano, woodworking, photography, golf

-Favorite Movie– National Treasure Series (or August Rush)

-Favorite Book– The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

-Favorite Band- mixed

-Favorite Quote– Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning. -Albert Einstein