Mason Dixon Council

The Mason-Dixon Council of the Boy Scouts of America will hold a reunion Saturday, July 16, at Camp Sinoquipe in Fort Littleton, Pa., to share the rich history of Scouting in the area. Scouts who attended camp at Pearee Station or Cowan's Gap, as well as the first campers at Sinoquipe, will come together to share their stories of the past with more recent alumni and Eagle Scouts. Jack Hershey, Don Donat and John Mentzer — three Scouting alumni — will talk about their early camping experiences at Pearee and Cowan's Gap. The day also will offer other alumni Scouts an opportunity to share their memories.

The commissioner staff of the Washington County District, Mason-Dixon Council, recently discussed plans for the first “disassembled” Scout show in the district's history.  Scout shows typically are held in large facilities such as an exhibition hall or open field area, and are designed to give the public the opportunity to see Scouts in action. The program will be held during Scout Week, which is Feb. 3 to 9, 2013, and will occur in troop meeting rooms in church halls, civic club meeting rooms and dedicated Scout halls throughout the county.

A local Scouting official said the organization will respect whatever decision is made when the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America votes this spring on whether to open membership to gays. On Feb. 6, the national group decided to postpone a vote on the matter until May. Mark Barbernitz, Scout executive of the Mason-Dixon Council of the Boy Scouts of America, said earlier this month in an email that his organization would follow membership guidelines in accordance with national BSA policy.

 The Tuscarora District of the Mason-Dixon Council, Boy Scouts of America, held its annual banquet Jan. 29 at the Shady Grove Community Center. Nearly 80 Scouts and Scouters were in attendance for a home-cooked meal prepared by the Tuscarora kitchen crew. While there was ice instead of a red carpet, the stars did come out and many Cub Scout packs, Boy Scouts troops, and Venture crews were presented with Unit awards for meeting goals as set forth by Boy Scouts. A number of adult leader awards were presented: Dee Rider, Crew 99, Greencastle, Pa., and Bill Yoder, Tuscarora District Commissioner, were presented with the District Award of Merit, the highest honor that is given on a district level.

In the wake of the release of decades of confidential sexual-abuse allegations within the Boy Scouts of America, a local Scouting official said Friday that the organization remains committed to protecting youth and providing a safe environment above all else. “Safe-guarding the Scouts is the number one priority for the Scouting organization,” said Mark Barbernitz, Scout executive for the Mason-Dixon Council of the BSA, which oversees approximately 2,300 kids and about 100 troops of Scouts in Washington County as well as parts of Franklin and Fulton counties in Pennsylvania.

A blood drive was held Nov. 16 at Paramount Elementary School. It was sponsored by the American Red Cross, Boy Scout Pack/Troop 103 of the Mason-Dixon Council and the Rotary Club of Long Meadows.

Boy Scout Troop 412 conducted its first Court of Honor on Dec. 17. Troop 412 is a newly formed troop at Paramount Baptist Church in Hagerstown. The troop was chartered in September by the Mason-Dixon Council, Boy Scouts of America.

Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts from the Mason-Dixon Council of Boy Scouts of America took part in a local flag ceremony for the Hagerstown March of Dimes Walkathon at Hagerstown Fairgrounds on April 30.

With the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America reviewing its membership standards with respect to sexual orientation, the Mason-Dixon Council has scheduled two meetings to provide a fact-based dialogue, the council said Friday in a news release. The first meeting will be held Monday, March 11, in the Northern Middle School auditorium, in Hagerstown, at 7 p.m. The second meeting will be held Monday, March 18, in Greencastle-Antrim High School auditorium, in Greencastle, Pa., at 7 p.m. Volunteer facilitators from the Mason-Dixon Council, along with Area 6 representatives and members of the council leadership team including the president, commissioner and scout executive will provide information on the national process to review membership standards which may result in a vote at the national annual meeting in May. “We encourage our parents, unit leaders, committee members, charter representatives and council and district volunteers to attend one of these meetings,” the news release says.

Business Person of the Year thanks friends, family To the editor: Hard-working, passionate people create success. I want to thank my family, friends and the Tuscarora Area Chamber of Commerce for awarding me the “Business Person of the Year.” I cannot individually accept this award, but as a representative of a group, I am honored to do so. My personal successes are the product of the efforts of many. These people are friends that many cannot find in a lifetime.

U.S. Rep. John Delaney said he wants to work toward leveling the playing field to ensure all Americans have an equal opportunity to succeed. Delaney talked about equality, the economy, tensions with North Korea and several other issues Monday during the Friends of Scouting 2013 Community Campaign Breakfast at the Academy Theater in downtown Hagerstown. “The only way to preserve (equality) is to make sure there is an environment where people have opportunities,” the Democratic freshman congressman representing Maryland's 6th District said.

The three newest members of Boy Scout Troop 412 - Sean Maguire, Brendan Heisler and Joshua Macias - recently participated in the Easter egg roll at the White House in Washington, D.C., on April 1. They represented their troop and the Mason-Dixon Council at the traditional event that dates to 1861. On that date, President Abraham Lincoln's son, Tad, hosted the first documented informal egg-rolling party. The tradition today, known as the Easter egg roll, was established by President Rutherford B. Hayes and his wife, Lucy.

With the Boy Scouts of America's longtime membership policy burning under the heat of the national spotlight, the debate about whether or not to allow openly gay people to participate in the organization took the local stage Monday night. Close to 50 people, including adult leaders and parents of Scouts in the local Mason-Dixon Council, or MDC, attended a Monday night meeting at Hagerstown's Northern Middle School to hear an update about what's taking place nationally, and to ask questions and express opinions about the potential change in national policy.

With the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America reviewing its membership standards with respect to sexual orientation, the Mason-Dixon Council has scheduled two meetings to provide a fact-based dialogue, the council said Friday in a news release. The first meeting will be held Monday, March 11, in the Northern Middle School auditorium, in Hagerstown, at 7 p.m. The second meeting will be held Monday, March 18, in Greencastle-Antrim High School auditorium, in Greencastle, Pa., at 7 p.m. Volunteer facilitators from the Mason-Dixon Council, along with Area 6 representatives and members of the council leadership team including the president, commissioner and scout executive will provide information on the national process to review membership standards which may result in a vote at the national annual meeting in May. “We encourage our parents, unit leaders, committee members, charter representatives and council and district volunteers to attend one of these meetings,” the news release says.

For 40 years, people have been coming out for a meal served by the Antietam Exchange Club to help the organization raise money for charities it supports. The event started at the Venice Inn on Dual Highway and then moved to South Hagerstown High School, said George Hill, chairman of the fundraiser. Hundreds of people turned out Sunday for the Italian Festa, now held at Williamsport Volunteer Fire & Emergency Medical Services. “It seems a lot of the same faces come out each year,” Hill said as he scanned the crowd.

A local Scouting official said the organization will respect whatever decision is made when the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America votes this spring on whether to open membership to gays. On Feb. 6, the national group decided to postpone a vote on the matter until May. Mark Barbernitz, Scout executive of the Mason-Dixon Council of the Boy Scouts of America, said earlier this month in an email that his organization would follow membership guidelines in accordance with national BSA policy.

A Greencastle man is celebrating his 50th year as a leader with the Boy Scouts of America. Richard Walck became a committee member of Cub Scout Pack 90 in State Line, Pa., in 1962. Since then, he has held a number of positions within Pack 90, Troop 90 and Greencastle's Troop 99. His awards and honors include the Outstanding Service Award and Silver Beaver Award. Walck said he served as the chairman and primary organizer of a Muscular Dystrophy Association fundraiser for three years.

Boy Scout Troop 412 conducted its first Court of Honor on Dec. 17. Troop 412 is a newly formed troop at Paramount Baptist Church in Hagerstown. The troop was chartered in September by the Mason-Dixon Council, Boy Scouts of America.

The commissioner staff of the Washington County District, Mason-Dixon Council, recently discussed plans for the first “disassembled” Scout show in the district's history.  Scout shows typically are held in large facilities such as an exhibition hall or open field area, and are designed to give the public the opportunity to see Scouts in action. The program will be held during Scout Week, which is Feb. 3 to 9, 2013, and will occur in troop meeting rooms in church halls, civic club meeting rooms and dedicated Scout halls throughout the county.