Script for Jim Cameron’s Eagle Court of Honor
Program
TROOP ASSEMBLY / Justin Van De VanterPresentation of Colors / Teddy Heidiman, Kevin Stangl
Welcome and Introductions / Rob Cameron
Presentation of the Eagle / Tom Rigodanzo, Jarrod Beiser
David Baer, Nick Forell
THE EAGLE COURT
Assembly of the Court / Rob Cameron
Eagle Examination
- Rank Advancement
- Outdoor Skills
- Leadership and Spirit
Recognition and Commendations
- City Proclamation
- Eagle Project
- Community
- Athletics
Meaning of the Eagle Badge / Sarosh Vesuna
Eagle Charge and Presentation / Gordon Abraham
Council Eagle Recognition / Bob Smith
Perpetual Eagle Award / Rob Cameron
Eagle Scout Remarks / Jim Cameron
CLOSING OF THE COURT / Rob Cameron
Closing Prayer / Reverend Malcolm Young
Retiring of the Colors / Justin Van De Vanter
Refreshments / Everyone!
Script for Jim Cameron’s Eagle Court
1:00 pm - Sept 14, 2008
Assemble the Troop: ------Justin Van De Vanter
Would the troop please assemble and come to order.
(Pause, wait for quiet)
Please stand for the presentation of our Colors.
(Pause, wait for quiet)
Color Guard, advance the Colors!
Scout Salute!
(Color Guard – Teddy Heidiman and Kevin Stangle -advances with the colors)
(Wait for Color Bearers to reach position)
Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance (pledge)
Post the Colors!
(Color Guard steps back and salutes the US Flag)
Two!
Color Guard, Dismissed.
(Color Guard retires down center aisle)
Scouts, please join me in the Scout Oath.
On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
And to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
Mentally awake, and morally straight
Will the audience please be seated!
(Pause for Audience to resume seats)
It is now my pleasure to introduce Rob Cameron, who will be our Master of Ceremonies this evening.
Welcome and Introductions: ------Rob Cameron
Thank you, Justin.
I am Rob Cameron, Jim’s older brother, and I am also an Eagle Scout from Troop 37. Welcome to a very special meeting for our troop – an Eagle Court of Honor – a tribute to a Scout earning the highest rank in Scouting.
We welcome you to a special evening to honor the accomplishments of one of our scouts, and my brother, Jim Cameron.
Many of you here this evening may not be aware of the fact that Troop 37 is the oldest troop in continuous operation in the Stanford Area Council and one of the oldest in California. The original scouts and leaders met in 1917 and were chartered as Troop One.
In the last 90 years, can you imagine?
-How many merit badges have been earned
-How many skills have been learned
-How many miles of trails have been hiked
-How many miles of river have been kayaked
-How many service projects have been performed
-How much leadership has been learned
And, most importantly, how many scouts have learned the basic scout values of honor and duty to God, country, fellow man, and self?
So tonight we gather to honor a special Scout who has earned Scouting’s highest rank, signifying fulfillment and excellence of the scouting experience.
We have many guests here tonight and, at this time, I would like to recognize the family and special guests of our new Eagle Scout. First I will introduce the family. When I call your name (in alphabetic order) would you please stand?
John and Victoria CameronJim’s Parents
Robert G. Cameron (myself)Jim’s Brother
Robert W. CameronJim’s Great Grandfather
Todd and Wendy CameronJim’s Grandfather and his wife
Tony and Lydia CameronJim’s Great Uncle and Aunt
Mary RehrigJim’s Grandmother
Jerome and Sarah SivesindJim’s Uncle and Aunt
Padon and Grant SivesindJim’s Cousins
Mark and Leslie TenboerJim’s Uncle and Aunt
Jane and Katie TenboerJims’ Cousins
And any other family members - if you could please stand?
And now our other special guests of honor (alphabetically):
Gordon AbrahamTroop 37 Scoutmaster
Val CarpenterLos Altos City Mayor
Bonnie CharpentierTroop 37 Advancement Chair Emeritus
Danny DyeSwimming and Waterpolo Coach
Dave McNultyPrinciple of Oak Elementary School
Charlie NeuhauserTroop 37 Eagle Advisor Emeritus
Jim McLennanFremont Hills Country Club Tennis Pro
Bob SmithCouncil Executive Board Member,
Council Vice President of Distinct Operations,
Troop 37 Scoutmaster Emeritus
Sarosh VesunuaPresident’s Scout
Malcolm YoungReverend, Christ Church in Los Altos
A supportive sponsor is an important part of a successful troop. We would like to recognize all members of the Los Altos Rotary Club, our sponsoring organization. Would all the members of the Los Altos Rotary who are attending tonight please stand?
Thank you, please be seated.
I would now like to assemble the Eagle court.
Assembly of the Court of Honor: ------Rob Cameron
As an Eagle Scout and Senior Patrol Leader Emeritus of Troop 37, and by the power vested in me by the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America and the Pacific Skyline Council, I declare this National Eagle Court of Honor to be in session.
We are convened this evening for the purpose of bestowing scouting’s highest award, that of Eagle Scout, upon Jim Cameron. It is now my duty to form the Court. I have the pleasure of introducing the following people who will participate in the ceremony this evening and I invite them to join us on the stage at this time.
- Mr. Gordon Abraham, Troop 37 Scoutmaster
- Mrs. Bonnie Charpentier, Troop 37 Rank Advancement Chairperson Emeritus
- Mr. Charlie Neuhauser, Troop 37 Eagle Advisor Emeritus
(Please be seated on Stage)
Presentation of the Eagle Scout: ------Rob Cameron
Will the Honor Escort, Tom Rigodanzo, Jarrod Beiser, David Baer, and Nick Forell, please escort Jim Cameron to the stage?
(Pause while the Honor Escort escorts Jim to the stage, shake his hand and then exit stage)
To complete the Court and to serve as a fitting background to the ceremonies, will all the Troop Scouts and Scouters who are Eagle Scouts please stand (all Troop 37 Eagle Scouts stand)
Would all other recipients of the Eagle Award or their countries’ equivalent International Rank who are in our audience also please stand?
(Pause)
This group represents the culmination of years of effort and dedication. Each has earned his Eagle Award and has understood and responded to his duty to serve his fellow man and brother scouts in his daily life. Nationwide, less than 2% of the boys who enter scouting achieve the rank of Eagle. Considering the number of boys who become involved in scouting, this works out that approximately one half of 1% of the nation’s boys achieve this rank. Over the years, however, there has been a growing proportion of Eagle Scouts in places of high responsibility and achievement.
Would each Eagle Scout, beginning with those in the back of the audience, tell us his name and the city and year he received his award and then be seated?
(After seating of the last Eagle – Rob should name himself but remain standing…)
Several Eagle Scouts of Troop 37 are currently at college and could not attend tonight. Jim, they wanted you to know that they regret not being able to attend and they send you their congratulations.
I will now begin the examination procedure by explaining the purpose of the Eagle Court.
An Eagle court is an important and serious event. Years of effort have preceded tonight’s ceremony. The parents of the candidate and his troop leaders have labored long and faithfully to guide him to this point. The candidate has spent many hours on projects, in leadership positions, and working on merit badges.
There are a number of purposes of an Eagle Scout Court:
First, to honor the scout.
Second, to charge the Scout. We will have the Eagle Scout charge later in the program.
Third, to inspire other scouts to follow this adventurous and rewarding trail.
Finally, to show the community the product of scouting so they will direct other boys into its program and support the organization in all ways.
It is my pleasure to introduce Mrs. Bonnie Charpentier, Troop 37 Advancement Chair Emeritus, who will speak on the topic of Advancement in Troop 37.
Merit Badges and Rank Advancement-----Bonnie Charpentier
Thank you, Rob.
Boy Scout Advancement is a four-step process:
1. A Boy Scout learns. A scout learns by doing. As he learns, he grows in ability to do his part as a member of the patrol and the troop. As he develops knowledge and skill, he is asked to teach others. In this way, he begins to develop leadership.
2. A Boy Scout is tested. A Scout is tested on rank requirements by his Scoutmaster at a Scoutmaster conference.
3. A Boy Scout is reviewed. After a Scout has completed all requirements for a rank, he has a Board of Review conducted by adult members of our Troop.
4. A Boy Scout is recognized. When the board of review has certified a boy’s advancement, he is recognized at the next court of honor by receiving a certificate of his new rank.
In the lower ranks (Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class) the focus is on mastering basic skills - skills that the scout will rely upon for the rest of his life.
In the upper ranks, beginning when the Scout reaches the rank of First Class and continuing through Star and Life, learning continues as the Scout now earns merit badges on a wide variety of subjects, but the focus of the requirements shifts somewhat toward service to others and toward the development of leadership skills.
Jim has achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. Eagle Scout is the 7th and highest rank in the Scouting program.
For the rank of Eagle, a scout is required to plan and carry out a service project by leading his fellow scouts in a project which benefits the community. A scout must also appear before an Eagle Board of Review at the Council level.
Jim has earned the required 21 Merit badges (although after he went off to college his parents did find several other partial blue cards squirreled away in his room indicating that he started many others at various pow-wows and summer camps). Jim’s advancement and merit badge record has been thoroughly reviewed at the Troop and Council level and he has been found to be qualified in the area of Scout skills.
I notice that Jim zipped right along earlier in his scouting career as he went from a Weblo Scout having just earned the Arrow of Light, all the way to Second Class in his first 10 months of scouting. He subsequently advanced one rank every year until he earned his Life rank. It is pretty obvious that Jim really enjoyed being a Life Scout – seeing that he spent 4 years there before the sight of approaching 18th birthday pushed him up and over to where he is tonight – at his Eagle Court of Honor. In fact he was already one third of the way through his freshman year at Cal Poly San Louis Obispo (where he is majoring in Journalism) before he actually had his Board of Review. I guess Jim is driven by deadlines – ok, a career in Journalism should be a good fit!
Perhaps some of you noticed the picture of Jim’s cub scout pack 74 on the table at the back of this room. I was Jim’s Pack Leader along with Jim’s father John. As I look at the face of those 10 scouts I am proud to tell you that 4 of them became Eagle Scouts including Jim. Maybe there was something in the Kool-Aid we served for snack time?
Now, Gordon Abraham, former Troop 37 Scoutmaster, will comment on Jim’s qualifications in Outdoor Skills.
Outdoor Skills and Venture Activities------Gordon Abraham
Thank you, Bonnie…..
Most scout crafts and skills are learned and applied in the outdoors. I have had the opportunity to camp with Jim on many occasions. Jim has attended four one-week camps at Oljato where he earned “Chief” status. His Oljato trips even included the infamous year that Oljato was snowed in and the camp had to be moved to nearby Shaver Lake where Jim actually earned the HONOR SCOUT award for the entire camp. Jim has spent 3 weeks at Kayak camp, hiked on 2 segments of the Rim of the Bay, and attended many other weekend camps and activities with Troop 37. He has camped 57 nights, hiked over 102 miles and personally contributed or supervised over 200 hours of service to the community.
Jim was also our spiritual leader, serving as Chaplain, for our Philmont Trip which encompassed over 75 miles of backpacking in the back country of New Mexico.
(Gordon to fill in some salient details and personal remarks . . . )
Along the way, Jim has evolved from a young boy, eager to learn but struggling to keep up, to a young man and a leader, competent and comfortable in the wilderness.
Some of the skills that Jim has learned and applied are:
How to plan menus
How to cook meals
How to dress warmly and stay dry
How to carry food and personal gear
How to make camp, and, most importantly,
How to work as a team and to help each other.
I would like to further declare that Jim is qualified in the area of scout craft and outdoor skills.
Mr. Charlie Neuhauser, former Eagle Advisor of Troop 37, will now comment on Jim’s qualifications in the areas of Scout spirit, leadership, and service.
Leadership, Scout Spirit and Service------Charlie Neuhauser
Thank you, Gordon.
Another important qualification for this rank is leadership, Scout spirit and service.
Jim has held various leadership positions during his time with Troop 37, including:
Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (2 times, including Oljato)
Chaplain for Camp Philmont
Patrol Leader (3 times)
And in the twilight of his career - leading a Surfing Trip to Santa Cruz
Outside of Scouting, Jim has assumed many leadership roles in school and the community including high school Waterpolo, Swimming and working as a Swim Team Coach and Life Guard for his community swim and tennis club, Fremont Hills.
Jim’s Eagle Project involved leading Scouts in over 100 hours of service to his community. His project of designing and building a cement sculpture of a cougar for Oak Elementary School will be described in more detail later in this program. A copy of Jim’s Eagle Project report is located at the back of the room. Please look over the report and pictures at the conclusion of the court and see for yourself what Jim and his team accomplished.
However, some things you won’t see in the formal reports are some of the “experiences” that Jim encountered with his project that gave him the “opportunity” to face and conquer adversity . . .
(Charlie – I will let you fill in some color here along the lines of . . . .)
- The hose and faucet at Oak School were protected against vandals with a square valve stem and NO HANDLE! Thank goodness for young scouts with endless patience – one of them was Tom Rigodanzo (also be present) who tirelessly held down the button on the drinking fountain so that a strategically placed 5 gallon bucket could be used to collect water in order to mix the cement.
You might give him some freeze dried water (empty zip lock bag) or else a KEY for such a security protected faucet.
- Getting the cement to stick on the bottom side of the cougar’s tummy was a real hassle. Every time they tried to take a hand full and stick it on the underside – gravity would conspire to make it plop right back down on the ground. In the end they were able to concoct extra sticky batches of cement that would stick – but it was frustrating and a very drawn out process. Jim showed good spirit by not openly cussing in front of the tender ears of the young scouts present and instead patiently worked the issue.
Maybe you could offer him some ELMERS GLUE and tell him to mix his cement with Glue next time because the water was in such short supply also. I have Elmer’s that I can bring.
Jim’s leadership positions have been thoroughly reviewed. Jim has shown a maturing quality and a willingness to exert leadership. We declare him qualified in leadership and spirit.
I would like to introduce Her Honor Val Carpenter, Mayor of the city of Los Altos, to add her thoughts about Jim’s accomplishments and the role of Scouting in our community.
City Proclamation ------Val Carpenter
(the Mayor will read her proclamation declaring this to be Jim’s Day)
I would like to introduce Dave McNulty, Principle of Oak Elementary School o describe Jim’s Eagle Project in more detail.
Eagle Service Project------Dave McNulty