Sleeping Giant Home
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District Facts |
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| Towns Served | Hamden, Meriden, North Haven, Southington, Wallingford |
| Roundtable |
Second Monday of the month at 7 PM Maloney High School 121 Gravel Street, Meriden (Directions) |
| District Committee Meeting | First Tuesday of the month at 7 PM North Haven Recreational Center 7 Linsley Street, North Haven (Directions) |
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District Key Three Leadership |
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| District Chairman | |||
| District Commissioner | Jim Nunn | nunnj1@sbcglobal.net | |
| District Executive | Dan Ireland | ||
| Key Three Group Email |
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Sleeping Giant District Scouters,
As many members of the Scouting community have learned, the Little Sioux Scout Ranch a camp of the Mid-American Council, BSA was hit with a tornado on June 11th 2008. We were deeply saddened to hear the news that four Scouts lost their lives in the storm and nearly fifty were injured. The camp itself has faced total destruction. After an extended visit to Iowa, Chief Scout Executive Robert Mazzuca, wrote about the camp and the terrible tragedy that took place there:
“The awesome power of the tornado was clear. Thousands of trees lay strewn around like an emptied box of toothpicks. In the trees that did remain standing, clothes, tents, and sleeping bags draped from their highest branches. There was absolutely nothing left of the ranch keeper's home, it was completely leveled to the ground. The local Sheriff said he had never seen anything like it…
… Seeing the camp as I did today, I have a more complete appreciation for the heroic response by our Scouts. These young men left even the most experienced of the paramedics awestruck. Amazed by how they used their Scout skills and triaged the situation well before the responders arrived. It is a case study in how to do things right in a terrible situation like this. Our Scouts have left a lot of lessons for others to learn.
This was an incredible force of nature. But, it was met by an incredible group of kids.”
These young men and leaders epitomized what it is to be a Scout. Their preparedness and selfless service continues to inspire not only the Scouting community, but our Nation as a whole. As Scouters we have the opportunity to follow this great example while helping our own.
The Mid-American Council has made available a list of material needs for the Little Sioux Scout Ranch:
The Mid-American Council has also listed on its website (www.mac-bsa.org) several funds and sources for support:
"The Little Sioux Victims Fund" – Lawlor's Custom Sportswear, along with Big Sports 590 is raising money by selling "OMAHA CARES" T-shirts. The shirts cost $15 and $10 will be donated for each shirt sold. Help them meet their goal to sell 5,000 shirts and raise $50,000. Order yours today online.
Individual funds include: the "Josh Fennen Memorial Fund," "Ben Petrzilka Memorial Fund,” "Ben Petrzilka Memorial Fund," "Aaron Eilerts Memorial Fund” and the "Dean Family Fund."
Inquiries and additional information requests can be directed to: tornadorelief@mac-bsa.org
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families, friends and Scouts who were affected by this terrible tragedy. Together, we can all move forward and take from this tragedy a heightened sense of the value of Scouting in all our lives, families, communities and nation.
Dan Ireland
District Executive,
Proudly serving Scouting in the communities of Hamden, North Haven, Wallingford, Meriden and Southington
Connecticut Yankee Council, Boy Scouts of America
60 Wellington Rd. P.O. Box 32
Milford, CT 06460
(203) 876-6868 Ext. 254
Fax: (203) 876-6884