Thanks for nine decades of Scouting in the area

With February and Scout anniversary month coming to an end it is always a good time to step back and see where we have come from and to appreciate the journey that the Boy Scouts of American has taken. It was 114 years ago that the Boy Scout movement officially began at 11:03 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 8, 1910. This is exact date time that the Boy Scouts of America became incorporated.

There have been Boy Scouts of America units in Havre and along the Hi-Line for more than 90 years. That cannot happen without the past and continued support of those communities and those who live in them.

A huge thank you goes to those who charter our current BSA units; St. Jude’s Church (Tim Maroney) Pack 4426 for 74 years, First Lutheran Church (Cliff Plum) Troop 1438 for 75 years, Crew 2406 for eight years and Troop 1406 for five years.

We also want to thank the other organizations with in the Hi-Line District that charter units in their communities. Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Chester for chartering Pack 4430, Troop 1419 and Troop 1430, and American Legion Post 50 in Big Sandy for chartering Troop 1450. An additional thank you goes to Community Alliance Church for allowing Pack 4426 to have their weekly meetings in their facility.

A big part of scouting is giving back to the community. Here is a partial list of how Havre Scouts have provided service in the past year:

• Assisted the Havre Optimist club in the fall and spring highway cleanup

• Assisted with the First Lutheran Church Lutefisk and Meatball dinner

• Assisted with the Knights of Columbus Fish Frye and St. Jude’s Parish Center

• Staffed a water Station for Bear Paw Run

• Provided the Color guard for the Havre Festival Day Parade

• Taught a First Aid activity at Fifth Avenue Christian for a non-support Friday activity

• Assisted with placing flags on veteran’s graves for Memorial Day

• Collected and retired more than 150 American Flags

• Provided the Color Guard at the Court House for the Memorial Day ceremony

• Made and sent valentine’s day cards to a couple of Havre residents who are stationed overseas

• Provided scouting memorabilia to for the Scouting display at the H. Earl Clack Museum

Please contact me if you have any questions or would like to become a part of the BSA program. Remember our programs are open to all youth, not just boys.

One more thing, the Hi-Line District is holding a chili cook off contest that is open to the public. This will be held Saturday, April 6, at the Fifth Avenue Christian Church. There are two categories for entering chili, individual and businesses. Please call Dan Hair, the BSA Hi-Line District Executive at 406-761-6000 for more detailed information and how to enter.

Thank you to all of you who have supported scouting over the years and continue to do so today. That support is very much appreciated!

Yours in Scouting,

Scouts BSA Hi-Line Committee Chair Bill Lanier

[email protected]

406-399-4609