Merry Christmas Pack 681

Merry Christmas to all Pack 681 families.

Please see the below Norway Boy Scout Christmas Postcard and the related story by Karen E. Johansen.



Norway Boy Scout Christmas Postcard
Karen E. Johansen
In the 1920s-30s, the Norwegian Boy Scout Council printed this Christmas card projecting Scouting as being the better and Christian way for young boys to learn lessons on becoming men. In a world that was about to be once again torn apart by war, it was the right message. When the Nazis invaded Norway, Scouting was banned, and all references to it, such as this card were burned. The Nazis had a passion for burning anything that did not agree with their message of the master race.

The reason for the survival of this card was my father. As his family fled Norway with the German Army close behind, he grabbed the few personal items he could fit into a small case. He must have thought this single card of some value. Possibly, it was his way of remembering better times, or a hope for a better future as he joined others from his homeland in a battle for a better life.

I thought I would place a copy on the internet so others might remember two very important lessons.

1. The truth can never be destroyed by flame or hate. It lives on in the hearts of man.
2. No matter how hard someone try's to destroy the truth, is always has a way of surfacing.


Collector's Comments
Hallvard Slettebø

The first/oldest advertisement of this card is from December 1926 in the "Speideren", journal of the Norwegian Boy Scout Association. The postcard was sold by the publishers Windju Simonsen in Oslo for a price of NOK 0.15 (about 2 cents) per card. Windju Simonsen issued many books for boys and girls, where Scouts were the principal characters.

Scouting in Norway, together with several other organizations, was banned on September 11, 1941 by a decree from the German occupiers. The Association's assets were confiscated and all files destroyed. Scout units were ordered to hand in all equipment and uniforms. However, quite a lot of equipment and uniforms were saved from destruction and hidden until 1945.

Norwegian Scout postcards from before WWII are generally not very scarce, and fetch prices in the range of USD 10-30. Postcards sent from Scout camps are worth more, especially those cancelled with a special Scout camp postmark.

Christmas Pack Meeting - Thursday, December 6

Our December Pack Meeting will have a Christmas theme. All dens should have a Christmas skit or song to share. We'll also expecting a special visitor. We'll wrap things up with Christmas cookies and juice. Each den should plan to bring enough Christmas cookies, juice packs, and napkins to share.

We will not have advancement at this pack meeting.

Pack Meeting
Heller Hall
Thursday, December 6, 2007
7:00pm

We look forward to seeing you all there.

Pack Meeting Moved to Heller Hall ****

Due to a prediction of inclement weather and the fire ban in VA, we have decided to move the Nov 15 pack meeting to Heller Hall.

New Location: Heller Hall
Nov 15, 7pm

Each den will provide a song or skit. We will have advancement (awards).

Scouting for Food - Nov 2007

Morning Safety Briefing Brings Smiles to All
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Collecting the Generous Donations
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Loading up the trailer
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The trailer is getting full

Scouting For Food - Great Results!

Cub Scouts promise "to help other people.."
The Scout Slogan is to Do a Good Turn Daily.

Thanks to all who contributed to Scouting For Food this and last weekend. We had exceptional results! This year, we collected 5,240 lbs of food!

I was so impressed with the energy, charity, and sense of service and obligation demonstrated by the scouts. Please join me in congratulating them on a fantastic effort!

Thanks to all who turned out to help and also please say a special prayer for all those neighbors who contributed - after all, we're just the arms and legs in this operation.

Also, please support our sponsors:
Heidelberg Bakery for providing our carbohydrates
U-Haul for providing the trailer
Sissler's Stone for providing the use of their scale

Lastly, thanks for those who helped pull this together:
Map man extraordinaire and pack coordinator: John Handley
Bagel Man, Breakfast facilitator, and faithful son: The Spollens
Breakfast crew 2: The Woods
Trailer hauler: Bob Harding
Paper Slip man and Troop coordinators: Jeff Hamilton, Daniel Bower, and Elizabeth Vaughn

Please follow the below link to see how the food will be used:
http://www.knoxfc.org/comserv.htm#foodpantry

Scouting for Food - Food Collection!

Please remember Scouting for Food Saturday am (Nov 10). We need a big turnout since we'll be collecting the food!

1. It's predicted to be cold with potential showers this Saturday. All scouts should have a rain jacket and dress appropriately. Gloves are probably a good idea.

2. Please bring your maps from last week.

3. Make sure someone in your group knows the houses you visited last week. We don't want to leave food behind.

4. We'll have a few bags to bring for folks who may have lost theirs.

5. We need more folks this week, so please come out and help us serve our community!

6. Did I mention there will be doughnuts and baked goods donated by Heidelberg Bakery? And coffee and juice? And doughnuts?

Please see below the schedule for Saturday:

Schedule for Saturday, Nov 10:

8:30am Meet at Scout House 128 S. Spring St (Do not park in scout house parking lot.)
Beverages and Doughnuts
Pick up extra bags, if you need any
8:40am Safety Briefing
8:45am Safety Skit
8:50am Depart Scout House to pick up food.
o You will need at least one vehicle to accompany you.
o Once you have collected all food from your area, return to the Scout House and unload into the trailer
o Grab Lunch

(Times below are approximate)
12:30pm Trailer will depart Scout House for weighing and then to Knox Presbyterian Church
12:45pm Trailer arrives at Knox Presbyterian Church and unloading begins
1:45pm Depart Knox Presbyterian Church
o We need lots of helpers for unloading at Knox Presbyterian Church.
o We usually form a human chain and pass the bags from person to person from the trailer into the food bank. It’s a lot of fun – don’t miss it!

This is the primary service project for the Cub Scouts each year - and community service is central to scouting. We need everyone to turn out!

You guys are the best, so I know we'll beat last years collection!

Advancement Request - Due Nov 9

Our next pack meeting is on Nov15 – the pack campfire. Den Leaders: Please send your advancement requests to Maggie Keating by 5pm on Nov 9. This is a quick turn-around, so please try to respond as soon as possible. We want all scouts to be recognized for their achievements.

pmkeating@verizon.net

The main focus for advancement will be:

Goshen – awards from Goshen and special recognition of those who attended
Bobcat – Bobcat patches for Tiger Scouts and any other scouts that are new to scouting that have achieved Bobcat
Beltloops – for summer or fall sports
Scouting for Food patches for those who participated
Bake Sale patches for those who participated

Please use the spreadsheet sent through email to report (see the example) and keep a hard copy to bring to the pack meeting. Please be prepared to assist by reading off each scout’s name and achievements at the pack meeting. Bob and/or Victor will assist in presenting the awards and adding a flair of ceremony.

Also, all dens should have a song and/or a skit for the pack meeting.

Please contact me if you have any questions at all.