Boy Scouts hold banquet

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The Central North Carolina Council, Boy Scouts of America, recently hosted its annual Leader's Recognition Banquet. Adult volunteer leaders were recognized for their commitment in serving thousands of young people from across a seven-county area including Rowan, Anson, Cabarrus, Montgomery, Richmond, Stanly and Union.

Those present represented more than 3,000 registered Cubmasters, den leaders, Scoutmasters, Venturing leaders, commissioners, and district committee and executive board members.

Col. Kenneth Everhart, head of the Law Enforcement Division of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, was the keynote speaker. Everhart, an Eagle Scout and former member of Troop 349, chartered by the Central United Methodist Church in Spencer, first discovered his future career path when a game warden came to address the troop at summer camp. He commended each leader and reminded each of them that they were planting seeds for the future and should always be lifted up because of the importance of their mission in helping to strengthen a life, a community, and a nation.

Glenn Dixon, Rowan District Chairman, read citations for seven volunteers honored for exceptional and tenured service to young people. Richard E. Clayton, senior vice president of First Bank and council president, and Todd Walter, Scout executive, made the presentations. Those honored were:

- James Louis Rosebud received the Whitney M. Young Jr. Award from the National Council. Young was executive director of the Urban League and a pioneer of the civil rights movement who received the Presidential Award of Freedom. The award given in his name was established in 1962 to honor men and women who labor unceremoniously and tirelessly to ensure the development and implementation of Scouting opportunities for youth from rural or low income urban backgrounds.

Rosebud is a long-serving Cubmaster of a pack whose membership is made up of low income, minority youth primarily recruited from Title I schools. Service is always the theme and the entire pack membership is involved in frequent neighborhood clean-up efforts and an annual Scouting for Food campaign.

As chairman of service and outreach on the district committee, Rosebud has built new relationships throughout the community with traditional black organizations. And "he lives and models the Scout Oath and Law and serves others through outstanding personal example and exemplary adult leadership," a press release said.

- Bruce Kolkebeck received the Silver Beaver Award, the highest award that can be given to an adult volunteer by a local council. It is given in recognition of distinguished service and with the anticipation of continued involvement and excellence in leadership. The first such award was presented by the Central North Carolina Council in 1935.

Kolkebeck has been a volunteer adult leader since 1991 and "has a passion for offering youth an adventurous outdoor program in the Scouting unit in which he is involved," the press release said. "He is a meticulous and detailed planner who assures both youth and their parents that all known contingencies and safety issues have been considered before any outing."

In 2000 and 2003, he was the assistant expedition coordinator and a crew advisor for treks at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. He also was the assistant expedition coordinator in 2007. Together with another expedition that he is coordinating in 2010, he has played a key role in over 180 Scouts, Venturers and leaders from nine units realizing an adventure of a lifetime.

He is an active supporter of The Land Trust for Central North Carolina. He serves as an usher, confirmation mentor and member of the administrative board of First United Methodist Church in Salisbury.

- David Morton also received the Silver Beaver Award. He is an Eagle Scout and has worked during his adult years as leader, promoter merit badge counselor, and assistant Scoutmaster. He has served on three Woodbadge staffs and was an advisor to two Philmont treks in 2003 and 2007.

He has played a key role in his district's Friends of Scouting finance campaigns since 2006 serving both as a community chairman and area coordinator.

"David is a visible witness to the Scout Promise when it comes to 'helping others,' " the press release said. Among his involvements are the council, finance, and property committees at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in China Grove, chairman of the town planning board and past chairman of its Board of Trade, and advisory board member for construction and engineering technology at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College.

Eagle Scouts from Troop 442, chartered by the First Methodist Church in Salisbury, made up the Color Guard for the opening and closing ceremonies and Paul Edgison, member of the Kannapolis District and former technology merit badge counselor at Camp John J. Barnhardt, Cannon Reservation, made a video for each recipient of the Silver Beaver Award highlighting the programs at the historical properties interspersed with the recipients' names and qualifying quotes about the nobleness of all volunteer service.