Verdugo Hills Council

Jon Maeda, scout executive for the Boys Scouts of America Verdugo Hills Council is moving on and begins his new position of Director of Field Service with the Boy Scouts Orange County Council on Monday. As the chief operating officer, Maeda will be recruiting new Scouts and scouting groups. The Verdugo Hills Council has 4,000 Scouts, and the Orange County Council, headquartered in Santa Ana, served 28,000 Scouts as of 2009. Maeda has been overseeing two field executives for the Verdugo Hills Council and will now be in charge of 15 field executives in his new post.

James Winburn, People BURBANK -- Boy Scouts have invited youth organizations to share in this year's Scout-O-Rama so youngsters might see the things that help build strong American values. "Scouting Adventures" is the theme for the 48th annual exhibition, sponsored by the Verdugo Hills Council Boy Scouts of America. It will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 12, at McCambridge Park in Burbank. Local youth groups joining the Scouts are the YMCA, the Girl Scout Council of the San Fernando Valley, Burbank Rotary Club, Key Clubs from Burbank High and Providence High, Burbank Kiwanis Club, the Boys and Girls Club of Burbank and others.

Boy Scouts honor 2005 Eagle Scouts The Verdugo Hills Council, Boy Scouts of America, honored the Class of 2005 Eagle Scouts April 6 at a banquet at The Castaway restaurant in Burbank. The council, through its 37 Scout troops, presented more than 60 Eagle Scout awards in 2005. The Eagle Scout award is the top advancement a Scout can earn, and it involves earning 21 specified merit badges ranging from camping knowledge to first aid emergency skills. In addition, the Scout must serve his troop in a leadership position, as well as complete a meaningful service project with the other Scouts in his troop.

It was a big weekend of soaring and roaring fundraising in Burbank as the Verdugo Hills Council of the Boy Scouts of America staged their 39th Annual Big Strike Auction and the Kiwanis Club of Burbank presented its 14th Annual Car Show. More than 200 supporters of local Scouting convened at the Burbank Airport Marriot for the Verdugo Hills Council's annual fundraiser on Saturday evening. Presented under the theme Eagles Soar, to pay homage to the 100th anniversary of the Eagle Scout program, the evening was hosted by the event's chairman, Brent Frost , and the organization's president, Dennis Barlow . Notables in attendance for this event, which raises funds that help support more than 3,200 area Scout programs, were Rep. Adam Schiff , City Clerk Zizette Mullins , City Treasurer Debbi Kukta and former Glendale Mayor Sheldon Baker . Among those who made the event a success by their presence and work were Dan Humfreville , Jane Barnett , Steve Smith , Dede Mueller , Anthony Asheghian , Lupe Shubert and Heidi Davenport . Fundraising continued the following day at the Kiwanis for Fun Club of Burbank roared into Johnny Carson Park for the club's always-successful car show.

Kiwanis honors Boy Scout leaders The Burbank Noon Kiwanis Club observed the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Boy Scouts of America by recognizing the leaders of Troop and Pack 204 at its meeting. Representing the Scout troop were Assistant Scoutmaster Bob Hutt along with his wife, Cathy, a Kiwanian and committee chairwoman of the troop, who was recently awarded the Silver Beaver by the Verdugo Hills Council. Den Leaders Marina Lenci and Jeanette Barbosa as well as Webelo Scout Antonio Lenci of Pack 204 were present as well.

Jay Johnstone returns as auctioneer Famed Major League baseball great Jay Johnstone will step up to the plate again this year as auctioneer for the Big Strike Auction Dinner of the Verdugo Hills Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The 29th annual event will be March 22 at the Hilton Glendale. "The overwhelming success of last year's auction dinner for the Verdugo Hills Council is attributable in large part to Johnstone's entertaining and enthusiastic participation in the evening's live auction activities," Council Executive Director Andrew Messer said.

BOY SCOUT COUNCIL INSTALLS OFFICERS Verdugo Hills Council, Boy Scouts of America volunteers were honored at the annual awards event at the La Cañada Country Club. Executive Director Jon Maeda said the event grows every year, which shows the Scouting community that programs for kids are vital. Serving the communities of Burbank, Eagle Rock, Glendale, Sunland, Tujunga and parts of La Cañada Flintridge and North Hollywood, more than 6,000 area youth are involved with the program.

Spencer Blakely Kirkwood, the son of Marty and Jari Kirkwood, has received the rank of Eagle Scout. For his Eagle Scout project, he organized and completed his project at Lincoln Elementary School in La Crescenta, where he and 43 volunteers removed, built, varnished and replaced benches, installed planter borders and repainted a map of the United States on the playing field. He received the Arrow of Light, earned 31 merit badges and was elected to the Order of the Arrow.

Boy Scouts of America Troop 50 of the Verdugo Hills Council will have its annual Pancake Breakfast from 7:30 to 11 a.m. May 7 at the Village Church, 3216 W. Victory Blvd. Tickets are $3 in advance, or $3.50 at the door. There will be prize raffles during the breakfast. Proceeds support the troop's scouting activities. For advance tickets or more information, call Maddy Horne at (818) 841-0455. Cabrini Guild honors its past presidents The Cabrini Literary Guild will honor its presidents at the May 12 meeting at the Oakmont Country Club in Glendale.

It was a big weekend of soaring and roaring fundraising in Burbank as the Verdugo Hills Council of the Boy Scouts of America staged their 39th Annual Big Strike Auction and the Kiwanis Club of Burbank presented its 14th Annual Car Show. More than 200 supporters of local Scouting convened at the Burbank Airport Marriot for the Verdugo Hills Council's annual fundraiser on Saturday evening. Presented under the theme Eagles Soar, to pay homage to the 100th anniversary of the Eagle Scout program, the evening was hosted by the event's chairman, Brent Frost , and the organization's president, Dennis Barlow . Notables in attendance for this event, which raises funds that help support more than 3,200 area Scout programs, were Rep. Adam Schiff , City Clerk Zizette Mullins , City Treasurer Debbi Kukta and former Glendale Mayor Sheldon Baker . Among those who made the event a success by their presence and work were Dan Humfreville , Jane Barnett , Steve Smith , Dede Mueller , Anthony Asheghian , Lupe Shubert and Heidi Davenport . Fundraising continued the following day at the Kiwanis for Fun Club of Burbank roared into Johnny Carson Park for the club's always-successful car show.

While reading the "In Theory" section in the Feb. 2 Burbank Leader, I recognized the thrust of the subject was focused on cheating. Some of the pastors responded with comments about the “pressure of expectation” and how that plays into one's reason for cheating. Michael White, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, La Crescenta relating to the “tragedy in the fact that fractured moral foundations typically lead to fractured lives” correctly stated, “We must realize - and find a way to teach our children - that if we choose to deceive and cut corners, we are in reality cheating ourselves.”  I read through all of the responses submitted by the various representatives of local church/organizations and found something subtly ironic, if not, curiously interesting.

Burbank Coordinating Council is facing its toughest year ever to collect food, toys and gifts for its annual holiday basket program. They need individuals, organizations, businesses and neighbors to adopt families and purchase gifts and provide nonperishable fixings for a couple of holiday meals. Last year 560 families - more than 2,500 children and adults - received help, said Barbara Sykes, who is co-chairing the program with Eileen Cobos, council president, and Janet Diel, past president.

Programs for Boy Scouts in the Verdugo Hills Council will be stronger than ever, thanks to a generous donation presented during the 38th annual Big Strike Auction Friday night at the Castaway. Under the theme, “Changing the World One Scout at a Time,” the gala kicked off with a silent auction followed by dinner. Then came a surprise announcement of a major donation. Tom Carnahan presented the Verdugo Hills Council with a check for $150,000 from its Carnahan Charitable Remainder Trust.

Jon Maeda, scout executive for the Boys Scouts of America Verdugo Hills Council is moving on and begins his new position of Director of Field Service with the Boy Scouts Orange County Council on Monday. As the chief operating officer, Maeda will be recruiting new Scouts and scouting groups. The Verdugo Hills Council has 4,000 Scouts, and the Orange County Council, headquartered in Santa Ana, served 28,000 Scouts as of 2009. Maeda has been overseeing two field executives for the Verdugo Hills Council and will now be in charge of 15 field executives in his new post.

The Verdugo Hills Council of the Boy Scouts of America convened for their annual board installation and awards dinner at La Cañada Country Club this past week. Welcomed by Council President Thomas McLurkin Thomas McLurkin , the evening saluted the achievements of Scouts, leaders and volunteers who have been dedicated to scouting in Burbank, Glendale and throughout the Verdugo Hills region. Emceed by the organization?s Council Advancement Chairman Dan Humfreville , the event included the presentation of four Silver Beaver awards that are bestowed upon adult leaders who have made an impact on the lives of youth and have a history of community service and dedication to scouting.

BOY SCOUTS BRING DRINKS TO THIRSTY FIREFIGHTERS In keeping with part of the Boy Scout oath that says “help other people at all times,” Scouts, leaders and families of the Verdugo Hills Council, Boy Scouts of America pitched in to cool down and quench the thirsty firefighters battling the Station fire. Answering the call to action from Scout Executive Director Jon Maeda , more than 150 families and individuals dropped off cases of Gatorade, water and other fluid replacement drinks at the Scout headquarters at 1325 Grandview Ave., Glendale.