Western Region News Archive

2009 Western Region JCOS Announcements and News...

Los Angeles, CA -- Troop 360 chartered to Beth Jacob Congregation (Orthodox) in the Western Los Angeles County Council conducted a National Eagle Scout Court of Honor for its first four Eagle Scouts, Harel R., Jacob R., Doron F. and Ari F., on January 11, 2009. Click HERE for two pictures from the event.  Congratulations to the Eagle Scouts and their families and to their Troop and its leaders.

Valley Village, CA --  Bryan Weiss, affiliated for a long time with Temple Beth Hillel's Scout units, previously as a Cubmaster of Pack 311 and now as a Committtee Member of Troop 36, received the District Award of Merit at the recognition dinner of the Cahuenga District (Western Los Angeles County Council) on January 24, 2009.  The Award of Merit is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a volunteer at the district level.  Weiss joins several other adult volunteers from Beth Hillel's units that have been similarly honored for their volunteerism.

Great Falls, MT -- Lewis and Clark District, Montana Council, held its Ten Commandments Hike on Sunday, February 8, 2009. The first stop on the hike was Congregation Aitz Chaim in Great Falls, MT. Click HERE to see photos of the visit. The day before, Saturday, February 7, 2009, the same synagogue hosted a Scout Shabbat service.

Las Vegas, NV --  David Wolin of the Las Vegas Area Council received the William D. Boyce New-Unit Organizer Award at his District meeting in March for starting the new Chabad of Summerlin Boy Scout Troop in Las Vegas. This award, recognizing volunteers who organize one or more traditional units (e.g., Cub Scout Packs, Boy Scout Troops, Venturing Crews), is administered by the National Council's Relationships Division and is presented through the local council.

Park City, UT -- The 18th annual Scout Shabbat of the Great Salt Lake Council took place on March 13, 2009 at Temple Har Shalom (Reform), Park City, UT, and was a huge success.  For details, click HERE.

Santa Ana, CA -- Joel Woolf is the new Chair of the Orange County Council Jewish Committee on Scouting.   He was a Cub Scout and Sea Explorer growing up in Orange County and has been an active Scouter for over seven years. Joel is currently a Scoutmaster of a local troop in Foothill Ranch.

Salt Lake City, UT --  NJCOS Member and Area Representative Arthur G. Lipman reports that as of April 2009 the United Jewish Federation of Utah has chartered Venturing Crew 9351 with seven members, six of whom are Jewish. More about the Crew is available here. For related Jewish activities in Utah in the first quarter of 2009, click here and scroll to the bottom.

Cimarron, NM -- NJCOS Member and Chair of Leadership Development Jim Grossman reports that David I. Karp, NJCOS Southern California Representative, has agreed to facilitate the "Scouting Serves the Jewish Community" course at the Philmont Training Center this coming June 21-27, 2009.  Information about this outstanding course may be found here.

Redlands, CA --  Dr. Lou Monville, Jr. Council President, California Inland Empire Council, has appointed Jeff Cohn as Chair of the Council's Jewish Committee on Scouting.  He replaces Michael Goldware, a long serving and dedicated Scouter to Boy Scouting and Jewish Scouting.

Albuqerque, NM -- Norton Bicoll was appointed by the Great Southwest Council to replace Mr. Peter Merrill who has stepped down

Sherman Oaks, CA -- Temple B'nai Hayim (Conservative), Chartered Organization for coed Venturing Crew 824, hosted a Religious Emblem Workshop on May 17, 2009, at which local Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Venturers worked on their respective Jewish Religious Emblems.  The synagogue's Sisterhood provided snacks for the participants.  Temple B'nai Hayim chose Venturing as a program for its teens and for their Jewish friends to focus on religious life, social service, leadership development and fun. 

Pacific Palisades, CA -- Jeffrey Feuer, Chair of the Western Los Angeles County Council Jewish Committee on Scouting reports here that the WLACC-JCOS 2009 Kinnus was a great success.

Valley Village, CA -- Scouts, leaders and parents from Western Los Angeles County Council and Ventura County Council joined together for a Scout-led Shabbat morning service at Temple Beth Hillel (Reform) on June 6, 2009.  During the service, several proud Scouts (both boys and girls) received their Religious Emblems.  Temple Beth Hillel Boy Scout Troop 36 and the Temple's Sisterhood hosted the Kiddush following the service.

Camarillo, CA -- Tim Thomton, Scout Executive of Ventura County Council, announces the appointment of John McBride as the Chair of the council's Jewish Committee on Scouting.  John takes over for Lee Hess, a long-time, dedicated Scouter who held the position for many years.

Cimarron, NM -- On Friday, June 26, 2009, four dedicated Jewish adult leaders "graduated" from the week long course of the National Jewish Committee on Scouting, called "Scouting Serves the Jewish Community" at Philmont Scout Ranch, BSA's national volunteer training center.  A story about their adventures the preceding day appears here.  More about the annual course is available here as well.

2008 Western Region News and Announcements

Van Nuys, CA -- A news story entitled "Jewish Eagle Scout leads camp religious services" is online for your review here.

Saratoga, CA -- The scouts, leaders and parents of Boy Scout Troop 535 congratulate Julian L. and David L. who became Eagle Scouts and were honored at a National Eagle Scout Court of Honor on August 3, 2008, at Congregation Beth David in Santa Clara Council.  For their Eagle Scout projects, Julian led a project building and installing flower boxes at a local elementary school. David led a community-wide electronic waste recycling program and provided documentaton for future recycling events. Both Eagles remain active in Jewish life at home and at college, Julian at Cornell and David at Northwestern.

Tucson, AZ - Parents, friends and Scouts of Catalina Council's Troop 100 congratulate David K. on passing his Eagle Scout Board of Review on July 9, 2008, and becoming an Eagle Scout. Troop 100 is chartered to BPO Elks Lodge No. 385. David's Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project involved purchasing and installing a flag pole at Congregation Or Chadash in Tucson, Arizona. David now attends the University of Arizona majoring in Theater Arts.

Great Falls, MT - A news story entitled "Local Scout first Montanan to win the Maccabee Award for study of Judaism" was published in a local newspaper.  The text of the story [edited to protect the Scout's privacy] is available here.

Thousand Oaks, CA -  Parents, friends and Scouts of Thousand Oaks' Troop 761 congratulate Brian G. on passing his Eagle Scout Board of Review in October 2008 and becoming an Eagle Scout.  For his Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project, Brian supervised the construction of shelves and other storage for the Band and P.E. departments at Redwood Middle School in Thousand Oaks.  Brian, age 15, is sophomore at Thousand Oaks High School.

Valley Village, CA -- Approximately 170 Boy Scouts from four local councils -- San Gabriel Valley Council, Ventura County Council, Verdugo Hills Council and Western Los Angeles County Council -- attended Temple Beth Hillel Troop 36's Merit Badge Midway on Sunday, November 9, 2008, to earn some of the many merit badges offered there.  Temple Beth Hillel, the oldest Reform synagogue in the Eastern San Fernando Valley, has served as a hub for Jewish and community Scouting for many years.

San Diego, CA -- Western Region Chair, Ellen Marks, reports that a new Cub Scout Pack has been formed in Scripps Ranch, a community in San Diego. Rabbi Motte Fradkin recently executed a Charter Agreement on behalf of Chabad Synagogue of Scripps Ranch and he will assist with the program for new Cub Scout Pack 645. The Pack will start with Tiger and Wolf Dens. All interested Jewish boys are welcome.