On October 19, 1968, Jack Guice (3rd National President) and his wife, Elaine visited the home of James P. Miller of Sanatoga for the purpose of organizing a local Unit of N.T.C. This meeting was also attended by Kenneth Bindschusz of Phoenixville who was appointed the first Master of Travel and Llewelyn W. Mills of Pottstown who was appointed Assistant Travel Master (they are now called Wagonmaster) with James P. Miller as Secretary-Treasurer ProTem.
On November 1, 1968, a letter was sent to interested Masons by the newly appointed Master of Travel, announcing the formation of the Pennsylvania Unit of N.T.C. He listed the names of the first officers, also stating the proposed name and listed the fourth weekend of every month for campouts. It was an invitation to support the new club when the season started in the spring.
On November 23, 1968, a second meeting of the officers for East Penn met at the home of Kenneth Bindschusz with the Mills and Miller families attending. They worked out the 1969 Camping Schedule setting aside the fourth weekend of each month from April to October for the regular campouts--subject to the approval of the members. At this time, the first special campout was arranged for the Easter Sunrise Services in Arlington, Virginia.
In March of 1969, Dorothy Miller was appointed the first Chaplain-- a position she maintained for three years.
On May 23, 24 and 25, 1969, the first official campout of East Penn was held. The minutes of all previous organizational meetings were read and approved. East Penn gave its first monetary gift to the Knight's Templar Eye Foundation from the money received at the Church services held at the campout.
The Election of Officers was held at the June 27, 28 and 29, 1969 campout.
On February 23, 1970, Paul Criswell (7th National President) wrote to East Penn expressing a desire to form a new unit in Western Pennsylvania. The Secretary-Treasurer sent names and address of current members who resided in that part of the state. On May 3, 1970, East Penn's Master of Travel Kenneth Bindschusz and Secretary-Treasurer James Miller went to North Apoppo, Pennsylvania at the invitation of Paul Criswell to help organize an Western Pennsylvania Unit of N.T.C.
In 1973, God Be With You Till We Meet Again was adopted as the Official Hymn of East Penn Chapter.
During this period, N.T.C. was changed to N.C.T., Inc. (National Camping Travelers, Inc.)
On July 12, 13 and 14, 1974, the first Pennsylvania State Rally was held in Centre Hall with our own member, Gene Pretnicki serving as the first Pennsylvania State Director.
Over the years, East Penn has been awarded many prizes. However, in 1977 at the National "Rally in the Rockies", we received the Chapter of the Year Award - the first time this was ever awarded. In 1978, we received a third place Chapter of the Year Award and in 1979, we received the Chapter of the Year Award again.
These are only some of the highlights of our first ten years.