I am an Eagle Scout - Class of 1991. I have served in several Junior Leadership positions, including Senior Patrol Leader and Junior Assistant Scoutmaster in Troop 69, Glenview, as well as Quartermaster in the 1993 National Boy Scout Jamboree Troop 139. I started out in Cub Scouts in Pack 69 in Glenview, where I earned the Arrow of Light Award.
After turning 18, I became an Assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 69 in Glenview, Illinois. In 2003 and 2004 I served as Scoutmaster of Troop 69: this was a short-term position where I transitioned the Troop leadership. I enjoyed the experience and I can't say enough about the opportunity the Troop provided me - thanks to everyone for your support. As of July 2004, I have returned to Assistant Scoutmaster and I continue to serve the Troop in that capacity, albeit on a limited basis. For my work with the troop and the district, I was awarded the Boy Scout Leader Training Award.
Since summer 2004, I have served as an Order of the Arrow Advisor. From July 2004 to December 2006 I was Chapter Adviser for the Namachani Chapter of Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan Lodge #40 and served as a District Committee Member-at-Large. Beginning in January 2007, I am serving as Lodge Adviser for the Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan Lodge. The Lodge website can be found at www.neic.org.
I am registered as a merit badge counselor in the Northeast Illinois Council for the the following merit badges:
| Aviation | Bugling | Scholarship |
| Engineering | Music | Athletics |
| Pioneering | Radio | Orienteering |
| Railroading | Traffic Safety | |
| Drafting | Space Exploration | |
I am more than happy to work on these badges with any scouts in the Northeast Illinois Council. Feel free to contact me by email at weidson@kkpsi.org.
Resources and materials for these merit badges are available all over the internet - but beware of erroneous references. A good starting point is www.meritbadge.com.
I have completed the Boy Scout Leader training for Troop Committee members and Scoutmasters/Assistant Scoutmasters. These training programs include the Youth Protection Training and Boy Scout Fast Start (both available online at www.neic.org or www.scouting.org), and New Leader Essentials. The Troop Committee program further includes the Troop Committee Challenge. The Scoutmaster/Assistant Scoutmaster training further includes the Scoutmaster/Assistant Scoutmaster Specific training and the Outdoor Leader Skills. I have also completed the District Committee Training course.
I am most proud that I have completed Wood Badge for the 21st Century (C-48-03), the capstone training course for Scouters. I received my beads in February 2005. My critter is the Eagle.
I had the great pleasure of attending the 1993 National Boy Scout Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, as a youth participant. I had a wonderful time in Jamboree Troop 139 and I met a lot of great Scouts and Scouters. During the trip I served as Quartermaster for the troop - I was the youth member responsible for all the troop and patrol equipment. Quite a job for a 15 year old!
I followed that trip up by working as a member of the youth staff in the Pioneering Area (B) at the 1997 National Boy Scout Jamboree. This was another great trip - but completely different than being a participant. I had a blast and I am looking forward to going back someday.
I am a member of Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan Lodge #40 of the Order of the Arrow, the Boy Scouts of America Brotherhood of Honored Campers. I was elected as an Ordeal member in 1991 and completed my Ordeal at Camp Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan July of that year. I sealed my membership in the Order in 1993, receiving the Brotherhood Honor in August of that year at Camp Dan Beard. During 1993 and 1994 I served as Chapter Chief of the Skokie Valley Chapter. In 2006 I was nominated as a Vigil Honor Candidate and I look forward to the Vigil experience in July 2007.
From July 2004 to December 2006, I served Chapter Adviser for the Namachani Chapter. In January 2007 I have taken over as Lodge Adviser of the Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan Lodge #40. Read more about this role in my biography above. In April 2005 I took the National Leadership Seminar (NLS) program in the Central Region - this is an excellent course that rivals Wood Badge. It has the added bonus of teaching both the youth members and adult advisors the same material in the same setting. I highly recommend it to anyone - check out the Central Region's NLS website for more information. I completed my "official" adviser training with the National Lodge Adviser Training Seminar (NLATS) in October 2005.
Most recently, I attended the 2006 National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC) at Michigan State University. That was a fantastic program that combines many elements of the jamboree with classroom and field training sessions specific to OA related topics. As always, it was great to meet people from all over the country and share ideas, but the coolest part of the trip were the various shows that the staff put on. These productions were highly professional and the final "Theme Show" was essentially a full play, complete with pyrotechnics, produced in approximately 48-hours. The next NOAC is in 2009 at Indiana University - I recommend you attend!