Tuesday, October 18, 2011

INDY CARS AND BOY SCOUTING

The Boy Scouts of America and Indy car racing has formed a great relationship and Dale Coyne Racing has even sponsored a Boy Scouts of America car. 


On Wednesday October 12, 2011 the number 19 Dale Coyne Racing Boy Scouts of America car was part of an openhouse held at the Reynolds Resource Center.  Around 1,200 people came to meet the owners Dale and Gail Coyne and hundreds of kids even had a chance to sit in the drivers seat of a real Indy car.  While some waited in line to sit in the car others took advantage of Uncle Bills Wall.  There were and estimated 600 climbers who tried to conquer the wall.  Tickets for the Sunday race were handed out and some of the scouts enjoyed watching Down and Derby and eating popcorn in the conference rooms.



The car and the climbing wall were then taken to the Indy Fan Zone at the Mandalay Bay resort for a three day showcase experience.  Many people came by and climbed the wall, sat in the car and learned more about Scouting.  The highlight of the week was when local Scouts were teamed up with the actual Indy car racers and raced pinewood derby cars down the tracks.  Many of our Scouts beamed with excitement as they raced their cars.  Each driver signed their cars and gave them to the young Scouts.




Racers watch with anticipation as their cars go down the track


The Final Four

Special thanks go out to Dale Coyne Racing for sponsoring the Boy Scouts of America Car.  Also special thanks to Alex Lloyd for driving the Boy Scout Car and representing the Boy Scouts with honor.

Our Scouts had a great experience and will never forget this experience.

Unfortunatly the race ended tragically when 15 of the cars were involved in a massive wreck.  Dan Wheldon was tragically killed and the race was canceled in his honor.


Along with Dale Coyne Racing, Alex Lloyd and the #19 Boy Scouts of America car, Scouting offers its deepest condolences to those who knew and loved Dan Wheldon. We are a proud partner with IndyCar and tragic accidents like this impact our entire family. Today – and in the coming weeks – the thoughts and prayers of the Scouting community are with everyone touched by this very difficult and unfortunate situation. There is an innate desire in mankind – young and old alike – to go higher, farther and faster and Dan was and will continue to be an inspiration to us all.
 - Bob Mazzuca, Chief Scout Executive, The Boy Scouts of America

 
 
The Las Vegas Area Council and the Boy Scouts of America would ask you to keep the family and friends of Dan Wheldon in your prayers.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Influential Women In Scouting

The Las Vegas Area Council held its inaugural Influential Women In Scouting recognition evening on September 23, 2011.  Many of the volunteers of the Las Vegas Area Council often put in years of behind the scene service and are never given the thanks and appreciation they deserve.  Most of the time these good volunteers are women, so the Las Vegas Area Council decided to have an event to honor the many women who keep Scouting going at the ground level.

This year we honored 14 women who have spent most of their lives dedicated to cheerful service in the Boy Scouts of America.  Thousands of hours have been spent and thousands of lives have been changed for good because of the efforts of these women.
Back Row:  Brenda Swan, Prascilla McAvoy, Anne Jones, Sandy Hess, Susan Edington, Susan Wamser, Patti Guerin, Candy Krausman
Front Row:  Doris Ankenman, Fran Fagan, Nancy Cramer, Penny Straton, Linda Friedrich, Brenda Grassley (not picutred)

The evening was highlighted by a powerful speech from Mayor Carolyn Goodman who talked about how the values of Scouting are needed more today than ever before. 

A special thanks to Commissioner Mary Beth Scow and her committee for making this such a remarkable event.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Uncle Bills Wall

In the spring of 2011 a generous board member donated a 32 foot mobile climbing wall to the Las Vegas Area Council.  The wall will be known as Uncle Bills Wall in honor of our annonymous donors uncle.  This past summer the wall provided confidence building experiences to Scouts at Kimball Scout Reservation, and Del Webb Adventure Base.

Look for Uncle Bills Wall at Scout Expo, District Camporee's and other special events of the Las Vegas Area Council.