Pack 107 had planned their Blue and Gold Banquet and Arrow of Light and Cross over ceremonies on March 14, 2020. Schools announced they were closing along with more businesses in community in the coming days and weeks that followed. The Covid-19 global pandemic had us making changes in plans. The Arrow of Light Scouts and their families have waited patiently for this day to come. Pack 107 was finally able to host a virtual Arrow of Light and Cross Over Ceremony this past Friday, September 11, 2020.
The Arrow of Light Ceremony celebrates the accomplishments of the Arrow of Light Webelo Scouts and awards them with Cub Scouting’s highest award, as they graduate from Cub Scouting. This year marks the first Virtual Arrow of Light and Cross Ceremony hosted via Zoom with all of Pack 107 and Troop 107 in attendance. It was a special ceremony and an important milestone in one’s scouting journey.
Our Cubmaster, Tabitha Lefrancois, was the Master of Ceremonies, and was aided by her son, Kaleb, who is one of AOLs to graduate and cross over to BSA Scouts. Tabitha started with the lighting of 4 colored candles.
The blue candle represents the spirit of Cub Scouting. The spirit of giving goodwill and doing your best.
The white candle represents the spirit of Scouting. A promise to fulfill the Scout Oath, Law, and the Cub Scout Motto “do your best”.
The yellow candle represents the Arrow of Light Rank. Remember that the spirit of Cub Scouting and Scouting are one and the same. The spirit of the entire Scouting movement is one of service, high ideals, and fellowship.
The last candle remains unlit. The green candle represents the Scouts BSA program. This is to remind you that there is more adventure ahead as you continue on your journey along the Scouting trail.
The awards and certificates, Troop 107 neckerchiefs and pins were all sent to the graduating families ahead of time.
Each AOL and parent took turns with awarding their scout with their rank patch, Arrow of Light award, and tell of their scout’s achievements during their time as a scout. The AOL Scouts thanked their parents for their support on their scouting journey, and awarded their parents with an Arrow of Light pin. Congratulations to the AOLs who graduated as rank of Arrow of Light: Kaleb, Steven, Justin, Cody, Maclain, Om, RJ, Samir, Nicholas, Colin, and Eric. Congratulations to you all!!
Each AOL Scout also received a special gift from their den leader, Mr. Rob Lane . It is a special Marine pocket compass inscripted with a very meaningful poem, “The Road Not Taken”, by Robert Frost.
Mr. Rob Lane is the den leader of the AOL scouts, and he has been Den Leader for Dens 6 and 7 for the last 5 years. His journey in scouting did not start in childhood but as a partner and support for his older son, Steven, when he decided to try out cub scouts. There was a need for new den leaders, and Mr. Lane stepped up to the challenge. He learned together with Steven about Cub Scouting, and was able to help shape his son’s experience while at it. Mr. Lane’s talent and knowledge of camping, the outdoors, and being handy with tools were a real asset to him being a Cub Scout Den Leader. Beyond these skills, he is also a leader who really cares about each scout’s growth and journey in scouting, and has taken on the task on leading the largest den in Pack 107. He has also been a Co-Popcorn Kernel along with his wife, April, for the last 5 years. Pack 107 has been greatly blessed to have Mr. Lane be one of the Den Leaders and Committee members. We are truly grateful for all your contributions to the pack, and for sharing your time and talents with the scouts in your dens. The AOLs gifted Mr. Lane a beautiful framed collection of Cub Scout patches and to celebrate his big “retirement” as Den Leader.
After the Arrow of Light Ceremony came the Cross Over Ceremony. The AOL Scouts crossed over to join Grafton Troop 107 as Scouts. Mr. Lane can his son Steven began with the lighting ceremony of the the Arrow of Light Candles. There are 7 candles each representing the Seven Virtues of Life. The seven virtues also represent the seven rays of the Arrow of Light.
“Wisdom: Having wisdom doesn’t mean that you are smarter than others. It means that you use what you know to live a better life.
Courage: Courage does not mean you have no fear of danger. It means that you can face danger despite your fears.
Self-Control: This means being able to stop when you have had enough of something, such as eating, playing, or even working too much.
Justice: Justice means being fair with others we play and work with, regardless of who they are.
Faith: Faith is belief in God and things we cannot see but feel are true.
Hope: Hope means to look forward to good things you believe will happen. You hope for better things tomorrow, but at the same time you work hard today to make them happen.
Love: There are many kinds of love. Love of family, home, other people, God and country. Every kind of love is important for a full and happy life.”
For the ceremony, each parent had the honor of helping their scout don the new Troop 107 neckerchief, as lead by Troop 107 Senior Patrol Leader, Rohith.
In last year Mr. Rob Lane and the AOL den had been working on fundraising for the BSA World Friendship Fund, which is an endowment fund of the BSA developed during the closing of World War II to rebuild Scouting in nations that had been wracked by war. The collection helps Scouts better understand that Scouting is global and their fellow Scouts are in need of their help. These donations have provided Scouting literature, uniforms, summer camp equipment, building camps, computers and other Scouting -related supplies to Scouts around the world. Congratulations on raising $200 toward this effort!
With the down of a new scouting year, we also have a change in the Committee leadership. Mr. Tony Frederico was the Pack Committee Chair for the past 3 years and is stepping down as he is devoting more time as den leader for the new AOL year. We thank Mr. Frederico for devoting his time and talent in advancing the Pack’s Scouting program under his leadership.
Mr. Dan Gaspar, who is Den leader for the Webelos, has stepped up to take on the role of the new Pack Committee Chair. At the virtual meeting, Mr. Gaspar was official inducted. We all look forward to working with Mr. Gaspar to continue advancing the Pack’s Scouting program.
For the remainder for the virtual meeting Pack Meeting, our Cubmaster Tabitha recognized Cub Scouts who earned hiking miles since quarantine, totaling a combined 516 miles earned!! Congratulations go out to the following Cub Scouts who hit prize milestones with total scout career mileage to date: Ray for hiking 110.1 miles, Ben for hiking 105.3 miles, Chris for hiking 92 miles, Sam for hiking 68.5 miles, Lilly for hiking 64.5 miles, Lucas for hiking 63.7 miles, Davis for hiking 61.6 miles, and Josh for hiking 51.9 miles. It’s wonderful to see that we have some very fit and motivated cub scouts!!
Tabitha also recognized 6 Cub Scouts who have earned the National Summertime Pack Awards. Cub Scouts who attend a pack event for each of the summer months in June through August earn the National Summer Time ceremony Pack Award pin. Congratulations go out to Jasmine, Aaron, Lilly, Sam, Chris and Liam L.
With the start of of a new scouting year, we also kick off the Cub Scout Popcorn Fundraising. This is the only fundraiser for the Cub Scout scouting year, and this year due to Covid-19, there will not be any “show and sells” at Stop and Shop, and there will be less product for door to door sales. The best way to sell is through on-line sales through Trails End App. There are free- shipping offers and it’s a great time to take advantage, since it means no contact for a safer sale. This year there are prizes for various sales levels given by Trails end, as well as from Pack 107.
One of the big incentives is for any scout who sells more than $750 in popcorn, they get to throw a cream pie in Tabitha’s face!!
The Pack will hold a socially distanced Advancement Ceremony on Friday October 2 and paperwork for all returning cub scouts are to be handed in then.
On Saturday, September 26, 2020 10AM-1PM, we will be having our Water Rocket Lunch at the Grafton Lion’s Club Field, 68 Brigham Hill Rd, Grafton, MA. This is a great event for those who want to join Pack 107, find out more about Cub Scouting, and if you have a friend who is interested, please invite them along!!
If you are interested in finding out more about family scouting with Cub Scout Pack 107, or would like to join the pack, please email us : graftonpack107@gmail.com.
Grafton Cub Scout Pack 107 