• January 24

I attended and presented at 6 Venturing sessions at the Greater St. Louis Area Council’s (GSLAC) University of Scouting.

• January 25

I attended Venturing Crew 2783's Officers Meeting, where we set the budget for our 2009 activities.  The Crew went ice skating at Forest Park in downtown St. Louis, and I talked about Venturing to several other skaters at the public skating rink.

• January 29

I gave the invocation at the New Horizon District of the GSLAC Volunteer Recognition Dinner.

• Jan. 30 -Feb. 1

I attended Winterfest in Gatlinburg, TN along with 5 of the 6 members of the National Venturing Cabinet. We talked with participants about Venturing, lead a Venturing Roundtable, and presented awards for the event.  Over 2,400 Venturers and Explorers were in attendance.

• February 3

I attended the GSLAC New Horizons’ District VOA Meeting, and reinforced the importance of Scout Sunday to the youth.

• February 7

I attended and spoke at the GSLAC Council's Coordinating Committees Meeting with Jack O'Neill, the National OA Chief.  The two of us nominated the council's first National Hall of Leadership Recipients.

• February 8

I served as the coordinator for my church's Scout Sunday.  We had over 30 Scouts present between the two services.  They served as the color guards, liturgist, and read the different scriptures.  I delivered the sermon that Sunday on the theme of bending to help a child (The 3rd Law … A Scout is Helpful).  It was the 2nd highest attended service of the year.

• February 8

I helped lead as Crew Vice President of Program, Venturing Crew 2783’s Annual Parent's Dinner.  At this event, I announced the 2009 Super Activity details (Philmont Trek & Swift High Adventure Base).  I also put together a slide show of pictures from the previous year's activities.

• February 8

To continue a very busy day, I then headed back up to Lindenwood University to attend my second Venturing Crew's (Crew 2996) Open House where we had 9 new members join the Crew.

• February 9-11

I attended the BSA's National Executive Board Meeting and several committee meetings in Dallas, TX.

• February 11

After several years of health issues, my Council Scout Executive’s wife passed away.  Jack O'Neill, the National OA Chief, myself, and countless professionals, volunteers, and Council Executive Board members went to the funeral to show our support for the man who has changed Scouting in the GSLAC over the last several years. Our thoughts remain with the family.

• February 14

Venturing Crew 2996 spent the day helping Habitat for Humanity finish a house at a local project site. We have helped at this site several times in the past few months.

• February 15

I attended Venturing Crew 2996’s (my local Alpha Phi Omega Chapter) Pledge Initiation ceremony, in which we had 9 new members join the Crew.

• February 16

I attended/spoke at an Open House for a Crew in the GSLAC’s Boone Trails District.

• February 21-22

I attended/spoke/presented at the Venturing ice skating event and at the Council Recognition Dinner in Wichita Kansas.

• February 26

GSLAC honored Jack O'Neil and myself with a send off reception for the Report to the Nation trip to Washington, D.C.  With Scouting friends, family, and others that are close to us in attendance, we were recognized for our contributions to Scouting.  We both were given opportunities to address those in attendance.

• February 27

Jack O'Neill, and myself, were interviewed by NBC’s KSDK Channel 5 St. Louis Today Show about our upcoming trip to Washington D.C.

• February 28

The Washington D.C. Contingent for the BSA's Report to the Nation headed to the United States Mineral Museum and NASA's Goddard Space Center.

• March 1

The Washington D.C. Contingent headed to the National Cathedral, the Marine Museum at Quantico, Gatsby's Tavern for dinner, the Iwa Jima Memorial, and the Lincoln Memorial.

• March 2

The Washington D.C. Contingent headed to the Pentagon, laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, visited President Kennedy's Grave, had dinner with the Chief Scout Executive, and visited more Memorials.

• March 3

The Washington D.C. Contingent headed to the White House for our meeting with President Obama, met also with First Lady Michelle Obama, visited the Secret Service building, the Pentagon, the National Press Club Association, and a Japanese Restaurant for dinner.

• March 4

The Washington D.C. Contingent headed to the US Capital for meetings with the Speaker of the House and Majority & Minority Leaders of the Senate.  We attended a Joint Meeting of both houses where Great Britain's Prime Minster spoke.

• March 7

I attended Venturing Crew 2783's Officer Meeting, GSLAC's New Horizons' VOA, and a district crazy bowling event.  Shared photos and info on The Report to the Nation trip.

• March 8

I attended and spoke at the Christ Prince of Peace Troop Spaghetti Dinner.

• March 11

I attended and was the guest speaker for PRAY's Annual Conference (National coordinators of the God & Country Award) with representatives of many different religions present, on how Scouting and the God and Country Programs have impacted my life.

• March 12

I attended a planning meeting for the Fall Fun Rally Teen Experience, an Open House being planned for September 12 where we are hoping to get 1,000 prospective youth out for a day at the largest Venturing event in the nation.  Nearly 500 Missouri and Southern Illinois religious high school aged youth groups are being invited to this Open House.

• March 13

I spent for an hour on a conference phone call with representatives of the Eastern Missouri Girl Scout Council to talk about how the GSUSA and the Venturing Program can support each other.  From this call, we set up a in-person meeting on April 6th with representatives of the local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts councils.

• March 13

I presented the opening for the GSLAC Boone Trails' District VLSC.

• March 20

I spoke as the college speaker at the St. Charles, Missouri's Harden Middle School 8th grade class’ "Race to MAP Excellence" (a standardized test for Missouri) about where perseverance can get you in life.

• March 23

I attended/presented at the GSLAC Council VOA meeting about sponsoring Kodiak X for our council this fall.  I will serve as Co-course Director for this training.

• March 29

I went on another training hike for Philmont with Venturing Crew 2783.  This hike was at Pierre Marquette State Park in Illinois through 4 inches of leaves, snow, and mud, depending on the elevation.

• March 31

I attended Nathan Plag's Eagle Scout Ceremony for Troop 783 chartered through my church.

• April 2

I attended another Fall Fun Rally Teen Experience Planning Meeting where I agreed to give a motivation talk to the youth group members and to talk with the adult youth group leaders about what Venturing offers church youth groups.

• April 3

Katelyn Childs (CR Venturing President), Ben Hayes (incoming CR Venturing President), Sarah Ward (CR Area 5 Venturing President), and myself, had an in-person meeting to plan goals for the Central Region for next year.

• April 4

Katelyn Childs, Ben Hayes, Keith Gehlhausen (CR Venturing Chair), Dot Gehlhausen (CR Venturing Youth Cabinet Advisor), Bob Vogt (CR Area 5 Venturing Chair), Rick McIlvoy (CR Area 5 Kodiak Coordinator), and myself, presented on Venturing to a camp school at Beaumont Scout Reservation.  While there we presented Joe Vollmer (retiring CR Associate Regional Director for Venturing) with a thank you gift.  We presented to Barb Vollmer the Regional Venturing Leadership Award for her dedication to Venturing.

• April 4

I served as a member of the Western Region’s Venturing President Selection Committee.  We reviewed all applicants' applications and conducted telephone interviews with the finalist.

• April 5

I attended Venturing Crew 2783’s Officer Meeting.  I then lead my Crew on a Road Rally Course I designed, in preparation for running a council wide Road Rally next spring for the GSLAC VOA.

• April 6

I facilitated a meeting with seven key professional Girl Scout & Boy Scout representatives to continue discussing in-person what I started on March 13th.  The Eastern Missouri Girl Scout Council is the largest GSUSA council in the nation and my local Boy Scout Council is the 2nd largest in the nation.  The purpose of the meetings was "How do we retain high school aged girls in Scouting."  Senior Girl Scouting and Venturing was presented.  Possibility of future joint events and common training were discussed for high school aged youth. Future discussions are being planned.

• April 17-19

I attended the Blackhawk Area Council's Powder Horn Course in Oregon, Illinois.  During the first weekend, we did high/low COPE, shot lots of guns, did outdoor living history, some of the other core requirements for the Ranger Award, and lots more.  I presented the session on communication, focusing on how to communicate with the youth in your crew.

• April 19

Lead the six hour training course "Trainer's Edge" for our council's Kodiak X staff.

• April 25-26

Venturing Crew 2783 and Boy Scout Troop 98 went tentless backpacking at S-F Scout Ranch in southern Missouri.  We backpacked 10-miles and slept underneath cliff overhangs.

• April 30 - May 3

I attended the second weekend of the Blackhawk Area Council's Powder Horn Course in northern Illinois.  This weekend we went rock climbing, sailing, canoeing, kayaking, scuba diving, overnight backpacking, and much more.  We also celebrated Powder Horn's 10th anniversary with a grand party.  I presented at the closing ceremony.  I have been asked & have accepted to serve next spring on the Powder Horn staff for the Northeast Illinois Council.

• May 4

I served on the GSLAC Venturing Leadership Award Selection Committee for the council's upcoming Venturing Recognition Dinner.

• May 6

I was guest speaker at a luncheon for the GSLAC's Executive Board Member's Executive Assistants about the BSA's Report to the Nation trip.

• May 9

I helped setup and staff the registration area of GSLAC's CSAW-BSAW event at Beaumont Scout Ranch in Eureka, Missouri.

• May 9

I attended Venturing Crew 2783's Officer Meeting, Barbecue and Game Night.  I then helped lead the Parent's Meeting for or upcoming trip to Philmont.

• May 18-25

I am attending and presenting in Orlando, Florida at the 2009 BSA National Meetings and National Executive Board Meetings.  I will be running from one meeting to the next, training the incoming National Venturing Youth Cabinet, directing the current National Venturing Youth Cabinet, and Co-Chairing the National Venturing Selection Committee to select the next National Venturing President.

• May 29

I will be presenter at GSLAC Annual Dinner.  22 new Silver Beaver Award recipients will be honored.

• June 8-22

I will be a Co-course Director for Philmont Kodiak Trek in New Mexico.

• July 5-11

I will be Co-course Director for a Kodiak Trek at Swift Venturing Base at the S-F Scout Ranch in southern Missouri.