Eagle Scout

Nicholas A. Stratis, son of Fr. Anthony Stratis, pastor of Holy Trinity Cathedral in New Orleans, recently was awarded the rank of Eagle Scouts. Nick,a member of Boy Scout Troop 176, in Kenner, La., earned the Alpha-Omega Eastern Orthodox Religious Award, as well as 27 merit badges (11 of which are Eagle badges). His Eagle Project was the parking lot re-striping for Holy Trinity Cathedral, which as particularly needed following the effects of Hurricane Katrina.
Nick’s brother, Stavros, A. Stratis, is currently a Star Scout.

The Eastern Orthodox Committee on Scouting [EOCS], a SCOBA Agency, announces the selection of the seventeenth annual Scout Scholarship, The 2009 winners are Taylor Demeter, of Falls Church, Virginia and the runner-up Andrew M. Wardner, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, who received $1,000 and $500 respectively

E.O.C.S. MEETING

Wednesday

June 10, 2009

at

St. Demetrios Cathedral

Astoria, New York

7:30 - 8:00    Coffee, tea and fellowship

8:00    Opening Prayer

Minutes from April 23, 2009 Meeting

Treasurer’s report

Correspondence

Chairman’s report

P.R.A.Y. report

Scholarship report

EOCS web page report

Religious Scout Awards Program

EOCS Heritage Trail report

EOCS 49th Annual Northeast Region Retreat

2009 - 2010 Calendar review

Election of Board members

St. Demetrios Scouting report

Old Business

New Business

As you may know, our parishes in the Seattle area jointly sponsor an Orthodox Boy Scout troop. The troop is completely pan-Orthodox, currently including boys who are Greek, OCA and Antiochian. Next summer the troop will be attending the Boy Scout’s national high adventure camp, Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. It is very difficult for a troop to be chosen to attend Philmont and they were very lucky to be selected. As it happens our Orthodox troop has some extra slots open for Orthodox boys or leaders who may be in other Scout troops and would like to join them. We would appreciate it if you could include this in your bulletin and mention it personally to any boys or adults in your parish who are active in Scouts.
The troop will be attending Philmont Scout Ranch July 6-18, 2009, leaving on Saturday, July 4th and returning to Seattle the evening of Sunday, July 19th. They will attend Liturgy on both Sundays while traveling, in Albuquerque. They are planning on having Father Dean Kouldukis, who will be going with them, perform liturgy on the trail on the Sunday they will be hiking.
As of now, there are 9 boys and 5 adults signed up. There is still room for 1-3 more adults and/or 7-9 more boys. To participate a boy must be 14 by January 1, 2009 or 13 and have completed the eighth grade. The cost for Philmont is $595. Travel and incidentals are extra. The troop is working on finding the best and cheapest travel rates they can.
Our church troop would gladly welcome Orthodox Scouts or adults to join them in this once-in-a-lifetime adventure. For more information or to sign up, contact John Prekeges at 425-829-7407, or johnppjr@gmail.com.
In Christ,
Father Michael Johnson

Father Michael Johnson, the EOCS Northwest Outreach Coordinator, reports that Orthodox Scouting is growing in the Seattle, Washington area with four new Scout units sponsored by Orthodox Churches. Two Cub Packs, one Boy Scout Troop and a Boy Scout Venture Crew. These units work together in reaching out to Orthodox Youth and offer various combined Scout activities along with project for their parishes.  Rev. Johnson states Scouting involvement is a natural way to improve the perception of the average person as to what the Orthodox Church is all about - especially since the people involved in Scouting tend to take religion seriously and tend to be influential in their own churches and communities.

The next meeting of the EOCS will be on April 23^rd at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Flushing, NY.  Note that this is a change of venue.  The calendar states April 22^nd but it was changed.

St. Nicholas is at 196-10 Northern Blvd. in Flushing, NY

Fellowship at 7:30, Meeting at 8:00 PM.

The main topic of discussion will be the EOCS Camporee in which we will be hiking the Lackawanna Valley Heritage Trail in Scranton, Pa.  Also, we’ll be camping at the St. Tikhon’s Seminary Grounds in South Canaan, PA.

On behalf of the 2009 Silver Beaver Selection Committee, please join me in Congratulating this year’s Silver Beaver Honorees:

Michael Bourdet, Daniel Olson, Amy Shapiro - Pathfinder District Sokratis Galitsis, Shawn Spencer - Founders District James Bleakney - Tomahawk District

The presentation of the Silver Beaver will take place on April 22, 2009 at Antuns in Queens Village. The flyer for the event is being finalized as I type this….just keep your eyes open for it and reply your attendance as soon as possible.

Yours truly in Scouting,
David Risueño
Chairman, Silver Beaver Selection Committee

NORTHEAST REGION E.O.C.S CAMPOREE

DATE:    MAY 1,2.3, 2009

LOCATION:  Lackawanna Valley Heritage Trail

Scranton, Pa

Boy Scouts:   Camp at St. . Tikhon’s Seminary Grounds

Near Scranton Pa   ( South Canaan, Pa)

Girl Scouts:  sleeping accommodations will be arranged

Co-Chairmen:   Dr. Larry Sherman &Ron Allegrucci

(Both  men chaired  this camporee twice in the past, with great results)

Additional details:

Age limit:   9 and above

All meals will be included

Liturgy will be performed on Sunday morning

Presentation of hike patches and  medals presented prior to departure on Sunday

Highlights of the trip:

Visit the  National Steamtrain Museum

And

Trolley Car Museum

Explore Local historical sites from American History

Go into a coal mine with a tour through the mine given  by local professional guides

Note:  The trail has been shortened to accommodate the young Scouts

Please note:  Fee per person will be announced after the costs of the entrance fees, food expenses and guide fees are finalized.

Reservations and prepayment will be required.

Additional details will be sent to you

This is truly a fun filled, fascinating event.

Please make every effort to encourage your Scouts to participate

It is truly memorable!

Download the Camporee Application by clicking here!

George N. Boulukos

Geobou03@aol.com

At the last EOCS National board meeting, the possibility of going back to Scranton, PA came up as a alternative to the traditional Boy Scout Camporee we normally hold at St. Basil’s Academy every spring. It has been a few years since we have visited the town of Scranton and George Boloukos (our chairman) said that he would contact Larry Sherman and the boys in PA and see if they were willing to host us once again.

Well it looks like Larry is willing to get the ball rolling as long as his team is ready, willing, & able to host us. We are also told that Scranton has actually changed in the past ten years, more than in the previous fifty years. The tentative date at this point in the game is: May 1- 3, 2009.

More news as we get it…..

The next national board meeting is on Wednesday December 3, 2008 at Holy Cross Orthodox Church, Brooklyn, New York. 7:30 PM Coffee etc 8:00 PM meeting. Pleas.e make sure that a representative from your unit shows up

eocs-minutes-9-24-08