Troop News

Along with the perfect Fall weather, these last two days were a good weekend for the Troop:


1. Thanks to all of of those who turned out, more than thirty-two Scouts and seventeen parents and leaders, the Bluff Park Art show was one of our most successful annual service days for the Troop...not to mention earning over $500.00 for the Troop's Operations Budget from proceeds from pop corn, water, and coffee sales. The Bluff Park Art Association and the BP United Methodist Church annual bake sales will also contribute as they usually do for the Troop's effort and assistance.

Thanks especially to Mr. Stephen Presley for supplying the ice and portable generator, Mr. Morrow for more ice, and Mr. Ng for purchasing our supply of water and a microwave for popcorn sales...whose stock of pop corn was purchased for the Troop by Mr. Branin...Thanks also to those who brought in the Microwave ovens to assure the popcorn was popped for our best sales to date.



2, J Coker's Eagle Project was completed on Saturday as planned thanks to all the leaders and Scouts who assisted him with his work at the Greater Birmingham Humane Society where he was repairing and refurbishing the Society's dog walking trails. He is still asking for donations to assist with the work.


3. The Troop was well represented at the Order of the Arrow's annual Fall Fellowship this weekend at Camp Sequoyah..thanks especially to ASMs and active members David Hutchens, Jay Elmore, and David Gunn for furnishing transportation to and from the camp as well as participating in all the events.....


Two weeks ago the Nunne-Hi Chapter of the Coosa Lodge (Greater Alabama Council) elected officer's for the coming year and the Troop dominated in the results:

S Hardy Chapter Chief

M Gunn, Vice Chief of Inductions

S Hardy, Vice Chief of Native American Affairs

F Hutchen, Vice Chief of Fellowship

C Hutchens, Vice Chief of Communications

The voting was in keeping with all the past years when members of Troop 21 predominated in the elected positions..past Chapter Vice Chiefs and Chiefs have been P Kidd, J Kunka, and S Hardy. E Kidd. N Bolding, M Gunn, K and J Berry have also served in Vice Chief positions.


All of our active OA member Scouts are current members of the Chapter and make up the Chapter's American Indian dance, Ordeal ceremonies , and all activities and competitions requiring the drum team.

Dance: Traditional: S Hardy

Fancy: S Hardy

Ceremonies: M Gunn, S Hardy, S Hardy, N Bolding, E Kidd, and J Elmore

Drum: S Hardy, S Hardy, J Elmore, H Elmore, N Bolding, M Gunn, and E Kidd


This weekend, other than all the available events the Scouts participated in, Eagle Scout S Hardy was awarded the "Vigil" Honor for his leadership skills and service as a Scout and an Order of the Arrow (OA) member. His "Guide and Mentor" for the Vigil Tap Out was our own ASM Christopher Arnold, also a Vigil member, and long time active member of the Order as a youth and as a leader. Chris earned his Eagle as a youth in Troop 237 in Homewood, and was an active member of the Chapter's ceremony teams.

The Vigil Honor is one of the highest awards a Scout can earn in Scouting on his trail to Eagle through a selection process by a committee made up of fellow OA members (consisting of the Coosa Lodge Executive Leadership Council-LEC members) out of the entire Greater Alabama Council's Coosa Lodge membership (about 800 are active).

Other than S Hardy, there have only been three Troop 21 Scouts who have been awarded the Vigil rank over the past sixty-seven years: Wes Hauffe, P Kidd, and J Kunka. The Order of the Arrow has had an active chapter in the Birmingham/Greater Alabama Council since 1912, of which Troop 21 has always had/has an active part in. Wes Hauffe's legacy is the Troop's red "T" Shirt design still being worn on all Troop activities.

Active Membership in the Order is reflected as a companion ingredient of the Scout's successfully earning his Eagle.

Membership in the Order is gained by Troop members through an annual election, wherein those nominated by the Scoutmaster as being eligible, are then nominated and elected by all the members of the Troop (a scout does not need to be an OA member in order to vote for a nominated Scout).

Members are nominated for membership provided they meet minimum requirements for attendance, leadership skills, and demonstrating Scouting Spirit. Those nominated who are voted upon by 50% of those members present at the time of the election (1/2 of the Troop have to be present for the election).

Those elected will be announced with a "Tap Out" at Summer camp during the "Tap Out" ceremony on Parent's Night (Wednesday). There are currently 22 Scout OA members in Troop 21, about which 10 are active. There are about 12 Leaders who are OA members in the Troop, about which 6 are active.

Active, dues paying members ($8.00 per year and participating in annual OA activities..Chapter and Lodge activities) can be recognized by their wearing the well known OA "flap" on the BSA Khaki shirt right breast pocket flap. Further, up dated information about the Order of the Arrow can be found on the Web site: Coosa 50.org

Activities include: Cub Scout Crossovers, (3) New member "Ordeals", (1) Regional Conclaves (GA/AL), Lodge Activities such as American Indian Seminars (dance, ceremony. craftsmanship), Fellowships, Leadership Conferences, Recognition Banquets, and National Conferences (NOAC-the most recent at the Michigan State at Lancing-July 2012..The Coosa lodge was the largest numbered lodge attending (104 members) of the fifty states participating.


Thanks for all your regular support and for encouraging attendance for "assuring all that we can do as a Troop, is being done."



YiS Dan s "Delivering the Promise"