|
|
Mr. Art
Carpenter was the Troop 709 Scoutmaster October 1989 to January 2006. Here are
a few bits of information about our former Scoutmaster...
Mr. Carpenter joined scouting in 1962 at the ripe old age of 12. His first
troop was Troop 98 in Fresno, California. While a boy scout, Mr. Carpenter
earned the Order of the Arrow and his Eagle Scout rank (with Silver Eagle
Palm).
Mr. Carpenter first began serving as an adult Scouter in 1968. Mr. Carpenter
has served as an adult leader in Troop 303 (San Luis Obisbo, CA.), Troop
586 (Key West, FL.), Pack 757 (Vista, CA.), and, of course, in our troop,
Troop 709.
Mr. Carpenter was an assistant scoutmaster from 1987 to 1989 before beginning
his term as our scoutmaster.
Mr. Carpenter is a member of the Order of the Arrow and the Eagle Scout
Alumni Association.
Mr. Carpenter has earned a number of scouting award knots. These are: Eagle
Scout, God & Country (Adult), Adult Training (Scout), Scoutmaster's
Key, the Scoutmaster Award of Merit, and the Silver Beaver. Most recently, Mr. Carpenter earned the
Scoutmaster of the Year award!
When Mr. Carpenter first started as our scoutmaster, there were 18 scouts
and one assistant scoutmaster. In 1996, there were about 60 scouts and
eight assistant scoutmasters. The troop population peaked at one point at more
than 90 scouts! Currently, there are about 45 scouts and
nine assistant scoutmasters, along with 10 other adult committee members.
Mr. Carpenter had seen 44 Troop709 scouts achieve their Eagle Rank!
Mr. Carpenter retired as
Scoutmaster in January 2006. Thank you for your leadership, Mr. C! Mr. Carpenter
was the Charter Organization Representative for Troop 709 until April 2008. |
 
In May 2008, Mr. Carpenter and
his wife, Marilyn, are moving to Alaska. The following poem was read at Mr. C's
going away luncheon:
An Ode to a Scout Leader
In 1987, when Troop 709 was young
A new leader came among
An Eagle Scout, he had the clout
And was gifted with skills, there was no doubt
A fuzzy man
He had a plan
Wielding the Scout Oath and Law
We were soon in awe
While his fame was based on skill, it was rumored
That was a story Art only humored
It was really that he was still clad
In the same size shirt that he was attired in as a
lad!
Of this man’s character there was no doubt
Nor of his ability to lead a Scout
And soon would be parceled out
Ranks aplenty! Really, there was much to crow
about
With skills abounding
Soon it became confounding
That Art, though seemingly perfect, had a flaw
The Scouts soon bemoaned, and saw
And though the trails seemed unlimited
We found Art’s estimations limited
And with a shrug and a smile
He invented the Carpenter Mile!
Though Art seemed a Super Hero
Reliable even at absolute zero
His ability to leap tall objects was eventually
checked
And by Newton’s Law he was soon decked
On his head he would get a knock
By a Scout, a cliff, and a rock!
Eventually, with his own Eagle son moved on
Art began to gaze northward on
It was inevitable, it seemed
“On to Alaska,” he beamed!
Oh, how to gauge his success?
Would it be the Scouts progress?
O’er 40 Eagle’s, he dared
To send forth and Be Prepared
No, instead it was the adventure
That hundreds of boys would venture
So, Troop 709 bids its farewell
In hopes that on the Scouts Art won’t dwell
The Troop, it excels
And with success, it swells
So, with thanks we say goodbye
And wish Art a good northern sky
And with our eternal gratitude
We hope he enjoys the northern latitude
Thank you Art, for being our friend!
|
