May showers bring May or maybe June flowers. Well we haven't had a shortage of rain this month so far. I know this because my grass keeps growing and the rain won't stop long enough to cut it.

I hope you all are dodging the rain drops and it hasn't put too much of a damper on your Pack, Troop and Crew events. No doubt many of your units are participating in outdoor programs including weekend and day camping, backpacking trips, as well as Eagle Scout projects and Community service projects. Get outside and enjoy the great outdoors. It's also a great time to finalize your Summer Camp plans. There are lots of camping opportunities for Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts in Lafayette District. Cub Scout Community Day Camp, Cub Adventures at Musser, Boy Scout Summer Camp at Resica Falls. Don't forget that the second week is 50% off. If you want more information, please check things out on the Council website and/or contact Jim Sontag, our own District Camping Chairman for all things camping.

In addition to all those outdoor activities, Spring is a great time to recruit new members into your units. Make sure those boys crossing over from Cubs to Boy Scouts find a Troop and grab all those boys not currently in Scouting into your unit with the help of a Spring Recruitment event. Several of our Units have events already planned and we are actively looking for more opportunities to show off our Units. If you need help developing a plan, please check out the resources on the Council website or reach out to our very own Lafayette District Membership Master, Brett Montich.

I just learned last night that May is Military Appreciation Month. Congress designated May as National Military Appreciation Month in 1999 to ensure the nation was given the opportunity to publicly demonstrate their appreciation for the sacrifices and successes made by our service members - past and present. May was selected because it has the most days set aside for celebrating and commemorating our military's achievements. These days include Loyalty Day, which was established in 1921, Victory in Europe (VE) Day commemorating the end of WWII in Europe on May 8, 1945, Armed Forces Day created in 1949, Military Spouse Appreciation Day established in 1984, and of course the best known of the May holidays, Memorial Day. Please make sure that if you see a Veteran or a current member of our Armed Forces that you shake their hand and thank them for their service to this great country. If you are a Veteran or a current member of our Armed Forces, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!

I hope I will see you all out at our May Roundtable on Wednesday, May 11th and our June Recognition Picnic on June 8th.

To all those Moms out there, Happy Mother's Day!

Yours in service,

Name:  James Sontag

 

District Position:  Camping Chairman

 

Years in Scouting: 44

 

Were you a Scout as a Youth?  Yes, an Eagle Scout with a Silver Palm.

 

Do you currently serve Scouting in any other capacity?  Scoutmaster Troop 133; Health and Safety Committee member; Lafayette District Camping Chairman; and Service Advisor for the OA.

 

What do you do outside of Scouting?  I am ta Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, working at Temple University Hospital and Hillmont GI, provident anesthesia services.

 

Tell us a little about yourself:  I retired from the US Army Reserve in 2008 with 28 years of Service.  I am married with one Son and 2 Labrador Retrievers.

 

Do you have any children?  One son, who just made his Eagle Scout in January, 2016.  He is a Freshman at Gettysburg College.

 

Did you grow up around here?  I grew up in the Roxborough part of the city.  Moved to Montgomery County 19 years ago.

 

What do you like to do in your spare time? I like to go camping, fishing, biking, boating, reading, and walking my dogs.

May is Military Appreciation Month.  Tell us a little about your time in the military:  I spent 9 years as a Navy Corpsman, before transferring to the Army Reserve to attend college.  With my 28 years with the Army and Navy, I have traveled all over the world with both services.  It is an experience that I will never forget.