The life and times of a Safety Pilot

Friday, May 10, 2013

Another First of Firsts for Troop 9

I forgot to mention in my last post about the William T. Hornaday Unit Award for Distinguished Service in Conservation being bestowed on Troop 9 at the Eagle Court of Honor.

This awards program was created to recognize those that have made significant contributions to conservation. It was begun in 1914 by Dr. William T. Hornaday, director of the New York Zoological Park and founder of the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. Dr. Hornaday was an active and outspoken champion of natural resource conservation and a leader in saving the American bison from extinction. He named the award the Wildlife Protection Medal. After his death in 1937, the award was renamed in Dr. Hornaday's honor and became a Boy Scouts of America award.

In the early 1970s, the present awards program was established with funding help from DuPont. At that time, the late Dr. Hornaday's idea of conservation was broadened to include environmental awareness.

Approximately 1,100 medals have been awarded over the past 80 years. These awards represent a substantial commitment of time and energy by individuals who have learned the meaning of a conservation/environmental ethic. Any Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, or Venturer willing to devote the time and energy to work on a project based on sound scientific principles and guided by a conservation professional or a well-versed layperson can qualify for one of the Hornaday Awards.

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

A day of First Firsts

Well, I know you all are aware that the EG (Me) moonlights as an Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 9 in Petaluma, CA. This is a young Troop, having only started in April of 2009, so sit back and relax as I tell ya'll the short story.

This little story of mine is about several "Firsts", and I happen to be the happy recipient of two of the Firsts as well. Over this past weekend I attended my first ever Eagle Court of Honor (that was the first of firsts for me). As luck would have it; I was asked by the Eagle Candidate's parents if I would MC the event, that's Master of Ceremonies for those of you who don't know; the second first of firsts for me.

To continue; this was the First Eagle Scout Court of Honor for Troop 9, and Robby also happens to be one of the first Scouts to have joined the Troop after his and another Mother started the Troop back in 2009; how about that!

To continue with the first of firsts, Robby was bestowed with the "First" National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) "Certificate of Recognition of Eagle Scout" in this BSA Council in Northern California. This is all due to the fact that the SAR had never had a Eagle Scout Recognition Committee in the Local Chapter, of which there is now one and I am now a member.

This committee is due to the efforts of one man named Robby Burt, who is credited with organizing the SAR's Eagle Scout Recognition Program back in 1980. Turns out that Robby was an Eagle Scout himself, circa 1947, and then went to work for the BSA for 28 years. After he retired, he joined the SAR and got this program off the ground. As luck would have it, he now lives here in Northern California and is Chairman of the Eagle Scout Recognition Committee. How about that!

In continuing, Robby also received the First SAR Eagle Scout Patch in his Council for submitting his Application and Lineage Record for possible admission to the SAR, Turns out that his Grandmother is a member of the Daughter of the American Revolution (DAR).

And to conclude with the final first of firsts, Robby also received the first Partnership For Good Citizenship Patch in his Troop. This patch is sponsored by none other than yours truly here; I have pledged to present the patch to any Troop 9 Scout who obtains all three Citizenship Merit Badges. Currently only three Scouts have earned the patch.

So, here you are, I present to you - Robert A. Marchionni - Eagle Scout

That's Robby's Grandfather to his right- Eagle Scout 1953

Saturday, March 9, 2013

The-North-Coast-Scouter--February-2013

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/The-North-Coast-Scouter--February-2013.html?soid=1102092851774&aid=sG1181wvQME

Monday, February 18, 2013

Another tidbit from the EG's past

Well, here is where it all started, about two years after I first got started flying in the summer of 1977, right after high school was over. The Ole' Pelican (Capt'in Flett) wouldn't let me get started during high school, because he didn't think I was serious enough. He was right of course, but I didn't think so at the time.

It took a while due to household budget cuts late 77 through 78; wedded bliss at "Casa de la Flett" took a nose dive in 78, as the Pelican sought other living arrangements. So it was more paying work and minimum school hours at the local Jr. College, plus a few extra bucks from dear Ole' Mom to help gets things done.

BTW, Mary Gafianey as a Designee, was no easy ride; she wasn't even that nice to ya when she wasn't given you a check ride. I guess it didn't matter whether you give her all your money for lessons at her fine flying establishment, she played no favorites in the cockpit.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Just how we roll at UAL

To: Chief Pilot IAH base

The entire family was on board for a 50^th wedding anniversary dealio in Maui when grandma realized she had left her purse in the terminal. The Captain (with a capital ‘C’) held the flight so as to re-united the family with the patriarch and his spousal unit since grandpa had gone along for the search. Another successful FN delay as they arrived in Maui on-time.

If you would please let everyone involve, what a great job he did on this day I’d appreciate it.

V/R

Andy

Chief Pilot SFO Base

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Flett, Duncan [SFOFO]
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2013 11:45 AM
To: Allen, Andy [SFOFO]
Subject: Fwd: Flight Crew of 52 on 2/12/13 SFO-OGG

Andy,

Here is the crew from FLT 52 of the 12th. They held the pushback till a senior family member was

able to retrieve her purse. Awesome job,

Duncan

Captain Duncan Flett

AIRBUS Line Check Airman

Flight Manager - SFOFO

Monday, February 4, 2013

The Four Horseman of Aviation

Came across this picture the other day; made me smile just remembering the day.

These are but a slice of some of the fearless aviators I know in Charlotte, NC.