Veteran Unit

The bronze and green "45" insignia displayed to the left above the Pack 962 unit numbers is known as a "Veteran Unit Bar". It is worn on the left sleeve of the Scout uniform immediately above the unit numbers and below the Council Shoulder Patch.^[10],[13] Since 1952, the BSA has used this insignia (or something similar) to recognize units with exceptionally long tenures of service.^[10] The veteran unit bar displays the number of continuous years the unit has been chartered.^[17] A patch is available for every 5 years between 25 and 100.^[11],[13]

Pack 962 is the second oldest unit in Goose Creek District and became eligible for the 45-year veteran unit bar in 2012.^{[1],[14],[15],[16],[17]} Veteran unit bar patches were handed out to all members of Pack 962 at the December Pack meeting and holiday party on December 14, 2010 (at that time, the leaders had thought the Pack was originally chartered in 1965, not 1967). All members of Pack 962 are eligible to wear the veteran unit bar insignia, not just those who were registered with the unit at the time the milestone was reached.^[12] The story of Pack 962's history since being chartered in April 1967 is being pieced together below.

Early Days (1910 - 1958)

Scouting had a presence in Lovettsville as early as 1938 when the first Scouting unit in town was organized (Boy Scout Troop 164) by the PTA, the Lutheran Church, and the Reformed Church (now known as St James United Church of Christ). However, as the Golden Jubilee of Scouting drew nearer in 1960, an active Cub Scouting Pack was nowhere to be found within the town limits of Lovettsville.^[2]

Slow Start For Cub Scouting (1959 - 1961)

The St James Reformed Church elected to sponsor a Boy Scout troop and a Cub Scout pack in town. In March 1959, both Troop and Pack 962 were organized. The units were quite active from 1959 through 1961 during which time they enjoyed strong support from the community. By far the most notable event occurring in the Scouting world at large during this period was the Golden Jubilee.

Leaders in 1959

The unit leaders appointed at the founding of the Cub Scout pack were:^[2]

• Cubmaster

  • Austin Pearson

• Den Mothers

  • Mrs. Kenneth Harrington

  • Mrs. Frank Legard, Jr.

  • Mrs. Jasper Rickard

• Assistant Den Mothers

  • Mrs. Edwin Brown

  • Mrs. John Paul

  • Mrs. Austin Pearson (Idell Baker Pearson^[3])

• Den Chiefs

  • Tommy Everhard

  • Harvey Pearson

  • Toby Rickard

Events in 1960

One of the highlights of this early period in the Pack's history was a joint observance of the Golden Jubilee of Scouting in February 1960 by Troop and Pack 962. Approximately 125 scouts, cubs, parents, and scout officials attended a banquet and Court of Honor held at the Lovettsville Game Club. The Boy Scout troop and Cub Scout pack both also participated in the Jubilee Scouting Exposition held at the National Guard Armory in Washington, D. C., in May 1960.^[2]

Pack meetings at this time promoted fun by having the cubs present programs and shows such as "The Country Store", "Show Boat", puppet shows, a pet show, and the Pinewood Derby.^[2]

In spite of the strong support and the activity of this period, the charter for Pack 962 was allowed to lapse sometime after 1961.

New Start For Cub Scouting (1967 - 1976)

In September 1967, Pack 962 was rechartered (sponsored by a presently unknown organization in town) and has been continuously chartered since then.^[1] One of the notable events occurring during this period was the Bicentennial of the United States, the celebration of which was a major event in the Town of Lovettsville.

Leaders During New Start Period

Cubmasters

Cubmasters during the New Start period were:^[1]

• Claude McPeak

• Mike Kretsinger

• Joe Jankowski

• Harold Gladstone

• Walt Barth

• Chuck Morton

Other Leaders and Volunteers

Other families who donated their time to provide leadership for the Pack during the late sixties and early seventies included:^[1]

• Kretsinger

• McPeak

• Stone

• Mantz

• Daley

• Peck

• Jankowski

• Moss

• George

Events in 1968

A highlight early in this period was when the Lovettsville Scouts attended the National Capital Area's Scouting Expo in the D. C. Armory and took 1st place. Their exhibit consisted of a variety of livestock from every backyard and farm in Lovettsville including a calf, sheep, chicken, duck, rabbit and even a black snake and a descented skunk.^[1]

Leading Up to the Centennials (2000 - 2011)

Starting in 2001, the Tiger Cub program was integrated into the Cub Scouting program and Tiger Cubs became full-fledged members of the Pack with the blue uniform and the signature orange neckerchief. In 2006, a few final tweaks were made to completely integrate the Tiger Cub program with Cub Scouting: the Tiger Cub Motto was replaced with the Cub Scout Motto and Tiger Cubs were required to earn the Bobcat badge as the joining rank. Also, in 2006, the oval Webelos badge was introduced.^[7]

Leaders During the Period Leading Up to the Centennials of Scouting and the NCAC

Cubmasters

• Len Ryan

• Kristin Mungovan

• Clif Niblock, ACM

• Kris Konsaul, (2005 - 2010)

• John Blackwell, ACM, (2005-2010)

• Steven Krise, (2010-2013)

• Tom Potter, ACM (2010-2013)

Den Leaders

• Len Ryan

• Sandy Ryan

• Kelly Tejada

• Donna Corrado

• Jimmy Gonzales

• Kris Consaul, DL, (2003-2005)

• Dave Mengel, DL, (2003-2008)

• Wendy Payne, DL, (2003-2009)

• Patti Miller, DL, (2003-2009)

• Craig Packard, DL, (2005-2010)

• Bobby Zoldos, II, ADL

• Jim Camp, ADL, (2005-2010)

• Den 5

  • Brenda Stanley, DL, (2003-2008)

• Den 6A

  • Delores Anderson, DL

  • Brenda Stanley, ADL, (2008-2010)

• Den 7

  • Dave Carty, DL, (2007-2012)

  • David Bennett, ADL (2007-2008)

  • In 2008, Den 7 had grown and was split into two dens:

    • Den 7A

      • Dave Carty, DL, (2007-2012)

      • Steven Krise, ADL, (2007-2012)

    • Den 7B

      • David Bennett, DL, (2008-2011)

      • Rick Sweeney, ADL, (2008-2011)

• Den 8

  • Den 8A

    • Dave Nelson, DL, (2008-2013)

    • Mark Hurt, ADL, (2008-2010)

  • Den 8B

    • Jim Stephens, DL (2008-2009)

    • Doug Matyas, ADL (2008-2009), DL (2009-2013)

  • In 2010, Den 8A and 8B had both shrunken to a small number of active Scouts and were merged together.

    • Dave Nelson, DL, (2008-2013)

    • Doug Matyas, DL, (2009-2013)

    • Darryl Ambler, ADL, (2011-2013)

• Den 9

  • Becky Hile, DL, (2009-2010)

  • Eric Arlington, ADL, (2009-2010), DL, (2010-2011)

  • David Stolfi, ADL, (2010-2011)

  • Brian Stearns, DL, (2011-)

  • Andrew Warburton, ADL, (2011-2012)

• Den 1

  • Heather Krafcheck, DL (2010-2011)

  • Sebastian Fonss, ADL (2010-2011), DL, (2011-2012)

  • Dwayne Davis, ADL (2011-2012), DL, (2012-)

  • James Siciliano, ADL, (2012-)

• Den 2

  • Chris Geiger, DL (2011-)

  • R. K. Creighton, ADL (2011-)

  • Christian Mercker, ADL (2012-)

Committee Members

• Charter Organization Representative

  • Mr John Payne, Sr, (?-2013)

• Committee Chair

  • Len Ryan

  • Sandy Ryan

  • Mike O'Brien (2004-2010)

  • Darrell Liles (2010-2011)

  • Philipa Brunt (2011-2013)

• Treasurer

  • Tedd Durden (2004(?)-2009)

  • Phil Lertora (2010-2011)

  • Jeff Boogaard (2011-2012)

• Secretary

  • Jim Camp

  • Vren Doyle (2010-2014)

• Advancement Chair

  • Rex Shipley

  • Callie Fulmer (2007-2012)

  • Carolee Stearns (2012-2014)

• Membership Chair

  • Cindy Camp (2009-2011)

  • Theresa Ridderhoff (2011-)

• Popcorn Kernel

  • Melani Carty (2008-2011)

  • Shannon Krise (2011-2013)

• Webmaster

  • Mike O'Brien (2010-2011)

  • Steven Krise (2011-)

• Unit Commissioner

  • Julie Balch (2010-2013)

Den Chiefs

• Garrett O'Brien, Den 7B, (2008-2010)

• Milo Burke, Den 7A, (2008-2012)

• James Camp, Den 8A, (2010-2013)

Other Volunteers

Events in 2010 and 2011

In 2010, the 100th anniversary of Boy Scouts of America was celebrated. There were a number of special events in 2010 to mark the milestone, including a special Centennial Quality Unit award program, a "Year of Celebration" award program, a special Centennial Camp-O-Ree sponsored by the National Capital Area Council held in May 2010 at Goshen Scout Reservation, and a Centennial Parade held in July 2010 in Washington, D. C.^[18],[19] Representatives of Pack 962 took part in all these events.

In 2011, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the National Capital Area Council was celebrated. To commemorate this event there was a special Centennial event held in October 2011 at Camp William B. Snyder in Haymarket, VA. Representatives of Pack 962 also participated in this event, braving long lines and dense crowds to acquire the centennial award.

On-Going Pack Traditions

During this time period, a number of the Pack volunteers developed or popularized songs that became part of the fabric of Pack 962. Len Ryan, while Cubmaster, was fond of bringing his guitar to Pack meetings and leading 50 Cub Scouts in singing the "Grand Old Duke of York". Another volunteer, Boyd Owens, wrote a song "Pair of Mouldy Jeans" sung to the tune of "Yellow Submarine". Other Pack favorites included the "Underwear Song" (to the tune of "Over There") and the Announcements song (each verse is to the tune of a different song). There are 14 "official" verses to the announcements song, plus two new verses developed by Pack 962 Cub Scouts. The first home-grown verse was authored by the Webelos Scouts of Mrs. Payne's den in 2007. The second home-grown verse was developed by the Tiger Scouts of Mr. Geiger's den in 2012. Another enduringly popular song with the Cub Scouts of Pack 962 has been the "Wild Cheese Moose Hunt". These songs and many others are available in the Pack 962 songbook.

A recurring event in the present-day Cub Scout Pack 962 calendar has been the Lovettsville Elementary School cleanup service project. Members of the pack close out their summer vacation by volunteering their time to clean up and beautify the entrance to Lovettsville Elementary School in anticipation of the start of the new school year. It is a wonderful way to express our gratitude to the administration of the school for providing us with our monthly Pack meeting location. The Cub Scouts of Pack 962 have been performing this service project at least since 2004.^[5]

In 2010, Tom Potter worked with Dave Carty, Steven Krise, Connie Potter and several other committed volunteers to organize the first annual Flag Day retirement ceremony in the parking lot of the Lovettsville Town Office. Expecting to retire three flags, the leaders of the Pack were shocked to discover over 60 flags had been donated by the Lovettsville community for retirement. From these humble beginnings, the flag retirement ceremony continues to be an important event in the Town of Lovettsville's annual calendar to this day.

In 2011, Steven Krise started a new Pack tradition that he learned about during Wood Badge training of keeping ashes from each Pack camp fire.

The Next Century (2011-)

Leaders During the Next Century Period

Cubmasters

• Steven Krise, (2010-2013)

• Tom Potter, ACM, (2010-2013)

• Chris Geiger, (2013- 2017)

• Sebastian Fonss, ACM, (2013-2017)

• Russell Murphy (2017-2019)

Den Leaders

• Den 8

  • Dave Nelson, DL, (2008-2013)

  • Doug Matyas, DL, (2009-2013)

  • Darryl Ambler, ADL, (2011-2013)

• Den 9

  • Brian Stearns, DL, (2011-)

  • James Siciliano, ADL, (2012-)

• Den 1

  • Dwayne Davis, ADL, (2011-2012), DL (2012-)

• Den 2

  • Chris Geiger, DL, (2011-)

  • R. K. Creighton, ADL, (2011-)

  • Christian Mercker, ADL, (2012-)

  • Eric McDowell, ADL, (2013-)

• Den 3

  • Sebastian Fonss, DL, (2012-)

• Den 4

  • Beth Creighton, DL, (2013-)

• Den 5

• Den 6

  • Caitlin Keefe DL (2014 - 2019)

  • Steven Meister ADL (2015 - 2019)

• Den 7

Committee Members

• Charter Organization Representative

  • Jeff Boogaard, (2013- )

• Committee Chair

  • Philipa Brunt (2011-2013)

  • Steven Krise (2013-2014)

  • Tom Choiske

• Treasurer

  • Jeff Boogaard (2011-2012)

  • Amy McDowel (2013-)

• Secretary

  • Vren Doyle (2010-2014)

• Advancement Chair

  • Carolee Stearns (2012-2014)

• Membership Chair

  • Theresa Ridderhoff (2011-)

• Popcorn Kernel

  • Shannon Krise (2011-2013)

  • Carrie Geiger (2013-2017)

  • Lyndsay Vannoy (2017-2018)

• Webmaster

  • Mike O'Brien (2010-2011)

  • Steven Krise (2011-2014)

• Unit Commissioner

  • Julie Balch (2010-2013)

  • Steven Krise (2013)

  • Wally Rinaldi (2013-currently 2018)

Den Chiefs

• James Camp, Den 8, (2010-2013)

• Sam Hoskinson, Den 2, (2013-)

Other Volunteers