Council of Achievement for Warm Beach Royal Rangers
(Pictured: L to R)
Back Row:
Ron Large – Divisional Coordinator – Northwest Division
Barry Hollmer – Divisional Training Coordinator/Outpost Commander – Warm Beach Comm. Church Outpost 168
Willie Estell – Frontiersman Camping Fellowship Representative – Northwest Division
Larry Norris Jr – Divisional Training Coordinator/Sr. Commander - Warm Beach Comm. Church Outpost 168
Third Row:
Rodney Moore – Divisional Safety/Rangemaster / Outpost Commander – Warm Beach Comm. Church Outpost 168
Austin Franklin – Silver Medal of Achievement, Senior Patrol Guide, Outpost Scout
William Zerby – Divisional Deputy Coordinator / Outpost Commander – Oak Harbor A/G Outpost 145
Second Row:
Benjamin Brotka – Bronze Medal of Achievement
Austin Jenkin – Gold Falcon Medal
Travis Whittaker – Bronze Medal of Achievement
First Row:
Alex Stubbins
Taylor Bye – Bronze Medal of Achievement
Larry Norris III – Silver Medal of Achievement
Not Present:
Mark Reed – Returning from Missions Trip to Cambodia
On Sunday March 15, 2009 at Warm Beach Community Church in Stanwood, WA. A Council of Achievement convened to honor and recognize the diligence and hard work done by the boys of this highly motivated Royal Ranger Outpost. During the opening of the council it was noted that since September 2008, this group of boys that represent this Outpost had completed a collection of 193 merits/achievements among the collected group. Their efforts were shown by the presentation of 7 different Medals of Merit to 5 of the boys in the Outpost. Each of the boys who received their Medals was honored for their efforts and was pinned with their respective medals in front of family, friends and guests.
Benjamin Brotka received the Adventure Ranger Bronze Medal of Achievement and the Discovery Ranger Gold Hawk Medal. He is the son of Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Brotka of Stanwood, WA.
Taylor Bye received the Adventure Ranger Bronze Medal of Achievement and the Discovery Ranger Gold Hawk Medal. He is the son of Mr. & Mrs. Gary Bye of Stanwood, WA.
Travis Whittaker received the Adventure Ranger Bronze Medal of Achievement. He is the son of Mr. & Mrs. Gary Whittaker of Stanwood, WA.
Austin Franklin received the Adventure Ranger Silver Medal of Achievement and was appointed the next Senior Patrol Guide for Outpost 168, along with being the present Outpost FCF Scout. He is the son of Brenda Franklin-Strout and John Strout of Renton, WA.
Larry Norris III received the Adventure Ranger Silver Medal of Achievement. He is the son of Larry Norris Jr of Stanwood, WA and Dianne Davis of Fresno, CA.
Along with their respective Medals, each of the Adventure Ranger boys was read a letter of recognition from National Commander Doug Marsh that accompanied his Certificate, Ribbon Bar and Medal Drape. In the letter from National Commander Marsh, each boy was commended on their goal setting and efforts towards earning their Gold Medal of Achievement. The Gold Medal of Achievement is similar to the Eagle Scout; however the Gold Medal of Achievement requires a higher level of achievement to gain this award.
The Gold Medal of Achievement (GMA) is a medal of great distinction and honor. It was first offered in 1963 with the first recipient completing its requirements in 1964. In its 40 year history the GMA has been earned by over 5000 boys ages 12 through 17 years of age.
The average age of a boy earning the GMA is approximately 16 years of age. This indicates that a boy has been involved in Royal Rangers for at least 4-5 years before earning his GMA. Presently, slightly less than 1% of the boys involved in Royal Rangers each year earn the GMA. As a result of its challenging merit trail, it is truly a coveted award for any Royal Ranger boy.
GMA recipients must:
- Be at least 12 years (and at least in the 6th grade), but less than 18 years old.
- Have been a Silver Medalist for at least 3 months
- Have completed 24 merits, 16 of those chosen from a required list and 8 of their personal choice.
- Have served in a leadership (junior) position for at least 6 months
- Have written a 500 word essay on “The Value of Royal Rangers to Me”
- Have completed a Christian Service Project – benefitting their community or their church
The Royal Rangers is a scouting program similar to the Boy Scout program and is a merit driven program offered by the Assembly of God church. We at Outpost 168 extend our Congratulations and commend you on all of your hard work!
Every great challenge a young man accepts helps to build his character, increase his determination to achieve, and improve his ability to set goals and fulfill them.