The WESPY's

As most of you may know, my original career aspiration was to be a sports journalist. At Georgia College, I studied mass communication and served three semesters as sports editor for the school's student newspaper, The Colonnade. As sports editor, I wrote a weekly column on college athletics called The Sportsguy. My last column of each semester was called The Wespy's. Modeled after The ESPYS, the award recognized individual and team athletic achievement and other sports-related performance in Georgia College athletics during the semester.

As District Executive, I am bringing back The Wespy's to recognize breakout volunteers who went above and beyond during the past year.

DISCLAIMER: This award is not an indicator of who was selected to be honored at Creek River District's annual Awards Banquet. Banquet registration is currently live at this link. Please register to honor our district's top volunteers.

BEST COMEBACK

CUB SCOUT PACK 414

WAYNESBORO, GA

Cub Scout Pack 414 completed its 2017 re-charter with six boys. After comprehensive recruiting campaigns in both the spring and fall, the pack now has a membership of about 20 boys. They more than tripled their membership and was among the top-recruiting packs in the district's Fall Roundup. During the fall, they were able to pick up and train new leaders for its den and committee. They did all this while supporting the district through attending and helping lead its Cub Scout Day Camp, and producing a quality program.

MOST PERSISTENT LEADER

MARGARET JORDAN

CUBMASTER, PACK 309

Recruited to lead Cub Scout Pack 309 in the summer of 2017, Margaret has not stepped off the accelerator. Under her leadership, the newly started pack has blossomed in its first full year. Under Margaret's leadership, the pack was among the top units in the district in popcorn sales and fall recruiting. With Margaret's help, the pack established a functioning committee and recruited quality den leaders despite some turnover along the way.

MOST ENTHUSIASTIC LEADER

ESTHER JACKSON

CUBMASTER, PACK 413

Without being asked or approached, Esther volunteered to serve as chair of the Georgia-Carolina Council's 2017 Spook-o-ree, the area's premier annual Cub Scout celebration at Knox Scout Reservation. Under Esther's leadership, the event nearly doubled in attendance from 750 to 1,300 attendees. New programming was also featured at the event including a presentation by Bikers Against Bullying. When volunteering to lead the event, Esther said, "I love this stuff. It is so much fun."

MOST INNOVATIVE LEADER

RICHARD FAULK

SCOUTMASTER, TROOP 202

After a three-year absence, Richard led the charge to restart Cub Scout Pack and Boy Scout Troop 202 in Wrens. An Eagle Scout and retired Army veteran, Richard met two, sometimes even three, times a week to ensure a newly recruited group of Webelos earned the Award of Light award, Cub Scouts top honor. He then restarted the troop with the Webelos graduates while continuing to serve as Cubmaster with Pack 202 to prepare more boys to join the troop. Most of all, Richard successfully recruited middle schoolers to join the restarted troop, a rare sight in Scouting.

RISING STAR

SIMONE BRANDON

CUBMASTER, PACK 345

Simone took charge and organized burgeoning Cub Scout Pack 345 on Fort Gordon. In the fall, the pack (started in fall 2016) doubled in size to about 40 boys. Before the start of any programming in the fall, Simone led a training to have all adults and children certified in Youth Protection. Through her guidance and leadership, the pack has logged numerous service projects, done a space derby and planned several outings.

MALE LEADER OF THE YEAR

ED ENOCH

SCOUTMASTER, TROOP 45

Ed is the face of Boy Scout Troop 45 at Aldersgate United Methodist Church for much of the past decade. This past year, Troop 45 honored six Eagle Scouts, the most in the district. Ed has led many of those boys, and previous Scouts, from Tiger to Eagle. He oversees a well-organized corps of volunteers and communicates with them regularly to plan highly engaging high-adventure activities, including trips to Philmont and Florida Sea Base. He also volunteers on the district level for its Friends of Scouting campaign to ensure council programs and operations remain well-funded.

FEMALE LEADER OF THE YEAR

JAMI JACOBS

CUBMASTER, PACK 414 

Although she might not admit it, Jami almost single-handily saved Cub Scout Pack 414 in Waynesboro from imminent extinction. She could have easily walked away from the pack. But when the pack only rechartered with six boys, she started to organize a comprehensive plan to boost its membership, grow its team of adult volunteers and enhance its community image. Now, the pack is among the healthiest in the district. Jami accomplished all this while leading pack service projects and helping her group earn the Summertime Pack award.