2021 PreCamp Fellowship

Greetings, Fellow Wearers of the Arrow!

We hope this message finds you well, staying safe, and ready for “Pre-Camp”!!!

In less than two weeks we will gather once again, together, as a whole Lodge. No one is more excited than I am about being able to serve, share fellowship, and celebrate as the Northeast Georgia Council’s honor society with all of you. And as we prepare for this event, we need to remind ourselves of our commitment to our values and ideals as well as the respect we need to show for all of our members, especially the Ordeal Candidates that are being sent to us from both members and non-members of our Order.

The Spring Induction event in March was very successful thanks to great planning and execution by our lodge leadership. All of you that are new Ordeal members of Mowogo Lodge, we hope you will join us so you can meet all of our members. Our annual Pre-Camp Fellowship is an important opportunity for us to share fellowship as we prepare Rainey Mountain for another standout summer camp season. This summer will be special indeed as things open back up and people are ready to back outside! Mowogo Lodge plays an integral role in preparing the camp for each summer camp season. There will also be other opportunities to explore and engage in. Please consider joining us for this event. We are proud to have you in our fold and we appreciative of those that sent you to us!

While things are opening up and the Governor of Georgia has lifted many restrictions concerning the public health concern, we need to be respectful of everyone that will join us in just a couple of weekends. Mowogo Lodge participated in our annual Section Conclave a few weeks ago. One of the expectations that I think was thoughtful and appropriate was that we were asked to be respectful and kind to those that felt the need to follow more restrictive protocols. I agree and would ask all of you to do the same. There will be opportunities for gathering and those that will wear a mask will be given every courtesy and respect for their feelings, actions, and concerns. As Scouts and Scouters, it is the least we could do. As honor campers it is what is expected. We will eat our meals in the Dining Hall with appropriate protocols in place, however, the Dining Hall will not be a place to gather for socializing and Cracker barrels, those will be held in the TNT shelters on Saturday night.

There will also be a change in our Dining Hall operations during Pre-Camp. Brotherhood member Josh Sewell has accepted the new role as our Food Services Chair and Brotherhood member Frank Eberhart has stepped into the Lodge Food Services Adviser role. They have been planning and working on some new ideas and opportunities for more involvement from each chapter in this part of our operations. The changes have been shared with the Lodge Executive Committee so please check with your Chapter Chief to make sure you understand the changes and are there to serve at the appropriate meal. Thanks to both of these brothers for taking on these important leadership roles.

Since we did not have a Winter Banquet to end 2020, we will be celebrating and recognizing some of our members on Saturday night of Pre-Camp that would have been recognized at the banquet. While somewhat different since we are in the middle of our current year, it will be appropriate for all to see these recognitions and pay an overdue thanks for service and leadership by those who give and commit themselves to be examples and guiding lights for all of us to admire and emulate. This will be in the Stewart Amphitheater. There will also be other recognitions during this program as well.

This Pre-Camp Fellowship is a great opportunity for Mowogo Lodge to get back on the tracks without losing a beat. Thank you all for the sacrifices you have made over the past year-plus. It makes me proud to know that you, members of Mowogo Lodge and the Northeast Georgia Council, set and example of respect and courtesy for all to see and follow. If you haven’t signed up yet, please follow this link and register:

Member Registration for PreCamp Fellowship

See you in a couple of weeks!

Yours in Cheerfulness,

Rusty Royston
Lodge Adviser, Mowogo Lodge
Northeast Georgia Council, BSA