Scouting council honors local leaders
Linda Meyer of Wapakoneta was presented a Silver Beaver award during the Black Swamp Area Council’s annual meeting and recognition luncheon in February. During the luncheon, four
Silver Beaver awards were bestowed and the 2021 Kitty Freed Community Service Award was presented.
Dr. Daniel Meffley, of Defiance, began his third as Black Swamp Area Council Executive Board president. Matt Black, of Findlay, was
elected executive vice president and is planned to succeed Dr. Meffley in 2023. Meffley chairs the 47-member executive board, alongside Council Commissioner Michelle Waggoner.
The Silver Beaver award is the highest volunteer recognition a local Boy Scout Council can
bestow. Along with Meyer, the 2020 recipients of the Silver Beaver award for the Black Swamp Area council are Don Brewer, Mike Metzger and Larry Weimert.
Meyer has been a registered nurse for more than 50 years. She has served on many committees and in many roles through her years in
Scouting. She helps with as many district activities as she can, is a merit badge counselor and
serves on Eagle Board of reviews. She has been a unit commissioner for several years and is a
unit commissioner for seven units. Linda’s greatest accomplishment in life is being the mother of her two sons.
Don Brewer, of Fort Recovery, has been extremely active in Scouting since 1987. He has
helped mentor over 45 Scouts to the Eagle Rank, as well as three of his four sons. He has served many roles during his time with Troop 99 and on several district committee positions. He is also an Order of the Arrow Vigil Honor member. Outside of Scouting Don is extremely active in serving his community and is the President CEO of Truaqua, LLC. Don and his wife Cheri
are celebrating 28 years of marriage. Along with their sons, they have 15 grandchildren.
Mike Metzger, of Bluffton, grew up in Lima and went on to college at Case Western University. He later earned an MBA from Bluffton University. He became involved in Scouting as an
adult when his sons joined Scouting and all three of his sons achieved the rank of Eagle. Mike and his wife, Amy, also have a daughter. He currently serves as Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 256, is the District Commissioner for
Great Oaks, and serves on the Council Executive Board.
Larry Weimert, of St. Marys, is the father of a 21 year old son and enjoys traveling, camping, golfing, and spending time with his friends and family. He has worked at Crown Equipment for 33 years and serves as a volunteer firefighter and as an EMS paramedic. He was a Scout in his youth and became an adult leader when his
son’s pack was in need. He has been serving on the district level since 2011 and helps with day camp and the pinewood derby.
The Silver Beaver Award was introduced in 1931 and is a council‐level distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America. Recipients of this award are registered Scouters who
have made an impact on the lives of youth through service given to the council. The Silver Beaver is an award given to those who implement the Scouting program and perform community service through hard work, self-sacrifice, dedication, and many years of service. It is given to those who do not seek it.
Kitty Freed Community Service Award
In 2021, Troop 444 chartered to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Findlay recorded the most
community service hours per member, which amounted to 72 hours per registered Scout. To recognize this duty to community, the Troop was recognized with the Catherine (Kitty) Freed Community Service Award, which includes a
$2,000 Campership to a Black Swamp Area Council Camp.
Overall, Scout groups in the council contributed many hours of community service, including 78 Eagle Scout projects, Scouting for Food, and other community organizations.
Through the generous support of the estate of Kitty Freed the Black Swamp Area Council, created a new Community Service Award in 2018. This award is to recognize the Pack or Troop
with the most hours of community service per youth member based upon the unit’s youth
membership. Kitty was devoted to giving back to the communities where she lived. In addition, she was very supportive of Scouting and her son, who passed away from the effect of cancer in 2014, was an Eagle Scout. This recognition will continue her legacy of service and support
of Scouting.
Order of the Arrow Distinguished Service Award
The Distinguished Service Award and the Red Arrow Award are the Order of the Arrow’s
most prestigious awards. Nina Dukes, of Findlay, is the first person in history to earn both awards. Nina’s outstanding service as both a member and a non-member goes back decades.
She was inducted as an OA member in 1997 and since that time has served on staff at the last nine consecutive NOACS as an AIA instructor. Nina has served on the staffs of multiple OA Villages at National Jamborees and served as an
administrative officer during several events. Nina serves as an expert resource helping to
craft AIA guidelines for the participation of young women.
Distinguished Conservationist Award
With a lifetime of involvement with conservation and our environment and 67 years of affiliation with the boy Scouts, Larry Musser, of Rawson, was one of the first Scouts to be recognized in the US for the BSA Distinguished Conservation Award. Larry’s parents and older siblings were very active in Scouting and Larry
began his own journey with the program in 1954. He is an Eagle Scout with bronze, silver
and gold palms, vigil member of the Order of the Arrow and Vice Chief of Eagle Creek Lodge 382. One of Larry’s major achievements was compiling his fourth edition of Ecology Handbook of Camp Berry, identifying all species of plant and animal kingdoms.
Council Report highlights
In Council President Dan Meffley’s report the council, he shared that 78 individuals earned the Eagle rank including Ashtyn Wiyrick being a member of the Inaugural class of female Eagle
Scouts. The Medal of Merit was awarded by the National Court of Honor to Hayden Steinbrunner and Order of the Arrow Distinguished Service award to Nina Dukes. In camping news, he
noted of the full return of summer camp to Camp Berry and Camp Lakota and a successful first year of Adventure Camp served almost 250 area youth. He also spoke of the re-energizing of the Exploring program. Dr. Meffley also recognized the countless hours devoted by the Black Swamp Area Council professional and office staff.
President Award recipients recognized
President Awards were presented to Carol Little of Findlay, Matt Fiedler (posthumously) of
Ottoville, Steve Okuley of Defiance, and Terri Maurer of New Bremen. Each have excelled in their communities, giving countless hours and
selfless service to the youth and families in their Scouting groups.