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About Us
OUR HISTORY
The Scouting Program at New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church has a very rich and active legacy. The program consisted of: Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and an Explorer Post. Boy Scout Troop 199 was chartered on March 8th 1949 in the Pioneer District, Crossroads of America Council. Nineteen (19) Scouts registered in that year. The Pastor of the church was Rev J. O. Clark.
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Biven Swiney - Institutional Representative
Robert Sneed - Committee Member
Bert Means - Committee Member
Leroy Claypool - Committee Member
John Talley - Committee Member
Lewis Carroll - Committee Member
Gene Austin - Scoutmaster
Lafayette Whitney - Asst Scoutmaster
Troop 199
Explorer Post 199
Cub Pack 199 was chartered on February 27, 1952. The Pastor at that time was Rev J. O. Clark. Forty six (46) Cub Scouts were registered. The first charter consisted of the following adult leaders:
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Biven Swiney - Institutional Representative
Leroy Claypool - Committee Chairman
William Jones - Committee Member
John Talley - Committee Member
William Gray - Committee Member
Earle Lee - Committee Member
Thomas Taylor - Cub Master
Robert Peters - Asst Cub Master
Mamie J Smith - Den Mother
Margaret Carter - Den Mother
Gertrude Simpson - Den Mother
Willa Jackson - Den Mother
Cub Pack 199
Explorer Post 199 (Dropped August 1, 1985) Post 199 was established on February 27, 1952. The Pastor at that time was Rev J. O. Clark. Sixteen (16) Explorers were registered. The first charter consisted of the following adult leaders:
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Biven Swiney - Institutional Representative
Albert Jackson - Committee Chairman
John Talley - Committee Member
William Gray - Committee Member
Earle Lee - Committee Member
William Jones - Committee Member
William Smith - Post Advisor
Robert Buck - Asst Post Advisor
On Oct 6, 1949, Willard Nance, became the first Eagle Scout from New Bethel. He was a member of Boy Scout Troop 31 (School #26). Between 1958 and 1965, the Boy Scouting Program at New Bethel flourished. The Troop averaged about 30 to 45 young men each year. In July 1983, seven Scouts experienced the High Adventure Camp at the 127,395 acre Philmont Boy Scout Ranch, in Raton New Mexico. These seven Scouts were on the trail in a real life setting for 10 days and nights. In July 1994, ten Scouts experienced the same High Adventure Camp at Philmont Boy Scout Ranch. Feb 2, 1997, Bryan Campbell, Dareskedar Henry, and Damon Watts were awarded the highest rank in Scouting…..Eagle Rank Feb 7, 1999, Brian Easler and Paul Whitney earned and were awarded the Eagle Rank Feb 6, 2000, Damion Yancy was awarded the Eagle Rank. Feb 1, 2001, Lonnie Watson Jr, became our newest Eagle recipient. Jan 14, 2003, In September 2003, 19 Parents and 18 Scouts flew to Estes Park, Co and spend 5 days in cabins. Three groups of Scouts were hiking in the Rocky Mountains for 3 days and nights, while the Parents were at the base camp doing different activities. Evan Morton was awarded Eagle Scout rank at Mt Olive Baptist Church Indianapolis, Indiana.
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Troop 199 had two Eagle Scout recipients in 2004: March 20, 2004 at Trinity CME Church, Terrence Sanford May 1, 2004 at Mt Olive Baptist Church, Corey Jones May 6, 2005, Boy Scout Camp Belzer was the setting for Tyrone Thomas, Joshua Munn and Jordan Moore to receive their Eagle Scout Rank. Camp Belzer was also the setting for Kenneth Andrews who was awarded the Eagle Rank on April 29, 2006 Clayton Jones had earned the Eagle Scout Rank at Mt Olive Baptist Church on Oct 11, 2005. Every year Troop 199 has attended summer camp at Ransburg Reservation in Bloomington, In. We have also camped at Mounds State Park and McCormick’s Creek. We have visited the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Ky and the Freedom Walk Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. In April 2010, Troop 199 celebrated 60 years of rechartering at New Bethel with a Banquet at Boy Scout Camp Belzer. Scouts came home from across the country to participate. Troop 199 spends many outings at Washington Park, Eagle Creek Park, Holiday Park and Ft Harrison Park, working on outdoor skills, i.e. hiking, cooking, knots and orienteering. Currently, Troop 199 is preparing to celebrate 70 years of scouting with a banquet on April 13th, 2019 at Camp Belzer.