Catholic Scouting at 1310 West Main Street, Lexington, KY 40508-2048 US - 2011  Bishop's Dinner

Above:  Chris Gross and Stephanie George, shown with Bishop Ronald Gainer, presented their  Eagle and Gold Award projects at the 2011 CCS "Bishop's Dinner" for Adult Leadership in Scouting.

Scouters, Scouts and Guests celebrated another year of Catholic Scouting activities at the Eighth Annual Bishop's Dinner, hosted by the Catholic Committee on Scouting, on October 5, in Hehman Hall at the Cathedral of Christ the King, Lexington, KY.  

Ms. Susan Hansell, Executive Director of KY's Wilderness Road Girl Scout Council and Mr. Matt Roberts Director of Field Services for the Bluegrass Boy Scout Council were on hand to update guests about the year in Scouting and to preview upcoming events

Keynote speakers this year were Stephanie George, an Ambassador Girl Scout in Troop 27, based out of Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary, in Lexington and  Michael Patton, a Boy Scout with Troop 93, based out of the Cathedral of Christ the King, Lexington. 

Stephanie spoke about her upcoming Girl Scout Gold Award project, a Haunted House event to take place at Lexington Catholic High School on October 22.  The program, which is designed to provide fun entertainment for children and youth and raise cancer awareness for adutls, grew out of Stephanie's personal battle with ovarian cancer.
  
Chris talked about his Eagle Scout project at the University of Kentucky Arbortetum to build a replica Native American wigwam as part of the education display in the newly opened Children's Garden.  Chris researched original construction techniques and led a work crew in preparing the framework and hand-sewn reed matting to build the wigwam.

Jill Heink, CCS Secretary, presented the Annual Catholic Scouting report, with photos from activities and events that troops from various parishes had sent in over the year. 

Bishop Gainer closed out the evening with some thoughts on the importance of scouting as youth ministry and also expressed his appreciation to all the scout leaders and committee members for their dedicated service to the young people in our Diocese.