At the October meeting of Chillicothe Circle of Service, Scoutmaster Gwyn Krause and Scout Rachel Krause presented the history of how girls became members of Boy Scouts. Females have been involved in various Boy Scout organizations since 1969, although it wasn’t until 2019 when the Boy Scouts rebranded themselves as Scouts BSA and young women ages 11 – 17 were eligible to join. Rachel’s troop is part of the W. D. Boyce Council and is hosted by Mossville Methodist Church, which also hosts a boys’ troop. There were only four girls in the troop in October 2019; by October 2023, that number had increased to 14. They were able to meet during the pandemic because so many of their activities were outdoors. The girls do service projects, including removing brush at Camp Wokanda and helping Community Needs Agency with their Christmas basket distribution. They go camping and canoeing, do their own cooking, acquire scout skills, take hikes as part of their personal fitness, learn leadership skills, and display cheerful service and enthusiasm. Girls participating in Boy Scouts can attain the Eagle rank by earning merit badges, just as the boys do, and must make Eagle Scout before they are 18. The inaugural class of female Eagle Scouts was in 2021 when 1000 young ladies nationally reached that rank. We thank Gwyn and Rachel for a very informative presentation. 

Terri Lynn nut sales have begun! Look for us Saturdays and Sundays at Grecian Gardens from 9am – 1pm through December 17; Kroger, December 9 and 16 from 9:30am – 1:30pm and on various dates at Pearce Community Center (visit the Chillicothe Voice online calendar for schedule). If you want nuts or other goodies during the week, please stop by Cutting Edge, Hair Masters, Plaza Cleaning, or Shear Grace during their regular business hours. Your purchase of Terri Lynn products allows our club to award scholarships to graduating IVC seniors, and we thank you for your support.

CEC students, including those with special needs, can now play with the flower drum that was installed on their playground. Students and teachers alike love the drum, and teachers say it is a favorite of many students. When the flower drum project is completed, there will be one on the playground at each of the five area grade schools – Calvary Baptist, CEC, Mossville, South, and St. Ed’s.

For more information on Circle of Service, contact President Linda Krider, 309-274-5796.