A Fall Outing to Remember

For the first time in seven years, I was fortunate enough to have my parents and my wife Monica come to Fall Outing at Camp Kanata. It was a special day for me -- a day that I had been planning for months. Since I was in the Indian Guides with my Dad in Charlotte in the early 70's, I wanted to thank him, and my mom for all that they have done for me. I wrote my script with tears in my eyes. It was going to be difficult to read. For the next week, I read over the script several times each day and it became easier. During the ceremony, when I turned to the last page of the script, my son Aaron whispered "Uh-oh", knowing I might have trouble reading it. Fortunately I didn't get choked up.

Here's what I added at the end of the ceremony for my parents.

Little Braves, tonight is a night you will never forget.

You'll remember the fall breeze and the color in the trees.

You'll remember taking your 2-mile hike and having fun with your tribe.

You'll remember holding your dad's hand and walking together between the lit torches as the tom-tom beats in the background.

You'll remember how high you jumped when the bonfire was lit.

You'll remember exchanging bear claws with your dad and giving him a big hug.

All the memories that you form tonight and in the years to come with your dad in the Y-Guides program will be with you forever. And perhaps you'll be able to share these same experiences in the Y-Guides with your son or daughter when you become a big brave.

I want to tell you a true story.

There once was a man named Morning Cloud. Just like your dad, Morning Cloud had a son who he loved very much. Morning Cloud taught his son to love his family. He taught his son to be respectful of others and to respect our natural surroundings. He taught him to fish and to make a campfire. Together with his wife, Morning Cloud helped shape and guide their son into a man. But most importantly, together, they showed their son how to be a great father.

Morning Cloud's son is now grown and has two children of his own. It's now the son's time to pass down all those important lessons that he learned from his mother and father to his own children. The son is thankful every day for the lessons he received from his parents.

You ask yourself "Is Morning Cloud an Indian?"

No, but Morning Cloud was a dad just like the Big Braves sitting here tonight. Morning Cloud was a father in the YMCA Indian Guides program. The son was just like all of you Little Braves.

The son's Indian name in this story is Red Cloud. I am Red Cloud and the son in this story.

I then introduced my parents and walked over and gave them the biggest hug.

Now this is something I'll never forget.

Welcome to the Chief's Blog

How-How! I want to welcome all Y-Guides & Princesses to my new blog! During the upcoming year as Nation Chief, I will be updating this blog with articles on upcoming & recent events, tribal meetings, outings and more.

First, it's a great honor to be named Nation Chief this year. We are all so blessed to be in the largest father-child program in the country with nearly 11,000 members!

Let me tell you about myself.

I'm in my 7th year in the Y-Guides program. I first joined the then "Indian Guides" in the fall of 2001 with my son Aaron "Tough Bull". We were part of the "Ragin' Raptors" tribe, which has since disbanded. If you're in the Trailblazers program and looking for more members in the Cary area, drop me an email. Aaron and I want are looking for an active Trailblazer tribe to join to do more than just Rockmont each year. Multi-day hiking & camping, paintball, go-karts, community service, etc.

I'm also in my 2nd year with my daughter Ashlyn "Fuzzy Kitty," in the "The Dancing Turtles" tribe. We lost several members in our tribe over the summer, so we pulled in the remaining members of "The Arapahoe Angels". So instead of two small tribes, we now have an active 10-dad, 11-girl tribe.

I was fortunate to be in the Indian Guides with my father in Charlotte in the early 1970s. I can remember going fishing at 4:00 am at Camp Thicket. I remember going to Camp Thunderbird to Longhouse. I have so many memories of being with my dad in the program. I knew I had to share these same experiences with my children when I got older.

I look forward in serving you as Nation Chief. Please don't hesitate to come up at any event and introduce yourself. I'd love to meet you and hear your experiences in the program.

If you have any suggestions on future articles, want to share a great craft, story, outing or just have questions about the Y-Guides program, just let me know.