On March 28^th and29th, NNED Royal Rangers held the Fourth Annual District Wide Commander’s Conference and Banquet at the Curtis Lake Christian Church in Sanford, Maine. A combined total of 67 Commanders and their spouses from around the District gathered for this time of fellowship, sharing and learning. The theme of this year’s Conference was “Reaching the iPod Generation”; that is, making Rangers more interactive and attractive for the current generation of boys. Indeed, the Conference is truly an interactive experience unto itself, as leaders get to meet face-to-face and interact with the District Staff. District Commander Jerry Love explained DWCC this way: “It’s the one time each year that leaders from around our District get to spend time together, where the District Staff gets an opportunity to build relationships with the men in the trenches, and we have the opportunity to give honor where honor is due”.

District Wide Commanders Conference 

District Wide Commanders Conference REGISTRATIONS due

By Commander Jay M. Woodward Pony Express Editor

On Saturday, March 31, 2007, Northern New England District Royal Rangers held its annual District Wide Commander’s Conference and Banquet at the Curtis Lake Christian Church in Sanford, Maine.  A total of 80 men and women from 18 Outposts throughout Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont came for this exciting day of training, fellowship, food, and fun!  The theme of this year’s Conference was “Hope For the Future-In Your Hands.”  As District Commander Jerry Love explained, “It’s the one time of year we, as Royal Ranger leaders, get to fellowship together as men of God in a very special environment; learning, praying, communing, rejoicing, lamenting, sharing and focusing on what God has for us in the coming year.”   Added Deputy District Commander Kendall Sperrey, “I think DWCC is important for the opportunity it gives the commanders of this District to interact with what takes place in this ministry.  It’s not just an informational seminar; it’s an interactive conference.”

                The District Staff spent many hours preparing for this event, including setting up displays and tables, buying items for the District Auction, and getting materials ready for the event.  The Staff, however, displayed the hearts of true servants during the Conference, even agreeing at Commander Jerry’s request to remove all the bars, pins, event patches, and ribbons from their uniforms during the Conference as a way of showing their fellow Commanders that they are there to serve them, not to show how important they are.

                 Early on Saturday morning, after all the commanders had arrived and registered, the Conference began with worship and a devotion from Pastor Tim Haynes, District Missions Coordinator, that fit in very well with the theme of the Conference, that reminded Commanders of the importance of meeting the needs of boys.   Following this the NNED Security/Color Guard gave the Presentation of Colors, and then Commander Jerry gave his opening remarks, then introduced his District Staff members, who also gave their Staff reports.  Following the reports, and further remarks from the District Commander, Instructor Trainer Ken Bustard presented Commander Jerry a special gift: a life-size cutout of him in his infamous pirate outfit!

                After the opening service, commanders then proceeded to the different Breakaway Sessions. Throughout the day, Commanders attended classes on Pow Wow Planning and Preparation, as well as Boys Camps/ Junior Training Academy, and the FCF Business Meeting.  Also, four different LTA Training Modules were available during the day: Ranger Kids Activities, taught by Commander Ken; Classroom Management, taught by Pastor Tim; Presentation Skills, taught by Commander Kendall; and Successful Outposts, taught by Instructor Trainer Dana Lemieux.  These Instructors play a big role in the success of the LTA in Northern New England!  Many commanders took the classes, and got closer to earning their Leaders Medal of Achievement (LMA).  Commander Jerry commented, “I was especially pleased with the fact that the leaders chose to take modules as opposed to activities….they chose to learn rather than play, and that speaks volumes as to where we are headed in this District.”

                For the ladies, there were plenty of special activities for them too!   They got to attend a class on Professional Candle Making, taught by Maggie Bean, wife of FCF President Emeritus Sid “Wooly Bear” Bean.  In the afternoon, they had a special time of worship, devotion and sharing, led by Becky Hatch, wife of FCF President Tim Hatch, and later tea with Peggy Williams, wife of Pastor Bill Williams of Praise A/G in Tilton, NH.   These ladies play an important role in supporting their husbands, the men of this District, and the work that they do.   They are a tremendous blessing!

                Following all the classes, there was a closing session where there was an open forum for questions, Commander Jerry gave his closing remarks and a teaser for the upcoming Auction!   The evening banquet was a wonderful dinner put on by the Missions Team at Curtis Lake, who will be heading off on an upcoming missions trip to Honduras.  Pastor Jim McAtee and the Missions Team served as wonderful hosts, serving and meeting all the needs of the Commanders, at lunch as well as dinner.  They deserve a big Thank You!                     

                After dinner, men and women were led into the presence of God by the Grace Worship Team from Park Street Church in Boston, with Commander Jerry’s daughter Ginger singing alongside the band as well.  Following this excellent worship time, then came the District Auction, in which our District Commander played his famous auctioneering role, auctioning off everything from gift baskets to camping gear to military rations, and raising hundreds of dollars for NNED Royal Rangers in the process!                                     Then, Commander Jerry gave a short speech, a deeply touching tribute to the man who mentored him and guided him thorough his adolescence and even to this day: Longtime Scoutmaster Roland “Rolo” Robinson, who he still calls his father.   He was given a well-deserved Special Recognition Award for his many years of working with boys and men.   Also, Commanders and Pastors were presented with various awards for their service during the past year and given plaques to hang proudly on their walls!  Following the awards, District Men’s Ministries Director Ed Shearer gave the closing remarks, closed out in prayer, and DWCC 2007 drew to a close!

                This year’s District Wide Commander’s Conference was a great success.  Leaders not only took classes, listened to speeches, and ate wonderful meals, but truly interacted with the District Staff, as well as one another, to make it a truly worthwhile experience.  Looking on the Conference, Commander Kendall commented, “I thought  DWCC was GREAT!  I thought Sanford worked out very good as a site.  The facilities were superb and the hosts could not have been more accommodating.  I thought this was the best Conference yet!”  Commander Jerry, recognizing the hard work of the District Staff in making it work so well, said, “What a dynamic group of men I work with….it’s no wonder that the Northern New England District is ‘on the map’”!   And, as you can see by looking at the Commanders of NNED, our District’s future is indeed in very good hands!