2014 SILVER BEAVER CLASS
The Palmetto Council is excited to recognize the volunteer efforts of six individuals by presenting them the Silver Beaver Awards. The Silver Beaver is the highest award a local council can bestow upon a volunteer. Please join us in congratulating our 2014 Silver Beaver Class!
JIMMY P. SUMMERS
Jimmy was born in Sumter, SC, the youngest of five siblings. As a young boy, he became active in Scouting and earned his Eagle Scout Award at the age of 14. After graduating from Clemson University, he began working for Milliken in Pendleton, SC. He married his wife Laura in 1988, and became active in a Boy Scout Troop in Clemson as their Scoutmaster. During this time, Jimmy and Laura had a son, Philipp, who accompanied the troop on many camp-outs. In 1992 Jimmy and his family moved to Kernersville, NC, for a career move. During his 10 years in North Carolina Jimmy and Laura became the parents of Rachael, Jack, and Alex. He remained active in Scouting, as an assistant leader to the Boy Scout Troop and Cub Scout Pack at Main Street United Methodist. In 2002, the family moved to Rock Hill, SC. Jimmy assisted with Troop 33 before helping to re-activate Troop 109 at Woodland United Methodist Church in 2003. He serves as Scoutmaster there, and is currently also the Cubmaster of Pack 109. During his time at Troop 109, his oldest son, Philipp, has earned Eagle Scout, and his two younger sons, Jack and Alex, have earned their Arrow of Light and are beginning to plan their Eagle Scout projects. Jimmy is also very active in the Order of the Arrow as the Vice Chief of Program Advisor and on the Camp Bob Hardin Program Committee as the Promotions Chairman. Jimmy is actively involved in the congregation of Woodland UMC as a Sunday School teacher, Disciple teacher, Youth counselor, and organizer of the annual Prison Ministries meal.
BRITT HELMS SR.
Britt has been part of the Scouting program for 44 years. He began his scouting career in 1971 as a Cub Scout and went on to earn his Arrow of Light Award. In 1974 he crossed over from the Cub Scouts to Boy Scout Troop 108 in Fort Mill. He was a very active Scout and honed his Leaderships Skills by attending Brownsea Double-Two in 1976. (Known today as NYLT). He earned his Order of the Arrow Ordeal in 1978 and his Brotherhood in 1979, both while serving on camp staff at Camp Palmetto. 1979 was also a key moment in his Scouting career as he was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout and became a member of NESA. He joined the ranks of adult leadership as an Assistant Scoutmaster in 1982. He filled the role of Explorer Post Advisor of Post 212 in Fort Mill from 1987 until 1989. During this time he attended National Camping School, served as Assistant Camp Director and Camp Director at Camp Bob Hardin. Some of Britt’s awards include Explorer Post Advisor of the Year-1988 and Order of the Arrow Vigil from Skyuka Lodge 270-1990, the Daniel Carter Beard Award-2011 and District Award of Merit-2012. In 1992 he began a five year service as an Assistant Explorer Post Advisor for Post 1082 at Unity Presbyterian Church in Fort Mill. He also served on the Troop 108 Committee from 1994 until 2004. In 2004 his son wanted to join Cub Scouts. He quickly signed up as his son’s Tiger Cub Leader, moved onto the Den Leader and eventually Assistant Cubmaster and Cubmaster. Britt participated in Wood Badge where he was quickly recognized as the most intelligent Buffalo in the Group. He later went on the serve as Wood Badge Staff in 2007 and 2010. He served as Merit Badge College Director for the York District in 2012 and 2013. Britt trained youth in leadership skills as NYLT Assistant Course Director in 2013 and NYLT Course Director in 2014. It is with great pleasure that we present the Silver Beaver Award to Mr. Britt Helms Sr.
ELTON CHAPMAN
Elton Chapman joined Cub Scouts in 2004 when his son became a Wolf Scout. After falling in love with the program, Elton became more involved starting as the Cubmaster of Pack 26. He went on to join the Training Staff for the Pinckney District and then became the Training Chair in 2008. Elton was rewarded for this service when he was presented with the Daniel Carter Beard Masonic Scouters Award in 2008 and the Cubmaster of the Year in 2009. Elton continued to stay involved with the Cub Scout program as chair of the Daniel Morgan District Pinewood Derby race from 2010-2014 and Fun With Son Chairman 2011-2014. Elton completed his Order of the Arrow Ordeal in 2012 and became a brotherhood member in 2013. Elton currently serves as the Scoutmaster of Troop 26. Elton’s passion for the Scouting program is contagious. He loves to help in any way he can. This past year, he initiated a council-wide service project to help beautify the Council Service Center. Elton has been quoted as saying “My 1 hour per week has turned into one of the loves of my life. I am looking forward to the next 10 years in scouting and seeing what BSA has in store for me.”
EFRAIM FLORES
Efraim Flores has quietly served our council at Camp Bob Hardin since 1992. As a staff member, Efraim has lead our Upward Bound program for sixteen years and four years as Program Director. Efrain is not a staff member who is looking for attention, but rather someone who would like to use his outdoors skills to teach our new Scouts the basics. In Efraim’s off time at camp, he volunteers in the dinning hall. Efraim is the epitome of a servant leader. Over his tenure, he has impacted more than 2,000 Scouts by putting them on the track for Eagle! It is with great honor that we award the Silver Beaver to a man who has impacted thousands of young men in our council.
MONTE FOIL
Monte has been volunteering in the Scouting movement for the past 16 years. He has served in several capacities, most notably as Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 3 and as a member of the Council Training Staff. As an ASM, Monte’s passion was helping the boys learn about, run for and perform in their troop leadership roles. Monte is an adamant supporter of running the Troop as a boy led troop as taught in Scoutmaster Specific and Wood Badge training. He was extremely experienced in teaching the skills necessary for the boys to lead the Troop as well as for the adult leaders to let the boys lead. Monte has been active at the council level, serving for approximately 10 years on the staff or as the course leader of Scoutmaster indoor training, and as Scoutmaster or Senior Patrol Leader for Scoutmaster Outdoor training. His impact spread across the youth of our council is and will be felt for years. In addition he has served on multiple Wood Badge staffs. Along with volunteering in the Scouting movement, Monte has volunteered with Oakbrook Preparatory School and his daughter’s Girl Scout unit.
Dr. Benjamin snoddy
Pastor Benjamin Snoddy is a positive role model guided by his faith with setting standards of “Raising Boys to God’s Standards.” Pastor Snoddy has served in the ministry for 49 years and for his commitment to excellence he received the Order of the Palmetto, the highest civilian honor in the State of South Carolina, and the Urban League’s Humanitarian Award for outstanding community service. Just recently, in 2014 he was awarded an honorary Doctorate Degree from Benedict College. Dr. Snoddy, has served our council as an Executive Officer to the units at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church and on the Palmetto Council Executive Board. During his time on the Executive Board, he made it a point to ensure that Scouting was made assessable to all boys. Today he still finds time, as an extended advisor, to contribute his input. He is committed to seeing that the leadership maintain their devotion to the program. Each year he meets often with the leaders of Pack and Troop 106 to review their yearly goals and provide guidance for them to be trained and involved with the council. It was with great pride that Dr. Snoddy watched two young men from Troop 106 become the first Eagle Scouts of the Troop.