Hello Brothers! Word has just arrived from the BSA National Meeting that Atta Kulla Kulla Lodge is now home to two more Distinguished Service Award Recipients!
Greg Bajan and Russell Smart have been selected as DSA recipients and are the 9th and 10th recipients in the Lodge’s history following John Richard Vaughn, Mac McLean, David Surrett, Russell Cann, Dr. Jon Hobbs, Michael Thompson, Michael Kirby, and Ryan Bajan.
Russell Smart is a dedicated cheerful servant whose work has gone beyond the Lodge level. He has a distinguished record of great servant leadership both locally and nationally. Most notably, he has served as the BSA National Program Chairman for the 2013 Jamboree and is lined up to serve in the same capacity for the 2017 National Jamboree. Russell Smart is also the first National Chairman for the STEM program of the Boy Scouts of America and is a dedicated advocate of the world Scouting movement participating in many World Jamborees. Russell Smart has served as Council President and is a Silver Buffalo and Vigil Honor recipient from Atta Kulla Kulla Lodge.
Greg Bajan is a Vigil Honor recipient and dedicated servant leader from Atta Kulla Kulla Lodge. He has given outstanding cheerful service beyond the Lodge nationally to High Adventure, National Recognitions, and American Indian Activities. Greg has served as the Southern Region youth coordinator for ArrowCorps 5 and is responsible for increasing promotion for the OA High Adventure programs. He has been responsible for the promotion of all of the national awards such as the Vigil Honor, E. Urner Goodman Camping Award, Founder’s Award, and many more. Finally, Greg has given distinguished service nationally to the OA American Indian Activities program. Greg has served on the AIA staff at the past few NOAC’s, has been a dedicated trainer at Carolinas Indian Seminar, Indian Summer, and many other events, and this year, he will serve as the Head Judge for Chicken Dance at NOAC.
The Distinguished Service Award (DSA) was created in 1940 to honor those who rendered service to the Order beyond the Lodge level. The award is presented to Arrowmen, Youth and Adult, who have rendered distinguished and outstanding service to the Order on a sectional, regional, or national basis. The award is presented at National Order of the Arrow Conferences. Since the time the first awards were presented, less than 1000 Distinguished Service Awards have been awarded. Greg Bajan and Russell Smart are the only DSA recipients from SR-5 this year. They will be recognized publically this summer at the 2015 NOAC at Michigan State University as the Order of the Arrow celebrates its centennial anniversary. Also noteworthy, former Lodge Chief and Coosa Lodge Adviser, Mr. Greg Moore, has been recognized as a recipient as well! Once again, congratulations to Greg Bajan and Russell Smart on this high honor! The Lodge is very proud!!
In the Wimachtendienk,
Matthew Watson
SR-5 Vice Chief
