Wagion Lodge #6: Where Our Hot Air Balloons Actually Go Airborne!
Hey Wagion!
You may have heard the rumors, and I’m here to tell you that they’re true. Wagion is planning to have a tethered hot air balloon and offer rides during our 2012 August Fellowship Weekend!!! This will be made possible by a Scouter and professional in hot air ballooning named Dr. Van Anderson.
(Please refer to “BSA Hot-Air Ballooning Tether Guidelines; revised 2012” for more information regarding the BSA’s policy on this subject.)
However, we first want to go over the disclaimers:
- This will be weather permitting, and will be cancelled if inclement weather occurs or is predicted.
- In order to be eligible to ride in the hot air balloon you MUST have your signed waiver at the time that you register for the weekend. There are separate waivers for youth (under the age of 18) and adults (18 years of age or older) that can be found online below or in the August T-Bird Times. Be mindful that if you are under the age of 18 you MUST have your parent or guardian’s signature on your waiver in order for it to be valid. Please discuss the waiver thoroughly with your parent or guardian. If you do not have a signed waiver at the time that you register for the weekend you will NOT be permitted to ride in the hot air
balloon. THERE CAN BE ABSOLUTELY NO EXCEPTIONS. - Notice that the previous statement reads, “in order to be eligible…” Many conditions including wind and temperature affect how long the hot air balloon will be able to offer rides. We expect that the amount of interest in riding in the balloon will surpass the amount of time that we will be able to offer rides. That means that only a certain number of people will be able to ride in the time that hot air balloon can be inflated, and unfortunately some people may not be able to physically ride in the balloon. Please understand the bringing your signed waiver in no way guarantees that you will be able to
ride in the balloon. After turning in your waiver at the August Weekend, your name will be entered into a raffle that will determine who will be able to ride in the hot air balloon. In order to be entered in the raffle, you MUST (1) Be an active member of Wagion Lodge 6 or invited to the August Fellowship Weekend, (2) Preregister for the weekend NO LATER THAN 4:00 PM EST on Monday, August 13, 2012, or be a current Silver Arrowman, (3) Be registered for the August Fellowship, (4) Be present to register at 6:00 PM on Friday, August 17, 2012, pay the weekend fee (if not a Silver Arrowman or have already done so), and turn in your signed waiver. You must also plan to be present for the entire duration of the fellowship weekend. The results of the raffle will be broken down in order that names are pulled. Names that are pulled earlier indicate that that person is more likely to get to ride in the hot air balloon than someone whose name is pulled later. It should be noted that you may lose your place in the raffle as discipline due to your actions over the weekend.
We are very excited to have this opportunity available at our August Fellowship Weekend! More information regarding the times and locations pertinent to the raffle and the flying of the hot air balloon will be published in the near future.
Other chances to participate in the flying of the hot air balloon will be presenting themselves. These may include the need for a crew of several able-bodied people to assist Dr. Anderson in the inflating and deflating of the hot air balloon, three full-sized vehicles with hitches to be used to tether the hot air balloon to, people to volunteer to clear, run, and clean up the launch site, and more.
Questions or concerns regarding the hot air balloon at the August Weekend should be forwarded to Lodge Chief Robbie Lavelle, Lodge Adviser Dan Wright, or Lodge Staff Adviser Kyle Bryan. Please note that all rules/regulations/guidelines set forth by the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will be closely followed throughout the preparation and carrying out of the event. No lodge members will be forced or obligated to participate in the flying of the balloon at the weekend.
This is one of many exciting features coming to this year’s “once-in-a-lifetime” fellowship weekend that you won’t want to miss! Please share your ideas for how you want to make this August Fellowship Weekend a “once-in-a-lifetime” one! We look forward to hearing what you’d like to see.
Mark your calendars and don’t forget to register for the weekend before 4:00 PM EST on Monday, August 13, 2012. We look forward to seeing you there!
—Yours in Service,
Robbie Lavelle,
2012 Lodge Chief
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