Yet another Eagle Scout

As much as I love to be out taking pictures, it is always more special when you are shooting something you care about or believe in. Today was one of those times. I was blessed with an invitation to another Troop 3 Eagle Court of Honor. This time around it was for #144 of Troop 3 - Wesley Humphrey.

I've been fortunate to have been hanging around Troop 3 since my son joined the troop in 2003 (or so). He is #142. Troop 3 has been Chartered since 1919 and is one of the longest running troops in Central Illinois.

The first time I remember meeting Wesley was in the parking lot getting ready to go on a camping trip. Wesley was still a Webelos scout and was attending the campout as a visitor. Troop 3 holds one of these campouts every year so that Webelos and their parents can attend and see if they would like to join Troop 3 after crossover. Wesley and his dad - Chuck - both attended. I think we went cabin camping (it was December) at an old scout camp on the outskirts of Peoria.

In the spring after, the Humphrey's became members of Troop 3. Chuck later became a scoutmaster for a year or two.

Wesley progressed through the ranks, all the while keeping active in school, working as a paper boy (to pay his way to Japan) and doing other fun things boys like to do. Wesley, did well and today was rewarded. Wesley is also a staff member this year at the Youth Leadership Training at the scout camp.

Congrats to Wesley and the rest of the Humphrey household!


20090517 Wesley Humphrey - Eagle Scout - Images by Alan Look

Baseball, Rain and Wind and Boy Scouts

Baseball in the spring seem tenuous at best. It's been raining all spring. Between my day job and all the weather, it has been pretty hard to get out to any baseball or softball games. Well, I finally made one on Saturday morning. The rain came early dumping about a quarter of an inch on the Twin Cities. The games originally scheduled for 10 am, got started around 11. I knew they would be late so I didn't even arrive at the field until about 10 minutes till 11. The games were at Normal Community West (NCWHS), a double header between the Green Wave of Mattoon and the Wildcats of Normal West. It was a bit of a treat in seeing a pitcher from West that normally doesn't pitch a lot. Blake Brown, a Missouri recruit was on the mound and pitched a wonderful 5 and 2/3's innings. He walked away with the win with some great hitting and base running of his own and a lot of team support.



Now, the rain - I'm really glad we had that 1.4 inch. It wet the field down and with a 40 mile an hour breeze, it was needed. The dust would have been 1930's era had it not been for the rain. Holding the 300 2.8 on a stick attached to the IIN was a real challenge. The first baseline was getting the wind unrestricted, behind the plate was worse. I did find one vestige of relief between home and 3rd base using the dugout as a shield.



Be sure to check out Blake and his team mates


20090425 Mattoon Green Wave v Normal West Wildcats - Images by Alan Look



Boy Scouts - It's no secret that I'm a Boy Scout supporter. Fact is, I owe my photographic interest to Boy Scouting. On Sunday afternoon I had the honor of attending and photographing Bloomington's Second Presbyterian Church's chartered Troop 3 for an Eagle Scout presentation. Benjamin T. Freimann earn the rank of Eagle and was awarded the medal and right to be forever an Eagle Scout at a ceremony held at Calvary United Methodist Church in Normal. Congrats Ben and best wishes on everything you strive for in the future.


20090426 Ben Freimann Eagle Court of Honor - Images by Alan Look





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