The Flintlocks, Boy Scouts of America, Inc., met for its annual meeting on April 15, 2021.

The group elected the new slate of officers for the coming year, updated its bylaws and mission statement, reviewed the accomplishments of the previous year, and discussed projects Patriots’ Path Council needs to have done to prepare for summer camp and the upcoming year.

The Flintlocks, a group of retired Scouters who devote themselves to helping the Patriot’s Path Council, meets every Thursday at Camp Winnebago year-round. The group is organized as a 501c3 nonprofit corporation. All members are registered with the BSA.

Group members provide a variety of skilled services to the council. They have built cabins, picnic tables, painted the dining hall, built the archery range, built all the structures at the waterfront; financed, built and equipped the STEM Lab at Allamuchy Scout Reservation; repaired damage to camp structures, etc.

In addition to building structures and doing repairs and maintenance, they also volunteer at many council activities throughout the year. More than half of the Flintlocks have been awarded the Silver Beaver or have received other council and national awards. They typically provide approximately 5,000 hours of volunteer skilled labor every year.

Last year was interrupted by COVID-19 shutdowns and the camps were not operational last summer, but now the Flintlocks are all vaccinated and ready to get back to work. The council plans to open the summer Scout camps again, but there has been a lot of storm damage over the winter, which needs to be repaired. The Flintlocks are ready to pitch in.

The officers and trustees elected for the coming year are as follows: John Koneski, president; George Van Dyke, vice president; Michael Hart, secretary; Russ Jenkins, treasurer; Ted Marquardt, chair of the trustees; Bob Pysher, trustee; Bob Germinder, trustee; and Frank Wallace, trustee.

The Flintlocks suggest getting vaccinations, hand-washing, face masks, social distancing and temperature checks. The group’s Facebook page is “Flintlocks.” Guests are always welcome. For more information contact Secretary Dr. Michael Hart at [email protected]

Pictured from left in the back row are President John Koneski, Secretary Dr. Michael Hart, Treasurer Russ Jenkins, and Vice President George Van Dyke. Pictured from left in the front row are trustees Bob Germinder and Bob Pysher, and Chair of Trustees Ted Marquardt, Missing from the photo is Trustee Frank Wallace.