Tomahawk Nov-Dec 2013

Tomahawk Potomac District Royal Rangers ď ś News and Information for Royal Ranger Leaders ď ś November - December 2013

Outpost Celebrates Triple GMA Ceremony

Royal Ranger Training Center Under Construction in Kenya

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2014 Royal Rangers Calendar Preview

Gold Medal Project Lights the Night

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Summertime Survival Page 8

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2013-2014 Outpost Charters

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t is that time of year for all Royal Ranger outposts to renew their annual charter. The chartering period for the current Ranger year (September 2013 through August 2014) is now open.

All chartering is completed on line through the National Royal Rangers office at www.royalrangers.ag.org.

Please note, that the only way the Look for this logo identifying district is able to capture up-to-date exclusive charter benefits. contact information on your outpost leaders is through the chartering process. Be sure to include all contact information that is requested, especially current mailing addresses and emails. Once you charter with the National Royal Rangers office, your outpost information is available to Potomac District, which then is used to ensure the district’s database is current.

You will need all your contact information for each leader in your outpost at the time you charter, and a credit card to pay national fees.

Once you charter, you will be eligible to receive discounts on Ranger gear through Gospel Publishing House.

Chartering is registering members of your outpost with the National Royal Rangers Ministries. Chartering provides:  Important information to the national ministry that helps monitor and shape the success and well-being of Royal Rangers.  Support for the ongoing development and improvement of the ministry.  A solid financial foundation for national and district ministry and preferred benefits for chartered outposts.  Advancement of the important biblical cause of Royal Rangers to evangelize, equip, and empower the next generation of Christ-like men and lifelong servant leaders.

Benefits The benefits of chartering are many. The greatest, of course, is that you benefit from the services provided by the national and district leadership teams as they endeavor to continually improve and grow Royal Rangers for local church success. The following list illustrates the many benefits of chartering available to you and your outpost.

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15% discount on Ranger gear when ordered via the Ranger Online Superstore.  15% discount on all national and regional training events.  15% discount on national and regional activities like Camporama, Rendezvous, National LEAD Conference, and more.  15% discount on district training events.

SEE CHARTER BENEFITS ON PAGE 6

POTOMAC DISTRICT ROYAL RANGERS www.potomacrangers.org

Royal Rangers is a principal ministry of the Assemblies of God focused on discipling boys for Jesus Christ. We provide Christ-like character formation and servant leadership development for boys and young men in a highly relational and fun environment. Our mission is to evangelize, equip and empower the next generation of Christ-like men and lifelong servant leaders.

The Potomac District administrative region of the General Council of the Assemblies of God takes in Washington, D.C., Maryland, most of Virginia and northern West Virginia. Over 100 churches throughout this region currently provide Royal Ranger ministry to more than 2,500 boys and young men. We use many tools to achieve that goal whether it be camping, merits or interactive skills, all designed to help develop a boy into a man while having fun and getting to know God. We want to develop both men and boys in mentoring relationships and leadership skills, and guide them to Jesus Christ. We reach boys, so they may reach another in their world.

tomahawk Potomac District Commander Rev. Bobby Basham Publications/Outreach Coordinator Newsletter Editor Gary Wagner The Tomahawk newsletter is published bimonthly as a means of communicating news and information to Royal Ranger leaders throughout the Potomac District. Sectional staffs and outposts are invited to submit articles and photographs that feature activities of Royal Ranger ministries on a local level, or to share ideas and successes. Email material to garywagner54@aol.com. Please submit photos as separate jpg image files.

The Tomahawk is distributed via email as an electronic publication. Email address corrections, or requests to be added to the distribution list, should be forwarded to Potomac District executive secretary Denise Raduano at potomacmm@msn.com.

Royal Rangers Emblem © 1962 by the national Royal Rangers Office, The General Council of the Assemblies of God; Springfield, Mo. 65802. The Royal Rangers Emblem may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronically, mechanically, photocopies, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission from the national Royal Rangers Office.

Potomac District Royal Rangers on Facebook www.facebook.com/PotomacRangers

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Supporting Churches, Businesses & Individuals Special thanks to our Supporting Churches, Sections, Businesses and Individuals. Your generosity enables further enhancements to this ministry. Anyone wishing to join our group of supporters may request an application from the Potomac District Royal Ranger office, email potomacmm@msn.com.

SILVER MEMBERS Rev. Bobby Basham

Cross Junction, Va.

GOLD MEMBERS Projects Unlimited - Gary Groves Walt Eger Service Center

Eldersburg, Md. Severn, Md.

SUPPORTING CHURCHES Outpost 2 Outpost 6 Outpost 9 Outpost 18 Outpost 27 Outpost 46 Outpost 47 Outpost 49 Outpost 60 Outpost 64 Outpost 81 Outpost 89 Outpost 100 Outpost 124 Outpost 186 Outpost 215 Outpost 240 Outpost 277

Trinity Assembly of God Pasadena Assembly of God Calvary Assembly of God Eastern Assembly of God Glad Tidings Church Bethel Assembly of God Trinity Assembly of God Centerpointe Church at Fair Oaks Chapel Springs Church First Assembly of God Trinity Assembly of God Bethel Assembly of God Hancock Assembly of God Julilee Christian Center Hazel River Assembly of God River of Life Assembly of God Living Word Community Church Ocean City Worship Center

Lanham, Md. Pasadena, Md. Frederick, Md. Baltimore, Md. Norfolk, Va. Savage,Md. Lutherville,Md. Fairfax, Va. Bristow, Va. Elkton, Md. Fairmont, W.Va. Martinsburg, W.Va. Hancock, Md. Fairfax, Va. Rixeyville, Va. Spotsylvania, Va. Mechanicsville, Md. Berlin, Md.

INDIVIDUAL DONORS Homer Kitchen Gary & Faye Groves

Gerrardstown, W.Va. Eldersburg, Md.

DIRECTOR’S MEMO

Serving as ‘His Plan’

By Rev. Bobby Basham District Commander

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t’s hard to believe fall is here on our doorstep and summer is—for the most part—over. Schools are all now in full session and we all gear up for a full work or school session until the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

But before we sign off the year, I want to thank each one who was able to be at our District Pow Wow in August. I am so proud of our staff and everyone who worked so hard to make it a tremendous event. We had men who worked in front of others and we had guys who worked way behind the scenes; all were so critical to the success of a Pow Wow. Come to think of it, it is a lot like both life and church. We have those who are in front of others in visible roles and we have those whom no one sees but without them, it would be very different. Think about a movie.

We have the actors and actresses that everyone sees and often admires, but no one sees the sound people, the special effects personnel or for that matter the producer. But the movie would be a disaster if it went off at all, unless these individuals were doing their jobs.

Guys let me remind us all, that no matter what our job, ministries and responsibilities may be, God has put you where you are for this season to do only what you can do!

You are not just a part of his plan, you are his plan! I pray each one will know, that you are right now where you need to be and I urge you serve with all you have. God may move you later or you may remain for some time, but do it well, bless the Lord and know that what you do matters to him and to others.

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Rangers Are Finalists in ‘Burn Notice’ Science Challenge

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team of Royal Rangers from Outpost 48 at Highway Assembly of God in Fredericksburg, Va. were finalists in the recent “Burn Notice” Science Challenge.

The national competition, inspired by the hit TV series, was conducted earlier this year as a means to encourage learning in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) among America’s high school students.

Developed in consultation with a prestigious panel of science teachers from around the country, high school students were asked to design a safe, yet exciting, spy challenge that the characters of “Burn Notice” might face. Following initial essay submissions, 25 students were challenged to develstudents and rising 11th graders – finalists were selected to create a op a makeshift communications opted for the security system. video demonstrating their prosystem, an unmanned aerial vehiThe concept for the boys’ proposed solutions to the challenge. cle or a security system. The Royal ject was shaped with the counsel Each entry was judged based on its Ranger trio – all home-schooled of their adult mentor David Lando, scientific merits, as well as a scientist who works for the quality and execution the U.S. Navy in missile of the demonstration, by defense. He pointed out to the panel of teachers and the team that any defen“Burn Notice” writers and sive system can’t have producers. everything riding on a Sam Bryant, Austin single element or capabilClark and Isaiah Padgett – ity. all Expedition Rangers in “Mr. Lando helped us Outpost 48 – entered the put together a security competition, and their system with a couple of design of a covert intrulevels so it would be more sion detection system was reliable,” recalled Isaiah. among the 25 entries seHence, the alarm syslected by judges as finaltem built by the Rangers ists. featured a three-level deAustin Clark (left, top photo) and Sam Bryant disassemble a Entries to the “Burn stereo system for parts for their security system, which was fensive process. The first Notice” competition could controlled by a small, single board computer (bottom photo). level was a door monitorfollow three options, as 4

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Multilayered intrusion detection system among top 25 projects selected in nationwide STEM competition ing system that consisted of motion detectors. The second level was a window monitoring system that consisted of a contact activated circuit. The third level was a fallback system using sound detection sensors.

All components in the system were wired into individual breadboards, into a master breadboard, and then into a single board computer through an integrated circuit microprocessor. Micro-cameras were attached to the breadboard to send data to an SD card when tripped to be reviewed later. In addition, the system could also send an email text message to the owner’s cell phone.

The Rangers built and tested

their intrusion detection system in Austin’s home. It took over a halfday for the team to install motion detectors, cameras and other components to monitor one window and two doors, and then walk through different “threat” scenarios, with other family members serving as “intruders” to test the system.

“It worked every time,” reported Austin. “At least one sensor worked in all the different tests we ran.”

“When we started on the project, we thought it would be fun,” recalls Sam, “but it ended up being a lot of work.” Nevertheless, the boys persevered and completed their essay, submitting it electroni-

cally just five minutes before the contest deadline in March.

The team’s report drew on the mathematical Addition Rule of Probability to quantify the effectiveness of their defensive system.

The equation is used to calculate probability for one task, multiple events and multiple outcomes. The Rangers were able to show that the probability of an intruder to successfully bypass their security system was only about 0.00026, or .026 percent.

The boys’ parents were supportive throughout the months’ long project, and in some respects just as enthusiastic. While the Rangers hadn’t been that familiar with the “Burn Notice” TV series prior to the science challenge, at least Austin’s dad and Isaiah’s dad were regular watchers.

“It was actually my dad who told us about the competition in the first place,” said Austin. “He saw it promoted on Facebook.”

And after all the work had been completed and the boys waited for word of who the finalists would be, it was Isaiah’s dad, Curtis, who excitedly woke Isaiah “in the middle of the night” to tell him that their team was selected.

As finalists, the Rangers received a prize package that included a hat, t-shirt, huge set poster, boogie board, Frisbee, magnets, large beach umbrella, two books, draw string bag, and a signed photo.

Sam Bryant, Isaiah Padgett and Austin Clark (l. to r.) display the souvenirs they won as finalists in the ‘Burn Notice’ nationwide science challenge.

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Friday-Sunday January 31 - February 2 Hancock Assembly of God, 431 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Hancock, MD

By Craig Powis

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oung men of the Potomac District, our 2014 Junior Winter Camp (JWC) is scheduled for Friday through Sunday, Jan. 31 to Feb. 2, 2014. Registration is now open!

Make sure you sign up early so you don’t miss your opportunity to receive leadership training. The maximum attendance for JWC is 20 trainees. So make sure your registration is in early. Your postmark on your application will reserve you a space in the first Potomac District JWC. You must be at least 13 years old and have already attended Junior Leadership Training Camp (JLTC).

The application for JWC can be

found on the Potomac District web site at www.potomacrangers.org.

Your registration must be in by Friday Jan. 3, 2014.

The cost of your camp registration is $100, which includes all food, a special hat, a patch and sweat shirt specific to JWC. This will be your “dress” uniform for camp. You do not need to bring your Royal Ranger khaki or utility uniforms.

Due to the time of year and the production of the necessary camp items we will not take any late registrations.

We will not be serving dinner on Friday night, so please make arrangements to eat dinner on the road to camp.

Please do not be late for registration. Registration is at 6 p.m. We

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15% discount on select district Royal Rangers activities and events.  Each chartered member of your outpost will receive a copy of the Rangers NOW newsletter, the National Royal Rangers Ministry's official print communication piece.

Your outpost will get one free copy of the Outpost Promotional Kit, which is full of resources like promotional videos, reproducible touch cards, clip art, cus6

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run JWC on a very tight schedule.

Please do not bring any electronic games. If you can leave your cell phone home as well, please do.

We will collect cell phones and Blackberrys, or any other texting device. We will hold them at registration, and you will receive them back after camp.

We will have arrangements made for emergency telephone calls out. If someone needs to get an emergency message in they can call the District Office at (410) 7816376.

JWC will conclude on Sunday, Feb. 2, at 11 a.m. Please make arrangements for your return transportation home to arrive on site before the conclusion of camp.

For any questions, please call Craig Powis at (410) 766-3612.

tomizable banners to advertise your ministry or decorate your meeting rooms, and more!  Access to download Outpost Navigator, a datatracking tool to record and track boys’ and leaders’ advancements  An official outpost number to wear on your uniform  Chartered outposts are included in the search results for the "Outpost Locator" search feature on the national web site.

As you can see, the benefits of chartering are huge! If you haven’t chartered your church’s Royal Ranger outpost, don’t delay.

POTOMAC DISTRICT ROYAL RANGERS & MEN’S MINISTRIES

2014

CALENDAR JANUARY 24-25 Regional Commander’s Conference FEBRUARY 7-8 District Staff Mtg., Fredericksburg, Va. MARCH 13- 15 National RR LEAD Conference 27-29 Extreme Makeover, Washington D.C. APRIL 4-6 FCF Spring Trace 7- 15 LFTL Banquets MAY 17 Projects Unlimited Golf Tournament 22-24 Extreme Makeover, Maple Grove A/G JUNE 20 – 29 Missions Trip Thailand JULY 14-18 National FCF Rendzvous AUGUST 10-13 Junior Leadership Training Camp 14-17 District Pow Wow SEPTEMBER 26-28 FCF Fall Adventure OCTOBER 17-18 Men’s Conference TOMAHAWK

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Don’t Close Your Eyes

By Glenn Sorrentino

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or as long as I can remember, I’ve been running from the authorities. When I was 5 or 6, one of the local gangs recruited me as a lookout, so I would watch and yell “5-0!” if I saw the cops. Even when I was little, I was running with the guys in my neighborhood when we pulled some prank, vandalized somebody’s car or stole something from a store. It was a way of life for me and the guys who ran with me.

Most of the time we’d get away, and nobody seemed to know what we did. It’s a source of pride to know that you can get away with just about anything you want, and nobody can touch you.

Even if there are witnesses, they just close their eyes. They know the cops can’t arrest us all, and they don’t want any trouble. It’s like the law doesn’t apply to us.

But once in a while, one of us gets caught. That happened to me recently. We had robbed a 7-11 . . . no big deal, but some big fat guy was coming in just as we were running out, and he tripped me and then sat on me. Everyone else got away, but I was still there, under the fat guy, when the police showed up. They smiled like they were glad to see me, and slapped the handcuffs on me like it was Christmas. I guess I made their day. The people standing around just closed their eyes . . . I was not their problem.

The cell at the police precinct was really not too bad, but it smelled rough, though. Then in the morning they took me to a courthouse. The surveillance cameras showed what we did, so it was no use trying to say it wasn’t me. It seems someone did know what we 8

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were doing; they just never caught us doing it. The judge told them to lock me up. And as I was led away, I saw the judge close his eyes.

The security people at the detention center did not seem happy to see me. It took forever for them to get my paperwork done, but once they did, I was put in a really small concrete room; and they banged the door shut and locked it. That’s when it hit me; this was for real this time. No laughing about how we got away with it, or how dumb the cops are. I laid down on the bed, which is a shelf built into the wall, and thought about my crimes.

I thought about all the stuff I’d stolen, the people I’d hurt, the property I’d damaged. I never really thought about it before. It was kind of scary, so I decided not to think about it. In a couple days, they let me out into the cell block with a lot of other teenagers. Some were even younger—there were two boys who were in for murder, and they were only ten and twelve. When they asked me what

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I was in for, I thought about lying, but I knew the security officers knew the truth . . . so I told them what I was accused of, but that I got away with a lot more.

I found out that if you keep your nose clean, they let you attend special events. One of those is Royal Rangers, where some guys come in and run games, sometimes they even bring in a birthday cake and give out candy! We don’t get any sweets in here, so anytime somebody brings cake or candy, I’m on it. The first meeting I attended, there were about 30 guys, and they were really loud! I was afraid we’d get room time, but the Ranger guys handled it pretty well, and calmed the guys down.

After we played a couple of games, they had us sit in a circle, and one of the Ranger guys talked to us. He was talking about Jesus—who He is and what He did, and why. He said Jesus never closes His eyes.

He sees us as we really are. It was like preaching, but not as bad.

I found out that Jesus is real, SEE FRESH START ON PAGE 9

Called to Mediate Grace—God’s Transforming Love

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n God’s grace we grow to love ourselves as He wants – all of ourselves, even the parts we wish were not there, the parts of us we wish God hadn’t made, the parts of us we lament.

“Zacchaeus, come down, I am staying with you today!”

The Church exists to mediate that free, transforming love we call grace.

The Church’s primary role is to share the Gospel of God’s grace – that unrestricted gracious love that, when it is accepted with joy, lifts up and changes lives. Such grace comes from beyond, as a gift not an achievement.

Gordon MacDonald wrote: “The world can do almost anything as well or better than the Church. You need not be a Christian to build houses, feed the hungry, or care for the sick. There is only one thing the world cannot do.

It cannot offer grace.”

Francis lived in a time when the Church was shaken by scandals and tensions - far worst than in our own time. However, he was clear that his calling meant remaining firmly within the family of the Church, staying open and available to God's gracious action himself, and working to make the Church more clearly, more effectively a sacred space where the grace of God's goodness can be experienced by a seeking world.

Posted by Frater Hibernicus on http://franciscanponderings.blogspot.com/2012/06/ church-place-of-grace.html on June 21, 2012.

FRESH START CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

that He cares about me, and that if I ask Him into my heart, He would give me a fresh start, a clean slate. I thought maybe I should do that, after I get my act straight. But then the Ranger guy said Jesus would accept me just the way I was, no problem. That surprised me, but the more I listened, the more it made sense. I wondered how you do that—ask Jesus into your heart—so I raised my hand and asked the Ranger guy. He said he was just coming to that.

So, when the Ranger guy told us to, I stood because I wanted to receive Jesus into my heart.

One of the other Ranger guys

helped me pray. It was like nothing I’ve ever done before. In the past I was proud of my crimes.

Now I realize that I hurt a lot of people, and I want to tell them I’m sorry and pay them back for what I stole. Now that God has forgiven me, I want the people I’ve hurt to forgive me, too.

And I realized that when the people who saw us committing crimes closed their eyes, they were actually helping us hurt others. So, if you see someone like me doing bad stuff, please don’t close your eyes. Keep them open, and help all you can. Because that’s what Jesus would do.

Author Glenn Sorrentino is on the staff of Royal Ranger Outpost 158 at Harvest Assembly of God in Chesapeake, Va. Sorrentino and other Rang-

er leaders from his outpost conduct modified Ranger outpost meetings at the Norfolk Juvenile Detention Center.

Youth in the detention center live in 8-by-8-foot cells while they wait to be arraigned. “We have found that not one boy there had a dad that lived at home,” Sorrentino reports.

“We consider this as an extension of our outpost,” emphasizes Sorrentino.

This is actually the second time he has taken Royal Ranger ministry to jail. Sorrentino initiated a similar project while residing in Columbia, S.C. There, over four years, about 1,200 youth accepted Christ as their Savior, he reports.

Contact Sorrentino with any questions at gpssas@juno.com.

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Potomac District Executive Staff Meeting Notes

District Commanders’ Conference Cancelled; Ranger of the Year Competition Postponed

By Gary Wagner

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he Potomac District Executive Staff, meeting in special session on Sept. 13, decided to cancel the district commanders’ conference scheduled for March 2014.

At the same time, the staff expressed continued support for a District-level Ranger of the Year competitive event. However, given that the Ranger of the Year event had been incorporated with the district commanders’ conference, the decision was to postpone the District’s Ranger of the Year competition for the 2012-2013 Ranger year, which ended in August this year.

A District Ranger of the Year evaluation for the current 20132014 Ranger year will be scheduled next fall to resume this competition.

The district’s Ranger of the Year event is actually the culmination of a year-long program that encourages outposts and sections to prepare their Rangers for the competition and to recognize their Rangers’ accomplishments at the outpost and sectional levels.

Why Ranger of the Year?

Why conduct a Ranger of the Year competition at all? The principal objective of this program is to emphasize and encourage excellence among our Rangers. This is not to discount other means to the same end. The merit-based advancement system for each Ranger age group—and the recognition boys receive as they progress— provides structure and opportunity for boys to achieve and excel.

Ranger of the Year provides another “tool” in a leader’s “toolbox” as he works with boys in his out10

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post throughout the year. Leaders can point to the competition as an opportunity for his Rangers to be recognized for their endeavors throughout the year at a level beyond the local outpost.

Boys are naturally competitive, and they usually respond to a challenge they feel is worthwhile. As the scripture says “iron sharpens iron,” and this event places boys in a competitive situation with likeminded Rangers to test their mettle in a positive mentoring environment.

To that end, a key focus of the district’s Ranger of the Year program is to help our Rangers develop a healthy confidence in themselves and their abilities. The format for the Ranger of the Year competition includes elements such as uniform inspection and an oral interview that will help them mature as leaders within their outposts and prepare them for important life situations as adults – job interviews, for example.

All leaders in the Potomac District should take steps to encourage their Rangers to prepare for and participate in the Ranger of the Year competition. In leading boys to prepare them for this event, outpost commanders will accomplish much toward helping their Rangers establish focused, productive goals as members of their outpost and as Christian young men.

New Charter Policy The National Royal Ranger Office has articulated a new policy that essentially welcomes a much broader segment of Christian denominations to charter Royal Ranger outposts in their churches.

As one example, any church affiliated with the Southern Baptist

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Convention will now be approved to charter a Royal Ranger outpost.

They, too, can charter directly with the National Royal Ranger office on line.

“At all levels, we should encourage other churches looking at Rangers, and be proactive in assisting them with chartering as much as possible,” said Rev. Bobby Basham, district director.

“Royal Rangers is still an Assemblies of God boys program,” he added. “We are not changing our doctrine or Bible study material to accommodate other denominations.”

Outreach Resources Staff Advisor Dick Aldridge has compiled a packet of information to provide to churches seeking details on Royal Ranger ministry.

The packet includes a welcome letter, Rangers 2.0, a GPH catalog, the transition plan for Boy Scouts, and calendar of events for Potomac District Royal Rangers. Leaders can contact Cmdr. Aldridge to have him forward the packet to inquiring churches.

All Ranger leaders are encouraged to wear their uniforms in public, as more families and churches are seeking an alternative to Boy Scouts as a result of their recent decision to allow openly gay scouts to participate. The National Royal Ranger Office has developed a transition plan for Boy Scouts desiring to join Rangers.

The transition plan is published at www.royalrangers.ag.org. The plan provides a method for Boy Scouts to match their merits with Royal Ranger merits; they will be required to complete all Bible Merits and Royal Ranger Leadership Merits in order to qualify for Royal Ranger advancements.

Chartering

FAQs

(Frequently Asked Questions)

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he following represents the most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) we receive on chartering. This information will be updated periodically as new questions arise. If you have questions that are not covered here please feel free to contact us at rangers@ag.org.

What if we start a new outpost* outside the chartering period and need to charter? Can I charter right away, or do I need to wait until the next chartering period?

You may charter right away. There is no need to wait until the next chartering period. As a new outpost, you will pay a prorated amount if you charter outside the chartering period. This amount is prorated from the date you charter until August 31. *A new outpost is defined as an outpost that has never chartered or one that has not chartered in the last five years. All chartering benefits expire on August 31.

We are an existing outpost and chartered outside the annual chartering period (August 15 – October 31). Do we pay a prorated amount?

No. Existing outposts that do not fit the definition of a new outpost above pay a full amount to charter, regardless of when they charter.

Existing outposts that charter outside the annual chartering period are not guaranteed copies of Rangers Now or the Outpost Promotional Kit. If you are an existing outpost, it’s always best to charter between August 15 and October 31

each year. All chartering benefits expire on August 31.

How will the role of chartering coordinator change with the implementation of online chartering?

The role of the chartering coordinator is more important now than ever before. It is a role that will no longer focus on the collection and processing of paperwork and checks. Instead, it morphs into a role of speaking with leaders from churches about Royal Rangers and our new chartering benefits.

A district’s chartering coordinator will work more closely with currently chartered outposts to remind them to re-charter so they continue to enjoy ALL of the great benefits of chartering. Another extremely important role is working with the district staff to develop strategies to charter more churches in the district! We never want to lose the personal touch district Royal Rangers leaders have with their churches. Online chartering allows one more person, the chartering coordinator to help with the personal touch! The chartering coordinator will still remain the chartering expert in the district!

 Name and contact information of all leaders including leadership position, address, phone number, and e-mail  Number of adult leaders  Number of Ranger Kids, Discovery Rangers, Adventure Rangers, and Expedition Rangers How do we pay for our charter fees?

Online chartering conveniently allows the use of a church’s or individual’s payment card. If check payment is preferred, a $15 processing fee will apply to mail in check payments.

Can our church use its Gospel Publishing House (GPH) account number to pay our outpost’s charter fees?

As the Assemblies of God publishing house, GPH is responsible to sell products. Since Royal Rangers charter is not a product but a service, the General Council accounting system will not charge these fees against a church’s GPH account number. This policy predates online chartering. The GPH account number required during the online chartering process is used primarily for the purpose of identifying the church.

What information will be needed to charter online?

Does my church have to charter every boy and leader?

To charter online, you will need to have the following information on hand:

Yes, every boy and leader should be chartered.

 Church name, address, phone number, and GPH account number  Name of your district TOMAHAWK

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POTOMAC DISTRICT ROYAL RANGERS STAFF EXECUTIVE STAFF Rev. Bobby Basham - District Commander 166 Serviceberry Ct. Stephens City, VA 22655 bbasham@potomacag.org (540) 869-8432

Gary Wagner - Publications/Outreach Coordinator 3905 Swanson Ct. Fredericksburg, VA 22408 garywagner54@aol.com (540) 898-7415

Nate Hawthorne - Junior Aide de Camp 3005 Lochary Rd. Bel Air, MD 21015 natehaw97@gmail.com (410) 257-9446

Homer Kitchen - Deputy District Commander 8614 Apple Harvest Dr. Gerrardstown, WV 25420 Kitchenhl@msn.com (304) 229-5793

Mike Cocolin - Missions Coordinator 8413 Elvaton Rd. Millersville, MD 21108 mjcocolin@msn.com (410) 315-8433

Tommy Horton - Junior Aide de Camp 5719 Amelia Springs Circle Haymarket, VA 20169 thomas.a.horton@gmail.com

Bob Blessing - Deputy District Commander 304 Lincoln Ave., St. Michaels, MD 21663 jrblessing@gmail.com (410) 443-7657

Gary Groves - RR Alumni President 2326 Liberty Rd. Eldersburg, MD 21784 blaznbear@verizon.net (410) 781-0236

Cliff Jewell - Staff Advisor 9150 James Madison Hwy. Warrenton, VA 20186 jewellsrthe1@aol.com (540) 216-3365

Mark Brannon - FCF Chapter President 2815 Angus Chase Lane, Huntingtown, MD 20639 capseccmdr@verizon.net (443) 486-5199

Linda Cocolin - Health Officer 8413 Elvaton Rd. Millersville, MD 21108 lkcocolin@msn.com (410) 315-8433

Sam Linn - Staff Advisor 1687 McCoys Ford Rd. Front Royal, VA 22630 shlinn@comcast.net (540) 635-7497

Harry Hawthorne - Pow Wow Coordinator 3005 Lochary Rd. Bel Air, MD 21015 harry@sitesupportservices.com (410) 420-2215

Seth Van de Ven - Special Aide de Camp 3202 Amberley Lane Fairfax, VA 22031 seth.vandeven@gmail.com (703) 560-5886

Tracy Groves - Staff Advisor 2340 Liberty Rd. Eldersburg, MD 21784 tgghunter@verizon.net (410) 781-4906

Phil Georg - Training Coordinator 111 East H St. Brunswick, MD 21716 philgeorg@hotmail.com (301) 834-9871

Tyler Mazer - GMA Coordinator 99 Shenandoah View Harpers Ferry, WV 25425 camarocougar@comcast.net (304) 876-1875

Dick Aldridge - Staff Advisor 46 Tadcaster Circle Waldorf, MD 20602 raaldridge@paville.org (301) 645-9091

Craig Powis - Junior Training Coordinator 100 Kingbrook Rd. Linthicum, MD 21090 cpowis@juno.com

Isaac Brannon - Special Aide de Camp 2815 Angus Chase Lane, Huntingtown, MD 20639 capseccmdr@verizon.net (443) 486-5199

Brandon Campbell - FCF Scribe 116 Ellis Martinsburg, WV 25404 redneckbaker@aol.com (304) 268-1807

Chris Basham - Media/Productions 166 Serviceberry Ct. Stephens City, VA 22655 cbasham@live.com (540) 869-8432

Dale Eger - Special Aide de Camp 8213 W B & A Rd. Severn, MD 21144 Dale.eger77@gmail.com (410) 980-7134

David Jimerson - District EMT 4812 Amberjack Ct. Virginia Beach, VA 23464 dcjimerson@hotmail.com (757) 822-8375

Mark Brannon - Capital Virginia Section 2815 Angus Chase Lane, Huntingtown, MD 20639 capseccmdr@verizon.net (443) 486-5199

Phil Vieth - Tidewater North Section 200 Treis Trail Yorktown, VA 23693 philvieth@verizon.net (757) 766-8351

Jerry Sinden - Northeast Section 1805 Milstream Dr. Frederick, MD 21702 Sindenfred@aol.com (301) 620-0034

Mark Brannon - Capital Maryland Section 2815 Angus Chase Lane, Huntingtown, MD 20639 capseccmdr@verizon.net (443) 486-5199

Roger Riendeau - Tidewater South Section 7719 Doris Dr. Norfolk, VA 23505 roger.riendeau@cox.net (757) 440-8432

Northwest Section Jerry Sinden (Acting)

Ken O’Maley - Central Section 11042 Settletown Place Rixeyville, VA 22737 kenomaley@aol.com (540) 937-6139

Ken Black - Eastern Section P. O. Box 58 Manchester, MD 21102 Talloak218@aol.com (410) 239-2645

Marvin Boswell - Southern Section P. O. Box 35 Rockville, VA 23146 mwboswell@gmail.com (804) 749-8397

Robert “Buzz” Gregory - Eastern Shore Section 9260 Hickory Mill Rd. Salisbury, MD 21801 Buzzgregory@comcast.net (410) 742-0415

SECTIONAL COMMANDERS

Greg Barr - North Central Section Box 384, Fort Ashby, WV 26719 ncscribe@yahoo.com (540) 580-9615 Western Section Greg Barr (Acting)

Potomac District Royal Rangers on Facebook 12

TOMAHAWK

November - December 2013

http://www.facebook.com/PotomacRangers