NERD
NERD Awards
National Equipment Research Division (NERD)
The local chapter of the National Equipment Research Division (the N.E.R.D.s) located right here in Iron Horse District, is comprised of a select group of individuals who support the national effort to develop new and innovative articles to help Scouters continue to accomplish their valuable service. We are among these local representatives.
20010 NERD AWARD presented in 2011
Rich Schweiger
A few things about this year’s recipient:
He is the only guy we know that goes camping in south central LA… and likes it. On one such outing a homeless gentlemen started coming into his tent in the middle of the night and he, being the master communicator that he is, calmly suggested with his 9mm sidearm pointed directly in the man’s face, “excuse me sir, I believe you are in the wrong tent?”
He listens… A young scout could come to him with a problem and he will listen… and then his first response is a heart-felt: “Excuse me, do I look like someone who cares?
He has a keen sense of fairness towards all, especially to Scouts. He often reminds them: “Fair?” No, Fair is where you go for funnel cakes but you’re not going to find any of that around here…”
He is the only guy we know who classifies everybody into these two groups… Trouts, and Studs. As in “I used to think that guy was a trout… like the biggest trout in the trout pond but, ya know, turns out he’s a Stud.”
He is the only guy we know who cooks the most awesome pancake breakfast… but doesn’t like pancakes.
At one campout as he was putting the finishing touches on another fine meal he exclaimed: “Oh no, I can’t believe it!!!” What, we asked? What’s wrong? “I forgot the croutons for the salad… again.”
We have it on good authority…at one campout… He brought a kiddie pool to relax in at the end of a hot day… As it turns out, the pool is made for four kids but in this case it was literally… Rub a dub dub, He was one of 6 men in a tub… and he liked it.
He is fully trained, he went to Woodbadge last fall, and sang all the songs, with gusto and he is working on his ticket. At Woodbadge he said… “you know I didn’t think I would ever say this but, I think this is AWESOME… and don’t ever tell my wife I said that.”
He has been a volunteer Scout leader for over 15 years with 3 sons that are Eagle Scouts. In that same time he has been a volunteer coach for football and baseball at Oakmont High School. He has put in over 20 years of community service as a law enforcement officer with the California Highway Patrol.
He puts the MEAT in MEETING… He is the one that is always at the grill at every event. In fact those that know him have never seen him have a meeting of any kind that did not involve a barbeque grill. And most importantly, above all, He is the one cooking this great dinner we enjoyed tonight… so let’s get on with it.
It is with great honor and dignity that I present this year’s NERD award to:
Some would call him a stud, others… a trout… but we have come to see him has the one and only studly trout… Rich Schweiger come on up here…
We have a very special award for all your service, on and off the grill, and handling all the fires that come up with such a soft and sensitive touch. We present to you these golden BBQ oven mits that are connected by this very cool thing here that goes around your neck. Looks like those are going to work out quite well.
2009 NERD AWARD presented in 2010
Pamela Kreiser
Her 7 years as our bountiful Scouting for Food chair was GREATLY appreciated.
Allan Yamashiro.
A vest?
It has a spyglass and compass to represent the vision he has consistently charted for the district, a phone and watch for excellence in communication and timely meeting notifications, dollars and cents with hands depicting FOS efforts, and, lastly, a shopping list, board, and watch commemorating an extraordinarily long trip to the lumber yard for wood that held up Camporee setup.
This brag vest belongs to…Allan Yamashiro. Come on up and be outfitted in something that befits your vision and administrative expertise in leading Iron Horse District as its chairman.
Glen Forister.
This year's NERD Award recipient
This explains why..
(who has a picture to fill in this spot???)
Inspired again by Camporee, alert N.E.R.D.s noted a continued phenomenon. One veteran staffer was always found at mealtime with a plate that was never empty. Was it a case of dawdling at dinner? Of eyes-bigger-than-stomach food choices?
No, was the continual stopping to help with food preparation, or check the meticulous records of budget expenditures, always accurate lists of supplies, Order of the Arrow snack bar stock, or computer registration records that came between this tireless worker and every finishing the meal.
Please come forward, Linda Webb, to receive your new Camporee commemorative hat. The top features that never-empty plate of food, with a mobile below of the duties that distract you from your meal—a whisk for food preparation, change for the snack bar, note paper for registration, list maker for supplies, and removable calculator for budget work. Wear it in good health and as a thank you for all you do!
This year's NERD Award recipient
The N.E.R.D.s required a 2 year hiatus, to retool after the division of the Buena Vista District., but they were ever on the watch for new opportunities. Reborn as the Iron Horse District branch of the N.E.R.D., forward observers noted that at 2 successive Camporees, one staff member has consistently had problems with his lunch. In 2003, having forgotten to turn in the form to indicate his lunch preferences, no lunch was made for him-even though his wife and mother-in-law were helping with this process. But he learned from this experience! This year, he filled out his lunch order ticket. But still there were problems-the runner overlooked his lunch when he picked out the delivery for the rest of his station. And, because he was late in filing out his order ticket, his choice of apple was replaced with an onion. So, J.R. Voss, please come forward so that the N.E.R.D.s can present you with their inventions, to help you with lunch at future Camporees. You now have an oversized meal deal lunch ticket, to remind you to fill yours out on time, complete with a brown lunch bag and forget-me-nots, and an onion necklace to remind you what will happen if you are late.
Aaron Frye - 2002 presented in 2003
It took until 2002 for another N.E.R.D.-worthy event, as Aaron Frye was awarded his totally cool tool apron, designed to make him portable and ready for all emergencies and needs, whether or not he is near his vehicle full of labor saving gadgets. Attendance at this annual district dinner is the only sure way to keep up with the N.E.R.D.s and their latest product developments. Luckily, your webmaster should be doing something important so he had to postpone it to work on this important information for the recognition of our leaders.
Matt Conner - 2000 presented in 2001
In 2000, Matt Conner's elaborate preparation of foil meals was honored with a lighted chef's hat.
Jay Henderson -1999 presented in 2000
Jay Henderson's many years of creative Camporee award making was commemorated by the presentation of a large wooden #1.
Terry Webb - 1998 presented in 1999
In 1998 Terry Webb received the giant Totin' Chip to track his misadventures with knives and hatchets.
Bill Patterson - 1997 presented in 1998
The next year the N.E.R.D.s presented Bill Patterson with the ultimate bead, to commemorate his continuous quest to earn another bead by bringing a new leader to Roundtable.
Dave Fairchild - 1996 presented in 1997
After 3 consecutive years of planning and carrying out Camporees in the rain, Dave Fairchild received a hard hat complete with clouds and rain in 1996.
Since Bert Roche had accidentally stepped backward into a fire during Top Hat Training, this group developed a special utility belt to keep all manner of fire extinguishing materials, from water to a chemical extinguisher to baking soda, constantly at hand.
Charlene Wagner - 1994 presented in 1995
For Charlene Wagner who always plugged along in her many district duties and in her role as council receptionist, the N.E.R.D.s developed a pluggin' along necklace, with a plug for nearly all occasions-a sink stopper, cork, telephone jack, jumper cable, and a bayonet plug mounted in an extension cord -- a plug for nearly all occasions.
Kathy Neuburger - 1993 presented in 1994
The N.E.R.D.s' initial creation was the 1991 endless tape on cold weather clothing safety for Dr. Rolph "Cotton" Gulbrandson, along with the Styrofoam shirt and fiberglass pants to drive home the insulation concept. To prevent Bob Bell from having to carry around so many hats, representing each of the many roles he performed for the unit, district, council and region, the N.E.R.D.s developed one lighted hat with an adjustable scroll listing each position.
This year's NERD Award recipient
Rich Schweiger
A few things about this year’s recipient:
He is the only guy we know that goes camping in south central LA… and likes it. On one such outing a homeless gentlemen started coming into his tent in the middle of the night and he, being the master communicator that he is, calmly suggested with his 9mm sidearm pointed directly in the man’s face, “excuse me sir, I believe you are in the wrong tent?”
He listens… A young scout could come to him with a problem and he will listen… and then his first response is a heart-felt: “Excuse me, do I look like someone who cares?
He has a keen sense of fairness towards all, especially to Scouts. He often reminds them: “Fair?” No, Fair is where you go for funnel cakes but you’re not going to find any of that around here…”
He is the only guy we know who classifies everybody into these two groups… Trouts, and Studs. As in “I used to think that guy was a trout… like the biggest trout in the trout pond but, ya know, turns out he’s a Stud.”
He is the only guy we know who cooks the most awesome pancake breakfast… but doesn’t like pancakes.
At one campout as he was putting the finishing touches on another fine meal he exclaimed: “Oh no, I can’t believe it!!!” What, we asked? What’s wrong? “I forgot the croutons for the salad… again.”
We have it on good authority…at one campout… He brought a kiddie pool to relax in at the end of a hot day… As it turns out, the pool is made for four kids but in this case it was literally… Rub a dub dub, He was one of 6 men in a tub… and he liked it.
He is fully trained, he went to Woodbadge last fall, and sang all the songs, with gusto and he is working on his ticket. At Woodbadge he said… “you know I didn’t think I would ever say this but, I think this is AWESOME… and don’t ever tell my wife I said that.”
He has been a volunteer Scout leader for over 15 years with 3 sons that are Eagle Scouts. In that same time he has been a volunteer coach for football and baseball at Oakmont High School. He has put in over 20 years of community service as a law enforcement officer with the California Highway Patrol.
He puts the MEAT in MEETING… He is the one that is always at the grill at every event. In fact those that know him have never seen him have a meeting of any kind that did not involve a barbeque grill. And most importantly, above all, He is the one cooking this great dinner we enjoyed tonight… so let’s get on with it.
It is with great honor and dignity that I present this year’s NERD award to:
Some would call him a stud, others… a trout… but we have come to see him has the one and only studly trout… Rich Schweiger come on up here…
We have a very special award for all your service, on and off the grill, and handling all the fires that come up with such a soft and sensitive touch. We present to you these golden BBQ oven mits that are connected by this very cool thing here that goes around your neck. Looks like those are going to work out quite well.
Pamela Kreiser
Her 7 years as our bountiful Scouting for Food chair was GREATLY appreciated.