Jack Waiting Biography
Jack turned 8 on Wednesday November 16, 1960 (you had to be 8 to join in the dark ages); he attended his first Den meeting the next day; and his first Pack meeting the day after that and he has actively been involved in Scouting ever since; just having celebrated his 48th anniversary.
Until his arrival in Tennessee five years ago, Jack was a member of the West Suburban Council of LaGrange, IL, a Western suburb of Chicago. During council consolidations which happened in the 70’s he became a member of the new Des Planes Valley Council.
During his time in Cub Scout Pack 79 he earned all of his ranks including Lion, which does not exist anymore, and his Arrow of Light. In Troop 79 he advanced to Life Scout and remained active with the Troop until he took it over from the only Scoutmaster that he ever had. Jack was also a member of Post 79. He has held all adult leader positions, at least once, in Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Explorers with the exception of Den (Mother) Leader.
Jack worked for 4 summers at camp Mach-Kin-O-Siew in Elcho, WI in the Scoutcraft area. He has been honored to receive many of Scouting’s recognitions for service including the District Award of Merit, the Silver Hobby, the Silver Beaver, the Adult Religious Award, the Lamb Award, and the Order of the Arrow’s Vigil Honor in 1975.
He was involved on the Blackhawk-Portage District level on many activity staffs, Roundtable staff, Training staff, FOS / SME Chair, award nominating committees, and Pow Wow staffs. Jack has attended Region Seven Canoe Base and the Philmont Learning Center a course on Scouting for Lutherans.
Since his arrival in Cleveland he has had a major emphasis in the Cub area, where he can act my age! Along with several unit level positions, Jack has served as Ocoee District Membership Chair, Training Chair, Unit Comm., Assist Dist Comm., and he is currently serving as District Comm. Jack has served on numerous District and Council activity staffs and is involved with the Order of the Arrow as registrations Advisor.
Jack attended Wood Badge SR-655 as a member of “Da” Bear patrol and received his beads on Scouting’s 97th birthday in 2007. He was the Troop Guide for the Antelopes of SR-831 and is one of the Scribes for SR-948.
Jack is the Chairman of the Board of Christian Education at First Lutheran Church in Cleveland and he is also chairing the committee to place a “Call” for a Director of Christian Education for the congregation.
Rosemary, his wife of almost 24 years, believes that he loves her almost as much as he loves Scouting. It is not certain weather it is true; but he does want to be buried in his uniform. They are never going to get the shirt off his back.
Jack’s love for Scouting was instilled into him by his Scoutmaster Charlie Finch, who was like a second father to him and demonstrated the example of a fine Christian leader. In the words of Dan Folgelberg “My life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man, I am a living legacy to the leader of the band.”
He gave Charlie’s eulogy, the last line captured his Scouting life, and hopefully Jack’s; with God saying “Well done good and faithful servant, welcome home”