34 years adult leader











YOUTH

I don't believe that scouting would be the same today if it were not for my outstanding Scoutmaster, Mr. Don Emberson.  He was Scoutmaster of Troop 997 in Hollywood Riviera, California.  I joined the troop at the beginning of my eighth grade and I am proud to say that 28 months later, I passed my Eagle Board of Review.

My real highlight came in 1963 when I became an exchange student to Dunedin, New Zealand.  My New Zealand brothers, Max and Mike Cooper, were both Queen Scouts so I got to enjoy scouting in New Zealand with them.  That year, the Queen of England visited New Zealand.  Scouts were asked to be the honor guard at a park in Dunedin.  As one of the honor guard and in my Eagle Scout uniform, I was introduced to the Queen.  Quite an honor at the time.

The black world crest above represents my scouting in New Zealand.  New Zealand Scouts now use the purple and white world crest but before the change, they used the black and white world crest.
 

ADULT

I got back into scouting as a Webelos leader for my son and wondered why I had been out for all those in between years.  I have held many positions but the most significant are as Scoutmaster, Roundtable Commissioner, Advisor and Venturing Commissioner.  I was the Scoutmaster of Troop 777 in Old Baldy Council for parts of three decades; the end of 1989, the 1990's and the beginning of 2000.  I was a Boy Scout Roundtable Commissioner for five years in the 1990's.  I began as an Exploring Advisor at the beginning of 1992 and continued as a Venturing Advisor until the end of 2009.  I was a Venturing Commissioner for many years from 2002 through 2010 and then again in 2013 through 2015.  I now do my best to promote Venturing and international scouting events.  I was the webmaster for the National Venturing Youth Cabinet, Kodiak, Western Region Venturing and the Venturing Magazine.  Presently, I am webmaster for the Corps of Discovery and write my own web site SageVenture.com which includes the Venturing Notebook and BSA Badge History.  I have also started a blog where I talk about positive things and trips I have taken, SageThinking.org

My favorite activities were backpacking, cycling and whitewater rafting.  I have over 1,200 backpacking miles which include Mt. Whitney, the Grand Canyon (rim to rim to rim), and the Austrian Alps.  I have over 20,000 miles cycling plus a great cycling trip in France with my son.  I was the course director for 6 Kodiak whitewater treks and have rafted the Grand Canyon.  All the rafting activities were with my friend, Joe Garrett.  Through Kodiak and rafting, Joe and I brought many great years to our young adults.

As an Advisor, I took my Post/Crew to the 1995 New Zealand Venture, 1997 Canadian Jamboree, 2000 Australian Venture, Begegnung 2002 in Austria and have served as a leader for a number of other international activities out of Western Region.  I was a Western Region Associate Advisor at the 2007 World Jamboree and a leader for the 2012 Ukraine International Scout Jubilee.  My most recent international activities were as an IST at the 2016-17 JamCam in Ecuador, as an IST at the 2017 Asia Pacific Regional Scout Jamboree in Mongolia and and IST at the 2018 Peru Moot.  I attended the 2020 JamCam in Brazil and was honored as life member of the Order of Condor.
 

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Date

Scouting Recognition

9/59

Joined Boy Scouts

4/61

Order of the Arrow - Ordeal

6/61

Cedar Badge - JLTC

1/62

Eagle Scout

2/62

God and Country Award

1963

Venture Scout in New Zealand (AFS Exchange Student)

9/87

Joined as a Webelos Leader

9/89

Webelos Den Leader Award

5/90

Wood Badge Beads  W4-43-89

9/90

Order of the Arrow - Brotherhood

9/90

Boy Scouts Leader's Training Award

3/91

Cub Scouter's Award as Pack Unit Commissioner

4/91

Commissioner's Arrowhead

9/91

Den Leader Coach Award

9/91

Scoutmaster's Award of Merit

10/92

Scoutmaster's Key

1/94

District Award of Merit

12/94

Exploring Advisor's Key

1/95

Silver Beaver Award

8/95

Boy Scout Roundtable Staff Training Award

10/95

Trail Boss Service Award

3/96

James E. West Fellow

3/96

Cubmaster Award

2/98

William H. Spurgeon III (Exploring leader) Award

8/98

Boy Scout Roundtable Commissioner's Key

9/98

Distinguished Commissioner Service Award

6/00

Venturing Advisor's Award of Merit

8/00

Venturing Leader's Training Award

8/01

Wood Badge Staff Beads  W4-43-01

3/02

Venturing Advisor's Key

8/02

Powder Horn

4/03

International Scouter's Award

12/03

Arrowhead Honor - Venturing Council Commissioner

2/04

Venturing Leadership Award

5/04

Order of the Arrow - Vigil

11/04

Sea Badge  SR-XXIV

8/05

Hornaday Gold Badge

9/06

Baden-Powell Fellow

8/07

Community Organization Award - American Legion

3/09

Regional Venturing Leadership Award

7/11

PTC Masters Track Award

5/12

Doctorate of Commissioner Science

9/13

Gilwell Fellow

2/14

Hornaday Gold Medal

6/15

Corps of Discovery Founder's Award

9/15

Messengers of Peace

7/17

Silver Falcon Award (Mongolia)

11/18

Life Membership in Friends of Scouting Europe

12/19

Membership in the Order of the Condor




Date

Other Awards

8/05

The President's Call to Service Award (lifetime recognition)

9/10

The President's Challenge Award (Presidential Champion - Platinum)




Date

Fellowship

Location

9/06

Baden-Powell Event

San Francisco

4/07

Baden-Powell Event

South Africa

8/09

Baden-Powell Event

Sweden

4/12

Baden-Powell Event

Spain

9/13

Gilwell Event

UK

11/13

Baden-Powell Event

Japan

9/15

Gilwell Event

UK

9/16

Baden-Powell Honours Programme Field Visit

Iceland

3/18

Baden-Powell Event

Mexico City

9/18

Gilwell Event

UK

9/19

Gilwell Event

UK




Reference Table

black

Council

green

Western Region

red

National

bold blue

International


Year

Significant Service Activities

1962

Summer Camp Staff - Emerald Bay, Catalina Island

1989
1991

Den Chief Course Director

1989

Scout-Webelos Weekend Course Director

1989

Reestablished Troop 777

1990
1991

Buckskin Scoutmaster (Week long JLTC)

1990

H.A.T. Cycling Course Director

1991

Council J.L.T. Course Director (Weekend JLT)

1991

Reestablished Post 42 (now Crew 7)

1992

Scout Leader for U.S. Contingent attending
8th Pan-American / Columbus Jamboree in Brazil

1994

Scoutmaster Fundamentals Course Director

1994

Buckskin Assistant Course Director - Scout Skills (Week long JLTC)

1995

Exploring Advisor for U.S. Contingent attending
New Zealand National Venture

1996

Scout-O-Rama Director

1997

Exploring Advisor for U.S. Contingent attending
Canadian National Jamboree

1998

Exploring Advisor for tall ship cruse to Catalina on the Argus

2000

Venturing Advisor for U.S. Contingent attending
Australian National Venture

2001

Boy Scout Wood Badge Staff (ASPL - Scout Skills)

2002

Venturing Advisor for U.S. Contingent attending
International Scout Hiking Expedition in Austria

2003

Venturing Leader for Contingent visiting Hawaii

2004

Navajo Lodge Contingent Adviser for NOAC

2005

Powder Horn Crew Guide & Consultant - San Diego Imperial Council

2005

Old Baldy Council's First Assistant Scoutmaster
for the National Jamboree

2005

Boy Scout Wood Badge Staff (Venturing Advisor)

2006

Kodiak Course Director - Whitewater Rafting, Salmon River, ID
(participants from throughout Western Region)

2007

Kodiak & Kodiak X Course Director - Whitewater Rafting, Klamath River, CA
(participants from throughout Western Region)

2007

A Western Region First Associate Advisor for the
World Jamboree in Great Britain

2007

Kodiak Trainer for Western Region Area IV Training Conference in CA

2008

Kodiak Trainer for Western Region Course Director's Conference in UT

2008

Kodiak Trainer for Western Region Course Director's Conference in WA

2008

Powder Horn Crew Guide - Western Region

2008

Kodiak X Course Director - Whitewater Guide Training, Deschutes River, OR
(participants from throughout Western Region)

2008

Kodiak Course Director - Whitewater Rafting, Flathead River, MT
(participants from throughout Western Region)

2008

Lead Kodiak Trainer for Western Region Area IV Training Conference in AZ

2008

Venturing Leader for Contingent (out of Western Region) visiting
New Zealand and Fiji

2009

Kodiak & Kodiak X Course Director - Whitewater Rafting, Salmon River, ID
(participants from throughout Western Region)

2009

PTC Faculty - "How to Develop Crews That Thrive"

2009

Event Director - (Council) Venturing Rendezvous

2010

Kodiak & Kodiak X Course Director - Whitewater Rafting, Salmon River, ID
(participants from throughout Western Region)

2010

National Jamboree Venturing Staff

2012

Contingent Leader for the
Ukraine International Scout Jubilee

2013

National Jamboree Medical Staff

2016

JamCam Ecuador IST

2017

Asia Pacific Regional Jamboree Mongolia IST

2018

3rd Interamerican Scout Moot in Peru IST

2020

JamCam Brazil IST




Years

Scout Council

1959 - 1963

Los Angeles Area Council (Eagle Scout & God and Country)

1987 - 2006

Old Baldy Council  (the best years! & Vigil)

2006 - 2011

San Gabriel Valley Council

2011 - 2015

California Inland Empire Council (Hornaday Gold Medal)

2015 - 2021

Greater Los Angeles Area Council




Years

Scouting Leadership Service

1987 - 1989

Webelos Leader (2 years)
Old Baldy Council

1988 - 1991

Webelos Den Leader Coach (3 years)
Old Baldy Council

1989 - 2000

Scoutmaster (10 years)
Old Baldy Council

1991 - 2001

Trail Boss (coordinated over 2700 hours of trail work)
Old Baldy Council

1992 - 2009

Post/Crew Advisor (18 years)
Old Baldy & San Gabriel Valley Councils

1993 - 1998

Boy Scout Roundtable Commissioner (5 years)
Old Baldy Council

1994 - 1996

Cubmaster (2+ years)
Old Baldy Council

2002 - 2010

Venturing Council Commissioner (8 years)
Old Baldy & San Gabriel Valley Councils

2004 - 2006

International Representative (2+ years)
Old Baldy Council

2004 - 2006

Hornaday Advisor (2+ years)
Old Baldy Council

2005 - 2010

National Venturing Cabinet Website Advisor
Venturing Division

2007 - 2009

National Kodiak Task Force
Venturing Division

2007 - 2012

Western Region Venturing Website Advisor

2012 - 2015

International Scouting Committee
California Inland Empire Council

2013 - 2015

Venturing Council Commissioner
California Inland Empire Council




Years

Volunteer Service

2005 - 2007

American Legion Post 30 Executive Board

2006 - 2010

San Gabriel Mountains Regional Conservancy Board of Directors

2006 - 2021

Las Vegas International Scouting Museum Board of Directors




Years

Volunteer Web Site Development and Maintenance

1994 - 2000

Troop 777
  www.magnificentsevens.org
  Now managed by the current Scoutmaster

2000 -

BSA Badge History
  www.sageventure.com/history

2002 -

Venturing Notebook
  www.sageventure.com/venturing

2002 - 2005

Navajo Lodge (now merged)
  www.navajo98.org
  2004 NOAC Honor Site

2003

Old Baldy Council (now merged)
  www.obcbsa.org (development only)
  2004 BSA National President's Award for Marketing Excellence
  (A Best Web Site, Class 400-600)

2003 - 2006

Old Baldy Council Venturing
  www.sageventure.com/venturing/TLC

2004 - 2006

International Representative
  www.sageventure.com/international
  Developed for Old Baldy as their International Representative

2005 - 2011

Kodiak Leadership Training
  www.kodiak-bsa.org

2005 - 2010

National Venturing Youth Cabinet
  www.nationalventuringyouthcabinet.org

2006 - 2007

2007 World Scout Jamboree
  www.sageventure.com/scouting2007

2006 - 2021

San Gabriel Mountains Regional Conservancy
  www.sgmrc.org

2006 - 2008

San Gabriel Mountain Interpretative Association
  www.sgmia.org

2006 - 2010

San Gabriel Valley Council Venturing
  www.sageventure.com/venturing/SGVC

2006 - 2011

Western Region Venturing
  www.wrventuring-bsa.org

2007 - 2021

Las Vegas International Scouting Museum
  www.worldscoutingmuseum.org

2008 - 

Venturing Corps of Discovery
  www.thecorpsofdiscovery.org

2009 & 2010

Kodiak Xpedition
  www.sageventure.com/xpedition
    (whitewater rafting for Kodiak and Kodiak X participants)

2010

What's new for 2010?
  www.sageventure.com/2010

2010 - 2018

Glendora Community Conservancy
  www.glendoraconservancy.org

2010 - 2014

Las Vegas Psychiatric Society
  www.lvpsychiatricsociety.org
    (profits from the Psychiatric Society support the
     Las Vegas International Scouting Museum)

2010 - 2011

2011 World Scout Jamboree IST
  www.sageventure.com/Sweden2011/ist

2012 - 2017

Venturing Magazine
  www.venturingmag.org
    Coordinated effort with Joe Garrett




Year

Accomplishments

1963

Selected by the American Field Service to be an exchange student to New Zealand

1964

Bank of America Achievement Award for Science and Mathematics, Lawndale High School, CA

1965

Kappa Mu Epsilon, Honorary Mathematics Society

1968

B.S., Mathematics. California State Polytechnic College, San Louis Obispo, CA

1968-77

Served in the U.S. Navy; active for 2 years, active reserves for 6 years; LtJG (a direct commission while in the active reserves)

1976

Somerton, David and Murray, Craig, Field Guide to the Fish of Puget Sound and the Northwest Coast.
Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1976.

1977

Ph.D., Biostatistics. University of Washington, Seattle, WA

1990-92

Helped develop Think Earth which was awarded "The President's 1992 Environment and Conservation Challenge Award" for fostering cooperative approaches to environmental needs at the local, regional, or national level.

1993-95

Helped develop the video Discovering The Angeles, a video to heighten public awareness and appreciation of the wildland resources of Southern California.

1993

Murray, L. Craig, U.S. Patent No. 5,270,957: Composite Random Sampling (December, 1993)

1995

Provided statistical analysis for the Mohave generating station plum effluent that allowed SCE to continue running the plant.

1998

Developed a tracking program for schedule adherence in the call center at SCE.  The tracking program greatly increased productivity.

2014

Was nominated by the San Gabriel Mountains Regional Conservancy (sgmrc.org) and received the Hornaday Gold Medal.


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