New District Name

This note is to let all know the results of the District Name Change Vote. After the original vote ended up with Catawba and Sapona tied at the top, we proceeded with a run-off on-line vote that closed on midnight on Tuesday, December 15th. Beginning, January 1, 2016 we will be known as the Sapona District. A little information that can be shared about the name should serve to let you know that we should be proud and excited about this change. Please see below some perspective on the Sapona name: Sapona (Sappony) is a Native American tribe that once resided in Rowan County. The tribe’s history is one of family bonds, hard work, moral values and loyalty. It is the history of a people whose lives changed with the changing of times — from hunters and farmers of pre-contact days to trading partners with the English during colonial times, from tenant and landed farmers throughout the 1800s and 1900s to a contemporary Indian people in a diversified world today. I think that the references to family bonds, hard work, moral values, loyalty and adaptability embody everything for which both scouting as a whole and our district should strive: Family bonds should be the foundation upon which we build our District Hard work represents scouting’s commitment to service “Moral” and “loyal” are found in both our Scout Oath and Scout Law A successful scouting program requires us to change with the times in order to continue to meet the needs of the youth we serve As an aside, currently our OA Chapter is the Sapona Chapter so we would also have consistency in that regard Thanks to everyone who participated in this process. We have a rich history as the Rowan District and I look forward to seeing us begin to make an even richer one as we transition to the Sapona District. I am honored and proud to serve with each and every one of you as we make this program great for the youth we serve. Thanks so much for your past, present, and future leadership and service. Your impact is extraordinary. Have a joyous holiday and let’s make 2016 our best Scouting year yet. Jake Parrot District Chairman