Blackhawk District is proud to honor Tom Lobacz with the Scouter of the Month Award for March 2003! Tom does so many wonderful things for the District and the Council; I hardly know where to begin! From Commissioner Staff, to staffing Camporee and Klondike, to leading the Blackhawk Boy Scout Division, to teaching Climb on Safely, to working on Merit Badges with youth, Tom's Scouting spirit is endless!

Tom currently serves at the Blackhawk District Vice-Chair of Boy Scouts and as the Assistant District Commissioner for DesPlaines. He is also a Merit Badge Counselor for Climbing and Orienteering. At the Council level, Tom is the Council Climbing Coordinator and has been instrumental in the building of both the tower at Napowan and the NEW tower at Lakota.

His Scouting career began in Chicago Area Council in Troop 995 where he was elected into the Order of the Arrow and sealed his membership by becoming a Brotherhood member. 

Tom, and his son Kenny, began their Scouting career as Den Leader, Cubmaster and Committee Chair of Pack 205, North School, DesPlaines.  He and Kenny moved on to Troop 38, chartered to Orchard Place School PTO, DesPlaines, in 2000 where he became a member of the Troop Committee.  In 2001 he joined the District Committee as the Vice Chair of Boy Scouts as well as a Unit Commissioner.  He moved up to Assistant District Commissioner for all of DesPlaines in 2002.  Tom has been trained in Cub Scout Basic, Scoutmastership Fundamentals, Wood Badge, Okpik, and District Committee Training.

In 2002 he received the Blackhawk District's Guiding Light Award for his leadership and hard work in the District.

In addition to all his volunteering at the Troop and District he also paid his way through Camp School and completed Climbing Instructor training. This enabled him to become the Council's Climbing Coordinator.  He now spends many an evening and weekend teaching Climb on Safely and Climbing Instructor Training to our adult leaders. 

Since Tom retired from ComEd after over 30 years as a Construction Superintendent, he has more time for Scouting and his other many volunteer "jobs." Tom serves on the Staff Parish Board for the United Methodist Church in DesPlaines. He volunteers for PADS as well as the Special Olympics. Tom is a Vietnam Veteran and is a member of the Veterans Administration and the Vietnam Veteran's Administration. 

Tom and his beautiful, supportive, wife, Yolanda, will be married 18 years in June! Their son, Kenny, is 13 and Star Rank.

Tom is a bright star in the Blackhawk District. His time, energy and devotion to the Scouting program are a blessing! Thank you for all you do to make the Blackhawk District and the Northwest Suburban Council a better place to Scout!