Scouter of the Month: Ursula Van Mersbergen Blackhawk District is proud to announce the September Scouter of the Month, Ursula Van Mersbergen! Ursula has worked tirelessly to make sure that the Blackhawk District Order of the Arrow (OA) Chapter was running strong for the last five years! She has spent many a night making phone calls and Troop visits to help run OA elections. Even before she was elected to the OA, Ursula was helping out at Lodge and Chapter events. Chapter Advisor is a hard, sometimes thankless, job and the District is very lucky to have such a dedicated volunteer. Although she recently stepped down as the Chapter Advisor, I’m sure we can count on her to help guide our youth in the future! Ursula began her Scouting career in 1st grade as a Brownie and was a member of the Girl Scouts all the way through High School earning both the Silver and Gold Awards. She attended the National Girl Scout Convention as a Youth Delegate and an International Jamboree in Saskatchewan, Canada. Ursula began her Boy Scouting Career in 1987 as a youth in Post/Crew 82, chartered to the American Legion Post #134. Upon her 21st birthday she became an adult member and is currently the Committee Chair for the Crew. She also has been an Assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 228, chartered to the Park View School PTO, since 1996. Her list of training is extensive but the highlights are Explorer training, Scoutmaster Training as well as Venturing Training. She has attended numerous OA trainings as well as three National Order of the Arrow Conferences’. Ursula was elected into the Order of the Arrow and completed her Ordeal in 1998. In 1999 she sealed her membership by completing the Brotherhood honor and in 2002 Ursula was elected to become a Vigil member of the Order. In 2002 the Blackhawk District Award Ursula with the District Award of Merit. Thank you, Ursula, for all you do to help make the Blackhawk District the best District in the Northwest Suburban Council!