May 6, 2023 "Wind Under Their Wings" Women of Eagle Scout Brunch

AUTHOR MAJOR ALPHONSO B. JONES TO ADDRESS WOMEN OF EAGLE SCOUTS AT ANNUAL LUNCHEON

Guests at the twenty-third annual Greater Los Angeles Area Council of Boy Scouts of America Women of Eagle Scout Brunch, Wind Under Their Wings, will be treated to an elegant and motivating event on Saturday, May 6, 2023 at Saint Anthony Greek Orthodox Church, 778 South Rosemead Blvd., Pasadena. A reception will be held at 10:30 a.m. followed by a brunch and the program at 11:15 a.m. The celebration will end at 1:30 p.m.

Local Boy Scouts will greet guests during the hosted reception and will usher them into the dining room for a delicious brunch. Scouts from Troops 1, 359, and 509 from the San Gabriel Valley will lead the pledge of allegiance, followed by a memorable rendition of the National Anthem played on the bugle by Bryan Rose. There will also be vocal musical entertainment by soloist Ryan Liddy. Ryan Liddy, a baritone from Pasadena and senior at Loyola High, has studied classical voice at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music for the last six years. Ryan has been a chorister with the Los Angeles Children's Chorus, performed in numerous professional productions, including LA Opera’s Carmen and Tosca and performed at Walt Disney Concert Hall, with the LA Philharmonic. He has won numerous musical awards, is also a classical pianist, and plans to study classical voice in college next year. Ryan will be accompanied on the piano by Dr. JoAnn Haycroft. She received her formal education at the University of Wyoming, California State University at Los Angeles, and completed her doctorate at Claremont Graduate University. She is a member of three music performing groups: Sigma Alpha Iota, Tuesday Musicale of Pasadena, and the St. Cecilia Music Club. She also teaches piano and is a past president of the Pasadena Branch of the Music Teachers’ Association of California.

Elizabeth “Lizzy” Garcia, of Troop 333 will share her experiences, as one of the first girls to earn the rank of Eagle in the San Gabriel Valley, following in the footsteps of her older brother, Danny. Her sister Bella is also an Eagle Scout and youngest sister Raquel is well on her way to earning the rank as well. She currently is registered with Troop 141 as a Unit College Scout Reserve.

The Invocation will be presented by Eagle Scout Father Kevin Rettig of Holy Angels Parish in Arcadia.

Chairman of the Board of the Greater Los Angeles Area Council, John O. Johnson, will welcome the guests and share information on the current scouting program. John Johnson has been involved with the San Gabriel Valley Council, now known as Greater Los Angeles Area Council, in the role of Vice President of Programs, Executive Vice President, in 2020, and Council President and Chairman of the Board from 2021 to the present. He is a Silver Beaver Recipient, National Outstanding Eagle Scout Award Recipient, Distinguished Second Century Recipient, and James E. West Fellow.

Capping the brunch will be a motivating talk presented by author Alphonso B. Jones who grew up in Washington D.C. during the Great Depression. He became a United States Air Force Major who served with distinction in the Vietnam war and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and four air medals. After retiring from the military, he embarked on a career as an educator, teaching youth in public and private schools in Hawaii and later serving as the Director of Youth Ministry for the Hawaiian Islands. For the past twenty-two years, Al has lived in San Gabriel Valley with his wife as an active faith leader, passionate globetrotter, and deeply involved grandparent. His journey with scouting began in Hawaii where he was the Scout master of his son’s troop. After moving to Southern California, he volunteered with both his granddaughter and grandson’s troops, becoming a Boy Scout Troop Master Emeritus in San Marino. To learn more about Major Al Jones, his memoir, Soaring, My Improbable Life, is available at Amazon.com.

This year’s committee under the leadership of Co-Chairman, Suko Gotoh of Glendale and Vicki Elliott of San Marino includes Avery Barth, Janice Conzonire, Mary Falkenbury, Wendy Greenleaf, Lynn Hatashita-Jung, Connie Knott, Ann Kunitake, Mona Mapel, Patricia Tom Mar, Karen Quon, Helen Kim Spitzer, Valerie Gumbiner Weiss, Karen Wicke, and Julie Wong Tam of San Marino; Jane Laudeman, Rhea Gonzaga, and Robin Puri of Pasadena; Ellen Chiechi, Janet Orswell, of Arcadia; Vivian Chan of San Gabriel; Kathy Vine of Temple City, Cindy Sercel of Lakeview Terrace, and Judy Din. The committee is advised by Development Director, Lucia Bernal-Blaszkowski. The committee welcomes the community to attend and honor the Women Behind the Eagle Scouts. The cost is $75 per person and includes pre-luncheon refreshments, brunch, mementos, and supports the Boy Scouts of America. Invitations and/or additional information may be obtained by contacting Lucia Bernal at the Greater Los Angeles Area Council of Boy Scouts of America at (213) 718-6726 or Lucia.Bernal@scouting.org. Registration is also available on the website at greaterlascouting.org/wings.