2006-2007 Southern Region President

Michael Bebeau of Lutz, Florida, is the 2006 - 2007 Southern Region President. He joined the Venturing program in 2003 with Crew 120. He was Vice President of Program for

that Crew until 2004 until he became a founding member of Crew 21; he served as their Vice President of Administration and later Crew President. He is also a member of Crew 1201. Currently, Mike serves as the Vice President of Programs for the Teen Leaders Council, Gulf Ridge Council Florida and has held numerous positions.

A long time Scout, Mike earned Arrow of Light in 1999. He became an Eagle Scout in January 2004, later earning bronze and gold palms. In the summer of 2005, he earned the Venturing Outdoor Bronze Award and the Ranger Award.

Mike has attended many scouting training events. After completing the Venturing Leadership Skills Course (VLSC) in 2003; Mike served on VLSC Youth Staff in 2005. Also in 2005, he earned the Venturing Outdoor Bronze Award and the Ranger Award. Mike is a Kodiak graduate from the 2005 Gulf Ridge Council Kodiak course. He will attend Kodiak X this summer. He has completed training in Red Cross First Aid and Wilderness First Aid, as well as the American Heart Association CPR Training. In addition to these programs Mike was part of the Venturing team teaching high adventure to adult leaders at the council Leadership Development Forum.

Mike has attended several national events. He attended the 2004 National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC) as Contingent Co-Chair. In 2005, Mike spent 14 days as part of the Order of the Arrow Trail Crew at Philmont Scout Ranch. During the 2005 National Jamboree, he served as Senior Patrol Leader for Troop 2042.

He has served on the year round camp staff at the Flaming Arrow Scout Reservation since late 2003. During the summer of 2004 and 2005, Mike served as a Merit Badge instructor in Outdoor Skills and Ecology. In 2005, he helped to develop and was a member of the staff for the camp’s Venturing program. He also was part of the committee that planed the 2004 and 2005 Venturing Chill-In and the Venturing area for the Council Camporee.

Mike is also a member of Seminole Lodge 85, Order of the Arrow (OA). He has served on the Lodge Executive Committee since 2003 first as the Elections & Camp Promotions Chair. He was then elected to the position of Chapter Chief where the chapter was awarded the Best all around chapter award. Following this he took the post of Lodge Communications & Publications Chair. He is also an accomplished ceremonialist.

Mike is double majoring in Political Science and International Studies at the University of South Florida. He is a member of Air Force ROTC Detachment 158 at the university where he hopes to earn a commission as an Air Force officer. Mike has been admitted to the Arnold Air Society, an Air Force professional service organization; he is a member of the James A. Hartinger Squadron. In addition to this, he has volunteered over 300 hours at the Museum of Science and Industry. Mike is an employee of the Gulf Ridge Council Service Center.

This summer Mike attended NOAC at Michigan State University. He also participated in a Rayado trek and the Roving Outdoor Conservation School at Philmont Scout Ranch. After serving as a member of the faculty during Venturing week at Philmont Training Center, he served as a Staff Member in the backcountry at Philmont.