F.. 121 1111 111111111111111. 1 11111111111 Spreading Good Will Eagle Scout's project ushers in 2009 at East Lansing shelter. Rea Nee aqua Eagle Scout Ian Zinderman at Haven House before the party I an Zinderman, 17, of Farmington Hills has earned the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. He is one of the original Scouts who started with Troop 364 in 2003, under the sponsorship of the Men's Club of Adat Shalom Synagogue. In February 2004, he was featured on the cover of the Jewish News eating a hot dog during a winter Scout campout. He's come a long way since then. Less than 5 percent of all Boy Scouts reach the rank of Eagle Scout. One of the many requirements for this rank is to show leadership and to perform a service project. While many Scouts will choose a service project using physical labor and building or repairing something for the community, Ian chose to build relation- ships and help improve the outlook for a group of families that have fallen on hard times. Ian organized, collected donations and orchestrated a New Year's Day party and meal for Haven House, a homeless shelter in East Lansing that houses up to seven families for a maximum stay of 30 days. He sent out letters to friends and rela- tives asking for volunteers and support of his project. He visited many local stores and requested their support as well. With the money collected, Ian went shopping with his family and friends to put this party together. Because it is a Jewish Scout troop, Ian made sure that the meal brought to the party was kosher. This required cooking the meal at home and bringing it there along with all serving utensils. Some Scout families helped by preparing pots of vegetarian chili. Seventeen volunteers carpooled to Haven House to help celebrate the New Year with the residents. While the food was being set up, the volunteers talked to the residents, played games with the children and decorated the dining area. A 15-foot banner was designed with the residents and put up in addition to streamers and New Year's decorations. In keeping with the theme, a favorite game of the children was pin the badge on the Boy Scout. A poster was drawn by Ian's brother and friends depicting Ian in a Scouting uniform, and the kids tried to pin a badge on his pocket. After lunch, Ian gave gifts he wrapped to all the children. Each family also received a gift basket of items they would need once they moved out of Haven House. These included brooms, waste containers, diapers and personal hygiene items. The party was topped off with a count- down for the New Year with sparkling cider, hats and noisemakers, wishing their new year to be filled with hope, health and happiness. ❑ Finally • • • The Winners BBYO regional convention at JCC provided competition for 400 teens. B 'nai B'rith Youth Organization Regional Convention in December at the Jewish Community Center in West Bloomfield may seem like eons ago, but not to those winning chapters still basking in their glory. The IN usually lets readers know who those winners are, and this year should be no exception. Congratulations — and sorry we're so late. More than 400 teens from Oakland County, Ann Arbor and Windsor partici- pated from Dec. 21-25. That's 20 BBYO chapters all together. Competitive events included an Iron Chef cookoff, sports, a talent show, chapter newspaper and cheer contests — all leading to the coveted Most Distinguished Chapter Awards. And now, finally, here are the results: • Most Distinguished: Savage BBG, Shapiro AZA • Talent show: Gittleman BBG, Jolson AZA • Cheer: Emunah BBG, Greenberg AZA • Oratory: Kulanu BBG, Greenberg • Banner: Savage, Greenberg • T-shirt/sweatshirt: Emunah, Fisher AZA Other winners: song: Ruach BBG, Jolson; Iron Chef: Greenberg; art: Achayot A44 February 12 0 2009 BBG, Shapiro; literature: Achayot BBG, Kishon AZA; handicraft: Achayot, Shapiro; doubles ping-pong: Kulanu, Jolson; singles ping-pong: Kulanu, Greenberg; storytell- ing: Ruach, Kishon; swim relay: Ruach, Kishon; swim individual: Ruach, Shapiro; track relay: Gittleman, Jolson; track indi- vidual: Gittleman, Fisher; video: N'sheekot BBG, Fisher; volleyball: Ahavah BBG; whirlyball: Savage, Rabin AZA. ❑ Shapiro AZA not only won the basketball championship but also the Most Distinguished Chapter Award for AZA chapters. Gittleman BBG members perform at the regional convention Shapiro AZA members perform a number from talent show, which they won. The Rocky Horror Shapiro Show. Watch for teen 2 teen in next week's Jewish News