My Brief Scouting Memoirs

My involvement with scouting started at age 15, as a member of CNE's 59th group in Setubal, Portugal. (CNE is the National Core of Scouts- Catholic Portuguese Scouting Association). This period also marked the beginning of my service as an altar boy in the same parish. During this time, I was heavily involved in the group's activities. Scouting was particularly precious to me during a painful parental divorce as it held my bearings through times of doubt and trial.

At age 18 I joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, (LDS Church or Mormons), and my membership with group 59 ceased. In the LDS Church, I was asked to help establish a local scouting unit, in accordance to the bylaws of the AEP, (Association of Scouts of Portugal, a non-denominational scouting organization). This I did until I turned 20 and went on a two year LDS mission.

While on my mission I was still able to continue helping local LDS units develop scouting programs, training local leadership on the aims and methods of scouting. While on my mission I also sought to establish organizational supporting committees. As my missionary service came to an end I moved to Utah, where I would attend Brigham Young University. There began my service in the Boy Scouts of America.

In most cases my service to the BSA was in the area of training, becoming first involved with basic leadership training at the district level, and later, (2001), in advanced leadership training, or Wood Badge, as known throughout the world. This I did for the next four years.

This year, (2005), I was asked to take on the responsibilities of a Wood Badge course director. I was both flattered, (being a Portuguese kid among MANY, VERY talented US-born leaders), but also saddened, as I knew that this would mean the end of my involvement with Wood Badge. (Course directors are invited to end their service to advanced leadership training). And so it was... In April 2005, after almost 12 months of logistical and educational preparation, we took to the hills of Maple Dell, in the Mountains of Payson Utah, where we welcomed and trained 52 adults leaders in state-of-the-industry concepts of leadership development.

Now that my service to Wood Badge has ended, I still seek to find opportunities to serve in scouting. Something that brings me a great sense of fulfillment.

My scoutmaster used to say that "once a scout - always a scout." As a boy I took this principle to heart. Though I might never be able to repay the debt of gratitude I have for what this movement did for me while a young man, I hope somehow I too can make a difference in another boy's life.

A Sneak Peak

Here are some additional pictures I took yesterday. I wanted to gage the kid's reactions to Anna. Stefanie has shown great tenderness for her sister as has David. Daniel seems to be in his own little world, playing as usual. He'll approach her at times, but I don't think he quite knows yet how to act twoards her. It is probably normal for the older children to be a bit more attentious as they have gone through this experience at least once, (twice in David's case). They know our love for them does not diminish. Angie and I will have to pay close attention to little Daniel to ensure he knows he is not being replaced. We are still trying to figure out who Anna looks like. She has a hit of stefanie, but her hair is a bit different, (curly and black). It is too early to determine the color of her eyes though likelihood is that they will be blue.

To view larger versions of the pictures just click on them.

Blessed Day

Friends,

I am pleased to announce the birth of Anna Marie Câmara Manoel September 12, 2005 at 17:24 in Salt Lake City. Both mother and daughter are doing very well. Anna weighed in at 8 lbs.

They will be coming home tonight.

Thank you.

Luis

My Precious

I am not sure how well you can see the drawing on the whiteboard, but it is my daughter's depiction of her and her dad, (me). She happened to have come to my office this day while her mom went to the doctor. In very little letters by the girl's head the following is written: "I love (heart) dad...

As one who has been working with teens for quite a while, I realize how fleeting moments like these can be.

As children become teenagers and stretch their own wings for the first time, they tend to want to shirk all that might represent their previous dependency to their progenitors. Among other things, at that age it is "no longer cool" to tell a dad or a mom that they are loved... Thus my wish to immortalize the statement on the board. It is mine, and it is precious.

She is now five. It is my hope and prayer that when she is sixteen she will feel the same way. I will try to do my best to give her, and her brothers, excuses to do so.

The value of independence...

From political scientists to family therapists, many are those who seek to analyze the value of independence.

From a geopolitical standpoint, it means that a specific nation has found a voice and sovereignty in the international community as it breaks its ties to a former colonist, regime, ruler, etc. From a childhood development perspective, it means that one was given the power to act independently from parental overview. As well documented in this picture, or as obvious in the rising of new nations, either process is messy and can cause great chaos.

In this example, our son, of only 2 years of age at the time, is experimenting with eating without adult supervision. To us, his parents, it became painfully obvious that there was a price to pay for the great blessing of free agency. Here, a bath-full of water and a batch of laundry were sufficient to minimize the effects of this experiment- In the case of newly emerging democracies, the blood of warring factions engaged in human kind's most primeval form of conflict resolution is not so easily washed. Tears of longing and a debt of gratitude by those whose freedoms were assured is often all that is left behind.

The question becomes: "When does freedom ever become too expensive?"

Camp Maple Dell

A Little bit about the surrounding areas where we live. This is a picture I took at the montains roughly behind our home. (about 25 miles). It is a Scout Camp called Maple Dell where I served as a Wood Badge course director for the Boy Scouts of America earlier this year, (April 2005). It is located at Payson Canyon, at the scenic Mount Nebo Loop. Inspiring and breath-taking vistas!

Herculea Quondam Ducta Fuere Manu

"Herculea Quondam Ducta Fuere Manu"

In Latin this will mean something like:
-herculean
-Having been formerly; That once was
-lead
-Was
-Hand

"Now strong, once was led by the hand"

I believe, at one time or another, we have all been able to say it.

Perhaps those who have taken latin in High-School can provide a better translation of my family's motto as found in an old coat of arms... This is my rought attempt at decyphering it.

Genealogy

Having been told by my father of the existence of a family coat of arms, since I was young I've been working on trying to identify it. I have finally, after years of online research and after consulting some Portuguese publications on hieraldy, been able to identify what this coat of arms would look like.
The included image represents the Camara Manoel family as my research seems to indicate.
The Camara Coat of Arms seems to be very well known in all genealogy sites. The Manoel part, (on the right of the shield), has seen some variations. Finally, and fortunately, I was able to find an old painting that showed exactly what it would look like. So, here it is, for posterity to behold, the Camara-Manoel coat of arms....

And here is another variation of it... (A bit more elaborate).
It was somewhat customary to include all sorts of decorative elements to one's coat of arms. The helmet generally symbolized nobility. Its feathers were representative of the family's colors. Other elements could include, ribbons, (as an extension of the feathers), Paquifes, (decorative pillow supports and ribbons), Virols, (small cloth like rings to place over the helmets representing the family colors), Motto ribbons, Timbres, (above the crowns), Crowns, (to denote, royalty, and other degrees of nobility such as duke, count, etc.)

There is a pretty good online publication that explains how these work for Portuguese Heiraldy, (please note that each country has adopted different sets of rules ).

http://www.armorial.net/

It starts here...

Well. It starts here. A blog about whatever you'd like to discuss.
If you'd like some starting points, we can start with the name. Why Camara Corner? Why the odd spelling?

Camara-Manoel is our family name, thus the Camara Manoel Corner.

I'd like, if possible at all, to bring in the other Camaras and Manoels out there, spread throughout this beautiful world, generally of Portuguese descent. I'd like to get to know my "cousins" a bit better.

I'd like, if possible at all, to bring in some discussions about my personal passions: Family, genealogy, religion, Scouting, Photography, Technology, Football, (S.L. Benfica), etc.

If you care for any of the above, drop me a line, let's chat...

With this intro, here starts a fairly free form blog, please enter, look around, and have fun.