1981-1990
- 1980- The Four-Fold Award replaced the old promotion system. It is given to two leaders who show strength in the physical, social, mental, and religious aspects of life.
- 1981- First co-ed wilderness trip to Canada with the newly-found Canoe Club
- 1981- Girls joined the tenth grade leadership training course, the first co-ed Brigade activity.
- Early 1980s- Downhill Skiing Club was formed.
- 1985- An International Brigade Camp for co-leaders is held at Onaway Island
- 1985- Taxidermy at the Brigade begins with the help of Bob Buss.
- 1986- A group of boys and girls from the Brigade traveled to Denmark, marking the beginning of the Brigade's more regular international trips that continue today.
- 1987- The Brigade began to actively recruit members by marching in the Memorial Day Parade, creating T-shirts, and creating a Day Camp at Onaway for new members.
Jacob Ahles and Amy Paulick were the
recipients of the Four-Fold Award in 2012
Before the Four-Fold Award, Brigade members received a score at the end of each year to address their success. They received points from showing up to church on time, how well they could perform drills, attendance in their classes, and many other criteria. The board realized that this was not an effective way to evaluate the members, so they created the Four-Fold Award, which evaluated the boys and girls on the four pillars of Brigade: physical, social, mental, and religious aspects of life.
1981 marked the first co-ed wilderness trip to Canada for the Canoe Club. Current leaders, Bob Buss and Pam Coenen Buss, met on the trip, fell in love, and were married two years later. Today, their two children are active in the club.
In the winter of 1981, girls joined the 10th grade leadership training course, the first co-ed Brigade activity. These girls were recruited at the summer camp. In 1983, sixth graders were allowed to enroll, giving the girls a complete seven year program. The girls wore Danish blue sweaters with their own emblem.
In the early 80s, Dan Donovan started a Downhill Ski Club. He was joined by Bill Prast and others in organizing ski nights, one day outings, and ski weekends to Michigan's Upper Peninsula. For a number of years, the Ski Club ran a ski "swap" as a fundraiser to help offset costs of the weekend trips.
Hosting an international camp at Onaway had been a dream ever since Brigade's first international experience in 1951. In 1985, this dream became a reality. An invitation to come to Neenah-Menasha in July of 1985 was sent to Brigade companies around the world. Onaway was in tip-top shape, and the new headquarters building had just been dedicated, so it was a perfect time for visitors.
Bob Buss learned the art of taxidermy and thought it would be a good hobby club for Brigaders. Starting in 1985, Bob designed and built the machines necessary to prepare a skin for stuffing. Fish, birds and small animals adorn the taxidermy room.
In 1986, the Brigade returned to Denmark with Dan Donovan, Bill and Karen Casper, Linda Ahles, and Darleen Cooper as leaders, and Eric Cooper, Greg Moxon, Tom Terhorst, Jill Steidl, and Kelly Krueger made up the group of Brigaders. International trips to different locations such as the West Indies, England, Scotland, and Australia followed in the years after including 1988, 1991, 1993, 1996, 1998, 2004, 2007, 2011 and 2013.
In the 80s, the membership of the Brigade began to drop because of the lack of youth in Neenah, school extracurriculars, and the other youth organizations in the community such as the YMCA or Youth Go, so the Brigade began searching for new members. To get youth involved early, several things were done, including marching in the Memorial Day parade and receiving a T-shirt and a patch. In 1987, Dan Donovan organized the Day Camp program at Onaway for newly signed-up boys and girls.
1981 marked the first co-ed wilderness trip to Canada for the Canoe Club. Current leaders, Bob Buss and Pam Coenen Buss, met on the trip, fell in love, and were married two years later. Today, their two children are active in the club.
In the winter of 1981, girls joined the 10th grade leadership training course, the first co-ed Brigade activity. These girls were recruited at the summer camp. In 1983, sixth graders were allowed to enroll, giving the girls a complete seven year program. The girls wore Danish blue sweaters with their own emblem.
In the early 80s, Dan Donovan started a Downhill Ski Club. He was joined by Bill Prast and others in organizing ski nights, one day outings, and ski weekends to Michigan's Upper Peninsula. For a number of years, the Ski Club ran a ski "swap" as a fundraiser to help offset costs of the weekend trips.
Hosting an international camp at Onaway had been a dream ever since Brigade's first international experience in 1951. In 1985, this dream became a reality. An invitation to come to Neenah-Menasha in July of 1985 was sent to Brigade companies around the world. Onaway was in tip-top shape, and the new headquarters building had just been dedicated, so it was a perfect time for visitors.
Bob Buss learned the art of taxidermy and thought it would be a good hobby club for Brigaders. Starting in 1985, Bob designed and built the machines necessary to prepare a skin for stuffing. Fish, birds and small animals adorn the taxidermy room.
In 1986, the Brigade returned to Denmark with Dan Donovan, Bill and Karen Casper, Linda Ahles, and Darleen Cooper as leaders, and Eric Cooper, Greg Moxon, Tom Terhorst, Jill Steidl, and Kelly Krueger made up the group of Brigaders. International trips to different locations such as the West Indies, England, Scotland, and Australia followed in the years after including 1988, 1991, 1993, 1996, 1998, 2004, 2007, 2011 and 2013.
In the 80s, the membership of the Brigade began to drop because of the lack of youth in Neenah, school extracurriculars, and the other youth organizations in the community such as the YMCA or Youth Go, so the Brigade began searching for new members. To get youth involved early, several things were done, including marching in the Memorial Day parade and receiving a T-shirt and a patch. In 1987, Dan Donovan organized the Day Camp program at Onaway for newly signed-up boys and girls.
Citations:
"Brigade Awards Program." The Boys' & Girls' Brigade of the Fox Valley. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 May 2014.
Angermeyer, Howard, Jack Casper, William Mattes, Jack Neubauer, Nate Wauda, and Don Weber. The First 100 Years an Illustrated History. Ed. James Keating, Jr., William J. Mattes, and Jack C. Casper. N.p.: n.p., 1999. Print.
"Brigade Awards Program." The Boys' & Girls' Brigade of the Fox Valley. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 May 2014.
Angermeyer, Howard, Jack Casper, William Mattes, Jack Neubauer, Nate Wauda, and Don Weber. The First 100 Years an Illustrated History. Ed. James Keating, Jr., William J. Mattes, and Jack C. Casper. N.p.: n.p., 1999. Print.