Putzke started scouting as a second grader, rising through the ranks each year from Bobcat, Wolf, Bear, and Webelo. He has earned 32 badges as a Boy Scout. ãScouting has taught me leadership skills, how to get along with others and knowledge of first aid,ä he said. ãI also learned from scouting to be proud of my country. It meant a lot to me to march in the Memorial Day parade with the band in my Boy Scout uniform. Scouting has also made me dedicated to getting any task done. The best way to complete a task is to do it right the first time, and not put it off until later,ä Putzke stressed.
As his Eagle Scout project, Putzke set out to educate the community on carbon monoxide poisoning. He started his project in January of 1996, had a booth at the Farm and Home Expo in March and went door-to-door handing out about 1,000 phamplets to 625 households on carbon monoxide awareness.
As a Boy Scout, Putzke attended the National Boy Scout Jamboree in 1993 at Fort A.P. Hill, Va., serving as the National Jamboree scribe; attended Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, N.M., Ripley Rendezvous, Parker Scout Reservation and Alpha Lupus, winter camp at Parker. Among his scout leaders were Mari Louis and Barb and Tony Werlinger. He recalls that as a Cub Scout, he sold the most Scout Expo tickets in the district one year, winning a black and white television set.
Putzke is active in the school band and High School Pops Choir. He started band in the fifth grade playing the saxophone, switching to the bass clarinet and this year, his senior year, switched to percussion. He has also worked at the Lake Koronis Assembly Grounds as a lifeguard and maintenance person for the last two years.
Putzke encourages Cub Scouts and younger Boy Scouts to stick with Scouting as it is very worthwhile. ãIt definitely pays off in the long run. To earn your Eagle ranking, a scout has to dedicate himself to his project and pick up on good habits,ä he added.
Paynesville is unique in that besides having four Boy Scouts earn their Eagle ranking this year, there are four others completing their projects and paper work toward earning their Eagle ranking. They are: Eric Werlinger, Casey Meagher, David Scheierl and Steve Gilk.
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