THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL
Friday, May 13, 2011 | Memphis, TN | My Life/Greater Memphis
FOCUS \ SCOUTING
Eagle Scout projects on par with needs of golf program
BY ANNE CHAMBERS Special to The Commercial Appeal
When two Eagle Scout candidates Conner Jordan and Forrest Field from Second Presbyterian Church Troop 86 were searching for service project ideas, Scoutmaster Don Riley knew just the right place to direct these young men.
“Knowing about Memphis Athletic Ministries, I knew that MAM’s mission and these young men’s servant hearts would be a perfect fit,” stated Riley. “Both Conner and Forrest are concerned about helping others as well as have a good work ethic for getting the job done. And the projects they completed contribute to MAM’s golf program that benefits our city’s under-resourced youth.”
After meeting with Vince Alfonso Jr., MAM director of golf and touring the MAM Park Golf Course, Conner Jordan, 14, an eighth-grader at Riverdale School in Germantown, decided to make six picnic tables and two serving tables to enlarge the picnic area. He used pre-assembled kits purchased at Home Depot. Because the hardware from the kits was not substantial for long-term use, Conner determined a better way to assemble the tables eliminating easy disassembly as well as exposed screws that could easily injure users. To make two serving tables, Conner came up with the idea to convert two picnic tables into serving tables by removing the benches and making the table tops wider. And to complete the project, Conner and his team of volunteers sanded and coated the tables with sealant before delivering them to the MAM Park Golf Course.
Forrest Field, 16, a sophomore at Memphis University School, was alerted to MAM’s needs after hearing about Conner’s meeting with Vince Alfonso.
“I contacted Coach Alfonso and he showed me how the tee signs needed freshening on each hole. Some of the water stations needed new hardware and all of them needed a paint job. I knew that this was a project I could do to make the golf course nicer for the kids who participate in MAM programs,” said Forrest.
Forrest and his helpers spent many hours at the golf course removing old tee signs and installing new ones. The doors on the water stations now open and close properly and all water stations look brand new with fresh paint.
Forrest, the son of Mark and Debbie Field of Memphis, has been involved in scouting for six years. Conner’s parents are Jay and Ginny Jordan of Germantown. Conner has been a scout for three years. Both boys will achieve their Eagle rank later this year.
Anne Chambers is the communications director for Memphis Athletic Ministries.
