Lodge 85: Winter Fellowship Gorget
Posted in 
Bob Mathis recently sent me these images. I thought them so neat that I thought I’d share them here on this blog.
A while back I was carrying on here, as is my wont, about special issue low run patches and how they are being faked. I opined that lodges should look for other ways than patches to reward special achievements. I believe there are better ways to recognize brothers than by presenting them with a “special”, but still cheap, flap.
With that in mind, I share what Seminole 85 gave the attendees of their 1999 Winter fellowship. It’s a gorget. No patch was produced for this event. While it can’t be sewn onto a uniform, jacket or patch blanket it can be worn with either the Scout uniform or ceremonial/dance regalia.
Looking at this gorget it appears to have been commercial made rather than handcrafted. It probably cost a fair bit more than your run of the mill activity patch, or even most of the more interesting and novel pieces produced by some of the Florida lodges. It is a unusual piece of historical memorabilia from Seminole Lodge.
As is often the case for Florida items, thanks again to Robert Mathis for providing these images.
would love to get ahold of this unique item. sure to be a tougher issue in the future. I also like the thought and detail that was taken into the creation of this gorget.
Thanks for the compliments on the gorget! I was Chief of Seminole Lodge when that item was issued and the lack of a patch created a significant controversy. I definitely am happy that my LEC ultimately made the right call…we might just do something like this again sometime soon.
Cheers,
‘Mackie’
Associate Lodge Adviser
Past Chief
Seminole Lodge 85