On September 21, 2024, at a family camp, the 6th Woodrunners OSG experienced a significant leadership transition. Chun-Yin Chong, the long-serving Group Scoutmaster (GSM) of the oldest continuously operating group within Outdoor Service Guides, passed the torch to Steve Sylvestre. Chun-Yin had not only led the 6th Woodrunners since January 2012 but also served as the Midwest Regional Commissioner since 2019. On this day, he handed over both roles – Steve taking on the GSM position, and Michelle Windey stepping up as Midwest Regional Commissioner.
The handover ceremony was simple yet profound. A red cold-blast lantern, symbolic of the group and prominently featured on their group crest, sat glowing on a small folding table beside a plain campaign hat. In an emotional address, Chun-Yin shared his heartfelt reflections with the youth members and families present, expressing that serving as their GSM had been “the greatest honor in his scouting journey.” He reminisced about the early days when the 6th Woodrunners was founded on May 30, 2008, with only three members – Chun-Yin himself being one of them. When he assumed the GSM role in 2012, the group had grown to five members.
During Chun-Yin’s remarkable 12 years, 8 months, and 18 days as GSM, the 6th Woodrunners endured two organizational name changes, saw the leadership of nine different Chief Commissioners, hosted five Brownsea Training Camps for the Midwest Region, and produced two Baden-Powell Award recipients, including Chun-Yin himself – the first BIPOC recipient of the award. Before passing the symbolic red lantern and Scoutmaster hat to Steve, Chun-Yin reflected on a vision he had when the group was small: that one day, the campgrounds would be filled with many little Woodrunners, playing freely and enjoying the outdoors. He expressed his joy in seeing that vision realized.
Steve Sylvestre, who has been a Rover with the 6th Woodrunners since April 2018, stepped up as GSM following several years of dedicated service. Shortly after joining, he attended the Midwest BTC in May 2018 and soon became an Otter Leader. He was knighted in September 2019 and, by spring 2020, took on the role of Co-GSM. Professionally, Steve is an engineer and a passionate Taiko Drum performer. His wife, Missy, is also a Rover and leads the group’s Chipmunk section, established in 2023. Their children, Freddie (11) and Daisy (5), are youth members of the 6th Woodrunners.
Michelle Windey, another vital figure within the 6th Woodrunners, has been a Rover since November 2019. She became the group’s secretary in 2020 and was appointed Midwest Regional Training Commissioner in 2021. She was knighted in 2022. In May 2023, Michelle became the first recipient of the Pewter Acorn, a recognition of her exceptional service. Her dedication is evident in her travels – over 10,000 miles – between the East and West Coasts to assist the National Training Committee. Also in 2023, she earned her Certified Trainer qualification, and in February 2024, she was appointed National Secretary. Michelle’s niece, Kaylee (16), is a Pathfinder in the 6th Woodrunners.
