Scout Executive's Minute
These are exciting times for the Boy Scouts of America.  It is not often that an organization celebrates its 100th anniversary. And what a celebration we should have.  100 years of helping to build leaders of our country.  100 years of helping shape the minds of young men and women to enable them to make ethical choices in a sometimes unethical world.  100 years of bringing families together with a promise of fun-filled activities and outdoor adventure.

Yes, this is our time to celebrate, but we would be remiss if we did not include everyone in this celebration.  We need to reach out to all of our alumni; past Scouts and Scouters, Den Mothers and parents of Scouts, children or siblings of Scout leaders.  Anyone who has a story to share with us about the impact that Scouting had on their life or on the lives of those they loved.  They should all be part of this incredible celebration with us.

Let's use this opportunity to reach out to all of these individuals to invite them to be part of our celebration.  March 4th at 9:30 am we will kick off our 100th anniversary with an event at the council office.  A rolling exhibit entitled "A Century of Values Tour" will set up a display in our parking lot.  The exhibit began this month and will continue throughout the year covering America and stopping in every Boy Scout council.  Please invite anyone you know that has been a part of Scouting, or has been impacted by Scouting to come and enjoy this walk down memory lane.  It is sure to be a memorable occasion.

Then let's take it one step further.  As we continue our celebration, let's reach out through the media, civic club presentations, church bulletins, etc. to ask anyone and everyone to share their story with us.  Stories can be shared about Eagle Scouts, lifesaving awards, camp, pinewood derbies or any other motivational, funny or moving story that deserves to be kept alive throughout the next 100 years of Scouting. Please use any and all connections and try to get us in front of any media, club or organization in order to do a presentation on Scouting's 100 year celebration.  I think we will be amazed at how much of an impact Scouting has had on so many people.

It will take efforts from all of us to be able to reach out to this many people.  Talk to people you know, your neighbors and friends, those people who stop you in the store when they see you or your Scout in uniform.  Ask them if they have a story worth sharing about Scouting over the last 100 years, and then ask them to share it with us.  We will publish selected stories in the Scouter and post some of them on our website.  We might also be able to re-engage some of these folks in Scouting.  We can always find room in our organization for merit badge counselors, unit commissioners, trainers, etc.  We never know when the next good volunteer is just around the corner.

100 years, let the celebration begin!  See you at the "Century of Values" tour March 4th 9:30 AM at the council service center.

Your devoted servant in Scouting,
Dennis J. Luellen
Dennis J. Luellen
Scout Executive