Reflections from the President

            Recently, there have been a number of articles about the cost of Scouting. As President of the Great Salt Lake Council, many of these inquiries have been addressed to me. For one thing, I am probably the wrong person to talk to about the cost of Scouting. I have five daughters. I not only know the cost of Scouting, but let me tell you about the cost of cheerleading – and cheer costumes -- of dance lessons, and dance costumes, and entries to dance recitals. I am not opposed to those, particularly because I have seen how each of these activities has made a profound effect in the lives, the talents and the self-esteem of the little (and sometimes big) girls who participate.
            As the topic was raised again the other day, I thought of my experience in Scouting – as a boy, and now as an adult leader. As a boy, I had the normal feelings of insecurity, of self-doubt and wondered about my self-worth. However, although our Scout program in Boise was less than optimal, I have thought about the value of being a patrol leader and learning to lead; of earning a merit badge and learning (1) a skill; (2) that I REALLY can do something of value; and (3) that I really am a person of worth; of memorizing the Scout Oath and Law and realizing the worth of moral values and standards in this great country of ours; of saluting the flag as a Cub Scout, and realizing, for the first time, why my dad feels so strongly for those values of freedom and liberty for which he fought in World War II, and which were the watch words of his life. 

          A commodity’s net value is often expressed price, less the cost. So while it is true that it takes money, facilities, skilled and visionary professionals, and devoted and trained volunteers to make the program work in the lives of the youth we serve, I like to focus the Scout Movement in terms of what it GIVES BACK to the community – the local, regional, state, national and world community. So, for starters, let’s list a few:

            Finally, the value of the over 30,000 volunteers that serve in the Great Salt Lake Council. All of us, as Scouting volunteers, are normal, garden variety members of the community , who go to work each day, work hard, try to make a difference in our profession or trade and make enough to live on, to support our families, to give some back to our Church and community; and to save a little each month. We are school teachers and school principals; engineers; construction workers; small business owners; government workers; bankers; landscapers; airline employees; physicians, nurses and others involved in the health care field; real estate developers; insurance salesmen; convenience store and grocery store employees; air traffic controllers; policemen; firemen; lawyers and judges; carpenters; manufacturers and tradesmen; photographers, and the list goes on and on – 30,000 strong. 

           While many make significant amounts in their professions, to be conservative, I have chosen to use the average salary for a teacher in the state of Utah in 2010 – approximately $20 per hour -- to estimate the monetary value of the service rendered. Most Scoutmasters spend AT LEAST 10 hours per week in Scout Troop Meetings, preparation for the meetings, Scoutmaster Conferences, training meetings, preparing for monthly camp outs, informal interviews with and visits to his Scouts, reviewing materials, etc. While some spend more and some spend less – and I have not counted 40 hours for a week-long camp – I think that 10 hours per week is a fairly normal amount of time spent by a volunteer Scout leader. Ten hours times 50 weeks (some Scoutmasters only get one week of vacation, because they spend one week with the Scouts) =500 volunteer hours per year PER VOLUNTEER. That amount times the 30,000 volunteers = 15,000,000 million man hours devoted to providing a quality Scouting experience to the Council’s over 73,000 Scouts, including providing leadership experiences, teaching them moral and ethical values that will help them make responsible decisions over the period of their lives – and providing role models for today’s youth – at a time when they sorely need heroes and examples. Multiply 15,000,000 man-hours by $20.00 per hour and you come up with $300,000,000 in volunteer service being provided to help today’s youth be “Prepared. For Life!”

             Someone recently asked me if Scouting today was as relevant and needed as it was 50 or 100 years ago. I responded with a resounding, “Yes! It is not only more relevant, but never in the history of the world has there been a greater need for the timeless values that Scouting teaches. And never has there been a greater need for the proper ethical, moral and physical education of boys, to help them be prepared to be men who can lead with ethical and moral values.” Tom Brokaw was once quoted as saying: “In this country it’s relatively easy to make a living, but it’s tough to make a difference.” Thanks to all the dedicated professionals and volunteers in the Great Salt Lake Council who strive daily to make a difference in the life of a boy. I’m honored to be associated in this great work with each of you.

             Next time, I might reflect a little about the value of Council Camps in the health and well-being of our youth…or possibly something else. We’ll see. Until then, Good Scouting and Make it a GREAT day!

A Plea To All Scouters

Today I spoke with a LDS Stake President who is as dedicated as any I know in his desire to help young men reach their potential; be prepared to serve full time missions (and stay until the end); become righteous husbands and fathers; and serve faithfully in their communities, churches and families.  Recently, in one of this Stake President’s Wards, a new Bishop, 27 years of age, had asked his Ward Young Men President to handle re-chartering in his ward.  Unfortunately, that brother, for whatever reason, did not fulfill his assignment. 

In an attempt to “get the job done” a devoted District Scouter decided that rather then roll up his sleeves and pitch in to help solve the problem, he would write an email chastising the Bishop for “abrogating his responsibility” in re-chartering all of his boys, and passing it to a brother who didn’t know what he was doing. 

As I heard this story and felt the sincere desire of that Stake President to use Scouting in an appropriate way to strengthen the Aaronic Priesthood, my heart went out to that priesthood leader, who found himself truly irritated that someone would criticize a young Bishop, who was, obviously, overwhelmed already.  I also found myself sympathizing with that Bishop who, I am sure, was carrying a greater load than most know, including being a young husband, father and a very new Bishop in a ward with very little leadership and depth; as well as working to build his career - - and just barely being able to keep up in all of those areas.  When he was called, that Bishop was appropriately told to delegate those things which he did not personally need to do.  As a result he delegated and the brother, his Ward Young Men President, failed.  By the way, I also found my heart going out to that Ward Young Men President who was given the responsibility for re-chartering.  I have a feeling, based upon my conversation with the Stake President that he, too, was new and inexperienced—both in Scouting and in the re-chartering process.  My heart also went out to this good District Officer who is trying to do the very best he can to move the work along in spite of some very archaic tools. 

As I have thought about that experience, I’ve come up with some thoughts that might be helpful as we work with our charter partners to assist them to help their young men “make moral and ethical choices over their lifetimes by applying the principals of the Scout Oath and Law.”  (1) Never forget that people are more important than programs.  (2) Never forget that principles of Scouting, including those articulated in the Scout Law (like “courteous” and “kind” and “helpful”), are important in dealing with our relationships with our charter partners.  (3) Don’t get so caught up in “harping” about Friends of Scouting, re-chartering, training, etc. (the check-off items), that you forget to offer assistance to Priesthood leaders or to our charter partners in each of those areas, as well as in the areas they feel most unprepared, or those where they perceive they need help the most.  Take an opportunity every now and then to ask Priesthood leaders informally, “President (or Bishop), where do you feel the most ‘uncovered’ in your Scouting program and how can I be helpful?”  (4) If a Ward is behind in its Friends of Scouting or re-chartering, offer to take another fellow Scouter and go in and provide some additional manpower to assist and lift the load.  In many of our units, they are so short on manpower that they do not have full Young Men Presidencies or even a full Elders Quorum Presidency.  The least we can do is to help lift the load.  (5) Remember that the handbook is not a “hammer” but a “help” and a guide for local leaders.  We will never lift and assist our charter partners if we are merely harping on them and reminding them what needs to be done in the program.  Our work is to assist and to lift and to help and to serve.

One final thought: most of us did not gain our enthusiasm for Scouting as the result of a “lecture” or “dressing-down,” but, rather, by experiencing the magic and vision of Scouting in the lives of Scouts and their families as well as those they serve.  We fell in love with the program around a camp fire, in a Court of Honor, a Pack Meeting, while doing an Eagle project or at a Scout camp.  Our charter partners are no different.  While many of them are already converted to the Scouting program as part of their organization’s youth activity program, others have not yet had that experience.  Our charge, as Council and District leaders, as Commissioners, as Scout-servants, is to help them have the “AaHa” experience along the Scouting trail.  The best way we can do that is to look for every opportunity to help lift the administrative load on their shoulders and then invite them to participate in the fun and excitement of Scouting.

            As a Council Key 3, we stand ready and fully committed to help and support our devoted Charter partners in every way we can.  May Heaven bless us to do our best as we serve these great leaders of youth.