Great Salt
Lake Council
Message of
Celebration to our Wonderful Volunteers
Founded in
1910 the Boy Scouts of America is the largest and most enduring, training and
development organization for young men in the United States. History says that youth of that day were
perhaps losing their way in following the path of the American charter and
values.
This year we
are celebrating 100 years of this movement in Utah. Since the founding of BSA and it’s coming to
Utah more than 110 million American boys (as well as girls beginning in 1969
with the Exploring – now Venturing and Learning for Life – programs) have
passed through Scouting. The impact of
these tens of millions of Scouts over 100 years on American life and culture is
all but immeasurable.
From the
book Four Percent: The story of uncommon youth in a century of American Life
Michael Malone points out BSA quickly became an icon. In recent surveys Boy Scouts of America is still
seen overwhelming an important organization for youth develop. The recognition and retention of current and
former members of BSA of our values, the Scout Oath and Law, is off the
chart. This movement is still valued
highly by the American public despite recent articles. A scout in a uniform is a symbol of
resourcefulness and skill, knowing and doing their duty to God, Country and
helping other people at all times.
With such
recognition we have become a target for cartoonist, satirist and social activist. I reaffirm with all of us that Scouting is a
youth character development and leadership training organization.
Our mission is…
“Our mission
– prepare all eligible youth to make ethical and moral choice over their
lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.”
Our vision
is….
“Our vision
– provide opportunities, resources and support to all charter partners the will
provide the promise of Scouting and a quality Scouting program to every youth
within the boundaries of this Council.”
Now we have
a great work to do. This work is just as
vital today as it was in 1910 if not more so.
Reaching out and inviting and rescuing our youth is an enormous work. We need all hands on deck and all hearts
committed to this sacred almighty work .
Scouting here in the Great Salt
Lake Council has been strengthened by the new membership policy. It has restated with emphasis on our duty to
God value. We now have a behavior
statement. Consider the choices young
people have to make today. Joining
together with parents, faith and community partners Scouting is still the right
place for our youth today. I mention
early of the term that many Scouts have “passed through Scouting”. We have 2.6 million youth passing through
right now, 76,000 right here in this Council.
Some are just coming in as Tiger Cubs.
Some are just leaving as seasoned 18 year olds Scouts and
Venturers. The real question for today
is not whether Scouting is relevant or forgetting its traditions. The question is …are the youth who are
passing through Scouting having Scouting values passing into them? Additional isn’t every youth in our neighborhood
and community in need of Scouting passing through and into them?
This
movement was inspired at the beginning and I believe it still is in God’s
hands. May we have the wisdom, personal
integrity and strength to help Him and do our Duty to Him to prepare our youth
for the next 100 years.
God bless
you for your service to youth and the Boy Scouts of America.
Bryant S.
Davis
