Supreme Chief of the Fire to Set Up Camp in Milwaukee

Supreme Chief of the Fire to Set Up Camp in Milwaukee

The only way I really feel like I’ve been Scout Executive in the Hawkeye Council for eleven years is when I look into the mirror. As Paul Swanson (known as Swanny) rudely pointed out to me, I actually had color other than gray in my hair when I came here. Man, time flies when you are having fun!

It has been a great ride for me and I my family. Imagine what it was like moving here from living 2 blocks north of Wrigley Field in Chicago. In addition to the crushing pace of big city life, the vast majority of the Scouting programs in the Chicago Area Council were conducted in housing projects, urban neighborhoods and close-in tough neighborhoods.

One thing I remember vividly was how afraid some kids from those neighborhoods got when they were taken camping for the first time. They were amazed by the stars. The dome of light over Chicago eliminates that sight almost entirely. They could not sleep because ‘it was too loud”. It seems the Scouts had grown used to the loud sounds of freeways, heavy local traffic, el trains, aircraft…and that the ‘deafening quiet of nature in the night woods scared them half to death! Scouting was succeeding there. But it was not the program I knew when I grew up and became an Eagle Scout along the way.

Then, I moved to Iowa. I immediately experienced the most amazing family support network I have ever seen. It is absolutely breathtaking to behold the incredible volunteer leadership that is displayed here in Eastern Iowa. No wonder the Hawkeye Area Council rates near the top in all measureable categories by which Councils are measured. I can say with great pride that I was associated with the best group of Scouters in the country.

I will now take what you have taught me, and bring the same focus on quality program delivery to Milwaukee. I don’t doubt for a moment that the tremendous momentum the staff/volunteer partnership has underway here will slow down for a second. Thank you for doing the Lord’s work. Thank you for allowing me to be part of the wonderful Scouting program in the Hawkeye Area Council. It has been my honor to serve with you. I am blessed to have been able to live Baden-Powell’s dream with you. Together, we have helped to change the world by teaching thousands of kids to live by the tenets of the Scout Oath and Law. Good Scouting, and I’m sure I’ll meet you all at Gilwell in the future.

Leverage - Beter Known as "A Scout is Thrifty"

Everyone who knows me understands that I get a little emotional about the miracle of Friends of Scouting (FOS), our annual campaign. FOS is very near and dear to my heart, for a variety of reasons. Of course, the most important reason is I weep with joy after a successful campaign is that it means we can, for one more year, continue to provide the best possible character development program for kids. FOS enables the Council to fulfill Baden-Powell’s dream…to form a world-wide movement where all people will live by the tenets of the Scout Oath and Law. And change the world for the better.

FOS also has several other endearing characteristics:

1. Our Family FOS campaign enables us to present the Scouting story to our own members, allowing them the opportunity to see firsthand how important it is for them to invest in Scouting. And they do! We have one of the highest per capita family donor amounts in the Central Region.


2. Because of our Community FOS campaign, community leaders are on the street telling the Scouting story to their peers. This gives a wide variety of influential people the opportunity to hear about our mission, and invest in the future of America.


3. Our Executive Board continues to offer great support for FOS. We anticipate being at 100% of Director support this year. Who will support us if our leadership doesn’t support us?


4. This FOS support from our families, our Board and the community at large enables us to successfully leverage donations from corporations, foundations, and United Way.
   

While we are talking money, let’s look at some hard leverage numbers.

• Did you know that for every $1 received in the FOS campaign, that we receive $42 in time value donated by volunteer leaders?


• Did you know that for every FOS dollar received, we receive an additional $2 from the entrepreneurial efforts of our Scouts through the Product Sales Campaign?


• Did you know that we have five professional staff, and nine support staff who leverage the volunteer efforts of almost 3,000 registered volunteers? This doesn’t include the thousands of parents who give outstanding support to Scouting, but who are not currently registered members.

In this incredibly scary time of economic chaos and roller coaster rides on Wall Street, I can offer you some sound, rock solid investment advice: Put your money into one of the safest, and productive investment packages available today…Friends of Scouting. Your investment will be protected by outstanding stewardship and governance by an engaged Board of Directors and Council staff. And it will be used to invest in our future, one youth at a time.

And no bonuses will be paid to any executives.