December 11, 2009

Troop 454,

As we begin the New Year I am reflecting on why I feel so strongly about the value of scouting. Two experiences of the last few months stand out to let me know it’s ALL worth it.

This fall during the Capitol march I was introduced to the new scoutmaster of a troop in Sacramento. The outgoing scoutmaster introduced me as one of the original participants of the Golden Empire Council’s Troop Leader Development Course (Now known as NYLT), way back in 1977. During this conversation this scoutmaster mentioned that his trip to the leadership training was one of the turning points in his life. He told the story of how he went away as a young scout to this week-long training and was unprepared for the early summer snow storm (6 inches of snow the first week of June!), unprepared to cook his own meals and uncomfortable in a patrol of strangers. He made up his mind to give up and go home, and so approached the SPL and requested that he be allowed to call home to his mom. That SPL took the time to talk to him and convince him it was a bad idea to give up. That was the summer of 1979. I was the 17-year-old Senior Patrol Leader that had a part in changing that boy’s life. I had no idea what a profound difference I had made until now.

This year was the 30th anniversary of my Eagle court of honor. I was blessed with the opportunity to be the master of ceremonies at the Eagle court of honor of my old troop. To compound the honor, two of my nephews were being awarded the Rank of Eagle Scout. As I stood on the stage spouting off about what a great honor it was to be there, I looked out into the audience and noticed that some of the adults that changed my life by giving of their time to scouting so many years ago were sitting there, this time for their grandchildren. Thirty years later they are still making a difference. Like a pebble in a pond the advice and guidance they gave me is continuing to spread in the way I affect the youth of today.

I want to challenge every adult volunteer and every parent to think about what you can do to change a life. I want to challenge every SCOUT who can think of a time when an older scout encouraged you, to encourage and guide a younger scout in return. Give back to scouting more than scouting has given you.

You may never really know all you have done but know that you have had the opportunity to make the world a better place for generations to come. The question is, what do you plan to do with that opportunity?

On my honor, I will do my best…

Scoutmaster Elvis