SCOUTMASTER'S CORNER

I am excited to take the next step in my Scouting experience to be Scoutmaster of Troop 657. We have about 40 youth and some great parents supporting the Troop. We are in transition as we have a lot of younger Scouts after having a bunch of Eagles recently. It’s an honor to take over helping continue the tradition of helping Scouts experience the benefits of Scouting as Troop 657 has had over 50 Eagle Scouts in its 15 years since its formation by a group of committed parents.

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Scouting offers many opportunities to Scouts, parents and Leaders.  First and foremost, Scouts offers an opportunity to make life long friendships as I have enjoyed since staring in Scouting as a youth 40 years ago.  Additionally, the Scouting method of rank advancement allows Scouts a progressive opportunity to learn hands on skills, develop critical thinking, a devotion to community service and develop leadership tools that they will use well beyond teenager years.  While achievement of rank advancement can include Eagle Scout, we must be mindful that the Scouting experience is about leading Scouts to their full potential while embracing the outdoor experience that is cornerstone the Scouting movement over the past 110 years.

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My journey in Scouting started 40 years ago and led to achieving Arrow of Light and Eagle Scout with palms; however my Scouting experience was highly enriched by my experience in Order of Arrow and involvement as a camp staff member.  I am honored to have been selected to be a Vigil Honor member of Order of the Arrow and nationally recognized by the Founders Award and served at the Youth Chairman of the Southeast Region Section 8 (SE-8) Conclave attended by over 800 Arrowmen.  Moreover, I was a staff member in leadership positions for Blue Ridge Mountains Council Scout Reservation (Virginia) of over 17,000 acres for three summers at Camp Powhatan and served as part-time volunteer for four additional summers.  Still the best jobs I ever had.  More recently, I became involved in Orange County Council in 2012 serving as Committee Chair for Pack 116 for three years and joined Troop 657 in April 2016.

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My professional experience has been in Engineering with degrees from Virginia Tech and North Carolina State University and subsequently I have been involved for over 25 years in the development of LED technologies and LED lighting.  Outside of Scouting and working, I enjoy spending time with my family, running every morning and working in my home workshop.

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In summary, the Scouting experience enables Scouts to an unlimited range of opportunities.  Some of my Scouting and professional associates have done amazing things by being in leadership positions in their communities, major universities and businesses across the country.  Let’s work together to create the next generation of leadership for our communities.  As it been said in Scouting for long time, “there are no strangers but only friends I have not met”.  I look forward to working with parents, Scouters and Scouts in the times ahead.