Flint Boy Scouts regroup

Michael Chaffee, Boy Scout Tall Pines Council CEO, talked to the the East Side Business Association Jan. 11 about the Boy Scouts.

Chaffee told the group that the Boy Scouts of America celebrated their 100th birthday in February. Nationally, about 3 million youth participate in Boy Scout programs — about 84,000 in Michigan.

The first Boy Scout troop appeared in Flint in 1912. Boy Scouts were consolidated under the Tall Pines Council serving Genesee, Lapeer and Shiawassee counties. There are now more than 9,000 scouts led by 3,500 volunteers.

Because of declining revenues, volunteers and participants throughout the state, the organization has been forced to regroup.

"In 2010 the Boy Scout executive board spent 9,000 hours in meetings to decide how to become a new structure and to grow and sustain scouting in Michigan," Chaffee said.

As a result of these meetings, the Boy Scout's Tall Pine Council will become the headquarters for a Michigan statewide Boy Scout authority. The Scout Service Center, 507 W. Atherton Rd., is being remodeled and will become the state's headquarters for the organization.

According to Chaffee, in the last two decades, the number of individual Boy Scout units and membership has declined.

"Volunteer leadership has also declined," Chaffee said, "along with cuts from contributors like United Way."

"In 1980, United Way contribution made up about 45 percent of our operating budget," Chaffee explained. "Today it contributes about 1.5 percent."

"We're competing with sports programs that capture young people and their families. But unfortunately, family members become spectators in sports. In the scouting model, families are building blocks," Chaffee said. "Parental involvement is one of the strengths that makes scouting unique."

Parents or guardians are urged to become involved at different times and levels during their child's scouting experience, whether it's organizing a meeting, cooking for an event or teaching a merit badge exercise. Siblings and extended family can also benefit by participating in family-based activities.

"But, the number one reason why children choose scouting is for the outdoor programs," Chaffee said. Michigan has over 25,000 acres of property for Boy Scouts to explore.

According to Chaffee, scouting beats television because there are no wires, remotes or batteries required; scouting burns more calories; scouting is socially interactive; scouting doesn't have commercials; scouting builds character; you can't build a campfire in the family room; scouting builds families; scouting provides positive reinforcement and creates positive change; scouting has no place for violence; and scouting is the ultimate reality show.

Call your local Boy Scout council at (810) 235-2531 or go to www.tpcbsa.org for more information if qualities like trustworthiness, loyalty, helpfulness, friendliness, courtesy, kindness, obedience, cheerfulness, thrift, bravery, cleanliness and becoming reverent are qualities that you desire for your children or grandchildren to have, says Chaffee.