Rí4±…÷ŒÕ˜kÎ/íŠ•×øº£×…œ×Ç9žƒ[\)äLMzË¹sçIÉXƒû áØ›ÙÑ¯‡ °¹Lj1ÿˆÅ½<ˆÀ|™É¼ÌÝíÌïð²Õ Some Boy Scout Councils rent out their outdoor facilities to businesses and religious groups for retreats and training sessions with a different flair.

Mostly, however, it is the direct approach which funds the local Council and its programs, and that's the part that I enjoy the most. I enjoy telling parents about my own Scouting starting, and how I was so excited about becoming a "Club Scout" that I told the man that I pledged to "Obey the Laws of the Sticky Foot!" to their laughter; and then turning around and telling them that without their money, and the money of their friends and neighbors, that kids like me growing up today will never get that chance to mess up saying the Cub Scout Promise -.because Cub Scouting would never be offered -in their community. "We can't afford to bring Cub Scouting -- or Boy Scouting -- to communities that won't support it. Would you build a tuna fish factory in a location whereby people don't like tuna fish??"

I love telling parents about the night of my Order of the Arrow Ordeal, and how I sat up after most of the others have went off to sleep, looked at the moonlight through the trees, and sang myself to sleep. Not from fear, but out of pride; for the other boys in my Troop elected me to go and participate in this special honor. If I could have seen William Boyce that evening, I would have gladly hugged the man whom brought Scouting to the United States, giving me the chance to become a Boy Scout and now, a member of the most prized group within Scouting! Even though the weather was a little cool, I felt little discomfort as I sang "Kumba Yah" and slowly leaned against the tree and my sleeping bag and dozed off, my tears creating a trail down both sides of my face.

Am I greedy in wanting those I talk with to give to Scouting? Yes, I am. I know that for every kid involved in Scouting, it cost a local Scouting Council $92.50 on average to keep him in for a year. That money is not for the uniform or the books=85remember, every Scout "pays his own way". This is to support him with programming and activities, to train and coach his adult leaders, and to provide an operating structure that will keep his records, award him for special accomplishments, and instill pride and promote the program overall. Am I greedy in asking for this money? I admit that I am. Many people are afraid to ask parents and those whom charter Scouting units for money --they already are spending money for their own son and in the case of organizations who charter Scouting units, they provide a place for those youth.

Without those monies, however, the local Council finds it hard to make Scouting go and to make the few programs they offer grow. They have to invent different ways to raise money. And it forces some professionals, whom are working under a lot of pressure already, to sometimes do dishonest things to somehow get that money. So yes, I am a bit greedy in asking. I'll collect anything you want to give to Scouting.

My parents - my father in particular - gave to Scouting each year I was at home. He called it "his investment in my future." My father was one of few words, but one evening he told me why he would give the local Scout "organization," he called the Council, some of his hard-earned money every year.

"When I was growing up, I saw Scouts. None of them were Black. They all would march and bivouacked in a field close to where your Grandfather lived. There were a lot of us whom wished we were Scouts. But it was your Grandfather Albert that made it all happen, after I married your Mom and we moved away. When you were getting into Scouts in Germany, your mother wrote him, and told him how happy you were and some of the things you did and some of the things you made for her. Albert called the Boy Scouts in Jackson up and got them to come and set up a Troop for the Black boys in town. And every year, your Grandfather would give some money to the Scouts so that they would help out other communities that wanted it for their boys."

"When I see you involved in Scouts, and doing those things you've done, you've made me proud. But as your mother says, I don't see any other Black kids doing this - and not a whole lot of the White ones either. I want to make sure that it wasn't a matter of money that's keeping those kids from doing the things you got to do.

Michael Douglas, the actor, proclaimed in one of his movies "Greed was good." I personally believe that greed is not good for anything but more greed. But if I can help to loosen some wallets, to open some checkbooks and start pens writing out amounts onto checks to support Scouting in America, I won't be picky if the check is for 90 or ten dollars. All I know is that communities need Scouting. And Scouting doesn't come cheap.

For those participating in. For those serving as leaders or supervisors of it. For those supporting it.

Nothing good comes cheap and you get what you pay for.

Settummanque!!

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