"We Are All Scouts"

One of our neatest programs, Children of Incarcerated Parents (COIP) should not be measured by its membership in quantity, but quality. I'm heartened to share with you one small action that has proved to make a lasting impression. Please read part of a letter from Mr. Jacobs, thanking the boys of Troop 60 for their helpful service.

"I attended a Family Council meeting this evening at W.C.C.W. and was quite tired at its conclusion and wasn’t quite sure how I was going to be able to get me and my wheelchair down to the visiting center to see my wife. As I went through security I noticed Mr. Rice and his three sons standing to the side. We talked for a short time and I learned that they were from Lacey. I asked the older boy if he could push my chair for me when we were allowed to go. All three boys were eager to help and stood by quietly waiting for the word to be given that we could go to the visiting room. As the younger boys were eagerly opening and closing gates the older boy started pushing my wheelchair.

I thought of the boys I use to have in my own Scout troop and thought that these boys would make excellent Scouts. I turned and asked the one pushing my chair if he was a scout. With great pride he stated with a matter of fact that “we are all Scouts”. Curious, I asked him what his troop number was and where they met in Lacey. With great enthusiasm all the boys stated, “We meet here, this is our troop at the prison”. They showed a lot of pride in their troop this evening and the service they performed and the examples in behavior which they showed were in the highest traditions of Scouting standards."

Please click here to read the entire letter.

Thank You Microsoft

I'm happy to share that Microsoft recently announced that their U.S. employees broke their annual giving record, raising more than $100 million for community organizations and we are thrilled to have benefitted from this program! Last year this great service provided $289,238 and 17,014 service hours that helped grow the Scouting program in our council. We appreciate their continued support and generosity. For more details on this great milestone, click here.