ALBANY — While the Boy Scouts of America have never gone away, the organization’s upcoming 100th anniversary presents an opportunity for its re-emergence in 21st century life — literally and figuratively.
“As an organization, you will see the Boy Scouts of America reintroduced to the United States of America,” said Ray Allen, Scout executive of the Albany-based Chehaw Council.
With this new campaign for the 2010 centennial, Allen said the Boy Scouts won’t focus on its many past accomplishments.
Rather, Allen said while speaking to Dougherty County Rotarians recently, “Our goal is to share with the country what we’ll do in the next 100 years.”
Among its upcoming projects, the council will open a service center on Madison Avenue in downtown Albany and will continue capital improvement projects at its 89-acre Camp Osbourne.
The organization, already more than 5 million strong, looks for growth in the coming years. It also is working on rounding up its members.
“We’re seeking out all Eagle Scouts,” Allen said, and reconnecting “will all alumni.”
Staying relevant in society is a task for any organization, even one as highly respected at the Boy Scouts.
“When most parents look at what they want for their (children), (it’s) life lessons.”
A Scout, he said, “is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.”
Notable Boy Scouts include Hank Aaron, Jimmy Buffett, President George W. Bush, John Ritter, Harrison Ford, Bill Gates and 11 of the 12 astronauts to first set foot on the moon, among them Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong.
Armstrong also was an Eagle Scout, as are U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop Jr., D-Albany, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former President Gerald Ford.
“The values are the same,” Allen said of the organization today. “The activities aren’t the same.”
Boy Scouts activities today, he said, include rock climbing and Scuba.
“We’re a year-round program,” he said, and added that families can be in Scouts and other organizations as well. “It’s not an either-or; it’s a, ‘Why not both?’ ”
Some of Boy Scouts of America programs offered locally are the Cub Scouts, first- fifth grade; Boy Scouts, ages 11-18; and Venturing, a hobby- based co-ed program for ages 14-20. Also offered is a character education-based career program.
And of course, there also are Eagle Scouts.