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2008 SESSION

089065568
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 371
Offered February 7, 2008
Commending Virginia Councils of the Boy Scouts of America.
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Patrons-- Janis, Bell and Scott, E.T.
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WHEREAS, the World Scouting Movement, founded on August 1, 1907, on Brownsea Island, England, by Lord Robert Baden-Powell, celebrated its centennial anniversary in 2007 with more than 28 million Scouts and adult leaders in 155 countries around the globe; and

WHEREAS, the Boy Scouts of America was founded by a group of visionary Americans led by William D. Boyce, on February 8, 1910, in Washington, D.C., and was chartered by the United States Congress on June 15, 1916; and since 1911, when Richmond Troop #1 was chartered by Tabernacle Church, Scouting has been serving the youth of the Commonwealth for over 98 years; and

WHEREAS, the mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical choices throughout their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law, including a commitment to do their best to do their duty to God and their country, and to keep themselves physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight; and

WHEREAS, the nine Boy Scout councils serving all or part of the Commonwealth, including the Blue Ridge Mountains Council, Colonial Virginia Council, DelMarVA Council, Heart of Virginia Council, National Capital Area Council, Sequoyah Council, Shenandoah Council, Stonewall Jackson Area Council, and Tidewater Council, serve over 100,000 young Virginians between the ages of seven and 20 in Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturing, Exploring, and Learning for Life programs; and

WHEREAS, Scouting programs emphasize character development by affording young people unique and life-changing opportunities to exercise leadership and responsibility and by the direct example of cheerful service provided by over 35,000 volunteer adult leaders; and

WHEREAS, in 2007 Virginia Scouts contributed over 350,000 hours of community service, through projects such as Scouting for Food and Good Turn for America, and supporting organizations such as the Central Virginia Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, and hundreds of local civic organizations throughout the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, in 2007 over 70,000 Virginia youth participated in outdoor recreation and educational programs, many for the first time in their lives, during unit overnight campouts, district camps, long-term camping, and high adventure programs of the Boy Scouts of America; and

WHEREAS, in 2007 Virginia Scouts earned over 67,000 Merit Badges and 1,500 young Virginians reached Scouting’s pinnacle of achievement by earning the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout; and

WHEREAS, the Boy Scouts of America enjoy a sustained record of proven success in producing leaders for the Commonwealth and the nation, who are trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Virginia Councils of the Boy Scouts of America, in the 98th Anniversary Year of the Boy Scouts of America, for service to our youth and our citizens, and for Scouting’s commitment to building character and values in our youth; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Council Scout Executives in Virginia as an expression of the General Assembly’s gratitude to the Councils’ longtime dedication to the young people of the Commonwealth.