The
Commissioner
a publication for commissioners and professionals
Winter 2021
The Power and Resilience of Scouting in a Time of Change
The preservation of the mission of Scouting America is a goal that unites all of us. We often talk about how we can best preserve the mission and, in the face of change, how we will grow our program. Perhaps it is an appropriate moment to pause and read the mission statement again:
The mission of Scouting America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.
It is a powerful and simple statement. In times of rapid change, our mission statement reminds us of a number of constants in a world where few constants seem to remain in place. The values of the Scout Oath and Law are constants by which millions of young people and adults lead their daily lives. These values do not change. The need to prepare our young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes does not change. Indeed, in times of rapid societal challenge, the imperative to grow our platform to instill the mission in the next generation is our rallying cry. Whether volunteer or professional, youth or adult, whether you serve at the critical unit service or some other level of support, we all share a common mission to serve the next generation of Scouts.
In the last number of months, I have witnessed time and again the fundamental power and resilience of the Scouting program. It is our common recognition of the fundamental power to positively change lives that provides the foundation for our path forward. It is the resilience of the movement that provides the energy and drive to accomplish the next steps. I find resolve in the millions of smiling faces from our shared Scout trail. We have the opportunity to demonstrate to the nation our strength, resilience, and resolve, as we work together to continue the
mission of Scouting.
What is the clarion call for how we support Scouting at this moment in time? Simply put, we must keep our focus and work together to support our local units. While our methods might change, our fundamental role in supporting local units never changes. Our actions ensure that we deliver quality program to America’s families every day.
