by Kirby Lindsay, posted 25 January 2013
On February 13th, at 7a, the Aurora District of the Chief Seattle Council Boy Scouts Of America invites anyone interested in showing support – and hearing from real scouts about the difference scouting has made in their lives – to a breakfast to be held at Woodland Park Zoo.
Former scout and Scout Master, Tom Ranken, is serving as the organizer for the 2013 Aurora District Friends Of Scouting Breakfast. He explained that rather than charge a prohibitively high ticket price, attendees to the Aurora District breakfast will be asked for a donation.
Most attendees, Ranken reported, “tend to be people who have had an experience of scouting in the past.” His experience has been a two to one ratio, between those who have participated, in the past, in scouting, and those currently active. “There is a mix, of course,” he said, and everyone who values the program that helps boys develop into confident, capable young men, is welcome to attend.
A Program To Inspire
The Boy Scout Breakfast can be a reminder of all that scouting offers, or an introduction for those less familiar. After all, Ranken explained, “troops are supposed to invite people to the breakfast,” but the Table Captains will welcome anyone interested in enjoying a good breakfast and an inspiring program.
“Kids will be there,” Ranken reported, “to talk about their experiences with Scouts.” A presentation will be given, by Scout Troop #72, on their award-winning Emergency Preparedness Program.
In addition, keynote speaker will be Jim Weber, President and CEO of Brooks Sports, the swiftly growing company soon to relocate its headquarters to Fremont. Weber can speak on his lifelong passions as a runner and hockey player, and his previous professional experiences at Sims Sports, O’Brien International, the Coleman Company, and Piper Jaffray Seattle Investment Banking.
A Program That Satisfies
For five years Ranken served as Scout Master for Troop #80, of which his son was a member – but that wasn’t the main motivator for his decision to lead. “I had been a Boy Scout and an Eagle Scout,” he explained, “The Scout Master positions tend to turn over every three to five years,” he said, and “the time was right,” for him to step up.
“It ended up being fantastic,” Ranken recalled, “in many ways it was the most satisfying thing I’ve ever done.” He enjoyed helping the boys lead the Troop – in a position he describes as being more mentor than boss.
His son, J.T., continued on beyond Boy Scouts to achieve Eagle Scout. “They want kids to make Eagle,” Ranken said of the advanced program, “but not all of them do.” Eagle Scout requires more work, and presents more challenges. “I think it is a good life skill to have,” the former Eagle Scout, and father of an Eagle Scout, said. “Everyone can,” Ranken said of achieving Eagle, “with hard work. If they continue with the program, if they work hard and don’t quit, they can reach it.”
Even for those who stop at Boy Scout, there are weekly meetings to organize regularly scheduled adventure trips – hiking or canoeing, or to Camp Parsons. At least that is how it was in Troop #80. “Every Troop is different,” Ranken acknowledged, “in a perfect troop, the boys run everything, and the parents oversee.”
A Program Of Camperships
Also, most scouts pay for their own trips and participation in the Troop – or their parents do. And unlike Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts don’t have an annual cookie sale or other identifiable, dependable fundraiser. Individual troops do what they can to offset costs to its members, and their families, according to Ranken.
They can also turn to ‘Friends Of Scouting.’ With the Boy Scout Breakfast held by the Aurora District, and other contributing events, Friends Of Scouting enables the Chief Seattle Council to continue to serve more than 26,400 youth in Western Washington.
“No kid ever fails to go on a camping trip because they can’t afford it,” Ranken reported, on his own observations. Friends Of Scouting can offset costs for camps, funds programs of the Chief Seattle Council, and funds ‘camperships’ (scholarships for Scouts that need assistance.) Friends Of Scouting also funds maintenance and operation of more than 1,400 acres of camp property.
The Aurora District Boy Scout Breakfast will aid Scout Troops in our area – the 90 units (Troops or Cub Packs) in the North Seattle/Shoreline area (including Fremont.) For those who want to help the Boy Scouts – and enjoy a breakfast at the Zoo – registration remains open.
“We are very careful about getting people out on time,” Ranken promised. So, contact a Table Captain about your chair at the table – or visit the website about making a contribution without attending – and make it possible for more boys to enjoy the benefits of Boy Scouts.
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©2013 Kirby Lindsay. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.