The Boy Scouts of America is teaching leadership and achievement to both boys and girls.
The Boy Scouts of America was founded in 1910 and is one of the largest scouting organizations in the country, serving more than 2.4 million youth from kindergarten to the age of 18. Locally, Scout Executive Marc Krogan told us that the Black Swamp Area Council serves nearly 6,000 youth in 200 packs, troops, crews and posts. Last year the Boy Scouts began including girls in its programming in an effort to meet the needs of today's families. "We found sisters were coming to the pack meetings. They were participating in the activities with their brothers. At the end of the meeting, the boys were coming up and getting the award and their sister was sitting in the back, who just did all the same stuff because we didn't want to exclude anybody but wasn't necessarily getting the recognition because she wasn't a member of the Cut Scout pack." Krogan says that they offer troops for boys, troops for girls, and some troops that are co-ed. They are also partnering with local businesses for workforce development by creating posts in companies like Lima Memorial Health System and Marathon Petroleum to connect youth to adults who can help them explore career options. Krogan says the mission of the Boy Scouts hasn't changed in more than a century: Preparing young people to make moral and ethical choices over their lifetimes by installing the values of the Scout Oath and Law.
Also at Rotary, Russ Thomas gave us an update on Family Promise which provides housing and programs for homeless families. He says they have graduated the first family from the home at 730 W. Elm Street. The parents are now employed and have moved into their own home. Family Promise is doing renovations to the house at 1130 W. Market which serves 18-20 year old men. It was damaged by fire in January. And they're evaluating the home at 940 S. Main which needs repairs that may be cost-prohibitive.
The club also awarded five non-traditional students Lima Rotary Club Certificates acknowledging their scholarship awards for winter 2019 classes. These students are attending Apollo Career Center, The Ohio State University – Lima, Bluffton University and the University of Northwestern Ohio. They are pursuing higher education in Nursing, BS in Health Care Administration, Teaching, and Childhood Development Associate Certification. To-date, the program has awarded 1002 scholarships for a total of $733,250. The Scholarship Committee's biggest fundraiser is the Rex Perry Memorial Golf Outing which is scheduled for June 12. Contact Andy Wannemacher if you'd like to play.
