Rep. Potvin offered the following resolution:
House Resolution No. 296.
A resolution to declare February 2-8, 2014, as Boy Scouts Week in the state of Michigan.
Whereas, The scouting program was founded in 1907 by Robert Baden-Powell in Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour, England, to encourage young men to develop personal goals and actively pursue their personal interests. After American journalist and publisher William Boyce learned of the scouting program on his visit to London, he was inspired to start one in America; and
Whereas, The Boy Scouts of America were incorporated on February 8, 1910, in New York City, received their federal charter as granted by the United States Congress in 1916, and celebrated their 100th anniversary in 2010. Since the Boy Scouts of America awarded the first Eagle Scout in 1912 to Arthur Eldred, over two million scouts have been awarded the Eagle Scout rank. Every year, local packs, troops, and crews celebrate this rich history with Boy Scouts Week; and
Whereas, Today, The scouting program represents the largest voluntary youth movement in the world, with approximately 195 countries having scout programs. The Boy Scouts of America has more than 2.6 million registered scouts, over 1 million leaders, and over 100,000 registered units. Their goal is to train youth in responsible citizenship, character development, and self-reliance through participation in outdoor activities, educational programs, career-oriented programs, and community-service activities. Those scouts and leaders performed over 13.5 million hours of service to their councils and communities, with nearly 1.1 million youth attending a council camp or national high-adventure camp last year; and
Whereas, In 2013, over 40,000 Scouts, leaders, and staff came together for the National Scout Jamboree at the Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve, which will serve as the permanent location for future Jamborees. Over the course of 10 summer days, Scouts participated in whitewater rafting and kayaking, rock climbing and bouldering, mountain biking skateboarding, BMX, shooting sports, scuba diving, merit badge instruction, and zip-line challenge courses as just a few of the activities offered at the 10,600 acre Summit, adjacent to West Virginia’s New River Gorge National River area. The Summit is the new home of achievement, adventure, and innovation in Scouting with world-class facilities and a focus on outdoor action sports. This new site showcases everything that is great about Scouting.
Whereas, The councils that make up the scouting community in Michigan are the Bay-Lakes Council and the Michigan Crossroads Council - with four field service councils being Great Lakes, President Gerald R. Ford, Southern Shores, and Water and Woods Field Service Councils. They will celebrate Boy Scouts Week with a number of events, including Scout Sunday and Scout Sabbath at local places of worship, community service projects, Courts of Honor, and flag-raising ceremonies. These endeavors will serve as a reminder of the vital impact the scouting program has on our communities; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare February 2-8, 2014, as Boy Scouts Week in the state of Michigan. The members of the Michigan Legislature consider it a great privilege to celebrate this occasion and proudly extend tribute to all the leaders, parents, friends, family, and scouts who have made the Boy Scouts of America successful across our state. This organization has had a profound impact on countless lives in our state and nation and we recognize the great accomplishments and contributions that the Scouting movement has had upon the character and development of Michigan's youth; and be it further
Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Bay-Lakes Council, the Michigan Crossroads Council, and the national office of the Boy Scouts of America as evidence of the highest esteem given by the members of the Michigan Legislature.