The Rotary Club of East Cobb continues its Boy Scout project into an eighth year. It's original purpose was coordinating with local Boy Scout troops to assist Eagle Scouts with their projects and provide recognition on behalf of East Cobb Rotary members in the International Federation of Scouting Rotarians. That purpose continues as identified in Eagle Scout Wim Steentjes' letter of thanks for "East Cobb Rotary's benevolent support for bringing the sensory garden at the Center for the Visually Impaired to reality." Club members Ken Crowell and Wade Patrick are active in local units, and Jonathan Ingram is a BSA staff member with the Atlanta Area Council.
Volunteer work of Boy Scouts is utilized at our annual Dog Days Run giving the scouts service hours toward their rank advancement. This year's program speaker from BSA, Jason Baldridge, shared ways the BSA are creating safer environments for youth in their use of technology. Nine (9) East Cobb Rotarians accepted Wade Patrick's invitation to attend the annual Golden Eagle Luncheon on December 2, 2016 along with another 1,116 attendees at this Atlanta signature event for scouting. Those nine Rotarians donated an estimated $7,000 that day.
East Cobb's annual donation to the Atlanta Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America ($4,000) includes supporting "Scoutreach" for bringing scouting opportunities to kids who otherwise would not have that experience. One of those Scoutreach programs is at Brumby Elementary School where our club is involved.
The character, skills and principles that scouting instills in young people are the same ideals we cherish in Rotary and want to pass on to the next generations who will lead in our community. The Scouting-Rotary connection is solid for our club's investment of time, energy and financial resources which is why 18% of club members contributed direct involvement this year.