{"id":5415,"date":"2021-02-01T11:26:30","date_gmt":"2021-02-01T17:26:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/totscouting.org\/a-look-at-our-history-and-our-future\/"},"modified":"2021-02-01T11:26:30","modified_gmt":"2021-02-01T17:26:30","slug":"a-look-at-our-history-and-our-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/totscouting.org\/a-look-at-our-history-and-our-future\/","title":{"rendered":"A Look at Our History and Our Future"},"content":{"rendered":"
Scouting Family:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n On February 8<\/span>th<\/span>, I\u2019m going to wear my Scouting uniform, and I encourage you all to do the same as we celebrate the Boy Scouts of America\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>1<\/span>1<\/span>1<\/span>th<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>birthday.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s a moment\u00a0<\/span>to acknowledge the\u00a0<\/span>contributions\u00a0<\/span>made by millions of<\/span>\u00a0young people and adults to Scouting<\/span>, as well as the power<\/span>\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0our Movement to bring people together<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to make a positive difference in our communities, our country, and the world.\u00a0<\/span>It is a moment\u00a0<\/span>to both\u00a0<\/span>reflect and look forward<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n T<\/span>his past year<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>demonstrated<\/span>\u00a0that<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>BSA\u2019s mission\u00a0<\/span>is more important than ever<\/span>\u00a0before<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>When\u00a0<\/span>the pandemic\u00a0<\/span>uprooted<\/span>\u00a0our lives<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>seemingly overnigh<\/span>t,\u00a0<\/span>our volunteers<\/span>\u00a0and employees\u00a0<\/span>found innovative ways to\u00a0<\/a><\/span>continue\u00a0<\/span>delivering\u00a0<\/span>programming<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and a sense of normalcy<\/span>, which\u00a0<\/span>were\u00a0<\/span>foundational<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>so many young\u00a0<\/span>lives<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Thousands\u00a0<\/span>of Scouts tuned in<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>virtual events\u00a0<\/span>for activities<\/a> and adventures from home<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>U<\/span>nits across\u00a0<\/span>the country<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>volunteered in<\/span>\u00a0their communities\u00a0<\/span>at<\/span>\u00a0a time when<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>their service<\/span>\u00a0was needed most<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>And\u00a0<\/span>in cases where<\/span>\u00a0it was safe to do so, Scouts escaped the great indoors with their families or<\/span>\u00a0with<\/span>\u00a0socially<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>distant\u00a0<\/span>Scouting activities.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As\u00a0<\/span>much as we persevered, t<\/span>here\u2019s no denying<\/span>\u00a0that<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>this past year<\/span>\u00a0was filled with<\/span>\u00a0extraordinary\u00a0<\/span>challenges<\/span>\u2014some\u00a0<\/span>we faced as a country and others as an organization.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But\u00a0<\/span><\/b>here\u2019s<\/span><\/b>\u00a0one thing I know about the Scouting\u00a0<\/span><\/b>family<\/span><\/b>:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>no matter\u00a0<\/span><\/b>how insurmountable challenges may seem<\/span><\/b>,\u00a0<\/span><\/b>we<\/span><\/b>\u00a0can and do<\/span><\/b>\u00a0rise above<\/span><\/b>\u00a0when we do\u00a0<\/span><\/b>so\u00a0<\/span><\/b>together<\/span><\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n D<\/span>ifficult moments\u00a0<\/span>do not<\/span>\u00a0define us<\/span>. What defines us<\/span>\u00a0is how we\u00a0<\/span>address\u00a0<\/span>th<\/span>ose moments<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>learn<\/span>\u00a0from them<\/span>, grow from them,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and move forward as one\u00a0<\/span>M<\/span>ovement<\/span>\u00a0dedicated to preparing young men and women for\u00a0<\/span>life.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n