My Goal

Every young person deserves a high quality Scouting experience that will give them a moral compass to navigate life. I remind myself of that short mantra every day, knowing that the work we put in as volunteers and professionals in Scouting makes a difference in the lives of generations of families we serve. 

When I was a district executive in Connecticut, I became close friends with a wonderfully generous donor in the highly affluent town of Darien who had sincere concern about the well-being of immigrant families in neighboring Stamford. Eric and I worked together to identify a partner at the Haitian Community Center, recruit a Scoutmaster and organize a Troop. Eric personally funded the Scouts their equipment and summer camp costs. Because this was their first time at camp (for most the first time outside their neighborhood), we buddied them up with a Troop from Darien for the week. 

The first night it rained like cats & dogs. Sleeping on metal cots resting on wooden platforms in canvas tents, these Haitian boys thought they were going to float away. The boys ended up sharing tents with the affluent Darien Scouts and something magical happened. By the end of the week, there were no Haitian boys and Darien boys, there were just boys who became friends and looked past the color of skin or the economic circumstances and realized they were more alike than different.

Volunteers and professionals partnering together made that possible. We were able to match the resources to the volunteer energy and bring in training and program elements to change lives over one week at summer camp. 

I know that Scouting can grow in New York. It has to. Our mission is too important and our impact too critical. At a base level, families need a program that keeps their children safe, that helps instill common, core values and that introduces them to caring mentors. Our program gives families the chance to grow together, try new things and make memories. We build self-confidence and instill a sense of adventure in young people. 

My goal is to work hand in hand with the Board, volunteers, community investors and families of Twin Rivers Council to position Scouting as the agency of choice for families. I will bring my background in fundraising and skills in applying technology to grow the resources to expand our mission. I will work to identify and cultivate new relationships to grow Scouting. 

I firmly believe that everything we need to make Scouting awesome is already within reach. We just have trouble seeing the forest for the trees. 

Every young person deserves a mountaintop experience like I have had, and I will work hard every day to make that happen.