A Message From The Director

A Message From The Director

For over a century, Scouting has thrived and provided a premier program for youth leadership development in our country. Scouting’s journey for continued success and growth has required perseverance and clarity of vision. In recent decades, America’s youth have faced new demands for their time and attention. The family unit has shifted and technology has supplanted baseball mitts in the hands of boys. The future of the next generation is less clear. How will Scouting respond to the challenges facing today’s youth? Will Scouting continue to provide our nation’s future leaders? These questions are on the hearts and minds of all Scouters.

The Boy Scouts of America Scouting Alumni & Friends (SAF) exists to help secure the future of Scouting. For years, the SAF has worked with councils and alumni to nurture the culture of Scouting. Connecting alumni’s passions and resources with Scouting is the key to a vibrant future. Fiscal security and an abundance of quality leaders enables local councils to dream big and create innovative ways to engage today’s youth. We continue to invest resources to provide support to help local councils and alumni both connect and reconnect. The SAF is honored to play an active role in the future of Scouting.

Check out one way that both alumni and local councils can stay connected. The Scouting Alumni Network—a directory designed to connect Scouting alumni and broadcast the latest news in Scouting—was created with the potential to be more robust over the long term. For instance, it does not just include NESA members, but brings together records from NESA, SAF, and other Scouting–affiliated groups. It also includes updated information from the most recent Eagle Scout directory project.

This one database will make it easier for alumni to find each other and keep their records up-to-date, while improving local councils’ ability to engage with people who are committed to advancing the cause of Scouting.

During the recent Eagle Scout directory project (now underway), an overwhelming number of Eagle Scouts asked NESA to provide an online option for Eagle Scout alumni to keep their information current. The new Scouting Alumni Network provides Eagle Scouts that ability.

In addition, local councils often reach out to the National Service Center for information on alumni who’ve moved into their service areas. With this database, Eagle Scouts will be able to update their information as it changes, and councils will be able to access that information in real time.

We have created a tutorial for Scouting alumni to use in conjunction with the Scouting Alumni website (www.scoutingalumni.org) that will help familiarize you with the Scouting Alumni Network. You may view it below or at https://youtu.be/l50HEIphn2o.

Once a Scout, Always a Scout,

Dustin Farris Director, Scouting Alumni and Friends