43
Valley Eagle Scouts help mark 100th anniversary
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
alcorn@vindy.com
BOARDMAN
Photo
William Wainio
Photo
James Evans Jr.
Photo
Scout leader John Wolboldt
The Boy Scouts of America is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Here are some fast facts about local Scouting:
The first three troops in the then-Youngstown Council were Troop 9, sponsored by First Presbyterian Church; Troop 23, sponsored by Brown Memorial Church; and Troop 4, sponsored by Rodef Shalom Temple. They had a combined membership of 34 boys.
In 2009, the Greater Western Reserve Council, Boy Scouts of America, serving six counties in Northeast Ohio, including Mahoning and Trumbull, produced 133 Eagle Scouts.
Other 2009 information about the Western Reserve Council:
Service projects by Eagle Scouts involved more than 1,600 other Scouts and adult leaders, 900 non-Scouts and 16,283 service hours.
Served 13,000 members, 1,400 of whom are Scouts with special needs or at-risk youths.
Registered adult volunteers, 3,500.
Scouts who attended long-term summer camp, 1,274.
Cub Scouts who attended day, resident and family camps, 1,035.
Source: Greater Western Reserve Council
It was a day for Eagles.
Eagle Scouts James Evans Jr. and William Wainio were featured speakers at the fifth annual Celebration of Scouting fundraiser breakfast, which also celebrated Scouting’s 100th anniversary in the United States.
Evans, a senior at Canfield High School who wants to be a nuclear engineer, and Wainio, a junior at Ursuline High who plans to be a priest, talked about Scouting and what it means to them at Tuesday’s event at the Holiday Inn here.
Judge Theresa Dellick of Mahoning County Juvenile Court and longtime Scout leader John Wolboldt, who received a Golden Eagle Award given for service to Scouting and the community, also made brief remarks.
“I’m proud to tell you I’m an Eagle Scout, said Evans, son of James and Dianalyn Evans.
Scouting is like a family that is willing to work together toward a common goal, said Evans, an assistant Scoutmaster.
“I feel an obligation to give back,” said Evans, who is a senior class officer and a member of the speech and debate team, among his many activities at school and in the community.
Wainio, who is active in St. Luke Church, Boardman, as well as in school and Scouting, said Scouting has helped him grow in many ways, and the leadership skills he learned as a Scout have carried over into other areas of his life.
“I pray every boy has the same Boy Scouting opportunity I had,” he said.
Judge Dellick said she was drawn into the Scouting program by a longtime Scout leader who envisioned a partnership between the Scouts and juvenile court.
He wanted to help at-risk boys who otherwise might miss the opportunity to build projects and learn leadership skills and the positive role models that Scouting provides, she said.
“Scouting builds young men who become young leaders and men of integrity,” the judge said.
Wolboldt joined the Boy Scouts 76 years ago at age 10 because a Scout saved him from drowning at a church function at Yellow Creek Park in Struthers. A year later, he joined Troop 25 in Canfield and earned his Eagle Scout award at 16.
He and his wife, Beverly, have three children, a daughter, Barb, and three sons, Dan, Bill and Clint, who became Eagle Scouts. During Wolboldt’s tenure with Troop 25, 130 members earned the rank of Eagle Scout, Boy Scouting’s highest honor.
“Keep up the good work and keep Scouting going. It’s needed so badly in the country today,” Wolboldt said.
The financial fund-raising goal is $40,000, $18,000 of which was raised before Tuesday’s breakfast, said Gary Erlinger, Greater Western Reserve Council Scout executive.
All gifts to the Scout council are tax-deductible. Erlinger said anyone who wishes to donate can do so by making checks payable to the Greater Western Reserve Council, Boy Scouts of America, and mail it to 4930 Enterprise Blvd. N.W., Warren, OH 44481.