SR 8 (LSB 1694XS (2) 87)

SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 8

BY  LOFGREN

A Resolution recognizing February 8, 2017, as National Boy Scout Day.

   WHEREAS, in 1908, British retired General Lord Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell established the Boy Scout movement in Great Britain; and
   WHEREAS, the Boy Scouts of America was founded in Washington, D.C., on February 8, 1910, by Chicago publisher William D. Boyce after the “Unknown Scout” aided Mr. Boyce through a dense London fog and refused a tip for the assistance; and
   WHEREAS, legislation establishing the federal charter of the Boy Scouts of America was signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson on June 15, 1916; and
   WHEREAS, the Buffalo Bill Council of the Boy Scouts of America and the Sac-Fox Council of the Boy Scouts of America merged in 1967, creating the Illowa Council of the Boy Scouts of America, headquartered in Davenport, Iowa; and
   WHEREAS, the Illowa Council serves Cedar, Clinton, Jackson, Muscatine, and Scott counties in Iowa and eight counties in western Illinois; and
   WHEREAS, the Illowa Council continues to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices by teaching them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law; and
   WHEREAS, the Illowa Council has over 6,000 registered youth members that it serves in its Scouting programs and over 2,000 registered adult volunteers; and
   WHEREAS, the Illowa Council of the Boy Scouts of America operates four main Scouting programs: Cub Scouts, a traditional Scouting program for elementary school age boys; Boy Scouts, a traditional Scouting program for middle school and high school age boys; Venturing, a high-adventure based leadership program for young men and women ages 13 through 20; and Exploring, a career-development program for young men and women ages 14 through 20; and
   WHEREAS, both adult and youth members strive to fulfill the Scout Motto of “Be Prepared” and the Scout Slogan of “Do a Good Turn Daily”; and
   WHEREAS, the members of the Illowa Council provide more than 8,000 hours of community service annually; NOW THEREFORE,

   BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the Senate encourages the Illowa Council of the Boy Scouts of America to continue promoting community service and leadership development, encourages the Boy Scouts to continue to emphasize character building, responsible citizenship, and outdoor stewardship, and applauds the Illowa Council for instilling the values of the Scout Oath and the Scout Law in young Americans; and

   BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Senate recognizes February 8, 2017, as National Boy Scout Day, to be acknowledged by all citizens of the state.