House Concurrent Resolution 59

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA AND THE PINE BURR AREA COUNCIL ON THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF SCOUTING ON FEBRUARY 8, 2010.

WHEREAS, on February 8, 2010, the Boy Scouts of America and the Pine Burr Area Council of Mississippi will celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America; and

WHEREAS, the Boy Scouts of America was incorporated on February 8, 1910, under the laws of the District of Columbia and later, officially chartered by the United States Congress; and

WHEREAS, by the year 1912, Boy Scouts were enrolled in every state of the nation; and

WHEREAS, on June 15, 1916, Congress granted a Federal Charter to the Boy Scouts of America; and

WHEREAS, in the 1930s, in response to the request of President Roosevelt in a radio address delivered on February 10, the Boy Scouts performed a nationwide Good Turn, collecting some 1,812,284 items of clothing, household furnishings, foodstuffs and supplies for the distressed and needy; and

WHEREAS, with the declaration of war in the 1940s, the government requested that the Boy Scouts provide service for the distribution of defense bonds and stamp posters, collection of aluminum and wastepaper, defense housing surveys, victory gardens, distribution of air raid posters, cooperation with the American Red Cross, and by joint agreement with the Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization, services in three capacities - messengers, assisting emergency medical units and firewatchers; and

WHEREAS, in the 1950s, the Scouts distributed more than a million posters and 30 million Liberty Bell doorknob hangers in a get-out-the-vote campaign; and

WHEREAS, the 500,000th Eagle Scout Badge was presented and the 40 millionth youth was registered in scouting in the 1960s; and

WHEREAS, in the 1970s, Project SOAR (Save Our American Resources) was initiated as an ongoing BSA Service Project with an estimated 60,000 BSA units taking part in SOAR-related conservation projects; and

WHEREAS, Eagle Scout Gerald Ford became the 38th President of the United States in 1974; and

WHEREAS, in the 1980s, the Boy Scouts of America celebrated its 75th Anniversary; and

WHEREAS, in the 1990s, a focused initiative in Urban Emphasis encouraged the formation of Cub Scout packs, Boy Scout troops, and Explorer posts in low income and minority communities, while the bilingual publication of scouting literature was increased to serve Spanish-speaking parents and leaders; and

WHEREAS, since the turn of the 21st Century, the Boy Scouts of America's 100 millionth youth was registered and the BSA launched Good Turn for America, a national initiative to address the problems of hunger, homelessness, inadequate housing and poor health with the Salvation Army, the American Red Cross, and Habitat for Humanity as national partners; and

WHEREAS, in Mississippi, the Boy Scouts of America Pine Burr Area Council presently serves 7,000 young people with over 2,000 leaders assisting the program in over 300 units; and

WHEREAS, the Pine Burr Area Council, formed in 1927, presently serves Scouts and Scouters in the southern 17 counties of Mississippi, including Covington, Forrest, George, Greene, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Lamar, Marion, Pearl River, Perry, Smith and Wayne Counties; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize the accomplishments of the Boy Scouts of America and the many young men who have reached their full potential as adults as a result of the values instilled in them as Boy Scouts, thereby bringing great honor to our state:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby acknowledge and commend the Boy Scouts of America and the Pine Burr Area Council on the 100th Anniversary of scouting on February 8, 2010.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the Boy Scouts of America, the Pine Burr Area Council and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.