My passion in Scouting is giving leadership opportunities to our youths and watching them grow. I love seeing Scouts get more comfortable talking to adults or organizing and leading other Scouts in activities.
I support Scouting by serving and giving—by sharing my time, talent and treasure. The best way to show your kids what is important is to not just talk about it but do it. Thankfully, my husband has supported the time I spend on my Scouting activities.
What is your Scouting background?
I have been around Scouting since I was about 5 years old.
My dad started out as a Cubmaster—he always took me to pack meetings, and I got to hang out and do fun things. He was also a long-term Scoutmaster. My three brothers are Eagle Scouts, and I can remember helping them with their Eagle projects.
How did you get involved as a Scouting volunteer?
Once my first son, Ryan, was at the age to join Cub Scouts, we found Pack 683 in Springfield, Virginia. I joined as an assistant den leader in 1998, and Ryan and I had a blast. We moved to Illinois in 2000, and we found a pack in the Grayslake area. Once my second son, Jake, became Cub Scout age, he was more than ready to be a Scout. I served as a den leader in Pack 672 in Wildwood.
Both of my sons crossed over to Troop 672, where I still serve as the treasurer, an assistant Scoutmaster, activities coordinator, Friends of Scouting coordinator, and much more.
I’ve been to Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan every year but one year since 2001. There is nothing better than a week or two in the Northwoods! I have over 300 nights of camping. I’ve been on a trek to Philmont and two treks to Sea Base, and I was first assistant Scoutmaster at the 2013 National Jamboree.
I encourage adults to get involved in Scouting. It’s so much fun to do new things with your kids and to make the program available for other Scouts. I have made so many friends in Scouts. And staying active makes you happy and keeps you healthy, and it gives back to your community.
What else have you done as a volunteer in Scouting?
I was asked to participate in the North Star District in 2007 as the district Family Friends of Scouting chair, then the council FFOS chair, then the North Star District chair.
I’ve been on the executive board for many years and served as the council commissioner and then the council president.
Being president is very time consuming, and you are responsible for so many things. The rewarding part is being able to see the progress we are making and being invited to participate in the celebrations of it. I love seeing Scouts having fun or having new experiences because of Scouting.
Why did you decide to become council president?
Former council presidents Ken Morrison and Greg Lawless convinced me the time was right to follow in their footsteps. I’ll admit it took more than one ask.
My belief in the Scouting program and my commitment to making sure it continues to be the best youth program available made me willing to take on council president. I’ll admit it was a bigger position than what I expected, but you have the opportunity to support, recognize and drive the many amazing volunteers and activities available to our Scouts.
As our council’s first female president, I was asked a few times, “Why you? You aren’t an Eagle Scout.” My answer was always the same: “I was raised with Eagle Scouts, and I raised two of my own, so I must know something about it.”
What’s next for you in Scouting?
I am stepping back as president in February after a two-year term. My next volunteer stint will be as chair of Council Service Territory 6, which includes 14 councils from central Illinois up to Michigan’s upper peninsula. I hope I can help the other councils in our area keeping Scouting strong and relevant in our communities.
What do you enjoy most about the program?
I love seeing Scouts have opportunities to do things they’d never be able to do if they weren’t in Scouting. I think it’s great when Scouts are doing various service projects for their communities. I remember my own Bear Scout son during a roadside cleanup saying in a disgusted voice, “Who do they think is picking this up?” He learned a lot about community support over the years.
He got married two years ago, and it was definitely a special moment at his wedding taking a picture with him, his Scoutmaster and four of his Eagle Scout patrol buddies nine years after he aged out. It’s nice that Scouting makes opportunities for lifelong friendships.