Thank you for all you do for Scouting. Without volunteers like yourself we would not be able to make today’s youth into tomorrow’s leaders with the Scouting program. The last 5 years have been very challenging for Scouting. While we have had great accomplishments including the number of Eagle Scouts, the completion on the new Yammine Lodge at Camp Berry, and the start of construction on Cooper Lodge with Hubbard Dining Hall at Camp Lakota, we have many challenges in front of us as a council.

In the past 10 years as a council our budget has not grown in terms of income and expenses, but the cost of operations continues to climb. Emerging from the pandemic our annual popcorn sales have not returned to pre-Covid levels and Friends of Scouting has remained flat. While our council has made the conscious decision to invest in and maintain our 2 unique and outstanding camps, Lakota and Berry, they require considerable council resources.

I invite you to join me and council board member Cheryl Parson for an informal conversation over coffee on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, 7:15 am at The Meeting Place on Market (220 W Market St, Lima, OH  45801) to share the successes and challenges we face as the Black Swamp Area Council. Please RSVP to mandy.meadows@Scouting.org . Please note that if no RSVPs are received the coffee conversations will not be held. Please RSVP by Friday, December 15, 2023. 

I hope to talk Scouting with you over a cup of coffee.