JEFFERSON, February 3 — As Scouts around the country prepare to celebrate the centennial of one of America’s most beloved service and training organizations, The Northeast Georgia Council – representing 26 counties in the state – will kick off its celebrations with a “good turn” of its own.
The local council will plant a large willow oak tree at its Jefferson Service Center. The tree planting is a symbolic start of an effort that has been in the planning stages for several months, according to Council Centennial Committee Chairman Tom Ferrin.
“Over the course of our Centennial Year, we expect to plant trees, build and clear trails, partner with schools, honor long-time Scouts, seek out past Scouts, and do many other good deeds for our communities,” said Ferrin, a Gwinnett County resident. “While Scouts have made countless contributions to our Northeast Georgia communities through the years, we plan to take our efforts to a higher level as we celebrate our council’s 75th anniversary and the 100th birthday of Scouting.”
The tree planting ceremony will include brief remarks at the service center Monday at 5 p.m. Media, Scouts, and the general public are all welcome to attend. An oak tree was donated for the planting by Pinebush Nursery of Hull, Ga. Pinebush has donated additional large trees that will be planted in seven of the Council’s districts.
“We are very appreciative of the contribution from Pinebush and feel that planting a tree is an appropriate way to launch our centennial celebration efforts” said Scout Executive Trip Selman. “A tree’s growth and maturity are symbolic of how a boy develops in the Scouting program.”
Selman is quick to point out that the Centennial year has prompted Scout leaders nationally and locally to look inward as well as outward.
“The Boy Scouts of America is using its historic anniversary not just as an opportunity to reflect on its impressive past, but to reinvigorate the organization for the next 100 years,” said Selman.
As part of its multifaceted celebration, the BSA rolled out a new, year-long awards program to recognize the good turns and positive contributions made by Scouts, past and present.
The program, called A Year of Celebration, A Century of Making a Difference, recognizes personal development in five core Scouting values: leadership, achievement, character, community service, and outdoor stewardship. More information on the Scouting Centennial can be found at www.Scouting.org/100years. More information on the Northeast Georgia Council of the Boy Scouts can be found here: http://www.nega-bsa.org/.
The Jefferson Service Center is located just off of Hwy 129 less than one mile north of I-85.
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About the Boy Scouts of America
Serving more than 4.6 million youth between the ages of 7 and 20, with more than 300 councils throughout the United States and its territories, the BSA is the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. The Scouting movement is comprised of 1.2 million volunteers, whose dedication of time and resources has enabled the BSA to remain the nation’s leading youth-service organization. For more information on the BSA, please visit www.Scouting.org.
