Boy Scout Troop 300 and Mount Vernon Church

The text below is from the message delivered to Mount Vernon Church
on February 11, 2008, by a member of Troop 300

Thirty-six years ago, Mount Vernon United Methodist Church chartered Boy Scout Troop 300. Your troop has helped to develop young men, some of whom are now middle-aged men, to become successful and contributing members of society and leaders in the communities where they live. The character building, citizenship and leadership training, and outdoor and interpersonal skills learned by our scouts are lifelong skills that are as valid now as when you first chartered your Boy Scout Troop.

Mount Vernon Church has stood side by side with Troop 300, providing us a home, a place to meet to develop our scouting skills and to make new friends. Mount Vernon Church has also been a financial supporter when the troop’s coffers were more dust than cash. For all of this Troop 300 is very, very grateful.

About 5 years ago, Troop 300 was at a very difficult juncture. The scoutmaster and assistant scoutmaster both became unavailable due to job circumstances. Our senior scouts were graduating and moving on to college. The troop consisted of 10 or so 12-year-old boys and 1 senior scout who was at the ripe old age of 14.

There was talk of disbanding the troop due to lack of adult leadership, but the young scouts were determined and the parents of these young men kept bringing them to meetings, organizing Merit Badge classes and kept searching for a scoutmaster. Their troop, their identity within scouting, was Troop 300 and Mount Vernon United Methodist Church, and they were not to abandon her for other local scout units.

Today Troop 300 still enjoys the strong support Mount Vernon Church and of parents who are participating as committee members, adult leaders, and Merit Badge counselors. Troop 300 has always been known for its camping and outdoor activities. We are a strong troop and we are once again attracting young scouts into our program. Since 2002, our troop has grown from 10 active scouts to over 30 active scouts. Seven of these scouts have obtained the highest scouting honor, having reached the rank of Eagle scout. Several other scouts will obtain the Eagle rank within the next several months.

Troop 300 is greatly appreciative of Mount Vernon United Methodist Church’s support, and I hope that this bit of recent history brings you up to date as to our status, our success, and our need for your continued support. We thank you.