[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19556]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS OF THE BOY 
                    SCOUTS OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HEATH SHULER

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 17, 2008

  Mr. SHULER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 2,000 committed 
and dedicated volunteers who advise, educate and inspire over 4,000 Boy 
Scouts in Western North Carolina.
  The Boy Scouts of America was incorporated on February 8, 1910, 
chartered by Congress in 1916, and organized in Western North Carolina 
as the Daniel Boone Council since 1920. The Boy Scouts of America 
strives to develop good traits of character in young people and to 
instill in them values of good citizenship. The Boy Scouts program is 
available to all youth regardless of race, religion, or socioeconomic 
level.
  The Daniel Boone Council of Western North Carolina serves 4,088 youth 
in 14 counties through 173 Cub Scout Packs, Boy Scout Troops, Venturing 
Crews, Sea Scout Ships, and Explorer Posts.
  The youth are supported by 2,000 dedicated volunteer leaders who 
recruit, raise funds, serve on the executive board and committees, and 
educate and inspire the youth of the program. The Scouting volunteers 
report that their involvement with the Boy Scouts has raised their 
environmental awareness, aided them in ethical and moral decision-
making, and helped them become better parents and citizens. The 
benefits to the volunteers, however, are slight in comparison to the 
life altering experiences that their work provides to the Scouts.
  The Boy Scouts of America has designated 2008 as the ``Year of the 
Volunteer'' to honor the volunteers who serve across the Nation. In 
Western North Carolina, the Daniel Boone Council has set apart 
September 13 as their special day to honor their volunteers through a 
Volunteer Recognition Banquet. It is my hope, however, that we continue 
to honor the tremendous contributions of the Daniel Boone Council's 
2000 volunteers throughout 2008 and for years and decades to come.
  It is with great respect and gratitude that I commend these dedicated 
and committed volunteers. I am honored to be able to stand with the 
Daniel Boone Council in recognizing their hard work and service.

                          ____________________