Season’s Greetings Fellow Eagle Scouts
2022 was a year of challenges and a year of great accomplishments. As I reflect on the last 12 months, it occurs to me that we are fortunate that Scouting is a part of our lives because the Scouting experience teaches us how to persevere, especially through trying times.
There have been many changes to Scouting over the past few years. What has not changed is the fundamental values of Scouting and the indelible principles of the Scout Oath and Scout Law. We confirm our dedication and service to youth, communities, and families––and my commitment to the movement that creates a world filled with leaders who are responsible, and participating citizens.
We learned through Scouting that when times are tough, we stick together and get to work. We recommit ourselves to the tenets of the Scout Law. We are loyal, helpful, courteous, kind, and brave and we build up the movement that has given us so much. As Eagle Scouts, hard work and commitment to a goal is nothing new. We must answer the call and will be counted on to do our best to provide the leadership that BSA needs now and in the near future.
So, I want to remind you, your Scouting journey did not end at Eagle. As a member of the National Eagle Scout Association, you are furthering the mission of Scouting by supporting and celebrating Eagle Scouts at all points along life’s adventures. Here are just a few examples of key moments we celebrated with you in this, NESAs 50th Anniversary year:
You Spoke. We Heard You.
Importantly, you spoke. You told us you missed the connection you felt and the information you received through Eagles’ Call Magazine. And since the printed magazine is unlikely to come back, your fellow NESA members, along with BSA national staff, went to work to deliver the next best thing.
First, if you haven’t seen it yet, make sure to visit (and bookmark) the re-imagined nesa.org. Your new site features the stories and information you told us you missed most, including: Faces & Places, the very useful Local NESA Committee locator, and Eagle Scout Spotlights. Stay tuned for even more new content curated and brought to you by your fellow NESA members.
In addition, the member’s only Eagle’s Calls Insider e-newsletter (designed to fill the void of Eagles’ Call Magazine), was launched last spring to bring top stories from the website directly to your inbox.
Our Community Celebrated:
- 65 Eagles received a combined $536,000 in scholarships to further their educational journey at four-year and trade institutions.
- 94 council recipients of the Adams Service Project of the Year award
- 16 NST projects were recognized, and for the first time, the national award recognized the project of a female Eagle Scout.
- 2 Eagle Scouts researched an Ecuador rainforest through the World Explorer program.
- 18 new Distinguished Eagle Scouts.
- 250 new NESA Outstanding Eagle Scouts.
- 17 new members to the NESA Legacy Society.
Your fellow NESA members were busy at events this year!
Here are just a few of their experiences:
- In June, we made new and strengthened old relationships at the first National Gathering of Alumni at Philmont Scout Ranch that served to connect and educate diverse Scouting alumni from across the country.
- In July, we hosted a spectacular showing at the National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC) in Knoxville, Tennessee. I think I hummed “Old Rocky Top” for weeks following NOAC! Your dedicated fellow NESA members:
- Delivered three “sold out” training courses over two days for youth and parents.
- Brought down the house with a sold-out NESA 50th Anniversary Celebration event and dinner. During this event we recognized Eagle Scouts as well as awardees of the prestigious NESA Outstanding Eagle Scout Award, and the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. The program also featured a presentation of the NESA Distinguished Service Award to Dr. Brad Epstein.
- I had the opportunity to speak, and incoming BSA National President Brad Tilden took part in a Q&A session.
In closing, our 50th Anniversary year is a celebration of you. None of the council support, scholarship awards, and recognition events would be possible without your dedication and financial support.
Remember, there is no Scouting without you and no NESA without you.
I call on you to commit yourself to three simple actions that will strengthen Scouting and the future for young people and communities across the country:
- Help NESA to be Visible. Spread the word about NESA to other Eagles and encourage them to Join Us. If you are a 5-year member, keep your membership current or upgrade to a Life membership. And, here’s a tip: the holiday season is a great time to gift a NESA membership!
- Help NESA to be Relevant. With your help, we can increase the number of scholarships we give annually. Give to the NESA Scholarship fund or by joining the NESA Legacy Society.
- Help NESA be a place to Get Involved. Pitch in with your local NESA committee. 2023 offers an exciting opportunity to staff the National Jamboree
I look forward to working hand-in-hand with you in 2023 to bring the power of Scouting to youth, communities, and families across the country. Have a joyous holiday season and a blessed new year.
Yours in Scouting,
Frank Tsuru
National President
National Eagle Scout Association
