The Troop 1954
Wednesday Newsletter

SCOUTING FOR DIVERSITY; LOCAL BOY SCOUT LEADERS SAY RECRUITING LATINOS IS A CHALLENGE.

May 8, 2005 News & Record (Greensboro, NC)
By Tina Firesheets Staff Writer

Eggs on a bagel sounds like a tasty breakfast to Fernando Atilano.

But it's a foreign concept to Devonta McAdoo and Ali Jimenez, who laugh and tease their friend for his "weird" taste.

"Fernando likes his eggs..." Ali can't even finish the sentence before laughter overcomes him.

Devonta finishes for him: "...with bagels." Then, he too, begins to laugh.

The boys, members of Boy Scout Troop 764, meet weekly in the Multicultural Center at Christ the King Catholic Church. At this meeting, they are charged with planning their meals for an upcoming camping trip. Their list includes fruit cocktail, pork and beans, bread and roast beef. And, of course, eggs and bagels.

The 15-member Cub and Boy Scout Troop is made up mostly of African American and Latino boys, which is unusual, says troop leader Daphne McAdoo. Her troop, established in 2000, always stands out at camporees and other Scout gatherings.

Scott Hagler, a local Boy Scout district director, says on average, a 30-member troop in this area may have four or five minorities.

One demographic the Boy Scouts hope to target is the growing Latino population. Last year the national Boy Scouts of America organiza tion launched a Soccer for Scouts program, which aims to draw Latino youths. Hagler said his district, which covers a nine-county area, is discussing ways to recruit Latinos. One way is to reach out to churches such as Christ the King, which offers a bilingual day care and preschool program. They also want to recruit volunteers who speak Spanish.

"It needs to be a community effort. Just marketing to the Latino/Hispanic community is hard to do," Hagler says.

McAdoo's assistant Scout master, Pancho Jimenez, says it's hard to sell Scouting to the Hispanic community.

"It's not something they relate to because it's considered a middle-class activity ... most of the (Mexican) immigrants we have come from a more poor background. It's something they're not used to. It's taking the time to play when you should be working," Jimenez says. "We try to convince them that we're trying to teach family and community (values)."

Expense can also be a deterrent for some families, McAdoo says. Most of her Scouts either attend Christ the King or live in the surrounding community in east High Point, where many of the children are raised by a single parent or their grandparents. It's hard for single parents to find the time to juggle their jobs, school and extracurricular activities, she says.

She tries to alleviate some of the financial pressure by allowing her parents to pay for badges or shirts as they have the money. Membership dues are just $5 a month, but shirts and neckerchiefs cost more than $20. McAdoo has extra uniforms at her home for Scouts who need one for special ceremonies but can't afford one.

Jimenez, a native of Peru, was a Boy Scout there and in Venezuela. His first Scout outing was a three-day camping trip led by Peruvian military officers. He was equipped with only a potato and a knife. While Scouting in Peru was more militaristic, his Venezuelan experience was more similar to the American Boy Scout model. He has fond memories of working with his grandfather - a carpenter - on Scout projects. Woodworking is a hobby Jimenez continues today.

Jimenez also says there's a reluctance among some Latinos to integrate outside their community if they don't speak English well.

"We're all immigrants, yes. But we're all in this new country together," he says. "This is your country now. Get involved in your community."

Scouting has helped Fernando improve his English. His family moved to the United States from Mexico six years ago. His younger brother Angel and cousin Andres also joined the Scouts. Fernando is now an assistant senior patrol leader - the highest ranking Scout in the troop.

Jimenez says he's most proud of Fernando's emerging leadership skills. The boy cares about his Scout projects and has set goals.

"He's amazing. I've seen him grow into a young man," Jimenez says. "He came to us as a Webelo. He was a goofball."

This is the sort of progression Jimenez likes to witness in his own son, Ali. It's been a great bonding experience for them, Jimenez says: "You're getting to know your son and how his thinking is changing. He's getting older and forming his own concepts, his own ideas."
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Also, got to mention, two major scandals this week, one about the mayor of Spokane WA.  The other about scout numbers in Atlanta GA.