Leadership breakfast raises the roof for Scouts

COEUR d’ALENE — A storm of support gathered Thursday morning at The Coeur d’Alene Resort and left more than $35,000 in its wake.

The storm was the Boys Scouts of the Inland Northwest’s annual leadership breakfast. This year it starred Eagle Scout and Discovery Channel star storm-chaser Reed Timmer. Timmer regaled the crowd with dramatic stories of storm-chasing danger and scientific advancement, and stuck around to autograph copies of his book, “Into the Storm.” But a productive tempest was stirred up when the checkbooks came out — with some 130 community members donating $35,916 to support Scouting programs for local boys ages 6 to 20.

Jim Thompson, publisher of The Press and chairman of this year’s breakfast, wasn’t surprised.

“Two things kept me focused during the organization of the Boy Scout Leadership Breakfast: The number of leaders in our business community who responded with a quick 'yes' followed immediately with ‘I was a Scout,’” he said, “and the Benjamin Franklin quote that anchors all the correspondence with Boy Scouts of America, ‘Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.’”

Rod Colwell, president of Mountain West Bank and executive board member of the Inland Northwest Council, said, “Scouting is a rare opportunity that boys can’t find elsewhere. The Scouting program creates better leaders and citizens for our country.”

Steve Griffitts, mayor of Hayden and Scouting supporter said, “The Scout Oath and Law teaches key elements that are vital to our growth as a society. Scouting brings all that to fruition.”

Tim McCandless, Scout executive and CEO of the Inland Northwest Council, thanked the community for its support of strong Scouting programs and highlighted the unique partnership that Scouting has with CDA4KIDS, part of Coeur d’Alene School District.

“The Inland Northwest Council provides Scouting activities for youth participating in CDA4KIDS after-school programs each week,” McCandless said. “This program brings Scouting to youth who need the positive influence of our character development programs. It would not be possible without those who contribute to Scouting.”

The Inland Northwest Council serves 1,800 youths in Kootenai County with youth development programs that prepare them for success in life. The council owns and operates Camp Easton on Lake Coeur d’Alene and the local Scout Service Center in Hayden, with four staff members who support 850 adult volunteers in the Kootenai County area.