2010 Annual Report

Preparing For The Next 100 Years

Fads come and go. Trends peak and fade away. Movements serve their purpose and run their course.

But when you’ve thrived for a hundred years, you can claim to be an institution. And that’s exactly what Scouting is at the end of its first century.

Not bad for an organization that popped up in response to a book about wilderness survival techniques. Lord Baden-Powell’s book, “Scouting For Boys”, prompted countless young men to form groups, called patrols, that eventually formed the basis for the Boy Scouts.

Why? Because Scouting’s founder, Baden-Powell had tapped into a timeless sense of adventure, exploring, and camaraderie. This spirit existed long before Scouting, but it certainly found a home here.

What will Scouting look like in the 22nd century? Our guess is that when a time capsule is opened in 2111, it’ll offer up evidence of an organization that’s still relevant, still dynamic and still an example of Baden-Powell’s vision.

And Mid-Iowa Council Boy Scouts will be just as proud to be a part of it as we are today.

President Letter

Dear Friends,

Thanks for taking the time to learn more about Scouting’s impact on Central Iowa. Mid-Iowa Council serves a 27-county area with more than 20,000 members who are learning and living thevalues of character, citizenship, leadership and fitness.

Our 2010 annual report tells a story of success and a story of growth: growth in programs, growth in service, growth in funding. We exceed nationwide standards in virtually every measure, but our real success can be found in the lives of the young people we serve, right where they live.

In 2011, we embark on our next 100 years by launching the Campaign for a Second Century. This effort to build our new headquarters (the Fred Maytag II Scout Center) and to renew Camp Mitigwa is aimed at securing another century of Scouting’s service to youth.

Of course, it’s all made possible by the efforts of more than 6,000 adult volunteers who teach, guide, mentor, and lead our Scouts through life’s challenges and obstacles. This report is made in their honor.

Sincerely,

Terry G. Lebo
Council President

Kandra H. Dickerson
Council Commissioner
 
Robert E. Hopper
Scout Executive

Highlights From The Last 1/100th Of A Century

Celebrating Our Centennial

Last year marked the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America, and Mid-Iowa Council

held four signature events to inspire and motivate our members.

1. In January, the first annual Governor’s Luncheon for Scouting officially kicked off the 2010 celebration and our Friends of Scouting fund-raising campaign. This inaugural collaborative effort with the Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa raised $60,000.

2. In spring, hundreds of Scouts and leaders participated in the Centennial Tree Planting Program. This effort provided an opportunity to do something good for the community and explore the family tree of various Scouting units—and make memories in the process.

3. Camp Mitigwa hosted Camp Heritage Day, inviting alumni back to relive their summertime camp memories. Despite the brutally hot weather, many attended and shared stories, and the singing of the Camp Mitigwa hymn at the evening campfire brought tears to many an eye.

4. The yearlong celebration culminated in the 100th Anniversary Encampment, held in September at Water Works Park in Des Moines. The daylong rain might have dampened boots and clothes, but not spirits. More than 3,400 participants enjoyed the activities, fellowship, and, perhaps to a lesser extent, the mud.

Summer Camp

Boy Scout camp provided another challenging and fun summer for hundreds of Scouts and set the stage for new directions at camp. After two summers of a trial program to rotate activities, attendance at Cub and Webelos camps is on the rise. More than 660 Scouts attended and helped with planning for 2011 and beyond.

National Jamboree

This event gave 72 Boy Scouts and eight leaders a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend 10 days camping and participating in a wide range of activities with Scouts from all over the world. One highlight of the experience was a tour of Washington, D.C., after the Jamboree was over.

Second century kicks off with a new Scout Center

Carefully following a strategic plan, Mid-Iowa Council launched the Campaign for a Second Century to build a new Scout Headquarters. Much more than an office, this new program center will serve the needs of today’s Scouts and those of the second century of Scouting. 

The campaign and building effort was formally launched in October with the announcement of a legacy gift by the Maytag Family to honor their Eagle Scout father, Fred Maytag II. Helping set the stage for this $13.5 million campaign was Boy Scouts of America’s Chief Scout Executive Bob Mazzuca.

Located on 16 acres along 63rd Street in Des Moines, the Fred Maytag II Scout Center will be available free of charge to every Scout unit, and to not-for-profit organizations. The new facility will serve as camp for the growing after-school Scouting program, as well as a state-of-the-art training center for our leaders. A four-part plan has been created to make this the best local council headquarters in the nation.

• The first part is the most important—the outdoors. The 16-acre property will include a lake, amphitheatre, and activity field to support the outdoor needs of our Scouts.   

• Part two is a multiuse conference center accommodating 200 for training, meetings, dinners, and more.

• Part three is an expanded and improved Scout Shop, three times larger than the cramped quarters used today.

• Part four is the administrative wing, featuring all new data and communication systems.

The Campaign Cabinet is led by Sam Wallace and the Building Committee is chaired by Bob DeWaay. SVPA serves as architect of the Maytag Center; the General Contractor is Graham Construction.

Out of the city and into the woods

As evidence that the spirit of Scouting knows no boundaries, new initiatives are taking our programs into some of the most challenging areas of our communities. Our after-school Scouting efforts support youth in areas where parent and traditional community support is often lacking.  

One such unit serves the youth and families of Hoyt Middle School in Des Moines.  Troop 13 has grown steadily since being formed two years ago, and these relatively new Scouts have collected old uniforms, raised money for new ones, and assembled just enough camping gear to get them out of the inner city and into the woods. Their leader reports that many Scouts in Troop 13 are first-generation immigrants, and that together the troop speaks nine different languages.

YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW:

• More than 40% of members live at or below the poverty level

• More than 6,000 adults volunteer their time to mentor, lead, and teach youth

• Each year more then 100 Scouts in Mid-Iowa Council earn the rank of Eagle Scout.

MEMBERSHIP 2010

Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturers	14,783
Learning for Life	6,000
Total Youth Served~	20,783

Fundraising

Blumenthals honored for philanthropic support

Don and Margo Blumenthal are the first couple to be named Distinguished Iowa Citizens Recognitions Mid-Iowa Council. The Blumenthals were recognized for their outstanding contributions and philanthropic support for many causes and charitable organizations in the community.

Lunch with the Governor

The first annual Governor’s Luncheon for Scouting was chaired by Michele Griswell and jointly hosted by Mid-Iowa Council and the Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa in January. Even though the day was cold and icy, attendance topped 200 and $60,000 was raised for Iowa children and families.

Special thanks were extended to event sponsors Prairie Meadows,

The Principal Financial Group, DMACC and Health-Des Moines, and of course, Governor Chet Culver.

Pull! New fundraising event held at gun club

Chaired by Hugh Ekberg, this new fundraising event featured 14 teams and a total of 56 shooters as a fun way to support Scouting. The event included an auction and reception hosted by Willis Auto Campus in preparation for a fun-filled day of sporting clays at the New Pioneer Gun Club in Waukee.

2010 financial statement

REVENUE

Friends of Scouting                   $752,771           29%

Special Events (popcorn)          $643,453           25%

Camping Revenue                     $232,911           9%

Investment Income                    $363,050           14%

UnitedWay                                $357,061           14%

Activity Income                         $72,568 3%

Sales of Supplies & Other         $145,113           6%

TOTAL                                      $2,622,008        100%

EXPENSES

Program Service                       $2,244,697        89%

Management                             $176,549           7%

Fund-raising                              $100,885           4%

TOTAL                                      $2,522,131        100%

Mid-Iowa Council Leadership

Council President –Terry G. Lebo
Council Commissioner – Kandra H. Dickerson
Scout Executive – Robert E. Hopper

Executive Committee

Charles D. Biskner Michael L. Canney Robert S. DeWaay Joseph M. Folsom Bruce G. Kelley Richard Koch, Jr.	Mark V. Hanson Dr. Robert A. Kemp Donald B. Peschke Dolph V. Pulliam Walter W. Smith James D. Stafford	G. Wayne Stewart G. Thomas Sullivan Stephen E. Sypal Samuel T. Wallace Robert H. Wootten

Council Board Members

James D. Aipperspach Russell V. Bierl James R. Black  Douglas B. Butler Karen S. Collins David L. Cook  Stephen M. Davis David W. Dunn Richard Early Steven W. Eddy	Linda M. Goeldner Tom Harbison  Scott Havens John E. Helgerson John D. Hilmes  Steve Hoeksema  Michael L. Kinter David A. Oman  Stephen W. Roberts  Paul A. Rogness	Jeffrey P. Rose  Mark F. Schlenker Martin J. Smith Thomas E. Stanberry Dr. Kenneth W. Talcott Mark Wampler  David J. Ward  Dr. Joel E. Waymire R. James Wissler