Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-03-29
BOY SCOUT FUNDS
So LOW THAT THE
WORK IS CRIPPLED
It Has Been Found Necessary
to Abandon Headquarters
and Drop Secretary.
SITUATION is VERY SERIOUS

"A few evenings ago the executive,
finance and campaign committees Of
the Wilmington Council. Boy Scouts
of America, held meeting at which
the financial problem of the organiya-
ton was thoroughly discussed and the
decision made TO vacate the Scout
headquarters on West Ninth street
and dispense with the services Of the
secretary. This conclusion was forced
upon the committees by the fact that
all efforts to secure sufficient funds
10 keep the organization intact had
thus far failed. The council felt that.
unless IL was decided to totally ahan-
don Scout activities In this commune
", they could not dispense with the
services Of the Scout executive, Frank
y. Greenhawk, who was selected among
hundreds of scout executives az the
proper person to carry the story Of
American Scout organization and
methods To France and who spent the
entire summer of 1927 In France in
assisting the French authorities 70
perfect the Boy Scout organization
along American lines and ideals. Mr.
Greenhawk's salary is much less than
he could earn in ordinary walks of
life. hut he Is Interested In boyhood
and is devoting his lie and energies
To the advancement of Roy Scout
. In June, 1919. a campaign was con.
Quoted for two-year budget and, as
a result Of this campaign. SIS. $50 was
collected for the use Of the Rov scouts
This amount sufiiCed 20 finance activ-
,tties up To June. 1921. at which time
another campaign should have been
staged. Owing To the serious business
depression prevailing at that timo the
council felt that II would be unwise TO
go before the public for a two-y ear
budget, and, in the hopes that there
might be some Improvement In bust
ness conditions In the autumn. n few
members OF the council borrowed on
their own securities s. .00O with which
10 finance the summer activities. When
October arrived this community was
faced with the problem of raising sle0. o.
coo 90 prevent actual suffering and
starvation among the unemployed and
with practically no Improvement in
the business situation. Meantime. the
money borrowed by members Of the
council became due and IL further be-
came necessary to secure funds 10
meet current expenses. In view OF
these facts the council decided To CON
duct quiet campaign. with the idea
of raising $40 600 which would pay of
the outstanding obligations and f.
nance activities until October. 1922
A quiet canvass was made among a
selected list Of names. every care be-
T ing taken to solicit contributions from
only those whom the committee felt
/ would be in a position TO contribute
In spite of all efforts the council real
I lied less than $4,000 which sum suf-
Decd 10 pay of the loans and carry the
current expenses TO the present time
/ In view OF these facts. the commit
tees decided that all expense. other
than the scout executive. should be
eliminated and that a final effort
should be made 10 secure sufficient
funds 10 finance the summer camp and
pay the salary OF the executive to Oc-
totSr. this year. at which time the peo-
pie Of this community should be given
a final opportunity TO decide whether
or not the wonderful organization
which has been 50 laboriously built vi
and maintained and which has accom-,
plished so much good IN the community
be allowed to die, or whether this com.
munity will contribute enough money
TO keep the organization intact anC
permit a healthy growth
The amount Of funds required e
keep the Boy Scout organization ac.
tive and growing IS approximately
$4,000 per year. which amount /,
saved the community many times over
by preventing Juvenile delinquency
and adult crime. 10 say nothing o
the improved physical condition OF tn,
boys who are active in scout work.