Re: eagle project
David G. Hills (Adcdave@AOL.COM)
Sun, 13 Oct 1996 15:57:54 -0400
In a message dated 96-10-12 14:29:43 EDT, Robert Cataldo wrote:
>The council eagle project coordinator does not like blood drives (
>does not feel it is good enough or will have sufficient hours ).
I have heard of this prejudice before, one district advancement chairman was
said to prefer projects where you could take before and after pictures. I
happen to disagree, because of a news story on the subject that I read
several years ago (I think that the same story was in a history of the first
75 years of the BSA that was sold at Scout shops).
Ths story went something like this:
A Life Scout, confined to a hospital with bone cancer, was looking for an
Eagle poject. In talking to the hospital's blood donor coordinator, he
became aware of the need for blood and submitted a project to recruit 100
donors. When the advancement committee checked with the hospital
coordinator, she advised against it on the grounds that it would be too
difficult for the scout to complete, and suggested that the goal be changed
ot 50 donors. The scout refused the change and it was approved as submitted.
The scout used the telephone to coordinate the efforts of his troop, school
friends and family to contact and persuade adults to become donors. When the
number of donors reached 100 an Eagle application was sent to national on a
priority basis and quickly approved. The Eagle Court of Honor was held in
the hospital auditorium, with the scout too weak to leave his hospital bed.
During the ceremony a blood bank employee brought a message to a scout in
the back of the auditorium, and at the end of the ceremony he stood up and
announced that donor number 200 had just left the hospital. The number
reached 300 before the scout succumbed to the cancer.
With this in mind, I would suggest that the scout contact the blood bank and
find out what the specific need is. Perhaps they have people that need
unusual types or quantities of blood. If not, there is always a difference
in the number of donors and the need for blood around holidays. Perhaps he
could run a drive when there is normally a shortage, such as at Christmas
using the college students home for the Holidays.
However, don't call me. My eight week waiting period is up on October 25,
and I already have an appointment. I hope most of you Scouters can say the
same. :^)
YiS
Dave Hills, Greater Pittsburgh Council
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
